She's skilled in medicine, martial arts, and even understands animal language—the abandoned dau

Upon hearing this, Shen Man replied without hesitation, "We are from the same hometown, after all. If you really lose your official position, I certainly won't stand idly by."

Zhu Jing felt a warmth in her heart and was about to say something more when the Lu family steward rushed in, saying expressionlessly, "Gentlemen, the Lu family does not welcome you. Please leave immediately!"

The two exchanged a glance and quickly walked out of the Lu residence.

"Man'er, what do you plan to do next?" Zhu Jing asked Shen Man as they left the Lu residence.

"After I got back, I had someone take Yao Ping to the Jingzhao government office. We need to get Master Kong out as soon as possible. If we're too late, he might not be able to get out."

“I’ll go with you!” Zhu Jing said.

Shen Man nodded and didn't say anything more.

After returning to their residence, Shen Man instructed Su Yao to find two shop assistants from the Brocade Weaving Workshop to help Yao Ping and accompany them to the Jingzhao Yamen.

Just a quarter of an hour earlier, Song Cheng, the Prefect of Jingzhao, had received a secret letter from Lu Yuan. Only Song Cheng knew what the letter said.

Shen Man and the others arrived at the Jingzhao Yamen (the government office in the capital) and struck the grievance drum at the entrance.

Before long, a yamen runner came and informed them that the Prefect of the Capital had taken the stage and asked them to go in.

As Shen Man stepped into the courtroom, she saw Song Cheng, the Prefect of the Capital, sitting in the hall with a serious expression.

"Who is below? What is the purpose of beating the drum? Report back immediately!"

Shen Man pushed Yao Ping forward and said, "Sir, we are here regarding the case of Wang Er's murder. After our investigation, we have found that Yao Ping, the steward of the Lu family, is the murderer of Wang Er. Kong Minghui, the manager of Jinxiu Textile Workshop, has been wronged. We beg you, sir, to investigate thoroughly!"

"My lord, I was acting under the orders of my young lady, Lu Jing..."

"Shut up!" Song Cheng shouted, interrupting Yao Ping. A bead of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his eyes unconsciously glanced outside the hall, as if he were wary of something.

After a moment, he steadied himself and forced a calm demeanor, saying, "In court, how can you speak nonsense? Without solid evidence, you make baseless accusations and slander others. What is your punishment?"

"My lord, everything I have said is true. If there is even a single lie, may I be struck by lightning!" Yao Ping said immediately upon hearing this.

"Words are meaningless; where is your evidence?"

Seeing Song Cheng's attitude, Shen Man's heart tightened.

She stepped forward and said loudly, "My lord, we have irrefutable evidence here. This is the hundred-tael silver note and indenture given to Yao Ping by Lu Jing's wet nurse, as well as Yao Ping's confession, which is enough to prove that Lu Jing, the young lady of the Lu family, was the mastermind behind this matter." As she spoke, she handed the evidence to the bailiff beside her, who then presented it to Song Cheng.

Song Cheng took the items, glanced at them briefly, and then tossed them aside.

"These things are completely insufficient to prove that Miss Lu ordered Yao Ping to kill Wang Er. Yao Ping, can you produce any other evidence?"

"My lord, I myself am the best witness."

"Nonsense!" Song Cheng slammed the gavel down, startling Yao Ping.

Shen Man and Zhu Jing exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with shock and anger.

Zhu Jing stepped forward and said loudly, "Lord Song, what do you mean by this? The evidence is conclusive, yet you turn a blind eye. Could it be that you are acting under the orders of Lord Lu?"

Zhu Jing was not wearing his official robes today, so Song Cheng did not know he was a court official. He only saw Zhu Jing's face darken, and he coldly said, "Stop making baseless accusations! I have always been fair and upright; how could I be slandered by you? Your evidence is insufficient, yet you disrupt court order. I will punish you severely. Guards, arrest them all!"

Just as the constables were about to step forward to arrest the man, suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall, and a young man rushed in, shouting, "Lord Song, wait!"

"Who are you, and why are you trespassing in court?"

