"Yes," Li Rong knelt down and spoke calmly, "In the suburbs of the city, they were massacred and the bodies were abandoned in the wilderness. I investigated for a long time and finally found the bodies. Father, now that the witnesses are gone, you still want to put the Qin family in the Ministry of Justice. I am worried."

"So what your Highness means is that now that all the witnesses are dead, there is no possibility of overturning the confession. The evidence is there, and Qin's crime cannot be changed."

Xie Lanqing slowly spoke: "Qin's crime cannot be changed, and Your Highness firmly believes that the Qin family is innocent, so now we have to protect the Qin family. Then may I ask Your Highness, why do you firmly believe that the Qin family is innocent? Now, have you got any evidence?"

"In any case," Li Rong said calmly, "the witnesses were killed. Is there no problem with this case?"

"Who killed this man?" Xie Lanqing raised her voice, as if reminding someone. Li Rong turned around and looked at Xie Lanqing coldly. Xie Lanqing smiled and said, "Your Highness, I'm going to say something disrespectful. The witness is dead. It may be that there is something wrong with the case, or it may be that there is nothing wrong with the case."

Xie Lanqing didn't finish his words, but Li Rong already understood what he meant. A young official seemed puzzled and whispered, "How can there be no problem with the case?"

Immediately, another court official laughed, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, as if he was discussing privately, but just in time for everyone to hear: "Master Zhang, I don't understand. All the witnesses in a case are dead. It seems that there must be a problem, but what if there is actually no problem, and some people insist on not judging this case?"

The person is dead and everything becomes a suspense. If Li Rong insists, the case will be postponed indefinitely without any evidence.

"So, Your Highness, the witness is dead, and can't prove anything. Even if the witness is dead, the evidence is still there. Yang Lie's letter is real, and the gold they received as bribes was also found from the Qin family. These evidences have been examined by the Historian, the Ministry of Justice, and the Dali Temple. Your Highness, do you think that the three courts are deceiving you?"

Xie Lanqing said with a sneer: "Your Highness, you have just got married, so you should not get involved in the affairs of the court. Go back and do things that women should do, such as embroidering, reading scriptures, and cultivating your character."

After Xie Lanqing finished speaking, all the officials in the court echoed him in a low voice.

Li Rong knelt on the ground and pretended not to hear the sound.

This is the way it is for all women in this world. Even if they are gifted, if something goes wrong one day, their identity will be their original sin.

When Li Rong was young, she would get angry when hearing these words and would always want to prove something. But now, when she hears these words, even though she feels unfair, she remains calm.

She just said, "Since the three courts think there is no problem, why is it so difficult for me to get the files, check the evidence, and interrogate the prisoners?"

"Your Highness is joking," Xie Lanqing said calmly, "The Ministry of Justice is used to doing things according to rules and regulations, and will not deliberately make things difficult for anyone."

"Master Xie is worthy of being a veteran of two dynasties, and he is the Shangshu of the Ministry of Justice," Li Rong said. She put one hand on her knee and slowly stood up. Xie Lanqing frowned, and then Li Rong turned around, looked up at Xie Lanqing, and said calmly, "He has a clever mouth to fool people. He can't do things well, but he is very good at talking."

"Your Highness, are you angry because this old minister hit the nail on the head?"

"Angry, of course I am angry, how can I not be angry?!" Li Rong shouted, "You are the Minister of Justice, facing a case full of doubts, you don't think about how to investigate the case, you don't think about how to restore the truth, you only think about playing power games, and treat human life as worthless. How can I not be angry?!"

"I have established the Inspection Office. You all," Li Rong raised her hand and pointed at the court officials one by one, "have been thinking day and night about how to seize power and how to make me give up. When I try to retrieve the files, the Ministry of Justice is caught in a dilemma. You push me and I push you. We have been running around for an entire afternoon but haven't gotten a single approval. How can I get the files if I don't force my way in?"

"The Ministry of Justice is still evading the evidence and refusing to give it to me. How can I know whether it is true or false?"

"You keep talking about procedures and rules, but if everyone follows the same procedures, even the chief judge needs a month to get the evidence, then I think your Ministry of Justice is unnecessary. Just rebuild it!"

