The wailing of Duke Yua, the cries of injustice, instantly gave Ye Zhen the feeling of disaster descending upon him from nowhere while he sat idly at home.
The battles Ye Zhen has fought, the people he has killed, the brawls he has been in, are countless.
Ye Zhen always had control when making a move, how could Marquis Chii Quan Shi Ting possibly have died from severe injuries?
"Lord Yua, indeed, I had a little conflict with your son yesterday, but I was very measured, and your son only suffered superficial wounds; he was fine when he left, and the people from the Inspection Department and the Heavenly Patrol Department can testify," Ye Zhen said, stepping forward with cupped hands out of necessity.
"Pei!"
The grief-stricken Duke Yua Shi Ming Po spit at Ye Zhen forcefully, "Superficial wounds! How could you say that?
If they were only superficial wounds, why would my son die from severe injuries overnight?"
"Ye, what grudge or enmity did my son have with you that made you strike such a vicious blow? Having the Inspection and Heavenly Patrol Departments testify? Do you have any shame?
My son, a Marquis, was beaten to death by you on the street, how could those small officials dare not comply with you?"
"Your Majesty, you must do justice for this old servant! This noble rank I hold, was earned with real swords and spears on the battlefield, with the heads of the Demon Clan.
This Ye Zhen, relying on his battle merits, dared to commit violence on the street, beating my son to death. I beg Your Majesty to do justice for me!" With a bang, Duke Yua knelt long in front of the imperial steps, unable to rise.
Listening, Ye Zhen felt puzzled and somewhat ashamed.
Indeed, yesterday his mental state was somewhat off, a situation common among many warriors who just came off the battlefield.
Today, he had already returned to normal.
Yesterday’s incident happened because of Ye Zhen’s mentality at the time, coupled with Marquis Chii Quan Shi Ting driving wildly down the street, prompting Ye Zhen to take action.
To be fair, the person whipped yesterday was Ye Zhen; if it had been someone else, being whipped almost to death, they would have had nowhere to seek justice.
Ye Zhen considered he was merely giving Marquis Chii Quan Shi Ting a lesson.
If the situation had repeated itself, Ye Zhen would still take action.
However, Ye Zhen never had any intention of killing Marquis Chii Quan Shi Ting.
Now that Marquis Chii Quan Shi Ting was dead, Ye Zhen knew there had to be another reason, but regardless of what that reason might be, it implicated Ye Zhen.
Ye Zhen clearly understood that the one who killed Marquis Chii Quan had most likely done it as an attack on him.
Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence?
Feeling apologetic, Ye Zhen knew all he could do now was to find the true culprit behind the scenes.
Ye Zhen was contemplating it broadly, while Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long on the throne was getting anxious. Duke Yua’s words made sense, but everyone knew what was going on.
Not long after yesterday’s incident, the Heavenly Patrol Department and the Secret Overseer reported to Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long, who simply smiled and paid it no further mind.
Such skirmishes between nobles happened often in Luoyi.
Who knew a dramatic change would occur overnight.
"Your Majesty, Duke Yua Shi Ming Po accuses Duke of North Sea County Ye Zhen. This matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice, involving two lords. I request permission to immediately send someone to investigate, collect evidence, and perform an autopsy!" The Minister of Ministry of Justice Feng Tingji stepped forward and said.
"Permission granted!"
"Your Majesty, this old servant has brought my son’s body, right here in the Universe Hall. If you are to perform an autopsy, let it be done openly here!" Duke Yua Shi Ming Po said once more.
Ye Zhen’s brows twitched sharply, an ominous premonition arising.
Whoever was targeting Ye Zhen from behind, since they dared to preserve the body and let Duke Yua bring it for an autopsy, the opponent must be very confident.
Since the body was brought, the Minister of Ministry of Justice Feng Tingji promptly arranged for an experienced forensic doctor to conduct the autopsy.
Finding it suspicious, Ye Zhen also requested to participate in the autopsy and was granted permission.
