Lying

Before long, Jun Jingyi had taught that guy another lesson.

But he still stopped short of going too far.

He didn't want to confront the male protagonist head-on yet.

As for these royals, he felt that the information from later generations had given him a rough idea of what they were like.

For the throne, they would stop at nothing. For now, he didn't want to become a stumbling block on this guy's path to imperial power.

After all, he had already investigated the Li Family.

The matter involved a high-ranking official in the Capital.

The official belonged to the neutral faction and was the very person the Eighth Prince was trying to win over.

Perhaps it was because of who Jun Jingyi was.

The Li Family's young master knew when to back down and left with his men without a word.

As for the young woman, Jun Jingyi had also shown her a clear path.

She could go to the yamen and file a complaint.

After all, Great Yan was a country, with an imperial court and laws. Surely it wasn't the place of a young marquis like him to deal with such things?

Besides, people went to the authorities when they had a grievance. Wasn't that the same in every world? Wasn't it perfectly normal?

There were countless injustices in the world, and countless people who suffered.

Did he have to save them all?

Could he even save them all?

The next day.

Early in the morning.

After waking up, he exercised as usual, then ate breakfast.

Afterward, Jun Jingyi called the steward over and asked, "Uncle Wang, where is Tianfu City's county yamen?"

When someone filed a complaint, someone had to hear the case, which meant a court hearing!

"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."

As someone from a later age, he had never seen such a novel thing with his own eyes. He had to go join the fun.

But at the same time, he suddenly remembered something.

He had been in Tianfu City for so long since transmigrating... yet he had almost forgotten there was a county yamen here. How amazing!

There was a saying in later times: the quieter the seat of government, the clearer the sign of a flourishing age, with the country at peace and the people at ease.

It seemed public order in Tianfu City was... good?

Jun Jingyi thought of what he had encountered on his two outings, a strange look on his face.

"Young master, why are you asking about the county yamen? Did you lose something?"

The steward asked in confusion.

Then he smiled and said, "That's no trouble. I'll send a servant to tell the county yamen in a moment and have them send someone over. There's no need for you to go in person, young master!"

"Uh..."

Jun Jingyi was speechless for a long while. He didn't know what to say.

After a long time, he shook his head and asked seriously, "Didn't anyone go to the county yamen to file a complaint yesterday?"

"Ah, well, I really don't know!"

Looking embarrassed, the steward beckoned a nearby servant over and gave him an instruction.

A short while later, the servant ran back and reported, "Young master, a young woman went to the county yamen to file a complaint yesterday."

"Oh? When's the hearing, then? I'll go watch the fun. I've never seen one before."

Jun Jingyi looked excited.

"Ah... well..."

Looking conflicted, the servant said quietly, "Young master, the case has already been closed!"

"That fast?"

Jun Jingyi was stunned. That was more efficient than in later times!

"What was the outcome?"

Jun Jingyi asked hurriedly.

"Um..."

The servant lowered his head and spoke even more quietly, answering slowly, "That young woman lied and made a false accusation. The county magistrate had her arrested and locked in jail, saying he would make her suffer a little."

Jun Jingyi: "..."

He swallowed and pursed his lips.

Looking at the golden fried dough stick before him, he felt that, suddenly, it wasn't so appetizing anymore.

"But..."

The servant glanced carefully at Steward Wang, then looked at Jun Jingyi and whispered, "But I heard that afterward, someone saw people from the county yamen taking that woman to the Li Family in the west of the city..."

Jun Jingyi fell silent.

The image of the young woman he had shown a clear path the day before appeared in his mind.

For a moment, an eerie silence fell over the scene.

By then, Steward Wang and the servant had also understood something and quietly withdrew.

They had heard the name of the Li Family in the west of the city once before.

After a long while, Jun Jingyi walked out of the room and sat quietly in the courtyard, drinking tea he had brewed himself and looking up at the sky.

There wasn't a cloud for ten thousand miles. Sunlight shone directly on the earth, and the sky was perfectly clear.

He didn't know what to say.

Did he feel guilty?

Not really... After all, he knew that if he hadn't intervened yesterday, the young woman's fate would have been much the same as it was now.

At least he had let her live another day.

It was just...

He felt troubled.

He thought of the Li Family young master's vicious smile on the street.

Gradually, Jun Jingyi's expression grew cold.

It was too much of a coincidence!

Running into him once was one thing, but after getting dealt with by him this time, the man just happened to pull this stunt right in front of him!

And there was the county yamen's attitude!

They were so brazen, as if they had done it especially for him to see!

The Eighth Prince?

He guessed the Eighth Prince had a hand in this. Otherwise, the Li Family were mere merchants; they didn't have enough influence to get the county magistrate to help them.

But precisely because of that, he felt even more depressed.

He really, truly didn't want to go up against the protagonist when he still didn't have enough strength.

He had already tried very hard to give way!

But... why did they have to push him like this?

Meanwhile.

At the Eighth Prince's residence.

"Taken care of?"

The Eighth Prince drank the light tea Bai Ruoli had brought on her last visit as he looked at the guard kneeling on one knee beside him. His voice was calm, and he didn't even raise his head.

He was very fond of this tea.

"Yes. The woman has been delivered to the Li Family. The Li Family head said he would remember Your Highness's kindness this time."

"Mm..."

The Eighth Prince nodded and continued, "How did the Jun Residence react?"

"They sent someone to the county yamen to ask about it, and then there was no reaction!"

The guard answered respectfully.

"Oh..."

A cold, disdainful smile curled the Eighth Prince's lips.

"The Jun Residence, Jun Jingyi!"

"Bad luck for you. The Li Family's relationship with that person is closer than I imagined."

So he could only target Young Master Jun. He wouldn't go so far as to kill him, but he could still make him feel sick.

"Mm... that was a good show. Find a good spot in the mass grave for that woman's family. Bad luck for them."

The Eighth Prince spoke indifferently.