Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

As a co-governor, Liu Yanzhi knew that making a big deal out of this matter would be of no benefit to anyone, so he advised earnestly, "Jingwei, please forgive others when you can. Leave some room for improvement so that we can meet again in the future."

However, Zhang Jingwei remained resolute and unyielding in his response, "Teacher, you should understand my personality. I've always been a stickler for truth. The last person who dared to frame me, the grass probably hasn't even grown over his grave yet!"

Lu Hui, standing aside, frowned with dissatisfaction on his face. He asked, "Zhang Xiaolian, how do you think we should investigate this matter?"

Zhang Jingwei said righteously, "My own affairs can be put aside for now, but Tian Cao beat and humiliated his wife, and Tian's mother and father stood by and watched. Isn't Yang Xier a citizen of your Yunzhou? I implore you two gentlemen to reopen this case! Justice must be done to the victim!"

Hearing this, Lu Hui waved his hand impatiently and said, "This is just someone else's family affair. How can you ask us to judge it? Are you going to interfere in the trivial matters between other couples?"

Zhang Jingwei was furious when he heard this and shouted, "I don't believe it! He beat someone like that and he's still letting him stand!"

At this time, Liu Yanzhi, who had been trying to persuade him, said again: "Jingwei, you should listen to the teacher's advice and stop interfering in the matter of Tian Cao!"

Zhang Jingwei remained unmoved. He looked at the two men with a determined gaze and continued, "I don't really want to meddle in other people's affairs, but you two might as well take a look outside the courtroom. It's filled with the people of Yunzhou. They're all eagerly hoping that the government office can conduct a fair and rigorous trial today. If we can't even determine such obvious right and wrong, I'm afraid it will be difficult to convince everyone! Where will the prestige of our government be then?"

When Lu Hui heard this, his face turned blue with anger. He pointed at Zhang Jingwei and shouted angrily, "Zhang Jingwei! How dare you openly threaten me!"

Zhang Jingwei stood there with a serious expression. He slowly raised his hand and took off the hat on his head with steady and firm movements.

As his hat slipped off, his neat short hair was completely exposed to everyone. His eyes flashed with a resolute light like cold stars. He looked straight at the governor and said loudly, "Please, governor, re-examine this case!"

At this moment, Tian Cao, who was standing nearby, showed a trace of disdain and anger on his face. He sneered and said, "Xier? Humph, that bitch is shameless. She actually had an affair with the former Hunyuan County Magistrate. According to the laws of our great Celestial Empire, she deserves to be paraded through the streets on a wooden horse for such behavior! I didn't abandon her, I just disciplined her a little harshly on a daily basis!"

Hearing this, Zhang Jingwei was furious. His eyes widened as he pointed at Tian Cao and shouted, "Strict discipline? After she was raped, not only did you not show any concern for her, but you beat her up! You are simply a heartless beast!"

Tian Cao, however, remained unrepentant and continued to argue, "That's not the case! It's all because that bitch is so alluring. She must have taken the initiative to seduce the Hunyuan County Magistrate. She wanted nothing more than to escape my control, and how could I possibly grant her that wish? I'm not stupid. How could I openly oppose the government for such a lowly person?"

Faced with such a shameless person, Zhang Jingwei was so angry that he trembled all over. He smiled coldly, shook his head helplessly, and sighed inwardly that this person was hopeless. Then, without saying a word, he took off his long coat and pulled hard, and the golden belt inlaid with beautiful jade was grasped in his hand.

Seeing this, Tian Cao panicked and stammered, "Senior, in front of all these adults, what are you doing?"

Zhang Jingwei gripped his belt tightly as he approached Tian Cao, his eyes filled with rage. He cursed with gnashing teeth, "You bastard, born without a mother, let me discipline you today on behalf of your parents!"

Lu Hui's eyes widened in anger as he shouted at Zhang Jingwei, "Zhang Jingwei, are you planning a rebellion? In the court, in front of everyone, you actually dared to hit someone! This is simply lawless!" As he spoke, he turned his head and shouted to the people below, "Someone come! Where is the police? Where is the arrester? Take this lunatic down quickly!"

At this time, Tian Cao was lying on the ground, trembling, and begging for mercy: "No, don't hit me, senior... I know I was wrong, please forgive me!" His pitiful appearance made people feel pity.

However, what was unexpected was that the yamen runners who were supposed to rush forward according to the order took a few steps back tacitly as if they had agreed to do so. They looked at each other and no one dared to step forward easily.

Seeing this, Lu Hui was so angry that he trembled all over. He stood up suddenly and was about to step forward to stop Zhang Jingwei. At this moment, Captain Yang rushed to Lu Hui, opened his arms and tightly protected him, and said anxiously, "Sir, you must not do this! The situation is unclear and too dangerous. You must not move forward!" Then, he turned to the group of yamen runners behind him and shouted, "Brothers, quickly close the gate and protect the people present!"

Hearing this, Lu Hui was even more furious. He pointed at Captain Yang and the others and roared, "You good-for-nothings, are you all deaf? How dare you disobey the orders of this prefect?"

Lu Hui turned to look at Liu Yanzhi standing beside him, and shouted angrily, "Yanzhi! Look at what your student has done! He actually beat up other students in public in court. With such behavior, where does the dignity of our government stand? If we don't severely punish this evildoer today, who will respect the law in the future?"

Zhang Jingwei raised his belt and brought it down hard on Tian Cao with the buckle. His belt was also specially made and very tough. Tian Cao was thin and delicate, so he stood up and ran after just two blows.

Tian Cao saw Zhang Jingwei chasing him and turned pale with fear. He tried to run away but bumped into the wall. However, Zhang Jingwei grabbed him and pressed him against the wall.

"You beast, you still want to run?" Zhang Jingwei sneered, "You only know how to hit women? Fight back!"

After saying this, Zhang Jingwei raised his belt and began to beat Tian Cao mercilessly. Tian Cao cried out in pain and begged for mercy. But Zhang Jingwei showed no mercy and beat him even harder.

"You useless thing! You're a grown man, and you only know how to cry. If you cry again, I'll dig your eyes out!" Zhang Jingwei cursed.

Tian Cao had been beaten all over his body, and he could only reply weakly: "I dare not, I dare not..."

Zhang Jingwei beat him until he was exhausted, holding his knees and gasping for breath. Tian Cao lay on the ground, sobbing non-stop.