Chapter 36: It’s Over!

Chapter 36: It Is Over!

Everyone knew that Li Jiying was Li Xiaoci's daughter and that she had murdered the only son of the Duke of Cao.

Thus, when Li Xiaoci uttered those words, the gazes of all the officials in the court instantly turned toward him.

The Humble Faction was naturally gleeful and gloating.

Since the death of their leader, Song Guangyi, they had been demoralized for quite some time.

Especially on the issue of supporting the Empress Dowager's new policies, there had been significant internal disagreements. With their hearts and minds divided, how could they compete with Chancellor Li's faction?

Yet unexpectedly, the Ministry of Justice had made such an egregious error—not only failing to capture the escaped criminal but allowing her to come forward and file an imperial appeal. Wasn't this a direct insult to Chancellor Li and his allies?

Excellent! Most gratifying!

These fellows were rubbing their hands together, eager to add insult to injury.

In contrast, Chancellor Li's faction looked crestfallen and dismayed.

Especially Li Mian, who seethed inwardly: "I told you to stay calm! Stay calm! What are you jumping out for, you fool?"

If not for all the eyes watching, he would have loved to kick Li Xiaoci in the head.

Unfortunately, his age no longer allowed him to perform such an acrobatic feat.

Chi Jing, observing everyone's reactions, maintained a stern expression but inwardly began to anticipate the unfolding events.

The protagonist had arrived, and the curtain was about to rise.

She hoped they would put on a sufficiently compelling drama.

She looked at Li Xiaoci and scoffed coldly, "Li Xiaoci, are you aware of the rules regarding the Imperial Drum?"

Li Xiaoci had already regretted his outburst the moment he spoke. Hearing Chi Jing's question, he broke out in a cold sweat. "I... I am aware. Anyone who beats the Imperial Drum must have a grave injustice and must petition Your Majesty for a trial."

"And if an official obstructs?"

Li Xiaoci's legs went weak. "Any official who obstructs shall be beaten with canes."

"Then what you just said about arresting Li Jiying—were you trying to prevent her from seeking justice?"

Li Xiaoci thudded to his knees, his heart filled with terror. "I would not dare."

Chi Jing smiled. "Good."

She then turned to the officials in the hall and declared solemnly, "Summon Li Jiying into the hall! Also, call for the three judicial offices—the Ministry of Justice, the Dali Temple, and the Censorate—as well as the female officials from the Disciplinary Department and the Yiluan Department, to conduct a joint trial!"

The officials in the hall were astonished. Gathering so many officials just to try a female criminal who killed her husband—wasn't this an overreaction?

Li Xiaoci, still kneeling on the ground, suddenly realized that Empress Dowager Chi must have known what Li Jiying intended to accuse. She was targeting him!

His head drooped sharply, sweat trickling down his cheeks as dizziness overwhelmed him.

It's over!

This is really over!

————

"Lady Yu Zhao! The Empress Dowager summons you to the palace to hear Li Jiying's case of injustice!"

A guard rushed into the Wu residence, shouting.

Yu Zhao was hiding from the sun under the eaves with Wu Wenxiu, plucking a stalk of grass to tease a bird and pass the time. She had just been lamenting, "I haven't trained in days; my bones have grown lazy," when she heard the guard's words.

She immediately discarded the grass, grabbed her sword, and strode forward. "What is it?"

"Last night, the Ministry of Justice prison was set on fire, and all the prisoners escaped! Early this morning, that escaped criminal Li Jiying went to the imperial city and beat the Imperial Drum. The Empress Dowager deems it gravely serious and has ordered a joint trial by the three judicial offices and the two departments' female officials!"

Yu Zhao was stunned. The barrage of information overwhelmed her, and she needed a moment to comprehend it all.

Wu Wenxiu, however, understood immediately, a delighted smile spreading across her face. "So, does this mean they're going to overturn the convictions of those female prisoners?"

The guard scratched his head. "That I do not know."

Wu Wenxiu remembered Chi Jing telling her, "It shall be done," and felt she already had the answer. She only regretted that she couldn't participate personally, feeling frustrated.

