Original subtitles

His Majesty's edict is here!

This is His Majesty's verbal orders.

The cases of Jiang Li breaking a prisoner out of jail and Xue Huaiyuan's corruption

will be tried together at the Court of Judicial Review.

Duke Su is the imperial commissioner

who will supervise the investigation on His Majesty's behalf.

The case will be presented before His Majesty

ten days later to judge the case.

-Long live His Majesty! -Long live His Majesty!

Old Madam, don't worry.

Have some pear soup.

Dear,

did it go well with His Majesty?

What did His Majesty say?

His Majesty wouldn't meet me at all.

Well...

What does His Majesty mean?

His Majesty is making me avoid suspicions.

Don't worry too much, dear.

Tomorrow, I'll enter the palace to ask Consort Li about it.

I'm sorry to let you run around because of this.

What are you saying?

Although I'm just a homemaker,

I know what's at stake.

This doesn't only concern Li'er's survival

but also the Jiang family's reputation.

I won't just stand by and do nothing.

It's great for you to think that.

It's just pitiful that Li'er is locked up at the Court of Judicial Review.

And it's also bad for the Jiang family's reputation.

I've heard some rumors

even from here.

They said the Jiang family's daughter is no longer pure

after being locked up.

Even the Jiang family's name can't be cleared.

Mother.

It's not that I don't want to save her,

but she is really...

Well...

We are not completely helpless in this case.

What do you mean?

Previously, there was a rule at the capital's government office.

If a woman commits a crime,

as long as it's not killing her husband or children,

she can be

supervised back home

by her husband or family members

and await for her summon.

The Court of Judicial Review might be great,

but it's still the capital's government office.

Since Li'er is not married,

the Jiang family will supervise her.

Good.

I'll write to the minister of the Court of Judicial Review tomorrow.

There's no need for you to write.

You've worked hard and long

to deal with the Dingzhou issue.

It's better

for the Jiang family's women to handle this.

You mean...

Don't worry.

I will surely bring Li'er back.

COURT OF JUDICIAL REVIEW

You've been reminding me to stay calm over and over again,

but I still failed to do so.

I expected that,

but I didn't guess you'd be so pitiful.

Aren't you a particular person?

Don't you find this place dirty?

I'm tired,

so I'll rest here a bit.

I heard you were ordered to supervise the investigation.

But you haven't asked anything about the case.

Aren't you afraid His Majesty will punish you?

You've been asking me questions since I came in.

Aren't you tired?

Yes.

I'm quite tired.

The Admonishment Drum was beaten

and His Majesty will judge it himself.

You are forcing them to back you into a corner.

You've tried too hard.

It's not the first time.

There's actually no need to do that.

Duke Su,

is there anyone around you who died unjustly?

Father, wake up!

Father!

Father!

Wake up, Father!

If you were given an opportunity,

would you strike the Admonishment Drum at the Chang'an Gate for them?

I think you would.

All right.

I'm done investigating.

Is that all?

Yes.

Haven't you said all you need to say?

I'll go ahead.

Get some rest.

You shouldn't have come to this place.

And as the wife of the Chief Secretariat,

it's not right to show yourself here.

Don't restrict me with these words.

I've been managing the Jiang household for more than a decade.

Although I can't see most things in the government office,

I still hear about many things.

Now that you have my daughter here,

do you think it's unreasonable for me to ask about her?

If you just want to see the criminal,

I can help you with that.

However, you are here to take her away.

Forgive me for not allowing that.

I just want to ask you two questions, Duke Zhou.

First.

As a judicial officer,

do you follow the law of Great Yan?

Of course.

Second.

When a woman commits a crime,

as long as she didn't kill her husband or children,

she can be taken home

to be supervised by her husband or family members

while waiting to be summoned

before the trial.

Is this one of the laws of Great Yan?

Well...

Yes.

In that case,

why can't I set foot in this place?

I came here today

because I insisted on picking up my daughter.

I want to see

who dares to stop me.

Guard.

Yes.

Bring Ms. Jiang Li here.

Yes.

I'll be waiting here then.

-Duke Su. -Duke Su.

What's the matter?

The minister asked us

to hand over the criminal for supervision by her family.

We are here to take her out.

Duke Zhou, she's here.

Mrs. Jiang.

Based on Great Yan's law,

she'll be handed over to the Jiang family for supervision.

If she goes missing or is hidden, you will be punished according to the law.

