Everyone in the little courtyard gave it their all, and in just two days, they brought all the evidence scattered across the land back to the Capital City.
Qiao Zhimiao had spent half her life waiting, hoping, and longing for this belated clearing of her family's name.
So much so that after twenty light strokes of the paddle, she still felt as though she were dreaming.
Before the constable holding the paddle could withdraw, the little one who had been waiting nearby came rushing over.
"Why are you crying, Aunties?" Her eyes filled with distress, the little one looked up and glared at the constable. "Uncle, you took Chengcheng's little cookies! How could you still hit her so hard?!"
The constable had no way to explain himself.
Ever since it had come to light that someone had used the mandatory paddling to beat petitioners to death, the authorities had issued an order: henceforth, whenever punishment was administered, the gates of the Grievance Drum Court had to remain open so the watching public could oversee it.
Those strokes had already been delivered using the technique he had worked out to look the most frightening while causing the least pain.
Just then, the constable at the entrance closed the courtyard gates, and only then did Qiao Zhimiao speak softly. "Aunties isn't hurt..."
Lian Qing suddenly spoke as well, cutting Qiao Zhimiao off. "Hurry, hurry."
"..." Despite her complicated emotions, their actions still left Qiao Zhimiao utterly bewildered. "???"
Weren't they supposed to help her up first?
The next instant, she saw the little one furtively rummage through her sleeve and successfully produce a small waterskin.
"Quick, smear it on! Smear it on!"
The little one hurried behind her with the girls in the courtyard, while the boys tacitly turned their backs.
Then