Transmigrated into a Historical GL Novel as the Scumbag Heroine - Chapter 28

It was late into the night. Just as Qiu Luo began to suspect she had guessed wrong, two shadowy figures crept stealthily toward the greenhouse.

Xiao Luzi glanced around and noticed that the two hired guards from the Qiu family were stationed at the main path. So, he motioned to his partner and slipped around to the other side.

That side didn’t have a door, but it had many windows—installed to allow more sunlight during the day.

At the moment, the windows were covered with thick straw mats for insulation. Xiao Luzi gestured for his companion to keep watch, then lifted a mat and pried open a wooden window with a kitchen knife.

The moment the window opened, warm air from inside the greenhouse wafted out. It was noticeably warmer than outside.

His face lit up. Success!

He was just about to climb through when there was a loud crash behind him—followed by Qiu Erlang’s panicked shout:

“Big sis! I killed someone!”

Startled, Xiao Luzi turned to find three people holding iron shovels, eyes locked on him like predators. The shovels were all pointed straight at his head—clearly ready to strike at the slightest movement.

“Mercy, please! I have elders to care for and children to feed…”

Xiao Luzi dropped to his knees in fright, not even bothering to see who had caught him.

Qiu Luo calmly lowered her shovel and turned to Uncle ErZhu and Qiu Erlang. “Tie them up.”

Then she quickly knelt beside the man Qiu Erlang had knocked down with the shovel. After confirming he was still breathing, she relaxed.

They were here to catch thieves, not kill them.

The two guards soon arrived, lanterns in hand. The warm glow illuminated Xiao Luzi’s face, and he finally realized what had happened.

It’s the Qiu siblings… I’m done for. The job had failed. Punishment was inevitable.

But maybe… there was still a way out.

He clenched his jaw, closed his eyes, and pretended to faint.

He was determined not to admit he was a servant from the Shen household—and certainly wouldn’t implicate his young master.

After all, they hadn’t stolen anything yet. Worst case, he’d get a few beatings—he could handle that.

But Qiu Luo saw right through his act. Fine by her—she wasn’t interested in interrogations anyway.

However, handling someone like this required a different approach.

—

The next day, Xiao Luzi—still silent—was brought before the county magistrate. He believed he was about to escape punishment.

But then Qiu Luo produced a sheet of paper.

Glancing at the “unconscious” Xiao Luzi, she addressed Magistrate Lu with a respectful bow.

“Your student has suffered repeated thefts of watermelons since the first day of harvest. Over a hundred jin has gone missing. I respectfully ask Your Excellency to review this petition.”

As a licentiate (a scholar with minor official status), Qiu Luo didn’t need to kneel and could address the magistrate as “student.”

Magistrate Lu examined the two bound suspects and had a constable bring over Qiu Luo’s written complaint.

The document clearly listed the dates, the plots, and the quantities stolen. Most importantly, he recognized the handwriting.

He had a passion for calligraphy, and the elegant, powerful strokes were unmistakable—it was the hand of someone from the Cheng family, likely Cheng Yu herself.

Along with the complaint was a formal contract: all watermelons from the Qiu family were to be exclusively supplied to Cheng Yu. If any other party obtained over 100 jin by any means, it would be considered a breach of contract—requiring triple compensation: three thousand taels of silver.

Magistrate Lu raised an eyebrow and studied Qiu Luo carefully. This scholar was sharp and ruthless.

After all, whether watermelons had actually been stolen was hard to verify. But these two thieves—now that was interesting.

Especially since it involved the Cheng family’s daughter…

He slammed the gavel down and spoke in an even tone.

“You were caught in the act. No excuses. Either pay three thousand taels in compensation to Scholar Qiu, or be exiled to the frontier as laborers. Make your choice.”

Xiao Luzi’s face turned pale. “Your Excellency, I’ve been wronged! I just wanted to steal one melon to try—just one! I didn’t even succeed!”

“Silence! Stubborn fool. Guards! Drag him out and give him thirty lashes!”

The magistrate’s expression turned icy. He despised those who resisted even when caught red-handed.

Didn’t steal that much? Then don’t get caught. Simple.

Thirty lashes—enough to cripple a man.

