Every sentence left people breathless.

Probably only Murong Yi didn’t find it suffocating. He thought it was wonderful, amazing—our girl could compose poetry at eighteen, destroy armies in martial arts, never backed down from arguments, had a rich vocabulary for scolding, and could kill any conversation with every sentence. Truly worthy of being the Crown Princess!

Xiao Liheng was obviously finally choked up, cursing himself for the ten thousandth time—how had he failed to see that this little puppet was actually a wolf in sheep’s clothing?

He fell silent for a long while, finally unable to maintain that false smile, and said coldly: “This old subject serves the country loyally, working tirelessly every day, thinking about how to maintain His Majesty’s vast realm, how to make the people live in peace and prosperity, how to make our Great Qian’s national power flourish daily. Yet Your Highness thinks daily about how to seize power, how to manage affairs, how to consolidate power, how to trample on the dignity of us subjects. Your Highness acting thus, don’t you feel it’s against your conscience?”

“The Assistant Minister’s tongue blooms like lotus flowers, but today is not the court where you and I should debate. Now with the Three Legal Departments conducting joint trials, I am the plaintiff, you are the defendant. Everything said and done should only relate to the case itself… Assistant Minister, you’re a defendant—what are you doing sitting there? Come down. I permit you to stand alongside me.”

Xiao Liheng: “…”

He really wanted to grab the little stool and smash it on this girl’s head until it bloomed with blood.

Tie Ci wouldn’t give him the chance to sit before the Three Legal Departments and apply pressure, graciously beckoning to him.

Xiao Liheng pretended to be deaf and didn’t move. Tie Ci continued: “Oh right, I should respect the elderly. Though you’re the defendant, I permit you to sit beside me.”

As she spoke, she kicked over a small stool and made an elegant gesture for Xiao Liheng to sit.

Under everyone’s gaze, Xiao Liheng could no longer sit comfortably beside the Three Legal Departments. But going to Tie Ci’s side—firstly he didn’t dare, and secondly he realized she was standing while he would be sitting, making him look up at her, which was far too lacking in presence.

He decided to ignore her.

But when he sat motionlessly, Tie Ci sighed sadly to the nearby citizens: “Look, I, this puppet Crown Prince, truly have no dignity at all.”

Xiao Liheng: “…”

Very good, you’re shameless too.

He had to force a smile and say: “Your Highness speaks truly. National laws should be followed by everyone. After all, princes who break the law suffer the same punishment as commoners.”

“Indeed, Dragon-Severing Platform has beheaded piles of officials in every dynasty,” Tie Ci nodded in deep agreement.

The surrounding citizens and students were all chuckling quietly.

The Crown Princess was truly a wonderful person.

To say such a wonderful person was greedy for profit, meddling in imperial examinations, employing personal favorites, and destroying fairness—somehow, it all seemed quite unlikely.

Common people and scholars were always emotional. After all, compared to an old man past sixty, the dashing and beautiful Crown Princess was much more appealing to the eye. People were more willing to believe her.

A world that judges by appearance—this was true throughout history, everywhere.

Xiao Liheng finally stood up from the small stool and walked to the center of the field, keeping far from Tie Ci.

Tie Ci smiled at him with spring-like warmth, completely unlike a plaintiff in a life-or-death struggle.

Xiao Liheng soon discovered Tie Ci’s sinister intentions.

Being far from Tie Ci meant being far from the Three Legal Departments and far from the center of the crowd. Without martial arts skills, he couldn’t project his voice like Tie Ci to let everyone hear. He had to speak loudly for every sentence, and before long would be hoarse from shouting.

This also made him appear especially ungraceful and guilty.

After all, speaking loudly suggested guilt—this was common knowledge.

Xiao Liheng: “…”

I can’t guard against this little turtle’s schemes.

Having spent long years in officialdom, Xiao Liheng quickly thought of a solution—having a personal guard relay his words while he only needed to nod.

Assistant Minister Li said: “My lord, do you know the charges His Highness has brought against you?”

Xiao Liheng had heard live reports before arriving, but now pretended ignorance, saying slowly: “I would like to hear the details.”

His first tactic was delay. The Crown Princess had unprecedentedly beaten the drum before the Court of Judicial Review, turning high-level political gaming into public trial, vainly hoping to use public opinion to reverse the situation. He would drag out time.

Citizens always had to go home to cook, and the scholars would get tired after a morning of commotion and need to sit and have tea.

Once people dispersed and the case moved inside the Court of Judicial Review for hearing, Tie Ci’s wishful thinking would fail.

Assistant Minister Li understood, coughed, and was about to slowly repeat everything when Xiao Liheng suddenly pointed to the desk. His guard said: “Where’s the complaint document?”

