Prince Jing and General Wentao have been vindicated.

Outside the hall of the Ministry of Justice, hundreds of citizens stood silently in the courtyard, vendors, porters, men, women, and the elderly, unable to come to their senses for a long time.

These citizens, who originally came to see why Chen Ji broke into prison, have now become witnesses to Prince Jing's vindication.

On the platform, behind the pulpit, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, the Minister of the Ministry of Dali Temple, and the Right Imperial Censor had different expressions, each harboring their own schemes. The three pulpits were set up side by side, and although people were seated there, their aura had collapsed, resembling empty clay figurines in temples.

How did the Liu Family fall from power?

In those days, the Liu Family, as foreign relatives, held power, and the Liu Family descendants bullied others with arrogance, leaving behind numerous pieces of evidence of their crimes.

It was the Qi family that, with the righteous principles of the law, punished the foreign relatives, using the Three Judicial Departments—Ministry of Justice, Imperial Inspection Office, and Dali Temple—to send the Liu Family and their allies to the execution ground.

The Qi and Liu families were long irreconcilable on the court.

Therefore, when the Liu Family lost power, the Three Judicial Departments in the Qi family's hands were eager to convict the Liu Family and also convict Prince Jing, who was allied with the Liu Family, fearing further complications.

However, now, those things used to convict Prince Jing have become evidence of the Three Judicial Departments framing him.

The three officials behind the pulpit began whispering.

Moments later, the Minister of Dali Temple suddenly attacked, "Wu Xiu, the case of Prince Jing's treason is solid, with all evidence and testimony complete and undeniable. You eunuchs, don't confuse the public."

"People die for wealth as birds die for food; it seems the three lords wish to protect their official positions," Wu Xiu calmly replied, "Where is the testimony for Prince Jing's treason?"

The Minister of Dali Temple declared loudly, "Consort Yun's personal nanny, Xitang. She testified that Consort Yun, under Prince Jing's instruction, colluded with the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department."

Chen Ji was moved.

Xitang?

He remembered clearly that in Luocheng City, Xitang had been informed by Consort Yun to report to the Spy Department. This person should be in the Spy Department's hands, so how could she be with the Ministry of Justice?

It seemed the Prime Minister and Wu Xiu had done more to prepare for Prince Jing's vindication.

But Wu Xiu said arrogantly, "Do the lords intend to call Xitang to testify? I advise you not to humiliate yourselves; if she retracts her statement at court, you'll look even worse."

The expression of the Minister of Dali Temple changed, "I still have a confession written by Consort Yun personally!"

Wu Xiu smiled, "If I recall correctly, the confession is dated the 17th of January in the 32nd year of Jianing?"

The Minister of Dali Temple was taken aback, Wu Xiu even knew details within the Three Judicial Departments' official correspondences.

Without waiting for their response, Wu Xiu asked, "Where is Consort Yun?"

The Minister of Dali Temple faltered, "Consort Yun is an important witness for our Three Judicial Departments and cannot be casually shown to the public."

"You lords have used rather clumsy methods to convict Prince Jing," Wu Xiu said with a bright smile, "Consort Yun was already dead in a Luocheng Eastern Market alley in November in the 31st year of Jianing, killed by unknown hands. Her body was discovered by neighbor Wang Chun, who informed the village chief. Not knowing Consort Yun's identity, the village chief could only transport the body to the Luocheng Yizhuang for temporary resting; the Yizhuang noted the body's characteristics which could be verified against records from the Prince Jing Mansion, and three mansion servants identified it as undoubtedly Consort Yun."

Chen Ji looked at Wu Xiu.

It turns out the Spy Department already knew Consort Yun was dead.

Indeed, as Consort Yun had been missing for a long time, the Spy Department, having searched fruitlessly, naturally would check unidentified female corpses at the Yizhuang, match them with the Prince Jing Mansion's records, and seek mansion servants for identification.

The other side had discovered Consort Yun's death long ago but kept it secret until today.

At this point, the citizens outside the hall were somewhat confused, unable to distinguish who exactly was the Military Intelligence Department's spy and framed Prince Jing. Clearly, it should be the three officials behind the pulpit.

