After pondering in his mind for a while, Liu He thought about how this case should be judged.

His eyebrows couldn’t help but twitch several times.

He stared at the three people below and finally issued his order: “Bingzheng, you falsely accused Du Mubai of plagiarism, causing him to bear an unbearable stigma. Though you acknowledge your error and can be considered repentant, this crime cannot be pardoned. From this day forward, your status as a provincial graduate is revoked, you are banned from taking the imperial examinations for life, you will receive fifty lashes with the rod, and you will be imprisoned for five years.”

His voice echoed throughout the great hall of the Ministry of Justice!

After hearing this, Bingzheng’s expression remained calm.

As if it had nothing to do with him.

He kowtowed once more.

“Thank you, my lord.”

His voice was heavy.

He willingly accepted all of this. Naturally, he had to bear the consequences of the mistakes he had made.

He could finally release the guilt in his heart through this punishment.

No longer would he be awakened nightly by nightmares!

Liu He glared at Fang Tong and Jiang Wen: “As for you two, though you are not the principal offenders, you are still accomplices. You may be spared imprisonment, but you must still be punished accordingly. Similarly, your status as provincial graduates is revoked, and you are banned from taking the examinations for life.”

What?

Status as provincial graduates revoked, banned from examinations for life.

The two were dumbstruck.

They had thought it would only be for a few years, but never imagined it would be for life.

Not only that, but their status as provincial graduates was revoked as well.

For scholars, this was undoubtedly like being dragged to the execution ground.

Though Fang Tong was extremely shocked, he knew there was no way to reverse this.

But Jiang Wen couldn’t control himself and shouted: “My lord, we beg my lord’s mercy!”

“Mercy? You are conspirators. It is already merciful that I haven’t imprisoned you.”

“We were merely deceived! We didn’t truly intend to wrongly accuse Du Mubai! My lord, you must examine this matter clearly!”

“You committed the crime, yet dare to shout for me to examine clearly—how detestable! Guards, drag them all out and administer the beating!”

The bailiffs of the Ministry of Justice stepped forward and dragged the three out.

Two stopped struggling, while one continued to wail.

Even after being taken out, his voice could still be heard from afar.

Liu He rubbed his temples, his head buzzing.

He was indeed only suited to serve in the Ministry of Personnel. Being an official in the Ministry of Justice was truly exhausting work.

But in his heart remained a persistent doubt—he felt this matter was certainly not simple.

Unfortunately, there were no clues to speak of, and Bingzheng had nothing more to say.

Yet the case was pressing and had to be concluded.

He only feared this was yet another wrongful case!

…

The City Patrol Department.

Du Mubai’s coffin had already been brought over.

The workers handled it carefully, afraid of making any mistakes.

Naturally, they also followed Ji Yunshu’s instructions, stuffing the edges of the coffin opening with wet cloth to prevent any impact on the skeletal remains inside during transport.

Li Cheng watched from the side the entire time.

He reminded them from time to time: “Be careful! Don’t make any mistakes! What’s inside is very important. If you damage it, you can’t afford to compensate!”

The workers became even more careful.

They slowly carried it into the morgue.

Gently set it down.

Only then did they breathe long sighs of relief.

Though it was the dead of winter, they were all dripping with sweat, panting, utterly exhausted.

Ji Yunshu and Jingrong stood outside the door.

With Li Cheng watching, they felt at ease.

Just then—

A guard came running over, saying: “Master Ji, Young Master Jing, news has come from the Ministry of Justice.”

“What news?”

“Fang Tong, Jiang Wen, and Bingzheng have been sentenced!”

“How were they sentenced?” Ji Yunshu asked.

The guard recounted the matter in detail for them.

Ji Yunshu had actually anticipated this.

However—

She sighed: “I just didn’t expect Bingzheng would be imprisoned for five years.”

Jingrong: “Such a punishment is already light!”

If this were in Da Lin, according to the law, he would have been executed!

Ji Yunshu understood his meaning, but still felt some regret in her heart.

“You seem to have something else on your mind, related to Bingzheng’s case?” Jingrong asked.

Indeed it was related!

She suspected there was another manipulator behind the case, which was why she had kept Bingzheng back alone that day and had that conversation with him. But since he refused to speak, there was nothing she could do.

“Forget it, perhaps I’m overthinking.” She shook her head.

Jingrong didn’t press further.

At this moment, the workers had untied all the ropes on the coffin, and the two of them both entered.

Li Cheng asked her: “Master Ji, what should we do now?”

“Remove the coffin lid.”

“Understood.” Li Cheng turned to give orders. “Open it.”

The workers received the command and began tearing off the cloth sealing the coffin lid, preparing to open it. But Ji Yunshu suddenly called out to stop.

Everyone looked at her in unison.

“What’s wrong?”

“Cover your noses with cloth.”

“Why?”

“A person has been lying in the coffin for six years. Inside it must be rotted beyond recognition, the smell will be foul, plus there will be corpse qi.”

With this explanation, everyone understood.

They all found pieces of cloth to wrap around themselves, covering their noses.

Only then did they begin opening the coffin!

As the coffin was being opened, Ji Yunshu fumbled for something from her sleeve, then looked at Jingrong beside her and said, “Open your mouth.”

This routine again!

Jingrong was already accustomed to it.

He obediently opened his mouth.

Ji Yunshu stuffed a piece of ginger soaked in sesame oil into his mouth.

While saying: “You’ve been with me so long, yet you still can’t get used to the smell of corpses.”

It sounded like a complaint, but carried a flirtatious undertone.

Jingrong’s lips curved slightly upward, his eyes full of smiles.

He responded: “I’m only accustomed to the fragrance on your body.”

Shameless rogue.

Ji Yunshu rolled her eyes at him.

Little did she know, a minor official standing behind her was completely stunned!

What had he just heard?

“I’m only accustomed to the fragrance on your body?”

This…

Two grown men saying such things—it made his hair stand on end. He had thought Master Ji was a refined gentleman, but never expected he had such proclivities. No wonder these two were inseparable—so that was their relationship.

Ugh!

The official’s face grew increasingly pale.

At this moment, the coffin lid had been opened.

The coffin wasn’t made of particularly fine wood, but it wasn’t inferior wood either. Though the people from Yi Zhuang had buried him, the coffin was said to have been purchased by the Marquis of Pingyang, who paid for it himself. After all, they had been master and disciple—he couldn’t let him rot in the wilderness just because he plagiarized poetry.

As the coffin lid was removed, a foul odor indeed emanated from inside the coffin.

Even through the cloth, it was nauseating.

Several workers grimaced and stepped back.

Everyone in the room rushed outside!

Fortunately, the smell was only momentary. Plus, it being the dead of winter, the cold wind swept in and the odor dissipated considerably.

Ji Yunshu removed the cloth covering her nose and walked to the coffin, her gaze peering inside.

A filthy set of white bones lay within. The clothing on the body had already rotted, stuck to the bones. Probably during the moving and carrying, the bones had become somewhat scattered.

Fortunately, it was still a complete skeleton!