Conan's physique? The Crown Princess is involved in a murder case again

After Jing Zhichen said this, Xu Xingyin became excited, put down his pen and rushed over.

"How about it?"

Seeing Xu Xingyin's anxious expression, Jing Zhichen couldn't hide it from her and could only tell her the truth.

Zhang Zishi, the governor of Jiangnan, took advantage of his position and teamed up with the unscrupulous businessman Liu Yongfeng to kidnap and sell rural girls in the name of "raising thin girls" in order to make money.

The trafficking was discovered by the then Zhennan General Chen Zisong. Zhang Zishi failed to win over the man, so he bribed the imperial envoy Tian Zitao with a large sum of money and forged an imperial decree to force Chen Zisong to death.

The two cases were handled together after a joint trial by the three courts. The facts were proven to be true and the evidence was sufficient. Zhang Zishi and others also confessed to the crime. A major case involving a wide range of people was finally settled.

Emperor Yanning was furious about this and drafted an imperial edict to be announced in court the next day.

First, Zhang Zishi was dismissed from his post as the governor of Jiangnan and sentenced to beheading at Wumen Gate for multiple crimes. The rest of the Zhang family was also executed.

His wife Zhang Tong reported the case and was pardoned for the death penalty, which was commuted to life imprisonment.

All other officials and merchants involved in the case in Jiangnan were imprisoned and convicted and punished according to the severity of their crimes. In serious cases, the entire family would be beheaded, while in minor cases, they would be exiled to the border.

Tian Zitao, the former Shaoqing of the Dali Temple, was stripped of all his official positions and honors after his death. The court's rewards and pensions were recalled, and the clan house was ordered to handle the eldest princess' divorce. Even the tomb of Tian Zitao's son-in-law had to be moved.

However, even if Zhang Zishi admitted to forging the imperial edict, the fact that the Zhennan General's Mansion was collaborating with the enemy still remained suspicious, so the entire General's Mansion could not be considered "innocent."

However, Emperor Yanning still wanted to give the General's Mansion some convenience, so he ordered the Chen family to come to Beijing and live in a civilian house while awaiting trial.

Living in a house outside is no different from a prison even if there are soldiers stationed there, but it is still more decent than being imprisoned.

Seeing that Xu Xingyin didn't say anything, Jing Zhichen couldn't help but whisper a few words of comfort, and there was an unusual gentleness in his words.

"Your Majesty is willing to give up power to this extent. I think he still trusts the Zhennan General's Mansion. However, the ruler of a country should act in accordance with the law and avoid favoritism. If Your Majesty is willing, then as long as we continue to investigate, we will definitely be able to vindicate the entire Zhennan General's Mansion."

Xu Xingyin smiled, "Don't worry, Your Highness. I understand. The case of the Zhennan General's Mansion involves a wide range of people, and it is impossible to redress the injustice with just this one incident."

General Zhennan's "committed suicide out of fear of punishment" nailed the entire General's Mansion to the pillar of shame. Clearing the suspicion of committing suicide out of fear of punishment was only the first step for Xu Xingyin to overturn the case for the General's Mansion.

"Ah."

Jing Zhichen nodded when he heard this, and his eyes seemed to be somewhat relieved, "I understand."

Looking at Jing Zhichen's gloomy look, Xu Xingyin smiled playfully.

"I know a lot. I also know that His Highness wants me to go to the palace tomorrow for more than just a simple greeting."

"Oh?"

It was rare to see Xu Xingyin acting like such a little girl, so Jing Zhichen couldn't help but want to tease her a little more.

As soon as he finished speaking, he leaned forward subconsciously, put his hands on the desk, and held the little girl between his arms.

The sudden approach made Xu Xingyin panic. She wanted to move back but the desk held her back firmly, making it impossible for her to move forward or backward.

When she met Jing Zhichen's meaningful eyes, her face turned red instantly.

"Your Majesty... Your Highness..."

The usually eloquent little girl turned her head away awkwardly and stammered, unable to speak clearly.

Looking at the candlelight flowing in Xu Xingyin's eyes, he touched the softness in Jing Zhichen's chest without any preparation. His lips couldn't help but curl up slightly, and his body moved closer again.

