I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 141 Counterattack
The council hall of the Shen residence.

The hall door was ajar, and a black curtain hung down to the ground.
Three candles stood side by side in the hall, and sandalwood incense wafted from the beast-shaped mouth, enveloping the entire room.

The four people sat separately, with a table between them.

The person seated at the head of the table was none other than Shen Junyuan, the head of the Shen family.

His knuckles tapped on the armrest, lightly yet rhythmically. "Xue Xiang has been captured. How is everyone's progress?"

Shen Heng and Shen Nansu, who were sitting opposite him, nodded in unison.

Clearly, he had completed all the tasks assigned to him.

"In that case, the matter is settled."

Shen Junyuan breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Elder Shen Shoushan leaned his cane against the side of the table, his gray hair hanging down from his temples. “It’s not time to relax yet.”

Xue Xiang must be strictly controlled, and no one is allowed to visit him.

He also had to thoroughly inspect all the items hidden inside the talisman, leaving nothing out.

Shen Heng nodded and said, "It has been checked and no abnormalities were found."

Even his clothes have been completely changed, just to prevent him from secretly hiding storage treasures.

In addition, Xue Xiang was imprisoned in a dark cell, guarded by men for twelve hours a day without interruption.

Shen Nansu couldn't help but chuckle softly, "Isn't Seventh Grandfather a little too nervous?"

Even if Xue Xiang is extraordinary, to put it bluntly, he's just a newly promoted minor official; why would he need such a grand display?

Shen Shoushan slowly turned his head, "Nan Su, do you know how much Xue Xiang has accomplished so far, even though he's just starting out?"

Even Su Suiran, a veteran bureaucrat of Yunmeng City, fell at his feet.

This man is no ordinary person; those who underestimate him never have a good ending.

Shen Heng nodded. "Seventh Uncle is right. Xue Xiang does indeed act unpredictably."

Shen Shoushan paused lightly with his cane and said in a low voice, "Therefore, we cannot give Xue Xiang any chance."

I don't know if you read the newspaper, but I read every single issue of Xue Xiangwu's news from Yunjian.

The news of Xue Xiang's detention has already been published in the newspapers; he is stirring up public opinion.

Therefore, the trial of this case should be conducted sooner rather than later, and faster rather than slower.

"Master, you must make a decisive decision."

Shen Junyuan nodded. "It's not that I'm indecisive, but that I'm making final preparations."

Uncle Qi always said that when dealing with Xue Xiang, we should use the same approach as a lion hunting a rabbit, going all out.
I'll wait for this last piece of the puzzle to be completed, as long as the final piece is finished.

Xue Xiang will not only lose his official position, but he will also be widely disgraced in Confucian circles.

Shen Shoushan, Shen Heng, and Shen Nansu all raised their heads at the same time.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps rushed in; it was Shen Tunan, the head butler of the Shen family.

He bowed to everyone without saying a word, but nodded to Shen Junyuan.

Shen Junyuan was overjoyed. He stood up abruptly and said loudly, "The matter is settled. Shen Heng, Nan Su, you two go and coordinate with all parties immediately."

The trial for Xue Xiang's unauthorized murder will begin tomorrow.

………………

This morning, Yong'an City was no longer as relaxed as it used to be.

Just after Chen Shi (7-9 AM), footsteps from all the streets and alleys surged toward Leng Cui Feng like a tide.

The Yong'an Times reported early this morning that the trial for Xue Xiang's unlawful murder case began this morning.

One is the newly crowned top scholar in the county examination, and the other is the domineering steward of a prestigious family.

It has been many years since such a sensational case has occurred in Yong'an City.

Not only did Yunjian News report on it, but Yong'an Times, which is led by Li Shaobai, also followed up extensively.

Of course, the two newspapers have completely different biases.

However, among the people, Shen Ao had accumulated many evil deeds over the years, which naturally made public opinion side with Xue Xiang.

The trial for this case will be held at Zhengyi Hall on Lengcui Peak.

Zhengyi Hall is a spacious and tall building with a forest of vermilion pillars, and its gold-lacquered plaques gleam with a cold radiance in the morning light.

It is only open to cases of great significance, and each opening is enough to stir up a media frenzy in the city.

Early in the morning, crowds of people gathered in the square in front of Zhengyi Hall to watch the excitement.

Sensing a business opportunity, the vendors also carried their wares and followed them up the mountain.

The law enforcement team arrived at their post early, standing in formation on both sides of the square with halberds, their blades gleaming white.

At 1:15 AM, a deep drumbeat echoed down the mountain path.

The sound of drums grew louder as it approached, like an invisible river flowing from the foot of the mountain all the way to the front of Zhengyi Hall.

The commotion gradually subsided, and all eyes turned to a group of people walking in their direction.

Leading the way was Lord Huang Yao, dressed in a dark black official robe with a white pheasant embroidered on his chest and a white jade pendant at his waist, his steps steady and slow.

Behind Huang Yao was Prefect Cao Fang, dressed in a light black official robe, holding an ivory tablet, with a stern expression.

Following closely behind were the seals of the Canaanshire officials, who also wore light black official robes and stood in two rows.

Among them was a man with a thin face and watery eyes; he was none other than Wei Yang, Xue Xiang's tutor.

After the county examination, Wei Yang interfered with the fate of Xue Xiang's personnel file.

This led to Xue Xiang sitting on the crater where he is now.

The mastermind also kept his promise to Wei Yang, transferring him to the position of Eleventh Hall Master, a position on par with the Yunmeng City Commander.

However, Wei Yang also took on the role of the head of the Temple of Seals, which was equivalent to being promoted one rank, and his Immortal Talisman jumped from the seventh rank to the sixth rank.

At this moment, he was dressed in a light black official robe, which was stretched taut by his robust body, giving him an imposing presence.

Soon, a group of high-ranking officials from Canaan entered the Zhengyi Hall, exchanged greetings with the officials already waiting inside, and then took their seats.

Today's presiding judge—the Grand Master and First Hall Master, Xie Yuanyou—slowly walked to the presiding judge's seat.

Xie Yuanyou, thirty-seven years old, wore a wide, flowing official robe, his temples were slightly frosted, but his eyes held an undeniable sharpness.

