Perhaps it was because the news of the dean taking in a disciple was too mind-blowing, the limelight overshadowed all other matters. Therefore, the incident of Chen Chao killing cultivators without authorization did not seem as hot as before. But fortunately, the Xie Family was still adding fuel to the fire from behind. Hence, many civilians in the Divine Capital were still counting the days, thinking that it was these few days.
Time slowly passed, and it soon reached that day.
After dismissing the court, the officials from the Court of Judicial Review, the Ministry of Penalty, and the Court of Censors, stayed behind.
This was the Great Liang Dynasty's Three Judicial Chief Ministries.
At the same time, those three foreign cultivators were also summoned to the palace.
The middle-aged daoist nun had waited very long for this day. She felt that all of her patience had been exhausted, she only thought of rushing into the Court of Judicial Review to directly tear Chen Chao's corpse to pieces. But, although she thought this way, she did not do so. Although she had already become a lunatic, she also knew that in the Great Liang Dynasty, the Divine Capital was not a place where she could act wildly.
As she walked around the imperial city today and looked at those green tiles and red walls, feeling the runes and array formations engraved on them, she felt very uncomfortable in her heart. It was just that no matter how uncomfortable she felt today, she would have to learn to endure too. Even if she could see those imperial city guards from time to time, she could only walk past those boorish martial artists expressionlessly and be unable to do anything.
Compared to her, Xu Yu and Yu Ke who were behind her appeared far more level-headed. The two people looked calm and did not show any emotions.
The three people followed a servant in the palace and walked all the way to the Imperial Study. The daoist nun's expression was already extremely ugly. Thinking about how she was about to meet the Great Liang Dynasty's emperor right away, even if she did not need to kneel, she would have to bow down too. This made her, who had been used to standing high above the masses, find it very difficult to accept. It was just that the door did not open. The servant outside the Imperial Study glanced at the three people and said in a soft voice, "His Majesty has decreed that it's enough for the three immortal masters to come here. You can leave the palace now."
The middle-aged daoist nun's expression eased up and her expression looked better. The remaining two also nodded their heads slightly, turning around and leaving. Entering the palace was a rule that was defined in the agreement many years ago. But, if they really met that Great Liang Emperor who was already known as a Nepenthe martial artist, it would be rather troublesome how they would deal with it too. This current situation was naturally the best.
Watching the trio leave, the servant turned around and walked in.
The layout of the Imperial Study was simple, other than rows of bookshelves that were made from extremely precious fragrant rosewood, there was only an ordinary desk. The emperor was currently seated behind the desk and flipping through a book on miscellaneous affairs.
The servant reported what happened outside in a soft voice. At the same time, he asked, "Your Majesty, should the Three Judicial Chief Ministries' officials be summoned?"
"We heard that the dean accepted his final disciple and it's a girl. It's really a strange affair, the dean's first 71 disciples were all male. But in the end, there's this only daughter."[1. Something to note, the emperor refers to himself using 朕, which I'll translate as We.]
The Great Liang emperor's voice sounded out without much loftiness. Perhaps it was because he was talking about the dean, the emperor's mood was pretty good.
The servant who had served in the palace for over 20 years replied in a soft voice, "The dean has always been natural and unrestrained, he naturally has his own rules when doing things."
"Rule? What rules does that old fogey have? It's just that his temper is bad enough and his fist is large enough. But, We like it."
All scholars under the heavens needed to be respected. Countless people in the Great Liang Dynasty's court all looked up to the South Lake academy's dean. When it reached the emperor's mouth, he became just an old fogey. Yet, as the actual ruler of a dynasty, if the Great Liang emperor wanted to say so, no one would dare refute him too.
Of course, if the dean was here, he would definitely refute it.
Only after the casual chitchat, did the Great Liang emperor remember the official business and said calmly, "Tell the Three Judicial Chief Ministries to judge everything impartially. The Court of Judicial Review's minister, Han Pu, will preside over the trial."
The servant acknowledged but felt very uncertain too. Presently, rumors were running amok in the Divine Capital, saying that the reason why that youth could blow things up until it reached the Divine Capital, was because the Great Liang Dynasty wanted to change its attitude towards foreign cultivators. And the source of this notion was naturally the emperor, His Majesty. Since the emperor had this idea, one would presume that His Majesty should show favoritism when the Three Judicial Chief Ministries would be trying that warden today. But, why did he just say such a fleeting sentence?
Everyone said that Heaven was hard to predict. But, as servants, were they not guessing this emperor's thoughts all day long?
Withdrawing from the Imperial Study, this servant went to deliver His Majesty's decree to the Three Judicial Chief Ministries' officials who were waiting. On his way back to the Imperial Study, this servant was also pondering over the Great Liang emperor's thoughts the entire time.
The Three Judicial Chief Ministries' officials who received the decree and went out of the palace were also musing over it.
The minister of the Ministry of Penalty thought about it. Taking a look at Han Pu who was dressed in large red official robes, he gritted his teeth and walked up to him, asking in a low voice, "Lord Han, could it be that His Majesty's decree has no deeper meaning?"
As early as the moment that youth entered the Divine Capital, they had been guessing His Majesty's thoughts the entire time. Like countless people, they also really wanted to know whether the current situation occurred naturally, or was that Emperor adding fuel to the fire too? If His Majesty had some ideas, then they all, these subjects, could also do some things. But, they were already going to trial this case after waiting till today, why was the final outcome just His Majesty sending out a decree that showed no favoritism?
