Ever since the Marquis of Changchun was fined a year’s salary at the end of last year, everyone in the court knew he had fallen out of the Emperor’s favor. Now that the matter of the Marquis of Changchun murdering his first wife had come to light, what more was there to say? Naturally, it had to be investigated.

Not investigating was not an option either. The Marquis of Changchun’s second wife had made such a scene by running into the street that the whole city knew about it. If they didn’t investigate, wouldn’t that make the common people of the capital curse them for officials protecting each other?

Minister Zhao of the Ministry of Justice stroked his beard: “Investigate! This must be investigated!”

Smothering one’s wedded wife to death—this was simply too vile.

When the gossip reached his tigress wife’s ears at home, she had slammed the table, warning him that if he didn’t properly deal with the Marquis of Changchun, she would confiscate all his private money.

If his private money was confiscated, how could he go to Youjian Tavern to drink?

Thinking of such painful consequences, Minister Zhao handled matters with exceptional efficiency and invited the Marquis of Changchun to the courtroom.

In the courtroom were also officials from the Court of Judicial Review, the Censorate, and other government offices.

The Marquis of Changchun was a hereditary noble, and Princess Huayang’s status was even more special. Such a case naturally could not be handled solely by the Ministry of Justice—multiple government offices needed to participate in the trial.

Standing in the courtroom, the Marquis of Changchun looked at these faces that could all be called familiar, his own face burning hot.

He had never imagined that one day he would meet these people under such circumstances.

“Bring in Yang Shi.”

Following the slap of the gavel by the Vice Minister of Justice who was presiding over the trial, a woman with disheveled hair was brought in.

The Marquis of Changchun stared at Yang Shi, his teeth grinding audibly.

What he had even less expected was that one day he would face Yang Shi in court.

Yang Shi met his gaze, her eyes surging with mad hatred.

Minister Zhao, observing from the side, stroked his beard and gave the Vice Minister of Justice a meaningful look.

Hurry up with the trial, close the case early and go drink early. Once the private money was spent, he wouldn’t have to worry about the tigress finding and confiscating it.

The Vice Minister of Justice also didn’t want to delay.

The Minister had spoken—if the case went smoothly, he would treat him to a meal at Youjian Tavern.

That was Youjian Tavern—the cost of one meal there could make him shake with dread.

Hehe, but when the Minister was treating, it was different. Even if he ate until he couldn’t walk, he would be perfectly steady.

“Yang Shi, state the details of the case.” The Vice Minister of Justice spoke, interrupting the staring match between the man and woman below.

Yang Shi knelt down, her trembling voice echoing in the courtroom: “Thirteen years ago, the Marquis of Changchun brought me to visit Princess Huayang, who was feeling unwell… They got into an argument, and in his rage, the Marquis of Changchun grabbed the soft pillow from the head of the bed and covered Princess Huayang’s face…”

Although everyone had already heard about the Marquis of Changchun murdering his first wife, hearing Yang Shi describe the details of this murder case from thirteen years ago in the solemn courtroom still made everyone feel a chill in their hearts. They looked at the Marquis of Changchun with shock and suspicion.

Looking at the dignified appearance of the Marquis of Changchun, who would have thought he could be so ruthless and vicious?

Back when the Prince of Zhennan’s manor fell into trouble, disliking one’s wife for affecting the family’s prospects was understandable human nature. He could have simply neglected and ignored her, but instead, he killed her without hesitation.

Such viciousness was indeed rare.

“So you’re saying you were at the scene at that time?”

Yang Shi nodded: “Yes.”

“You personally saw the Marquis of Changchun kill Princess Huayang?”

“Yes.” Yang Shi’s tone became even more firm.

“She’s lying!” The Marquis of Changchun finally couldn’t listen anymore and flew into a rage. “You vile woman! After being divorced, you harbor resentment toward me and actually slander me like this!”

“I’m not lying. It’s you who forced me. You wanted to kill me to silence me.”

