The merchant's rebirth led to the complete downfall of the Marquis's mansion.

The journey down the mountain went smoothly. Qin Yao had left a little late, but she hurried along and by the time she arrived at the Jingzhao Yin Temple, a large crowd had already gathered around her.

Looking at the huge crowd, Qingzhi was also discouraged; she couldn't squeeze in at all!

Just when the two thought they might only be able to hear a sound today, Xiaolan suddenly appeared.

"Miss Qin, please come with me."

Qin Yao immediately realized that Liu Qingping was also inside; she had come to let them watch the show up close.

They immediately took Qingzhi and followed.

Xiao Lan led them in through a side gate, and after wandering around for a long time, they finally arrived at a courtyard.

As soon as Qin Yao entered, she saw Her Highness the Eldest Princess sitting in the main seat.

Qin Yao immediately knelt down and bowed respectfully.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

Qingzhi was a beat too slow and immediately knelt down.

"Alright, get up!" the princess said, waving her hand dismissively.

Qin Yao got up and sat down as directed by the nanny.

Liu Qingping was standing next to her.

Seeing her approach, Liu Qingping winked at her.

Qin Yao, however, had no interest in such things and glanced at Xiao Lan, who was already behind Liu Qingping.

Couldn't Xiao Lan have told her on the way here? She never expected the Princess to be here!

He assumed it was Liu Qingping and casually walked in.

The room was quiet, and Qin Yao sat quietly as well.

After waiting for a while, the sound of a gavel echoed outside.

So this is the inner chamber of the government office!

Qin Yao looked up and could still vaguely see figures outside through the screen.

This looks even better than standing in the first row outside!

"Who is here? State your name!"

Next came the sound of the Wang family, their voices tinged with sobs.

They choked back tears as they accused Jiang Su of selling their son and driving him to his death in order to increase his wealth.

Especially Yan'er, who was only ten years old, burst into tears as she spoke.

She was still young, and the Wang couple were afraid she would let something slip, so they told her directly that Wang Sheng was dead. This little girl had been asking for her brother since yesterday, and now when she talks about her brother, she can't stop crying.

Jiang Su tried to speak several times, but was stopped each time. Only when he was finally given a chance to speak did he hurriedly explain.

"These three are trying to confuse the issue! It was their son who made the mistake, their servant who made the mistake, don't the master have the right to punish them?"

Even if he's sold to those kinds of places, so what? It just means his reputation is bad. What can they do to him?

As soon as Jiang Su said this, the people started to discuss it. It's okay to sell your master, but to sell him to a brothel is extremely immoral!

Everyone on Qin Yao's side remained calm, so Qin Yao could only lower her head and listen attentively.

The gavel struck again, and silence fell outside.

"Bring me the evidence!"

Several account books appeared before Jiang Su's eyes.

Jiang Su picked it up and took a look, and immediately panicked.

These are all things Jiang Zu bought for him, and the dates are recorded in detail on them.

Jiang Su certainly couldn't admit it!

"My lord! What is this?" Jiang Su asked knowingly.

There's no name written on it, so how can it be proven that Jiang Zu bought it? Or that he used it?

He soon lost his smugness.

Several shopkeepers and waiters came in and gave a detailed account of Jiang Zu's purchase, which they even took notes of.

"This Jiang soldier comes frequently and asks for a lot of things. If he doesn't have some of the things we need, I'll make a note of them and have someone buy them for him!"

The owner of He Fangzhai said with a sincere expression.

It's understandable that Jiang Zu kept the food, but things like writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and clothes were not something he could use.

Moreover, the owner of the clothing store recognized at a glance that the clothes Jiang Su was wearing today were the ones Jiang Zu had bought from his store!

Jiang Su glanced down at his clothes, clenching his fists repeatedly.

"My lord! Even so, it can only be said that Jiang Zu felt uneasy taking the money, yet he was still willing to spend it for his master!"

Jiang Su's words once again refreshed everyone's understanding of him. Although he was a servant, people were always thinking of him, but he didn't care about their lives at all!

They were all ordinary people, some of whom had sold themselves into slavery because they couldn't make ends meet. How could they tolerate Jiang Su treating them like they were not human beings!

Immediately, the people outside became restless.

"Silence!" The gavel slammed down, and the outside fell silent once more.

"Master!"

As soon as the Prefect of the Capital spoke, his advisor quickly stepped forward.

He read aloud the accounts he had already calculated.

Jiang Zu spent a total of twenty-five taels of silver, excluding food, while he only received thirty taels!

Jiang Su's heart tightened, and the sound of the gavel made him shudder.

Jiang Su! What else do you have to say?!

Jiang Su looked up and saw the incorruptible face of the Prefect of the Capital.

"Sir! I did use the item, but I truly had no idea!"

Jiang Su was so anxious that he was sweating profusely. This was true, but who would believe it!

Qin Yao sneered inwardly, thinking that it was worth it for her to have someone leave behind evidence.

