She acted as if she hadn’t noticed the intimate atmosphere in the carriage, sitting right down on the soft cushion. "Your Highness, could you give me a ride?"

Princess Chang Le’s mouth twitched, and she laughed in exasperation. "You’ve already sat yourself down, and you’re asking me now? If I told you to get out, would you?"

"Your Highness is a good person," Ouyang Zhenzhu said, looking at her with a sincere expression.

Princess Chang Le: "..."

She snorted, suppressing the urge to have Ouyang Zhenzhu thrown out. Sitting up straight, she asked, "You’re not just looking for a ride, are you? What’s your real purpose?"

Ouyang Zhenzhu immediately scooted closer, trying to curry favor by eagerly massaging her legs and shoulders. "Your Highness, please speak to the Emperor on our behalf. Wanwan could never kill someone. If you just explain things to His Majesty for Wanwan, this case can be closed quickly, and Wanwan won’t have to suffer this ordeal."

Hearing this, Princess Chang Le brushed her hands away and scolded, "Do you think the law is a child’s game? If it were that simple, couldn’t Lu Zhan just go and plead with my father, the Emperor? He has so many achievements to his name; my father would surely grant him that much favor. But he hasn’t done that, has he?"

Ouyang Zhenzhu was speechless for a moment, then retorted unconvinced, "Mr. Lu is just too strict, too pedantic." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Forget Lu Zhan. Let’s talk about your brother. He’s the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice, yet he won’t even bend the rules for you to visit Zhi Wan in the Ministry’s prison," Princess Chang Le said, glancing sideways at her.

"He... they’re all cut from the same cloth!" Ouyang Zhenzhu said angrily.

Princess Chang Le rapped her on the head. "I think you’re the one with a block for a head."

Ouyang Zhenzhu rubbed her forehead. "You can just talk, you know. Why’d you have to hit me?"

Princess Chang Le leaned against the carriage wall and said no more.

Ouyang Zhenzhu looked sullen.

The carriage grew quiet, with only the sound of the wheels rolling over the ground.

Shen Longjin lowered his book and broke the silence. "This case wasn’t originally complicated, but it became so because it involves matricide. Now, everyone in the Capital City is watching. On top of that, someone—we don’t know who—is spreading rumors everywhere, saying that Miss Zhi is the real killer and that Mr. Lu framed Miss Lu Si for the matricide just to protect Miss Zhi. At a time like this, the slightest misstep from Mr. Lu could not only ruin his career but also make it impossible for Miss Zhi to ever clear her name."

"The person behind all this is truly despicable and shameless! And that Lu Lan... I never realized before how utterly deranged she is, a beast in human form! To think she would murder her own mother and then frame Zhi Wan for it!" Ouyang Zhenzhu was furious.

"Your brother said that Lu Lan was brutally tortured in the Ministry of Justice’s Iron Prison, but she’s still tight-lipped. She won’t admit to killing her mother and keeps screaming that Zhi Wan did it," said Princess Chang Le. "For a young girl to endure the Ministry of Justice’s interrogation methods is quite remarkable."

"Hmph, her stubbornness is useless. She’s only delaying the inevitable. Once we find her personal maid, everything will be solved," Ouyang Zhenzhu said hatefully.

Princess Chang Le nodded. "Let’s hope there are no more complications." With that, she gave Ouyang Zhenzhu a little kick. "Move over. I’m going to lie down for a bit."

Ouyang Zhenzhu had no choice but to move to the other side.

Princess Chang Le lay down, brazenly resting her head on Shen Longjin’s lap.

Seeing this, Ouyang Zhenzhu’s eyes widened. ’Princess Chang Le really is decadent.’

’And I’m a whole living person right here! Has she no shame?’

’It seems the rumors about Princess Chang Le weren’t slander after all.’

’She truly lives up to her promiscuous reputation.’

Shen Longjin remained completely unruffled. He picked up his book and continued to read.

「Under the deep cover of night, two riders galloped down the official road.」

It was Lu Zhan and Jiang Shi.

During the day, Lu Zhan had sent out a large number of men to search for Huan’er, but to no avail. Suspecting she had returned to her hometown, he decided to go find her himself.