Han Pu listened to this and felt that this Minister of Penalty in front of him was so idiotic and nearly laughed out loud. However, he recollected his emotions very quickly and said coolly, "His Majesty is the holy ruler, why would he show any favoritism? We just have to hear the case with impartiality. As long as we uncover the truth, we'll live up to His Majesty's trust."
Although he said it like this, Han Pu still could not help but think of that interesting boy on his way out of the palace. There was unambiguous evidence for his murder case, but he could not take out any other evidence. Even if he could reveal the truth of the matter during this Three Judicial Chief Ministries trial, what could it do?
……
……
In the Great Liang emperor's decree, the Three Judicial Chief Ministries trial this time would be presided over by the Court of Judicial Review. Hence, the venue for the trial could no longer be held in the Court of Judicial Review. Instead, it was changed to the Ministry of Penalty's government office. Therefore, after Han Pu left the palace and returned to the Court of Judicial Review, Chen Chao finally left the Court of Judicial Review prison where he had been staying for over half a month.
Re-latching the heavy shackles, Chen Chao took a look at his arms and thought to himself that spending these few days in the dark and gloomy prison was not entirely without benefits. At least now, it made his skin become a little fairer.
Thinking up to here, he could not help but laugh.
A gloomy voice sounded out with some regret, "You're about to die, how can you still laugh?"
Chen Chao returned to his senses and discovered that he had already left the Court of Judicial Review's office and arrived at the entrance now. In front of him was that familiar prison wagon as well as the familiar Weng Quan.
"Why is it you again?!"
Chen Chao opened his eyes wide, very perplexed by this.
Weng Quan grinned and said, "You're a felon now. What if something happens when transporting you? The Left Guard is responsible for the Divine Capital's safety. Incidentally, helping out the Court of Judicial Review is also within reason."
"If it's you, then fine. But we're in the Divine Capital now, can't you find a new prison wagon?"
Weng Quan nodded and said, "Of course there are new wagons. But, I figured that you've ridden in this one before, maybe you'll have some attachment towards it."
Chen Chao was expressionless and silently cussed this guy.
A moment later, Chen Chao seemed to have thought of something. He immediately lowered his voice and asked, "Could it be that Commander Song has discovered his conscience and wanted you to rescue me out of here?"
Weng Quan was stunned and immediately looked at Chen Chao like he was looking at an idiot, "Kid, this is the Divine Capital!"
Chen Chao naturally knew that too and was absorbed in thought.
He was merely cracking a harmless joke.
After calmly walking into the prison wagon again, Chen Chao looked at the nice weather today and thought to himself that it was a good omen.
The team slowly left the street and soon attracted a group of civilians to surround and watch. The entire Divine Capital already knew that the Three Judicial Chief Ministries would be trying Chen Chao today. It was also natural for these common people to show up here. But later, when trying this case in the Ministry of Penalty, only a small number of civilians could enter the place and listen.
This time, Chen Chao did not lower his head. Instead, he looked around, as if he already knew that today would be the last day of his life, so he wanted to look at this world more.
"I heard that he killed foreign cultivators without authorization. But, he's just a teenager. Could it be that he's going to die at this young age?"
"Yeah, I even heard that he worked as a warden for several years. During his tenure, he protected the civilians in a region from being invaded by demons."
"There must be some hidden secrets. It's just, don't know if those government officials can uphold justice for him or not."
"Other things are fine, but now, it has involved those foreign cultivators. How can it be so easy?"
"Those cultivators have never viewed us as humans. Actually, if he killed them, so be it. But, things have blown up. Now, the imperial court has no choice too."
"How dare you say this? Do you not want to live anymore?!"
The clamoring voices sounded out continuously on the streets. Many people already knew about Chen Chao's identity. In fact, under the Xie Family's aggravation of the situation, they even knew what kind of achievements Chen Chao had made as a warden these few years. Hence, although they did not know the truth yet, they already had sympathy.
As the common people, they did not want much, living and working in peace would be great. One naturally would not worry about demons eating people in the Divine Capital. But in other places, having a good warden appeared to be very crucial.
……
……
Following Chen Chao's prison wagon to the Ministry of Penalty were several horse carriages. The three qi refiners who had just entered the palace and left again met with the Court of Judicial Review's group on the streets now. When they stopped, they naturally heard those discussions by the street. When the middle-aged daoist nun heard those words, she was beyond furious. If she was not in the Divine Capital at this moment, she would probably have already gone on a killing spree.
Especially after hearing that "if he killed them, so be it", a monstrous fury burned in the daoist nun's heart. At this moment, she no longer cared whether or not she was in the Divine Capital, she wanted to take action and kill that person.
Except, before she could do so, ripples surfaced in her heart. It was Xu Yu's voice, "Fellow Daoist Wang, you must endure it. If you act recklessly in this current circumstance, it probably wouldn't just be that scoundrel who dies, even the three of us won't be able to walk out of the Divine Capital."
Although he had always been at odds with this middle-aged daoist nun, Xu Yu had no choice but to say something at this point. He was really afraid that this crazy woman would disregard everything in her fury. Killing people elsewhere was still fine, but this was the Divine Capital. If they really killed people under the Great Liang emperor's eyelids, no matter how powerful the sects behind them were, it would likely be very hard to cover them.
The middle-aged daoist nun spat out a turbid breath and tried her best to calm herself down. She was indeed a crazy woman, but at this moment, she at least had a silver of reason left.
But even so, she cursed viciously, "Plebeians, all wretched plebeians who deserve to die!"
