Because Jiang Yuanwu had retrieved the corpse, the guards brought them along as well.

The coroner was examining the body at the side.

“Reporting to Your Excellency, this person was strangled with a rope and died from asphyxiation.”

Minister of Justice, Ji Tan, did not expect a murder case to occur during the Lantern Festival.

He had just been drinking with an old friend, and the alcohol had yet to fully wear off.

“Who stands before this court?” His eyes were hazy as he sat there lazily.

“I am Wu Haoran,” the man answered.

Ji Tan let out a drunken burp. “Huh?”

The advisor beside him quickly added, “Your Excellency, he is Wu Haoran, the son of the Vice Censor-in-Chief.”

“Oh, not a high-ranking official then,” Ji Tan muttered.

Wu Haoran, struggling to keep himself steady, continued, “I formally accuse the heir of the Duke of Li of disregarding the law and taking a life without cause.”

Ji Tan immediately sobered up upon hearing “Duke of Li.”

“Boy, do you even know what you’re saying?” Ji Tan straightened up.

Wu Haoran’s expression was solemn.

“I saw with my own eyes that the heir of the Duke of Li, Sun Enguang, committed murder and threw the body into the Han River.”

Ji Tan frowned. “Are there any other witnesses?”

“I am the witness,” Wu Haoran declared firmly.

Hearing this, Ji Tan relaxed his brows.

“Guards, summon the heir of the Duke of An to court.”

Jiang Yuanxi secretly shook her head.

[This is bad. Ji Tan is a lapdog of the Duke of An. The young master is in trouble now.]

Jiang Yuansheng looked at Ji Tan in disbelief.

Would he really disregard justice just to curry favor with the Duke of An?

[To save Ji Tan, we can only place our hopes on the Emperor and the Crown Prince.]

Only these two had the power to suppress the Duke of An.

Jiang Yuancheng had gone through great effort to save someone—he would not just stand by and watch them die.

[Hmm? Where is Fourth Brother going? Is he off to find help?]

Jiang Yuancheng slowed his pace.

[The help is in the western part of the city, and the evidence is in the grass by the riverbank. Fourth Brother, don’t go the wrong way!]

Hearing this, Jiang Yuancheng changed direction and ran toward another path.

Jiang Yuanxi sighed deeply.

[Fourth Brother is unreliable. Who knows if he’ll actually find anyone?]

Jiang Yuansheng understood his sister’s concern.

Jiang Yuanwu whispered, “Big Brother, can Fourth Brother handle it? If not, I’ll go instead.”

“No,” Jiang Yuansheng replied. “This place is full of Minister Ji’s people. Besides, you and I are both witnesses, so we cannot leave. On the other hand, no one would pay attention to a little child like Fourth Brother.”

“Furthermore, Fourth Brother would not be careless about this matter.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yuanxi could only let go of her worries.

[I just hope Fourth Brother can bring someone in time.]

Up above, Minister Ji saw a child running off but paid no attention.

Before long, the guards returned with two people.

Minister Ji immediately stood up.

“Your Excellency, we have brought the suspect.”

Ji Tan slowly sat back down and slapped the wooden gavel on the bench.

“A formal accusation has been made against the heir of the Duke of Li for murder and disposing of the body. What do you have to say for yourself?”

Sun Enguang coldly looked at Wu Haoran, clearly not expecting to be accused.

“Your Excellency, this is slander! The real murderer is Wu Haoran—I saw it with my own eyes!”

Ji Tan asked, “Do you have any witnesses?”

Qian Tong immediately stepped forward. “Your Excellency, I am a witness. Wu Haoran was jealous of this scholar’s intelligence, so he killed him in a fit of rage. When he saw the two of us watching, he attempted to silence us, but we fought back and injured him instead.”

This explanation conveniently justified the wounds on Wu Haoran’s body.

Wu Haoran shouted angrily, “Lies! You killed him and are framing me! Your Excellency, do not believe the words of a murderer!”

Ji Tan coughed. “Murder and disposing of the body, only to be caught by the noble heir, and then attempting to silence him but failing—this does make sense.”

