Song Ruoan's hoarse words resounded through the sky, drawing an ever-growing crowd of onlookers outside the gates of the Jingzhao Prefecture.
Not only were they discussing it animatedly, but even the way they looked at Song Xizhi and Pei Yunyi had changed.
Song Xizhi stood there, silently watching Song Ruoan's tear-streaked face.
Based on Song Ruoan's usual fondness for tea-related talk, she was certain that this was indeed Song Ruoan herself.
Since Song Ruoan appeared here unharmed, and even attracted Prince Xiu, Prince Su, Consort Li and everyone else to come to court.
There must be someone behind her, and someone must have noticed something amiss and told her everything she said.
But who exactly is that person?
Song Xizhi pondered, then looked at the determined Song Ruoan: Did even Song Ruoan herself not know that she was being used?
The noise outside grew louder and louder, and Song Ruoan's crying became even more heart-wrenching.
Seeing this, the Prefect of the Capital slammed his gavel several times, silencing the entire courtroom, before continuing his questioning of the Marquis of Anding:
"An autopsy? May I ask, Your Excellency, who was it that performed the autopsy and confirmed Song Ruo'an's death that day?"
Marquis An Ding raised his head blankly and glanced in the direction of Song Xizhi.
Song Xizhi simply stepped forward and said, "It's me."
"I am the vice president of the Imperial Medical Academy and am quite knowledgeable about human skeletons. It just so happens that my master, the divine physician Rihua, is also at the residence. Song Ruoan is already a criminal, and it would be inappropriate for him to go to the residence to ask for a coroner in the middle of the night. Therefore, my master and I will personally examine the body."
"The fire in the Buddhist hall was inexplicable, burning everything down and leaving only a charred female corpse. Based on the age and gender of the corpse, it was barely determined that it matched Song Ruoan's situation."
Song Xizhi's procedure was not problematic, after all, she was a high-ranking imperial physician who was qualified to examine corpses.
However, if a murder case is involved, Song Xizhi's autopsy results are not very convincing.
The Prefect of the Capital was thinking this, but Song Xizhi spoke up again: "The charred corpse is still in the Marquis's residence."
"Actually, there is something I don't understand: if what Song Ruo'an said is true, that I deliberately set the fire to destroy the evidence and burn her to death, then what about this mysterious female corpse in the Buddhist hall?"
"It couldn't have been me who put it there, could it? Song Ruo'an, she has no relatives or friends, and she's even risked her life to ask Consort Li for justice. How could she possibly have the means to put a woman's corpse in the Buddhist hall?"
As Song Xizhi spoke, Pei Yunyi had already cast his sharp gaze over Prince Xiu, Prince Su, Consort Li, and the others, trying to discern something from their expressions.
As soon as Song Xizhi finished speaking, Song Ruoan started screaming wildly:
"Who knows who you killed this time! Who knows what your intentions are? One person impersonating another, with the exact same face and voice, lurking in the Marquis of Anding's mansion in the capital—that's scary enough. Who knows what other ruthless things you might do?!"
The Prefect of the Capital slammed his gavel again, frowned, and asked Song Ruoan, "Since you say that General He and Judge Song have usurped the position and impersonated others, what evidence do you have?"
Song Ruoan smiled coldly: "Of course I have evidence!"
“Song Xizhi is my older sister. She was quiet and unremarkable from a young age, and had a terrible reputation in the capital. But ever since she married into the Marquis’s mansion, her personality has changed drastically. She has become skilled in medicine, incense, and everything else. How is that possible?”
"In order to cover up the truth, she killed my mother and tried to kill me, causing the entire Song family to be destroyed. I have servants from the Song family who have served in the Song family for more than ten years, and they can serve as witnesses."
As Song Ruo'an was speaking, two more servants came up to the courtroom. They hurriedly kowtowed, saying that Song Xizhi's temperament had changed drastically. His calm and composed demeanor was completely different from when he was a child.
Everyone stared silently at Song Xizhi's face.
Song Ruoan continued, "As for He Jingyan, he actually woke up quite early. When he woke up, there was an assassination attempt at the Marquis's residence, and treacherous people had infiltrated the area."
"After waking up, he kept it a secret and did not announce his awakening to the public."
"Actually, my mother-in-law, Huang, once told me privately that she felt He Jingyan was different from when he was young. However, Huang was his stepmother, not his biological mother, so I didn't take her words to heart at first."
"However... ever since He Jingyan woke up, his whereabouts have been uncertain, and then he went to the Fengshan Ceremony. There are villains plotting to assassinate His Majesty at the Fengshan Ceremony, and at this moment, there is no evidence that He Jingyan was present."
Song Ruoan is Song Xizhi's younger sister and He Jingyan's younger brother's wife. In fact, when she said this, she had already planted the seeds of doubt in many people's hearts.
The matter involved the Fengshan ceremony, which made the Prefect of the Capital's face gradually darken. "I will send people to search for evidence of what you have said. However, handling cases requires solid evidence. If there are only witnesses and no physical evidence, I'm afraid it will be of no use."
Upon hearing this, Song Ruoan gave a sinister smile. Remembering what the mysterious man had told her, she said decisively:
"I have evidence!"
“My lord, I have letters as proof. I stole these letters from my brother-in-law’s study. Because I am Song Xizhi’s younger sister and usually act foolish, they did not guard against me much.”
"When I saw these letters that were secretly communicating with the Western Rong, I was terrified and hurriedly hid them. It was because of this that Song Xizhi and He Jingyan, those two villains, finally decided to kill me."
Song Ruoan's eyes lit up again as she spoke: "It's because of this! That's why they wanted to make me disappear from this world. After I escaped with my life on the line, they were afraid I would reveal the truth, so they arranged for a woman who looked just like me to be my real self. Then they secretly hunted me down, but who knew I had sought help from Consort Li."
Seeing that Song Ruoan could justify his actions, the Prefect of the Capital examined the evidence that Song Ruoan had submitted.
When he saw the handwriting on the letter, his eyes narrowed sharply, and his face turned terrified.
Every word in this letter is inside information about the DaGan organization, which no one but high-ranking officials could possibly know!
Even the Prefect of the Capital himself only knew part of the above content.
The Prefect of the Capital immediately ordered, "Guards! Guards! Quickly search for He Jingyan's usual handwriting and compare it with mine! Then report this matter to His Majesty immediately!"
As the Prefect of the Capital spoke, he abruptly stood up from his seat, his face now ashen.
"General He, there are definitely spies within Da Gan who know inside information about the Da Gan court! This matter is of utmost importance, and I have no choice but to offend them!"
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