After Ji Huaishan pleaded guilty, he committed suicide by swallowing his tongue. Ji Xingxuan was greatly stimulated and fainted on the spot. Prince Ning, Liu Hao, arrived later and took him away. Out of the two criminals, one was dead and the other was unconscious. As a result, the trial of the case had to come to an end.
Guo Huaian ordered the bailiffs to carry Ji Huaishan's corpse away and wait for the Ji family to come and collect the body. After that, he announced that the court would be dismissed.
"Junior Supervisor Ren, let's go to the back to discuss the matter." Guo Huaian stood up and straightened his black gauze. He first signaled to Ren Qiming, then turned to Xue Rui, who was standing with Yu Shu and Jing Chen, and said, "Junior Supervisor Xue, please send Daozi off on my behalf."
"Yes, Sir."
Following the departure of Guo Huaian and Ren Qiming, only a few bailiffs were left in the court that was previously full of people.
"Daozi, please." Xue Rui extended his hand to lead Jing Chen out of the door, but his gaze was on Yu Shu. He saw that she was thinking about something with her head lowered, but he could sense that she was not in a good mood. Thus, he was slightly worried that she was frightened by Ji Huaishan's death.
Jing Chen was lost in thought as he stared at the small pool of blood on the ground. When he heard Xue Rui calling him, he came back to his senses. He glanced at Xue Rui and then shifted his gaze to Yu Shu. He wanted to say something but stopped himself.
Yu Shu seemed to have finished thinking about something. She raised her head and saw that both of them were looking at her. She said expressionlessly, "What are you looking at me for? Let's go."
After she finished speaking, she took the lead and walked out. She did not even look at the blood on the ground. Seeing this, Xue Rui and Jing Chen followed them out, along with the two palace guards who followed Jing Chen everywhere.
When they arrived at the gate of the Supreme Court, Jing Chen's carriage was waiting on the opposite side of the street. The Imperial Bodyguard went forward to lead the horse. The coachman turned the carriage around and stopped in front of Jing Chen. A fourteen or fifteen year old eunuch jumped out of the carriage. Originally, he wanted to welcome Jing Chen into the carriage, but as soon as he saw the bloody mark on his chest, he screamed in fright, "Ah, Daozi, what happened to you? Where did you get the blood? Where are you hurt?"
Jing Chen looked down at his chest and said, "I'm fine. This is someone else's blood."
The little eunuch patted his chest and sighed twice. He glared at the Imperial Bodyguard behind Jing Chen, as if he was complaining that they did not do their duty to protect him. He turned around and lifted the curtain of the colorful carriage. He said to Jing Chen, "You should quickly get on the carriage. You have to quickly go back and change your dirty clothes to avoid being stained with bad luck."
Jing Chen turned his head to look at Yu Shu. He opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but he heard Yu Shu said first, "Don't be in a hurry to leave. I have something to say to you."
Finished speaking, she did not wait for his reply. She turned her head to Xue Rui and said, "Big brother, let me borrow your place."
As soon as Xue Rui heard this, he knew that she wanted to go to Wangji Lou. He thought for a moment and said to her, "You go first. I'll go inside and sort out the files. I'll be there shortly."
Then he looked at the luxuriously decorated and eye-catching carriage in the Palace. He asked her, "Lao Cui is at the stable in the back. Why don't you wait for a moment, I'll have him drive the carriage to take you."
"No need," Yu Shu said, "I'll sit in your carriage. It won't be convenient for you to leave later." Finished speaking, she turned around and got on the carriage in the Palace.
The little eunuch did not recognize Yu Shu. Seeing her openly get on his master's carriage, he was just about to reprimand her when he saw the curtain of the carriage was lifted from the inside, revealing Yu Shu's face. She said to Jing Chen, "Still not leaving?"
Jing Chen hesitated for a moment and then got on the carriage. The little eunuch was perceptive; seeing this situation, he swallowed his words. He was about to climb into the carriage, but just as he poked his head in, he heard the person inside say, "You, sit outside. Let the driver go to Horse Street first."
Yu Shu waved her hand at this unknown little eunuch. Without any explanation, she pulled down the curtain of the carriage and hung it on the hook of the door frame. She sat back by the window and looked outside at Xue Rui. She said, "I'll go back first."
"En."
Xue Rui stood in front of the door. His eyes followed the carriage as it was escorted away by two Imperial Bodyguards. Only then did he turn around and return to the yamen. He had to quickly take care of the matter at hand so that he could have some free time.
In the carriage, after a while, Yu Shu and Jing Chen sat facing each other, separated by a peach blossom and sandalwood table. No one spoke first.
At this moment, Yu Shu's heart was very uncomfortable. Because of Ji Huaishan's death, because of Ji Xingxuan's' luck 'in escaping, and because of Jing Chen's apology to Ji Xingxuan in the court not long ago. Also, there was the reproachful look in his eyes when he looked at her.
If she had to find a word to describe her current mood, it would be 'sullen.' Extremely sullen.
She had never thought of putting Ji Huaishan to death. However, Ji Huaishan had sought death. She had never thought of letting Ji Xingxuan go. However, Ji Xingxuan had successfully escaped. She had never thought that the person in front of her, who was willing to go through fire and water for her, would actually sympathize with the two people who had once harmed her.
Jing Chen was not a difficult person to guess. He was rarely happy or angry, but it was easy to see when he was happy or angry. Although he was easy-going, he could also be stubborn. Yu Shu could tell that he was very concerned about Ji Huaishan's death. She could also understand why he would feel guilty. However, understanding did not mean that she would agree with him.
