The man on the stage was named Lu Jingsheng. He had a kind face, but Ji Xiaoxiao knew from the original owner's memories that he had been friends with Prince Gong for many years and they were birds of a feather.

The enemy's friend is the enemy. Lu Jingsheng interrogated her, and Ji Xiaoxiao's chances of survival are slim.

If it were Ji Xiaoxiao a month ago, she might have temporarily avoided the limelight, feigning a docile and cute demeanor to gain sympathy. But in a world where even internal energy is nonexistent, Ji Xiaoxiao, a cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refining, can easily walk sideways like a crab.

So thanking Zhanyi is not just empty words.

"You don't even know who I am? What are you doing here?" Ji Xiaoxiao retorted to Lu Jingsheng without any regard for respect for elders or the young.

Putting aside official rank, reputation, and power, just considering Lu Jingsheng's current age, there are very few juniors who would dare to act so boldly towards him. Having been fawned over by everyone, he was humiliated in front of Ji Xiaoxiao; Lu Jingsheng's anger was understandable.

"You don't even have any manners? Don't you know that you should kneel and kowtow before the master?" Lu Jingsheng wanted to see Ji Xiaoxiao crawling on her knees begging for mercy, otherwise he would not be able to quell his hatred.

Ji Xiaoxiao turned her head away in disgust and carefully examined the others present.

Directly opposite her was a high platform, upon which sat Lu Jingsheng. Not far below Lu Jingsheng, on either side, were two tables. On the left sat Liao Kongmin, the Minister of Justice, and on the right sat Yun Riyue, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. On the side below the hall, Ji Xiaoxiao saw Zhan Yi and Xu Yong, the original owner's father, the General Who Protects the Nation.

Xu Yong is nearly fifty, yet his temples are already gray, a testament to the hardships he has endured throughout his life. He has an ordinary appearance, neither handsome nor ugly, just one of the common people. Sitting in his chair, Xu Yong sits upright, a testament to his constant self-discipline.

Ji Xiaoxiao withdrew her gaze and said, "Let's start the trial quickly. I've been waiting for a month, and I'm already fed up. I never want to go back to the Ministry of Justice prison again."

Not only did they ignore his words, but they also spoke arrogantly, which made Lu Jing so angry that his beard flew wildly.

"How dare you! This is contempt of court and contempt of your superiors!" Lu Jingsheng slammed his gavel. "Guards, give Xu Shi fifty strokes of the cane."

"Lord Lu, you've gone too far," Liao Kongmin kindly reminded him.

Lu Jingsheng drew a red-headed divination stick from the divination box and threw it on the ground, saying, "Draw."

"A dog bites Lü Dongbin, not recognizing a kind heart." After Liao Kongmin finished speaking, he looked at Xu Yong, who, who was as immovable as a mountain, slightly pulled back his hand holding the handrail.

The constables, having received their orders, stepped forward with boards in hand. Ji Xiaoxiao neither dodged nor evaded, but they simply couldn't get close, as if she were blocked by a thin, intangible membrane.

"Sorcery, sorcery, you are a monster!" Lu Jingsheng was startled and babbled incoherently.

Ji Xiaoxiao smiled slightly and slowly walked towards Lu Jingsheng.

"Don't come any closer." As he grew older, Lu Jingsheng became increasingly superstitious.

"I don't have much time, so let me tell you directly what happened that day!"

With a wave of her hand, Ji Xiaoxiao conjured up dark clouds and a fierce wind arose.

Upon seeing this scene, the crowds who had come to watch the spectacle scattered like birds and beasts.

"Let me kindly remind you, once you leave, don't regret it."

What appears to be a well-intentioned reminder on the surface sounds like a veiled threat.

The outstretched legs were pulled back, and the once enthusiastic people returned dejectedly.

"Very well-behaved and obedient," Ji Xiaoxiao said happily. "It is a fact that I injured Zhan Feiyang and a servant of Prince Gong's Mansion that day, and I do not deny it."

"and you……."

Before Liao Kongmin could finish speaking, Ji Xiaoxiao glared at him and obediently shut her mouth.

“But this is all Zhan Feiyang’s fault.” Ji Xiaoxiao turned to look at Zhan Yi.

That glance contained boundless hatred, and Zhan Yi's heart clenched. "What does this have to do with Fei Yang? Don't forget, because of you, Fei Yang is still lying in bed."

Ji Xiaoxiao sneered, "Then he deserves it."

“You…” Enraged by Ji Xiaoxiao’s repeated provocations, Zhan Yi temporarily forgot about Ji Xiaoxiao’s strangeness, stood up angrily, and glared at Ji Xiaoxiao.

"Don't point your finger at me, or I'll break it."

Zhan Yi thought Ji Xiaoxiao was just being verbally aggressive, but then the finger pointing at Ji Xiaoxiao was surrounded by a cool breeze, and a chill instantly spread throughout his body.

"Zhanyi, you are the master of Prince Gong's Mansion. You must know what heinous things your son has done on your turf, right?" Ji Xiaoxiao asked him.

With a snap, Zhan Yi's heart shattered.

Oh no, could it be...?

Suddenly, tears welled up in Ji Xiaoxiao's eyes.

"What's going on?" everyone wondered to themselves.

The overwhelming sadness touched those present, and the resentment left behind by the threat gradually dissipated.

Ji Xiaoxiao cried for a while, then said, "My father drowned his son who was less than a year old. Shouldn't I take revenge?"

A commotion arose in the crowd.

The father drowned his son; Zhan Feiyang drowned his son!

Zhan Yi paused, his mouth trembling, "You're talking nonsense. Xian'er died because of you. This has nothing to do with Fei Yang."

“You say it’s none of his business, but that’s just talk and not credible.” Ji Xiaoxiao looked up at the sky and said, “Today I need to find a witness.”

---Aside---

Thank you Shenyu_Qingchen for the pink vote!

Thank you Shenyu_Qingchen for the pink vote!

Thank you Shenyu_Qingchen for the pink vote!