“…There isn’t one.”

“Your Highness, this is improper of you. Since you insist on handling this matter according to ordinary citizens’ complaint procedures, how can there be no complaint document? Either you go back now and quickly write one…”

“Oh, the complaint document is here.” Murong Yi slowly pulled out a paper from behind him. “The writing is so excellent, I couldn’t help but keep it to admire a while longer and forgot to submit it. Sorry about that.”

Assistant Minister Li: “…”

I believe your ghost story.

Outside the crowd, Rong Pu, who had just been released from house arrest and rushed over, quietly put away the complaint document he’d hastily drafted in his carriage.

Tie Ci originally hadn’t had time to prepare a complaint document. Seeing Xiao Liheng arrive so quickly, she’d thought of this and had already hinted for her people to write one, just needing to wait a bit. But time was now urgent—waiting even a moment longer could put her at a disadvantage. Seeing Murong Yi timely produce the complaint document, she felt somewhat comforted.

This rascal was reliable at crucial moments.

She wondered when he’d written it.

Taking it in hand, she saw that though the handwriting was hurried, it was both square and round, changing fluidly with hints of a master’s bearing, making her marvel inwardly.

Previously seeing Murong Yi read idle books and draw comics with the appearance of a study-hating poor student, and knowing his growth experiences, she’d naturally assumed he hadn’t had opportunities for proper education—being unlearned would be normal. Yet his previous story book was written beautifully and plainly, and now this handwriting was even more eye-catching. She wondered how he’d learned under such circumstances and who had cultivated him.

Good handwriting made her unable to resist looking more closely, and then she suddenly discovered that the complaint document had expanded on her three charges’ content, making them more detailed. The first character of each line seemed readable as a sequence.

Reading the first characters of each line together: “Loving but not seeing, scratching head in hesitation.”

Even filing lawsuits couldn’t stop his flirtatious nature!

Tie Ci expressionlessly handed up the complaint document.

Assistant Minister Li was about to give the complaint document to his clerk to read when Xiao Liheng stopped him, tremblingly pulling out Western spectacles, apparently intending to read it himself.

Being elderly with poor eyesight and slow speech, he could spend half an hour reading one complaint document. The Crown Prince couldn’t disrespect the elderly by interrupting him, right?

The Crown Prince couldn’t, but someone else could.

Before he could finish his act, Murong Yi had already said: “Let the legal advocate read the complaint document.”

Behind him, the famous legal advocate of Shengdu, who’d been prepared long ago, finally found his moment to shine. Stepping forward, he read the complaint document extremely quickly and articulately.

Xiao Liheng had to slowly put away his spectacles again, this time finally looking directly at Murong Yi.

He hadn’t known when such a pretty boy had appeared beside the Crown Princess!

After hearing the complaint document, the legal advocate quickly recounted the previous debate and showed him several witnesses. Xiao Liheng glanced over and said lightly: “What does this have to do with our Xiao family?”

“Wang Xi received Liu Datong’s instructions, Liu Datong was bought by Xiao residence’s steward—didn’t the Assistant Minister hear clearly?”

“The Xiao residence has no steward named Niu.”

“How convenient.”

“The Crown Princess can claim all accusations are framing and entrapment—Shen Mi’s fall was designed, Shen Mi’s preferential treatment was designed, the Crown Princess encountering the exam drafting was designed. Can’t the Xiao residence say there’s no steward Niu?”

Tie Ci signaled for Shen Mi and others to step forward: “With no imperial edict issued, Shengdu Prefecture attempted torture for forced confessions. Dare you say you have no guilty conscience?”

“Just a few lashes—who knows if it’s not a self-injury scheme? Entering the yamen requires intimidation, even without cause three lashes are standard. Probably only the Crown Princess would forcibly connect this rule-teaching to my Xiao family. But then again, who told the Xiao family to have such great achievements that overshadow the master?” Xiao Liheng said to the court official standing aside: “This lord, did this old subject instruct you to use torture for forced confessions?”

The court official loudly said: “Injustice! What torture for forced confessions? After the prisoners entered jail last night, they were held awaiting trial. We haven’t even seen their faces!”

The bailiffs also called out: “Even rule-teaching didn’t happen. Scholar gentlemen don’t kneel before officials—we mere jailers, how would we dare cause trouble!”

Qi Yuansi roared angrily: “Utterly shameless!”

Xiao Liheng chuckled and said: “Eh, isn’t this young master from Commander Qi’s family? A military family indeed has extraordinary spirit. Look, you’ve frightened this jailer—would he dare lay hands on you?”

Tie Ci signaled Qi Yuansi not to speak first, lest it provoke class opposition and fall into this old fox’s trap.

