The Jiang family acted swiftly, clearing up the space in just half a night. They spent two days and nights repeatedly checking to ensure that no evidence was left behind. Then, they calmly informed City Master Zeng that they were ready for the court to review the case once again.
As Jiang Li had expected, the two men, without evidence, were unable to gain any advantage. City Master Zeng could openly defend the Jiang family, stating that there was insufficient evidence to conclude Jiang Yixing's guilt. He even wanted to investigate Jiang Li and Yuan Wuxing for intentionally harming Jiang Yixing.
The only thing that wasn’t in Jiang's expectation was their family ancestor Jiang Yixing, who remained in a coma to this day. A physician couldn’t figure out the reason for his unconsciousness.
"This official concludes that Jiang Yixing is innocent. If you two are not satisfied with this official's decision, you can appeal to the Prefect within fifteen days from today."
Jiang Li stepped forward and handed City Master Zeng a paper, as if he had been waiting for this moment.
"This is our appeal."
City Master Zeng, seeing Jiang Li's calm demeanor, felt very displeased in his heart. When he saw that Jiang Li had already prepared an appeal long before the court hearing, his displeasure only deepened.
But what could he do? The Prefect who would handle this case had also risen from the position of Qingcheng City Master and helped the Jiang family conceal the incident of baby theft.
Even if the Prefect was just, without any evidence, these two ignorant fools couldn’t win. They had no basis to bring the appeal forward.
...
The Great Zhou Dynasty was divided into twenty-six prefectures, each of which had dozens of large cities. Qingcheng was now a large city under the jurisdiction of Tian Qing Prefecture. Naturally, the appeal would be submitted to Prefect Gong Peng.
After receiving the appeal, Prefect Gong summoned the Jiang family ancestor and City Master Zeng, thoroughly inquired about the incident, and was convinced in his heart.
...
"Zhang Li, Yuan Wuxing, I want to inform you before the trial that this official’s decision is final. Unless there is new evidence that can overturn the original judgment, you two cannot appeal any further. Do you understand?"
Sitting in the hall, Prefect Gong was flanked by Zhang Li and Yuan Wuxing with Eldest Jiang of the family sitting beside them. At least now, with Jiang Yixing still in a coma, his presence would be futile.
Although Eldest Jiang had no expression as usual, in Yuan Wuxing's eyes, he must be secretly smiling.
Outside the hall, there were only a few dozen people, much fewer than before, after all, everyone knew that there was insufficient evidence, and Jiang Li and Yuan Wuxing couldn't win. City Lord Zeng stood among them, ready to watch the excitement.
"Understood," Jiang Li replied loudly, and Yuan Wuxing also echoed with a clear response.
"But before the trial, I want to add one more person as a defendant."
"Alright, but the decision this time is still final. You cannot add a person on the spot as a reason to appeal."
Jiang Li nodded to indicate his understanding, raised his chin slightly, and stood with his hands behind his back. "I want to sue City Lord Zeng of Qingcheng for abusing his power and covering up the fact that Jiang Yixing stole the baby during his tenure, destroying crucial evidence. I request a ruling from Governor Gong!"
The head of the Jiang Clan's heart thudded, feeling immediately uneasy. If he wanted to sue the City Lord, the handling official needed to be at least a third-ranking officer, and Governor Gong was such an officer. This move was legal, but he couldn't understand what Jiang Li was trying to accomplish. Could suing another City Lord help him win?
He felt like he had forgotten something.
The head of the Jiang Clan was not familiar with the law and did not understand Jiang Li's intentions. However, City Lord Zeng and Governor Gong immediately understood Jiang Li's intentions. The two Nascent Soul cultivators felt a cold sweat break out on their backs.
"I suspect that the most crucial evidence in this case, the space where the baby was sacrificed, was destroyed by City Lord Zeng. Therefore, I request Governor Gong to petition the court to trace back time and restore the scene!"
Jiang Li's words shattered the last trace of hope for the two men.
This matter was going to be taken to the court!
They didn't have an influential backer in the court!
Among the nine great imperial dynasties, only the Great Zhou Empire dared to establish the rule of law, and only the Great Zhou Empire had the ability to govern by law. The fundamental reason lay in the Great Zhou imperial family's mastery of the way of time and their ability to ascend against the river of time!
However, the way of time was heavily bound by causality and could not be easily used. Thus, the Great Zhou Empire stipulated that there were several special situations in which the way of time could be used, such as cases with a significant impact within the country or cases involving officials of seventh rank and above who were known for their integrity...
City Lord Zeng was, however, a fifth-ranking official.
"You're slandering me!" City Lord Zeng forgot about his image and burst out with a fierce curse.
City Lord Zeng really wanted to cry injustice. It was the Jiang family who destroyed that space, and he was at most a witness. How did this brat twist it into him being the one who did it?
Jiang Li turned a deaf ear to this.
Whether City Lord Zeng went to destroy the space was not important. What mattered was his position in this case – as a defendant.
"Zhang Li, do you really want to petition the court to trace back time?" Governor Gong stared at Jiang Li with a cold gaze, feeling that he had been outsmarted by Jiang Li.
Even more importantly, by retracing time, they could not only see that it was the Jiang family who destroyed the space, but also witness Jiang Yixing practicing sorcery in that space!
Once the revelation of Jiang Yixing practicing sorcery came out, all the people who had served as City Lords in Qingcheng would be investigated by the court. None of them could escape then!
Yuan Wuxing also realized why Jiang Li allowed the Jiang family to destroy the space.
"I'm sure."
"You, really, want, to, make, the request?" Governor Gong repeated the question, each word emphasized, and released the imposing aura of a Nascent Soul peak stage cultivator. The bailiffs trembled, unable to bear the pressure and knelt down, followed by the head of the Jiang Clan and Yuan Wuxing.
"I'm sure." Jiang Li remained unaffected, as if he hadn't noticed Governor Gong's killing intent, and even took out a pre-written petition from his sleeve and placed it in front of Governor Gong.
Seeing the still-wet ink of the petition, Governor Gong was almost unable to control himself and wanted to kill Jiang Li on the spot!
But in the end, he didn't dare to make a move.
If he acted now, it would be all over.
"Zhang Li, isn't it? Excellent, you're really excellent!" Governor Gong slapped the case table, left with anger, and the head of the Jiang Clan and City Lord Zeng followed behind with gloomy faces.
As Governor Gong went farther away, the pervading killing intent gradually dissipated. Yuan Wuxing then regained some strength and stood up unsteadily.
"Governor Gong didn't even make a move, yet just his killing intent scared you like this. As a Nascent Soul peak stage cultivator, you're really humiliating yourself." Jiang Li mockingly scolded.
Yuan Wuxing smiled bitterly, "Senior Zhang, Governor Gong is a Nascent Soul peak stage cultivator. Faced with that level of killing intent, we, at the Golden Core stage, can't withstand it."
"Excuses. I have killed a Nascent Soul peak stage cultivator when I was at Golden Core peak stage."
Yuan Wuxing was stunned for a moment before he managed to say, "Senior, you're quite skilled."
Yuan Wuxing really admired Jiang Li. Look at him, a Daoist wandering around, in terms of status, he was even higher than the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou, and officials of the first and second ranks would greet him with a smile. Yet, he chose not to use this identity, and instead, according to the Great Zhou laws, systematically pushed the Jiang family to their death!
Impressive!