From childhood to adulthood, except for the palace examination’s second trial, she had never been this nervous. Suzhen stood below the judgment hall waiting, wondering if Zhaoting would come to watch. If he were there, perhaps she could calm down.

People quickly arrived. The court sent Prime Ministers Yan and Quan along with Wei Chenghui to show the importance placed on this trial, and it was indeed important.

The Princess of Zhennan was beautiful and plump. With a sideways glance, she shot Suzhen a fierce look—clearly a formidable and sharp-tongued character. She said, “Chief Justice Li, before departing, my prince said we respect the friendship with Great Zhou and have repeatedly yielded. If Great Zhou retries this case fairly, so be it. But if Great Zhou perverts justice and repeatedly pressures us, Great Wei is not one to be bullied at will.”

Prince Zhennan was much more restrained, but the smile at his lips showed deep scheming—no wonder it took someone like Quan Feitong to deal with him.

Pei Fengji was the same as that day, eyes smiling, imposing in presence. Seeing her, he looked slightly surprised, as if not expecting an old acquaintance, but then tilted his chin back with a light laugh, not taking her seriously.

After brief courtesies and pleasantries, everyone took their seats in the dragon and phoenix chairs prepared below the main hall, and bailiffs outside began letting common people into the yamen.

Looking out, Suzhen saw beyond the barriers a crowd so large it filled the entire courtyard between the third gate and the ceremonial gate. Her heart jumped, then she suddenly noticed a gaze glancing toward her.

Four or five rows into the crowd, a man in blue robes looked intently at her. She was both surprised and delighted—Lian Yu? Lian Yu had also come in plain clothes. Beside him were exactly Lian Jie, Lian Qin, and Lian Xin. Could there be any doubt?

Her anxious heart relaxed in an instant. At this moment, Xiaozhou at her side nudged her with his elbow and whispered, “My lord, everyone’s here. We need to perform this play well.”

Following Xiaozhou’s gaze, she saw at the right exit of the inner hall, in the shadowy corners, many people standing in a circle: Chao Huang, Marquis Murong Jing, Huo Chang’an, Si Lanfeng, Liang Yida, Xiao Yue… and Li Zhaoting.

Yes, they had all come!

Among these people, almost none had come to see anything other than how she would lose this lawsuit.

Many of them smiled at her meaningfully as they passed, and among them, Quan Feitong’s smile was the most beautiful.

Li Zhaoting pressed his lips slightly, with the same slight sternness as when he used to scold her for being naughty in the past, but now there was something else she couldn’t describe. He didn’t like her this way—disgusted, very much so!

Father…

I still remember you saying my precious daughter was just like a boy.

I said women could be the same as men.

Why can only men write letters of divorce? Why can only men be masters of the house? Why can only men govern the country and bring peace?

Zhaoting, I can also be like you. I’m not just making trouble.

Wuqing held a staff, standing with Leng Xue, Tieshou, and Zhuiming at the four ceremonial positions below the platform. She slowly surveyed all the various characters and returned their smiles. Looking at Xiaozhou, she loudly commanded, “Open court!”

Xiaozhou raised an eyebrow and smiled, announcing in a deep voice.

“By order of the Chief Justice, beat the drum, open court!”

Leng Xue personally wielded the staff.

Dong, dong, dong… A series of intense, resonant beats, the court drum striking directly at hearts.

Bailiffs brought out the suspected murderer Xie Sheng, who had been transferred to the Chief Justice Yamen, while Xiaozhou also had the plaintiff Mochou brought to the hall.

Xie Sheng’s parents had also come, now standing at the front of the crowd, tears streaming down their faces, crying to heaven and earth.

In contrast, Mochou was unusually quiet, dressed in plain white clothes without makeup. She didn’t look at Xie Sheng, who was covered in wounds and dirt, but stared fixedly at the “Mirror Hung High” plaque in the center of the court.

Xie Sheng didn’t look at his parents, occasionally stealing glances at Mochou with watery eyes. At this moment he no longer showed much timidity, but more of a haggard weariness.

Suzhen suddenly thought that between him and Mochou, there might have truly been love. Only it came too early and too late, missing by just one night.

At this time, the court interrogation officially began, with He Sai coming out to present the case.

It was exactly the same as what Suzhen had heard in the Imperial Study that day, and identical to the court records He Sai had submitted.

Unfortunately, the crime scene—the courtesan’s residence—had mysteriously caught fire the day after He Sai closed the case, before Suzhen took over. The scene was destroyed, making it impossible to find any traces from when the incident occurred.

After listening, Suzhen slowly asked, “May I ask Minister He, if Xie Sheng truly killed someone, by common sense he should have fled the capital with Mochou overnight, or pretended nothing happened. Yet Mochou went to report to the authorities for justice—why is this?”

“Exactly!”

People in the crowd immediately echoed.

“Minister Li’s words are mistaken.” He Sai glanced at the top of the court hall and smiled. “Xie Sheng killed someone in a moment of viciousness. How could he not panic afterward? Not daring to clean up the scene, he hurried home, but once there and thinking carefully, though everyone at the scene was dead, only the courtesan’s gold bracelet was missing. In his panic, he hadn’t thought to take some treasures from the scene to confuse matters, making people suspect ordinary thieves killing for robbery. Once the bodies were discovered, wouldn’t suspicion immediately fall on him? You must know that everyone saw him have a heated argument with the courtesan that night, and she even had him beaten and injured—including you, Minister Li!”

“Seeing this, he and Mochou discussed striking first. Why not find a scapegoat? So Mochou went to beat the drum and cry injustice, bringing this Wei prince to court, falsely accusing him of murder to escape their own guilt!”

“Dog official, you’re slandering us!”

Mochou trembled with anger, pointing at He Sai and shouting harshly.

“Little slut, you’re just making false accusations. How dare you interrupt here? Minister Li, if you don’t have her beaten with boards, how can you convince the crowd? Are you letting this cheap woman randomly despise your court officials and despise the court?”

Princess Zhennan’s red lips opened and closed as she smiled coldly.

Her accompanying entourage also loudly agreed.

Suzhen laughed and said, “Princess, please calm your anger. Since this is a retrial, before judgment is passed, whether it’s a false accusation is not yet known. Mochou is still innocent. Since she believes Minister He’s words are wrong, it’s natural for her to voice opposition. Everyone, do you think Mochou is despising the court?”

“No!” The crowd of common people outside immediately shouted cheerfully.

Princess Zhennan’s expression changed, and she heard this Li Huaisu frown and say, “Rather, since the princess is not involved in the case, speaking out now gives somewhat of a feeling of… disturbing the court, this…”

Princess Zhennan’s face was like frost as she stood up abruptly, but Prince Zhennan pulled her back down. The man smiled faintly, “Madam, please be patient. As they say, heaven’s net has wide meshes, but nothing escapes. Before the evidence, Minister Li will naturally know how to judge.”