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The night rain was desolate, and the waning lamp flame flickered.
The mottled divine statue had grown patches of rust, its face half merciful in the green smoke, half fierce as a Vajra.
In the huge water vat within the temple, splashes caused by the occasional turmoil of turtles and fish broke the surface, amidst which some suppressed gasps could be heard, quietly smothered.
The woman's figure was slender as she stood beneath the feet of the statue, gripping the throat of the man in her hands, questioning him calmly and steadily.
She asked, "Lu Qian was slandered and thrown into prison, does Lord Fan of the Department of Criminal & Justice know the inside story?"
She asked, "Madam Ke said Lu Rou willingly seduced the young master of the Grand Preceptor's Mansion, did the young master truly dishonor and defile Lu Rou?"
She asked, "Old Master Lu encountered a water disaster on his way to the capital, who arranged it?"