Chapter 11: Do You Like Her?

The Ministry of Justice

A man dressed in a deep crimson official robe hurried into a dimly lit room, fine beads of sweat dotting his forehead, which only made his handsome face appear more vivid and striking.

Ignoring the fact that the tea had gone cold, he lifted the cup and gulped down several mouthfuls, yet even his rough manner of drinking tea looked effortlessly elegant.

“I'm not trying to criticize, but are the Ministry of Justice’s case files really like scripts? The Xiao family’s case—going over it hundreds of times back and forth—don’t you get bored?” Yan Jing lounged lazily in the armchair opposite Ling Zhao, his feet casually propped on the desk. “A respectable general like you, instead of training on the battlefield, runs to me every day. Two men alone in a dark chamber—someone outside might spin all sorts of stories if they saw.”

Little did he know, this cold-faced judge before him was restless and troubled, disturbed by a young lady’s simple address of “big brother,” unable to find peace day or night.

Ling Zhao was no different; not only was he avoiding Meng Qingxuan, but also Xiao Ming. Beyond the daily court sessions, he buried himself in the Ministry of Justice. Outwardly, his eyes flicked intently over the case files, but in truth, the dense, tiny characters seemed like little crawling insects, itching deep within his heart.

“Far worse than a script,” he said faintly.

“You ungrateful wretch! Then stop looking and give it here!” Yan Jing reached out to snatch the file, nearly toppling over in the process.

Ling Zhao merely glanced sideways, as if calculating that the other’s antics were harmless. Seeing Yan Jing’s flustered, panicked grip on his silk hat, he smiled softly, eyes curved with amusement, and teased, “With your skills, who do you think you can snatch it from? Even if you get it, it won’t last.”

A sharp glint flashed in Yan Jing’s eyes as he shot a cutting glare.

He knew there was a double meaning in those words but didn’t bother to respond. These two had grown up bare-bottomed together, sharing a deep bond. Seeing Ling Zhao weighed down by worries, he wanted to advise him, but Ling Zhao’s stubborn nature made him hesitant to say too much and risk offending him. So, he leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and contemplated quietly.

After a moment’s pause, Yan Jing spoke, “By the way, I was drinking with Prefect Zhao the other day, and he told me something about the Zhang family on Baixi Street. I guarantee you’ll want to hear it.”

“Go on.”

Clearing his throat twice, Yan Jing adopted a serious tone: “Zhang’s daughter-in-law gave birth to three children, and astonishingly, two belong to Zhang, and only one is her husband’s. Even more outrageous, Zhang’s son knows about it, and his mother keeps encouraging the daughter-in-law to share the bed with Zhang. Tell me, do those two kids call Zhang ‘father’ or ‘grandfather’? And do they call his son ‘father’ or ‘brother’?”

Yan Jing’s playful tone immediately drew a sharp glare from Ling Zhao.

“My point is, you can’t keep obsessing over this alone. No matter how difficult, having someone to discuss it with can help unravel the truth.”

“So how was the case finally judged?”

“There’s no judgment to be had—it’s just a family matter.”

Yan Jing poured another cup of tea and glanced at the file in Ling Zhao’s hands before calmly taking a sip. “Not everything needs to be crystal clear. Sometimes, even when you unravel the truth, it remains just the truth. Like the Zhang family’s three children—the facts are set, unchangeable. You see what I mean?”

Ling Zhao snorted coldly, “That’s just you sweeping things under the rug.”

Seeing his stubbornness, Yan Jing shook his head, unwilling to argue further.

“I asked you because I sent people to investigate. The Xiao couple did indeed have an accident passing through Youzhou, so why does your Ministry of Justice record say they were attacked by bandits in Yuhang?”

Yan Jing raised an eyebrow, feigning nonchalance: “Is your little cousin the only Xiao family in the entire empire?”

Ling Zhao thought for a moment, then immediately understood, snorting, “So that’s it.”

Yan Jing looked at him meaningfully. “Imperial merchants… there are all sorts of twists and turns. Maybe that couple got caught up in some secret struggle and became scapegoats, silenced by those above.”

Ling Zhao’s eyes narrowed slightly, his mind elsewhere.

Yan Jing tapped the desk with his finger. “Let me give you one last piece of advice: now that this case is in the Ministry of Justice, it’s already been set for trial—this is the will of the court. If you can see through it, don’t you think the court can as well? I’d say the court gave the Xiao family a way to save face by claiming they were killed by bandits, preventing further involvement, and leaving behind an orphaned girl. That’s a great mercy! Otherwise, the entire family would have been wiped out. If they knew of your family’s ties to the Xiaos, they wouldn’t have let you off so easily.”

Ling Zhao’s lowered eyes darkened.

“This isn’t something you or I can overturn by ourselves, nor can you change the verdict by poring over a few files. There are too many matters in this world that can’t be explained or understood. Don’t torment yourself. You should also advise your little cousin—she thinks her parents were wronged, but often the truth goes the other way.”

“Whether that coachman is genuine or fake, what difference does it make? When the Xiao family was prosperous, how many people hated them behind their backs? Now, only Xiao Ming’s parents died. Could those people swallow that? Even if it wasn’t someone from the palace, what about others? People die for money as birds die for food. How do you know that coachman wasn’t a trap set to lure Xiao Ming in? Otherwise, how could such a frail young girl find such a crucial witness to overturn the case—and alive?”

Yan Jing’s tone grew passionate; he clenched his fists and paced the dim room. “If you keep digging and stir up the court, and those schemers in the capital target General Ling, what will you do? Ling Zhao, the court isn’t afraid of your father’s command of 200,000 troops. Have you considered the spies lurking in the shadows? Have they reported to the court? Has the court already made up its mind?”

Ling Zhao shot Yan Jing a glance. “It’s just the imperial merchants…”

Yan Jing nearly slapped him. “You think it’s just the imperial merchants? Behind the Xiao family? No insignificant nobody can become imperial merchants at will. If you get involved, won’t the court suspect you have ulterior motives? Won’t they think your father ordered you to use this truth to pressure the throne and plot rebellion? If one day your family falls, can you bare your heart and tell the court you only boasted in front of a young girl to save face?”

His words struck with weight and urgency, his flushed face glowing like a sunset. For a moment, even Ling Zhao avoided his gaze.

Unraveling the truth, letting it all come to light.

His intentions were exposed nakedly under the broad daylight, nowhere to hide.

After he finished, the quiet in the dark room was so deep a pin could drop and be heard.

After a long silence, Yan Jing’s eyes twinkled lazily as he smiled and asked, “You like her?”

Ling Zhao glanced at him but said nothing.

“The Ling family has never been cold or heartless. The Xiao family once saved your life, and the Ling family acknowledged that. Otherwise, the General’s residence wouldn’t have taken in a mysterious woman just on your word alone. But why didn’t you also acknowledge the betrothal? Xiao Ming couldn’t become the legitimate wife, yet why did the Old Madam Ling not even allow her to be a concubine? Have you ever thought carefully about the secrets behind all this?”