Outside the Universe Hall, Ye Zhen and the forensic doctor completed the autopsy on Marquis Chii Quan Shi Ting’s body. However, the more they examined, the more shocked Ye Zhen became.
The injuries on Marquis Chii Quan Shi Ting’s body were indeed inflicted by Ye Zhen, without a doubt.
But the original superficial wounds had inexplicably been magnified nearly tenfold.
Injuries that originally only reached the tendons and bones had inexplicably spread to the Five Internal Organs and Six Hollow Organs.
While no single injury, extending to the Five Internal Organs and Six Hollow Organs, was fatal, the simultaneous eruption of these hundreds of injuries stole Marquis Chii Quan Shi Ting’s life and severed his chance of survival.
Ye Zhen was well aware someone had tampered with Marquis Chii Quan Shi Ting’s injuries.
Ye Zhen had initially used a bit of Black Water Spirit Power. At present, the lingering Qi Force was almost identical to Ye Zhen’s own force attributes, hardly distinguishable; at a glance, even Ye Zhen almost believed the remaining Qi Force was his Black Water Spirit Power.
In such circumstances, Ye Zhen found himself unable to argue his innocence.
"Lord Ye, could you release a bit of Water Spiritual Power so we may discern it," said one of the five most seasoned and experienced forensic doctors of Great Zhou, after completing the autopsy, as they addressed Ye Zhen.
Ye Zhen naturally had to cooperate.
After sending out five strands of Black Water Spirit Power, the five exceptionally experienced forensic doctors closed their eyes to sense closely.
Little more than half a quarter-hour later, the five forensic doctors exchanged glances and nodded simultaneously, "Your Majesty, Lord Minister, we can confirm, the lethal force aura within Marquis Chii Quan’s body matches Lord Ye’s force aura exactly."
After speaking, the five forensic doctors kowtowed and left.
Upon hearing this, Duke Yua Shi Ming suddenly burst into anger, pouncing at Ye Zhen like a mad tiger, "What grudge, what enmity, would make you resort to such a cruel hand!
Even if my son is a bit of a wastrel, this is the capital his father, grandfather, and ancestor bought with blood. He collided with you on the street, but did you have to kill him?"
In his rage, Lord Yua wanted to tear Ye Zhen apart, but was restrained by samurai before the hall, yet his mouth kept spewing curses.
Ye Zhen’s expression became calmer instead at this moment.
The face of Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long upon the throne was as stern as water, and he demanded, "Ye Zhen, what do you have to say about this matter!"
"Your Majesty, I did not kill anyone! I only gave a slight punishment to Marquis Chii Quan Shi Ting, a minor flesh wound, definitely not fatal!" Ye Zhen said.
"Not fatal?"
The father-in-law of Yues, Duke Songhe mocked, "Then tell me, how did my son-in-law die? Could it be suicide?"
After speaking, Duke Songhe stepped forward, "Your Majesty, Lord Minister, please stand up for my wronged son-in-law, and my poor young widowed daughter."
As soon as Duke Songhe spoke, a large number of courtiers stepped forward demanding stern punishment for Ye Zhen, some calling for him to be imprisoned, others demanding his life for a life.
Ye Zhen, however, watched coldly without a word; those speaking now were all relatives and friends of Duke Yua and Duke Songhe, which was understandable.
The heaviest figure, Minister of the Ministry of Justice Feng Tingji, had yet to speak.
Suddenly, one of the three chiefs of the Ministry of Justice, Assistant Minister Zhu Suo, stepped forward to speak, "Your Majesty, according to the Law of Great Zhou, if a noble kills a commoner, he can evade punishment through monetary compensation.
But if a noble kills another noble, according to the Law of Great Zhou, the premeditated perpetrator must pay with their life, though they can choose to reduce their rank and punishment, each level of rank reduced reducing the punishment by one degree.
Duke of North Sea Ye Zhen assaulted Marquis Chii Quan Shi Ting according to the law and should pay with his life, but can reduce his rank and punishment to stay alive!" Having said this, Assistant Minister Zhu Suo looked at Ye Zhen.