The Minister of Dali Temple still wanted to argue but was restrained by the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, who gripped his wrist tightly.

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice lowered his voice, "Do not argue with him any further, the citizens below are watching; arguing more makes you and I the criminals framing Prince Jing. Allowing him to vindicate Prince Jing only means dereliction of duty for us. Should we continue to dispute, and he brings up more evidence, you and I might be razed to the ground!"

The Minister of Dali Temple turned pale, "Then what should we do?"

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice solemnly stated, "Order execution by immediate decapitation; we earn prestige for the Qi family, and leave the rest to the Emperor."

Chen Ji stood below and turned to look at Wu Xiu.

Wu Xiu still stood proudly with arms crossed, that Python Robe extraordinarily fitting. The pattern of water and cliffs beneath the golden python's feet seemed to emerge from the robe's hem.

Chen Ji suddenly remembered an old saying: those close to the true dragon for long, their own bodies also possess Dragon Energy.

He curiously asked, "Lord Wu Xiu, aren't you afraid of failure? If a mistake happens, you might lose everything."

Wu Xiu looked up at the plaque of "Bright Mirror Hanging High" in the Ministry of Justice's main hall, "Chen Ji, the children of the Han Family spend their entire lives waiting for a chance worth dying for. Whether wrapped in a horse's hide or buried in Qingshan, dying deservedly is enough; we are all born martyrs..."

He turned to Chen Ji and smiled, "I won't die this time, but even if I were to die now, it would be worth it."

Chen Ji could see that Wu Xiu was truly unafraid of death.

In the next moment, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice struck down the gavel, "Director of the Rites Wu Xiu conspiring with the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department, framing Qing Wentao, General of Guyuan Border Army, and framing our Imperial Prince... Execution by immediate decapitation!"

Wu Xiu suddenly said, "Hold on."

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice's face changed, "What, do you have more to say?"

Wu Xiu shook his head, "Since I've already been sentenced, shouldn't Qing Wentao and Prince Jing be vindicated?"

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice hesitated, "We need further discussion..."

Wu Xiu interrupted with a smile, "Think before you speak, Chief of Staff."

The room fell silent.

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice sat behind the pulpit, his face shifting between shades of green and white. Hundreds of eyes outside the hall stared at him like needles, piercing one by one, with nowhere to hide.

After a while, he spoke hoarsely: "Upon investigation by the Three Judicial Departments, the Qing Wentao case… was an unjust false case and is hereby exonerated."

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice remained silent for a long time, so long that the people outside the hall began whispering to one another, so long that the Minister of the Ministry of Justice had to tug at his robe under the table.

He finally spoke again: "The Prince Jing rebellion case... is also an unjust false case, exonerated."

Chen Ji heard Wu Xiu beside him gently exhale, as if releasing a heavy mountain, his shoulders easing somewhat.

Just as the Minister of the Ministry of Justice was about to rise to dismiss the court, Wu Xiu looked up again, pointing at Chen Ji and asked, "Esteemed officials, what about this man? Since Prince Jing has been exonerated, his prison break can be considered an act of virtue, why not release him?"

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice replied sternly: "Cannot release."

Wu Xiu raised his eyebrows: "Oh?"

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice stared at Wu Xiu: "Even with heaven-high injustice, breaking out of prison is a serious crime. This person shall be detained in the Ministry of Justice Prison awaiting further action!"

"No," Chen Lizun stepped into the main hall from outside.

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice showed no more good face to Chen Lizun: "Mr. Chen should avoid suspicion due to personal ties, best to stay silent."

Chen Lizun stepped forward a few steps: "Whether avoiding suspicion or not, rules must be followed first. Officials of the fifth rank and above as well as our dynasty's nobles, regardless of the crime, must be detained in our Imperial Supervision Office, not the Ministry of Justice Prison, has the Minister forgotten?"

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice turned red with anger: "Have it your way."

With that, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice hurriedly left.

Wu Xiu smiled at Chen Ji: "The Imperial Supervision Office is a private, independent courtyard, much more comfortable than the Ministry of Justice Prison."

Chen Ji curiously asked: "And you?"

