With her deceased husband as her dowry, would Your Highness dare to marry her?

"A woman?" Zhou Jin, from the Ministry of Revenue, frowned deeply. "Such an evil deed was committed by a woman? How vicious must she be?"

Lin Ci's cheeks flushed, and her heart pounded as if it would jump out of her chest. So she picked up her teacup and took a sip to hide her guilt.

Zhao Duan nodded in agreement: "Lord Zhou is absolutely right."

King Liang scoffed, "Women committing crimes is nothing new throughout history. Lord Sun, please continue."

Sun Huaiyi cupped his hands and continued, "According to Zhao Fugui's complaint, his father sought treatment from a doctor, but the doctor's skills were inadequate. Zhao Fugui then led several of his brothers to the doctor's house to demand an explanation. Unexpectedly, the doctor held a grudge, and the next night, he and his wife threw torches onto the thatched hut, causing a fire. According to Zhao Fugui's eyewitness testimony, the doctor's surname was Song, and his wife's surname was Lin."

"I find something strange," Pei Jinxuan suddenly spoke. "Burning down a thatched hut isn't something that happens overnight. All five of them died in the fire, so how could they have been sleeping so soundly? Could they have been drugged?"

"No," Sun Huaiyi said. "Zhao Fugui said that all the brothers were completely drunk at the time. He got up to relieve himself and only found out that the house was on fire when he returned."

"So he won't save them?"

"I also asked. Zhao Fugui said that the fire was too big, and by the time he rushed in to try to pull people out, it was too late."

King Liang glanced sideways at Pei Jinxuan, a half-smile on his face, and said, "My dear nephew, your ideas are quite peculiar, making a fuss over a dead man. Even if he was drunk, it doesn't warrant death, does it?"

Pei Jinxuan laughed and said, "That's why I suspect they were drugged. Uncle, you might want to think about this carefully. They started a fire and rescued people, yet they didn't make a sound. Isn't that strange?"

Sun Huaiyi said, "The coroner examined the autopsy records and found no signs of drugging."

Pei Jinxuan nodded. "Since there's a coroner's opinion, we can review it carefully later. However, there's another point that I also find strange."

"Please speak, Prince Jing'an."

"The five corpses were initially said to be three men and two women: Zhao Dalang, Zhao Erlang, their two wives, and a boy. But later they changed their story, saying there was no boy, only the corpse of Old Man Zhao. Which account is correct?"

Sun Huaiyi lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then said, "I have also inquired about this matter. The local people of Shengzhou say that the three Zhao brothers had no children. That corpse should be that of Old Man Zhao."

"I see." Pei Jinxuan nodded, then turned to look at the Prince of Liang. "Uncle, you may not know this, but this is only the second point of doubt. There is an even stranger matter among them."

King Liang narrowed his eyes slightly: "What strange thing?"

"When a living person is burned, their muscles contract upon contact with fire, and the corpse will inevitably appear in a clenched position. However, the corpses in the Zhao family arson case were all lying flat, which is a sign of post-mortem burning."

"After death?" Zhao Duan and Zhou Jin exchanged bewildered glances. "Then... who did it?"

Sun Huaiyi cupped his hands and said, "Prince Jing'an must have misremembered. Those five corpses were indeed burned to death."

"All five?"

"All of them!"

"Then why does Zhao Fugui say his father is dead? Isn't he clearly alive?"

Sun Huaiyi sighed. "Zhang Dayou, a witness from Shengzhou, said that Zhao Fugui's family has always been idle and lazy, engaging in petty theft and living with both Yao and Chen, running a honey trap business. His father, Old Man Zhao, is even more of a swindler and scoundrel. The Zhao family's claim that the doctor killed someone was all a setup. Who would have thought that the doctor's wife was such a tough nut to crack and would set a fire in the middle of the night?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Ci felt a buzzing in his mind, and a fire seemed to rise from the bottom of his heart and surge straight to the top of his head.

When the three sons brought Zhao Laohan's body to Song Xuan with a door panel, they were deliberately trying to extort money from him. Zhao Laohan was not dead at that time.

It turns out that from beginning to end, the Zhao family took advantage of the fact that she and her husband were from out of town and that Song Xuan was mute, so they set up a scheme to harm them.

What "seeking justice for one's father"? It's all a trap!

The last vestige of guilt in Lin Ci's heart vanished completely at this moment. She only felt that the fire had burned well, burned cleanly, and burned those scumbags to ashes.

Her body trembled involuntarily, and her index finger, hidden in her sleeve, gripped the carvings on the chair tightly.

Xuan Jing remained expressionless, yet he was already aware of her movements.

