The Jiang Family worked quickly, cleaning out that space completely in just half a night. They then spent another two days and two nights repeatedly inspecting it, confirming that no incriminating evidence would be left behind. Only then did they nonchalantly inform City Lord Zeng that the court could be convened to hear the case again.
Things went just as the Jiang Clan Leader had expected. Without evidence, the two of them were no threat. City Lord Zeng could also openly cover for the Jiang Family, stating that the evidence was insufficient and that Jiang Yixing could not be found guilty.
He even wanted to hold Jiang Li and Yuan Wuxing responsible for intentionally harming Jiang Yixing. The only thing not within the Jiang Clan Leader's expectations was their Old Ancestor, Jiang Yixing. He remained unconscious to this day, and even after consulting a physician, the cause could not be determined.
"This official rules Jiang Yixing not guilty. If you two do not accept this official's ruling, you have fifteen days from today to file an appeal with the Prefect."
Jiang Li stepped forward and handed City Lord Zeng a piece of paper, as if he had been waiting for this very moment.
"This is the petition of appeal."
Seeing Jiang Li's calm expression, City Lord Zeng felt very displeased, and he became even more displeased upon seeing him pull out a petition of appeal right there in the courtroom. It was obvious that he had anticipated this outcome long before the court had convened and had written the petition in advance. But so what?
The Prefect who would be handling this case had also been promoted from the position of Green City Lord, and he too had helped the Jiang Family cover up the matter of the stolen infants. Besides, even if the Prefect were a just man, with no evidence whatsoever, what could these two overconfident fools hope to win with?
Their thick skulls? ... The Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty was divided into twenty-six prefectures, and each prefecture governed dozens of large cities. The current Green City was considered a large city, under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Celebration Prefecture.
The petition of appeal would, of course, be handed to the Prefect of Heavenly Celebration Prefecture, Gong Peng. After Prefect Gong received the petition of appeal, he summoned the Jiang Clan Leader and City Lord Zeng. After questioning them in detail about the course of events, his mind was at ease. ...
"Zhang Li, Yuan Wuxing, before this court convenes, I must inform you that this official's ruling will be the final verdict. Unless new evidence emerges that could overturn the original ruling, you two may not appeal any further. Do you understand clearly?"
Prefect Gong sat in the center of the grand hall. On one side were Zhang Li and Yuan Wuxing, and on the other was the Jiang Clan Leader. After all, Jiang Yixing was still in a coma, so it would be useless to have him present.
Although the Jiang Clan Leader wore the same expressionless face as always, in Yuan Wuxing's eyes, he was surely laughing inwardly. Outside the hall stood a sparse crowd of a few dozen people, far fewer than before. Everyone knew that with insufficient evidence, Jiang Li and Yuan Wuxing could not win the case.
City Lord Zeng stood among them, ready to watch the show.
"Clearly," Jiang Li replied in a clear voice.
Yuan Wuxing also followed up with a "clearly."
"However, before the court convenes, I wish to add another person as a defendant."
"You may, but this official's ruling will still be the final verdict. You cannot use the last-minute addition of a person as grounds for an appeal."
Jiang Li nodded to show he understood, his chin slightly raised, standing with his hands behind his back.
"I wish to accuse Green City's City Lord Zeng! During his tenure, he abused his authority for personal gain, covered up the truth of Jiang Yixing stealing infants, and destroyed crucial evidence. I ask Prefect Gong to pass judgment!"
The Jiang Clan Leader's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately felt something was wrong. To accuse a City Lord, the handling official needed to be of the third rank or higher. Prefect Gong was a third-rank official, so this move was indeed legal.
But he couldn't figure out what Jiang Li was trying to do. Could adding a City Lord to the accusation secure a victory? He felt as if he had forgotten something.
The Jiang Clan Leader was not familiar with the law and did not understand Jiang Li's purpose, but City Lord Zeng and Prefect Gong understood Jiang Li's purpose in an instant. The backs of these two Nascent Soul Cultivators, who feared neither heat nor cold, were instantly covered in a dense layer of cold sweat.
