Before dawn in Mei Su's residence, a small lamplit room prepared for court departure. Untouched porridge, petition scrolls, and legal slips sit on a low table.

Mei rehearses the legal sequence that gives her confidence before leaving for the capital court.

The financial danger of the marriage is made clear through documents and Mei's preparation.

Mei travels through the waking capital toward court, confident in procedure but aware of public scandal.

The capital court at dawn, already crowded for the blood-witness marriage hearing.

Mei spots Aji near a side gate before court, and the first sign of compromise appears.

Mei tries to speak to Aji before the hearing, but Aji avoids direct reassurance.

Aji is taken toward the witness hall, leaving Mei with doubt where certainty was supposed to be.

Old Hu arrives, outwardly polite but visibly evasive.

Mei tests Old Hu with simple pre-hearing questions and hears careful evasions.

Inside the witness preparation hall, Master Wen's absence becomes visible.

Mei silently recalculates her case as all three witness positions become unstable.

Bai Yuwen arrives dressed for marriage, not defense.

Bai behaves like a courteous groom, unsettling Mei more than open hostility would.

Mei tests Bai's calm and notices he has brought no visible support.

The courtroom opens, revealing a public chamber arranged for both trial and wedding.

Magistrate Lu and the Red-Ink Clerk take control of the hearing.

The ancient bronze Truth Lantern is brought into the courtroom and established as the source of magical legal consequence.

Magistrate Lu states the practical rules of the blood-witness marriage hearing.

Mei looks over the courtroom and sees each weakness in her plan now placed under the Lantern.

Bai settles at the groom's bench with no visible defense, making Mei question the shape of the trap.

Magistrate Lu closes the court and announces that no one may leave once the rite begins. Mei understands the legal trap has already formed.