According to the customs of the imperial household of Da Zhou, the day following a formal conferment, Ziqing was required to accompany Jun Beiyue into the palace together to formally thank the Emperor for his grace.
However, just as Ziqing and Jun Beiyue were about to step out the door, they found Jiang Jingbo, the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, personally leading a group of men, blocking their path right at the entrance!
Jun Beiyue was clearly caught off guard, demanding coldly, “Jiang Jingbo, who gave you the authority to block the entrance to Prince Yao’s residence?”
Jiang Jingbo appeared somewhat intimidated, yet forced himself to step forward and answer regardless. “Prince Yao, this subordinate has been ordered to investigate the Chen family murder case, and must request that Her Highness the Princess Consort accompany us to the Court of Judicial Review.”
“What does the Chen family case have to do with her? Wasn’t she already questioned at the Han residence previously?” Jun Beiyue pressed further.
“Prince Yao, new evidence has now come to light directly implicating Her Highness in this case—therefore, Her Highness must accompany this subordinate,” Jiang Jingbo hastily explained.
“Evidence? What evidence? What direct connection?” Jun Beiyue pressed again, demanding a full explanation.
Jiang Jingbo immediately stepped forward, bowing respectfully, saying earnestly, “My lord, given the sensitive nature of this case, all evidence must remain confidential. This subordinate begs your understanding that he cannot disclose further details.”
This was standard procedure for the Court of Judicial Review, a matter of national law. Jun Beiyue understood full well the gravity of the situation, his eyes growing cold as he asked further, “Accompany you where, exactly? In what manner?”
“It may be necessary for Her Highness to… for Her Highness to…” Jiang Jingbo stammered, unable to finish.
“Speak!” Jun Beiyue demanded furiously. Ziqing could clearly sense his mounting agitation, and only now did she fully grasp the seriousness of the situation—once national law became involved, matters would inevitably grow far more complicated.
Jiang Jingbo still didn’t dare speak the words aloud, instead carefully producing a token. Ziqing froze in shock the moment she saw it—the character “Arrest” engraved right in the center of the token made its purpose unmistakably clear.
This was an arrest warrant. They intended to throw her in prison—she had become a murder suspect!
Jun Beiyue said nothing, yet his eyes, cold as ice, left Jiang Jingbo unable to meet his gaze directly.
“Prince Yao, this subordinate is merely following orders, acting in accordance with the laws of Da Zhou. I beg Your Highness to grant us the courtesy of cooperation.”
Whenever a case involved a member of the imperial family, neither the imperial clan nor the Imperial Clan Court held any authority to intervene—such matters had to be handed over to the Court of Judicial Review. However, arresting a member of the imperial family required an arrest warrant personally approved by the Emperor himself.
In other words, if the Emperor had approved this arrest warrant, it meant the case against her was already all but decided.
“When exactly did the Emperor approve this arrest warrant?” Jun Beiyue finally spoke.
“All the witness testimony and physical evidence were gathered together just last night. This humble official, recognizing the gravity of the matter, rushed into the palace overnight to report to His Majesty. His Majesty deliberated through the entire night, and only after this morning’s court session did he inform this humble official and grant the arrest warrant,” Jiang Jingbo answered immediately.
Seeing Jun Beiyue fall silent, he didn’t dare delay any further, seizing the opportunity to give the order. “Someone, please escort the Princess Consort.”
Before an arrest warrant, even Jun Beiyue held no authority to intervene. His eyes remained cold as he murmured quietly, “Don’t worry. They can’t touch you.”
Ziqing’s heart inexplicably warmed at these words, and she suddenly felt the urge to say the same back to him, “Don’t worry”—yet in the end, she held herself back, obediently nodding and walking down the stone steps on her own.
Jiang Jingbo clasped his hands together respectfully, bowing. “Many thanks for Your Highness’s understanding. Her Highness, my apologies for the offense!”
With that, he respectfully escorted Ziqing away. She had walked quite some distance before instinctively glancing back, only to see Jun Beiyue still standing alone at the entrance, watching her go.
Just yesterday, she had been formally honored with a grand conferment; today, she was being served with an arrest warrant right at the gates of Prince Yao’s residence. Ziqing couldn’t help but laugh coldly to herself—without the Emperor’s own arrest warrant, Jun Beiyue would never have cooperated so readily, and even with sufficiently damning fabricated evidence, the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review would never have dared act so boldly against her, given her current status.
The mastermind behind all this was, once again, none other than Emperor Tianhui himself.
Ziqing laughed coldly to herself—one wave of trouble hadn’t even settled before another rose up behind it. If she didn’t show them what she was truly capable of, did Emperor Tianhui genuinely think she was some sickly cat to be pushed around at will?
She had been struggling to find that bastard’s whereabouts anyway, and now the Court of Judicial Review, of all places, had conveniently delivered itself right into her hands as the perfect investigative headquarters—why would she possibly pass up such an opportunity?
Upon arriving at the Court of Judicial Review, Jiang Jingbo proved courteous enough, not throwing Ziqing directly into a cell, but instead leading her to a guest hall, where tea was served.
“Your Highness, you may need to endure staying here for the next few days—please, if there’s anything at all making you uncomfortable, do let this humble official know.”
“Mm. Minister Jiang, is there any witness testimony or physical evidence you can share with me now?” Ziqing asked.
“Please wait a moment, Your Highness. This case won’t officially go to trial until tomorrow. This humble official has arranged proper guest quarters for you—please, do take some time to rest,” Jiang Jingbo said, summoning a servant to show her the way.
Ziqing, entirely unbothered, nodded politely and followed the servant away…
Meanwhile, within the imperial study, numerous ministers still lingered, seeking audience with the Emperor, while Jun Beiyue sat waiting quietly in the imperial garden.
“My lord, Jiang Jingbo is one of Consort Yi’s men. We still have Ouyang Jingshi in our custody—shall we release word of that now?” a shadow guard murmured quietly.
Just yesterday, Ouyang Jingshi had openly defied the imperial edict, and Jun Beiyue had deliberately withheld reporting the matter to the imperial study thus far!
“Have you still not realized that even if Father Emperor executes Ouyang Jingshi, he still wants Ziqing dead?” Jun Beiyue said coldly. However carefully he had calculated everything, how had he overlooked this matter with the Chen family?