This one hour in the Ministry of Penalty was very quiet. The incense used to calculate the time slowly burned away. Curls of smoke were also gradually dissipating. Chen Chao's expression became a little ugly.
Han Pu shook his head and smiled bitterly.
He finally managed to evoke the hot-bloodedness of a teenager to gamble with someone. In the end, was he going to wind up with a crushing defeat?
He did not think about blaming Chen Chao at this moment, he just felt that it was a little absurd.
Why did he have this idea before? Could it only be because of that layer of relationship?
The expressions of the middle-aged daoist nun trio became increasingly more pleased. All the way until that stick of incense completely burned out, Xu Yu let out a sigh of relief. A large rock in his heart was finally put down. He looked at Han Pu and said, "Time's up. Lord Han, you should close the case."
Perhaps it was because he was too happy at this moment, he actually lost that haughtiness in his words and became much warmer.
Yu Ke also nodded his head with satisfaction. He also became extremely cheery at this moment. If he was not here, he would even have yelled out.
The middle-aged daoist nun's hatred towards Chen Chao did not diminish. Even if Chen Chao would definitely die today, she was still not satisfied. Because she did not get to torture Chen Chao to death. She was even still thinking about whether to take this little scoundrel away using some method. Then, slowly torture him.
At this point in time, they felt that the outcome was a foregone conclusion.
The Minister of Censors let out a gloomy sigh. The sound was not loud, but because it was very quiet now, everyone could hear it clearly. Except for Vice Minister Li whose heart was not present at all.
Han Pu shook his head and said, "Since you can't produce evidence, then this official can only conclude the case based on the current evidence."
He glanced at that incense stick that had already burned up and asked routinely, "Lastly, do you still have something that you want to say?"
This sentence made Xu Yu three people rather unhappy, but they did not say anything from start to finish. Because there was about to be a conclusion to everything. Therefore, they should allow this bit of time, and could also afford to allow it.
Chen Chao's expression was very ugly. He did indeed have evidence that could prove his innocence. Because he was worried that something unexpected would happen in the Court of Judicial Review, he entrusted Song Lian to deliver the evidence to the academy before entering the Court of Judicial Review. That evidence should currently be in that girl's hands.
Yes, she was in the academy, it was very safe there.
But, the problem was that according to their agreement, she should appear in the Ministry of Penalty's hall at this moment. But, she did not.
Chen Chao furrowed his brows rather painfully. He felt somewhat unreconciled to it.
He did not expect such a result.
Chen Chao knew that something must have happened since Xie Nandu did not come.
She had already done so much for Chen Chao, how could she possibly abandon him at the last moment?
He hoped that she was okay at this moment.
Chen Chao looked at Han Pu rather apologetically.
But, he quickly opened his mouth and said, "I have last words!"
Although he also knew that this was probably it, he still wanted to strive a bit more.
Han Pu smiled helplessly, while Xu Yu three people frowned slightly. Only at this time, did Vice Minister Li come back to his senses. Looking at Chen Chao who was standing, he thought to himself: the trial was over?
The Minister of Censors shook his head.
Chen Chao wanted to say a few last words. It was just that a voice came from outside the courtyard before he could say a word.
"Wait a second."
The crisp voice of a young girl sounded out.
In the next second.
The Minister of Censors and Vice Minister Li both stood up. Han Pu was a little unwilling, but he still stood up.
The civilians in the courtyard looked at that beautiful girl and were somewhat absentminded.
They subconsciously ignored the scholar who was talking in front, only paying attention to the beautiful girl.
Unfortunately, the Three Judicial Chief Ministries officials in the Ministry of Penalty's hall were all paying attention to that scholar.
This was said earlier, there were only a small minority of people who did not recognize this scholar in the Divine Capital.
The vast majority knew this scholar. Furthermore, they had to treat him with courtesy whether they wanted to or not.
