When Chen Jin called out to her, even though Tong Aning was certain that there were no ghosts in the world she had transmigrated to, she still felt a chill run down her spine and silently moved a few inches closer to her older brother.
Tong Yibin noticed her little trick but didn't stop her. Instead, he used his broad back to shield his younger sister.
Tong Aning cautiously peeked out from behind Tong Yibin, [ Xixi, why did you stop talking? Keep going!]
system:[...]
It can't very well say that it was also terrified by Chen Jin's shout, can it?
Seriously, how could there be ghosts?
[Because the real Fan Shuwen was killed by this fake Fan Shuwen.]
Chen Jin and Fan Shuyi's hearts skipped a beat.
Fan Shuyi sized up Fan Shuwen. No wonder; her former half-sister was timid and always hesitant in her presence, barely able to speak clearly. But this one in front of her—
She actually dared to plot against her brother-in-law even after her engagement was finalized.
Wait, Fan Shuyi suddenly realized something was wrong.
Chen Jin wasn't a high-ranking official, so what made this fake Fan Shuwen Chen Jin to kill someone just to be with him?
Fan Shuwen sensed the atmosphere was a bit strange, but it was only temporary. She walked up to Chen Jin Chen Jin, " Chen Lang, what's wrong?"
Chen Jin couldn't tell for a moment whether ghosts or assassins were more terrifying.
In short, he had completely seen through Fan Shuwen and was determined not to be with her again.
Chen Jin mumbled, "You can go now."
Walk?
Tong Yibin's face darkened. He knew she had killed someone; how could he possibly let her go?
Tong Yibin raised his hand, and the people from the Ministry of Justice surrounded Fan Shuwen, who was in the middle.
Chen Jin said, "Minister Tong, what are you doing?"
Tong Yibin said succinctly, "Arrest them."
"Yes, she has committed an unforgivable mistake, but it was all because she loved me too much. Please, Minister Tong, show leniency for my sake."
[What a blatant disregard for human life!]
Tong Yibin glanced at Chen Jin and said indifferently, "She killed someone. Since you're going to plead for her, you'll have to pay with your life."
[Brother's plan is brilliant... Wait, how did you know she killed someone? You're an official in the Ministry of Justice, have you developed the ability to spot murderers at a glance?]
Tong Yibin remained silent, seemingly waiting for Chen Jin to make a decision, but in reality, he was feeling guilty. However... his younger sister seemed to have covered for him.
Chen Jin a trembling voice, "I don't... I don't have a knife."
Tong Yibin: "Give him a knife."
Chen Jin trembled as he took the knife handed to him.
[No way, he really wants to pay with his life...]
While Tong Aning was eating melon seeds, her eyes suddenly widened as Chen Jin actually lunged straight at Fan Shuwen with a knife.
As he thrust his weapon at Fan Shuwen, tears streaming down his face, he cried, "I'm sorry, Shuwen, I really can't die, I'm so sorry."
Fan Shuwen: "..."
She kicked the knife out of Chen Jin's hand. Chen Jin was stunned, even forgetting to cry. "You know martial arts?"
Fan Shuwen said expressionlessly, "Disgusting! Who would like you?"
Chen Jin's mouth gaped open.
[ Fan Shuwen came to the Ministry of Justice to steal classified documents... I don't know why, but I always feel that this reason makes much more sense.]
"It's related to confidential documents from the Ministry of Justice... Could she be connected to Vice Minister Wei?" Tong Yibin narrowed his eyes. "Take her down."
Fan Shuwen and Chen Jin were both arrested, and Fan Shuyi, having watched enough of the drama, was also leaving.
Tong Yibin stopped her and said, "We will notify the Jingzhao Prefecture to search for your sister's body. If it is found, it will be transported back to the manor immediately so that she can be laid to rest."
"Whatever," Fan Shuyi casually tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's just bad luck that she's being targeted even like this."
Before Tong Yibin could speak, Tong Aning strode over aggressively, "What do you mean she's unlucky? Your sister has been murdered, and instead of going after the killers, you say it's just bad luck?"
Fan Shuyi: "It's no use scolding me."
Who insulted you?
Tong Aning was so angry that her face turned red, and she wished she could hit her head against Fan Shuyi to vent her anger.
Tong Yibin stopped him.
Fan Shuyi had already walked far away, but Tong Aning was still panting heavily.
Tong Yibin said helplessly, "You can't argue with her."
Tong Aning's eyes reddened for a moment, a mixture of confusion and pity for the real Fan Shuwen.
Tong Yibin said, " Aning, that's just how the world is. You'll meet all sorts of people. We can't change their minds, so we can only do our own thing."
Tong Aning said in a muffled voice, "I understand, big brother."
Tong Yibin patted her on the shoulder, "You've looked enough, you can start writing your journal now, it's due tomorrow, isn't it?"
"Good."
For the rest of the time, Tong Yibin interrogated Chen Jin and the fake Fan Shuyi, while Tong Aning sat in his seat writing in her diary.
As he finished writing his log, Tong Yibin walked in against the light.
He said, " Fan Shuyi's remains have been found and have been sent back to the Fan residence."
Tong Aning breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good."
Tong Yibin looked at Tong Aning's face and said, " Fan Shuwen has explained a lot. Aning, would you like to hear it?"
Tong Aning nodded, Tong Aning, Tong Aning greatly shocked.
