The capital courtroom at noon recess. The formal hearing pauses, but the marriage altar and Truth Lantern remain active.

Bai Yuwen enters the witness corridor during recess, and Mei moves to intercept him.

Mei confirms that their conversation remains under the Lantern's power before beginning her attack.

Mei directly accuses Bai of buying her witnesses, and he admits it under the Lantern.

Mei tries to turn Bai's admission into victory, but his calm answer unsettles her.

Bai tells Mei he bought the witnesses to stop her from using false evidence. Mei refuses the claim.

The conversation turns to Master Wen, the absent witness whose missing seat ruined Mei's plan.

Bai gives Mei a sealed investigative report stamped by court runners.

Mei opens the report and sees the recorded evidence against Master Wen.

The report explains how Master Wen was caught attempting to manufacture evidence for Mei's case.

Bai explains the legal danger of relying on forged evidence in a Lantern marriage hearing.

Mei tests whether Bai arranged Master Wen's attempted forgery.

Mei keeps pressing with narrower questions, trying to find a hidden falsehood.

Bai admits exactly how he interfered with Mei's witnesses.

Mei frames Bai's actions as bribery, and he explains why it may not save her petition.

Bai says he will accept punishment if Mei can make the bribery relevant, but he will not let her use false evidence.

Mei searches Bai's face for smugness and finds none.

Mei asks whether Bai still intends to marry her despite everything, and he answers truthfully.

Bai admits the cruelty of his actions without pretending innocence.

The recess nears its end, and Bai urges Mei to use the report rather than hide from it.

Mei re-enters the courtroom carrying evidence that undermines her own case.

Mei walks past the witness bench and feels the collapse of her planned case.

The noon recess ends. Mei returns to court with evidence that saves her from one crime while destroying the case she built.