This son-in-law is wicked in a good way!

Zhang Ping'an fell silent, somewhat unable to bear looking directly into Chen Zhishi's clear eyes.

"Brother Chen, you must hold on. The dean, the two great scholars, and I are all trying to find a way to clear your name."

Chen Zhishi gave a self-deprecating smile, his eyes fixed intently on Zhang Ping'an.

"Heh, what crime did they accuse me of?"

"robbery?"

"Assassination of the family members of a high-ranking official of the imperial court?"

"Could this be a rebellion?"

"You guessed right..." Zhang Ping'an said with a serious face, "No matter what the charge is, we will clear your name."

Chen Zhishi took a deep breath: "It seems it really is a case of treason."

"Ha, these people are truly shameless!"

Chen Zhishi was so angry he laughed.

The cell fell silent briefly.

All that remained was the rustling sound of Hao Shuwen quickly applying medicine to Chen Zhishi.

"Ping An, do you know why I want to be an official?"

"I even changed my name in order to become an official. Actually, my original name was Chen Changshou."

"My older brother and sister both died young, so maybe my parents wanted me to live a long and healthy life!"

Chen Zhishi suddenly said with some emotion.

Zhang Ping'an looked at him and suddenly laughed and cursed, "Changshou is such a good name, why did you change it like that?"

"When I first met you, I even cursed you in my heart!"

Chen Zhishi chuckled: "I bet you used some really nasty insults."

"Nonsense, how can swear words sound pleasant?"

The two seemed to be chatting about everyday things, but they were actually both feeling heavy-hearted.

To be honest, Zhang Ping'an had no confidence that he could clear Chen Zhishi's name.

Even if the dean and the two great scholars intervene in the end, they can probably only save Chen Zhishi's life at most.

After all, the other party completed the chain of evidence in such a short time.

Even if the Empress is eventually asked to intervene, everyone will still have to rely on evidence.

Chen Zhishi could clearly have thought of this as well.

After all, their enemy was too powerful.

"Since you changed your name just to get an official position, why couldn't you have just endured it back then?"

Zhang Ping'an's voice was low, sounding like both persuasion and complaint.

Chen Zhishi finally sighed: "Ping An, I have an older brother and sister who died a long time ago, but do you know how they died?"

"My brother was run over by a carriage, and then the gentleman gave him ten taels of silver and said, 'Pah, what bad luck.'"

"My sister went to work as a maid in a wealthy family, and we never heard from her again the following year. The servants in the mansion said that she was beaten to death by the second concubine for doing something wrong."

Zhang Ping'an's face was solemn, and his heart ached. He didn't know how Chen Zhishi could say the most heartbreaking words in the calmest voice.

"Why didn't you report it to the authorities?"

Chen Zhishi smiled and said, "My parents reported it to the authorities right away, otherwise we wouldn't have even received the ten taels of silver for my brother's funeral expenses."

"So we just have to put up with it?" Zhang Ping'an gritted his teeth, seemingly empathizing with the situation.

"What can we do if we can't bear it? Ordinary people have no voices to speak out, and no one is willing to stand up for them."

"So, that's why you want to become an official!"

Chen Zhishi nodded: "Because only by becoming an official can one gain more attention and have more people hear what one says."

"Even when I'm beheaded in the future, my blood will splatter higher and farther."

"..."

When Zhang Ping'an looked at Chen Zhishi again, his gaze was filled with deep respect.

Others become officials to enjoy the power and status that come with it.

Chen Zhishi served as an official only so that when he spoke out against injustice, his voice could be amplified and carry more weight.

"You idiot..." Zhang Ping'an laughed in exasperation.

"Heh, you're not necessarily smarter than me..." Chen Zhishi's lips curled into an arrogant smile.

They are the same kind of people.

"Brother Chen, I've already treated the wound. Please don't let it get wet..." Hao Shuwen weakly instructed, even when helping someone, he lacked confidence.

"Thank you!" Chen Zhishi clasped his hands in thanks.

"No, you're welcome," Hao Shuwen quickly bowed in return.