"You are a bunch of good-for-nothings who can't even protect the witnesses and only know how to make things difficult for the staff. I am giving you face by calling you sir. Do you really want me to tear your face off and stomp on it?"

Li Rong yelled, Xie Lanqing's face darkened, and an official from the Ministry of Justice stepped forward and shouted, "Your Highness, this is the main hall, not a place for you to mess around, you..."

"Back off!" Li Rong shouted at the official, "Who do you think you are to dare to speak to me like that?!"

"I know what you are going to do."

Li Rong looked around: "But I have to tell you today that the Qin family members who may have been wrongly killed by you are not only a few court officials, not only a few lives, but also the high wall of the border, the backbone of our Great Xia! What you are destroying today is the country of Great Xia, the future of Great Xia! I am here today, and there is absolutely no way I will give in to this."

"But Qin is guilty," Xie Lanqing said calmly, "If Your Highness can't produce any evidence, he is guilty."

"You and I both know whether he is guilty or not!" Li Rong shouted angrily, "Xie Lanqing, I will not mention many things in the court. I just want to ask you one question, can you live up to your conscience? Even if you can't hear the cries of the people in the border area, can't you see the blood left by the second Miss Qin in front of my princess's mansion?! You bullied the Qin family today just because the Qin family was born in a poor family, has no power and is easy to bully! But have you ever thought about it, if the Qin family leaves unjustly today, who in the border area will be loyal in the future? And in the future in this court, will anyone who is born in a poor family tolerate your humiliation?"

"Your Highness, you are exaggerating," Right Prime Minister Su Minzhi frowned, "When judging a case, it's all about evidence. Your Highness has already taken a stand. How can you talk about justice if you act on your emotions?"

Su Minzhi's words were right, and the old officials all agreed with him. However, they did not notice that there was a slight unrest among the young officials.

Li Rong naturally did not say this emotional speech to these old foxes. It's just that in this court, there are not only politicians who have long been immersed in power politics, but also ministers who are worried about the world; not only are there centuries-old noble families, but also those poor scholars who are working for lower positions.

After Li Rong reminded him, she realized that her goal had been achieved. She turned her gaze back to Su Minzhi and said calmly, "Yes, Prime Minister Su is right. We should provide evidence for everything. Now that all the witnesses have been killed, does that prove that there are doubts in this case?"

"There is a connection, but it cannot be absolutely proven." Su Minzhi said calmly, "Your Highness, you have been investigating for so long. The case of the Qin family should have been settled long ago, but you insisted on overturning the verdict. Now you haven't found anything. It is impossible for you to delay this case again and again because of your inner belief. Please return the Qin family to the Ministry of Justice and return the power to Your Majesty, and deal with them according to the law."

"What Prime Minister Su is worried about is that I am using the name of investigating the case to delay the death of the Qin family. So why don't we each take a step back," Li Rong stared at Su Minzhi, "I will not postpone the execution of the Qin family, but before the execution, they must be protected by my people in the princess's mansion, and no one can interrogate them. And my people can continue to review the case. If at any time, we find evidence that the Qin family was wronged, we can overturn the verdict."

Su Minzhi hesitated for a moment after hearing this, but Xie Lanqing said decisively: "No, Your Majesty has given Your Highness many opportunities, but Your Highness has repeatedly caused trouble in my Ministry of Justice. What we should discuss today should not be the Qin family case, but how to deal with Your Highness' repeated incidents in the Ministry of Justice."

"I will take the responsibility for intruding into the Ministry of Justice!" Li Rong shouted, "I just want to ask you, the Qin family, whether you dare to leave your case to me. Do you dare to let me investigate the Qin family case? Since the death of the witness cannot prove that there is a problem with the Qin family case, what are you afraid of me investigating?!"

"I'm not afraid of your Highness investigating the case," Xie Lanqing refused to give in, "I'm afraid of your Highness causing trouble!"

"So what do you want?"

Li Rong stared at Xie Lanqing: "I must investigate the Qin family."

"Your Highness must also be punished."