Wu Xiu contemplated for a moment, his gaze passing through the door of the main hall, landing on the patch of sunlight outside: "I have somewhere I need to go."

...

...

Outside the Ning Imperial Mausoleum, someone lifted the carriage curtain and glanced at the sky: "The time is almost right, let's go."

The curtain lifted, and the Prime Minister emerged from the carriage. Today he wore a black casual robe, with a leather belt around his waist, a Moyu Jade Pendant hanging from it.

Mountain bull lifted the carriage curtain for him, the Prime Minister stepped out, the Moyu Jade Pendant on his waist swaying. The pendant was not of the finest quality, with a small tuft of cotton at the corner, as if worn for many years, polished to a gentle brightness.

Mountain bull was about to assist him, the Prime Minister smiled and said: "I am not yet at the age where I need help to stand."

The Prime Minister alighted, limping past the stone archway, the archway stood there, five rooms, six pillars, eleven roofs, carved from Han Baiyu stone. The dragon patterns on the pillars had been worn somewhat faint by hundreds of years of wind and rain, yet the aura remained, pressing heavily down.

The Prime Minister passed under the archway, entered the Divine Dao, lonely as he walked slowly among the civil officials, military officers, and honored ministers on both sides, heading into the mountains.

Behind him, Mountain bull and Jin Zhu lifted a coffin and stepped onto the stone steps.

The coffin was ordinary cypress wood, no lacquer, no carvings, as simple as a farmer's burial material.

Behind Mountain bull and Jin Zhu, four spies carried a newly carved tombstone.

Instead of heading to Qing'en Hall, the Prime Minister wandered around the mountain, finally choosing a place with a panoramic view.

His right hand rubbed the Moyu Jade Pendant at his waist: "This will do, he doesn't like crowds. When our dynasty's cavalry goes to war against the Jing Dynasty, he can see our army's valiant and strong cavalry and fluttering banners."

Spies dug a pit at the spot the Prime Minister indicated, he stood aside, watching them shovel by shovel digging down.

The soil was yellow-brown, moist, piled up on the pit edge, emitting the unique fishy smell of earth.

After digging about two feet deep, Mountain bull stopped, looking up at him.

The Prime Minister nodded, Mountain bull and Jin Zhu jumped down, continuing to dig. They dug until waist-deep before stopping. Mountain bull patted the pit bottom flat with a shovel, then laid a layer of pine branches, only then climbing up.

The Prime Minister walked to the coffin, reached out and touched the lid. It was cypress wood, rough, with some splinters pricking into his fingertips. He didn't pull them out, just placed his hand there for a while.

"Brother," he whispered softly: "You are too tired, it's time to rest."

Mountain bull and Jin Zhu lifted the coffin, slowly lowered it into the grave. The sound of the coffin settling at the bottom was muffled, a thud that echoed briefly on the slope before the wind scattered it.

Mountain bull brought the tombstone over, placing it before the freshly dug earth.

The tombstone was green stone, polished smooth, engraved with seven characters, in regular script, neatly: The Tomb of the Late Prince Jing, Zhu Youxiao.

No posthumous title, no noble rank, no inscription praising merits, no records of his life's deeds.

Only these seven characters.

The Prime Minister knelt before the tombstone, using his sleeve to wipe away the dust on the stone surface. Stone powder sprinkled down, clinging to his sleeve cuffs, he didn't mind: "I know you don't like those empty things, so I didn't inscribe anything else."

The sky gradually darkened.

The last streak of sunset fell behind the mountain, the horizon left only a thin intertwining light of red and blue. The wind in the mountains picked up, causing the pine branches to moan.

The Prime Minister stood before the tombstone, suddenly asked: "Do you know the first character the Prince taught me?"

Mountain bull and Jin Zhu did not respond.

The Prime Minister chuckled lightly: "It's 'human'. He said the character '人' (human) is written with two strokes supporting each other, only then standing firm, with people there is home, with home there is nation."

Mountain bull and Jin Zhu exchanged glances, puzzled.

The Prime Minister turned, limping down the mountain: "Let's go, he can rest now, we have a lot of work to do yet."