At this moment, at the entrance to the Ministry of Justice.

Prince Yi and Jingrong arrived at almost the same time.

The two were like two sharp-toothed tigers meeting in a beast-fighting arena—to become the victor, they would fight to the death without stopping.

Prince Yi maintained his unyielding posture, chin raised high. Those eyes, steeped in power and desire, swept over the composed Jingrong before him and Ji Yunshu and the others behind him one by one, then revealed a contemptuous expression.

He laughed coldly, “You truly have capability—you managed to turn things around in this round.”

Jingrong’s calm face showed almost no discernible expression. He said sarcastically, “To win, you didn’t hesitate to sacrifice an innocent person’s life. But don’t forget—truth will always triumph over eloquence.”

“Whether or not you can produce evidence remains to be seen. Be careful not to capsize in the gutter.”

“Those words—you’d better say them to yourself.” Jingrong curved his lips, leaning his body forward, close to his ear, reminding him, “Know when to stop—that’s the best strategy.”

Uh!

Know when to stop—that’s the best strategy.

These eight characters seemed laced with deadly poison, spreading through Prince Yi’s entire body in an instant.

He turned his head and also said a sentence by Jingrong’s ear, “Then I’ll also give you a sentence—take care of yourself.”

Having said this, he led his people inside.

When Wen Shisan passed by Ji Yunshu, his steps paused slightly. He glanced at her sideways, his gaze not as arrogant and triumphant as before.

Ji Yunshu met his line of sight and actually felt that his gaze was… apologetic!

Had she seen wrong?

Wen Shisan immediately withdrew his gaze and went inside.

Jingrong and the others followed close behind.

Inside the great hall of the Ministry of Justice.

Today, exceptionally, Lord Li permitted commoners to enter and observe the trial.

Many people came, blocking the entrance so tightly not even water could leak through.

Gao Meng’s companions also came!

Even the village head of Zhang Family Village had somehow arrived as well.

Lord Li sat in the hall, his expression serious, with some indescribable anxiety.

Below knelt Zhang Daqi, who had been escorted back from the execution ground. Having been tormented like this, though he hadn’t died, he had long ago been scared out of his wits by that executioner’s great blade. Before he was a puddle of mud; now he was like a piece of meat on a chopping block after narrowly escaping death, liable at any moment to be escorted back to the execution ground to experience that terrifying yet helpless moment again.

Jingrong and Prince Yi stood on either side of Zhang Daqi.

The two in opposition.

Lord Li said, “The Emperor has decreed to retry this case. This official will open court for retrial at the Ministry of Justice.”

His voice echoed through the vast hall.

Continuing, “However, this case has already been filed at both the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice. If there is new evidence determining that the murderer is not Zhang Daqi, as long as the evidence is solid, this official will truthfully report it before His Majesty.”

Produce the evidence!

Hearing this, Prince Yi laughed coldly, turning his head to look at Jingrong, his tone provocative, “You dared to send someone to stay the execution at the execution ground, so you must have evidence. Since that’s the case, present it before Lord Li and so many commoners. I also want to see it.”

Jingrong was in no hurry, only suddenly looking toward Village Head Zhang to the side.

Village Head Zhang trembled all over from being looked at.

Not daring to make a sound.

He asked, “Village Head Zhang, do you know about the origins of that dried well under the great Buddha?”

“Origins? Don’t… don’t know.”

“If this prince remembers correctly, you said that just over ten years ago, that great Buddha statue in the ruined temple suddenly developed many fine cracks. After that, strange incidents began occurring repeatedly in Zhang Family Village. Every year one or two young people would die of illness, correct?”

“Yes… that’s correct.”

“Then do you know that actually, before that great Buddha was constructed, similar incidents also occurred in Zhang Family Village?”

Uh!

Village Head Zhang was shocked, “How… how is this possible? The Buddha’s construction was approximately one hundred years ago—it happened back then too?”

He was the village head—how could he not know!

Jingrong: “It’s not surprising you don’t know, because after the great Buddha was completed, that matter was concealed.”

“Ah?”

Village Head Zhang was astonished.

Lord Li was also very puzzled, asking, “Your Highness, is this matter related to the dried well case?”

“Of course it’s related!”

“Then?”

Jingrong looked toward Ji Yunshu, with very trusting eyes, saying, “Better to let Master Ji explain it properly to everyone.”

Ji Yunshu nodded, stepped forward, and bowed to Lord Li: “This humble one has always enjoyed telling stories, so now, let me tell everyone a story.”

A story?

Telling a story at a time like this?

How leisurely and elegant.

And just outside the great hall of the Ministry of Justice among those observing commoners, an elderly man supported by someone was watching the situation inside with great interest.

Because his health was poor, he coughed a few times.

He heard Ji Yunshu inside speaking in an orderly manner, “Actually, this dried well case should begin from before the construction of that great Buddha in the ruined temple. Why did Zhang Family Village construct a great Buddha? And why is there a dried well under the great Buddha? I’m afraid even Village Head Zhang and the village elders don’t know. However, this humble one was fortunate enough to learn a tremendous secret.”

Everyone listened, quietly awaiting what would follow.

“About one hundred years ago, Zhang Family Village was just like now—almost every year one or two young people would perish. At first no one paid attention, but as things became increasingly serious, everyone suspected the village’s feng shui was bad, attracting some unclean things. You might ask, what connection do these strange incidents have with the great Buddha and dried well? Well, if this humble one shows you something, you’ll naturally understand.”

Having said this, she pulled out a piece of paper.

The paper was somewhat tattered, even severely yellowed.

She carefully unfolded it!

“Written on it are thirty-two characters. I’ll read them to you: ‘Buddha’s base opens, seven bones connect hearts, long iron locks souls, top bottom to middle, yin people must die, sacrifice with blood, well within Buddha below, all evil scattered completely.'”

Buddha’s base opens, seven bones connect hearts, long iron locks souls, top bottom to middle, yin people must die, mix with blood, well within Buddha below, all evil scattered completely?

Lord Li, “What does this mean?”

“This is a type of ritual sacrifice method.”

“Uh?”

“It means that to resolve the strange incidents in Zhang Family Village, eight people born in a yin year, yin month, yin day, and yin hour must be killed. Use iron rods to pierce through the bones of seven people, then pierce through one person’s heart, letting them bleed to death, then confine them in a well and suppress them with a great Buddha. Only this way can the strange incidents in the village be eliminated. This is also why Zhang Family Village later constructed that great Buddha and built a dried well under the great Buddha. But strangely enough, after the great Buddha and dried well were completed, no more strange incidents occurred in Zhang Family Village. So this paper became waste paper. But until over ten years ago, many fine cracks appeared on the great Buddha. After that day, young people in the village began dying continuously again.”