"Reporting to Lord Song, I am Zhi Mo, the personal bodyguard of His Highness the First Prince. I have been ordered by His Highness to come and listen in!" Zhi Mo said loudly.

Upon hearing this, Song Cheng's heart skipped a beat, and his legs went slightly weak, but he still managed to maintain his composure and cupped his hands, saying, "I wonder what instructions Your Highness, the First Prince, has for this case?"

Zhi Mo's expression was cold and stern. His gaze swept across the faces of everyone in the hall, finally landing on Song Cheng. He said in a deep voice, "His Highness heard that some people in this case have been wrongfully imprisoned, so he specially ordered me to come and see how the Jingzhao Prefecture is handling the case."

Seeing Zhi Mo arrive, Shen Man felt relieved and felt even more grateful to Chu Zhiyi.

She pretended not to know Zhi Mo, stepped forward, and bowed gracefully to him: "I beg you, sir, to do justice for this humble person. Manager Kong of Jinxiu Weaving Workshop has been wronged. The evidence we have presented proves that Lu Jing, the daughter of the Lu family, is the mastermind behind this case. I hope you will investigate thoroughly, sir."

Zhi Mo nodded slightly and looked at Song Cheng: "Lord Song, since someone has presented evidence, why do you still say that the evidence is insufficient?"

Song Cheng's forehead was covered in cold sweat, and he stammered, "This...this is clearly an attempt to confuse the public. These pieces of evidence are obviously fake."

Zhi Mo frowned, stepped forward, picked up the silver notes and confession on the table, and examined them carefully. After a moment, he said coldly, "Lord Song, in my opinion, there are no signs of forgery in these evidences. The paper and seals are very realistic."

As the Prefect of the Capital, what were your intentions in so easily determining that the evidence was fake?

Just then, another commotion came from outside the hall. It turned out that Lu Yuan had heard the news and rushed over.

As soon as he entered the courtroom and saw Zhi Mo, his expression changed drastically, but he still tried to remain calm and bowed, saying, "We were truly apprehensive about Lord Zhi Mo's arrival. This case is nothing more than a dispute among ordinary people; how could we dare to trouble Your Highness?"

Zhi Mo snorted coldly: "Lord Lu, this is a matter of life and death, how can it be a trivial dispute? Now the evidence is conclusive. Miss Lu Jing of the Lu family instructed Yao Ping to commit murder and frame someone. As the head of the Lu family, you are probably to blame."

Lu Yuan's face turned ashen as he glared at Shen Man and Zhu Jing: "You scoundrels, how dare you slander my Lu family! You will pay the price!"

Zhi Mo stepped forward, blocking Shen Man's way: "Lord Lu, how can you be so presumptuous in court? His Highness the Crown Prince is always fair. If this matter is verified, the Lu family will be severely punished."

Lu Yuan gritted his teeth, knowing that continuing to resist would only make things worse, so he changed his expression and said with a smile, "Lord Zhi Mo, my children are ignorant and have made such a mistake. I will definitely discipline them strictly. Please be lenient."

Zhi Mo remained unmoved. "Lord Lu, everyone is equal before the law. How dare you manipulate me like this?"

"Lord Zhimo, you are just a lowly guard. What right do you have to interfere with the Prefect of the Capital's trial?" Lu Yuan asked Zhimo in a fit of anger and embarrassment.

Just then, the eldest prince, Chu Zhiyi, suddenly appeared at the entrance of the courtroom.

"If Zhi Mo has no power, then what about me, the prince?"

Chu Zhiyi strode into the courtroom and looked at Lu Yuan expressionlessly, asking a question.

Upon seeing Chu Zhiyi's arrival, Lu Yuan and the others quickly knelt down to pay their respects.

After Chu Zhiyi sat down, he glanced around and said indifferently, "Lord Song, since the evidence in this case is conclusive, why not close the case quickly?"

Song Cheng replied tremblingly, "Your Highness, this humble subject..."

Chu Zhiyi sneered, "In front of this prince, you still dare to bend the law for personal gain?"