Thank you, Duke Zhou.

Don't move around.

Just leave with me.

Mother, why are you here?

I don't know why you insisted on overturning that magistrate's case

after returning to Luyang,

but I know

your father has grown

a lot of gray hair because of what you did.

You've let your father and the Jiang family down.

As your mother,

I can't ignore your father

and the reputation of the Jiang family.

When you return to the Jiang family,

you can explain

to your father and Old Madam yourself.

You are right, Mother.

Grandmother,

I have returned.

It's good that you're home.

Sit.

Do you know why your father doesn't want to see you?

I'm sure Father

was worried about me with what happened in Dingzhou.

I caused such a big trouble.

I'm sure Father is angry at me.

You are not related to the magistrate from the Xue family.

Why did you get yourself involved in such a case?

You even brought so many folks back to the capital

and risked your life

and the future of the Jiang family.

Magistrate Xue's daughter, Xue Fangfei,

was my savior.

When I was in Zhennv Hall,

the Chief mistreated me

and I almost died.

It was Xue Fangfei who saved me.

Something like that happened?

I went to Luyang

not only to visit my relatives

but also to meet my savior.

However, she passed away at a young age.

Her father was in trouble

and I couldn't just stand by.

Li'er,

I won't stop you if you want to repay a debt of kindness,

but did you have to do that this way?

I know.

I'm part of the Jiang family.

Every move I make will affect the Jiang family,

so it wasn't my intention to act recklessly.

I only wanted to go to Huaixiang to meet my savior at first.

After I arrived in Huaixiang,

I accidentally discovered that the new magistrate

was lawles,

disregarded human lives, and exploited people.

You didn't see it.

Huaixiang was a prosperous place,

but it fell into a state

where people dared not step out during the day.

It was very sad.

Grandmother,

you told me about the family rules

Grandfather set.

Protect justice,

maintain righteousness,

and not covet temporary fame.

It's exactly because I'm part of the Jiang family

that I couldn't ignore

the aggrieved and suffering people.

I'm very happy to see

that you have such integrity.

However, you could have told your father about it

and let him handle it.

You didn't need to put yourself in danger again and again.

I had no choice.

The new Huaixiang magistrate

I told you about just now

colluded with the Li family.

What?

In the Soochow brocade incident of the Ye family in Luyang,

someone purposely placed poison to frame the Ye family.

I wrote a letter to inform Father about that.

I also found clues in Luyang.

The Li family is most probably the mastermind behind this.

Are you going to overturn the convicted official's case next?

Since ancient times,

there have been countless wronged cases.

Only a few could be overturned.

After breaking a death row prisoner out of jail,

I heard you'll be executed

if you can't overturn the case.

Grandmother,

I've gotten Xue Huaiyuan's dossier.

The case is a mess

and full of flaws.

Besides, if Magistrate Xue is guilty,

so many people

won't come with me to petition to His Majesty.

And the new magistrate, supported by the Li family,

bullied the people

and was nefarious.

People hate him.

I'll tell your father about this.

Thank you, Grandmother.

What?

The magistrate of Huaixiang really works for the Li family?

Exactly.

Li and Jiang families never saw eye to eye.

Over the years,

the Li family has been nurturing its power in and out of the imperial court.

Meanwhile, the Jiang family is not the same as it used to be.

I'm sure you know this better than anyone else.

The Li family has made their move.

Are we going to turn a blind eye to it?

No wonder Li Zhongnan wrote the memorial himself this time

and wants Jiang Li dead.

You've finally understood.

If Xue Huaiyuan's case can be overturned,

it'd be a setback for the Li family indeed.

However, Li Zhongnan will also hold a grudge against us.

When he gets an opportunity in the future,

he will take revenge on the Jiang family like crazy.

Even if you don't do anything,

will the Li family stop hating us?

They started the whole thing

and they even harmed the Ye family.

The Ye family

is our in-laws.

If we don't do anything,

how will people view the Jiang family?

Although Li'er acts on her passion for righteousness alone

and seems reckless in hitting the Admonishment Drum,

His Majesty said he would judge the case himself.

That means His Majesty also noticed

something fishy about Xue Huaiyuan's case.

Doesn't that give us a chance to counterattack?

Shuran has brought Li'er back now.

We have nothing to be afraid of.

At this point,

we should help Li'er

and give the Li family a blow.

Did you miss her?

What do you mean?

