The First Criminal Judge of the Zhenguan Era

Chapter 28 Overturning the verdict? Joining the Dragon? The Road Ahead!

After watching the carriage leave, Liu Shuyi turned around and knocked on the door.

The door, which hadn't been repaired for years, began to peel and crumble as he knocked on it.

Not long after, the door was opened.

The soft light of the lantern peeked out from the crack in the door first, and then Uncle Chang's aged face came into view.

"Master, you are back."

Upon seeing that it was Liu Shuyi, Chang Bo pushed the door open completely.

"Did I disturb Uncle Chang's rest?"

Liu Shuyi felt somewhat apologetic. He had been returning home after midnight for the past two days. In this era, there were no locks that could be opened from both inside and outside, so he could only rely on the person inside the door to open it for him. Therefore, he had to wake them up every time.

Chang Bo understood Liu Shuyi's meaning, and shook his head with a smile, saying, "Young master, don't worry, this old servant hasn't gone to sleep yet."

"Why aren't you asleep so late?" Liu Shuyi asked in surprise.

Chang Bo said, "When the young master doesn't come home at night, this old servant is always uneasy, fearing that what happened to the eldest young master will happen again. So only when the young master returns home can this old servant sleep peacefully."

Listening to Chang Bo's words, Liu Shuyi couldn't help but recall the day his original body's elder brother, Liu Shuzhong, disappeared.

It was the fourth day of the fifth month of the ninth year of the Wude era, exactly one month before the Xuanwu Gate Incident.

That evening, the original owner was waiting for his elder brother Liu Shuzhong to come home from his shift at Dali Temple for dinner.

As a result, it took a full hour for my elder brother to finally return.

But Liu Shuzhong didn't go to dinner, nor did he say a word; he rushed straight into his study.

The original owner felt something was strange and went to the study to look for him, where he happened to run into his elder brother carrying a bundle as he walked out.

The original owner asked his brother where he was going, but Liu Shuzhong did not answer. He just put his hand on the original owner's shoulder and said that their hard times were coming to an end and that the Liu family's title and glory would return.

After saying that, Liu Shuzhong hurriedly left.

The original owner and Chang Bo waited all night, but Liu Shuzhong did not return.

Later, the original owner went to Dali Temple to inquire and learned that Liu Shuzhong had not gone to Dali Temple to work all day yesterday.

This made the original owner realize that something might have happened to her brother.

He immediately asked the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice for help in the search, and then reported the case to the county governments of Chang'an County and Wannian County, saying that the person was missing...

However, after searching for several days, these government offices still could not find Liu Shuzhong.

Liu Shuzhong seemed to have vanished into thin air, disappearing without a trace.

This was undoubtedly a devastating blow to the original owner of the body.

Before that, his older brother held up the sky above him, sheltering him from the wind and rain. But after that, he had to experience all the storms and hardships on his own.

It was only after that that the original owner learned just how much his brother had sacrificed to protect him and to support their impoverished family.

It can be said that the original owner's predicament before his transmigration, and the Liu family's current dilapidated state, are all inextricably linked to Liu Shuzhong's disappearance.

Why did Liu Shuzhong disappear?

He hadn't had time to think about this matter carefully because he had been busy with Zhao Chengyi and Miaoyin'er's case for the past two days.

Upon careful consideration, he suddenly figured something out.

The day before Liu Shuzhong disappeared, he did not go to Dali Temple to work, which is equivalent to being missing.

Where did he go?

Then he rushed back, and then rushed off again. Where was he going?
And... what Liu Shuzhong said to the original owner of this body: he said their hard times were coming to an end, and the Liu family's title and glory would return...

Why would Liu Shuzhong say such a thing?
Under what circumstances could a family of a disgraced official regain its title and honor?

To perform meritorious service?

But I haven't heard of my brother doing anything significant during that time.

Or, to overturn the verdict?
Could it be that the elder brother, in an attempt to overturn the case against their father Liu Wenjing, has discovered some clues he shouldn't have?

Or...

Liu Shuyi narrowed his eyes. A month later would be the Xuanwu Gate Incident, after which the entire world would change hands...

Or perhaps... he'll follow the dragon!?

His eyebrows twitched involuntarily.

If one follows the dragon, wouldn't that mean that one's elder brother participated in the struggle for the throne without the original owner's knowledge?

If that's the case, who did he choose?
Li Jiancheng?
Or Li Shimin?
Liu Shuyi's mind raced, and he couldn't help but overthink it, especially since the date of Liu Shuzhong's disappearance was so close to the Xuanwu Gate Incident.

The possibility of overturning the verdict or supporting the emperor is not low!
"Uncle Chang".

Liu Shuyi looked at the old steward who had served the Liu family for decades and asked, "During the time before my brother disappeared, did you notice anything unusual about him?"

Chang Bo shook his head without any hesitation, as if he thought about these things every day.