The main hall is spacious, with hundreds of seats arranged like a forest.

After the officials took their seats, scions and elders from various prominent families appeared one after another on the stone steps in the distance.

People from the Shen, Ning, Lü, and Lou families were all present, dressed in different colors, but none of them showed a smile.

Their arrival caused the people outside the hall to hold their breath.

These people entered the hall, and there was a long exchange of pleasantries.

While they were exchanging pleasantries, the city's wealthy families, sect leaders, and their noble families entered through the back side door and found seats to sit down.

Sunlight streamed in through the skylight, slanting across the vermilion pillars and casting a golden glow over the hall.

The drumming stopped abruptly at that moment.

An eerie silence suddenly fell over the hall, and an invisible, imposing aura arose, as if weighing a thousand pounds, awaiting Xue Xiang's arrival.

In the southeast corner, in the shadow of a pillar, sat a woman in a green dress.

She had a slender waist and a graceful figure. Her clothes swayed gently in the wind, and her face was covered with a thin white veil, revealing only a pair of bright eyes.

It was Lady Wei.

She shouldn't have come today; after all, gossip can be a powerful force.

But, after asking herself countless times in secret, she still couldn't resist coming.

She hid in a corner of the crowd, her fingertips gently gripping her sleeve, as if afraid that someone would see the trembling in her palms.

The night they parted after the Peony Gathering, she could never forget the light in Xue Xiang's eyes.

That light was like a nail, embedded in her heart; the more she tried to forget it, the clearer it became.

She knew very well that there was absolutely no possibility between her and Xue Xiang.

She could only sit here quietly, gazing at the hall entrance through the layers of shadows, as if waiting for a loved one who had been away for many years and was finally returning.

About ten feet behind Madam Wei, Zhao Huanhuan and Su Danqing also came in early and chose a corner spot.

The usually radiant Sect Leader Zhao was dressed in a plain robe today, without any makeup. Yet, her beautiful features and innate charm attracted the attention of many.

Her expression was grave as she gently turned the ring on her delicate index finger and whispered, "It's my fault. If I hadn't let him gnaw on it..."

"Sect Master, what are you saying?"

Dressed as a man in a white robe, Sudan Qing gently stopped them, saying, "This is not the place to talk about this. Besides, he is a smart man, and I believe he must have a backup plan."

"hope so."

Zhao Huanhuan ultimately couldn't let it go easily.

Just as the two were talking, a woman in a yellow dress wearing a straw hat entered through the side back door.

Her hair was as black as a waterfall, and a phoenix-shaped gold hairpin was inserted in her temple. Although her face was not shown, she exuded an imposing air of nobility.

Beside her, a pretty maid in green followed closely.

The two found a secluded spot in the back row and sat down. The pretty maid in green whispered, "My Lady, look at this scene."

I think these people only hate that Xue Langjun isn't dead.

Needless to say, the woman in the yellow dress was none other than "Yuanjun," who had once taught Xue Xiang how to prepare for the exam at Zhaoyewu.

The pretty maid in green was Xuejian, the personal maid of the woman in the yellow dress.

Back then, the woman in the yellow dress traveled all the way to Jiannan. Grateful for Xue Xiang's affection, she secretly sent someone to take care of him.

When Xue Xiang fought the Earth Witch, the old man who came to the rescue at the critical moment was sent by the woman in the yellow dress.

After Xue Xiang arrived in Yong'an, the woman in the yellow dress became even more well-informed.

She received the news as soon as Xue Xiangcai was arrested.

She originally intended to pull some strings to help Xue Xiang escape his predicament, but she didn't expect the Shen family to act so quickly and start the trial so soon.

The woman in the yellow dress didn't have time to make any moves, so she had to come to the hearing first.

“Yuanjun, if Xue Langjun is found guilty, his path to advancement will be ruined.”

Xue Jianjun frowned slightly, "He can win the county examination, so he will definitely pass the examination to become a scholar and be listed on the Bronze List."

Furthermore, Xue Langjun's poetic talent is unparalleled, and I truly want to see him ascend to the highest stage of the Great Xia Dynasty.

These bad people must know how powerful he is, which is why they try to stop him at every turn and refuse to let him grow.

If this case is lost, Young Master Xue will be doomed forever.

The woman in the yellow dress scoffed, "With me here, he will never be truly doomed."

She raised her hand to brush away the strands of hair that had fallen across her forehead, her gaze passing over the crowd and looking into the depths of the hall. "There are millions of students in the world, but I have only this one student."

Three drumbeats sounded, and the air inside and outside the Zhengyi Hall seemed to freeze.

"Send word—Xue Xiang!"

The caller's voice, like thunder, rolled over the mountainside and out of the hall, startling the hearts of the people in the square.

After a dozen or so breaths, Xue Xiang slowly stepped into the main hall.

He was dressed in plain clothes and was not wearing shackles. Two burly policemen followed closely behind him.

In an instant, hundreds of eyes converged on him, some filled with resentment, some with surprise, some with regret, and some with schadenfreude...

In a corner of the main hall, Madam Wei leaned forward slightly, her clear eyes trembling behind the veil.

The woman in the yellow dress gently lifted her straw hat and gazed at him from afar, her lips pressed into a thin line.

On the side of the high platform, Wei Yang's hand tightened almost imperceptibly on the iron gall in his palm, and his usually composed eyes now held an undisguised complexity.

On the left side of the hall, Shen Nansheng stood with his hands behind his back, a cold smile playing on his lips.

He seemed to be waiting for his prey to walk into his trap, waiting for all resistance to be in vain.

Right next to him, Lu Wenhou and Lou Changqing sat side by side.

Both men wore plain-colored long robes, their auras restrained, yet carrying an indescribable sharpness.

On the other side, Wang Bodang crossed his arms and leaned against the back of the chair, looking solemn.

The Third Court's Chief Justice, Zhao Pu, remained indifferent, his eyelids slightly drooping, seemingly uninterested in the spectacle unfolding in the hall.

But his trembling fingertips betrayed his nervousness.

Xue Xiang's gaze was firm; he did not scan the entire room, but fixed his eyes on the plaque above the main hall that read "Bright Mirror."