“What about the person who pushed Shen Mi from behind?” the legal advocate asked.

The Xiao family guard, after hearing Xiao Liheng speak for a while, loudly answered: “That has even less to do with the Xiao family. Could you randomly grab someone on the street claiming the Assistant Minister instructed them, and the Assistant Minister would have to acknowledge it? The person who pushed from behind could be found anywhere. Wang Xi is a palace person, a eunuch of Chengqian Hall. Whatever he says or does, though it can be claimed the Assistant Minister instigated it, isn’t it more likely he’s lying or even framing out of fear of the Crown Princess’s status and power?”

Xiao Liheng smiled slightly: “Crown Princess, this is quite boring. You can naturally say this old subject deflects cleanly, but this old subject can equally refute you in the same way.”

Listening, people’s expressions gradually became blank.

Indeed, earlier they’d been stirred to passionate fervor by evidence the Xiao family presented, then doused with cold water by evidence the Crown Princess presented. Now the interrogation had fallen into a strange circle—everyone overturning another’s evidence could possibly stem from fabrication. How could they distinguish?

Xiao Liheng said lightly: “Since this is so, naturally we must look at the witnesses’ identities. The higher the status and position, the more they cherish their reputation and the harder they are to bribe, isn’t that right?”

Tie Ci: “For example?”

“For example, our Cabinet academicians—they personally witnessed you entering the hall. For you to say you had absolutely no opportunity to access exam questions isn’t appropriate, is it?”

Several Cabinet academicians bowed to Tie Ci in unison, remaining silent.

Tie Ci laughed.

Civil officials were truly formidable.

Not saying a word, yet shooting swords and knives.

Not speaking was acknowledgment, even accusation—accusing her of lying, accusing her of actually having opportunities to access exam questions.

This was “silence speaks louder than words,” each sound wanting to hammer her to death.

Dan Shuang beside her was so angry her face turned white. Having followed the Crown Princess through palace ups and downs for many years, she was thoroughly disgusted by these subjects’ hypocritical faces!

She’d thought after the Crown Princess returned to the capital this time, these bastards would be more honest, but apparently some still wanted to court death.

Chi Xue was much calmer, pulling her and saying: “These people are too closely connected with the Xiao family. For their lives and property, they naturally become disloyal subjects and unfilial sons, daring to frame the Crown Princess to her face. Actually, such shameless behavior—doesn’t it precisely show they’re already desperate?”

Dan Shuang said grimly: “A bunch of sanctimonious dog bastards! Heaven should send down lightning to strike them all dead!”

Chi Xue glanced outside the crowd and said meaningfully: “No hurry—maybe it’ll be soon.”

…

The row of bowing Cabinet academicians in the center of the crowd created enormous invisible pressure, causing the crowd to quiet considerably.

Tie Ci nodded and tapped her head, saying: “So you see how stupid you are. Focusing on weaving great crimes, thinking yourselves meticulous and careful, yet not knowing that going too far is as bad as not going far enough. Since Shen Mi obtained exam questions by falling, why would I waste effort first going to Chengqian Hall to inquire?”

Xiao Liheng frowned.

This was indeed a flaw. The problem was that the Xiao and Rong factions had joined hands—with more people came mixed motives.

He was determined to drag the Crown Princess down, therefore focusing efforts on Chengqian Hall. Afterward, having Shen Mi receive preferential treatment could mutually support the Crown Princess cultivating private individuals.

But there was a Rong faction minister in their camp who hated He Zi more and wanted to solidify He Zi’s crimes. He had someone publicly push Shen Mi to establish the possibility of He Zi passing exam questions. By the time Xiao Liheng learned of this, it was too late to remedy.

He smiled composedly: “Who knows? After all, Great Qian’s exam question security is extremely strict to prevent cheating—there’s almost no possibility of leakage. Perhaps some people felt that getting questions through falling wasn’t reliable and wanted to see for themselves?”

Tie Ci’s smile deepened: “So I used paying respects as an excuse to go to Chengqian Hall, waited at the hall entrance, and saw the questions when brushing past?”

Xiao Liheng instinctively became wary of this sentence, but thinking carefully couldn’t find any trap in this repetitive statement, so he smiled without speaking.

Though the Crown Princess had beaten the drum, this wasn’t a real courtroom—no one could judge the Crown Princess or him. Ultimately, today’s confrontation—the real judges were Shengdu’s citizens and examinees. Whoever formed judgment and conclusions in these people’s hearts would win.

Tie Ci nodded, clapped her hands, and suddenly said: “Everyone please step back a bit.”

Not understanding her intent, people complied and stepped back.