Fortunately, Huan’er’s hometown was not far from the Capital City. Spurring their horses on, the master and servant galloped nonstop and arrived by midnight.

Late at night, the villagers were all fast asleep. After entering the village, the two men knocked on the door of a nearby house.

"Brother, do you know which house belongs to Chen Gensheng?"

The awakened villager held a broom, eyeing the two men warily. "Who are you?"

"We’re government officers." Jiang Shi produced a token.

Hearing this, the villager quickly put down his broom. "This commoner didn’t realize you were Lords. Please forgive my offense."

"It’s no matter. Please, brother, take us to Chen Gensheng’s house," Lu Zhan said.

"Chen Gensheng lives at the end of the village, which isn’t close to here. This lowly one will take you there now," the villager said hurriedly.

To save time, Lu Zhan had Jiang Shi take the villager up on his horse while he followed behind on his own.

"Why is there a fire?" the villager suddenly pointed toward the end of the village in terror. "That... that looks like Chen Gensheng’s house."

Lu Zhan saw the blaze as well. His expression changed drastically, and he dug his heels into his horse’s flanks, shooting off toward the end of the village like an arrow loosed from a bow.

Jiang Shi dared not delay, urging his horse to follow with the villager.

"Help! Someone help! Fire—" The villager shrieked at the top of his lungs as they rode.

In the quiet night, villagers burst from their homes, grabbing water buckets and running toward the towering flames.

When Jiang Shi arrived with the villager, he saw his Princely Heir grab a water bucket, douse himself from head to toe, and charge into the blaze.

"Princely Heir—" Jiang Shi roared. He leaped off his horse, did the same, and plunged into the fire after him.

"Quick, put out the fire!" the villager shouted as he saw people from nearby houses, having heard the commotion, rushing over.

In an instant, the villagers were all fetching water to fight the fire.

...

「Capital City, the Ministry of Justice.」

Zhi Wan woke at the crack of dawn.

After eating, she sat at the table, pressing a hand to her twitching eyelid, a sense of unease growing in her heart.

Before long, a Government Official came over and gave her a set of bloody clothes. "Junior Minister Ouyang had this lowly one bring these for you, miss. Please change into them quickly and follow me to the Public Testimony Hall."

Zhi Wan took them, confused.

’Ouyang Lei wouldn’t do something like this without a reason,’ she thought. ’He must have a purpose.’ So, enduring the stench of blood, she changed into the clothes.

Afterwards, she followed the Government Official to the Ministry of Justice’s Public Testimony Hall.

As she followed the Government Official inside, she saw two rows of officials lining the hall, each holding a killing rod. The entire hall was imposing and intimidating.

Ouyang Lei, who was usually gentle and mild-mannered, now sat behind the public desk with a stern expression, not a trace of a smile on his face.

Lu Lan was slumped on the floor, covered in blood.

When she saw Zhi Wan enter, a strange smile touched her lips.

Although Zhi Wan was filled with disgust for her, she remained calm and looked away.

CRACK! Ouyang Lei picked up his gavel and slammed it down, his voice deep. "Who is before this court?"

It was Zhi Wan’s first time in a place like this. Seeing the scene before her, her heart tightened, and she slowly knelt. "This common woman, Zhi Wan, greets you, Your Honor."

"On the twenty-ninth of the seventh month—yesterday—Xu Yumei died a violent death in your private chambers. You have been accused of murdering Lady Xu. Is this true?" Ouyang Lei asked, all business.

Zhi Wan shook her head. "Your Honor, this woman has been wronged. I did not kill Xu Yumei. This is purely a deliberate attempt to frame me."

"What evidence do you have to prove you did not commit this murder?" Ouyang Lei continued to question.

"I have a witness. My maid, Shuang’er, was with me at the time. She can prove that I didn’t kill Xu Yumei. Mr. Chen can also testify for me. The Forensic Doctor determined that Aunt Xu died around 9:15 in the morning. At that time, I was still in Old Madam Lu’s Fushou Hall speaking with her. My maternal aunt was with me then, and she can also testify for me. I simply had no time to commit the murder," Zhi Wan said, struggling to remain composed.

"Bring in the suspect, Shuang’er!" Ouyang Lei called out in a louder voice.

Hearing the word "suspect," Zhi Wan’s heart sank.