The drumbeats sounded again, and then stopped after three beats.

Xie Yuanyou sat high on the presiding judge's bench and slammed the gavel down heavily. "Let's begin the interrogation, Vice Judge Long."

"The subordinate is here."

The deputy hall master, Zunlong, who was sitting to his left, immediately stood up.

"You will now present the facts of the case."

"Follow the order."

Just as Vice-Chairman Long was about to begin his statement, Song Yang, the head steward responsible for maintaining order outside the hall, rushed in and loudly announced, "Lord Song Tingfang, the Wind Watcher of Canglan Prefecture, has arrived!"

These words caused a sensation throughout the room.

The crowd turned their heads in unison, and saw a tall, slender figure slowly stepping in through the morning light outside the hall.

She wore a dark black official robe with a cape embroidered with auspicious clouds in gold. Her black hair was tied up high, and a gilded phoenix hairpin was pinned to her temple.

His features were exquisite, his eyes bright as autumn water, and he possessed an unassailable majesty.

This woman was none other than Song Tingfang, the Director of the Fengshi Division of Canglan Prefecture, and Xue Xiang's nominal senior martial brother whom he had only heard of but never met.

Behind her, a familiar figure followed her in—Liu Zhiwei.

She wore a plain-colored long dress, her arms hanging slightly at her sides. Her exquisite face looked as if it had been coated with ginger water, but her complexion was sallow.

She held a long, rectangular token in her arms, on which was inscribed the words "By Imperial Decree".

"Greetings, Director Song."

"Greetings, Lord Huang."

Lord Huang Yao of Canaan led his entourage to leave their seats and welcome Song Tingfang.

The two bowed to each other.

According to official rank, both of them were fifth-rank immortals.

Song Tingfang was in a core government office in the prefecture, but as a hereditary official, his career advancement was limited.

Huang Yao, however, was a clerk in the local government, with a promising future.

Neither of them showed any disrespect to the other; they simply exchanged greetings according to their official ranks.

After Huang Yao finished bowing, a group of officials followed suit.

After returning the greeting, Song Tingfang took his seat in the VIP section that had been set up temporarily. "I am the acting governor of Daizhou, and my original intention was to inspect Canaan after the Spring Festival."

I was shocked to hear of this major case at Lengcui Peak, and dared not fail to come and report it.

Who reported Xie Tangzun and Xue Xiang's unauthorized murder case?

Xie Yuanyou paused, a barely perceptible hint of hesitation flashing across his brows. "No one reported it."

Song Tingfang's gaze was like a thin blade. "If there was no one who reported it, how did the case come about?"

Xie Yuanyou's voice was slightly deep, "Upon hearing of this, Yitang..."

Xie Yuanyou suddenly realized that this matter was really not easy to explain in detail.

"Oh?" Song Tingfang raised an eyebrow. "A single hall can arrest people based on mere rumors?"

The atmosphere inside the hall instantly became tense.

Xie Yuanyou's gaze slowly shifted to the deputy hall master Zunlong Zheng at the head of the table.

Long Zheng had no choice but to step forward, cup his fists, and say, "This case is urgent and important. I have determined that the situation cannot be delayed, so I have made the arrest first and will gather the necessary materials later."

Song Tingfang's smile grew even colder. "When will it be possible to take people first and then submit the materials later?"
Which of the golden rules is this based on?

Long Zheng's forehead was covered in a fine layer of sweat, but he dared not reply.

Song Tingfang shifted her gaze to Xie Yuanyou, "Master Xie, has your entire organization always operated this way?"

"This, this, this time is an exception."

Xie Yuanyou's mouth tasted bitter. "Because the crime scene was in Lengcui Peak, we immediately questioned several of the parties involved after receiving the information."

After establishing the basic facts, they arrested the person.

The procedure was indeed flawed, and I will submit a memorial to the relevant department requesting punishment.

Song Tingfang gave a soft "oh" and ignored Xie Yuanyou, subtly glancing at Liu Zhiwei to reassure her.

Seeing that Song Tingfang was no longer making trouble, Xie Yuanyou secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The dragon's face alternated between blue and white. After bowing abruptly to Song Tingfang, it returned to its seat and began to recount the case.

According to Long Zheng's account, Shen Ao came to visit the Spiritual Property Cleanup Room to inquire about the meaning of Xue Xiang's official document. Xue Xiang was provoked, and the two exchanged words. Xue Xiang then flew into a rage and killed someone.

After Long Zheng finished speaking, Xie Yuanyou slammed his gavel and said, "Xue Xiang, I ask you, is what Long Zheng said true?"

Xue Xiang said, "That's not true. If I were to kill someone so easily, I would have no one left by my side by now."

"Ha ha……"

Laughter could be heard both inside and outside the hall.

"Don't make witty remarks."

Xie Yuanyou said loudly, "Since you don't acknowledge what Deputy Director Long said, then tell me what happened back then."

Xue Xiangdao said, "At that time, Wang Tangzun convened a meeting, and Shen Ao broke through the door and entered, and began to spout nonsense."

Shen Ao, a commoner, trespassed into a government office; this is a crime of disrespect for officialdom.

He looked Xie Yuanyou in the eye, his voice more composed, "I clearly stated his crime, but he refused to accept punishment and instead tried to leave by force."

This is the crime of fleeing to avoid punishment.

When I tried to stop him, he drew his halberd and attacked me, injuring me.

This constitutes the crime of violently resisting the law and assaulting an official of the imperial court.

These three crimes will be punished concurrently—

Xue Xiang's gaze suddenly turned fierce. "His crime deserves to be punished."

As soon as the voice fell, you could hear a pin drop in the Zhengyi Hall.

Snapped!
The gavel struck again, and Xie Yuanyou said coldly, "You certainly have a silver tongue. May I ask if there are any witnesses to what you just said?"

"At that time, all the officials of the Ninth Hall were present, and they can testify to this."

Xue Xiang said loudly.

He knew perfectly well that for the situation to have developed to this point, expecting Wang Bodang and others to stand up and vouch for him was simply a pipe dream.

Xie Yuanyou's voice suddenly sharpened, "Clever words and a flattering demeanor, arrogant and rude!"
This court has investigated this case, and the facts are completely different from what you said!