"It's time." The jailer's voice urged from outside.

Zhang Ping'an stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "Brother Chen, you should rest well. Leave the rest to us."

Chen Zhishi struggled to his feet and bowed to Zhang Ping'an, saying, "Ping'an, thank you for your trouble."

"If things are not possible, I hope you will look after my parents during holidays and festivals."

"Yes." Zhang Ping'an turned around, nodded heavily, and forced back his tears.

Leaving the Ministry of Justice prison, the air suddenly felt fresh.

But Zhang Ping'an still felt a tightness in his chest.

"Brother Hao, you should go back to the academy first! I can handle the rest myself."

Hao Shuwen said nervously, "Ping An, let me come along. Although I can't be of much help, it's always good to have another person to look after you."

Zhang Pingan patted him on the shoulder and laughed, "Really, you don't need to."

Next, he was going to ask for help, which would inevitably require him to be humble and subservient. Why should he let more people suffer humiliation along with him?

"Alright then, be careful." Hao Shuwen was the type to listen to advice but lacked his own opinions.

Watching Hao Shuwen leave, Zhang Ping'an prepared to head to the Censorate.

The Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate of the Great Wu Dynasty were collectively known as the Three Judicial Offices, which almost represented the judicial authority of the entire Great Wu Dynasty.

If we want to fight against the Ministry of Justice, we can only pin our hopes on the other two departments.

Zhang Ping'an had just stepped onto the street when he suddenly saw Lu Ruoxue walking towards him with her hands behind her back.

"Oh, Zhang Ping'an, what a coincidence!" Lu Ruoxue exclaimed in surprise.

Zhang Ping'an rolled his eyes at him: "What a joke! You've been following me ever since we came down the mountain. Do you think I'm blind?!"

"Speak, what do you want?"

Lu Ruoxue blushed deeply, thinking her tracking skills were quite good, but she didn't expect that she had already been discovered.

But she certainly won't admit it.

"Who's following you? I just happened to be going down the mountain on business. This road isn't yours; who says only you can use it and others can't?"

Lu Ruoxue was stubborn all over.

Zhang Ping'an was utterly speechless.

"Oh, what a coincidence, Brother Lu... Is this alright?"

Lu Ruoxue chuckled, then quickly covered her mouth: "That's more like it."

"By the way, are you planning to go to the Censorate?"

Zhang Ping'an was taken aback: "How did you know?"

Lu Ruoxue tilted her head slightly, her fair and jade-like face filled with pride: "Of course it was a guess."

"After all, if you want to rival the Ministry of Justice, you only have the Court of Judicial Review and the Censorate."

"The Court of Judicial Review is to the east, but you are heading west, so you must be going to the Censorate."

Zhang Ping'an couldn't help but look Lu Ruoxue up and down, exclaiming in surprise, "Wow, Lu Han, you're the Sherlock Holmes of the Great Wu Dynasty!"

"What is this name?" Lu Ruoxue frowned. She thought she had read many obscure books, but she had never heard of this name before.

"Alright, that's not important. As you said, I'm going to the Censorate now, goodbye!" Zhang Ping'an didn't want to waste any more time with him.

Lu Ruoxue said urgently, "Hey, Zhang Ping'an, you can actually go directly to the Dali Temple. The Censorate is only responsible for supervision and will not handle cases."

"How will I know if I don't try?" Zhang Ping'an didn't want to miss any opportunity.

The Censorate was responsible for oversight and impeachment, and if someone was willing to step forward, the Ministry of Justice would hesitate to act.

"Okay, I've finished my business, I'll go with you."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Brother Lu." Zhang Ping'an didn't bother to expose his clumsy lie.

The two went to the Censorate together.

Unfortunately, Zhang Ping'an was kicked out before he could even enter the gate.

The reason is that this is a trivial matter and not worth the Censorate's attention.

"Let's go to the Dali Temple!" Lu Ruoxue comforted her, "Most of the people in the Censorate are also from the Imperial Academy, you know."

"Okay." Zhang Ping'an nodded.