Watching nine invigilators and one soldier drag the limp and mud-like Gongsun Yan away, the Li family mother and son repeatedly kowtowed to Jing Yi. "Thank you, Lord Jing, thank you..."
"No, no, no, no..." Jing Yi drifted out from behind the judge's bench, helping both mother and son up with each hand. "I should thank you two. You explained everything so clearly yesterday and remained so honest in court today. Thank you for your cooperation..."
Li Cheng looked up at Jing Yi. "Lord Jing, you said if I behaved well in court today without making trouble, you'd give me work."
Yun Gu frowned with concern, pulling Li Cheng into her embrace. "Lord Jing... please have mercy, let me do the work instead. The child is still too young..."
Jing Yi smiled. "This job can only be done by a child... Li Cheng, I have a son at home who's three years old. Before hiring him a tutor, I'd like to find a young teacher to instruct him and play with him, so he won't always stay at his grandparents' place and get spoiled... Would you be willing to do this job?"
Li Cheng nodded eagerly. "Yes! Yes! I've memorized many books, I can definitely teach him well!"
Jing Yi ruffled the boy's head. "If you teach well, in a few years when I hire him a tutor, you can serve as his study companion and learn alongside him."
"Thank you, Lord Jing!"
Looking at Yun Gu who was shedding tears of emotion, Jing Yi curved his lips slightly. "You should move into my residence too, so he won't keep worrying about you and can focus on working for me... Don't worry, my wife has quite a temper, but she's always tough on men, not women, and responds better to softness than hardness. She definitely won't make things difficult for you two."
Upon hearing this, Yun Gu started to kneel. "Thank you, benefactor, thank you... Yun Gu will serve you like an ox or horse for life to repay your kindness..."
"No, no, no, no... Don't let my wife hear that, or I'll be the one serving like an ox or horse..."
After finally managing to coax the endlessly grateful mother and son to the back hall, Jing Yi realized that Xiao Jin Yu and Chu Chu were no longer in the courtroom. Only Wu Jiang remained, sitting behind the judge's bench with a stern face, writing furiously.
Jing Yi was startled. "What are you still writing?"
Wu Jiang squeezed out words through gritted teeth, shooting Jing Yi a look sharp enough to kill. "You haven't declared the court adjourned..."
"Adjourned, adjourned, right away..." Jing Yi dashed to the wall, grabbed a bailiff's rod, and shouted, "Court adjourned! All—rise—!" After the call, he threw down the rod and gave Wu Jiang an innocent smile. "Alright, alright... It's done, it's adjourned..."
Wu Jiang threw down his brush, grabbed the public trial record book, and walked out from behind the bench. With a dark expression, he slapped the record book into Jing Yi's arms. "Remember, the presiding official must review and correct errors in the trial records."
"Remember, remember... You've worked hard..." Jing Yi smiled broadly as he flipped through the record book, but nearly cried after just one glance. "Wu Jiang... Who told you that public trial records could be written in wild cursive script!"
"I only know that cases presided over by His Highness the Prince must have trial records written in regular script. For cases you preside over... there don't seem to be any rules."
"..."
"Also... I suggest you quickly transcribe a copy in regular script while you still remember what you said. Since you presided over this case and the files will go to the Supreme Court, you'll definitely be the one organizing them when His Highness reviews the case files at year-end."
"...!"
"Remember to polish it up yourself."
"..."☆、107 Wu Jiang's Secret
When Wu Jiang arrived at Xiao Jin Yu's room, Chu Chu had already gone to the kitchen to prepare medicine.
"Wang Ye," Wu Jiang bowed slightly as he stood before Xiao Jin Yu, "I have delivered the public trial records to Jing Yi."
Xiao Jin Yu nodded faintly while sipping warm water from his cup, casually asking, "When did it happen?"
Wu Jiang froze, "Just... after the court session ended."
Xiao Jin Yu glanced at the spot on his waist where the sachet used to hang, "I wasn't asking about the trial records."
Wu Jiang stiffened, his face instantly flushing red. He lowered his head and mumbled something indistinct like a beast's low growl, "The Lantern Festival..."
"Which year's Lantern Festival?"
"This... this year's."
Xiao Jin Yu nodded calmly, "Have her come visit the Royal Mansion."
Wu Jiang suddenly panicked, sharply lifting his head, "Wang Ye, but she's..."
Xiao Jin Yu waved his hand, "I know who she is... I even recognize her embroidery work."
Remembering that little maid who always kept her head bowed timidly, Xiao Jin Yu smiled faintly and gently stroked the white porcelain cup in his hand, "It's been some time since I last saw her."
Seeing Wu Jiang pressing his lips together without responding, Xiao Jin Yu curled the corner of his mouth slightly, "Shall I invite her personally?"
"No... I wouldn't dare..."
"Hmm... within these two days then. Once we get busy later, I won't be able to make time anymore."
"Yes."
Leaving the Imperial Examination Hall, Wu Jiang rode on horseback, experiencing for the first time what it felt like to be sitting on pins and needles. The warhorse ran as fast and steady as usual, yet Wu Jiang felt his heart beating chaotically, as if all the contents in his stomach were about to be jolted out by this beast.
When he reined in at the palace gate and dismounted, Wu Jiang's face was pale with a greenish tint, a deep furrow forming between his sword-like eyebrows. Without acknowledging the guards' salutes at the gate, he handed over his horse and walked straight in with his head down, heading directly to the entrance of the imperial study courtyard.
Besides serving as the chief guard of Prince An Manor, Wu Jiang also held an official position and had to take turns serving at the palace regularly. Though not a talkative person, few in the palace didn't know this young general - even those who hadn't seen his face had certainly heard of him.
There were already few generals in their twenties at court, and those holding the third rank were even rarer. He was the only one who could remain stationed in the capital year-round, especially being the descendant of loyal martyrs.
Seeing Wu Jiang approach with a stern face, the young eunuch standing guard at the courtyard entrance put on a smiling expression from afar. Wu Jiang still politely cupped his hands in salute, "Eunuch Qi, I have matters to report to His Majesty. May I trouble you to announce me?"
The young eunuch smiled warmly, "General Wu, is Prince An submitting some memorial?"
Wu Jiang took out a memorial booklet and presented it with both hands, "I humbly request Eunuch Qi to deliver this for me... and please announce me. I have urgent matters to report personally to His Majesty."
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