Zhou Zhizhi looked at Xiao Xiyou sitting opposite her. He watched everything happening in front of him indifferently, as if he were just an outsider.
Only Zhou Zhizhi knew that all of this was within his calculations, and she sighed inwardly, "How could Xiao Xiyou, at such a young age, come up with such a scheme? And even when he was the target of everyone's criticism, he was still able to turn the tide and stay out of it. No wonder he was able to reach the position of the emperor in the original story."
This time, he was after power and survival. If Xiao Xiyou knew that I didn't want to help him seize the throne, and instead used that motive against me...
Zhou Zhizhi shrank back, becoming even more determined to keep her secret of being a transmigrator a secret, and to speed up her progress in saving money, removing the curse, and escaping.
Seeing that the matter had been settled, Censor Zhou Mingwei bowed to the Empress and the First Prince.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, since the Third Prince has confessed his guilt, we will wait for Eunuch Cao to finish reporting to the Emperor and then follow His Majesty's orders."
The Empress nodded: "You may all leave."
"My lords, I have another piece of evidence that directly proves the truth about my master's death."
As soon as the Empress finished speaking, Lai Fu, who had been kneeling, suddenly shouted and banged his head on the ground. He was soon bleeding, and the blood stained the floor tiles of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
"Even the emperor is subject to the law! I beg you gentlemen to uphold justice for me!" Lai Fu held a piece of cloth he had just pulled from his pocket, which had some bloodstains on it.
Lai Fu was well aware that the current situation was a political struggle among several princes. No one cared about the life or death of his master, Li Jue, let alone avenge him. As an ordinary commoner, this was probably his only chance to enter the Hall of Supreme Harmony and plead his grievances before the high-ranking officials who might uphold justice for him.
As the sun slowly moved forward, at noon, its rays shone through the bright and clear plaque outside the hall and into the hall, making it warm and inviting.
Zhou Zhizhi watched Lai Fu's futile attempt to stop him. Although she knew this was just a book, she couldn't help but empathize with him. After all, she grew up in a society where everyone was equal and had never seen anyone so humble in order to seek justice.
Zhou Zhizhi stepped forward and took the blood-written letter. Only one character was written in a crooked and unfinished manner, but its general shape could be seen.
Zhou Zhizhi handed the blood-written letter to the Imperial Censor, and the two exchanged a glance.
The Empress was clearly at her wit's end; how dare this lowly commoner!
"Guards, drag this lowly commoner who murdered his own master and slandered the prince out and beat him to death!" The Empress gave the order before the censor and Zhou Zhi could speak.
“Yes,” the servant lifted Lai Fu’s arm. At this moment, Zhou Zhizhi called out, “Your Majesty, the matter has not yet been verified. You should not execute him arbitrarily.”
"Bang!" The Empress slammed her hand on the table and scolded Zhou Zhizhi, "How dare you disobey my orders!"
Zhou Zhizhi clenched her fists tightly, wishing she could rush up and give that old hag a good widow a big nose puncture.
At the crucial moment, it was Xiaoxiyou who tugged at her sleeve, shook her head, and mouthed: "A small act of impatience can ruin a great plan."
Zhou Zhizhi finally held back, saying, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, this humble subject dares not."
"Anyone else has any questions? Otherwise, they'll all be beaten to death." The Empress glared fiercely at everyone, and even the Imperial Censor dared not utter a sound.
At this moment, Xiao Xiyou stepped forward, knelt before the Empress, and said, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Advisor has offended you for a moment. Please forgive him."
Zhou Zhizhi couldn't believe that the person in front of her was Xiao Xiyou. She even asked me for help. She was really being unreasonable.
Oh dear, did this guy have a change of heart because I saved him?
No, no, no, absolutely not. It must be that I still have some use for him now.
"Very well, I'll give the Second Prince face and let the Imperial Preceptor go." The Empress looked at Xiao Xiyou for a while, guessing he was up to some wicked scheme again.
"Imperial Preceptor, please rise. I forgive you for your crime."
Zhou Zhizhi then stood up, but the Empress would not let Laifu go. Zhou Zhizhi felt very uncomfortable looking at Laifu.
Even though everything points to the Third Prince as the murderer, just because he is powerful and influential, the victim ends up paying the price!
Zhou Zhizhi watched as Laifu, an innocent man, was dragged away, pinned to the ground, and beaten with a board, while Laifu screamed in agony.
Zhou Zhizhi clenched her fists, her heart filled with rage!
"Your Majesty, the criminal Lai Fu has been beaten to death." The Empress was relieved to see Lai Fu dead.
"Alright, now that the murderer is dead, there's nothing left to investigate. Censor, you may order this to end. Remember, if I hear about this from anyone else, I will take your life," the Empress threatened the censor in his ear.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty understands." After the Empress left, the Imperial Censor announced that the matter was over.
Just as Zhou Zhizhi stood up, Eunuch Cao whispered in her ear, "Imperial Preceptor, His Majesty has summoned you. Please come with me."
Zhou Zhizhi followed Eunuch Cao through a side gate of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and soon they arrived at the Emperor's bedchamber. "Your Majesty, I pay my respects. May I ask what Your Majesty has summoned me for?"
Zhou Zhizhi noticed that the Emperor was still coughing just like last time, and it was Eunuch Cao who was talking to him.
"Imperial Advisor, His Majesty wishes to ask you, what is your opinion on today's events?" Zhou Zhizhi instantly understood that the Emperor was testing her resolve.
Zhou Zhizhi paused for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I have no opinion. Everything is up to Your Majesty to decide."
"Doesn't the Imperial Advisor think there's something strange about this case?" Eunuch Cao asked.
Zhou Zhizhi knew this was a test from Eunuch Cao, and simply said, "Your Majesty, I have no questions."
Eunuch Cao smiled and said, "If the Imperial Preceptor has nothing else to say, I will see him out."
Zhou Zhizhi walked from her bedchamber to the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Seeing that everyone had left, she muttered to herself, "Tch! I thought they would wait for me."
Zhou Zhizhi left the palace and returned to the Imperial Preceptor's residence.
After she returned, Wu Da and Wu Er asked worriedly, "Grand Preceptor, why are you only coming back now?" Zhou Zhizhi had been gone for quite some time, and everyone in the mansion was very worried.
"Eunuch Cao summoned me to the Golden Palace, which caused a slight delay," Zhou Zhizhi said truthfully.
"Go to the back kitchen and cook a couple of dishes, I'm starving."
The two lackeys from Wuhan University and Wuhan No. 2 High School took off running.
After Zhou Zhizhi returned to her room, Xiaoyue came in and asked, "What are your instructions, Grand Preceptor?"
Lying in bed, Zhou Zhizhi instructed Xia Yue to fetch water for washing her face and to clear her head. Zhou Zhizhi called out, "System, System, come out quickly."
【Here I am, Cheese Sauce】
Zhou Zhizhi said, "I'm going to kill someone."
【No, you can't! We're a system for accumulating good deeds; otherwise, you'll lose your life!】
Zhou Zhizhi said impatiently, "I know, do you need to remind me?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com