Chapter 196 The Case Has Nothing to Do with Her

In ancient times, fingerprint identification technology was not advanced enough for law enforcement to quickly identify a criminal.

In ancient times, death warriors and shadow guards generally did not go out in public.

They only came out to carry out missions when their masters gave orders.

Although Ji Yuntang suspected that this case might be related to Consort Li, she dared not jump to conclusions for the time being.

The slander was a minor matter, but bringing trouble upon herself would not be worth it.

Xu Muyan furrowed his brow, also aware of the difficulty in investigating this case. Without witnesses or physical evidence, capturing the killer was even more challenging than reaching the heavens.

He looked at Ji Yuntang and cupped his hands in salute: "Today, I thank Princess Ye for personally providing clues to the Dali Temple. I will truthfully report this matter to His Majesty. I will also confirm to the public that you have nothing to do with Imperial Physician Zhu’s case."

Ji Yuntang smiled slightly. "Then I thank Assistant Minister Xu for clearing my name."

The reason she had come to the Dali Temple was precisely to clear herself of suspicion.

Seeing that her goal had been achieved, Ji Yuntang did not linger. She walked out side by side with Xu Muyan.

At that moment, outside the imperial prison.

Madam Zhu had already been untied by the guards. She was standing together with Ji Huaiche, and the two seemed to be discussing something.

Ji Yuntang initially wanted to pretend she hadn’t seen them and ignore them.

But the only way to leave was to pass by them.

She walked over calmly, but Madam Zhu suddenly turned around and blocked her path menacingly.

"You killed my husband. Where do you think you’re going?"

Ji Yuntang furrowed her brows but kindly explained: "Imperial Physician Zhu was not killed by me. Assistant Minister Xu has already investigated; the killer is someone else."

Madam Zhu, however, refused to listen to Ji Yuntang’s explanation. She glared at her hatefully, her eyes filled with venomous hatred.

"Who else could it be if not you!?"

"My husband was a kind and gentle man who never had conflicts with anyone. Over the years, he has diligently treated His Majesty and the consorts in the palace. While he wasn’t immensely wealthy, he lived in peace. His character was recognized by everyone."

"But ever since he went to the Prince Ye’s mansion and met you, you vile woman, in less than half a month, he died in prison! Now you say it wasn’t you? Then catch the real killer and show me!"

Ji Yuntang laughed as if she had heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.

"You say Imperial Physician Zhu had good character?"

"You are his wife. Can you possibly not know how he tortured our prince for the past three years?"

"Our prince is the War God Prince, personally appointed by His Majesty, his own son! Yet because of Imperial Physician Zhu, because he casually said that our prince had fire poison, our prince lay on an Ice Stone Bed and soaked in ice baths for three years, tormenting him until he was barely human. And you say Imperial Physician Zhu had good character?"

"You boast about your husband’s great medical skills, but he came to our mansion to provoke me because he was jealous of my superior medical skills. I wondered where he got such audacity — now I see he had a wife at home just as arrogant and ignorant!"

"Did the darkness of the gutter breed such shallow ignorance?"

Madam Zhu: "..."

Madam Zhu: "!!!"

She hadn’t expected this little shrew to be so sharp-tongued, indirectly insulting both her and Imperial Physician Zhu.

Not only did she call her arrogant, but she also said she lacked manners.

Madam Zhu trembled with rage. Fortunately, the maid beside her steadied her.

Ji Huaiche walked over and glared coldly at Ji Yuntang.

"Do you think saying this will clear you of suspicion?"

"Until this case is closed and the real culprit is identified, as the prime suspect, you cannot leave the Dali Temple."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Yuntang sneered and slapped him across the face.

"Slap!"

Caught off guard, Ji Huaiche staggered back from the force, his face burning with pain.

Feeling something trickle from his nose, he touched it and found a trickle of blood from his nose.

He was so furious he almost lost control!

But before he could explode, he heard Ji Yuntang’s disdainful voice.

"Heir Ji, you're incredibly thick-skinned. Today Chen Hu didn’t hit you, so I’ll teach you a lesson."

"Assistant Minister Xu has already said I’m not a suspect. Who do you think you are, daring to convict me? A subordinate should know his place. Since when did the Dali Temple belong to the Yongning Marquis Mansion?"

Ji Huaiche gnashed his teeth, flames of fury flickering in his eyes as if they would consume him.

At that moment, Xu Muyan walked out, saying angrily: "Assistant Minister Ji, you have overstepped your bounds!"

Xu Muyan understood well that Ji Huaiche had never accepted him as the Assistant Minister of the Dali Temple.

Not only because Ji Huaiche was the heir of the Yongning Marquis Mansion, but also because Xu Muyan was a son-in-law living with his wife’s family in the Prime Minister’s mansion.

A son-in-law living with his wife’s family meant a man voluntarily marrying into his wife’s household, resulting in lower status and identity.

Throughout history, such men have been despised by many.

In this era of male dominance, a man marrying into a woman’s family indicated that from then on, he would be at the woman’s service, and any children born would not bear his surname.

Xu Muyan was originally a scholar who came to the capital for the imperial examinations. That year, he placed first in the palace examination and became the top scholar. Emperor Jingyang recognized his exceptional case-solving abilities and specially appointed him as a Vice Minister in the Ministry of Justice.

Over the past two years, Xu Muyan performed outstandingly in the Ministry of Justice and was later transferred to the Dali Temple to serve as Assistant Minister.

He was as handsome as jade, upright, and easygoing, exuding a gentlemanly air. The current Prime Minister, Hua Jing'an, took a liking to him and betrothed his youngest daughter, Hua Ruyue, to him.

Hua Ruyue fell in love with Xu Muyan at first sight and, after a few encounters, swore she would marry no one else.

Prime Minister Hua knew that Xu Muyan’s official salary was meager and his family background was inferior to the Prime Minister's.

Prime Minister Hua provided an astronomical dowry when Hua Ruyue married, causing a sensation throughout the capital.

Although Xu Muyan was a son-in-law living with his wife’s family, Prime Minister Hua did not force him to live in the Prime Minister's mansion. Instead, he bought them a separate residence nearby.

In the year of their marriage, Xu Muyan and Hua Ruyue deeply loved each other. He had no concubines in the household, and she was pregnant with their child.

Ji Huaiche was clearly suffering from envy. His abilities were inferior to Xu Muyan's, and he couldn't stand seeing others live better than he did, so he resorted to bringing up Xu Muyan’s status.

In his heart, he always believed that if Xu Muyan hadn’t been fortunate enough to marry Hua Ruyue and gained the support of Prime Minister Hua, his official career wouldn't have been so smooth, and he wouldn't be one rank above him.

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