Xie Lanqing replied to Li Rong, saying in a cold voice: "I am the Minister of Justice, and I cannot tolerate anyone trampling on the royal law like this. Even if Your Highness is a princess, you should abide by the emperor's rules."

"Okay," Li Rong nodded, "Thank you, sir. I'll do as you wish."

As Li Rong spoke, he spread his sleeves, turned around and kowtowed to Li Ming, saying in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, I have entered the Ministry of Justice without permission. It is my fault. I would like to ask for thirty strokes of the cane and recite scriptures in the Beiyan Tower for one month."

After Li Rong finished speaking, Xie Lanqing showed a satisfied look, and then she heard Li Rong say: "But the people in the Ministry of Justice did not do their job well. They did not protect the key witnesses and did not record their whereabouts. This indirectly led to the death of all the witnesses at the hands of others. This is a crime."

"You have disrespected the authority of your father. Your father has appointed me as the Chief of the Inspection Department, but the Ministry of Justice has refused to follow the instructions of the emperor and fully assist in handling the case. Instead, you have used the name of the rules to make things difficult for me. This is your second crime."

"Now that you know that all the witnesses are dead and the case is suspicious, you are still lazy and unwilling to investigate. This is the third crime."

"Sir Xie is the Minister of Justice, in charge of the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice is now full of problems. Sir Xie is to blame. I am willing to accept the punishment, but it is imperative to rectify the Ministry of Justice. Although these three crimes are concentrated in the Qin case, they can give us a glimpse of the Ministry of Justice's usual handling style. This is a matter that endangers the country. I ask your father to investigate it strictly and never tolerate it!"

Li Rong continued to state his story one sentence at a time. The faces of the people from the Ministry of Justice gradually became ugly. Li Rong kowtowed on the ground and said calmly, "As for the Qin case, since I have intervened, I will not let it go. Please give me another 20 days..."

“No…”

The court officials started to shout, but before they could finish, Li Rong shouted, "After 20 days, if I really can't find anything, it will be enough to prove that there is no injustice in the Qin case, and it was my son who made up a story. I am willing to accept the punishment, be expelled from Huajing, return to my fiefdom, and never come to the capital again!"

He returned to his fiefdom and never entered the capital again.

For a princess, this meant being completely expelled from the center of power, with no way back in her life. It was tantamount to demotion and exile in disguise.

Everyone fell silent. Shangguan Xu frowned, feeling somewhat reluctant: "Your Highness..."

"Please grant me your permission, Father!"

Li Rong knelt on the ground and yelled. Li Ming looked at his daughter kneeling on the ground with an unpredictable expression. After a long time, he finally spoke, his voice a little hoarse: "Since Princess Pingle is willing to be expelled from Huajing, I will give you a chance to redeem yourself. But you offended the Ministry of Justice before, so in order to prevent you from causing trouble again, during the investigation, you will be confined to the Beiyan Tower, copying Buddhist scriptures and cultivating your character. You can spare the caning, after all, you are a girl. If you go down thirty feet, won't it be the death of you?"

Li Ming said, looking up at Xie Lanqing, and said with a bit of fatigue: "Master Xie, what do you think?"

Xie Lanqing frowned, and Li Ming reminded her: "In fact, some of what Pingle said is not unreasonable. The Ministry of Justice has been too old-fashioned in doing things in recent years."

Li Ming's words were a disguised threat. If Xie Lanqing continued to talk, he would start to find excuses to punish the Ministry of Justice.

Xie Lanqing understood what Li Ming said and said respectfully, "I am only a minister. This matter should be discussed by all of you and decided by your majesty."

Li Ming nodded and looked at everyone: "What do you think?"

No one spoke. Li Rong knelt on the ground and kowtowed silently. After a long time, a smiling voice came from below, saying loudly: "Your Majesty, I think this is the best."

Everyone looked over at this, and Li Rong also secretly glanced to the side, looking at the person who spoke.

However, the person who spoke was standing at the back of the court. He was actually a minor official. He looked very young, and his eyes and eyebrows seemed to be naturally smiling, which made him look quite romantic. This was incompatible with his official uniform and he was very conspicuous in the court.

