Long Yue stood beneath the hall, expressionless.
Her hand gently caressed her lower abdon. No matter what, she wouldn’t let anyone touch her!
This was not only her body, but also the child’s body; no one was allowed to touch her!
"If you have anything to say, just ask! As for this ridiculous murder accusation, I absolutely do not admit it!"
"Hmph, these two deceased were your family’s servants. Do you acknowledge that?"
Zhao ngran ground his teeth in frustration. Though he was furious at Long Yue for her dismissive attitude towards him, she had already made it clear that she held an imperial decree, so he couldn’t really touch her without defying imperial authority!
He thought he must return to petition His Majesty to revoke this woman’s title.
"I know them, Huanhuan and Wang Xiaoliu."
Long Yue replied coldly.
"Hmph, after these two testified in the Golden Hall, they vanished, only to be found dead by the river outside the city. Now tell , were you the one who had them killed?"
"Sir, I’ve already answered; I didn’t kill them! One must have evidence for such claims!"
"Hmph, evidence? Soone saw you by the riverside!"
"Who?"
"Bring them in!"
Two won were brought into the courtroom.
"Sir, it’s her. I saw her go to the riverside that night with two people and talked with them. Then, today, we find these two bodies..."
"Sir, I saw it too, when I was taking a walk with a sister from the Zhou family..."
The two won both accused Long Yue.
Long Yue remained calm, raised her head, and said, "Lord Zhao, I have a few questions to ask them."
"Ask!"
Long Yue turned around, looking at them with a composed expression, "You said you saw by the river?"
"Yes, yes!"
"What day was it, what hour?"
Uh...
The two won were taken aback. One quickly said, "How could we rember that? We only saw you, how could we rember the day or the hour?"
"Exactly!"
"So, you forgot the day and the hour, but you specifically rembered and the few people beside ?"
Long Yue said with a smile.
The two won suddenly felt a chill down their spines!
"Ladies, making false testimony can land you in prison!"
Long Yue’s voice grew cold, and the two won were so frightened their scalps tingled and their backs sweated.
"Lord Zhao, since my husband’s departure, I have been disheartened and haven’t left the house for a month and a half. The people in the mansion and those watchful Imperial Guards can testify! As for going to the river? It’s absurd!"
Zhao ngran paused; it seed he forgot sothing. This Pang Longyue had been constantly watched by the Imperial Guards. What could she possibly do?
If she did commit murder, wouldn’t they have known? Wouldn’t the Emperor know?
Could it be that he falsely accused her?
Zhao ngran felt a headache coming on and said, "In that case, let’s leave this matter for now..."
"Sir, so people outside the court claim to testify."
"Oh!"
Zhao ngran felt a bit embarrassed, and witnesses actually showed up outside? He imdiately ordered them to be brought in.
A couple and a man in white entered.
"Who are you, and for what purpose are you here?"
"Sir, I am Chai Tieniu, a survivor of the Qingshui Village tragedy. I’ve co to overturn the case!"
Zhao ngran frowned slightly, "The Qingshui Village case was settled, and now you co to overturn it? Do you think this courtroom is a joke? Besides, if you want to overturn it, go to the Golden Hall. Didn’t you testify last ti?"
The Qingshui Village tragedy was not a small matter, and Zhao ngran, still troubled by his son’s death, had no desire to involve himself further.
He waved to dismiss them, but Chai Tieniu knelt and loudly shouted, "Sir, it’s a wrongful, false, and erroneous case! Imperial Censor Li didn’t murder anyone; he ca to save people. I was manipulated into speaking against my conscience! I’m guilty!"
A crowd of commoners gathered outside Zhao Mansion. They had heard of the Qingshui Village case and were shocked when this victim asked to overturn it!
Of course, not everyone recognized him, only a few, but that was enough. People could ask around and spread the word!
Chai Tieniu thumped his head heavily on the ground, wailing, "Sir, it’s a grave injustice, truly unjust! I beseech you to seek justice for him!"
"Take him away, take him away! What nonsense is this?"
Zhao ngran felt a piercing headache. It was Qi Yun who settled the case, that Imperial leader, and he dared overturn a decision made by the Emperor? Was he seeking death?
Even if it truly were a wrongful, false, and erroneous case, he didn’t want to touch it!
"Sir, I was manipulated with poisonous insects controlling my mind. If you don’t believe , have this doctor examine the two bodies, and you’ll find two worms!"
At these words, Zhao ngran’s expression changed!
There were many people present, and with evidence, it would cause quite a trouble if he continued denying it.
Moreover, it sounded so absurd...
Worms that control people’s minds? Ridiculous, right?
"Don’t speak nonsense, such evil things don’t exist in this world!"
"They do, they do, Sir, look!"
Chai Tieniu took out the worm he had extracted from his body.
In a wooden box, he held it above his head so everyone could see.
"Ahhhh!"
"Ugh—"
So in the crowd scread, so vomited, all disgusted.
Zhao ngran felt the situation slipping out of control and regretted taking this case.
"Let this doctor take a look. If such a thing exists, I need to be cautious in the future!"
"Yes, although it sounds absurd, there’s sothing fishy about the inconsistency in testimonies!"
"..."
The weight of public opinion pressed on Zhao ngran, leaving him no choice but to allow Duanmu Nan to proceed.
The old thod remained, Duanmu Nan made a cut on their arms and used a small vial to attract.
Monts later, a pale worm wriggled out from the wound.
The worm turned black shortly after leaving the body, then decayed and died.
"This, this this..."
Zhao ngran shuddered, every hair on his body standing on end.
Did a worm truly crawl out of these bodies?
He didn’t think Duanmu Nan faked it; it was impossible with so many watching, how could he fake it?
So it was real!
"Poisonous insects, those poisonous insects from the Western Regions!"
Soone in the crowd scread, clearly frightened.
In truth, there were many tales about poisonous insects from the Western Regions, but people usually regarded them as stories, even myths.
Yet now, they witnessed it firsthand!
Everyone was terrified!
"Lord Zhao, I believe your son may have also died from these insects!"
Long Yue stood quietly and spoke words that chilled Zhao ngran to the bone.
"My husband was murdered, and I cannot allow the one who hard him to go unpunished; I demand her life!"
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