“Wu Haoran, confess your crime at once!”

Wu Haoran’s face turned pale. He kneeled forward desperately.

“Your Excellency, they are the ones who killed him! How can you believe the words of a murderer?”

Among the crowd, Jiang Hui seemed to be deep in thought.

The Duke of Li was powerful, and his family had a falling-out with his grandfather. If he didn’t seize this opportunity to curry favor, he might never get another chance.

Besides, this year’s imperial examination was overseen by the Duke of An.

“Your Excellency, I can testify. I was hiding in a secluded spot and personally saw Wu Haoran commit murder and attempt to frame the heir of the Duke of Li.”

Jiang Yuansheng hadn’t expected Jiang Hui to interfere.

“Big Brother, let me go!” Jiang Yuanwu stepped forward.

If he testified for Wu Haoran, then Wu Haoran might still have a chance.

Jiang Yuansheng stopped him. “Wait.”

Now was not the right time.

Sun Enguang smirked triumphantly.

His grandfather was the Duke of Li.

Even the Minister of Justice had to respect him.

A mere vice censor’s son was nothing in his eyes.

Even if Wu Haoran spoke the truth, who would believe him?

Sun Enguang exchanged a glance with Ji Tan, who understood his signal.

“Guards, take the suspect away and use torture until he confesses the truth!”

Looking at Minister Ji’s hypocritical face, Wu Haoran finally understood.

From the very beginning, Ji Tan had never intended to listen to his testimony.

“Hahaha!” Wu Haoran burst into laughter, his eyes burning with rage like an enraged lion.

“Corrupt officials! Ji Tan, you dare call yourself a just official? You will face retribution sooner or later!”

“Sun Enguang, you rely on your grandfather’s power to act lawlessly in the capital!”

He pointed at the corpse. “This man was a scholar traveling to the capital for the imperial exam. You murdered him, disregarding our empire’s laws!”

“Innocent people suffer while villains thrive.”

“Oh, Heaven! Open your eyes and see the injustice!”

Jiang Yuanwu, unable to hold back any longer, shouted, “Corrupt official!”

“You haven’t even properly investigated the case, yet you’ve already decided the verdict!”

Jiang Yuanxi was also furious and pointed at Ji Tan.

“Dog! Dog!”

Ji Tan was stunned—he had never been insulted like this before, let alone by a teenager and a little child.

“Guards! Take them all away!”

Once they were imprisoned, there would be plenty of ways to silence them.

“His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, has arrived!”

Ji Tan panicked upon hearing this.

Why was the Crown Prince here?

He nearly fell off his chair in fright and hurriedly adjusted his official hat before kneeling in greeting.

Sun Enguang also felt uneasy.

What was the Crown Prince doing here?

A figure entered the hall, and everyone kneeled.

[Crown Prince Brother!] Jiang Yuanxi cheered in her heart.

But before she could react, Jiang Yuansheng pressed her down flat onto the floor.

Jun Yin noticed this and suppressed a laugh.

Then, he walked over and picked up Jiang Yuanxi.

Everyone was shocked—the Crown Prince had actually lifted Jiang Yuanxi into his arms!

“Rise. I am here simply to observe,” Jun Yin said. “Minister Ji, please continue the trial.”

Hearing this, Ji Tan relaxed.

The Duke of Li was favored by the Emperor.

The Crown Prince must be here to support him.

Sun Enguang thought the same, gaining even more confidence.

Ji Tan straightened his hat and resumed his seat.

“Wu Haoran, you murdered a scholar and tried to frame the noble heir. The evidence is clear, and I hereby—”

“Wait!”

Ji Tan stood up in shock.

Jun Yin said calmly, “I just arrived and do not yet understand the case. Minister Ji, please start over from the beginning.”

Ji Tan felt uneasy but had no choice but to comply.

Wu Haoran now saw a glimmer of hope.

Jiang Yuansheng whispered to him, “Explain everything in detail. His Highness will ensure justice prevails.”