I thought you came back late

because you went to the Court of Judicial Review

to see Jiang Li,

who looks the same as your late wife.

Stop!

You are so boring.

You can't be teased at all.

Help me see

which outfit suits my complexion more.

Help me take a look.

Which outfit suits my complexion more?

All bright colors suit you.

Don't you prefer plain colors?

That's because I'm lowly.

All right.

I'll choose the red outfit then.

I'll wear it

to meet Ms. Jiang Li.

Why is Your Highness

going to the trial tomorrow?

To rub salt into the wound, of course.

I hope you don't start a fire

and burn yourself.

Shen Yurong,

I've tolerated you for a long time.

Your Highness, please turn around.

I'll help you tidy your sleeves.

I've always wanted to know

that if given another chance,

would you bury Xue Fangfei

or kill me?

I'd rather

die in Your Highness' hands.

TAIJI HALL

Ms. Jiang Li.

Why isn't Jiang Yuanbai here with you?

I think you've gotten used to the prison in the Court of Judicial Review.

You've become brave now.

You must be Chancellor Li.

Thank you for your concern.

I've already been released from the prison.

The Chief Secretariat has always been discreet.

I didn't expect his daughter

to be courageous.

Now that you've become more capable,

it's really surprising.

I'm flattered, Chancellor Li.

It seems like you're confident.

Are you sure they'll reveal

my involvement today,

so you don't feel scared at all?

What are you thinking?

Are you thinking how I know about this?

Let me tell you this,

Ms. Jiang Li.

There's nothing in this world

that I don't know of.

You are too naive

if you plan to play tricks

in front of me.

Even your father dares not do that,

but a young girl like you

is so discontented.

Are you not afraid

that you might die without a grave to your name in the end?

Are you reminding me to leave a way out for a surrounded enemy

and not press too hard?

Ms. Jiang Li, you are really brave.

You are so much better

than the two incapable sons of mine.

I just wonder how long you can keep your bravery up.

After today's ruling by His Majesty

and there's no room for maneuver,

I'm afraid Jiang Yuanbai will have no choice but to abandon you.

Chancellor Li.

Duke Su, you are early as well.

I was standing far away

and couldn't hear you clearly.

What were you saying to educate Ms. Jiang Li?

She even mentioned leaving a way out for a surrounded enemy.

I was rude.

Ms. Jiang Li,

what you said comes from The Art of War.

It's aggressive.

If you meet an old official like Chancellor Li in the future,

you must speak cautiously.

Understood.

Duke Su, you sure take good care of her.

Not really.

I'm just better

at teaching others than you, Chancellor Li.

We still don't know the results of today's trial.

Ms. Jiang Li is confident now.

I hope she can still smile

like she does now when the trial ends.

If you will excuse me.

Duke Su, thank you for helping me get off the hook again.

That was not a hook

for you.

You can't say that.

At least I can see

that Li Zhongnan came prepared.

In that case,

I have to tell you something in advance.

Relax.

I'm not planning

to hand my pawn over to the opponent yet.

If that's the case,

I must offer my gift to express my gratitude.

I've been trapped at home recently.

The handkerchief you asked me to sew is done.

You have great embroidery skills.

My embroidery skills cannot be compared to the one who sews your handkerchief.

I didn't even dare sew it at first,

fearing I'd ruin the work of the deceased.

You studied my background.

Duke Su, your father, General Xiao, was a famous general of our nation.

He was a soldier his whole life.

The whole nation knows that.

He and Madam Yu were deeply in love.

She was also an admirable and respectable woman.

What about your father?

What about me?

Chancellor Jiang.

Chancellor Jiang, you think thoroughly

and love the people.

I have something to say to my daughter.

Father.

You've suffered.

I thought you would never forgive me.

You are my daughter after all.

Your grandmother told me your sentiments.

Don't be scared later.

Just say anything on your mind.

I have your back.

Thank you, Father.

His Majesty is here!

-Greetings, Your Majesty. -Greetings, Your Majesty.

Rise, everyone.

-Thank you, Your Majesty. -Thank you, Your Majesty.

The corruption case of Huaixiang's magistrate, Xue Huaiyuan,

was judged by the local government office

and the dossier was handed to the Ministry of Justice

for closure.

Now, the people of Huaixiang doubt the result of the case

and appeal for him

and His Majesty cares for the people, so he ordered

the Ministry of Justice to hand it back to the Court of Judicial Review.

