After being reborn, I went on a killing spree in the imperial court.

Looking back, they saw a group of soldiers holding torches surging towards them like a tidal wave.

The flickering flames swayed uncertainly in the darkness, as if foreshadowing an impending storm.

"It seems we're not the only ones who haven't slept tonight!" Cao Yuan chuckled.

Seeing this, Chu Yan took a few steps back and hid behind Cao Yuan, lowering his voice to say, "You handle this! I need to go somewhere..."

Cao Yuan frowned slightly and muttered in dissatisfaction, "At a time like this, you still have the mind... to..."

Before she could finish speaking, she turned around and found that Chu Yan had already disappeared without a trace.

This made Cao Yuan wonder, "Are you really that trusting of me?"

!!!

Well, the situation was critical, and she couldn't afford to think too much. She could only grit her teeth and face the approaching soldiers.

"Fire arrows!"

A voice, seemingly from nowhere, gave an order.

The soldiers surrounding Cao Yuan had already begun preparations, with arrows pointing at him.

"Who dares to fire an arrow!" Cao Yuan shouted.

"Tell your prefect to get out here! I am here on His Majesty's orders to inspect the area! Who gave you permission to point arrows at me!"

Whether it was Cao Yuan's voice that intimidated them or not, the crowd in the government office began to loosen up.

Suddenly, a path parted in the crowd, and a middle-aged man in a dark official robe emerged. The robe was well-tailored, of excellent quality, and embroidered with exquisite patterns and designs. Judging from the style and regulations of the robe, this man was undoubtedly the prefect of the government.

"So it's Your Highness! My apologies. I am the Prefect of Anzhou Prefecture." The Prefect bowed.

"I don't know what you're doing here so late at night? The security situation in Anzhou has been bad lately, with frequent thieves."

"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and put the arrows away!" the prefect ordered.

The officers and soldiers inside the government office all put away their arrows and retreated.

"I have come here to investigate Lord Fan Qingli's case."

"If you're investigating a case, why didn't you come during the day?" the prefect asked.

"When have I ever needed to tell you what I do? Are you afraid I'll find out something?"

"Of course not, Your Highness may investigate at will," the prefect said with a smile.

"Since the Prefect can't sleep either, that's perfect. You will join me in holding court to hear the case!"

"This..." The prefect looked nervous.

"Can't you?"

"Guards! Go and bring the suspect from the Governor's Office here."

In the solemn and dignified courtroom, the atmosphere was tense and heavy, with Cao Yuan, Liu Changshi, and Qin Sima listening from the side.

The Prefect sat upright in the central grand chair, a symbol of power and authority. His face was stern, his gaze piercing, exuding an aura of quiet authority. He slammed his right hand down, the gavel striking the table with a sharp, resounding clang: "Court is in session! Bring the suspect in!"

The sound echoed throughout the hall like thunder, giving everyone a jolt.

As soon as the prefect gave his order, several constables sprang into action, escorting Fan Qingli into the courtroom.

"What are you doing? Kneel down right now!" The constable pressed him down.

Cao Yuan said bluntly, "Your Excellency, Lord Fan Qingli is a third-rank official, and it seems improper for him to kneel before investigating the case."

"Then forget it." The prefect's expression changed drastically.

Meanwhile, several people carefully carried a cold corpse to the ground to the side. After several days of sitting there, the air was filled with a putrid smell.

The prefect pinched his nose and said disdainfully, "Who told you to bring the body up here? Get it down right now. I don't know what's wrong with this coroner; he's made such a stench!"

"It was I who ordered them to be carried! The body is the key evidence in this case."

Upon hearing this, the prefect's furrowed brows instantly relaxed, and he agreed, "Your Highness is right! Then let's put it here."

"Fan Qingli, please recount the case details."

"Your Highness, that day I was at the Governor's Mansion..."

Fan Qingli repeated it again.

"Lord Fan, do you really have no recollection of what happened last night?" The prefect's tone was uncertain, as if he were testing the waters.

Fan Qingli shook her head.

"Lord Fan, now I ask you, do you have a habit of drinking alcohol?"

"Have!"

"Have you ever had sexual relations while drunk?"

Fan Qingli raised his head. This was the first time a woman had asked him such a question, but at this moment he was no longer ambiguous and firmly replied, "Never!"

How can you be sure you didn't?

"Well... knowing myself as I do, I would never do such a thing!"

"Lord Fan's words are not enough to prove it. The person died in your room. You can't deny it! Prefect, you must do justice for my Arong!" Qin Sima pouted, revealing his sadness.

There's no other way now.

"Fan Qingli, take off your clothes!" Cao Yuan ordered.

Fan Qingli frowned in confusion, but still obediently took off her shirt.

Strong arms were displayed before them.

Cao Yuan squatted down next to the corpse, grabbed the corpse's wrist and lifted her up. "Do you see that, everyone? Fan Qingli's skin is intact, but there are obvious scratch marks under the victim's fingernails."

Qin Sima and the others became heavy-hearted.

"From this perspective, the Prefect should re-examine the case, and Lord Fan should no longer be kept under custody as a suspect."

The prefect and Chief Secretary Liu exchanged glances, the prefect's eyes filled with panic.

"Sir Qin, why don't you take off your clothes too!"

"I..." Qin Sima looked at the Prefect and then at the Chief Secretary.

“He doesn’t seem too keen on taking it off, Lord Fan, you have to help him,” Cao Yuan hinted.

Fan Qingli ripped open his clothes with one hand.

Several obvious bloodstains on Qin Sima's chest came into view.

With a thud, Qin Sima knelt down.

"Please investigate, Your Honor. They arrested me while I was with my other concubines. If you don't believe me, you can bring her here for questioning!"

"Qin Sima are all your concubines, how can you be sure they'll tell the truth? You should just admit it yourself, and you can apply for a reduced sentence!"

The matter of the Fourth Princess left a deep impression on Cao Yuan, so she decided not to let them attend court to avoid causing more deaths.

"Your Excellency, it's Chief Secretary Liu!" Qin Sima's eyes were filled with pleading and pleas, his voice trembling slightly, carrying a hint of despair and helplessness.

Chief Secretary Liu frowned and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, these few scratches alone are not enough to determine that they were inflicted by Commander Qin. Are we to just grab anyone on the street and arrest them every time they have a scratch?"

At this moment, Cao Yuan, who had been silent all along, began to gently stroke her chin, lost in thought.

Just then, a constable rushed in to report, "Your Excellency! A large group of women have gathered outside the gate, and they all claim to be Qin Sima's concubines."

many?