His gaze was sharp as he swept across the courtroom below. "Call the witnesses!"

There was an immediate response from outside, and more than ten people were brought inside.

Xue Xiang immediately recognized these people as the same group of oddballs who were to be placed in the Spiritual Property Cleanup Room at the Ninth Hall meeting the day before.

"Xue Xiang, do you recognize these people?"

"I recognize it."

"who are they?"

“I don’t know their names. But they were present at the meeting that day. These people were all new recruits that Wang Tangzun was preparing to send into the spiritual property cleansing room.”

"It's good that you admit you know each other."

Xie Yuanyou scanned the crowd and said loudly, "Each of you shall recount in detail what happened that day, one by one."

The first person to step forward was a thin middle-aged man. After bowing, he said in a flattering tone, "Your Excellency, when Shen Ao entered the side hall that day, although his attitude was arrogant, his words were not inappropriate."

There was no overbearing behavior whatsoever. On the contrary, Vice Dean Xue seemed displeased with our entry into the spiritual property cleaning room, and was in a bad mood, constantly clashing with Shen Ao, using heated words and repeatedly pressuring him, which created a tense atmosphere.

The testimonies of the second person, the third person, and so on were identical.

“Yuanjun, Xue Langjun is not that kind of person at all. These people are clearly lying.”

Xuejian said in a low voice.

The woman in the yellow dress said, "If someone's conduct is superior to others, the public will surely criticize them. There's nothing more to say."

Xue Xiang was equally shocked.

He originally thought the other party would at most find one or two witnesses, but he didn't expect them to bring up the whole story.

To achieve this level of success, how much effort must be put in behind the scenes?

This is something that cannot be easily accomplished by a single family or clan; it requires the combined efforts of a powerful family to achieve.

Xie Yuanyou, sitting in the hall, turned his gaze back to him. "Xue Xiang, do you have anything else to say?"

Xue Xiang smiled slightly, his expression calm, "Why does the Hall Master have to go to such lengths? Besides them, there were also officials from the Ninth Hall present that day."

"Are these petty people even comparable to Wang Tangzun and his ilk?"

Xie Yuanyou said coldly, "You won't shed a tear until you see the coffin. I'll grant your wish."

He looked at Wang Bodang and said, "Wang Tangzun, you speak."

Under everyone's gaze, Wang Bodang slowly stood up. His face was solemn, and he seemed to be struggling slightly. Suddenly, he gritted his teeth and said, "What I saw that day is the same as what these people saw. I have nothing to say."

Once the words were out, his mind was made up.

He originally didn't want to get involved in this huge mess, but unfortunately, they offered him just too much.

"Vice-Teacher Qian."

Xie Yuanyou suggested using a name that indicated less money.

Qian Shaoyong also made a public statement, echoing Wang Bodang's sentiments.

Following that, officials from the First, Second, and Third Affiliated Hospitals made their statements in turn.

Apart from two vice presidents who were absent due to illness, the rest gave the same explanation.

In an instant, the voices in the hall were as one, pressing down heavily, like massive boulders weighing thousands of pounds, pressing down on Xue Xiang.

At this point, an uproar erupted both inside and outside the hall.

Initially, public opinion was entirely on Xue Xiang's side.

After all, Shen Ao has had a terrible reputation in Canaan County over the years.

Now, everyone agrees that Xue Xiang's crime of unauthorized killing seems to be a foregone conclusion.

Liu Zhiwei's brow furrowed coldly, and her hands, clutching the Observation Token, clenched until they turned white. Song Tingfang secretly pinched her thigh lightly and whispered, "Even if Xue Xiangzhen can't turn the tables, I'll forcefully take everyone away. Who dares to stop me?"

Liu Zhiwei felt slightly relieved.

Xie Yuanyou gently tapped the gavel. "Xue Xiang, do you have anything else to say?"

"With so many people present at the time, even if Xue was lying, there was no need for him to tell a lie that could be exposed immediately."

"So you mean everyone conspired to frame you?"

Xie Yuanyou's voice was light and cheerful, drawing on his years of experience in questioning cases.

Having reached this point, Xue Xiang had exhausted all his options.

Xie Yuanyou coldly shouted, "Xue Xiang, if it weren't for the fact that you are the top scholar in the new county examination, I would never waste words with you like this."

Do you think you only have one crime to bear: unauthorized killing?

As he spoke, Xie Yuanyou took out a thick stack of files and slammed them heavily on the table. "This is a report from Suiyang Town, accusing you of corruption, tyranny, and rampant abuse of power during your tenure in Suiyang Town."

Do you really want me to read each letter to you one by one?

Xue Xiang was stunned. He really didn't expect the other party's methods of attack to be so comprehensive and the scope of the attack so wide. They even fabricated dirt on him in Suiyang Town.

"As for the so-called whistleblower letter, if you want it, I can produce a whole bunch of them."

Xue Xiangdao said, "As for whether my actions in Suiyang Town were truly as despicable as the whistleblower's letter suggests, I have evidence to present without you needing to read the letter aloud."

Xie Yuanyou was taken aback, wondering what Xue Xiang was up to.

But at this point, he had no choice but to ask Xue to submit evidence.

"Please return my talisman, my lord. The evidence is hidden within it."

Give him the magic talisman.

Xie Yuanyou was puzzled.

They searched through everything in Xue Xiangxian's talisman, but apart from a few spirit stones and some booklets, there was nothing of value.

Soon, Xue Xiang's magic talisman was brought over.

Xue Xiang took the talisman, and with a thought, a large umbrella appeared in his palm.

"A umbrella for the people!"

Xie Yuanyou frowned, "Who knows where you got this from..."

Before he finished speaking, Xue Xiangwen Palace trembled, releasing his literary energy, which entered the umbrella of ten thousand people.

In an instant, the umbrella of ten thousand people shone brightly.

Anyone can see that this umbrella of ten thousand people is not a magic weapon.

The fact that such a strange phenomenon could appear at this moment can only mean that this is an umbrella that once carried the pure and sincere wishes of the people.

Purely my own willpower can directly nurture literary energy without the need for refining.

