The Prefect leisurely sipped his tea as if he hadn’t heard anything at all.
As long as his official hat wasn’t at risk, he couldn’t care less.
If a few commoners died, so be it.
Lü Yuan toyed with the large jade thumb ring on his finger and raised an eyebrow at Lou Changqing.
“Not convinced, are you? So what if you aren’t?”
“Your father is merely a Vice Minister of Revenue—a mere fourth-rank official. My father, on the other hand, is the Marquis of Zhenbei, a dignified second-rank noble, and personally appointed by His Majesty as the Great General Who Stabilizes the Nation!”
“As for your sister, Consort Chen, she only has a little princess in the harem. My sister, however, has given birth to a young prince. What do you have to compete with me?”
After finishing his speech, Lü Yuan revealed a smug and provocative smile.
Lou Changqing stared at him coldly, his voice icy.
“You and I both hold the rank of Commandant. My position was earned through bloodshed, fighting with blade in hand across battlefields piled with corpses.”
“But you—when you first stepped onto the battlefield, you were so frightened that you couldn’t even hold your sword steady. Your title was granted to you by your father, the Marquis of Zhenbei.”
With undisguised contempt in his eyes, Lou Changqing enunciated each word:
“Without your father, you are nothing.”
Seemingly struck at his sore spot, veins bulged on Lü Yuan’s neck as he raised his hand to strike.
Lou Changqing met his gaze fearlessly, his back straight and unyielding.
Just as the slap was about to land on Lou Changqing’s face, a sharp voice suddenly rang out from outside:
“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived—”
The Emperor?!
Why would the Emperor come to the Jingzhao Prefecture Office?
There was no time to ponder further. Terrified, the Prefect scrambled off his chair and hurried to the main hall, dropping to his knees. Lü Yuan also broke into a cold sweat and quickly prostrated himself on the ground.
Amid the tense anticipation of everyone present, a figure clad in bright imperial yellow slowly entered their view.
“Rise.”
As the crowd lifted their heads, they were astonished to discover that the Emperor had not come alone.
In his arms, he was holding a delicately carved, jade-like little girl!
This was… the Fifth Princess?!
The Emperor had actually brought the Fifth Princess with him to the Jingzhao Prefecture Office!
Shangguan Sui blinked her beautiful, wide eyes and immediately spotted Lou Changqing kneeling at the center.
【Little Uncle, don’t be afraid—we’re here to save you!】
【Father Emperor and I both know that you’ve been wrongly accused!】
【Hoho~ Little Uncle is so handsome. No wonder he’s part of my family~】
Upon hearing the voice, Lou Changqing’s back stiffened instantly.
What was that sound?
That voice… called him “Little Uncle”…
Could it be…?
He raised his eyes and met Shangguan Sui’s gaze directly.
Shangguan Sui curved her lips into a smile, revealing two adorable dimples.
Seeing her sweet smile, Lou Changqing couldn’t help but smile back.
Since her birth, he had only seen this little niece once. Yet, every time they met, he felt an inexplicable sense of closeness.
Perhaps this was the power of blood ties.
So the voice he had just heard must have been Sui Sui’s inner thoughts.
His gaze then shifted to the Emperor’s face, only to find no sign of surprise or reaction.
Lou Changqing’s brows twitched slightly.
It seemed that he alone could hear it.
“You may proceed with the trial. I am merely here to observe—pay me no mind,” Shangguan Lin said warmly, his tone betraying no anger.
Upon hearing this, the Prefect immediately relaxed.
It seemed that the Emperor was siding with the Marquis of Zhenbei. After all, the Emperor’s favor and trust toward the Marquis were well known.
Lü Yuan also allowed himself a smug smile. Although his father had been fined a year’s salary, it appeared that the Emperor still trusted him.
Holding Shangguan Sui, Shangguan Lin took a seat on a chair prepared at the side, his expression calm and relaxed, as if he were truly there only to observe.
Reassured, the Prefect wiped the cold sweat from his brow and continued with the case.
“At the hour of Xu last night, a murder occurred in a private room at Chaling Tavern. The deceased was a scholar named Xing Shao. The suspect, Lou Changqing, was apprehended at the scene. The tavern waiter Meng Tian and Commandant Lü Yuan are witnesses.”
After speaking, the Prefect cupped his hands toward Shangguan Lin and said deferentially, “Your Majesty, this is the full account of the case. There are no remaining doubts.”
Hearing this, Shangguan Sui wrinkled her little nose in anger, her inner voice erupting in complaints.
【No doubts?! This case has more holes than the hair on your head!】
【Xing Shao was my little uncle’s friend. Why would he kill him? Have you even established a motive?】
【Since it happened in a private room, how could Meng Tian and Lü Yuan be witnesses? How did they get inside? Did they just happen to watch my little uncle commit the murder?】
【With your intelligence and ability, why are you even an official? You’d kill chickens if you tried to raise them and lose sheep if you tried to herd them! Completely useless!】
Shangguan Lin couldn’t help but curl his lips, nearly laughing out loud.
His precious daughter truly had a talent for scolding people—very much like him!
This Prefect was indeed incompetent and clearly could not be retained.
The Prefect, noticing Shangguan Lin’s expression, felt puzzled.
Why was the Emperor smiling?
Was the case amusing?
Could it be… that the Emperor thought he had handled the case well?
Seeing the Emperor’s smile, the Prefect’s own lips began to curl upward.
Hehe, perhaps a promotion was on the horizon.
Just as this thought crossed his mind, his smile froze.
“Lou Changqing, you may speak.”
The deep and resonant voice sounded like a thunderclap in the ears of both the Prefect and Lü Yuan, their faces instantly turning pale with fear.
What did the Emperor mean by this?
Shangguan Lin’s gaze settled on the young man kneeling at the center.
As expected of Consort Chen’s younger brother—he indeed bore a resemblance to her.
Lou Changqing pursed his lips, a trace of gloom flashing across his handsome face.
In the main hall, the young man’s clear voice rang out as he began to recount the true sequence of events behind the case.