“You were living perfectly well in that alley. Why would I kill you?” The Marquis of Changchun cupped his hands toward the Vice Minister of Justice in the hall. “Your Honor, this vile woman instigated servants in my manor to snatch back the banknotes given to thugs, causing me to be impeached by censors and lose my wife’s imperial title. I thought of how she bore children for me, so even after divorcing her, I still arranged lodging for her and sent money monthly. If I wanted to kill her, why would I wait until now? Clearly, this vile woman harbors dissatisfaction and is spouting nonsense. I implore Your Honor to investigate clearly.”

The Vice Minister of Justice looked at Yang Shi: “Yang Shi, you say the Marquis of Changchun wanted to kill you. Do you have evidence?”

Yang Shi bit her lip hard.

She had run into the street shouting that the Marquis of Changchun wanted to kill her only to attract attention in the shortest time. What she really wanted to do was expose this man’s murder of Princess Huayang thirteen years ago, to make sure he got what he deserved.

“You have no evidence, do you?” The Marquis of Changchun sneered. “Your Honor, saying I wanted to kill her is clearly this mad woman’s delusion. You must clear my name.”

Yang Shi’s head throbbed painfully, making her thoughts somewhat confused. She blurted out: “You murdering Princess Huayang is something I saw with my own eyes!”

The Marquis of Changchun’s expression became even calmer: “That too is just your delusion, slandering me to vent your resentment over being divorced. Otherwise, produce evidence.”

Fortunately, this vile woman was incoherent, or this would really be troublesome.

The Marquis of Changchun secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The observing officials exchanged glances.

Looking at Yang Shi’s state, what she was saying indeed wasn’t credible enough.

Lin Teng quietly entered and nodded slightly to the Vice Minister of Justice in the hall.

The Vice Minister of Justice slowly spoke: “Since Yang Shi cannot produce evidence—”

As he drew out his words, the Marquis of Changchun couldn’t help but curve his lips.

Without evidence, naturally the matter would be dropped.

Although Yang Shi’s commotion had humiliated him greatly, and rumors about him killing his first wife would inevitably spread in the future, at least he could continue being a marquis peacefully rather than becoming a prisoner.

The Vice Minister of Justice slapped the gavel and finished his sentence: “Then please invite Fifth Young Mistress Xu Xu Shi of the General’s Manor to the hall.”

Xu Xu Shi?

The Marquis of Changchun didn’t react at first to who this person was. When he saw the young woman who walked in, his eyes suddenly tightened.

How could it be Fang’er!

The Xu Xu Shi who entered the hall was none other than the Marquis of Changchun’s eldest daughter, Xu Fang.

Xu Fang paid her respects to the presiding official and glanced at the Marquis of Changchun.

“Fang’er, what are you doing here?” An ominous premonition descended like dark clouds, making the Marquis of Changchun’s entire body tense.

The vague suspicion he had harbored for many years seemed about to be answered at this moment.

“Hearing that Father and Yang Shi were facing each other in court over Mother’s matter, your daughter came.”

Xu Fang spoke calmly, making the Marquis of Changchun’s ominous premonition even stronger.

His face turned cold: “You are already a woman of the Xu family. Showing your face in public by running to the courtroom like this—won’t this make the General’s Manor say that the Marquis of Changchun’s manor didn’t teach you properly!”

Xu Fang smiled: “Your daughter had no mother to teach her from childhood, so indeed I’m not good enough. Fortunately, the Xu family is magnanimous and has not been critical.”

The Vice Minister of Justice spoke at the right moment: “Xu Xu Shi, what do you have to say?”

Xu Fang knelt down and said word by word: “Thirteen years ago, I personally saw Father smother Mother to death with a pillow…”

As these words came out, the entire hall erupted in uproar.

What? The Marquis of Changchun’s daughter was present when he murdered Princess Huayang?

“Unfilial daughter, shut your mouth!” The Marquis of Changchun shouted sternly, masking his inner weakness.

Xu Fang ignored the Marquis of Changchun’s words and continued speaking. The details she described differed little from Yang Shi’s account.

“This must be something they colluded on!” The Marquis of Changchun struggled to maintain his stance. “Honorable officials, consider this: if I had truly murdered Princess Huayang with my eldest daughter at the scene, to keep the secret I would have sent her back to our ancestral home long ago. How would she be here today?”

Xu Fang curved her lips in self-mockery and said word by word: “Because Father didn’t know—I was hiding in the wardrobe at the time.”