Xue Xiang had already absorbed the pure ego's energy and refined it into literary energy. Now, the literary energy returned to the Ten Thousand People's Umbrella, which would allow the Ten Thousand People's Umbrella to reappear with the strange phenomenon it had at that time.

boom!
The light on the umbrellas rippled like a tide, and golden threads bloomed, instantly spreading out a series of light and shadow effects.

In Suiyang Town, thousands of people gathered to see him off; an old woman leaned on her cane to see him off, and a boy waved and called out "Lord Xue";
In the crowd, Xue Xiang stood on a high place, clasping his hands in a salute;

Then, Xue Xiang's daily life in Suiyang Town came together to form a series of pictures.

The exoneration of the wrongfully convicted brought tears to the eyes of the people.
The ferry crossing was revitalized, attracting merchants from all over.
In the winter soup kitchen, the poor, the weak, the young and the old all received a bowl of hot soup. Every scene was filled with genuine human voices, laughter and shouts, as if the warmth of that day overflowed through the light and shadow.

Inside and outside Zhengyi Hall, there was complete silence.

Xue Jian held the yellow-skirted woman's hand tightly, "Young Master Xue is such a good person."

The woman in the yellow dress said in a low voice, "It's really difficult for someone like him to survive in the corrupt officialdom."

"I never imagined this person was such a kind and virtuous gentleman."

Su Danqing whispered in Zhao Huanhuan's ear, "Sect Master, entrusting my life to such a good man is the only way to live up to my life's expectations."

Zhao Huanhuan's eyes turned slightly cold. "Don't talk nonsense."

The scions of prominent families and clan elders all turned ashen-faced.

The expression on the face of Shen Junyuan, the head of the Shen family, was particularly unpleasant.

It was his idea to dig up Xue Xiang's roots.

Shen Shoushan tried to persuade him, but he didn't listen.

Now, things have backfired.

The light and shadow on the umbrella of ten thousand people had not yet faded, and the warm golden glow poured out of the hall, shining on every face like the morning sun.

In the square, the people who had been looking down raised their heads one by one, their expressions changing from blank to surprised, and then gradually revealing an undisguised excitement.

"Lord Xue is a good man. My wife and I rushed here from Suiyang Town overnight. Without Lord Xue, our whole family would be gone long ago..."

An old woman rushed out from the crowd and shouted loudly.

Before long, more and more people stepped forward.

Seeing that the situation was about to get out of control, Xie Yuanyou waved his hand repeatedly, and the halberd-wielding soldiers quickly pulled the crying person away.

In the hall, everyone had different expressions.

With less money to spend, I gradually became anxious and restless;
Zhao Pu bit his lip, feeling regretful.
Shen Nansheng's brows furrowed, and the cold smile on his lips had vanished without a trace.

Lu Wenhou and Lou Changqing looked at each other, and both remained silent.
The mocking smile that had been playing on Wang Bodang's lips had long since frozen, and a chill ran down his spine.

Madam Wei sat quietly in the corner, her eyes slightly moist behind the white veil;
The woman in the yellow dress had a clear and cold gaze, and a very faint smile played on her lips, a smile that conveyed both conviction and pride.

Compared to the others, Zhao Huanhuan, who was involved, knew better that the conflict between Xue Xiang and the Shen family was not accidental, and her expression was the most relaxed.
Song Tingfang had long since stopped caring about the case; her eyes kept scanning back and forth between Liu Zhiwei's shapely legs and her own, making a silent comparison.

Xie Yuanyou and Shen Junyuan exchanged a glance, coughed heavily, and said, "This hall does not deny that you had outstanding political achievements and a good reputation among the people when you were at Suiyang Ferry."

However, merits cannot outweigh faults.

No matter how great one's achievements, they cannot conceal a person's despicable private morality.

Xie Yuanyou's voice suddenly turned cold, "This court has found that since you participated in the county examination, you have had many disputes with the sons of aristocratic families, and have harbored resentment ever since."

The root cause of your wrongful killing of Shen Ao today lies in your prejudice and hatred towards scions of aristocratic families!

This incisive argument was like a boulder thrown into a lake, immediately stirring up undercurrents within the hall.

Xue Xiang said loudly, "When Your Honor judges a case, do you base your judgment on the conscience or on the evidence?"
I am the top scorer in the county examination.

It's always been the poor students who resent the good students; it's never the other way around for the good students to resent the poor students.

I don't know where your father's claim that I resent the scions of aristocratic families comes from.

"In this court, we will never utter baseless statements when conducting investigations."

Xie Yuanyou announced loudly, "Summon the next witness."

Before long, a middle-aged man dressed in a blue long gown was brought into the hall.

"Wei Ping."

Madam Wei's heart clenched suddenly.

Wei Ping was over forty years old, with a fair complexion and no beard, a respectful expression, and a slightly hunched back.

Under everyone's gaze, he first bowed and said in a calm and clear voice, "Reporting to Your Excellency, I am Wei Ping, the steward of Lord Wei Yang's household."

Shen Junyuan smiled; this was his ultimate killing move.

In his view, even if Xue Xiang were as powerful as a bull, he would still be a Confucian scholar.

As a Confucian scholar, one cannot escape the confines of Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, and Teacher.

Playing the Wei Yang card will definitely leave Xue Xiang with no way to complain.

Wei Ping continued, "I personally heard Vice President Xue and my master talking about the scions of aristocratic families. He spoke vehemently, directly denouncing these families as a scourge to the country, and said that if possible, they should all be eradicated."

Originally, a commoner like myself shouldn't be saying these things in court.

But for the sake of my master, to prevent him from being led astray by such scourges, I, a humble citizen, cannot afford to worry about it.

Xie Yuanyou raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why did Xue Xiang say these things to your master?"

Wei Ping replied, "My master is Xue Xiang's mentor, so he would not hide anything when speaking to my master."

As soon as this statement came out, the whole place was in an uproar.

Wei Ping's accusations against Xue Xiang were automatically regarded as Wei Yang's accusations against Xue Xiang.

This action is tantamount to a falling out between teachers and students, and goes against the established norms.

At this point, Wei Ping turned and bowed deeply to Wei Yang's seat. "Master, this matter is of great importance. This old servant dared not conceal anything. I hope you will forgive me."

