Huang Tianba’s secretary continued to proclaim the death row prisoners’ crimes, and the prison fell into an atmosphere that was both eager to try yet strangely solemn.

The four men and women were imprisoned for land seizure matters.

Wealthy merchants in the prefecture wanted to build a street of gambling houses and taverns, purchasing dozens of common people’s residences. This was undoubtedly an enormous expense. The price had already been agreed upon, and most homeowners had consented, but these four families later went back on their word, demanding larger sums.

The wealthy merchant sent one of his accountants with money to negotiate again. This accountant was originally a resident of that street and had considerable friendship with these four families.

Later, the accountant never returned.

People all thought the accountant had fled with the money, but one day, two yamen runners patrolling for security passed by and asked a nearby homeowner for a bowl of water. In the courtyard, they saw a dog barking frantically at a spot. The homeowner was greatly alarmed, constantly driving the dog away. The runners half-jokingly asked if meat bones were buried in the ground. The homeowner’s expression turned ugly, only saying he didn’t know, while continuing to drive away the dog. The two became suspicious – dogs acting strangely, if the owner didn’t know beforehand what was in the ground, by normal reasoning he should be very curious. This homeowner was different… So they dug up the soil there and discovered the accountant’s decomposed corpse.

Upon investigation, it was learned that the four families, seeing wealth, had conspired together to kill the accountant and embezzle the land sale money. This way, if the wealthy family wanted to buy the houses again, they would need to pay another sum.

The wealthy merchant sued these four homeowners for murder and robbery. After trial, the circumstances were too heinous, and all three men and one woman involved were sentenced to execution.

This was the first case.

The second case involved the old woman Guan He. Originally, Guan He’s daughter-in-law was weak with qi deficiency and blood loss after childbirth. Guan He bought medicine according to what the doctor prescribed from the pharmacy. Who knew that several days later, when Guan He returned to the pharmacy, she claimed the medicine the shop owner had provided was inferior, causing her daughter-in-law’s death, leaving behind a crying infant, and demanded compensation from the pharmacy owner.

The pharmacy owner examined the medicine dregs she brought and discovered they weren’t from his shop at all. Knowing this Guan He was deliberately extorting, he drove her away. But Guan He didn’t give up. In her stubbornness, she actually pushed the small pharmacy owner aside. Guan He was a village farmwoman who, though over fifty, retained her strength. This push was quite forceful, and it was also the pharmacy owner’s fate – he struck the sharp edge of a counter directly on a vital point and died instantly. The pharmacy owner’s family sued Guan He for extortion first and manslaughter second. After trial, both crimes were combined and sentenced as capital punishment.

The third case was He the old man’s murder.

Old man He had a daughter, just sixteen years old, who had mutual affection with the village school teacher. They had pledged themselves to each other and completed the betrothal ceremony. However, the old man was greedy for money, and when a wealthy merchant in the city took a fancy to his daughter, he changed course and married his daughter to the wealthy merchant as a concubine. The school teacher was indignant and came to argue with the old man. Later, when the family didn’t see him return and went to the old man’s place to search, the old man only said he had left. Several days later, the school teacher’s corpse was found in the village pond.

Upon careful examination, they discovered the young man had died from three knife wounds, and there were actually cloth fragments in his stomach. When the runners searched old man He’s house, they found his jacket was damaged, matching the cloth fragments in the young man’s stomach.

Old man He had broken the marriage contract, and worse, his evil heart suddenly arose – he killed and abandoned the body. The young man’s parents reported the case. After trial, old man He’s crimes were heinous, and he was also sentenced to beheading.

These were the latter two charges from the impeachment document by County Magistrate Xue from the neighboring county – that Huang Tianba colluded with mine owners and officials with merchants, falsely reported mine numbers, seized land and oppressed people, accepted bribes from wealthy households, and falsely accused common people of murder.

Based on the case files, these death row prisoners deserved their punishment, and Huang Tianba had not over-sentenced them.

Suzhen couldn’t help but frown. She strode before the prisoners and slowly asked: “Are the crimes just proclaimed true? Do you confess?”

The six prisoners answered in low voices: “We confess our crimes.”

Though she had known early on that they would face this situation – otherwise, Lian Yu wouldn’t have previously resorted to the desperate measure of impersonating Huang Tianba to secretly listen to the prisoners’ true words – hearing everyone confess personally and seeing old man He kneeling on the ground, tears streaming down his aged face as he answered, Suzhen was still deeply shaken and pained.

At this moment, Lian Xin glanced at her, snorted through her nose, walked over and sternly shouted: “Look clearly – the current emperor is right here! If you have any grievances, speak freely. The emperor will uphold justice for you. In this vast realm, is there anyone greater than the emperor? No matter who threatens you, you needn’t fear them! As long as you are truly wronged, the emperor will certainly restore your innocence and give you justice!”

Those men and women still sobbed quietly: “We confess our crimes.”

She was both shocked and angry. Looking toward Huang Tianba and Quan Feitong, the latter smiled slightly at her. She bit her lip, covered her nose, and walked before the old woman: “Old lady, they’re stupid and won’t speak, but you speak.”

“This old woman has nothing to explain.”

The woman slightly raised her head, smiled bitterly in response, then slowly lowered her head again.

Lian Xin questioned the old man again, but he didn’t make a sound. He lowered his head and kowtowed once to Lian Yu, then bent over and remained silent.