Because this scholar was not just a scholar, he was also the dean's student.
Furthermore, he was a very famous student.
Because he constantly accompanied the dean, this scholar often represented the dean's will.
"We pay respects to Mr. Wei."
Vice Minister Li and the Minister of Censors spoke at the same time to greet him.
Although Xu Yu three people had lived in foreign lands for a long time and did not often come to the Divine Capital, they knew this scholar too. After seeing him now, they could only clasp their hands to salute him too.
They lowered their heads not just because this scholar was a student of the dean, but more importantly, the student was only half a step away from Nepenthe Realm.
This was an extremely rare thing at his age.
In other words, this scholar in front of them would be standing at the summit of cultivation in another few years, becoming a target that they looked up to, becoming a truly important figure in the world.
It was just that the three people's expressions were not looking good.
Wei Xu returned the greetings with a smile. He then turned to Han Pu and asked, "I wonder if we're late?"
If the one talking was not Wei Xu but an ordinary scholar, Xu Yu three people would naturally say that he was late. But now, they could not say it.
Han Pu looked at Xie Nandu and naturally knew that the evidence Chen Chao talked about was likely on this person.
Just as everyone's eyes and attention were on that Mr. Wei, Chen Chao looked at Xie Nandu and said gloomily, "If you were a little later, you'd have had to collect my corpse."
The corners of Xie Nandu's mouth curled slightly. Raising her brows, she said with a smile, "I thought that you have even anticipated this."
Chen Chao said despondently, "I'm not an immortal, how could I have imagined that there would actually still be problems?"
Yes, he had thought a lot after entering the Court of Judicial Review and also made preparations for many things in advance. But, there were still some overlooked details under all the arrangements.
Such as how he did not anticipate that even if it was Xie Nandu, she would actually be intercepted by someone along the way too.
Xie Nandu reached her hand out and passed that demon bead to Chen Chao, saying, "Luckily, there was Senior Brother. Otherwise, I really can only collect your corpse for you."
This young pair were currently talking as if nobody else was around, seeming a little out of place. But in reality, it felt a little special too. Especially when the Minister of Censors watched this scene, it reminded him of his teenage years.
Wei Xu watched with a faint smile. Except, he somewhat felt that the boy needed a beating.
Taking the demon bead, Chen Chao's heart was completely at ease.
His life was all dependent on this demon bead.
"Lord Han, my proof is here!"
Holding this demon bead up, Chen Chao almost wanted to jump for joy.
Back then, he almost sold this demon bead on the black market.
If he really sold it, then he would only be left with a path to hell now.
Luckily, luckily.
……
……
The demon bead was delivered before Han Pu very soon. The images inside also appeared, it was precisely the scenes inside the mines.
The moment he entered the mines that day, Chen Chao knew that he was fraught with grim possibilities. Other than being constantly on guard, he also used this demon bead to record the scenes on that day early on.
He was a martial artist who did not have those mystic spells. If not for this demon bead, he would have run out of solutions at this point.
After killing those few people back then, Chen Chao knew that it would attract the pursuit of the sects behind them. This demon bead was his last resort. But, he had been thinking of how to put it into full play this entire time.
Looking at the ever-changing images, the middle-aged daoist nun's expression became increasingly uglier. Her mood also grew heavier and heavier.
Xu Yu and Yu Ke exchanged a glance, both already seeing the panic in the other's eyes.
They knew that those disciples were sent to look for the dragon vein. They also knew that what Chen Chao said before was the truth. But, they did not imagine that the real facts would be presented.
That demon bead was not something special. It was not even considered precious. Yet, it had such an ability to record images.
Prior to this, who could have known that Chen Chao would actually have something like this?
"What do the few of you have to say?"
Han Pu looked at the three of them and said calmly, "This official wants to hear your explanation too."
The three people had ugly expressions. It was just that they did not say a word.
"There must be some hidden facts involved. Please investigate clearly, Your Excellency."
