Chapter 1098: Chapter 1098: Acquitted

Shu Yu and Meng Yunzheng exchanged a glance, the latter nodded, and Shu Yu immediately stood up, went over to open the door, and then stood behind Lord Jing.

Lord Jing had already deftly stuffed the scrolls back into his robe, looked up at the newcomer, and asked, “What is it?”

“My lord, this is new evidence in the Gong Xiao case, please take a look.”

As soon as these words were spoken, Lord Jing squinted his eyes, and Meng Yunzheng couldn’t help but lift his head.

Shu Yu noticed something unusual from both of them.

Sure enough, after the person who delivered the scrolls left, Lord Jing stood up and said in a low voice, “The action has begun. I will have Gong Ya arrested immediately and close the case before noon, allowing your release.”

Meng Yunzheng nodded and said to Shu Yu, “You follow Lord Jing first. I will be out in the afternoon, don’t worry.”

Shu Yu’s eyes slightly brightened, “Okay.”

Lord Jing had Meng Yunzheng taken out again, and he himself went to the central judicial office’s courtroom to handle the case.

After leaving the cell, seeing no one around, Lord Jing quietly explained to Shu Yu, “If all goes well, Gong Qiu’s affair will be exposed before the emperor by the afternoon. Before that, we must first conclude the Gong Xiao case, otherwise, if something happens to Gong Qiu, the emperor will no longer have the mind to concern himself with Gong Xiao’s matters, and he could be left languishing in this cell indefinitely.”

Shu Yu understood, and the two quickly arrived at the courtroom.

By this time, Gong Ya had already been brought back, and with her came Madam Gong.

As soon as Madam Gong arrived, she questioned why the case had not been concluded and why Gong Xiao had not been convicted.

Lord Jing sat in the courtroom, with Shu Yu standing behind him, noticing the mad and frantic expression on Madam Gong’s face, slightly squinting his eyes.

“Silence,” Lord Jing rapped the gavel, and Madam Gong gritted her teeth but eventually calmed down.

Only then did Lord Jing begin the trial, questioning at a rapid pace – time was pressing, and he did not want to dwell on this matter any longer.

Meng Yunzheng and Zhao Xi were both brought in, and Madam Gong still wanted to rush to attack him, but the officers stopped her.

Lord Jing presented the evidence and began questioning Gong Ya.

Despite Gong Ya’s pale face, she clamped her mouth shut, refusing to confess.

Lord Jing had seen many such people; it didn’t matter if she didn’t confess, as he had both witnesses and physical evidence in hand. He had ways to make Gong Ya talk.

When Madam Gong heard that the culprit was Gong Ya, she was completely stunned.

When Lord Jing explained the reason and had Concubine Chen and Ms. Dong, as well as Ms. Dong’s brother, come forward, all arguments became futile.

After all, Gong Ya was only fourteen. In such a place as the central judicial office, under the heavy pressure emanating from Lord Jing, she finally collapsed in tears after Concubine Chen couldn’t resist confessing.

Madam Gong was in disbelief; knowing it was her desire to switch the betrothal that led to her son’s death, she became completely bewildered.

The hatred she had forced herself to sustain for so many days suddenly seemed like a joke, causing her heart to swell abruptly, leading to a spurt of blood from her mouth as she fell straight backward.

Lord Jing had her carried out, tapped the gavel, and said in a deep voice, “Upon investigation, the case of Gong Chang’s murder has revealed the perpetrator to be his sister, Ms. Gong. With both witness and physical evidence present, the culprit is to be held in the dungeon awaiting sentence. The suspects Gong Xiao and Zhao Xi were framed, and are now declared free of guilt. The court is adjourned.”

Shu Yu couldn’t help but smile, and Meng Yunzheng respectfully cupped his hands, “Thank you, Lord, for your discerning judgment.”

“Young Master Gong, now that the truth has come to light, you may go home.”