Han Yuli appears at the neighboring desk, establishing workplace competition and Wenruo's reputation.

Wenruo begins Ma Qi's formal intake and establishes his name.

Wenruo explains the confession rule plainly before Ma Qi speaks.

Ma Qi confesses the poisoned ink sale.

The ledger recognizes the confession as serious, drawing attention from nearby clerks.

Ma Qi produces the old legal receipt from his belt tube.

The receipt bears Wenruo's exact signature.

Wenruo tries to deny the receipt but her oath stops her. She can only say she does not remember.

Wenruo uses careful wording to keep questioning Ma Qi without lying.

Wenruo completes Ma Qi's confession despite the implication against herself.

The twelfth ledger opens a sealed cross-reference tied to Li Yan's death.

Wenruo remembers Li Yan and the official brain-fever ruling.

Wenruo notices the restricted cross-reference was buried in her own handwriting.

Han asks the dangerous question, and Wenruo avoids exposing herself while bound by truth.

After midnight, Wenruo returns to the twelfth ledger under the excuse of inventory.

The final line of the note warns Wenruo that the next page belongs to her.