Tri-Court Tribunal

The Zhuo Estate is a place with few people but plenty of money. Minister Zhuo never restricts his children when it comes to wealth or material things, but spiritual treasures are far too precious—every single one is meticulously recorded and archived in the manor.

Of course, Grace didn’t have any spiritual treasures, because she was considered useless—a total dud who didn’t need them at all…

Grace took those pieces of jewelry and snuck into Serena Jane’s room—the abbess from Moonwater Abbey.

Then, she found a secret compartment under the bed, where she discovered the deposit she’d given Serena Jane—including one hundred taels of gold and some of her own gemstone jewelry.

She swapped all her own jewelry for Cindy Zhu’s—the favored daughter of the Zhuo family.

Then, she left without a hitch.

After returning, she gathered everyone together and ordered them to keep their mouths shut—no matter what happened, not a single word could slip out. These included Tenner, her milk brother, and Edward Wang, her loyal bodyguard.

...

Sure enough, just as Grace predicted, that very night Minister Zhuo personally came and took her back to the estate.

When Grace saw her father stomping over, his face as dark as thunderclouds, she rushed up, putting on her best worried face and wailed, "Dad! Dad! Disaster! Someone snatched Serena Jane, the abbess! I sent Tenner and Edward Wang to report it—did you call the authorities yet?"

Grace Wan, the Second Madam and Grace’s stepmother, her face full of worry and concern, sat to the right of Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu.

That moment of hesitation cooled his earlier urge to strangle her on the spot. He grunted, "Serena Jane is right here in our estate!"

One was Serena Jane, the abbess from Moonwater Abbey.

Minister Zhuo just stared at her, silent, as if trying to decide whether she was acting or genuinely clueless.

Grace Wan’s brother, Leon Wan, a Sixth Rank Captain, was also there, standing beside her, looking at Grace with undisguised contempt as she entered.

Minister Zhuo took a deep breath, grabbed her, and headed for the carriage. "You’re coming home with me—end of discussion."

“Huh? Why?” Grace asked, totally confused. “Didn’t you promise to let me finish the blessing ceremony?”

“Just get in the carriage! Enough with the nonsense!” Minister Zhuo shoved her inside.

Nanny and Hope hurriedly climbed in after her.

Minister Zhuo mounted his horse and waved his hand. The guards he’d brought escorted Tenner and Edward Wang back as well...

Once they returned, everyone who’d been to Moonwater Abbey was put into quarantine.

Grace was taken to the Hall of Longevity, where her grandmother, Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu, resided.

As soon as she entered, she saw the place set up like a three-court tribunal.

Her grandmother sat in the main seat, looking stern and dignified.

Her father sat to the left of the Dowager Lady after coming back.

Grace Wan, the Second Madam and Grace’s stepmother, her face full of worry and concern, sat to the right of Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu.

There were two people kneeling in the hall.

One was Serena Jane, the Buddhist abbess from Moonwater Abbey.

The other was Eric Chen, the Wan Family servant who had spied on her at the General’s manor.

Grace Wan’s brother, Leon Wan, the Sixth Rank Captain, was also there, standing beside her, looking at Grace with undisguised contempt as she entered.

"Grandmother, Dad, Auntie," Grace greeted them all respectfully, then asked with a clueless look, "Grandmother, Dad, what’s going on? Why is everyone here?"

The Dowager Lady replied coldly with just two words: "Kneel down!"

Grace stared in astonishment and pointed at herself. "Grandmother, you mean me?"

"Who else would I mean?" The Dowager Lady was fuming.

Grace looked at her father, her eyes filled with confusion and fear—her performance was flawless.