The Court of Judicial Review's minister will handle the case

and retry it together

with the Ministry of Justice.

The trial today

will be supervised by His Majesty himself.

Minister Zhou.

-You may begin. -Yes, Your Majesty.

Summon Ms. Jiang Li.

Summon Ms. Jiang Li!

Summon Ms. Jiang Li!

I, Jiang Li, greet Your Majesty.

Rise and speak.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Ms. Jiang Li,

did you bring the people of Huaixiang into the capital

for the sake

of the corruption case of Xue Huaiyuan, the magistrate of Huaixiang?

Minister Zhou,

half a year ago,

Huaixiang's magistrate, Xue Huaiyuan,

was accused of embezzlement by a local government office officer,

Feng Yutang.

He was judged to be executed by the Ministry of Justice

and awaited execution in prison.

I went to Huaixiang to visit a friend

and accidentally discovered something fishy in this case.

According to my understanding,

all of you

barged into Huaixiang's government office

on the day of Xue Huaiyuan's execution

and took the prisoner away forcefully.

Do you admit that?

I do.

Then do you know

that breaking a prisoner out of jail from a government office is a serious crime?

I do.

It was a last resort.

But if we hadn't done that,

Xue Huaiyuan's grievance and the suffering of Huaixiang's people

would never be known.

I will take responsibility for the crime I committed.

But I hope Your Majesty and everyone here

can redress the injustice for Magistrate Xue before convicting me.

Who was in charge

of Xue Huaiyuan's case at the Ministry of Justice?

I was.

I remember

that the dossier of this case was not complicated.

Ten crates of silver were found in Xue Huaiyuan's residence,

totaling 5,000 taels, as well as a private ledger.

Along with the testimony of the local government office officer, Feng Yutang,

we both had evidence and a witness.

There was nothing fishy, as Ms. Jiang Li mentioned.

Ms. Jiang Li went to Huaixiang personally.

I think she has discovered something unknown to others.

Since you are trying to overturn the case for a criminal,

please present new evidence in front of His Majesty

and let us judge it.

I have no new evidence.

How dare you?

Since you have no new evidence,

how dare you trick people

into coming to the capital to sound the Admonishment Drum

and force His Majesty to retry the case?

Ms. Jiang Li,

you have no respect for His Majesty at all.

My daughter is not done talking yet.

What's the rush?

Since I can't present new evidence,

I will change my request.

Your Majesty,

I came all the way

with the people of Huaixiang to sound the Admonishment Drum,

not to help Xue Huaiyuan get acquitted

but to ask Your Majesty to convict him.

Silence!

Convict him?

What do you mean?

As you all know,

there's concrete evidence for the embezzlement

of Huaixiang's magistrate, Xue Huaiyuan.

He's a vermin of the imperial court.

Your Majesty prioritizes integrity.

How dare a mere magistrate of Huaixiang

be so daring?

Imprisonment and execution cannot appease angry people.

I think

he should be punished with death by a thousand slashes.

Didn't she say she was going to overturn the case?

Is she admitting defeat

because she has no evidence?

Xue Huaiyuan might have a lowly position,

but he was still an official of Great Yan.

He was an official in Huaixiang for a decade

and they only discovered his corruption last year

and the evidence was a mere 5,000 taels.

Ten years,

5,000 taels.

I don't think the number is right.

How is it wrong?

For ten years,

has he been an official with integrity

or has he hidden himself too well?

Perhaps he was working with someone else

to transport the stolen money.

The last 5,000 taels left was only the leftover amount.

Where's the other stolen money?

The Ministry of Justice didn't investigate

and it wasn't included in the dossier.

Perhaps he used the money to purchase soldiers and horses.

Then he should be suspected of treason.

The Court of Judicial Review's minister wants to kill him without investigation.

If you think carefully,

aren't you worried?

We must investigate it in detail.

However, we have no new evidence

to reopen this case.

What should we do?

That is why

I brought the people of Huaixiang to the capital.

I'd like to summon witnesses.

Approved.

Summon the witnesses.

Kneel!

Regarding Magistrate Xue Huaiyuan's corruption case,

what do you have to say?

Your Majesty,

I don't know about Magistrate Xue's corruption case.

I only know...

Raise your head and speak.

I only know that both my daughter and I would be bullied

and have nowhere to live

if it wasn't for Magistrate Xue.

After my husband died,

-I raised my child alone. -Mother.

-At our most difficult time, -Don't be afraid.