She could only urge Yu Zhao to hurry out. "Dear sister, make haste."

Yu Zhao rode off on her horse.

Wu Wenxiu leaned against the doorframe, her hand gripping the door tightly as she watched Yu Zhao's receding figure, silently praying, "May all proceed without incident."

On the other side, Zhao Mingyue, who had already returned to the palace, was of the same mind.

Chun Ying and Qiu Shi helped her change out of her tight-fitting clothes and into her royal robes.

Zhao Mingyue adjusted her wide sleeves, suddenly feeling uncomfortable, as if they were impeding movement.

As she stepped out of her bedchamber, Xue Qi was waiting outside.

Seeing her, Xue Qi politely requested, "Your Highness, allow me to accompany you."

Zhao Mingyue hesitated slightly. "What if the Ministry of Justice officials recognize you?"

If they saw Xue Qi appearing safe and sound, those officials might suspect that the prison break was ordered by her mother.

Xue Qi smiled faintly. "Does Your Highness truly believe the Ministry of Justice would dare suspect the Empress Dowager? Even if they did, would they dare accuse her openly in court?"

Zhao Mingyue was taken aback, then realized that the Ministry of Justice, by allowing criminals to escape, had already committed a major error. If they wanted to reduce their punishment, it would be best to downplay the severity of the incident rather than let it escalate beyond control.

From this perspective, their interests were indeed aligned!

"But Zhu Fangfang is aligned with Prime Minister Li. How could he possibly forego this chance to target Mother?" She looked expectantly at Xue Qi, waiting for her answer.

She had already noticed that Xue Qi was fundamentally different from her—unlike anyone she had ever met before.

She now had a profound curiosity about her.

Xue Qi could clearly see the inquisitiveness in her eyes but only smiled faintly. "Your Highness, no group in this world is impregnable. Those who gather for interest will ultimately scatter because of interest. Human nature is always like this."

Zhao Mingyue frowned slightly. So that's how it is?

She had previously pondered whether human nature was inherently good or evil, but in the end, did both good and evil lose to the two words "interest"?

Then she thought of the grievances lamented by the prisoners from the Yiluan Department and grew angry again.

These were all people who had been abused so severely that they had no choice but to resist. What kind of interest were those officials considering when they unanimously opposed granting them clemency?

She simply couldn't understand—what harm would releasing these women do to them and their interests?

Zhao Mingyue lifted her head, her eyes filled with resolve.

“In that case, Archivist Xue will come with me.”

————

An hour later, all the officials had assembled.

Chi Jing remained seated high on the imperial throne, with Zhao Mingyue kneeling at its side and Xue Qi stood nearby in attendance.

At the large table on the right sat four scribes led by Jin Suwei, along with Yu Zhao and Ling Qiong from the Yiluan Department.

At the table on the left sat Li Mian, Minister of Justice Zhu Fangfang, and the chief officials from the Dali Temple and the Censorate.

The remaining officials stood behind the tables.

In front of each desk were laid out ink, brushes, paper, and inkstones for recording.

Just then, the imperial guards came in and reported that Li Jiying had been brought in.

All the officials in the hall looked up toward the entrance, eager to see what kind of woman could cause such upheaval in the court.

Li Xiaoci, however, immediately darkened his expression. If this unfilial daughter dared to “accuse her own father,” he would absolutely make her endure the nail board!

If he could tamper with the nail board and ensure she died after rolling over it, joining Liu Ruiyun in death, he would be safe.

The ministers had expected Li Jiying to be a coarse, ill-mannered, and vicious woman—how else could she have killed her husband and escaped from prison?

But to their surprise, the woman who entered the hall was a young girl, bruised and covered in wounds.

As a convicted criminal, she was still shackled, the chains clanking with each step.

Jin Suwei cried out in shock, “Heavens! Look at the injuries on her neck—such deep strangulation marks. Was someone trying to kill her?”

An official across the room retorted, “How do we know she wasn’t trying to kill herself out of guilt?”

Ling Qiong slammed the table. “If she wanted to kill herself out of guilt, why would she appeal for justice before the emperor? Stop talking nonsense!”