At this point, everything seemed to reach an impasse, as if the emperor’s side was being unreasonable. These death row prisoners, somehow threatened by Quan, Li, Huang and others in secret, would rather die than retract their confessions!

The truth must certainly not be like this. Suzhen’s hands clenched tighter, her brow furrowing as she secretly observed Shuangcheng and the others.

Lian Yue still smiled serenely, calmly surveying the people on the ground. Wuyan also frowned slightly, her face pale, but her gaze grew ever clearer and colder. Miao Yin’s eyes flowed expressively, her lips slightly curved, showing no fear. Shuangcheng lowered her head, seemingly pondering something, her thoughts unreadable.

So far, these women were all very composed, showing no sign of stage fright. But since none spoke up, they also hadn’t found a breakthrough in the interrogation.

“Your Majesty, according to my investigation, there is no evidence showing that Magistrate Huang perverted justice in handling cases. I boldly believe that this is actually County Magistrate Xue from Meng County being jealous of Magistrate Huang’s achievements and Minshan’s prosperity, which led to his memorial falsely accusing him of wrongdoing.”

Li Zhaoting stepped forward, breaking the momentary silence. Lian Yu looked toward Quan Feitong: “What does Prime Minister Quan think?”

Quan Feitong shook his head: “Your Majesty, this humble minister came here only to recuperate and does not interfere in this matter. Please do not blame me, Your Majesty.”

“Indeed, Prime Minister Quan is here for sightseeing and leisure – ignorance is not a crime,” Lian Yu smiled slightly, then looked toward Yan Da. “Does Minister Yan agree with Minister Li’s view?”

Yan Da’s expression was serious as he clasped his hands: “Reporting to Your Majesty, currently it appears so, but this case is of great importance. We should still thoroughly investigate and list all evidence to clear Magistrate Huang’s name. There are many foolish people in the world – we must prevent them from claiming the court is corrupt and officials protect each other.”

Suzhen smiled inwardly. Lian Yu threw the ball, and Yan Da caught it – ginger is indeed spicier when old. Li Zhaoting remained calm, responding courteously: “The Minister speaks reasonably.”

Huang Tianba was confident, sweeping his gaze over the women, then glancing at Suzhen before bowing to Lian Yu: “Your Majesty, this humble minister is willing to await Court Judge Li’s and the ladies’, two princesses’, and two young ladies’ judgment.”

Lian Yu stared at him for a moment before saying coolly: “Good. Magistrate Huang has been wronged. All conditioned phenomena, justice and law – I believe heaven can witness, time can witness.”

At this moment, Wuyan walked toward Huang Tianba’s secretary. Lian Yue’s eyes moved, almost simultaneously with her. Just as Wuyan was about to reach out to take the case records and confessions from the secretary, she laughed softly: “Please trouble the secretary to pass the prisoners’ confessions to this palace.”

Wuyan visibly tensed, her hand stopping in mid-air.

The secretary quickly nodded, but suddenly realizing Wuyan also wanted them, he was in a dilemma. Lian Yue laughed again: “Oh, does Consort Wei also want to see them? Then give them to Consort Wei first. When Consort Wei is finished, have someone bring them to this palace.”

Wuyan didn’t take them, saying coolly: “Since Princess Imperial spoke first, naturally Princess Imperial should use them first.”

Lian Yue lightly exclaimed “Oh my!” and said: “Then this palace shall not refuse such courtesy.”

Without her even moving, Huo Chang’an went over to fetch the books for her.

Suzhen watched with hidden anxiety. The interrogation yielded nothing. Wuyan was astute and wanted to find gaps from the autopsy records and various confessions, but was intercepted by Lian Yue. Though Lian Yue clearly acted second, she had now turned the tables and taken the initiative. Wuyan disdained to compete with her – everything was within Lian Yue’s calculations, playing right into her hands.

“Let’s arrange things this way for now. Everyone disperse and go study the case. You’ll all stay at this prefecture yamen. Any objections?” Lian Yu surveyed everyone and spoke slowly.

“Yes, we obey the edict.”

Everyone responded in unison. Miao Yin, who had been silent throughout, said softly: “Regarding this case, Miao Yin has matters to consult with Your Majesty. May Your Majesty grant private audience?”

Suzhen slightly pursed her lips. A moment of silence passed until Lian Yu answered “Good.”

“Your Majesty, from now on, may the prison be sealed? To avoid suspicion, Magistrate Huang may no longer come to the prison. Since Minister Li has reached an initial conclusion, he also need not come here again. And if we women authorized by the Empress Dowager and Minister Li need to conduct interrogations, we may freely enter and exit this place. Please grant Your Majesty’s permission.”

Shuangcheng suddenly raised her head, glanced lightly at Li Zhaoting, and requested permission from Lian Yu.

Li Zhaoting was slightly surprised, his gaze deepening as he looked at her, then he curved his lips in a smile, seemingly having no objection.

Lian Yu’s gaze showed approval as he nodded: “Granted.”

Lian Jie seized the opportunity to speak: “Since Prime Minister Quan came here to recuperate, presumably he also won’t come here alone.”

Quan Feitong naturally understood his meaning, laughed heartily, said “naturally,” then glanced coolly at Suzhen.

Shuangcheng had also made her move… Suzhen’s heart sank further as she bit her lips tightly.