This judgment was remarkably similar to what Miss Liu had said.

Only then did the emperor finally sit up straight: “My beloved minister, aren’t you also suspecting Yuncheng? But why would he kill my beloved minister Hai?”

“At present, there’s no direct evidence pointing to Lord Yun. Your servant has only ruled out these two people present.” Shen Qiyuan replied solemnly. “Hua Fuman and Zhao Yanning are not the murderers.”

Ruyi couldn’t help but sigh at how interesting this world was. The same words spoken from her mouth versus from Shen Qiyuan’s mouth produced results as different as heaven and earth. The emperor who couldn’t listen earlier was now nodding appreciatively: “My beloved minister speaks reasonably.”

The Imperial Guards withdrew as ordered. Fuman remained where she was, and Zhao Yanning finally breathed a long sigh of relief.

“Then how should this case be resolved?” A nearby minister was troubled. “Lord Hai was a pillar of the nation. He can’t die without explanation.”

The emperor also looked toward Shen Qiyuan. A murder case under his very nose—if the killer wasn’t found, this autumn hunt would certainly be spoiled.

Shen Qiyuan stood in the pavilion and suddenly cupped his hands, bowing toward the emperor: “Your servant requests that Lord Zhuo and Lord Lin from the Ministry of Justice, Grand Preceptor Liu who has served two dynasties, Grand Secretary Wen of the Dragon Diagram Pavilion, along with the document recorder, bring forward witnesses Butcher Liu and Granny Qin.”

“Granted.”

Yuncheng looked at Shen Qiyuan with some confusion. This person had just said he was incompetent and hadn’t found the murderer, so why was he now making such a grand production?

The hunting ground had excellent scenery, with young men and women riding horses and cracking whips as they galloped across heaven and earth, exhilarating and lively.

But in the blink of an eye, the atmosphere in Ten-Li Wind Pavilion’s main hall suddenly became heavy.

Grand Preceptor Liu stood before the emperor, glanced at the people standing around, and spoke first: “Regarding this autumn hunt’s patrol and defense duties, if this old man remembers correctly, they were taken over by the Marquis of Ningyuan. The marquis is young and promising but lacks experience. In just half a day, two lapses even led to an important minister’s death in the forest.”

Grand Secretary Wen stepped forward and cupped his hands: “Your Majesty, it’s not that this old man wants to speak for the marquis, but who in court doesn’t know that the Marquis of Ningyuan yields to his juniors, always giving opportunities for defensive arrangements and troop deployment to Commander Liao. Now that patrol and defense have failed, how can we only blame him alone?”

The Marquis of Ningyuan was Grand Secretary Wen’s prospective son-in-law, while Commander Liao was Grand Preceptor Liu’s student.

These two old men had to clash whenever they met. The emperor was already accustomed to this and waved his hand: “Accountability comes later. First, let’s hear what my beloved minister Shen has to say.”

Shen Qiyuan stood before the emperor, righteousness emanating from his brows: “Your servant first reports on the case of the wet nurse’s drowning at Grand Preceptor Liu’s manor.”

“Wet nurse Lady Xu did not commit suicide, but was murdered by someone using the cruel method of driving an iron nail through her skull, then her body was dumped in a pond. The murderer has confessed to all crimes. I request Your Majesty to review.”

The emperor took the long confession, glanced at it briefly, and smiled: “My beloved minister handles cases well. This matter can be considered settled.”

According to the prior agreement with the emperor, they indeed could not investigate further than this point. But Shen Qiyuan paused for a moment, then continued: “It cannot be settled. Someone as crude as Butcher Liu would never think of such a secretive killing method without guidance.”

The smile on the person on the dragon throne immediately faded: “Ziyan.”

“Your servant accuses Grand Preceptor Liu of disregarding human life, murdering his wife and daughter, deceiving Your Majesty, forming factions for private gain, and accepting bribes while perverting justice.” As if completely ignoring the emperor’s warning, he spoke each word clearly and resoundingly. “I request Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate.”