"Still dare to argue! I have already questioned the people at Kangshan Academy. When Jiang Zu was expelled, you clearly stated that Jiang Zu had spent all the money, and yet you... used his name to repay the money and gain a good reputation!"

"Bang!" The gavel rang out again.

"Tell me the truth! Where did the money come from?"

Jiang Su didn't speak. He was well-versed in the law, and as long as he didn't admit it, whether it was money or selling slaves, he wouldn't break the law!

Just as the Prefect of the Capital was about to strike the gavel again, a voice rang out from outside: "Minister Xia has arrived!"

The Prefect of the Capital stood up, and Vice Minister Xia immediately told him to sit down as soon as he entered.

Xia Qiutang also came with Vice Minister Xia.

It seems they went to call for reinforcements; no wonder Jiang Su hadn't seemed too flustered.

Liu Qingping also saw it and looked at Qin Yao with some concern.

Qin Yao shook her head at her and continued looking outside.

"Lord Xu, you need not worry about me. Just continue the trial. I will listen in." Vice Minister Xia said politely to the Prefect of the Capital from below.

The Prefect of the Capital was now in a dilemma. He wanted to sentence Jiang Su directly, but wasn't Jiang Su the son-in-law of Vice Minister Xia?

The Prefect of the Capital was somewhat puzzled by Vice Minister Xia's intentions.

The Prefect of the Capital picked up his gavel again. "Jiang Su! Answer my question: where did the silver come from?"

"I gave the money!" Xia Qiutang knelt down. "My lord, it was I who gave the money after learning about my husband's situation!"

The Prefect of the Capital glanced at the expressionless Vice Minister Xia, then stole a glance behind him, and continued to ask.

"Jiang Su, is what she said true?!"

Just as Jiang Su was about to nod, the Queen Mother knelt down.

"My lord, I have evidence!"

The Queen Mother took out a few sheets of paper from her bosom and handed them out.

All eyes turned to the Prefect of the Capital for the new evidence.

After reading it, the Prefect of the Capital took a deep breath and handed the document to Vice Minister Xia.

Minister Xia had come to oversee the matter after listening to his daughter's words and believing that Jiang Su was innocent, but after seeing the evidence in his hand, he could no longer remain seated.

"Lord Xu, I have other matters to attend to, so I will not stay any longer."

This means they're not going to care anymore!

The Prefect of the Capital was beaming with joy as he respectfully saw off Minister Xia.

"Father!" Xia Qiutang looked at her father in astonishment.

Unfortunately, Vice Minister Xia ignored him and left directly!

"Snapped!"

When everyone came to their senses, they heard the Prefect of the Capital say:

"Jiang Su! You still won't confess! Here's the contract you signed and your family members sold into slavery. You personally signed and affixed your fingerprints. Are you still going to try to deny it?!"

Jiang Su stared blankly at the contract that had fallen to the ground and bore his handprint.

Selling slaves is nothing, and selling them to the lowest places is nothing either!

But what if this person was wrongly accused and died because of it...?

Then he's breaking the law!

"I..." Jiang Su's mind raced, trying to figure out how to get out of trouble.

The person might not be dead. Even if they are dead, their body would be decomposed. How can you say that they were Jiang Zu?

Just as Jiang Su was about to retort, the person next to him began to beg for mercy.

"My lord, my husband was just confused for a moment. Please, sir, show mercy!"

Jiang Su's eyes were bloodshot with rage. Was Xia Qiutang taking the blame for him?

Seeing his defiant attitude, the Prefect of the Capital summoned the men from the Handsome Men's Quarters who had beaten up the Jiang soldiers that day.

When they heard that Jiang Zu had resisted to the death, was threatened and then committed suicide, the crowd was in an uproar.

"kill him!"

"Yes! Kill him!"

The people outside were outraged.

Jiang Su was immediately deflated. In all his years in power, he had never been treated like this.

However, his crime does not warrant death.

At most, he'll be sentenced to caning.

After his scientific expedition, he'll definitely teach everyone a lesson!

A cold glint flashed in Jiang Su's eyes. This Prefect of the Capital had been groveling before him in his past life. Once he took office, he would kill him first!

Just as Jiang Su was waiting for the verdict to be announced, the Prefect of the Capital stood up.

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

Led by the Prefect of the Capital, everyone knelt down.

Jiang Su looked up in surprise, not understanding why the princess was here!

The next second, he found out.

"Jiang Su is lawless and morally deficient! He shall be given fifty strokes of the cane, imprisoned for three months, and barred from participating in the imperial examinations for three years!"

"Jiang Xiashi, for committing perjury on the spot, shall be punished with twenty strokes of the cane!"

"The Jiang family no longer holds any noble title and can therefore move out of the Jinglin Marquis's residence!"

Just as Liu reached the door, she heard that they were to move out of the Marquis's mansion. Before she could even go inside, she fainted!

When Minister Xia, who had just left, heard that the Princess was also there, he was glad that he had left early, otherwise he would have had a hard time explaining himself.