“You—!” The official was furious. “How dare a woman speak so vulgarly? This is utterly disrespectful!”

Ling Qiong was about to curse again, but Yu Zhao held her back. Arguments had to be appropriate to the occasion—the Empress Dowager hadn’t summoned them here to quarrel.

Even before the trial began, officials on both sides were already showing hostility. Li Mian, who had been calmly observing, sensed trouble.

Could Empress Dowager Chi be making such a big production just to use Li Jiying to eliminate Li Xiaoci?

No matter what, he had to tread carefully.

As the officials were each lost in their own thoughts, Li Jiying had already reached the front and knelt down.

“This commoner, Li Jiying, pays respects to Your Majesty.”

Chi Jing spoke gently, “Rise. Since you have sounded the Imperial Drum, I am obliged to hear your grievance. Tell me, what injustice have you suffered?”

Li Jiying slowly stood up, nervously glancing at Chi Jing before quickly lowering her head.

She had once fantasized about this very day—standing before Empress Dowager Chi and the officials, speaking of her grievances.

But now that the moment had arrived, she realized how emotional she felt.

Though she tried desperately to control her emotions, her voice trembled and was tearful as she spoke. “Yes.”

After a pause, she continued, “This commoner knows she is guilty of many crimes and dare not plead for herself. Today, I sound the Imperial Drum to seek justice for my mother, who was murdered by my father, and for all the women in the world who suffer abuse and mistreatment from their husbands’ families. I beg Your Majesty to investigate and grant justice—not only for my mother but for all women!”

Her words caused an uproar in the hall.

“She dares to accuse her own father, Minister of Revenue Li Xiaoci?”

“Wasn’t she born of a concubine? Concubines are bought and sold—what does it matter if they’re beaten or killed? By law, the worst punishment is a few years in prison. But for a child to accuse her father—that is a heinous crime!”

“Never mind concubines—even wives are bought with money. If Minister Li is at fault, it’s only for failing to discipline his household and raising such a rebellious child!”

In the eyes of these officials, both wives and concubines seemed like objects to be disposed of at will.

If they dared to protest, it was only because they didn’t know their place—they deserved to be beaten or killed.

Jin Suwei and the others were furious, their hands trembling as they gripped their brushes, wishing they could splash ink onto the officials’ faces.

Encouraged by the support, Li Xiaoci shed his fear and stepped out from behind his table, declaring loudly:

“Your Majesty, this girl is full of lies! I never mistreated her mother. On the contrary, her mother repeatedly defied me, and I, in my good nature, indulged her. Little did I know it would foster such viciousness in both mother and daughter, leading to tragedy—she killed the only son of the Duke of Cao!”

“As for her mother’s death, it was Liu Ruiyun who fell during an argument with me—it had nothing to do with me! This girl dared to collude with bandits to escape prison and now accuses her own father. This proves her lack of virtue. I request she be subjected to the nail board. If she still does not recant after rolling over it, let her endure all forms of punishment—that will surely force the truth out of her!”

Li Jiying turned and glared at him, her eyes filled with hatred. “Li Xiaoci, do you dare swear to heaven that you did not kill my mother?”

Swear? Li Xiaoci sneered. Even if he did swear, what of it? Heaven was male—it understood the natural order of men over women. Did she expect him to pay with his life for that woman Liu Ruiyun? Dream on!

Just then, Chi Jing, seated above, spoke. “Why trouble with all that? It so happens that several friends from your Li household are guests in the palace. Why not summon them and ask what truly happened?”

What friends? Li Xiaoci’s heart sank.

He looked up and saw Chi Jing turn to whisper to her maid, who then announced, “Summon the Li household servants Liu Shanzhen and Wang Liu, and Xu Qingzi, Abbess of White Cloud Temple.”

Hearing these familiar names, Li Xiaoci was filled with terror, feeling the hairs on his body stand on end.

Slowly, he turned to Li Mian, his voice trembling. “Father—”

What—what should we do?

Wang Liu really had been captured by Empress Dowager Chi. This woman wanted him dead!