Wei Yang snorted coldly, his face turning pale, as if he knew nothing of the inside story and that he himself had been betrayed by Wei Ping.

Xue Xiang remained expressionless, but a hidden pain lingered in his heart.

He always respected Wei Yang.

He always treated Madam Wei with the utmost courtesy.

He was also grateful to Wei Yang for protecting him, even though Wei Yang had put him in the spiritual product cleaning room for his own benefit.

But at this moment, Wei Yang pulled another stunt.

Xue Xiang's last shred of affection for Wei Yang was also severed.

“Master Wei, this matter is of great importance, and we demand a clear answer.”

Did Xue Xiang actually say that?

Xie Yuanyou stared at Wei Yang and said, "Master Wei, as your teacher, you certainly have a duty to protect your disciple."

But Wei Tangzun should be able to clearly distinguish between public and private righteousness.

Wei Yang took a deep breath and said, "That day, Xue Xiang drank a few cups of wine."

His words were a bit harsh, but they were just said in anger.

He comes from the Xue family of Jiangzuo, how could he truly be an enemy of a powerful clan?

These words caused another buzz of discussion in the hall.

Shen Nansheng, Lü Wenhou, and Lou Changqing were particularly shocked.

During the county examination, they were at odds with Xue Xiang, and everyone thought that Xue Xiang came from a poor family.

It has now been revealed that Xue Xiang is actually a member of the Xue family of Jiangzuo, a family with an even more illustrious background than theirs.

After much arguing, Xue Xiang turned out to be from an even more prestigious family.

Isn't this the biggest joke ever?

Xie Yuanyou had been waiting for this very sentence, and he said loudly, "Quickly investigate Xue Xiang's writings since his birth."

Before long, a clerk said, "Reporting to Your Excellency, Xue Xiang's father had already separated from the Xue family of Jiangzuo and settled in Yunmeng City when he was alive."

These words struck everyone in the hall like a thunderclap.

While some members of prominent families may separate their household registration from their clans, very few are eligible to transfer their registered residence.

Once a person changes their registered residence, it is tantamount to betraying their family.

Clearly, there must have been some friction between Xue Xiang's father and the Xue family of Jiangzuo.

Xue Xiang was originally a scion of a prestigious family, but now he has become a poor man from Yunmeng. Who would believe that he doesn't hate his family?

“What does Wei Yang mean by this? His words seem to be protecting Xue Langjun, but they are clearly aimed at Xue Langjun’s heart with every sentence.”

Xue Jian's pretty face held a murderous glint.

At this moment, everyone came to the same conclusion: Xue Xiang had old grudges with the aristocratic families, and his hatred was deeply rooted in his bones. This was the real reason why he "wrongfully killed Shen Ao".

"The witnesses, testimonies, and motives are all clearly laid out. Xue Xiang, are you still going to try to deny it?"

Xie Yuanyou roared with fury, his momentum rising rapidly. He slammed his gavel, ready to pronounce the verdict.

But then a voice called out, "Ni Gongguan of Canglan Academy has arrived!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw an exceptionally handsome middle-aged man stand up from the back row and stride into the hall.

He was dressed in a dark blue robe, the collar of which was neatly tailored. He walked with a steady gait, and there was an air of authority between his brows.

The entire audience was stunned.

The Palace Attendant of Canglan Academy held supreme power over the registration of all students below the rank of Juren in the entire prefecture, and all were under his jurisdiction.

His status, to some extent, even surpassed that of the governor of Canglan Prefecture.

Those with official rank in their attire all rose to tidy themselves up. Huang Yao, the Prefect of Canaan County, quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "This humble official greets the Palace Envoy."

He was a fifth-rank official, while Ni Quanwen was a fourth-rank official.

Everyone bowed and greeted him.

After returning the greeting, Ni Quanwen said, "Xue Xiang was the top scholar in the county examination. Since this is such a serious case involving the top scholar, the academy cannot ignore it."

"Thank you, sir. This case is of great importance, and the academy needs to review it. Please do not pronounce a verdict for now."

At the time, after the county examination ended, as was customary, Xue Xiang, the top scorer in the county examination, was to have his personnel file directly transferred to Canglan Academy.

The academy would assign duties.

Wei Yang took the initiative to transfer Xue Xiang's file directly to the Second Hall of Canaan County, turning the situation into a fait accompli.

Afterwards, Ni Quanwen was furious.

He knew then that this must have been orchestrated by powerful families.

Even if Xue Xiang is only the top scorer in the county examination, Ni Quanwen will still protect him.

Moreover, Xue Xiang seems to be highly regarded by the Lord of Mingde Dongxuan.

Ni Quanwen went so far as to say that he would personally keep an eye on Canaan County.

Therefore, he received word of Xue Xiangcai's accident as soon as it happened.

If the Shen family hadn't acted quickly, Ni Quanwen wouldn't have allowed Xue Xiang to be brought to court.

Ni Quanwen's statement threw Xie Yuanyou into a panic.

The pressure Ni Quanwen exerted was immense, far exceeding that of Song Tingfang.

To put it bluntly, Xie Yuanyou was just a scholar, and his academic record was still in Ni Quanwen's hands.

Now he was caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to agree or not, and was stuck on the spot.

“Minister Ni, even if the academy needs to review the case, it will not delay the trial in one session. The trial should be concluded first, and the review later; this is only natural.”

An elderly man with white hair and beard slowly walked towards Ni Quanwen.

Ni Quanwen looked closely and quickly bowed, saying, "Greetings, Elder Shen."

This old man, whose full name is Shen Fanghe, is the former headmaster of Baishui Academy under the Shen family.

Shen Fanghe served as the headmaster of Baishui Academy for over sixty years, and his outstanding disciples were spread throughout the prefectures and counties.

In his early years, Ni Quanwen had also heard Shen Fanghe lecture on "Zhengyan", so when he met Shen Fanghe again, he was very respectful.

However, being courteous is one thing, giving face is another.

The Shen family's behavior was disgraceful, and Ni Quanwen had no intention of giving Shen Fanghe any face.

He was about to speak up in rebuttal when he heard Xue Xiang say, "Please allow me to report that the student's case has been investigated to this point. If there is no result, there will be many different opinions."