"Bright."

He called her by her nickname, which sounded as pleasant as the sound of pearls falling on a jade plate, and each one of them fell into her heart.

"Your Highness, Crown Princess, please enjoy your meal..."

Xiao Anzi suddenly pushed the door open and broke the half-joyful atmosphere in the room. He was stunned for a moment, then quickly closed the door, "You guys continue, continue!"

The two people who were in a good mood in the study suddenly separated. They no longer had any time to think about what was going on before. They could only stand a few steps apart awkwardly, looking at each other in silence.

Xu Xingyin adjusted his hair and finally calmed down, pretending to be calm and changing the subject.

"The emperor has ordered the Grand Princess to divorce. Whether she is willing or not, she must go to the palace tomorrow to thank Empress Lu for the order. His Highness wants me to go because he wants to prevent Empress Lu from sowing discord between the Eastern Palace and the Grand Princess's residence."

"This young man is teachable." Jing Zhichen could only nod his head, "Let's go and have dinner."

……

The next day, in order to pay his respects to the palace, Xu Xingyin got up early and took Jing Zhichen's carriage to the palace.

Maybe it was because he got up too early, or maybe it was because he didn't want to face Xiao Lu, Xu Xingyin stayed in the car and didn't look very good.

Just as Jing Zhichen was about to ask a few questions, he heard a loud quarrel outside. He lifted the curtain and saw a group of people blocking the road that all officials had to take to go to court, waving flags and shouting with red faces.

The prince's ceremonial procession was grand, but Jing Zhichen usually kept a low profile and generally did not travel with the prince's ceremonial procession unless it was necessary. Therefore, others did not know that it was Jing Zhichen and his entourage in the carriage, and he did not hide it from them.

Jing Zhichen couldn't show up, so he asked Aoying to go and investigate.

Aoying was quite efficient and replied soon.

"A scholar wrote a petition, saying that the case involving Tian Zitao is of great importance, and that the Grand Princess, as a member of the royal family, should set an example to calm the public anger."

Xu Xingyin frowned, "The emperor has not announced the case yet, how could I get the news so quickly? There must be something hidden."

Jing Zhichen was always calm and thought a few steps further than Xu Xingyin. "Are they complaining for anyone?"

Aoying nodded, "Zhennan General's Mansion, and shouting that Zhennan General's Mansion is wronged."

"Shouting something like this at this time is obviously making enemies for the General's Mansion!"

Xu Xingyin was furious. "This is a place that all officials must pass through before going to court. They are sending news to the palace in disguise!"

"If an enemy comes, we must stop him with a general, if a flood comes, we must block it with earth. There is no point in being anxious." Jing Zhichen first said a few words to comfort Xu Xingyin, and then ordered: "Have someone keep an eye on this group of people, and arrest all the leaders of the trouble and bring them back for trial."

"Yes, Your Highness."

While they were talking, the carriage had already entered the palace gate.

Jing Zhichen was going to the front court to attend court, while Xu Xingyin was going to the harem to pay his respects to Queen Lu. After they exchanged words, they left.

When Xu Xingyin arrived at Fengming Palace, there were people kneeling on the ground outside the palace. The door to the main hall of Fengming Palace was closed. The eldest princess was kneeling upright in a plain palace dress at the front.

"May the Crown Princess be blessed with good health."

After the greetings, Xu Xingyin learned the whole story from the Grand Princess's maid.

Today, the Grand Princess and Tian Tian went to the palace to thank the emperor. When they arrived at the palace gate, they ran into the group of people who were gathering to cause trouble. Tian Tian didn't say anything at the time, but she disappeared as soon as she entered the palace.

Tian Tian was such an impatient person that the Grand Princess was afraid that she would cause trouble in the palace. However, she had no right to act on her own in the palace, so she could only ask for help from Empress Lu.

However, Empress Xiao Lu's maid claimed that she had been feeling unwell for several days and had closed the door to visitors.

The eldest princess was also very angry, so she simply knelt down in Fengming Palace to force Queen Lu to show up.