There is a god in the sky

Chapter 375 Joint Trial by the Three Judicial Offices 16

"My lord, where are we going now? Are we going straight to the palace?" Magistrate Xu asked.

Xiao Ji looked at the bustling pedestrians on the street. Ordinary people were completely unaware of the upheavals that occurred during the change of imperial power.

Perhaps only when a full-blown war breaks out will the people be filled with fear.

"Let's go back to the Criminal Investigation Department first." Xiao Ji changed his mind.

Entering the palace at this time would be too conspicuous; he didn't even know how many officials in the court were completely on the Crown Prince's side.

Perhaps we could contact Li Ge first, and with the two of us working together from the inside, we would have a better chance of success.

Moreover, the joint trial by the three judicial departments requires the cooperation of the other two government offices; otherwise, it would be difficult to convict the Tong family.

However, given the current situation, with the Tong family escaping from prison, the Emperor will likely seize the opportunity and directly convict the Tong family.

His fleeing to evade punishment is the best evidence.

Magistrate Xu gave Xiao Ji a deep look, said nothing more, and led his men to escort Xiao Ji back to the yamen.

The Criminal Investigation Department was merely a government office for judging cases. It had a considerable number of constables and officers, but their martial prowess was generally average.

If the Tong family and the Crown Prince want revenge, the gates of the Provincial Judicial Office will not stop them.

"Judge Xu, go and inform Lord Dong and Censor Huang to come to the Judicial Commissioner's Office to discuss important matters."

Judge Xu asked in bewilderment, "At a time like this, does Your Excellency still intend to proceed with the joint trial by the three judicial authorities? I'm afraid the other two officials will not cooperate."

Xiao Ji had made up his mind. "Go and invite them. Tell them I've found fatal evidence against the Tong family and want to hand it over to them."

Magistrate Xu personally went to invite the person, and the atmosphere in the judicial office was tense. Even the civil officials who usually wielded pens concealed daggers on their bodies.

When Xiao Ping and the other two were first sent to Xiao Ji's side to help him, they learned how to organize official documents and case files. Xiao Ji rarely took them to participate in outside matters.

The three of them started arguing.

“At this point, staying here is just suicide. Why don’t we go home and seek refuge?” Xiao Ping paced back and forth anxiously.

Xiao Rong put down the file in her hand, glanced outside, and asked in a low voice, "Wouldn't leaving now make us look like we're afraid of death?"

"The instinct to cling to life and fear death is human nature. Besides, we are only here to learn, not to risk our lives."

Xiao Rong felt a little regretful.

If he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have come to join in the fun. He would have stayed home and studied diligently to take the imperial examinations, and he might have been able to make a good future.

But now the Xiao family is embroiled in the struggle for the throne. If the crown prince ascends to the throne, the entire Xiao family will be doomed.

Not only will their branch in Nanya not benefit, but they will also be implicated.

Feeling uneasy, he stood up and urged Xiao Ping, "Cousin, you're right. The three of us scholars can't help if we stay here; instead, we'll just hold Lord Xiao back."

Xiao Ping nodded, "That's right, it's best to go home and avoid the area for a while."

Xiao Rong made up his mind that once the city gates opened, he would take his servant back to his hometown and then have the clan leader sever ties with the Xiao family in the capital as soon as possible.

This wealth and honor are not something that comes easily.

The two began packing their things, and seeing Xiao Jinyu still writing furiously beside them, they both urged him to leave.

Xiao Jinyu snorted coldly, "If you want to leave, then leave. I'm not leaving."

His words made Xiao Ping and the other woman look bad.

Fortunately, Xiao Jinyu was usually the quietest person and didn't have much face in front of Xiao Ji, so they weren't afraid of him at all.

"Since Brother Jinyu insists on staying, we will not try to persuade him further. He should take care of himself!"

Xiao Ping and Xiao Jinyu left together, without even looking up, continuing to copy the dossier in their hands.

After an unknown amount of time, a shadow fell.

Xiao Jinyu looked up and saw Xiao Ji standing in front of his desk, looking at the dossier he had copied.

"You copied a word wrong here," Xiao Ji pointed out the error.

Xiao Jinyu immediately changed his tune, "Thank you, sir. I will be extra careful."

Xiao Ji knew that Xiao Ping and the other person were leaving, but he did not stop them.

At this point, even if they simply left the government office, or even turned against him, he wouldn't say anything.

"Why don't you leave?"

Xiao Ji asked the silent boy in front of him curiously.

Xiao Jinyu seemed completely oblivious to the question, replying with a bewildered look, "Why leave?"

"The situation outside is not good. Perhaps soon the Crown Prince's forces will take the opportunity to force him to abdicate. At that time, those who oppose him will not have a good ending."

The Xiao family's fate is intertwined; we all rise and fall together. However, the clan will soon bring up the matter of splitting into separate branches, so you should be prepared.

Xiao Jinyu strongly disagreed.

"My lord, please forgive my bluntness, but it is not appropriate to discuss the division of the clan at this time."

"The Xiao family must always preserve a spark of hope." Xiao Ji himself wasn't entirely confident, so naturally he wouldn't oppose his clansmen's decision.

Now, the head of the Xiao family is his father. Even if the family branches out, their branch is still the most prosperous branch of the Xiao family.

Xiao Jinyu shook his head. “There are many people with the surname Xiao in the world, and we are family. We share happiness and hardship. Since my cousin has made a decision, our whole clan should give our full support.”

Xiao Ji laughed, realizing for the first time that this arrogant young man was actually a bit of a simpleton.

"Aren't you afraid of being implicated by me?"

"Fortune favors the bold," Xiao Jinyu replied.

“I am not after wealth and status, but simply unwilling to serve the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince ascends the throne, my official career will come to an end.”

“My cousin is the most intelligent person in the Xiao family. Your choice is definitely right. We only need to follow him.”

Xiao Ji patted the boy on the shoulder, "Alright, let's go all out then."

Magistrate Xu brought the two officials with him, but a contingent of Imperial Guards also arrived and surrounded the Provincial Judicial Commissioner's Office.

Dong Minghua entered the room laughing, and looking at the boxes of gold displayed in the courtroom, he praised, "Lord Xiao is indeed a master of solving cases; he found the stolen money so quickly."

Xiao Ji, dressed in official robes, remained seated in the main seat without rising.

"You flatter me, sir. I must thank Lord Dong for burning down Tong Xiuqing's study that day, which allowed me to find the secret passage."

Unexpectedly, the end of the secret passage was where the Tong family hid their ill-gotten gains; Lord Dong deserves the greatest credit.

Dong Minghua's expression shifted, suppressing his anger, and he changed the subject, asking, "What does Lord Xiao intend to do?"

"Of course, we should send the tainted silver to the palace and settle the case in front of the Emperor."

"Oh? To convict the Tong family?"

"Yes, I heard that the Tong family has escaped from prison and their crimes have been confirmed. These pieces of evidence are enough to convince the entire court."

Dong Minghua sighed.

"Xiao Ji, Xiao Ji, are you really not clear-headed or are you just pretending to be confused? Even now, you still insist on going against the Tong family. Why bother?"

The Imperial Guards rushed in, led by Zhang Xinghui, who was at odds with Xiao Ji.

He got promoted, and his arrogance grew even stronger.

"I was ordered by the Emperor to investigate the case and was just doing my job. How could it be considered ungrateful in Lord Dong's eyes?"

"His Majesty is getting old, and Da Xi will eventually be the Crown Prince."

"It's too early to say."

Lord Dong was very curious. Where did Xiao Ji get his confidence? Did he know that the Emperor was hiding a trump card?