"I suspect that the destruction of the most crucial piece of evidence in this case, that space where the infants were blood-sacrificed, was the work of City Lord Zeng. I request that Prefect Gong submit a petition to the Imperial Court to trace back time and restore the scene!"
Jiang Li's words shattered their last sliver of hope. This matter was going to be escalated to the Imperial Court! They did not have an all-powerful backer in the Imperial Court!
Among the Nine Great Imperial Dynasties, only the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty dared to establish its nation upon law, and only the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty had the ability to rule by law.
The fundamental reason for this was that the Great Zhou Imperial Family was proficient in the Way of Time, able to travel up the long river of time! However, the Way of Time carried heavy karmic consequences and could not be used lightly.
Therefore, Great Zhou stipulated several special circumstances where the Way of Time could be used, such as when a case had a massive impact on a national scale, or when a case involved the integrity of an official of the seventh-rank or higher... And City Lord Zeng was a fifth-rank official.
"You're spouting baseless accusations!"
City Lord Zeng lost his composure and began to curse loudly. City Lord Zeng genuinely wanted to cry foul. It was the Jiang Family that destroyed that space.
At most, he was a witness. How did it become his doing in this brat's mouth? Jiang Li paid him no mind.
Whether City Lord Zeng had gone to destroy the space was not important. What was important was his position in this case as a defendant.
"Zhang Li, do you really wish to request the Imperial Court to trace back time?"
Prefect Gong stared at Jiang Li, his eyes cold. He felt that he had been played by Jiang Li. More importantly, tracing back time would not only reveal that the Jiang Family members had destroyed the spatial node, but it would also show Jiang Yixing cultivating the Demonic Path in that space!
Once the matter of Jiang Yixing cultivating the Demonic Path was exposed, everyone who had ever served as the City Lord of Green City would be investigated by the Imperial Court. At that time, not a single one of them would be able to escape!
Yuan Wuxing also realized why Jiang Li had allowed the Jiang Family to destroy the spatial node. So this was what he was waiting for.
"I am certain."
"Do. You. Truly. Wish. To. Apply!?"
Prefect Gong repeated the question, enunciating each word. The aura of a Peak Nascent Soul cultivator burst forth, like the roar of a ferocious tiger. The bailiffs' legs trembled, and they were the first to be unable to withstand it, collapsing to their knees.
Following them were the Jiang Clan Leader and Yuan Wuxing.
"I am certain."
Jiang Li maintained his faint, detached expression, as if he hadn't even seen Prefect Gong's killing intent. He even pulled out a pre-written application from his sleeve and placed it before Prefect Gong.
Seeing the application form, the ink on which had not yet dried, Prefect Gong almost lost control and wanted to kill Jiang Li right there in the hall! But in the end, he did not dare to strike. If he were to strike now, then everything would truly be over.
"Zhang Li, is it? Very good, you are very good indeed!"
Prefect Gong slammed his palm down, breaking the desk in two, and left in a fury. The Jiang Clan Leader and City Lord Zeng no longer bothered to hide their association, following behind him with grim faces. As Prefect Gong departed, the suffocating killing intent gradually faded.
Only then did Yuan Wuxing recover some of his strength and shakily get to his feet.
"Prefect Gong didn't even make a move, he just used his killing intent and it scared you like this. You're a Peak Golden Core, for crying out loud. Have you no shame?"
Jiang Li cursed with a laugh, like one scolding a disappointing junior. Yuan Wuxing gave a bitter smile.
"Senior Zhang, Prefect Gong is a Peak Nascent Soul cultivator. Faced with that level of killing intent, a Golden Core Stage cultivator simply can't withstand it."
Jiang Li curled his lip.
"Excuses. When I was at Peak Golden Core, I killed a Peak Nascent Soul cultivator."
Yuan Wuxing was stunned. After a long moment, he managed to squeeze out a sentence: "Senior has excellent skills." Yuan Wuxing truly admired Jiang Li.
Look at him, as a Dao Sect Walker, his status was even half a step higher than a Great Zhou Prince. First and second-rank officials would have to greet him with a smile. Yet he deliberately chose not to use that status, instead following the Great Zhou Law step by step to push the Jiang Family to its doom!
Amazing!
(End of this chapter)