Magistrate Xue

used his own salary to subsidize us.

He Jun,

help them clean up.

If someone dares bully them, punish them according to the law.

-Yes. -Ping'an.

Go and thank Magistrate Xue. Hurry.

-Thank you, Mr. Xue. -All right.

It's fine now. No one would dare to bully you again.

If Magistrate Xue hadn't sponsored me,

I might still be illiterate.

My family was poor and I couldn't afford tuition.

Magistrate Xue generously gave me travel expenses

so I could return to the academy

and become a scholar.

Gu Da.

Give him money to study.

Get the money from my salary.

-Yes. -Mother.

-My son. -I can study again.

Yes. That's great.

They said the pork I sold

would cause death.

If it wasn't for Magistrate Xue,

my ancestors' assets would've been taken by the bullies.

Stop!

I wanted to pay Magistrate Xue,

but he refused.

Your Majesty,

please investigate.

Magistrate Xue will never commit corruption.

Magistrate Xue is a good person.

-Yes. -Yes.

-Magistrate Xue is a good person. -Magistrate Xue is a good person.

-He's a good man. -He wouldn't do that.

Yes!

That's what they say.

Paying them

to speak for the corrupt official

isn't that hard either.

Duke Zhou,

you need to be careful.

The Vice Minister of Justice is right.

Why would a corrupt official

do so much for the people?

I'm sure these people were bribed

and spoke nonsense.

Please summon other witnesses.

Summon the witnesses.

Kneel!

Magistrate Xue paved my home entrance's road.

There was a flood

and Magistrate Xue did not return home for three days.

Magistrate Xue gave me money to treat my illness.

Magistrate's Xue's grace...

-Magistrate Xue's kindness... -If it wasn't for Magistrate Xue...

Your Majesty, please investigate clearly!

-Your Majesty, please investigate clearly! -Your Majesty, please investigate clearly!

What they said sounds touching.

They remind me

of the corruption case three years ago by the magistrate of Qingzhou.

The magistrate embezzled a huge amount of money back then

but used a small amount to help the people.

When we seized his assets,

there were also many people

who knelt and pleaded

for him like them.

You personally handled the case, Minister Zhou.

Have you forgotten?

I still remember it well.

Chancellor Li, you are right.

Spending a small amount on the people

and a big amount on buying lands, right?

The Great Yan does have such a greedy official.

Feng Yutang is one of them.

Half a year after Feng Yutang became the magistrate of Huaixiang,

he bought furniture for himself.

His family wore a lot of jewelry

and they lived a lavish lifestyle.

Xue Huaiyuan worked there for ten years.

I'm sure he had more assets than him.

Half a year ago, Xue Huaiyuan was imprisoned

and his assets were seized.

I request the Grand Censor

to announce the assets seized from the Xue family

and the Feng family.

Show everyone

how much worse

Xue Huaiyuan is compared to Feng Yutang.

Grand Censor, please present the two magistrates' assets.

The former magistrate of Huaixiang, Xue Huaiyuan,

had no houses or lands

when he was in office.

The amount of stolen money seized from his residence

and his total assets amount to a total of 5,000 taels.

-That... -That's not right.

The current magistrate of Huaixiang, Feng Yutang,

has more than 40 houses while he is in office.

The farmland he owns is too much to count.

After investigation, his houses, farmlands, and savings

exceeded a total of 200,000 tales.

What? Over 200,000 taels?

He has more than 200,000 taels?

A complicated 200,000 taels

and a clean 5,000 taels.

In that case,

Magistrate Xue didn't even leave himself

a piece of roof tile in Huaixiang.

He only embezzled 5,000 taels.

And the money was all exchanged into ingots

and put into crates

in his own residence, waiting for the Ministry of Justice's seizure.

He is indeed an example

for corrupt officials.

Stop using your eloquent words.

No matter how much

and how he got the money,

he is still corrupt.

Minister Zhou, please summon other witnesses.

Summon the witnesses.

Your Majesty,

we were officers of Huaixiang when Magistrate Xue was in office.

Magistrate Xue stayed in Huaixiang for ten years.

He was never corrupt.

After he was imprisoned,

all of us who knew the truth were confined in a mine.

Your Majesty!

We are willing to swear on our lives.

If we tell a lie, punish us

by nine familial exterminations.

We are willing to swear on our lives.

If we tell a lie, punish us

by nine familial exterminations!

We are willing to swear on our lives.