We urge the temple to allow Master Xie to conclude this case.

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned and bewildered, wondering if Xue Xiang had been scared out of his wits, as he had willingly walked into the line of fire.

Xie Yuanyou stared blankly at Xue Xiang. "Xue Xiang, what else do you have to say?"

Xue Xiang's gaze slowly swept over the seats in the hall, his voice deep and unhurried, "Thank you for presenting so much evidence. May I also present some evidence?"

Xie Yuanyou raised an eyebrow slightly, weighed his options briefly, and finally uttered two words, "Accurate."

Shen Junyuan snorted lightly. In his opinion, Xue Xiang was just making a last-ditch effort.

Their scheme was flawless; the chain of evidence and the motive were all meticulously crafted, leaving Xue Xiang with no chance of turning the tables.

Xue Xiang turned around and walked steadily to Wang Bodang, the Ninth Hall Master. "Hall Master Wang, you were nearby when I killed Shen Ao."

You saw everything that happened that day, and God saw it too.

Wang Tangzun, I hope you will tell the truth.

Upon hearing this, Xue Jian nearly fell to the ground.

In his opinion, how could Xue Langjun be so naive?

At this point, even if knives were falling from the sky, Wang Bodang couldn't take back what he said earlier.

Sure enough, Wang Bodang raised the corner of his mouth and said, "What I said is the truth."

"Are you trying to frame me?"

Zhao Pu and other officials of the Ninth Hall all expressed their stance, insisting on not changing their previous statements.

Xue Xiangchong bowed to Xie Yuanyou and said, "Please summon my witness, Your Excellency."

"allow!"

"Summon Xue Xiang as a witness."

Before the halberd bearer's loud shout had even faded, a round-headed, fat man strode into the hall.

It was Mengde, Xue Xiang's personal secretary.

Meng De's heart pounded. He had been listening outside for a long time and regarded Xue Xiang as a god.

He usually prided himself on being worldly-wise.

But for today's grand occasion, he felt that even listening from the sidelines would require immense courage.

Moreover, being involved in this matter means having to contend with these high-ranking officials and powerful families.

At this moment, he was completely in awe of Xue Xiang.

Upon entering the hall, Mengde was immediately stunned, only able to circle around and bow in greeting.

Before he could utter a word, Wang Bodang coldly shouted, "This man's name is Mengde, and he is Xue Xiang's personal clerk!"
He wasn't present at the meeting that day, so how could he be a witness?

This is clearly disruptive!

Xie Yuanyou's face immediately darkened, and he slammed his hand heavily on the gavel. "Xue Xiang, are you making a fool of me?!"

"Please calm down, sir. Read this before making a judgment."

Xue Xiang reached out his hand, and Meng De quickly handed him a jade-colored button.

The button was as smooth as solidified cream, with fine cloud patterns carved on its surface, and a faint light seemed to flow between the patterns.

With a thought, Xue Xiang caused the jade-colored button to emit a clear, resonant sound.

A ripple of light suddenly burst forth from the button, like a stone falling into a calm lake, instantly spreading to the center of the room.

Light and shadow appear suddenly.

This jade-colored button was the one Xue Xiang redeemed from the Military Equipment Hall after participating in the county examination.

On the day of the meeting, Xue Xiang immediately activated the amazing ability of the Audio-Visual Key to capture audio and video.

He had already made thorough preparations before killing Shen Ao.

After learning about the aristocratic families' actions from Zhao Huanhuan, he handed over the Shadow and Sound Key to Mengde ahead of time.

In this way, he evaded the search and avoided being captured by the enemy.

At this critical moment, Mengde lived up to expectations and returned the Shadow and Sound Knot.

At this moment, in the void, tables, chairs, documents, and figures gradually took shape, revealing the scene of the Ninth Council Hall, so detailed that even a wisp of incense stick on the wall was clearly visible.

With a crash, a row of chairs belonging to the scions and elders of prominent families immediately collapsed.

Someone exclaimed in surprise, "Audio Clip!"

The light and shadow quickly solidified before everyone's eyes, and the colors changed from illusory to real, as if a time portal to the past had been opened in the void.

The scene depicts the council chamber of the Ninth Hall.

Long tables were laid out horizontally, and files were piled up. Xue Xiang sat at separate tables with the other officials and magistrates, each with a different expression.

"boom!"

Suddenly, a loud bang was heard as the hall door was kicked open, and the heavy door slammed against the wall with a deafening thud.

Immediately, a man strode in, his face arrogant, a long halberd hanging at his waist, and his eyes filled with unbridled sharpness.

It was Shen Ao.

He strode in with a gust of wind, his boots making a crisp echo on the ground, as if he were barging into the entire hall as if it were his own backyard.

The people in the scene, some surprised, some angry, all stood up...

This scene is quite different from the account given by Wang Bodang and others that "Shen Ao only came to ask questions and did not do anything out of line."

A chorus of boos erupted from the crowd in the square.

The screen continues to advance.

Shen Ao stood in the center of the hall, hands behind his back, spouting nonsense at Xue Xiang, his threatening intent evident in his words.

Inside the Zhengyi Hall, Ni Quanwen sneered repeatedly, "Is this the Shen Ao you all spoke of who hasn't overstepped the bounds?"

In the hall, the faces of the scions and elders of the prominent families visibly darkened under the play of light and shadow.

Some people subconsciously looked away, while others pursed their lips and their ear tips turned red.

That was the embarrassment and shame of being exposed by the public.

The light and shadow continued to shift, and the scenes in the hall unfolded one after another.

After venting his threats and boasts, Shen Ao turned to leave.

Xue Xiang stood up to stop him and read out the law, but Shen Ao ignored him and prepared to leave. Xue Xiang stopped him, and a great battle broke out.

Xue Xiang was the first to be wounded, and then Gatling came out.

Even when it erupts amidst light and shadow, its unique shape, bizarre attack patterns, and terrifying power still elicit gasps of surprise.

Especially Shen Nansheng, Lou Changqing, and Lü Wenhou.

Since Xue Xiang won the county examination, the three of them had reviewed the situation and discussed it back and forth, and they all attributed the whole reason to Xue Xiang's luck.

Until now, I have witnessed the terrifying power of the Gatling gun.

