“After I bring Gong Shilin to the Ministry of Justice for questioning, I will naturally produce the evidence.” Li Cheng said this.

“Bang!” Marquis Pingyang raised his hand and slammed the table, rising abruptly and saying: “Do you know that if you take Shilin to the Ministry of Justice, it’s equivalent to publicly making our Li family enemies with the Gong family!”

Li Cheng remained very calm. His expression was grave. Facing the furious Marquis Pingyang before him, he only replied: “Are you saying that for the sake of the two families’ relationship, Father wants me to turn a blind eye?”

“You…” Marquis Pingyang was momentarily too angry to speak.

His complexion was extremely unpleasant!

He glared fiercely at Li Cheng.

Li Cheng had actually already thought everything through during the afternoon at the City Administration Department.

And had made his decision.

Between justice and the relationship between the Li and Gong families, he chose justice.

When a person commits a wrong, they must pay the corresponding price. He said: “I remember that previously, when you had me take office at the City Administration Department, you hoped I could establish great merit and smoothly enter the court in the future. Now I’ve finally found clues and can capture the real murderer, yet you’re willing to have me drop this case in order to maintain the relationship with the Gong family. Father, you are the dignified Marquis Pingyang—how can you distort right and wrong?”

Distort right and wrong!

His tone was full of disappointment.

Marquis Pingyang felt as if someone had seized his heart.

A sudden sharp pain!

Meanwhile, Li Qiao suddenly stood up and immediately rebuked him: “Ah Cheng, how can you speak to Father like this?”

Li Cheng looked at his elder brother and gave a bitter laugh: “Elder Brother, I’ve always greatly respected you, but now, are you also going to have me do things against my conscience for the sake of a bit of profit?”

“Matters have priorities! If you really arrest Gong Shilin, have you thought about the consequences?” Li Qiao’s pair of bloodshot eyes stared fixedly at him, then he walked in front of him, grasped his arm tightly, suppressed his agitated emotions, and tried to persuade: “Ah Cheng, think carefully. If you really arrest Gong Shilin and bring him to justice, Left Chancellor Gong will definitely fight desperately to protect him. At that time, even if Gong Shilin is truly convicted, how well off will our Li family be? You know that the Li and Gong families have been friends for decades—we absolutely cannot let this be destroyed over this matter.”

Heh heh!

Was this still the elder brother Li Cheng had admired since childhood?

It turned out that in the face of interests, anyone would reveal an incomparably hideous side.

He laughed loudly: “Am I the one who’s confused? Or are you the ones who are confused?”

“Ah Cheng!”

He stepped back several paces: “Father, Elder Brother, it’s not that I haven’t considered the stakes involved. It’s precisely because I’ve considered them that today I didn’t take Gong Shilin away from the chancellor’s residence! I wanted to hear and see how you and Elder Brother would respond. But now I know—it turns out that in your eyes, human life truly isn’t even worth grass! You can act against your conscience for your own interests, but I cannot! In any case, no matter who commits a crime, I will show no mercy.”

Having said this, he turned and left.

Marquis Pingyang and Li Qiao’s moods were a complicated mixture of feelings.

They didn’t pursue him either!

And just as Li Cheng went out, he unexpectedly saw Li Wenshu standing at the doorway.

Her face was full of disbelief.

Then, under Li Cheng’s pained gaze, she slowly turned and walked away!

“Elder Sister!”

Li Cheng followed her.

Li Wenshu was very quiet, walking all the way to the pond in the rear courtyard.

She gazed at the frozen lake surface.

Standing there quietly, not saying a word.

The snow kept falling. A maid handed over an umbrella. Li Cheng held it over Li Wenshu’s head, then dismissed all the maids around them.

After a long while—

Li Wenshu said: “Now, I don’t know who I can still trust anymore.”

Her tone was cold.

Mixed with a trace of sadness.

“Elder Sister…” Li Cheng looked at her.

“I originally thought Mubai’s feelings for me were genuine, but unexpectedly… he only wanted to use me to achieve his goal of entering the court as an official! And I thought that perhaps he had loved me too, but even more laughable is that a girl named Su Qiao appeared, turning all his genuine feelings for me into nothing. I always thought I was very clever, clever enough to see through everything, but it turns out all of this was just me thinking too beautifully of things.”

Her tone carried despair!

Li Cheng didn’t know how to comfort her.

Li Wenshu continued: “And the most laughable thing is the truth of this case! The one who killed Mubai was actually Shilin.”

She laughed.

Endless mockery spilled from her pale lips.

The wind and snow swept by bleakly, blowing her thin body so it swayed precariously.

…

The next day, Li Cheng still brought his guards to the chancellor’s residence.

He ordered: “Bring him out.”

The City Administration Department’s guards dispersed, preparing to go into the courtyard to find Gong Shilin.

But—

Left Chancellor Gong had prepared early.

He suddenly raised his hand. The chancellor’s residence guards rushed out from everywhere, each wearing armor. Their imposing manner was far greater than the City Administration Department’s guards.

On the rooftops, there were even archers!

Surrounding the City Administration Department’s people completely!

As if trapped in a cage.

Left Chancellor Gong was very angry: “Even the Great King cannot send people to barge into my chancellor’s residence. Li Cheng, if you take action, don’t blame me for being impolite.”

Li Cheng’s expression didn’t change: “I’m carrying out official duties. Today, no matter what, I must bring Gong Shilin to the City Administration Department.”

“Then we’ll see if you have that ability.”

Left Chancellor Gong raised his hand, about to give orders to his people.

Suddenly—

“Stop!”

Marquis Pingyang’s voice suddenly rang out.

The chancellor’s residence guards dispersed one by one.

Marquis Pingyang strode forward. Without a word, he slapped Li Cheng.

Li Cheng nearly couldn’t keep his footing.

“You know what kind of place this is, yet you dare bring people in to arrest someone?” Marquis Pingyang roared with effort, then said to Left Chancellor Gong, “General Gong, Ah Cheng doesn’t understand matters. I’ll take him away right now.”

“Marquis, you’ve truly taught a fine son. When I initially agreed to arrange for Li Cheng to enter the City Administration Department, I never expected I was raising a wolf by my side.”

“Your words are too severe!”

“Your son brought people to barge into my residence to arrest my son for questioning—this is already the second time. If word gets out, what prestige will my chancellor’s residence have left? Moreover, we still don’t know whether Shilin is the murderer of Du Mubai or not. Just based on your claim of having evidence, you come to take him away—this is simply a provocation.”

“I will get to the bottom of the truth.”

However, Li Cheng suddenly rushed forward.

Completely unaffected by that slap.

He said: “I must take him away.”

Left Chancellor Gong smiled: “It seems today, a battle is unavoidable.”

Li Cheng showed no fear whatsoever.

And Marquis Pingyang grew anxious too. He said: “General Gong, if you truly give the order to attack, then General Gong, the friendship between our two families over generations will also end.”

“You’re the ones forcing my hand.” Left Chancellor Gong prepared to give the order.

But—

“Father.”

Gong Shilin walked out from the crowd.

His weary gaze looked at Li Cheng.

He slowly walked before him.

He said: “I’ll go with you to the City Administration Department.”