She jumped up immediately, "Big brother, is this another one targeting you?"
"Yes, she and Vice Minister Wei were probably arranged by the same person."
"I really wish that person would be exiled too, so they could eat sand as well."
Tong Aning clenched her fists and muttered something under her breath.
Tong Yibin chuckled, then asked, " Aning, who do you think that person could be?"
"It must be someone you offended, brother."
After saying this, Tong Aning looked troubled. "My elder brother is so upright and incorruptible; I wonder how many people he's offended. Sigh."
Tong Yibin: "..."
"Alright," Tong Yibin said, though he wanted Tong Aning to understand something, he didn't want to push things too far. "Let's go home."
Tong Aning stretched and said, "Okay."
Tong Aning picked up the diary and hid it carefully, not letting Tong Yibin see it at all.
Tong Yibin paused, not understanding why Tong Aning was being wary of him. He asked, "Don't you need your older brother to take a look?"
Tong Aning shook her head.
" Aning has really grown up; we don't need to worry about her anymore."
"That's not what I meant. I praised my older brother in this log, and I'm embarrassed for him to see it."
Tong Yibin met Tong Aning's honest and straightforward gaze and smiled gently, "Alright, alright."
When the two returned to the manor, they saw Lou Ming hurriedly getting off the carriage and climbing the steps, looking as if he had come to arrest someone.
[Oh no, Yingyu.]
Tong Aning jumped off the carriage, lifting her skirt, and swept past Lou Ming like a gust of wind.
Lou Ming: "?"
A voice came from behind--
" Chancellor Lou."
Lou Ming paused, and Tong Yibin walked up to him, cupped his hands in greeting, and asked, " Chancellor Lou, is there something you need so late?"
Lou Ming gritted his teeth. What else could it be?
*
My father?
Lou Yingyu jumped up from her seat in a panic, grabbing food and other necessities as she went, shouting, "Let's go, let's go!"
Where are we going?
The thing in Lou Yingyu's arms rolled to the ground. She lowered her head, resignedly saying, "Father."
Lou Ming snorted, "So you still remember I'm your father?"
Lou Yingyu smiled and leaned closer to him, coaxing, "If you're not my father, then who is?"
"If I hadn't overheard a conversation between some adults, I wouldn't have known that the Imperial Academy had assigned such a task. Tell me about it."
Lou Yingyu muttered, "Didn't you say you wouldn't let me go with you?"
Lou Ming slammed his hand on the table. "Those were just angry words I said many years ago."
"Okay, okay, Dad, don't be angry, punish me instead."
Who said I was going to punish you?
"Huh?"
Lou Ming, "Come with me again tomorrow to observe further."
Lou Yingyu: "..."
Lou Yingyu really wanted to refuse, but looking at her father's earnest eyes, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
Lou Yingyu said, "Okay."
Lou Ming's mood then brightened.
Su Zhouyue said, "Since Chancellor Lou is here, why don't you have dinner at his residence?"
Knowing that his daughter was good friends with Tong Aning, Lou Ming couldn't refuse, so he said, "Alright."
The banquet was set up when someone suddenly came to see Tong Aobai.
Everyone turned to look at him.
Tong Aobai said, "You guys use it first, I'll go check on things."
"Good."
Tong Aning held Lou Yingyu's hand, and the two of them lowered their heads and chattered about what they had seen and heard that day.
On the other side.
As soon as the man entered, he knelt before Tong Aobai. "My lord, please do justice for me!"
Tong Aobai: "Raise your head."
The man did as he was told and raised his head.
Tong Aobai looked him over and said, "You seem somewhat familiar."
"It is precisely because I have dealt with the Marquis that I know he is always fair and impartial, and is the one most capable of redressing my grievances."
"If you have a grievance, why don't you go to the Court of Judicial Review or the Jingzhao Prefecture, but come to me instead?" Tong Aobai asked, puzzled.
"Because the person who wronged me has connections everywhere, and neither the Jingzhao Prefecture nor the Court of Judicial Review dares to investigate him."
Who are you going to sue?
The man slammed his head heavily to the ground. "The current Prime Minister, Lou Ming."
Tong Aobai glanced at the side hall, which wasn't far from here. Lou Ming should have heard what this person said, but he didn't choose to show himself. Was there some difficulty he was facing?
To be fair, Chancellor Lou was a loyal minister who devoted himself to his duties and was considered a rare and exceptional official in Tong Aobai's eyes. Tong Aobai did not believe that Lou Xiang could have caused a wrongful conviction.
But for the sake of this injustice, Tong Aobai had to continue listening.
What are you accusing Chancellor Lou?
"My younger brother went to high school last year, but he was falsely accused of cheating and died unjustly in prison. We still haven't seen his remains. I suspect he was tortured to death."
Lou Yingyu ran over from the side hall, "You said my father tortured and killed your brother?"
The man raised his head and looked at Lou Yingyu. He knew who this person was. He said angrily, "Yes, your father is a beast, he's unworthy of being called human."
What are you saying?
Lou Yingyu raised her foot to kick, but Tong Aning pulled her back.
[ Xixi, what happened?]
[That person committed suicide.]
[Ah... so that's how it is. Doesn't that make Chancellor Lou a great victim?]
What was that sound?
Could it be that this corrupt official is receiving divine assistance?