And Xiao Luzi did have elders and young children at home. He couldn’t go to the frontier—no one ever returned alive from penal labor there.

His knees buckled. He exchanged a look with his partner, then made his decision.

“Your Excellency! I’ll pay! I’ll pay! I’m a household servant of the Shen family. Please send someone to the Shen estate to notify them!”

As long as the young master was willing to pay, they would take the blame. They wouldn’t expose that they’d been ordered to do this.

But… would Shen Yanding really cough up three thousand taels for two mere servants?

—

Magistrate Lu had been waiting for this moment.

He knew full well his daughter had once harbored feelings for that Shen man. And it infuriated him that Shen Yanding had ignored her—causing her to leave home in heartbreak.

So, you think you’re from a noble family? Let’s see how you defend yourself against a theft case involving 3,000 taels…

He casually waved his hand and instructed his aide. Then he leaned back, ready to watch the show unfold.

—

Two quarters of an hour later, a constable returned.

“Your Excellency, the Shen household refuses to pay. They say the two men must face punishment on their own.”

Of course, that was a lie. The constable, under orders from the magistrate’s aide, had never gone to the Shen estate.

Perfectly on cue.

As expected, Xiao Luzi panicked and changed his tune.

“Your Excellency, please understand! It was our young master who told us to steal the watermelons! We were just following orders! We’ve been wrongly accused!”

Magistrate Lu gave a cold snort and motioned for the aide to take their confessions.

Then he sent someone to arrest Shen Yanding—to teach that arrogant young man a lesson.

—

Qiu Luo watched the whole scene unfold, surprised. She had expected the magistrate to go easy on Shen Yanding. But instead, he seemed to be digging a trap for him.

So, I underestimated him, she thought. Compared to Magistrate Lu’s move, my little trick was nothing.

But then she remembered—Magistrate Lu’s daughter, Lu Jiaojiao, was the original novel’s secondary antagonist. Madly in love with the male lead, she’d caused Cheng Yu a lot of suffering.

And Shen Yanding was the male lead. Would he really be so easily brought down?

Qiu Luo stayed patient, waiting to see what would happen.

Sure enough, the Shen family quickly acted to protect Shen Yanding. Their response came swiftly—with witnesses and sworn statements all lined up.

They claimed Shen Yanding had been studying at home the entire time and never gave any instructions related to Qiu Family Village. In fact, they accused the two servants of disappearing without explanation and stealing from the household.

Shen Yanding, always calculating, realized Xiao Luzi had betrayed him—so he cut ties without hesitation.

The order had only been passed through a few trusted aides, and there was no physical evidence linking him to the crime.

Thus, Shen Yanding arrived in court calm and composed, clearing his name with a few well-placed words.

Magistrate Lu, as if anticipating this, simply closed his eyes and listened. After a long pause, he exhaled and looked at the gathered crowd.

“Since there is no conclusive proof, all suspects shall be temporarily imprisoned until further investigation.”

In other words, Shen Yanding was also to be jailed.

Shen Yanding’s expression darkened. Was the magistrate deliberately making things difficult?

The Shen family had never had close ties with the Lu family, but they’d never been enemies either. Over two lowly servants—was this really necessary?

Still, he didn’t panic. He was the Shen family’s eldest grandson and their most promising heir. A matter of a few thousand taels? Not worth worrying over.

The Shen household felt the same. They had already bribed Xiao Luzi’s family and planned to let the servants take full responsibility—no need to implicate their young master.

But they miscalculated. They hadn’t accounted for Magistrate Lu.

No matter what the Shen family tried, the magistrate held firm. He insisted the case was still under investigation—and refused to release Shen Yanding.

On the second night in prison, Shen Yanding finally realized something was wrong.

During a meal delivery, he slipped a message to the servant:

“Go to the provincial capital. Find Lu Jiaojiao.”

He had a feeling… this entire ordeal was because of Lu Jiaojiao—Magistrate Lu’s precious daughter.

A seventh-rank magistrate… does he really think he’s emperor of this little county?

Shen Yanding’s eyes darkened as he chewed his food. Maybe I should’ve treated Lu Jiaojiao with a bit more kindness back then. Maybe then… things wouldn’t have come to this.

One day, when I enter the court and rise to power… I’ll repay this humiliation tenfold.