Xiao Jinyu made no attempt to conceal it. "Yes."
Xue Rucheng shifted his gaze to a landscape painting beside the screen and asked in the same stern yet patient tone he had used years ago when teaching Xiao Jinyu how to review case files, "Does Your Highness have any questions?"
"I do..." Xiao Jinyu genuinely adopted the demeanor of a student seeking guidance from his teacher, inquiring respectfully, "When you served in the Ministry of Justice and participated in the trial of this case, do you recall how Yun Yi reacted upon learning that embezzlement ledgers had been discovered in his residence?"
Xue Rucheng replied slowly, "The typical reaction... first panic, then excuses, and finally pleading guilty."
"Both were criminals. Why did Ning Jun Wang only admit his guilt after seeing the ironclad evidence of collusion with the Turkic forces?"
"Also a typical reaction... All living beings possess a will to survive. Yun Yi was a scholar, placing his hopes in leniency through submission to the law. Xiao Heng was a military commander, trusting only himself at the brink of life and death—resisting to the end was instinctual... In essence, their reactions were the same, no different from squealing rats trapped under a cat's paw."
"Dare I ask, sir..." Xiao Jinyu's voice lowered slightly, "At that time, both Yun Yi and Xiao Heng had their entire families executed, yet survivors from both households escaped... If descendants from these families were discovered today, how should they be dealt with?"
Xue Rucheng remained silent for a while, staring at the painting before him. Chu Chu's heart leaped into her throat. Though unfamiliar with the elusive Sixth Prince, she understood one thing: since the Sixth Prince knowingly married his wife despite her status as a fugitive and sought Xiao Jinyu's help to overturn her family's unjust conviction, he must love her deeply. If Xiao Jinyu arrested his wife, the Sixth Prince would surely despise him. Though Chu Chu didn't know the Sixth Prince's temperament, gaining another wealthy and powerful enemy would certainly be detrimental to Xiao Jinyu.
When Xue Rucheng spoke again, he had turned around, gazing calmly at Xiao Jinyu. "This case was personally adjudicated by the Daozong Emperor. What does Your Highness believe should be done?"
Xiao Jinyu lowered his eyelashes, faint wrinkles forming between his brows as he said solemnly, "According to the law... they should face death by a thousand cuts."
A chilly draft seeped through the slightly open window, carrying a damp cold that struck Xiao Jinyu's frail body, intensifying the gnawing pain in his joints. His body trembled involuntarily, and he coughed several times, his face growing paler.
Xue Rucheng moved to close the window tightly, adding some charcoal to the brazier before turning to examine a calligraphy piece on another wall. Chu Chu, suddenly reminded of something by the numerous paintings and writings in the room, quickly grasped Xiao Jinyu's ice-cold hand and reminded him, "Your Highness, didn't you say they might have been wronged?"
Xue Rucheng turned back with a furrowed brow. "Might have been wronged?"
Xiao Jinyu straightened his back with effort. "I venture to speculate... that the embezzlement ledgers found in Yun Yi's residence did not record funds he had stolen, and the letters of collusion with the Turkic forces were not written by Xiao Heng himself."
Xue Rucheng's voice held neither doubt nor surprise, as if posing a routine academic question. "What leads Your Highness to suspect this?""The ledger seized from Yun Yi's residence has been verified as recorded by the chief accountant of his household. Like all other accounts he maintained for Yun Yi, the handwriting is clear and the entries are well-organized, with one exception... While all other accounts have been verified to the last penny, this particular ledger shows 324,560 taels of silver unaccounted for. Even Yun Yi himself couldn't explain this discrepancy during his voluntary confession. According to investigations, Yun Yi has always been meticulous about financial matters, making such a gap unusual even for illicit funds. Moreover... given Yun Yi's high official rank, he could have bought time to maneuver rather than rushing to confess."
Xue Rucheng nodded gently while twisting the end of his beard.
"As for Ning Jun Wang Xiao Heng... After being imprisoned, he endured six months of interrogation and multiple court appearances where he refused to confess despite facing several witnesses. Yet the moment he saw the letter from the Turkic people, he immediately admitted guilt. While this may seem logical at first glance, upon closer consideration it remains inconsistent."
"Since Wang Ye holds such suspicions..." Xue Rucheng clasped his hands behind his back and moved to another painting, leaning so close it seemed as if Xiao Jin Yu's words were less interesting than the large white cat in the artwork, "do you have any theories?"
Xiao Jin Yu shook his head gently, "Not yet..."
"What about Imperial Concubine?"
Chu Chu's heart was still aching for the Sixth Princess whose name she didn't even know when suddenly being addressed by Xue Rucheng startled her, "I... I'm here!"
Xue Rucheng turned his slightly darkened forehead toward Chu Chu, "This old man meant to ask... What does Imperial Concubine think might be the reason these two high officials—one rushing to confess as if eager for rebirth, the other initially refusing to admit anything before suddenly confessing?"
Chu Chu was taken aback and quickly shook her head, "I'm just a coroner! These matters aren't my responsibility, I shouldn't speculate recklessly!"
"It's alright..." Xue Rucheng returned his gaze to the painting, speaking unhurriedly, "Just guess casually, it doesn't matter if you're wrong... This old man already knows the correct answer."
Chu Chu nearly rolled her eyes at this strange old man wrapped up like a red sausage, "If you already know, then why ask me to guess!"
"Because this old man believes Imperial Concubine can guess correctly." Xue Rucheng turned with his hands clasped behind his back, looking kindly at the pouting Chu Chu, "Today is this old man's auspicious day, would Imperial Concubine humor me?"
Chu Chu pursed her lips and looked toward Xiao Jin Yu. Seeing Xiao Jin Yu nod as well, she reluctantly said, "Then I'll just guess randomly?"
"Please do, Imperial Concubine."
☆、119 Manhan Banquet (Eleven)
Chu Chu turned over everything Xue Rucheng and Xiao Jin Yu had said in her mind several times without reaching any conclusion, eventually lowering her head to mutter, "What in this world could be more important than one's own life..." As she lowered her head, she met Xiao Jin Yu's gentle, calm gaze and added, "...except the life of the person you love most."
While Chu Chu was still staring dazedly at Xiao Jin Yu's handsome profile, Xiao Jin Yu's expression suddenly cleared with understanding. Xue Rucheng nodded while stroking his beard, praising Chu Chu generously, "Imperial Concubine is most wise."
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