Tie Ci also stepped back some, moving further from Xiao Liheng and having everyone distance themselves from him.

She said: “Prepare writing materials for the Assistant Minister. Please have the Assistant Minister casually write a few sentences.”

Assistant Minister Li was baffled but dared not disobey Tie Ci’s words. Fearing Tie Ci was scheming, he personally prepared paper, brush, and ink for Xiao Liheng.

This request wasn’t improper. Xiao Liheng had to pick up the brush, thinking if you can write complaint documents, I can also cry injustice. Then he worried—would writing like this fall into Tie Ci’s calculations? To ensure absolute safety, he randomly wrote about the health pills he’d eaten this morning.

These health pills he kept and consumed privately—no one knew about them.

He also inconspicuously shifted direction, turning his back to Tie Ci.

He’d just put down the brush and was about to ask what Tie Ci intended when he heard Tie Ci say: “Grand Secretary, you even take Jade Pillar Glory Nourishing Pills every morning?”

Xiao Liheng started, then his face changed dramatically.

How did she know!

He instinctively tried to crumple the paper and secretly rewrite it, but a hand reached over, swiftly snatching the paper and displaying it to the crowd with a smile: “Jade Pillar Glory Nourishing Pills? Eh, isn’t this medicine for virility? Grand Secretary, are you having performance issues?”

Men could least tolerate such questions, especially in public. Xiao Liheng immediately said: “Nonsense! This is clearly medicine for nourishing qi, calming blood, and settling the spirit!”

As soon as he spoke, seeing Murong Yi’s half-smiling expression across from him, his scalp exploded, knowing he’d fallen into a trap with no way to recover.

Murong Yi drew out a long “Oh” and said: “Ah, the Crown Princess can see!”

All around had already exploded.

Everyone had personally witnessed Xiao Liheng facing away from Tie Ci at a distance of over three zhang—how had the Crown Princess seen?

Those quick to react had already realized, their faces changing repeatedly.

When the crowd quieted slightly, Tie Ci finally said: “Did you see? My pair of eyes can see far and see through walls. If I truly wanted to spy on exam questions, I wouldn’t need to go to Chengqian Hall, wouldn’t need to push doors, wouldn’t need to meet with the two chief examiners—I’d only need to encounter them casually anywhere in the palace and could obtain everything effortlessly without drawing attention. Would I need such a grand mobilization?”

The crowd was in uproar.

No one had expected the Crown Princess to actually have clairvoyant abilities.

Xiao Liheng shot upright.

Then thinking of something, joy appeared in his eyes as he said: “Wait! This old subject remembers something. The Cabinet academicians must testify.”

Assistant Minister Li immediately agreed.

“Cabinet academicians must always leave someone at Chengqian Hall on standby. That day after this old subject left, wasn’t it Yin Dingguo who remained in the hall?”

A sallow-faced academician said: “Yes, this humble one remained at Chengqian Hall on standby at that time. However, I remained outside the hall.”

“Then you saw everything the Crown Princess said and did?”

“Yes.”

“Then tell us—after the chief and deputy examiners came out carrying the exam question box, what did the Crown Princess do?”

The Cabinet academician recalled and said: “His Highness descended the steps and glanced at the box. After the chief and deputy examiners left, he requested paper and brush, wrote a note, and gave it to the Crown Princess’s female official, who left with the note. Afterward the Crown Princess entered the hall, and this subject knew nothing further.”

“You mentioned this to me before, but I paid no attention then. Now considering the circumstances, this old subject wonders—what were you writing, Your Highness?”

The crowd fell silent again.

“Since you have clairvoyant abilities, you stopped the chief and deputy examiners, looked at the box, then quickly memorized—what do you suppose it was?”

Tie Ci stared at him and smiled: “The Grand Secretary means I was transcribing the exam questions?”

“You have no studies now, and besides, writing hurriedly then, needing urgent memorization and external transmission—what could it be?”

Tie Ci’s smile deepened: “Don’t you know what it was?”

Xiao Liheng was confused.

What did she mean?

Of course he didn’t know—did he have reason to know?

“You mean I urgently transcribed exam questions, then passed the questions to accomplices?”

Xiao Liheng felt something was wrong with this statement, but this was indeed the direction it should go, so he smiled without speaking.

“Whoever received the questions would be an accomplice?”

Xiao Liheng continued smiling without speaking.

Tie Ci clasped her hands together and said: “You’re absolutely right—I did indeed transcribe the exam questions then.”

The crowd was in uproar. Xiao Liheng hadn’t expected her to actually admit it, raising his eyebrows: “Then who did Your Highness give them to…”

Tie Ci immediately continued: “I gave them to you!”