The Jiang family acted swiftly, clearing out the space in just half a night. They spent two more days and nights repeatedly checking to ensure nothing incriminating was left behind. Only then did they leisurely inform City Lord Zeng that the trial could resu.
Just as Clan Leader Jiang predicted, without evidence, the two were no longer a threat. City Lord Zeng could openly cover for the Jiang family, claiming insufficient evidence to convict Jiang Yixing, and even pursue Jiang Li and Yuan Wuxing for intentionally harming Jiang Yixing.
The only unexpected turn for Clan Leader Jiang was that their ancestor, Jiang Yixing, remained in a coma, with no explanation from the physicians.
"This court declares Jiang Yixing not guilty. If you two are dissatisfied with this ruling, you may appeal to the prefecture within fifteen days starting today."
Jiang Li stepped forward and handed City Lord Zeng a piece of paper, as if he had been waiting for this mont.
"This is the appeal."
City Lord Zeng was annoyed by Jiang Li's calm deanor, and even more so when he saw the appeal already prepared.
Clearly, Jiang Li had anticipated this outco and had written the appeal in advance.
But so what? The prefect who would handle this case had also been promoted from the position of Qingcheng city lord and had previously helped the Jiang family cover up the baby-stealing incident.
Even if the prefect were a just person, without any evidence, how could these two reckless individuals win the case? By sheer stubbornness?
...
The Great Zhou Dynasty is divided into twenty-six prefectures, each with dozens of major cities under its jurisdiction. Qingcheng is one such major city, under the administration of Tianqing Prefecture. Naturally, the appeal had to be submitted to Prefect Gong Peng of Tianqing Prefecture.
After receiving the appeal, Prefect Gong summoned Clan Leader Jiang and City Lord Zeng to inquire about the details of the case, feeling reassured after the discussion.
...
"Zhang Li, Yuan Wuxing, before the trial begins, I must inform you that this court's ruling is final. Unless new evidence erges that could overturn the original ruling, you may not appeal further. Do you understand?"
Prefect Gong sat at the center of the hall, with Zhang Li and Yuan Wuxing on one side and Clan Leader Jiang on the other, as Jiang Yixing was still in a coma and of no use here.
Clan Leader Jiang, as usual, showed no expression, but Yuan Wuxing suspected he was secretly pleased.
Outside the hall, a sparse crowd of dozens gathered, far fewer than before, as everyone knew the evidence was insufficient and Jiang Li and Yuan Wuxing couldn't win. City Lord Zeng stood among them, ready to watch the spectacle.
"Understood," Jiang Li replied loudly, and Yuan Wuxing echoed his response.
"But before the trial begins, I want to add another defendant."
"You may, but this court's ruling remains final, and you cannot appeal based on adding a defendant."
Jiang Li nodded in acknowledgnt, raising his chin slightly and standing with his hands behind his back. "I accuse City Lord Zeng of Qingcheng of abusing his power for personal gain during his tenure, covering up Jiang Yixing's theft of infants, and destroying crucial evidence. I request Prefect Gong to make a ruling!"
Clan Leader Jiang felt a sudden pang of unease. To accuse a city lord, the official handling the case must be of the third rank or higher, and Prefect Gong was indeed a third-rank official. This move was legal, but he couldn't fathom what Jiang Li intended. Did he think accusing another city lord would help him win?
He felt as if he had forgotten sothing important.
Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the "[pawread.c𝘰m]"
Clan Leader Jiang was unfamiliar with the law and didn't understand Jiang Li's purpose, but City Lord Zeng and Prefect Gong imdiately grasped Jiang Li's intent. The two Nascent Soul cultivators, who feared neither heat nor cold, suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.
"I suspect that the destruction of the space with the blood sacrifice infants, the most crucial evidence in this case, was done by City Lord Zeng. I ask Prefect Gong to report to the imperial court and request a ti reversal to restore the scene!"
Jiang Li's words shattered their last bit of hope.
This matter was going to be reported to the imperial court!
They had no powerful backers in the court!
Among the nine great dynasties, only the Great Zhou Dynasty dared to rule by law, and only the Great Zhou Dynasty had the capability to govern by law. The fundantal reason was that the Great Zhou royal family was proficient in the Path of Ti, capable of reversing the flow of ti!
However, the Path of Ti carried significant causal consequences and could not be used lightly. Therefore, the Great Zhou had stipulated several special circumstances under which the Path of Ti could be used, such as cases with a significant impact on the nation or cases involving the integrity of officials of the seventh rank or higher...
And City Lord Zeng was a fifth-rank official.
"You slanderer!" City Lord Zeng shouted, losing his composure.
City Lord Zeng genuinely felt wronged. It was the Jiang family who destroyed that space; he was at most a witness. How did it beco his doing in this brat's mouth?
Jiang Li ignored him completely.
Whether City Lord Zeng destroyed the space was irrelevant; what mattered was his position as a defendant in this case.
"Zhang Li, are you really going to request the imperial court to reverse ti?" Prefect Gong stared at Jiang Li, his gaze icy. He felt he had been outmaneuvered by Jiang Li.
More importantly, reversing ti would not only reveal that the Jiang family destroyed the space node but also expose Jiang Yixing's cultivation of demonic arts in that space!
Once Jiang Yixing's demonic cultivation was exposed, all those who had served as city lords in Qingcheng would be scrutinized by the court, and none of them would escape unscathed!
Yuan Wuxing also realized why Jiang Li allowed the Jiang family to destroy the space node; he had been waiting for this mont.
"I am certain."
"Are you really going to request it?" Prefect Gong repeated the question word by word, his Nascent Soul peak aura radiating like a roaring tiger. The bailiffs trembled, unable to withstand it, and knelt down, followed by Clan Leader Jiang and Yuan Wuxing.
"I am certain." Jiang Li maintained his calm deanor, seemingly oblivious to Prefect Gong's murderous intent, and even pulled out a pre-written application from his sleeve, placing it in front of Prefect Gong.
Seeing the ink still wet on the application, Prefect Gong nearly lost control and wanted to kill Jiang Li on the spot!
But he ultimately dared not make a move.
If he acted now, it would truly be the end.
"Zhang Li, very well, very well indeed!" Prefect Gong slamd the table in anger and stord out, with Clan Leader Jiang and City Lord Zeng following closely behind, no longer hiding their displeasure.
As Prefect Gong departed, the oppressive killing intent gradually dissipated. Yuan Wuxing finally regained so strength and shakily stood up.
"Prefect Gong didn't even make a move, and just his killing intent scared you like this. You're at the peak of the Golden Elixir stage, aren't you ashad?" Jiang Li scolded with a smile, as if disappointed.
Yuan Wuxing smiled wryly, "Senior Zhang, Prefect Gong is at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. Facing such a level of killing intent, the Golden Elixir stage can't withstand it."
Jiang Li scoffed, "Excuses. I killed a Nascent Soul peak cultivator when I was at the peak of the Golden Elixir stage."
Yuan Wuxing was stunned, taking a long ti to respond, "Senior, you have impressive skills."
Yuan Wuxing genuinely admired Jiang Li. As an emissary of the Taoist sect, his status was even higher than that of a prince of the Great Zhou. Even first and second-rank officials would greet him with smiles, yet he chose not to use his status, instead using the laws of the Great Zhou to systematically push the Jiang family to their doom!
Impressive!
Reviews
All reviews (0)