The carriage raced through the streets of the capital.

As long as he got out of the city, he would have nothing to fear.

The city gate was coming into view—one hundred meters, fifty meters, twenty meters…

Suddenly, a group of bailiffs rushed out from the left side of the city gate tower and intercepted the carriage right in front of the gate.

“Whoa—” The coachman pulled on the reins. Seeing these bailiffs appearing before him, he was utterly confused and trembling with fear.

Each bailiff looked like a dark-faced demon.

Terrifying.

Due to the carriage’s sudden stop, Liu Zhinan was thrown backward, his back slamming against the carriage wall, painfully sore. After steadying himself, he called out, “What happened?”

The coachman turned and replied, “President Liu, we’ve… been stopped by officers.”

“What?”

Liu Zhinan’s heart lurched violently, filled with guilt. He then lifted the curtain to see that blocking his carriage was actually the Patrol Censor, who had brought a contingent of men to seal off the capital’s gate tightly. Even civilians rushing to leave the city at this hour had been stopped.

At that moment, he panicked. Countless possibilities flashed through his mind, stirring his heart into chaos.

The Patrol Censor walked to his carriage and politely said, “President Liu, I must trouble you to dismount.”

“Sir, Liu is in a hurry to leave the city on business. Please, sir, be accommodating.”

“This matter… can wait until later! Right now, this official has received an imperial decree to bring you to the Ministry of Justice. There must be no mistake.”

Uh!

Liu Zhinan’s expression changed drastically: “Sir, what is this about?”

“This official is also unclear. These are orders from above.”

“…” He was reluctant to dismount the carriage.

“President Liu, please don’t make things difficult for this official.” Though the Patrol Censor’s words were polite, his tone carried the commanding quality of official authority.

Liu Zhinan gripped the carriage curtain with great force, his entire face tightly tensed.

In the end, he could only dismount the carriage trembling.

Yet he asked unwillingly, “Sir, may I ask what crime exactly?”

“This official does not know.”

“Then why must you take me to the Ministry of Justice?”

The Patrol Censor had little patience. “President Liu, best not to ask so many questions. When you arrive at the Ministry of Justice, you will naturally know.”

Though he appeared calm on the surface, deep down he was still afraid—like being suspended over the edge of a cliff, where if the person holding him let go, he would surely die. That feeling was both panicked and terrifying.

The Patrol Censor at least gave him face and didn’t have him directly seized, allowing him to walk there himself.

But this journey took him a very long time to reach the Ministry of Justice.

The sky had turned pitch black. Inside the main hall of the Ministry of Justice, the atmosphere was solemn and grave. The surrounding bailiffs all had cold, stern expressions, like the grim reapers of the underworld, sending chills down one’s spine. The Minister of Justice sat in the elevated seat, his sharp eyes fixed on Liu Zhinan from the moment he entered, his gaze seeming to condense into a ball of scorching flame, ready to devour him alive.

Liu Zhinan’s scalp tightened.

Stepping in here meant stepping through the gates of hell!

Easy to enter, hard to leave!

He stood in the center of the hall and bowed to the Minister of Justice. “Sir.”

“President Liu, this official has been waiting for you for quite some hours.”

“I don’t know… what crime has Liu committed? Why have you brought me here?” He asked with lowered brows.

The Minister of Justice let out a cold laugh: “The Ministry of Justice handles cases—naturally serious criminal cases. Does President Liu not know this?”

“Liu naturally knows, but what does the sir mean?”

“Regarding Zhao Zhiwen’s death, this official still has some questions to ask you.”

“Please ask, sir.” Liu Zhinan maintained a composed appearance, looking even more respectful and obedient.

The Minister of Justice wouldn’t fall for his act. He emphasized repeatedly, “This is the public court of the Ministry of Justice. Whatever this official asks you, you must answer truthfully. On the night Zhao Zhiwen died, did you truly see him leave the Wenlai Pavilion through the back door?”

Liu Zhinan raised his eyes slightly. “Yes, I saw it with my own eyes.”

“And after that? Where did you go?”

“After that, I returned to my room to rest.”

“Then when Zhao Zhiwen died, did you leave the Wenlai Pavilion?”

Liu Zhinan paused, his expression indifferent. “He died at the hour of zi. At that time, I was sleeping in my room.”

“You must understand—this is the public court of the Ministry of Justice. If you conceal the truth, the crime will be compounded.” The Minister of Justice raised his voice.

“Every word Liu has spoken is true, without the slightest falsehood.” His face showed no flush, his heart didn’t race.

However—

A voice came from the rear of the court hall: “You’re lying!”

Jingrong appeared, supporting the ailing Ji Yunshu as they entered from the left side of the hall. Seeing this, guards immediately brought two chairs for them to sit.

The moment Liu Zhinan saw Ji Yunshu, his pupils constricted slightly. His upright posture also sagged somewhat as he trembled, “Lord Ji, every word Liu has spoken is true. I haven’t lied.”

Here are two words for you—ha ha!

Ji Yunshu’s body was unwell, her throat hoarse. “Since I say you’re lying, naturally I have my reasons.”

“I don’t understand what you mean, sir.”

“Liu Zhinan, you think your plan was flawless, but actually… you miscalculated!”

“My… plan? What plan do I have?” His voice trembled lightly.

Ji Yunshu was too lazy to beat around the bush and directly stated, “Zhao Zhiwen was killed by you!”

“Uh…” Liu Zhinan’s face changed dramatically. His feet stepped back slightly. He opened his mouth, and after a long while finally squeezed out a sentence: “I didn’t kill him. It has nothing to do with me. Please, Lord Ji… don’t wrongly accuse an innocent person.”

It sounded innocent, but in reality, it was sophistry.

Jingrong’s cold eyes turned stern. “If you’re innocent, why flee the city in the middle of the night?”

“I was leaving the city on business.”

“You were clearly acting with a guilty conscience.”

“I…”

Jingrong stood up and began pacing beside him, saying as he walked, “You knew the murderer had been captured and would inevitably reveal that Zhao Zhiwen was not killed by her. At that point, the investigation would naturally turn to you. You were afraid in your heart, so you packed your belongings to leave the capital, thinking that leaving the capital would let you rest easy. But Liu Zhinan, oh Liu Zhinan—this Great Lin empire is not yours. Your hands are stained with human life. How could leaving the capital wash that away?”

As he spoke, he observed Liu Zhinan’s expression.

Liu Zhinan’s eyes flickered, cold sweat appeared on his forehead, and he was extremely tense. He swallowed hard, his hands constantly trembling inside his robe.

He knew he had no way back. He just had to refuse to admit it no matter what.

He raised his head, feigning an air of righteous confidence. “Liu has not killed anyone. What Your Highness says… is merely speculation, without concrete evidence. How can you make such a determination?”

As the saying goes: a cornered dog fears no scalding water!

He already had one foot through the gates of hell—what more did he have to fear?

Just then, Ji Yunshu spoke up: “Very well. You want evidence? I’ll give you evidence.”

Everyone’s attention focused entirely on her.

Quietly waiting for what would come next!

They wanted to see what more this desperately struggling Liu Zhinan could possibly say!