His expression completely darkened. The emperor fingered his sleeves, frowning as he looked at him without responding.

Grand Secretary Wen beside him wouldn’t miss such a good opportunity and immediately followed: “How can such a disloyal and unrighteous person enter the ministers’ tombs? I request Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate!”

Once he spoke, several old ministers with good relationships behind him also stepped forward: “This matter is of great importance. We request Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate.”

“We request Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate.”

Grand Preceptor Liu’s eyes shifted, but his face maintained an innocent expression: “People say Lord Shen is just and impartial, but today, how does he seem to have consulted with Grand Secretary Wen beforehand, jointly making accusations against this old man?”

“Only baseless accusations are called slander.” Shen Qiyuan presented a second confession. “Butcher Liu was originally a house-born servant of Grand Preceptor Liu’s manor, a bondservant with a death contract. Even after setting up a stall on Spirit Street to make a living, the contract remained in the Grand Preceptor’s hands. He has already confessed that killing Wet Nurse Xu was done on the Grand Preceptor’s orders.”

The emperor sighed without taking the confession, only saying: “Just a wet nurse. She must have done something unconscionable…”

“No matter how unconscionable, she wasn’t a house slave of the Grand Preceptor’s manor. By law, Grand Preceptor Liu killing her would still be a crime of exile.”

Exile the current Grand Preceptor for a wet nurse?

The emperor shook his head repeatedly, tucking both hands into his sleeves.

Grand Secretary Wen spoke up: “Grand Preceptor Liu has always been gentle and benevolent. How could he have trouble with a wet nurse?”

“This brings us to the second crime I must mention.” Shen Qiyuan looked toward Liu Zhangtu. “A mere wet nurse, already demoted to a rough servant, what could cause her to lose her life? This goes back nineteen years.”

“Nineteen years ago, Grand Preceptor Liu was entrusted by a friend to care for a woman. Seeing that woman’s abundant wealth and delicate beauty, he harbored evil intentions. Taking advantage of his friend’s absence, he committed improper acts, causing the woman to become pregnant and forcing her to marry him.”

“This was already inhumane and unjust, but if he had treated this woman well, it could be said the Grand Preceptor’s conscience wasn’t completely lost. However, after the woman entered his household, she remained perpetually melancholy and guarded against him. Grand Preceptor Liu became angry and not only forcibly seized most of the woman’s dowry but also imprisoned her, not allowing her to leave the manor to see anyone.”

“Fortunately, the previous friend always remembered this woman and sent people to deliver messages asking after her welfare. The woman wrote a letter for the wet nurse to take out seeking help, but the letter was intercepted halfway by the Grand Preceptor. After reading the letter, the Grand Preceptor, in his fury, stabbed the woman to death and threatened the wet nurse to lie to the woman’s family, claiming the woman died of consumption.”

“An innocent woman’s life was thus destroyed. The Grand Preceptor even set up restrictive magical formations on her grave. As for that wet nurse—because she was to enter the ministers’ tombs and would be subject to inspection by the Imperial Clan Court, the Grand Preceptor decided to silence her permanently to ensure absolute safety, even though she had been mute for many years.”

Everyone listened in uproar. Grand Preceptor Liu finally couldn’t contain himself: “Nonsense! What evidence do you have?”

“This prince is the evidence.” Prince Yong strode through the door, looking at him coldly, then cupped his hands toward the dragon throne. “Imperial brother, every word Lord Shen spoke is true. I sent people to examine Lady Liu He’s grave, and indeed, there are sinister magical formations. That woman’s dowry has also gradually entered Grand Preceptor Liu’s pockets over these years.”

Although a distant relative, the emperor had heard somewhat of Prince Yong’s dissolute affairs in his early years. He nodded perfunctorily, gesturing for Prince Yong to stand aside.

“Besides Prince Yong’s willingness to serve as witness, your servant also has Lady He’s autopsy records, records of property transfers for shops under Lady He’s name, and the confession of old Granny Qin from the manor. They can all prove Grand Preceptor Liu murdered his wife for wealth.”