William Carter finally looked at Ethan Brooks, who was standing below.

“I want you to try this case!”

“Go and arrest Brooks County!”

“You know where he’s hiding!”

William Carter frowned, his tone growing increasingly irritable.

Ethan Brooks only slightly raised his head, staring at him intently, without saying a word.

He knew the reason for William Carter’s behavior—it was simply because he was dissatisfied with the verdict he had given in a case a few days ago.

But what he couldn’t understand was why this man would take such a huge risk to stand up for that commoner and come here to question him?

Does he really want to go head-to-head with the Yuan City Brooks clan, even if it means mutual destruction?

Neither of them spoke, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Just as the two were locked in confrontation, suddenly someone staggered into the county office.

Upon seeing the newcomer, William Carter couldn’t help but stand up, and the strong men around him all placed their hands on their sword hilts.

The newcomer was none other than Brooks County.

Frightened by the scene, he hurriedly hid behind the county magistrate, then caught sight of the beautiful woman lying unconscious to the side.

Immediately, he burst into tears, dropping to his knees before the magistrate and clutching his legs tightly.

“Please, magistrate, give justice to this humble man!”

“The noble Lord William Carter has gone too far!”

“My wife and servant went to the market, and this man ran into them. He saw my wife’s beauty and had evil intentions, openly harassing her. When my wife refused, he ordered her driven away, then beat my servant and rode off with my wife!!”

“In broad daylight, under the clear sky, how can such things be done?!”

“Please, magistrate, give me justice!!”

He wept bitterly, pounding his chest, his voice choked with sobs, so miserable that even his cries sounded pitiful.

The officials around couldn’t help but shake their heads and sneer: So, you finally have your day, huh.

“Silence!”

Ethan Brooks said sternly, “Lord Lord Carter is known for his virtue, inheriting the conduct of his ancestors. How could he do such a thing as stealing another man’s wife?”

At this moment, Brooks County felt unspeakable grievance.

Everyone says Lord Lord Carter has the bearing of his ancestors. I thought it meant the literary emperor, but who would have thought it was the martial emperor’s style!

If you want a woman, just tell me. There are so many beautiful women waiting to be married in the city—we could have shared them together. Why take my wife??

Besides, we had no enmity to begin with. Why go to such lengths for a mere commoner?

At this moment, William Carter slowly stood up, glancing sideways at the magistrate.

“Magistrate Brooks, are you going to shield your clansman?”

“Lord Mr. Carter, don’t be stubborn any longer. If you leave now, I’ll pretend nothing happened.”

“Fine, no problem.”

William Carter laughed, then continued, “If I walk out of here now, by tomorrow, everyone in Yuan City will know what a ‘pure and noble’ family the Brooks clan is, that your virtuous family actually offers up their wives to entertain honored guests!”

“And by the day after tomorrow, the whole Yangping Commandery will know your family’s way of treating guests!”

“For at least the next hundred years, none of your family’s sons will ever be recommended by the Zhongzheng officials!!”

Ethan Brooks began to tremble all over. “Does it have to come to this?! If I report this to the court with all my resolve, you may not have a good end either!”

“You’re insane! For a commoner, does it have to come to this?! Does it have to come to this?!”

William Carter said, “I tried to reason with you, but you said the imperial clan must not interfere in politics. So this is all I can do. Even if I, William Carter, have to give up my title and my life, I will not turn a blind eye…”

The magistrate stared into William Carter’s eyes, the atmosphere unbearably heavy.

“Fine… I will reopen the case of Zhang Sheng versus Brooks County.”

At this, Brooks County was utterly shocked. He hurriedly clung to the magistrate’s legs again.

“Cousin!! Cousin!! You have to save me! You have to save me!!”

But the magistrate kicked him away in anger, shouting, “Guards! Take Brooks County and that wicked woman into custody!!!”

Immediately, soldiers stepped forward, ignoring Brooks County’s wailing pleas for mercy, and dragged him and his wife away.

William Carter narrowed his eyes, ignoring the magistrate’s ashen face, and swaggered past him.

A large crowd had already gathered outside the door.

When they saw William Carter and the warriors come out, the crowd couldn’t help but surge forward, surrounding him in the center.

At the front was an old man with white hair, dressed in tattered short clothes, deep wrinkles furrowing his brow, emaciated and filled with deep sorrow in his eyes.

“Lord Mr. Carter…”

“Elder, don’t worry. The magistrate has agreed to reopen your son and daughter-in-law’s case. He will surely give you justice.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

William Carter patted the hilt of his sword. “Then I will.”

The old man’s tears immediately began to flow. He wanted to say something, but couldn’t utter a word, only wiping the tears from his face.

Seeing this, William Carter sighed again.

Ten days ago, the magistrate Ethan Brooks’s cousin Brooks County had his wife lure the wife of his own tenant into the back courtyard, then forcibly raped her. After her desperate resistance failed, the unfortunate woman chose to end her own life.

Her husband, the old man’s son, came to the county office to file a complaint, but was instead falsely accused of having his wife seduce Brooks County for personal gain, leading to her suicide out of shame.