Chapter 81
By noon, the streets, which should have been bustling, appeared oddly deserted. The taverns and restaurants were sparse, with only a handful of people around.
In stark contrast, the courthouse was filled with a large crowd both inside and out. The people swarmed, creating a lively and noisy atmosphere. However, their interest wasn’t in the case itself. For common folk, the most pressing concerns were their daily lives, and this case was no more than a topic for casual chatter during meals. It wasn’t enough to cause anyone to abandon their business and rush to the courthouse just to watch the spectacle.
The real reason behind the crowd’s presence today was the prominent individuals involved. Among them was one person whose presence many would never have the chance to see in their lifetime.
The previous day, the magistrate had sent a memorial to the emperor, but the officials in the Taiqing Court were too afraid to handle it. In the end, it was delivered directly to the emperor. One of the parties involved was from the royal family, another from the prime minister’s house, and a third party, whose identity was unclear. No one dared to offend any of them.
The emperor had already shown a keen interest in the case, but it hadn’t yet escalated to the point where he needed to intervene. He had been waiting for more information. However, the memorial from the magistrate gave him the perfect opportunity. Since it involved high-ranking officials and royal family members, this was no longer just a simple civil dispute.
In the blink of an eye, three judges were appointed to the case, with the emperor himself attending as a spectator—more to watch the spectacle than to officially intervene.
The three judges were not appointed casually. One was the Prime Minister, Murong Xing; another was the General of the State, Du Gu Xian; and the third was Hou Qianxing, who supervised the Ministry of Justice’s Criminal Division.
Hou Qianxing was known for his strict and impartial methods, earning respect among the people. It was said that no criminal had ever escaped his grasp. He was famed for his ability to solve even the most difficult cases, and no one doubted his abilities as long as time permitted.
Most importantly, Hou Qianxing was a solitary figure in the court, unaffiliated with any political faction. He worked independently, sometimes even ignoring the emperor’s wishes. Many royal relatives had met their end at his hands, which made people fear him.
In Lu City, although the royal family and noble youths often acted arrogantly, they shared one thing in common: they knew where to draw the line. They never dared to cause incidents that might lead to death.
With Hou Qianxing presiding over the case, no matter how it unfolded, no one would question the outcome.
Murong Qiufeng and Shangguan Ye had arrived early, anticipating the day’s events. Today’s situation was different; there were chairs set up on either side of the hall. Shangguan Ye unceremoniously took one side, his expression cold.
In the center sat Hou Qianxing. To his left was the grim-faced Murong Xing, who had been angry since the events two days ago. To his right was General Du Gu Xian, whose mood seemed much lighter. His eyes were filled with schadenfreude and disdain, as he looked at Murong Xing, as though saying, Look at what kind of son you raised. Turns out, neither you nor your son are worth anything.
Murong Xing clenched his teeth in anger. If it weren’t for the current situation, he would have confronted Du Gu Xian right there.
He glanced toward Murong Qiufeng but there was no anger in his eyes—only a hint of guilt. He had an inkling that if this issue was related to the prime minister’s or royal house, Murong Qiufeng had simply been caught up in it.
He had never paid much attention to this son of his, failing to fulfill his responsibilities as a father. He had sent him back only to place him under the protection of Shangguan Ye. Qiufeng had barely been home and now found himself tangled in this mess. It wasn’t fair to the child, but at least he had the protection of Shangguan Ye, which was somewhat comforting.
Behind them stood their respective young heirs.
The courtroom was silent. Only Murong Qiufeng stood alone in the center, waiting. The messenger had been gone for quite a while.
Shangguan Ye’s expression grew colder by the minute as he watched Murong Qiufeng standing alone in the hall. His eyes grew increasingly icy, causing the court attendants to tremble in fear. They worried that the prince might lose his temper and cause a scene, which would likely cost them their lives.
Yet Murong Qiufeng remained calm, quietly waiting.
Hou Qianxing observed Murong Qiufeng’s every gesture with an impassive expression, secretly impressed. Murong Qiufeng’s demeanor was cultured, composed, and graceful.
He had seen Murong Qiufeng once before, at Shangguan Ye’s welcoming banquet. Back then, it had been only a fleeting glance. His impression was of a gentle, quiet person.
Since receiving the imperial edict, Hou Qianxing had thoroughly investigated the case overnight. Some of the facts might deceive ordinary people, but they couldn’t fool him. While he couldn’t claim to be able to judge people with perfect accuracy, it was rare to come across someone as transparent as Murong Qiufeng. It was surprising that someone like him was the son of the scheming Murong Xing.
In a secluded area behind a screen, the emperor sat, his eyes fixed on Murong Qiufeng. The young man’s delicate features were so pleasing to the eye that the emperor couldn’t help but feel a strange sensation in his chest. He found himself wanting to keep him close, if only he could.
A herald’s announcement broke the silence, and the crowd outside parted to make way.
The woman slowly walking toward the center, supported by two maidservants, was Song Lige.
The sight of her caused some surprise among the onlookers, as Song Lige was walking with her eyes closed. Her eyes were severely swollen and red, and her complexion was pale and haggard. She appeared weak and fragile, which stirred the crowd’s sympathy.
“This humble servant, Song Lige, greets the distinguished officials,” Song Lige said, gently lowering her body in a frail bow as she was placed in the center.
“Hmm, Song Lige,” Hou Qianxing and the others appraised her. “How are your eyes?”
“Replying to the esteemed official, our miss’s eyes were blinded from crying. We ask the esteemed officials to swiftly bring justice for her, so we can find a doctor to treat her,” one of her maidservants said, standing beside her.
Hou Qianxing frowned and spoke in a deep voice, “Those unrelated, step aside.”
The two maidservants frowned, about to protest, but Song Lige gently patted their hands. Reluctantly, they moved aside, still filled with concern. Their eyes, however, shot a glance of hatred toward Murong Qiufeng, which only served to stir the crowd’s sympathy even more, and the people’s hostility toward him grew.
“Song Lige, in your complaint, you accuse Murong Qiufeng of repeatedly persecuting those around you, attempting to force you, even swindling your wealth, stealing others’ possessions, and causing harm to lives. Do you have any evidence?”
“Esteemed official, for the past events, I have no solid proof. However, the recent events—surely, everyone here has witnessed them. There are both witnesses and material evidence. Murong Qiufeng forcibly abducted me and attempted to commit immoral acts. This occurred at Mingyue Lou, and many can testify to it. As for Murong Qiufeng using a zither to harm people, the broken zither string is the proof,” Song Lige answered, her tone calm and composed.
“Then why did you not report it immediately? No one else has received your case.”
“Esteemed official, Murong Qiufeng is a son of the prime minister’s house. As they say, officials protect their own. If not for Master Hou personally presiding over this case today, I would not have dared to believe it would be investigated,” Song Lige responded, her words sharp and clever, leaving no room for doubt.
The officials raised their eyebrows slightly. Song Lige was indeed meticulous and eloquent. She presented the situation flawlessly, leaving no gaps for anyone to challenge.
On the other hand, Shangguan Ye stood with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.
Hou Qianxing then turned his gaze toward Murong Qiufeng, his voice calm and indifferent. “Murong Qiufeng, you accuse Song Lige of plotting to frame you. Do you have any evidence?”