Na Yan had already received word when Li Cheng and the others went to the Academy.

But what interested him most wasn’t actually this case!

Rather, it was that expert Li Cheng had brought back—Master Ji.

He sat in his room drinking tea, his qi calm and spirit composed, but his brow was slightly furrowed.

He’d been pondering something all along!

Someone came from outside: “Your Highness, Minister Huang from the Ministry of Justice has arrived.”

Na Yan continued brewing tea, still unmoved.

The person who came to report stood at the doorway, waiting all the while.

After a long time, Na Yan finally said, “Have Minister Huang wait at the entrance.”

“Yes!”

He continued brewing tea.

Minister Huang was now waiting in the front hall.

A servant from the residence came over and said, “Minister Huang, please follow me.”

Minister Huang followed him.

But when they had just reached the entrance to Na Yan’s courtyard, the servant said, “Your Excellency, please stop here. His Highness said to have you wait right at this spot.”

“Here?”

He couldn’t believe it.

Snow was still falling, the cold wind cutting—he had only recently recovered from illness. Waiting here, wouldn’t that be torment?

He confirmed: “Did His Highness truly say this?”

“Minister Huang, His Highness indeed said exactly this.”

“…” Minister Huang dared not disobey. He glanced toward the courtyard, heaved a heavy sigh, pulled his sleeves tighter, and said, “Very well, then this official will wait here.”

The servant bowed and went inside first.

Minister Huang stood at the entrance, shivering from the cold!

But he also understood one thing—the Second Prince was punishing him!

As for the reason, it should be about the reopening of Du Mubai’s case this time.

But regarding various details, he was still somewhat confused and hadn’t thought things through very clearly. He estimated that once he met the Second Prince, all would become clear.

Na Yan, who had been brewing tea all along, finally stopped.

He glanced outside—heavy snow falling.

Because the courtyard gate was still separated from here by a long corridor, he didn’t see Minister Huang currently standing at the entrance shivering from cold.

After that servant had led Minister Huang there, he returned to wait outside Na Yan’s door.

Awaiting instructions!

Na Yan said, “Go call Minister Huang inside.”

The servant received the order: “Yes!”

He hurried off again.

If he’d gone any later, Minister Huang would probably have already frozen into a ball.

When Minister Huang saw the servant coming, his heart leaped with joy.

“Your Excellency, His Highness requests you come inside.”

“Good.”

He rubbed his ice-cold hands.

The servant led him inside.

But when he reached the doorway, Minister Huang stopped again and bowed with cupped hands: “I pay my respects to Your Highness.”

Seeing him trembling all over from the cold, Na Yan frowned and said, “Come in.”

Minister Huang brushed the snow from his shoulders, stamped his feet a few times at the entrance, then entered.

“Sit!”

Minister Huang sat down.

Na Yan instructed the servant again, “Go fetch a warming brazier.”

Soon, the servant brought over a warming brazier and placed it beside the still-shivering Minister Huang.

Then Na Yan poured him a cup of hot tea.

Only then did Minister Huang’s body gradually warm up.

This truly was slapping him then giving him a sweet!

“Your Highness, I know this time was negligence on my part.” He took the initiative to admit his error.

Na Yan didn’t beat around the bush with him either. His expression cold and severe, he said directly, “You clearly knew the Li family’s young master had already obtained evidence completely sufficient to overturn the case—you simply couldn’t avoid it. Since you couldn’t avoid it, why feign illness? Instead, you let Na Tuo find an opening to exploit.”

“At the time I was anxious and truly didn’t think much about it!” Thinking about it now, he was filled with regret.

Na Yan said in a heavy voice, “I’d originally wanted to watch the Li family’s young master cause trouble, but unexpectedly he stumbled upon the truth that Du Mubai was murdered! Now that this case is reopened, how many people will suffer! First and foremost, you! Na Tuo must have known you’re this prince’s man, which is why he ran to the Ministry of Justice to interfere in this case—his purpose was to uproot your Ministry of Justice people one by one. And once you become implicated, it’s equivalent to plucking this prince’s plumage. This tactic of killing with a borrowed knife is truly excellent! He must be on his way to the palace right now. Once before Father Prince, he can first claim credit, and second, accuse you of deliberately avoiding the case. Killing two birds with one stone!”

Indeed, Na Tuo’s sudden appearance at the Ministry of Justice to actively help Li Cheng truly had another purpose!

Minister Huang regretted it to death.

Had he known, he shouldn’t have feigned illness—he should have actively opened the case. Then Na Tuo couldn’t have found an opening to exploit, nor could he accuse him before Prince Huyi.

Thinking about it now, he would certainly suffer!

Worry filled his heart: “Then Your Highness, what should we do now?”

What to do?

There was nothing to be done!

Na Yan said, “Once the matter reaches Father Prince, no one can save you.”

“Your Highness, you must save me.”

“It depends on your own fortune!”

Minister Huang’s face showed worry.

His heart deeply uneasy!

He could only pray for heaven’s protection!

Afterward, Na Yan noticed the case file he’d brought in, his eyes sharpening: “Is that the case file the Li family’s young master brought to your Ministry of Justice?”

Oh my, Minister Huang had nearly forgotten.

He quickly presented the case file.

While saying, “That’s right, this is the case file. It was written by that Master Ji whom Young Master Cheng hired to help him solve the case. I’ve already reviewed it—it can be said to be flawless.”

That Master Ji?

Na Yan became even more interested.

He read through that case file a full three times.

Truly well written!

The person Li Cheng valued enough to hire for solving cases was indeed extraordinary.

If he could obtain this person, it might be like adding wings to a tiger!

The Marquis of Pingyang’s premonition earlier had indeed been correct—he’d been worried that the expert his son hired would display such brilliance that various “talent scouts” would compete for him.

The facts proved that “talent scout” Na Yan already had this idea!

“Master Ji, this person… just who is he?”

…

Not long after, Na Tuo reported the entire sequence of events to Prince Huyi, who flew into a great rage.

He smashed the bowl containing medicinal broth on the spot!

While praising Na Tuo for resolving this matter promptly, he then issued an imperial edict.

The edict stated that Minister Huang’s position as Minister of Justice and Vice Minister Zhong’s position as Vice Minister of Justice were temporarily revoked.

Both fell from power together!

This was equivalent to breaking off Na Yan’s influence in the Ministry of Justice.

At the same time, Prince Huyi placed this case entirely under the City Patrol Department’s jurisdiction, with the Ministry of Justice and the other five ministries providing assistance, determined to investigate this case thoroughly.

This time, Na Tuo had thoroughly crushed Na Yan.

The factional struggle between the two also completely began because of this matter…

A storm of blood and carnage was about to unfold in the Huyi Prince’s court!

Soon, this matter caused a sensation throughout all of Gaoding City.

Du Mubai’s suicide from years ago once again became something everyone casually discussed over tea.

Everyone debated while also speculating one after another.

Wondering just who the murderer was?

Could it truly be the same murderer who killed Su Qiao?

And that group of scholar candidates at the Academy also put down their books and began discussing this matter.

“Let me tell you, our Academy is truly haunted! Several people have already said that when going out at night, they saw a man wearing scholarly robes standing under a large tree, his face pale, smiling at people—extremely terrifying. Tell me, could that person be Du Mubai’s ghost?” Hearts were filled with dread…