Gu Jin'an completed the formalities and then said, "Lord County Magistrate, I have already brought Old Man Xue here. He is willing to testify and identify Old Master Lu as an escaped slave. You may ask him any questions you have now."
County Magistrate Xu, also desiring to earn credit, promptly summoned Old Man Xue and questioned him meticulously about the incident that happened years ago on the Linglong Painting Boat.
Unknown to all before, when questioned, it turns out that a disaster befell the Linglong Painting Boat because a life was lost on board.
Two noble young masters from noble families were vying for the Twelve Flower Fairies when Young Master Shangguan fell into the water by accident; though he was rescued, he did not survive.
The incident seemed accidental, but the deceased Young Master Shangguan was the legitimate son of the Jiangnan Shangguan Family, with an aunt who was a concubine to Prince Wuyang, thus making the family part of the royal relatives.