Li Rong looked for a moment and recognized the person. Then she heard the Minister of Rites Gu Zidao yell, "Cui Yulang, what are you crazy about?"

The young official held a tablet in his hand and smiled: "Master Gu, I am speaking from my heart. You see, Your Highness has been punished, and the execution of the Qin family has not been postponed. As a princess, Your Highness is willing to use her future to protect a general. Why not? If the Qin family is guilty, Your Highness will not delay anything. If the Qin family is not guilty, then Your Highness will have accumulated great merit. Isn't it great to do something that is beneficial and harmless?"

Cui Yulang said this, smiled, knelt down, and kowtowed, saying: "Your Majesty, I think what the princess said is very true, please be merciful and accept what the princess said."

Not long after Cui Yulang spoke, a young official came out, closed his eyes and knelt down: "Your Majesty, please have mercy and accept what the princess said."

Then, several officials came out in twos and threes. Although there were not many of them, they seemed to have a silent power when they knelt in the hall.

Li Ming looked at those people for a long time, then he looked at Li Chuan who had been standing beside him: "What do you think, Prince?"

"Your Highness..." Li Chuan seemed to be in a dilemma. After a long while, he finally said, "Your Highness will obey your Father."

"In that case, let's do as the princess says."

Li Ming said calmly, "From today on, Princess Pingle will be confined to the Beiyan Tower and copy 100 Buddhist scriptures to pray for the Queen Mother and show her filial piety. You can go directly there after the court session and let the servants get the things you need. The execution date of the Qin family remains unchanged and will be temporarily in the care of the princess. The Ministry of Justice will be reorganized and the process will be streamlined. After the streamlining, please report the entire case handling process to me."

"Yes." Xie Lanqing saluted respectfully.

After Li Ming dealt with these matters, he inquired about some other political affairs and finally announced the end of the court.

After the court session, Li Rong turned her gaze towards Cui Yulang, who was walking out of the crowd chatting and laughing with someone next to him. She hesitated for a moment and did not step forward, but turned to look at Li Chuan who was walking towards her.

Li Chuan didn't look too well. Li Rong glanced at Shangguan Xu behind him and knew that it must be Shangguan Xu who asked Li Chuan to come find her.

Li Chuan still has to flatter the aristocratic families. Now that Li Rong is standing against the aristocratic families, Li Chuan has to make too much clear in front of them.

So when Li Chuan just walked up to her, Li Rong's face turned cold and she said directly: "You don't have to say anything more to me. We are not on the same page, so forget it."

"Sister," Li Chuan frowned, "You are going too far."

The brother and sister's words attracted the attention of the ministers who had not yet left. Li Rong sneered: "Is it me who went too far, or them? Those who should be punished have been punished. I am leaving now. Prince, please do as you please."

After Li Rong finished speaking, she left. Li Chuan frowned, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he couldn't say anything.

As soon as Li Rong walked out of the door, many officials surrounded her and said with bitter faces, "Your Highness, the princess has to have a limit to her temper. What is she going to do?"

"Everyone, I will try to persuade her, but she is my sister after all..." Li Chuan said, revealing an embarrassment, "It's because I spoiled her too much in the past. When I find the opportunity in private, I will talk to her properly. After all," Li Chuan lowered his voice, "she is also the princess of the Shangguan family."

After hearing these words, everyone calmed down a little and sighed, "Let's hope that His Highness can change his mind. If he really makes trouble to the point of being expelled from Huajing..."

Having said this, the minister shook his head, sighed and left.

Li Rong didn't need to listen to the conversation between these ministers and Li Chuan, as she could guess most of it.

She is the best candidate for the Construction Inspection Office, not because of her ability, but because she is the princess of the Shangguan family and the prince's sister.

This is her amulet. If someone else did what she did today, how could the noble family let her off so easily?

But I just believe that she will eventually stop for the sake of the prince, and will not dare to take action for the sake of the Shangguan family.

This is why Li Ming was willing to hire her, but it was also the reason why Li Ming was unwilling to help her completely and always observed and tested her from behind.