They suddenly realized that their self-imposed isolation might not have been strong enough.

After Shen Ao was riddled with bullets, the scene abruptly ended.

The light and shadow slowly dissipated in mid-air, and the Zhengyi Hall was completely silent.

Even the sandalwood incense in the beast-shaped incense burner in the hall seemed to freeze at this moment, suspended in mid-air, afraid to rise.

Wang Bodang's body stiffened in the chair, even his breathing seemed heavy.

He could feel a chill running down his spine.

He never dreamed that Xue Xiang would have such a weird thing as a video interlocking key.

The light and shadow in the shadows cannot be altered, which means that his words in the hall just now have become a joke and a slander.

His lips twitched a few times, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Zhao Pu's expression was more subtle than Wang Bodang's.

He had only intended to follow the crowd, but he never expected Xue Xiang to reveal such a trump card.

His earlier eloquent words now felt like a thorn stuck in the tip of his tongue, making even the slightest movement of his lips feel like a burning pain.

The officials who had come forward to testify looked ashen-faced, their eyes lowered, and beads of sweat trickling down their foreheads.

The young men and elders of the prominent families all turned ashen-faced, their eyes darting between each other, as if they had been stripped naked in public, their embarrassment and anger intertwined.

Wei Yang stood there dumbfounded, her eyes filled with utter sorrow.

Madam Wei glanced at Wei Yang from afar, her last trace of warmth turning to coldness.

"I told you long ago that this person is no ordinary person."

Su Danqing held Zhao Huanhuan's delicate hand tightly, overjoyed.

Zhao Huanhuan smiled slightly, feeling pleased with herself.

"Looks like we came here for nothing again."

Xuejian's words were tinged with regret but also with a lighthearted tone.

The woman in the yellow dress said, "What a wonderful show! How could we come here for nothing?"

Ni Quanwen smiled, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

He knew Xue Xiang was intelligent, but he never expected her to be so cunning.

Far from being disgusted by such scheming, he felt that this boy was born with the destiny of an official.

Xie Yuanyou's fingers gripped the gavel tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white.

The situation had long since deviated from the original plan, like a runaway car plunging down a hillside, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop it.

He could feel countless gazes falling on him like knives.

If he were to insist on judging the case according to his original intentions under the watchful eyes of the public, it would be wishful thinking.

After a long silence, he clenched his teeth and slowly uttered, "The verdict is clear: Xue Xiang is innocent."

In an instant, the crowd outside the stadium erupted in commotion.

After the image of the "Ten Thousand People's Umbrella" shook the entire audience, the onlookers had long regarded Xue Xiang as one of their own.

Now that everything has settled down, the people feel as if they have won a great victory and are celebrating wildly.

Song Tingfang's face darkened, and her voice, sharp as a blade, cleaved through the commotion in the hall, "Innocent? Does this case only involve Xue Xiang? What about those who gave false testimony? How should they be judged?"

Xie Yuanyou's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. "This case can be tried separately. I... cannot make a judgment for the time being."

"Can't it be judged?"

Ni Quanwen slowly stood up, his gaze sharp as he looked directly at Xie Yuanyou. "You can't make the judgment—I will."

His voice, though not loud, clearly reached everyone's ears: "Anyone who commits perjury will have their name recorded in the academy's register, and according to the law, all their written records from their birth will be destroyed."

These words were like a thunderclap echoing through the valley.

Wang Bodang's face turned deathly pale in an instant, cold sweat poured down his forehead, and his lips moved a few times as if he wanted to say something. Suddenly, everything went black before his eyes, and he fell straight backward, crashing heavily to the ground and losing consciousness.

The young masters and elders of the prominent families quickly left their seats and surged out like a tide.

Shen Nansheng, Lü Wenhou, and Lou Changqing stood side by side, looking at Xue Xiang from afar.

Xue Xiang also saw them.

Neither of them spoke; everything was understood without a word.

The final outcome will be determined in the second trial.

"Teacher, thanks to your righteous words today, I was spared from being wronged and suffering injustice."

Xue Xiang approached Wei Yang and bowed respectfully.

"You're fine."

Wei Yang patted him on the shoulder, "You didn't disappoint me."

With that, he strode away.

………………

The moonlight was like water, and the river surface was covered with a layer of fine silver light.

A gentle breeze, carrying the damp, fishy scent of the river tide, swept across the long embankment and also stirred the phoenix-shaped gold hairpin in the yellow dress's hair.

On the embankment, Xue Xiang and the woman in the yellow dress stood side by side, the river water gently lapping against the stone steps beneath their feet.

While still in Zhengyi Hall, Xue Xiang discovered the woman in the yellow dress and the snow sword.

After the meeting ended, he exchanged greetings with Ni Quanwen and Song Tingfang, and then wanted to talk to the woman in the yellow dress.

The woman in the yellow dress seemed to be having some inconvenience, so she left a note and arranged to meet him at this time on the banks of the Xiang River.

After the two discussed poetry and essays for a while, the woman in the yellow dress changed the subject to "Wrong Carriage, Right Groom," which was being serialized on Yunjian News.

This novel is far more popular among female readers than "The Mortal World".

The woman in the yellow dress was a loyal reader, and many of the questions she asked were unanswerable even to Xue Xiang.

The two chatted for more than an hour, but Xue Jian came to urge them several times, so the woman in the yellow dress had to take her leave.

Xue Xiang has already expressed his gratitude in many ways.

As he was leaving, all he could do was watch them go.

As the painted boat sailed away, the river breeze lifted the hem of the woman in the yellow dress and ruffled a few strands of hair at Xue Jian's temples.

"This farewell today may be the last time we meet."

Xue Jian murmured, "I wonder if Xue Langjun will be married when I see him again."

The woman in the yellow dress said, "Probably not."

"Why is the Yuanjun so certain?"

"The Demonic Land will be unbanned soon after the start of the new year, and I also intend to explore it."

Xue Langjun will also go; in just two months, he won't be getting married.

What, are you interested in Xue Langjun?
I can mediate on your behalf.

The woman in the yellow dress rarely joked about Xue Jian.

Xuejian refused, and the master and servant laughed and joked together.

(End of this chapter)