Xiao Jinyu timely cleared his throat a few times. "The princess consort's words were somewhat unclear. Steward Wang, please do not take offense."
They had already mentioned cutting off descendants—how much clearer could it get...
Steward Wang forced himself to respond, "Your Highness exaggerates, exaggerates..."
"What the princess consort meant was... according to our dynasty's ceremonial regulations, logging is strictly forbidden within the accommodations of imperial relatives. Otherwise, it damages the royal aura, a crime equivalent to intentional rebellion, punishable by the execution of nine generations."
Xiao Jinyu spoke calmly and lightly. Steward Wang was stunned for a moment before thudding to his knees. "This commoner was ignorant! Please forgive me, Your Highness!"
Upon hearing the punishment of executing nine generations, Chu Chu also panicked, hurriedly tugging at Xiao Jinyu's sleeve.
Xiao Jinyu ignored her, showing no intention of forgiveness. His voice grew even colder. "Wasn't it Lord Ji's idea? You're ignorant, but is he ignorant too?"
"Your Highness, please calm your anger! The lady died tragically. Lord Ji is filled with hatred and regret, and he has fallen ill these past few days. His mind is somewhat unsettled, so it's inevitable there were oversights. I beg Your Highness to be understanding..."
Xiao Jinyu raised an eyebrow slightly. "Is that so?"
"This old servant wouldn't dare deceive Your Highness!"
Xiao Jinyu nodded slightly, his expression softening. "Then it was my oversight... I've been preoccupied with trivial matters recently and haven't visited Lord Ji."
"This old servant thanks Your Highness for your concern on behalf of my master!"
Xiao Jinyu coughed lightly. "Since Lord Ji cared so deeply for his wife, I will hold a public trial at noon today. Please invite Lord Ji to attend..."
Steward Wang was taken aback. "Today at noon?"
"Yes... noon, at the Prefect Magistrate's Office."
"Understood... This old servant will go inform my master immediately."
"Thank you for your trouble."
As soon as Steward Wang left, Xiao Jinyu gently closed his eyes.
After sitting for just a short while, he felt as if all the bones in his body had been disassembled. It was more exhausting than being cooped up in the Three Thoughts Pavilion reviewing case files for three consecutive days.
He had originally intended to rest in Shengzhou, but he almost ended up resting here permanently...
After staying in the capital for three years straight, he had become so inadequate...
"Your Highness..."
Xiao Jinyu couldn't even be bothered to lift his eyelids. "Hmm?"
Chu Chu's voice was timid. "If someone cuts down trees where you live... will they really execute nine generations?"
"What do you think..."
Chu Chu pursed her lips. "Then... then does picking flowers count?"
"What do you think..."
"Then... then," Chu Chu's small face flushed red with frustration, "Then I won't marry you!"
Xiao Jinyu opened his eyes, his expression darkening. "The Imperial Decree was something you asked the Emperor for. Not marrying would be deceiving the sovereign and defying the decree..."
Chu Chu lowered her head, biting her lip. "Anyway... anyway, I don't want you to die!"
Xiao Jinyu was startled, finally understanding the twist her thoughts had taken. He smiled faintly and bitterly. "The maid allowed you to pick the flowers. If there's punishment, it wouldn't be for you..."
Chu Chu grew anxious. "I wanted to pick them, so she let me. Doesn't that mean I'm the one who got her into trouble!Xiao Jinyu looked at her quietly, his voice slightly low. "Chu Chu... tell me the truth. Why didn't you want the trees cut down?"
Chu Chu twisted her fingers and fell silent.
"If you tell me, perhaps she can avoid punishment."
"Really?"
"All criminal justice matters in the country fall under my jurisdiction."
Chu Chu hung her small head and whispered, "You said those flowers were beautiful. I've never heard you say anything else was beautiful... If they cut down the trees, you'd definitely be upset, and you're still sick..."
He had only said it casually. Going to the garden hadn't been for the sake of looking at those plum trees in the first place...Xiao Jinyu let out a silent sigh. Recalling her desperate rush toward the plum tree earlier, he felt not only lingering fear but also a twinge of guilt. "There are many things I find beautiful, but I don't necessarily voice them all... Don't risk your life for such matters again."
Chu Chu nodded repeatedly, her bright eyes fixed on Xiao Jinyu. "Then do you have a way to prevent that maid from being punished?"
"Hmm..."
"What method is it?"
Xiao Jinyu closed his eyes again. "There's no method..."
Chu Chu grew anxious. "But you just promised!"
Before Xiao Jinyu could respond, a laughing voice drifted down from the ceiling along with a flash of white. "If such a crime truly existed in the imperial court, the royal palaces and mansions would have long turned into forests... Wang Ye, your talent for spinning tales is becoming quite convincing."
"Wang Ye, how could you lie to people again!"
Xiao Jinyu remained composed with his eyes closed. "Your timing is perfect... Go tell Tan Zhang to assemble all relevant personnel for the public trial at the Prefect Magistrate's Office at noon. Take Chu Chu to the morgue to prepare... And inform Tan Zhang's scribe that you'll be handling the court records this time... Your skills in recording trial proceedings should be becoming quite convincing too, shouldn't they?"
Jing Yi nearly wept. Taking records for cases personally tried by Xiao Jinyu was no joking matter. Last time, he'd made just two errors in over twenty pages of records, yet Xiao Jinyu had caught them both. After corrections, he'd had to recopy the entire document five times before the matter was settled. To this day, he could still recite that year-old trial record from memory. "Wang Ye..."
Just as Jing Yi arranged a pitiful expression on his face, Chu Chu gazed at him with sparkling eyes and excited admiration. "Brother Jing! Wang Ye specifically appointed you as scribe - you're truly remarkable!"
The corner of Jing Yi's mouth twitched. Why did he suddenly have this inexplicable illusion that he might actually be competent...
"Heh... I'm not remarkable. You two are the impressive ones..."
When Chu Chu arrived at the side hall precisely at noon, Xiao Jinyu was already seated behind the main hall's judgment desk.
Peering through the screen crack, Chu Chu saw Xiao Jinyu sitting upright in his official robes behind the desk, his posture straight and his expression coolly authoritative. Two guards had also changed into official uniforms, standing on either side of Xiao Jinyu with swords at their hips, looking far more imposing than when Magistrate Zheng presided over court!
Watching him, Chu Chu noticed the sickly pallor on Wang Ye's face seemed lighter than before, and he appeared much more spirited. From the bottom of her heart, Chu Chu felt delighted.
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