"Duke of North Sea, reducing rank by one level can change your fate from death to becoming a Sin Slave, reducing by two levels changes it to exile for thirty million li, reducing by three levels changes it to hard labor for sixty years, but rank and punishment can only be reduced by up to three levels. Which level of rank would you wish to reduce, which level of punishment?"
At this moment, Military Department Minister Ban Di stepped forward, "It’s unacceptable, Duke of North Sea Ye Zhen currently guards the Blood River Fortress and holds an important position. If we discuss punishment at this time..."
Before Military Department Minister Ban Di could finish speaking, one of the Eight Council Members, Prince Zhen, stepped forward, "Minister Ban’s words are wrong. Nobles are the foundation upon which our Great Zhou is established; the guarantee of noble rights is the guarantee of our millennial stability."
If a noble is beaten to death in the street, even this prince cannot escape the treatment under the Law of Great Zhou.
Therefore, Ye Zhen beating Marquis Chii Quan Shi Ting must be dealt with, or it shakes the very foundation of the country. As for Ye Zhen’s military position in the Human-Demon Battlefield"
Here, Prince Zhen chuckled lightly, "When I think of my Great Zhou, there are generals like clouds, brave generals like the sea. The mere position of Marshal at Blood River Fortress, as a Grand Governor at the Human Demon Battlefield, Ji Yuan will surely arrange it well."
It wasn’t until Prince Zhen’s words were spoken that Ye Zhen, Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu, and Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long immediately guessed who the true mastermind was and their real purpose behind it.
The Temple!
Whether Prince Zhen or Prince Lik, or Assistant Minister Zhu Suo, they are all officials of the Qintian Temple, especially Prince Zhen and Prince Lik who have close relationships with the Temple, such that even Ren Venerate Ji Long can’t handle them.
Once Ye Zhen is taken down, the position of Marshal Blood River Fortress under the rule would automatically be appointed by Human Demon Battlefield Grand Governor Ji Yuan.
Simply thinking with your feet makes it clear what kind of candidate Ji Yuan would appoint and the subsequent impacts.
Almost simultaneously, Chief Sun Priest Bai Xiang, Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu, Chief Eunuch Yu Chao’en, and Ren Venerate Ji Long exchanged glances in the air.
The mysterious formation within the Blood River Forbidden Land below Blood River.
Their real aim in making trouble was to remove Ye Zhen from the post of Marshal in order to facilitate their investigation into the anomaly currently occurring within the Blood River Fortress.
And once the control of Blood River Fortress falls into the hands of Prince Lik Ji Yuan’s men appointed from a faction devoted to the Temple, consequences are predictable.
The mysterious formation matter within the Blood River Forbidden Land will soon be discovered by the Temple.
This mysterious formation in the Blood River Forbidden Land, being related to the foundation of the nation, is itself extremely troublesome, and if the ever-disruptive Temple interferes, who knows how many variables will arise?
With exchanged glances, Bai Xiang, Wu Yu, Ren Venerate Ji Long, and others reached a consensus — they must intervene.
They cannot let such things happen and must protect Ye Zhen!
However, as they exchanged glances, each was extremely helpless.
On the political stage, of course, there are rules.
Even as Ren Venerate Ji Long cannot act as he wishes.
Now, even if these few giants want to protect Ye Zhen, they must adhere to the rules of the court.
But the problem is, according to the rules, exhausting their minds, they couldn’t devise a method to absolve Ye Zhen.
The situation now is truly hammered!
But they could not stand idly by and watch Ye Zhen’s rank be stripped and cast into prison!
As they were racking their brains for solutions, Assistant Minister Zhu Suo spoke again, "Your Majesty, Duke Yua accuses Duke of North Sea Ye Zhen of the murder of his son, the evidence of the crime has been confirmed, and we ask Your Majesty for judgment!"
"We ask Your Majesty for judgment!" A large group knelt down among the courtiers.
The pressure was as heavy as a mountain.

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