Pei Jinxuan turned his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over Lin Ci before he looked away, frowning and shaking his head. "Zhao Fugui's testimonies are inconsistent, and the coroner's autopsy file is full of loopholes. In my opinion, before this case is retried, we should give these two a good beating."

Zhao Duan of the Censorate said, "Now that we know where the person went, the case can't be tried."

Everyone in the hall nodded in agreement.

Pei Jinxuan said, "Alright, let's put this case aside for now. Do any of you gentlemen have other official business to attend to? Perhaps we can bring it up together."

Zhou Jin, from the Ministry of Revenue, rose and stepped forward, cupping his hands in greeting. He said, “Your Highnesses, the autumn tax collection has been completed. However, three counties in Jiangnan have reported flooding, and a memorial requesting a reduction or exemption of the summer tax has been submitted. The Ministry of Revenue dares not act on its own and requests Your Highness’s instructions.”

Before he could finish speaking, a man stumbled in; it was Sun Huaiyi's attendant.

Sun Huaiyi's face immediately darkened, and he sternly rebuked, "What's the matter with such a panic! This is the Jing'an Prince's residence; don't lose your composure!"

The attendant, panting heavily, stammered, "My lord, that...that Zhao Fugui is banging on the stone lions outside the gate, saying he saw your carriage and wants to see you to plead his case, which has attracted a lot of onlookers!"

"ah?!"

Everyone present was astonished.

Pei Jinxuan's eyes widened slightly as he secretly glanced at Lin Ci.

Lin Ci happened to turn her head, and their eyes met. She looked at him with the same shock, as if asking: Didn't you bury him?

"Outrageous!" Prince Liang slammed his fist on the table and stood up. "He wasn't here when the trial was being held, but now he's showing up! What kind of place is the Jing'an Prince's Mansion? How dare they allow such behavior!"

Sun Huaiyi quickly stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "I will go and speak with Zhao Fugui right away."

After saying this, he secretly made a gesture, instructing his attendants to calm the person down.

The attendant bowed and accepted the order, but just as he was about to leave, Pei Jinxuan said, "Wait a moment."

He raised his hand to stop them, his expression calm. "Uncle, Zhao Fugui is appealing his case in the street, and the crowd is thronging to see him. If we drive them away now, those who know the situation will say that the Prince's residence is not for official business; those who don't will criticize the court for turning a blind eye and protecting each other."

The Censor-in-Chief Zhao Duan nodded in agreement: "What Prince Jing'an said is absolutely right. If one receives the emperor's salary but does not seek justice for the people, wouldn't that be a mere figurehead, unworthy of the official hat on one's head?"

King Liang snorted coldly and said nothing more.

Pei Jinxuan said, "Then let's invite him in. The Imperial Uncle and the other officials are all here; it's a good opportunity to hear what he has to say."

As he spoke, he gave Lin Ci a look, signaling her to go to the back room first.

Lin Ci understood and quietly got up. However, after taking only a few steps, Xuan Jing also stood up, put his hands together, and murmured, "Amitabha."

"My lords, this humble monk is a recluse and it is inappropriate for me to participate in worldly affairs. Madam Lin, would you be so kind as to show me the way?"

If a monk were to say this so politely, it would be unreasonable to refuse.

Lin Ci smiled and said, "Master Xuanjing, please come with me."

After saying that, she glanced at Pei Jinxuan silently.

Pei Jinxuan hesitated for a moment.

This moment happened to fall into the eyes of King Liang.

King Liang laughed and said, "What, my dear nephew, are you afraid that a monk will steal your lover?"

The words were flippant.

The three adults immediately sprang into action, some feigning coughs, others turning their heads away. Only one, seemingly unafraid of death, curiously darted back and forth between Pei Jinxuan and Lin Ci.

Pei Jinxuan remained calm and simply said, "I'm afraid it's inappropriate for Imperial Uncle to make fun of a monk."

After saying that, the fearless man looked up at the sky, glanced around, and muttered, "The weather is quite nice today."

King Liang glared at Pei Jinxuan, snorted coldly, and turned slightly to the side.

Pei Jinxuan took the opportunity to instruct the steward: "Take good care of Master Xuanjing; he is an honored guest."

The steward hurriedly went to Lin Ci and gestured, "Venerable monk, this way please."

Xuanjing remained calm, forming a Buddhist mudra with one hand and nodding slightly: "Lady Lin, please."

It seems to have stuck, like a fly that's only attracted to blood, buzzing incessantly.

Pei Jinxuan was pondering how to get rid of Xuanjing when Sun Huaiyi's attendant led "Zhao Fugui" in.