Li Rong thought about everything in the court and walked towards Beiyan Tower.

Beiyan Tower was a stargazing place built by Li Nian for his mother when he was young. Later, the emperor and the empress rarely went there, and it became abandoned over time. Later, because of its remoteness and quietness, it became a common restricted area in the palace.

Li Rong told Jingmei what she needed to take, and then walked to the tower. Beiyan Tower was the tallest building in the palace, with high doors and a long body, and copper bells hanging from the eaves. Li Rong looked up for a moment, then led everyone in.

She followed the stairs all the way up, and when she reached the top floor, she arrived at her daily residence. The servant opened the door for her. As soon as she entered the door, she saw Li Ming sitting inside, drinking tea with his head down.

Li Rong paused for a moment, then showed a surprised expression and couldn't help but ask, "Father?"

Li Ming was sitting at the table making tea and said calmly, "Come in."

Li Rong said nothing. She lifted her skirt and walked in. She knelt respectfully beside Li Ming. Li Ming poured her tea personally and said slowly, "I haven't been to Beiyan Tower for several years."

Li Rong did not dare to answer. Li Ming's voice was filled with nostalgia: "When this tower was built, your mother had just gotten pregnant with you. I was very happy to be a father for the first time. At that time, your mother and I had a very good relationship. On her birthday that year, I didn't know what she liked. I always saw her looking at the sky, so I thought she liked looking at the stars. So in the first year of my reign, I mobilized a large number of people to build this Beiyan Tower."

Water was boiling on a low fire, making a faint sound of boiling water, and it seemed to have just risen. Li Ming turned his head and looked at the open window in the distance.

The windows in this room were all opened wide. When they were opened, the sky outside looked like a painting. Li Ming said slowly, "Sometimes I also hope that I can always be like that time, thinking nothing, understanding nothing, and maybe I can live a good life. At least, my wife and I should be very loving, and you, Chuan'er," Li Ming turned his head and looked at Li Rong. He looked at her for a long time, and then said slowly, "We should have a good relationship, and I will be a good father."

"Father has always been very good."

Li Rong tried to comfort him, but Li Ming waved his hands and said with a smile, "I know who I am in my heart, so you don't need to tell me."

Li Ming paused for a while before saying, "You are a smart kid, smarter than Chuan'er."

"Father, Chuan'er is still young."

"You are young too," Li Ming chuckled, "but you see things much more clearly than he does. It would be better if you were a man."

Li Rong said nothing.

In fact, she is not much smarter than Li Ming. If anything, it is just because she has gone through a lifetime and knows the ending of that lifetime in advance.

In the previous life, like her, Li Chuan, they chose a seemingly easier path together, completely relying on others, and then as they grew older, Li Chuan became the next Li Ming, and the cycle continued.

"I used to think that you were just smart, no different from your mother. You helped me to pacify the Yang family just for your own marriage, and you established the Inspection Department just because Pei Wenxuan instigated you to gain more power. But today I suddenly feel that you are better than I thought. Rong'er," Li Ming sighed, "I had no choice but to do many things. I don't ask you not to blame me, but I hope that one day, when I die, you will know that in my heart, I also hope that you and Chuan'er can live a good life."

Li Rong looked at Li Chuan quietly. Actually, Li Chuan is not yet 40 years old, but he looks like an old man over 50.

His time is numbered.

Li Rong clearly knew that in her previous life, Li Ming would die in the winter two years later.

She used to think that her feelings for Li Ming had faded a long time ago, but now seeing this man apologizing to her, she knew that the power actually lay in this man's heart, far superior to hers, but she still felt an indescribable bitterness welling up.

"Father, why are you telling me this now?"

Li Rong smiled bitterly: "You never told me before."

"I didn't tell you before because I was afraid that one day you would be sad." Li Ming said calmly, "I didn't know what you would do in the end. What if you and Chuan'er sent me away in the end? If you keep these words in your heart, you will be sad for the rest of your life. Why bother?"

"Today is different," Li Ming smiled and looked at Li Rong, "I am very happy."

"Father is able to be honest with me," Li Rong smiled, "I am also very happy."

