Who put the yellow robe on me?

He pleaded incoherently, "Your Highness, please spare my life! It was Boss Zhen! It was Boss Zhen's nephew who fell in love with Lady Bai, so... so he killed Bai Yinlang! Later, he found a gambling clerk to take the blame. Boss Zhen asked me to close the case hastily, and I was... I was forced to do this!"

These words were like a bomb, and the air froze for a moment. Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on Yang Weiqian. Jiang Chen's eyes, however, showed no emotion at all. His gaze was so cold that it could freeze people, as if the sharp sword had already pierced Yang Weiqian's heart.

When Yang Weiqian saw Jiang Chen didn't speak immediately, his heartbeat raced like a war drum. Sweat soaked his sleeves, and his body odor grew increasingly pungent. An indescribable tension and oppression filled the air. His eyes began to blur, and he stared blankly at Jiang Chen, as if he saw an invisible claw, slowly tightening, ready to devour him.

Jiang Chen still stared at him coldly, the chill in his eyes seemed to be able to pierce through people's hearts, deep and unfathomable: "Oh? Was there any other special circumstances before Bai Yinlang was killed?" His words were like a sharp blade, cutting directly into Yang Weiqian's heart.

Yang Weiqian's body trembled slightly, and a look of extreme fear suddenly appeared on his face. His lips moved, but the fear suppressed the words. Countless images flashed through his mind like lightning—Bai Yinlang's tragic death, Boss Zhen's cold eyes, the gambling shop assistant's threats. Everything, intertwined like a nightmare, made him even more unable to extricate himself.

He suddenly lowered his head, his whole body trembling, and begged repeatedly: "Your subordinate... Your subordinate doesn't know..." His voice was so low that it was almost inaudible, as if even he himself was doubting whether he could still survive.

Jiang Chen suddenly smiled, a smile that sent a chill through everyone present. The smile seemed gentle, yet it seemed to harbor an endless chill and malice, like the calm before a storm, leaving no one able to predict how fierce the ensuing storm would be. Jiang Chen spoke slowly, his voice like cold iron hitting the ground: "Yang Weiqian, you are the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, an official appointed by the imperial court, and yet you are being manipulated by a gambling house owner? Tell me, how much silver did he give you?"

These words struck Yang Weiqian like a bolt of lightning. His face instantly turned pale, a flash of astonishment and panic in his eyes, before returning to his dead expression. He summoned almost all his strength to finally utter those few words with difficulty: "One... one thousand taels..."

One thousand taels?

This amount didn't sound small to Jiang Chen, but on the scales of fate, it seemed insignificant. Jiang Chen couldn't help but chuckle, a hint of sarcasm in his smile. "One thousand taels? According to Daliang law, embezzlement of more than one thousand taels will result in immediate execution. Congratulations, you've met the requirements!"

This sneer completely broke Yang Weiqian. His entire body trembled, and his eyes became dazed and helpless, as if all his strength had been drained away in that instant. The words "execute on the spot" were like a heavy bomb, destroying his rationality and exploding his vulnerability.

He didn't dare look directly into Jiang Chen's eyes. His fingers suddenly grabbed his clothes and an almost pleading voice came from his throat: "Your Highness, Your Highness! Please forgive me, forgive me! I... I really... just... just had no choice!" His voice became lower and lower, and his eyes revealed complete despair. His whole body was like a scarecrow that had lost its support, shaking.

The sneer on Jiang Chen's face remained unchanged. His gaze was like a sharp sword, piercing every inch of Yang Weiqian's inner defenses. Suddenly, he raised his hand and waved it coldly: "Come here! Throw Yang Weiqian into jail!"

This command was as loud as thunder, instantly ripping the air in the hall apart. A guard behind him immediately stepped forward, firmly grasped Yang Weiqian's arms, and violently pulled him up. Yang Weiqian had completely collapsed, his legs struggling in the air, his voice stuttering from his throat: "Your Highness... spare me! I can't go to the prison, I can't!"

However, Jiang Chen's gaze was as cold as ice, and it didn't change at all. He no longer paid attention to Yang Weiqian's pleas, but turned away coldly, ready to leave.

However, at this moment, a loud shout suddenly came from outside the hall: "Master Yang Zhengming, the Minister of Justice, has arrived!"

This shout was like a bolt from the blue, suddenly exploding in the silent air. Everyone's attention instantly shifted to the outside, their gazes fixed on the half-open doorframe. Yang Weiqian's eyes suddenly lit up, a glimmer of hope returning to his face. He struggled to free himself from the guards' grip once again, his voice tinged with excitement, "Yes...it's Lord Yang!"

Jiang Chen was also slightly startled, his brows furrowed slightly, revealing a hint of surprise. The Dali Temple Minister? Why are they here? He looked up at the door, a trace of doubt in his heart. This change was obviously beyond his expectations.

Xiong Zhiheng whispered in Jiang Chen's ear, "Your Highness, it's said that Yang Zhengming, the Minister of Justice, is the uncle of Yang Weiqian, the Governor of Jingzhao Prefecture. It seems that this rumor is not groundless."

Jiang Chen's brows relaxed slightly, but the coldness in his eyes remained. He whispered, "I see..." His words were so soft that they were almost inaudible, as if he were talking to himself.

The arrival of Yang Zhengming, the Supreme Court Justice, shattered Jiang Chen's tranquility, like a single stone stirring up a thousand ripples. He didn't react immediately, but instead quietly observed Yang Weiqian's changing expression. Yang Weiqian's face was filled with barely concealed joy, his eyes wide, his lips trembling slightly, and even his breathing seemed to have become rapid. Clearly, Yang Zhengming's arrival meant a glimmer of hope for him.

At this moment, the sound outside the hall gradually approached, and a sound of footsteps came from outside the door. It was steady and powerful, and each step carried an imposing pressure that could not be ignored. Jiang Chen turned around, his eyes fixed on the door, waiting for the person to enter.

Yang Zhengming, the Grand Court Justice, was dressed in black official uniform, a sword at his waist. He carried himself with a dignified demeanor and a steady gait, exuding a noble aura. Though approximately forty years old, his face retained a youthful air of virility. His brow furrowed slightly, a hint of anxiety in his eyes, yet he maintained a commanding presence. When he saw Yang Weiqian standing in the center of the hall, escorted by two guards, a subtle flicker of emotion crossed his eyes.

"What happened?" Yang Zhengming's voice was deep and powerful, with an irrepressible sense of intimidation. His eyes immediately locked onto Jiang Chen, and his eyebrows raised slightly, obviously realizing that the young prince in front of him was no ordinary person.

Jiang Chen smiled slightly, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes, and continued slowly, "Master Yang, the Dali Temple Minister, you're just in time. There's a man here who's suspected of corruption and bribery, colluding with gambling house owners, and even participating in the fabrication of murder cases."