"Xiaoyu —"
"Why did you apologize to Miss Ji?"
The two of them spoke almost at the same time, but only Yu Shu finished her sentence.
"…" Jing Chen did not know how to answer Yu Shu's question. He looked at her obviously unhappy face and clenched his fists on his knees. "Xiaoyu, the Celestial Masters Sect never kills without reason. However, because I lied, Ji Huaishan died a horrible death today. I feel guilty."
Hearing this, Yu Shu lowered her eyes. After a moment of silence, she suppressed the sullen feelings in her heart and explained, "Jing Chen, you've underestimated the human heart. I'll be honest with you. Ji Huaishan asked for his death today. No one forced him to do so. He chose to commit suicide in order to protect Ji Xingxuan and the Ji Clan. There must be someone else who abused his power in the Grand Examination, but he died just like that. There was no way to get any more information out of him. Death was the most important thing, no matter how serious the crime was, what could be pursued? Even you sympathized with them, let alone others. Those who were lucky enough to escape will remember his kindness and will most likely help him take care of his descendants.
Ji Xingxuan does not have to bear the consequences of cheating. Based on her talent, she will definitely pass the Grand Yan Examination. Once she becomes a Dayi Master, a girl of her age will definitely be famous in the capital. When that time comes, not only will she make a comeback, but the Ji family will also not decline. "
At this point, she laughed mockingly and crossed her arms. "Ji Huaishan did not die because he was forced to do so. Instead, he died because of his schemes. You don't have to feel guilty for him and I don't have to bear the consequences of his death."
Hearing Yu Shu's words, Jing Chen's expression changed slightly. Raising his head, he met her cold and emotionless gaze. His heart skipped a beat and he closed his eyes. Recalling Ji Huaishan's tragic death, he sighed. "You're right. He did not have to die. He did seek death of his own volition. However, if he had not been forced to do so, he would not have sacrificed his life to protect his descendants. Xiao Yu, they are indeed in the wrong, but they do not deserve to die. If I had known that I would cause someone to lose his life, I would not have lied in the first place. "
Seeing Jing Chen's helpless expression, Yu Shu smiled coldly. Hearing the seriousness and regret in his last sentence, she felt a pang of sorrow. That Ji Huaishan did not deserve to die, and that Ji Xingxuan did not deserve to die either. Did she deserve to be plotted against and have her fingers broken?
That night, when she was sent home from the Celestial Commissioner's office, she heard He Fangzhi and Xue Rui whispering to each other. They said that even if her fingers were reattached, she would not be able to use them properly in the future.
She did not want them to worry, so she pretended that she did not know anything. Every day, she would take the bitter medicine and endure the pain at night. She told everyone that she was fine, but the finger was connected to the heart. When Ji Xingxuan was pinched, she cried and screamed in pain before she even saw blood. Her little finger, on the other hand, was broken. She had to endure the excruciating pain and climb out of the hole that the grandfather and grandson dug for her. Then, she pushed them into the hole. However, they did not stand properly, and one of them fell to his death. Could they blame her for being cruel?
Jing Chen only saw Ji Huaishan's tragic death and Ji Xingxuan's pitiful and helpless state. However, he did not know that forcing them to this point was her way of protecting herself. When she was beaten, she had to return the favor. She would never be soft-hearted to those who dared to provoke her, and there was no need for her to be soft-hearted.
If Jing Chen thought that what she did was wrong, then she would have nothing to say. He had his principles, and she had her own stubbornness. She was a cruel person. She was like this for the past thirty years, and she would still be like this for another thirty years.
Yu Shu took a deep breath and slowly exhaled the depression in her heart. She shouted, "Stop the car!"
The carriage suddenly stopped at the corner of the street. Jing Chen's body swayed, and he opened his eyes. He saw Yu Shu waving the curtain aside and bending down to get off the carriage.
"Xiaoyu?"
Yu Shu jumped off the carriage and held the curtain with one hand. She looked at him openly and said, "Jing Chen, I didn't do anything wrong."
Right and wrong were the most difficult things to explain in this world. Whether it was right or wrong, one had to ask one's own conscience. There was no need for others' approval.
Jing Chen looked at the serious expression in Yu Shu's eyes. He did not know why, but he felt a trace of alienation. He suddenly felt helpless. He opened his mouth to say something, but the curtain that was embroidered with green branches fell in front of his eyes. In a short moment, it covered the outside of the carriage.
He was stunned. Only when the eunuch outside the carriage asked if he was returning to the palace did he quickly open the curtain and look outside. In front of him, there was a large road with people coming and going. Yu Shu's figure had already disappeared into the crowd.
Yu Shu walked through the unfamiliar street. She did not turn her head to see if the carriage behind her was leaving or staying. She also did not think about whether Jing Chen would catch up to her. She only walked along the street, aimlessly. Just like her current mood, she was both clear and confused.
She only knew that she did not want to be alone right now.
Just like this, she did not know how long she walked. She faintly heard someone calling her name from behind her. She walked forward a dozen steps before she reacted. She turned her head and looked at the middle of the street with sparse pedestrians. A person on a horse hurriedly caught up to her and stopped beside her. The person on the horse lowered his head to look at her and let out a sigh of relief. The thin layer of sweat on his forehead shined under the midday sun. Together with that mischievous smile, he said, "I called you several times and you didn't hear me? Do you have a problem with your ears? You made me chase you half a street.
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