"It's good that you don't have any grudges in your heart." Li Ming sighed, "In the court today, I can't favor you too much. If the noble families think that I am determined to deal with them, I am afraid they will make too radical plans."

"I understand." Li Rong said slowly, "The aristocratic family is complicated and it is not a problem that happened overnight. We still have to make progress step by step. And I was indeed reckless and I should be punished."

"Why aren't you a boy?" Li Ming was a little regretful. Li Rong couldn't help but smile, "Father, Chuan'er is actually a very good person. You will know if you get to know him better."

"He's very good," Li Ming said in a somewhat indifferent voice, "He's too much like me. If we continue like this, I'm afraid he'll be the next me, or maybe even worse."

Li Ming smiled, then thought of something and waved his hand, saying, "But he is still young, so let's wait and see. After all, he is the crown prince, and I won't do anything unless he makes a big mistake."

"I know," Li Rong knew that Li Ming was afraid that she would be suspicious, so she said, "Father just wants Chuan'er to do better."

Li Ming responded, but he didn't say much. After a pause, he slowly said, "You also saw what happened in the court. I'm sure you know why I argued with your mother. In the future," Li Ming hesitated for a moment, and finally said, "We should be united as father and daughter and not harbor any grudges."

"Don't worry, father," Li Rong said calmly, "I have Da Xia in my heart."

Li Ming smiled, raised his hand and patted her shoulder, then remembered something: "Pei Wenxuan left the capital?"

"Yes." Li Rong said calmly, "Don't worry, father, he will come back."

As she spoke, she raised her eyes and hinted, "Bring back what Father wants."

"Good." Li Ming high-fived and laughed. He took a sip of tea and said happily, "Great."

"Okay," Li Ming stood up and looked around, "You rest well here. If you need anything, let Tongfu tell you. I'll go with you and wait for Pei Wenxuan to come back."

Li Rong stood up and bowed respectfully: "Farewell, Father."

Li Ming nodded and walked out happily.

After Li Ming walked out, Li Rong sat down and took a sip of her tea.

She didn't believe what Li Ming said.

She knew Li Ming too well. He had feelings for both her and Li Chuan, but in the face of power, feelings were not worth mentioning. On the one hand, his comfort today was because he was definitely happy that she had joined him, and on the other hand, he was finally sure that she was useful, so he deliberately cultivated their feelings.

Li Ming held the cup, feeling a little cold and sour in his heart.

She didn't know why, but she suddenly missed Pei Wenxuan very much. She felt as if Pei Wenxuan was sitting opposite her, with a smile on his handsome face, asking her: "Your Highness, what are you worried about?"

Thinking of Pei Wenxuan's tone, she couldn't help but laugh.

She had just poured the tea when the door creaked open.

Li Rong raised her head and saw Shangguan Yue standing at the door in palace dress.

Li Rong was stunned for a moment, then she smiled and said, "Mother."

Shangguan Yue looked a little tired. She stood at the door, staring at Li Rong motionlessly.

Li Rong thought for a moment and said slowly, "Won't you come in and sit with me, mother?"

"Rongrong," Shangguan Yue said in a low voice, "Do you know you are wrong?"

"What did I do wrong?"

Li Rong said calmly: "Am I blocking your way, or am I taking away your rights?"

Shangguan Yue didn't say anything. Li Rong saw that she had been silent for a long time and reminded her, "Won't you come in and sit down, mother?"

"No." Shangguan Yue's voice choked with sobs, "I came here just to tell your uncle a message."

"Pei Wenxuan is dead."

Li Rong froze in place as a bird chirped as it flew past the window. She slowly raised her head in disbelief and looked at the woman at the door.

Shangguan Yue pretended to be calm, as if she was no different from her usual self when she sat high up.

"Everything that goes against the current will have a price to pay."

"Rong'er, from now on," Shangguan Yue said with great difficulty, "don't be willful."

Author's comments: Li Rong: "It's the first day my husband is away. I miss him a little and want to find out how he is doing."

Shangguan Yue: "He's dead."

Li Rong: "...I won't ask about it then."