"The eldest young master is acting normally. He goes to the Dali Temple to work every day as usual. To save money, he never goes to brothels or restaurants. After finishing his shift, he goes home and then locks himself in his study to handle official business until he falls asleep." Chang Bo's words matched his memory.

His behavior was normal in his daily life.

On the day he disappeared, he suddenly stopped going to the Dali Temple and suddenly said that the Liu family would regain its glory...

What exactly happened that day? Where did Liu Shuzhong go, and whom did he meet?
and also……

The reason Zhao Chengyi was able to frame the original owner was by using his brother's information to lure the original owner to the Zhao residence.

His framing of the original owner was on the orders of his master.

Does this prove that Zhao Chengyi's master knew some secrets about his brother's disappearance, or even... that his master was the one who did it?

If that's the case, then it's rather alarming!
Because until now, he still hasn't figured out why Zhao Chengyi's master would want to harm him!

In his memory, the original owner of this body was timid and cowardly, and had never offended anyone.

Zhao Chengyi's master harmed him, but he couldn't find a single motive!
What if... the motive wasn't in him, but in his brother?
Then everything seemed to make sense.

Is he Zhao Chengyi's master behind the scenes? What secret did his brother tell the original owner before he disappeared?

Or is he afraid that the original owner will discover the secret of his brother's disappearance?

That's why they framed the original owner and wanted to kill her!
But then, another problem arises.

Given Zhao Chengyi's abilities and power, would he really need to go to such lengths to frame someone as minor as the original owner of the body as a mere clerk in the Ministry of Justice?
Wouldn't it be simpler to just send someone to silence them?
If he could silence Zhao Chengyi in prison, in full view of everyone, then wiping out the original owner of this body would be no difficult task for him.

But instead of doing that, he went to great lengths to frame someone... and to frame himself, he used the jade pendant he had lost half a year ago.

This suggests that he may have been planning this for as long as six months, constantly looking for an opportunity...

"That's a bit strange; it doesn't make logical sense."

Liu Shuyi stroked his chin: "Am I overthinking it? My brother's disappearance has nothing to do with him?"

"Or... for some reason, he can't directly attack me?"

Liu Shuyi shook his head. There were too few useful clues, and he couldn't deduce anything more from them.

"It seems I need to see Miaoyin as soon as possible and see if I can get any information from her about my brother and the person behind it all..."

"Also, we need to find a way to investigate my brother's disappearance..."

Liu Shuyi wasn't one to procrastinate; once he had a guess, he wanted to verify it as soon as possible.

Otherwise, if it were true, as he suspected, that the master behind Miaoyin'er was harming him because of his brother, then even if he didn't die, the master behind Miaoyin'er would never let it go.

The killer moves you use against yourself will only become more terrifying with each iteration.

He can't keep playing defensively; he has to take the initiative!
Getting Miaoyin'er to speak is one way.

The elder brother's path is also a solution.

He wants to use a two-pronged approach, seizing every opportunity to expose the other party!

In addition... he was also concerned about what Miaoyin'er had said earlier.

Miao Yin'er urged her to advance to the fifth rank or higher as soon as possible. What exactly was she planning?
What does her so-called coming wave signify?

And the fifth rank...

Liu Shuyi knew that the fifth rank was the starting point for Tang Dynasty officials to participate in court assemblies and formulate policies for national development and people's livelihood.

In other words, only when one reaches the fifth rank can one truly enter the core of power.

Having lived two lives, he naturally understood the power of authority.

Especially in ancient times, without the right, one didn't even have the right to speak the truth. If it weren't for Du Ruhui helping him, Pei Ji could have crushed him with a single finger. Even if he had the ability, he wouldn't have had the chance to find out the truth and clear his name.

Therefore, no matter what Miaoyin'er's intentions are, he will strive to get promoted as soon as possible.

Both to protect themselves and survive the struggle against Pei Ji and the people behind the scenes, and to prepare for the so-called "wave" that might actually come.

—Investigate the mystery of your brother's disappearance, uncover the mastermind behind it all, and seize every opportunity to make a name for yourself and get promoted!
This is what I need to do next.

Liu Shuyi slowly exhaled, never expecting that his random thoughts would actually confirm his own situation and his next goal.

That's good. Without goals, people are always in a daze.

"Master!"

Just then, a cheerful sound came from the kitchen in front.

Then, the pretty Wan'er peeked her head out from the kitchen door.

Her fair nose was now stained with charcoal black, making her look as cute as a little kitten.

"Young Master, please wait a little longer, I'll heat up the food soon," Wan'er said cheerfully.

Liu Shuyi had already eaten with Du Gou and the others while waiting for Miaoyin'er to take the bait in the evening, so he wasn't hungry at all. But when he saw Wan'er's bright, concerned eyes, he paused.

He immediately smiled and nodded: "How did Wan'er know I was hungry? It seems I'm in for a treat, young master."

(End of this chapter)