Xu Yu opened his mouth, but his voice was no longer loud, it was somewhat weak.
Han Pu laughed coldly and said meaningfully, "What a fine ‘hidden facts’."
Voices expressing support for Chen Chao suddenly sounded out in the courtyard. Those voices seemed to be able to topple the roof of the Ministry of Penalty.
The voices outside the courtyard also sounded out.
Feelings of joy and anger were intertwined here.
However, it was unclear which of these two emotions was more.
Han Pu looked at Vice Minister Li and the Minister of Censors and said, "We can close the case now."
The Minister of Censors asked, "Should we enter the palace and request a decree?"
This matter was seriously too major. The evidence that the middle-aged daoist nun trio brought out before could prove that Chen Chao killed Guo Xi four people. Now, Chen Chao's demon bead recorded the entire process more completely.
This implicated the southern qi refiner lineage and Great Liang's national foundation. At present, this matter was huge. It was also normal for him to propose such an idea out of prudent considerations.
"No need. His Majesty's decree before was already very clear. Moreover, we're closing this case, the other case is something for later."
"Then, Lord Han please make the decision."
……
……
"Through the Three Judicial Chief Ministries' hearing, the matter of Tianqing County's warden, Chen Chao, killing the cultivators without authorization happened for a reason. It was an act of protecting the nation, so he's innocent!"
……
……
This sentence was extremely loud, transmitting out of the hall and it also transmitted out of the courtyard. The middle-aged daoist nun trio had dark expressions. At this moment, even if she was furious to the extreme, she could not flare up too.
What they should be worried about now, was something else.
While Chen Chao was currently extremely happy. The melancholy and dejection from before were swept clean at this moment.
Thinking up to here, he thought: why can't I say something?
Since he thought of it, he would do it.
Hence, after a brief pondering, Chen Chao said loudly, "I'll never forget that day, four qi refiners, four people that we call immortal masters, four high and mighty cultivators, actually tried to steal my Great Liang Dynasty's dragon vein in front of this warden within my Great Liang Dynasty's national borders! If this warden didn't know about this matter, then forget it. But since I found out, I naturally have to step forward bravely! Even if I die for this, I'll never regret it too!"
"I said long ago, even if such a thing was repeated a hundred times, I'll choose the same too!"
"Guo Xi and the others, this warden will kill each one that I see!"
Each word was resolutely firm!
When Chen Chao spoke, he was looking at none other than that middle-aged daoist nun.
His voice sounded out in the Ministry of Penalty, immediately attracting everyone's eyes.
Han Pu looked at this youth and thought to himself: he's really f*cking... shameless.
Did he really think this way back then?
While Vice Minister Li nodded slightly. It was also unknown whether it was because of Chen Chao or not.
The Minister of Censors looked at the young man who was fired up with boundless enthusiasm and could not help but think of when he was young. He seemed to be similar to him back then.
While Wei Xu was sizing up this young warden seriously.
Xie Nandu shook her head somewhat helplessly.
Xu Yu had a livid expression and could not say a word.
Yu Ke was expressionless.
The middle-aged daoist nun was enduring extremely painfully in the first place. Coupled with that Chen Chao was originally targeting the daoist nun when he was talking, she could no longer hold back at this moment. Her body staggered and anger rushed to her heart. A large mouthful of blood suddenly spewed out.
Blood flowers spread out.
She was actually angered by the words until she spurted blood?!
The people were somewhat absentminded watching this scene.
Was this the legendary art of war, to subdue the enemy without a single soldier?
Was this the so-called lip service of Confucianism sages?
Chen Chao nodded his head with great satisfaction.
This was the result he wanted.
Wei Xu took another look at Chen Chao.
Han Pu returned to his senses and took a deep look at the middle-aged daoist nun three people, and said calmly, "I'm afraid that the three of you will have to temporarily stay in the Divine Capital for a while."