If we tell a lie, punish us

by nine familial exterminations.

We are willing to swear on our lives.

If we tell a lie, punish us

by nine familial exterminations!

-We are willing to swear on our lives. -We are willing to swear on our lives.

-If we tell a lie, punish us -If we tell a lie, punish us

-by nine familial exterminations. -by nine familial exterminations.

No matter what,

it is true that Xue Huaiyuan was corrupt.

As Ms. Jiang Li mentioned,

he should be punished with death by a thousand slashes.

Hold it.

Jiang Li,

go on.

The magistrate of Huaixiang, Xue Huaiyuan, committed a crime.

His crime is that in the ten years he was in the position,

apart from embezzling the disaster relief funds,

he had almost no desires

and was loyal,

responsible,

and upright.

It's hard to find a corrupt official like him.

So during his term,

he must have had many schemes and evil actions.

During his term,

where did his money go?

Building dams and footpaths and benefiting the people.

He was trying to embarrass

the good officials in the capital who live a lavish life

and own hectares of land.

He was shameless and arrogant!

Xue Huaiyuan's crime is unforgivable indeed.

I request Your Majesty

to punish Xue Huaiyuan with death by a thousand slashes.

In that case,

Xue Huaiyuan did not commit a crime

but had merits instead.

I request

that Xue Huaiyuan be brought to the hall.

Xue Huaiyuan is a witness as well.

I want Your Majesty

to see what Magistrate Xue looks like now.

Approved.

Summon Xue Huaiyuan.

Your Majesty,

this man is Xue Huaiyuan, the magistrate of Huaixiang.

He was imprisoned by Feng Yutang

and was heavily tortured.

He is now mentally confused

and behaves like a child.

What a pity that an upright official

ended up like this.

If news of this spreads,

how many upright officials in the nation will feel disappointed?

And how many people

will swear loyalty to Your Majesty?

How dare you, Jiang Li!

How dare you doubt His Majesty?

Ms. Jiang Li's sentiment

is coincidentally similar to mine.

Sincere advice may be unpleasant to the ear.

Ms. Jiang Li's words might be out of line,

but they sound reasonable.

If we abandon upright officials

and only use corrupt officials,

the nation will be in ruins.

Duke Su is right.

I'm not someone who can't take sincere advice.

Minister Jiang,

you raised your daughter well.

Such an upright official who loves the people

was falsely accused and sent to prison.

Now, he is in such a pitiful state.

This is my fault

and a loss for Great Yan!

-We are to blame. -We are to blame.

Rise.

Wei Qian!

You misjudged a case. Do you admit your guilt?

I deserve to die!

I didn't know

there was such a nefarious person in my administration

like Feng Yutang.

Zhou Dezhao, I order you to reinvestigate Xue Huaiyuan's corruption case.

Those who were involved in framing Xue Huaiyuan

should be punished severely!

Yes, Your Majesty.

Jiang Li,

you are brave and wise.

You impressed me once again.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

You may rise.

Xue Huaiyuan's case has been investigated clearly.

Mr. Zhou, you should judge Ms. Jiang Li's case

of breaking a prisoner out of jail.

Your Majesty.

My daughter is reckless indeed.

But after hearing the truth

about Xue Huaiyuan's case earlier,

I'm really reluctant to punish her for what she did that day.

A good official's unjust death

is not just a tragedy to himself

but a hit to every official's loyalty.

My daughter made a grave mistake,

but she saved a good official whom I couldn't save.

In this main hall today,

I...

I feel ashamed.

We are ashamed!

We are ashamed!

-We are ashamed! -We are ashamed!

We are ashamed!

We are ashamed!

-We are ashamed! -We are ashamed!

-We are ashamed! -We are ashamed!

-We are ashamed! -We are ashamed!

-We are ashamed! -We are ashamed!

Zhou Dezhao,

what do you say?

Your Majesty,

since Xue Huaiyuan was wronged,

that means he is not a criminal.

So there's no evidence that Ms. Jiang Li

broke a prisoner out of jail.

That is reasonable.

Jiang Li,

you are acquitted.

You may close your case at the Court of Judicial Review and go home.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Rise.

-Thank you, Your Majesty. -Thank you, Your Majesty.

Does Xue Huaiyuan have children and family members?

I want to compensate them.

Xue Huaiyuan had a son and a daughter.

As far as I know,

his son, Xue Zhao,

was killed by bandits in the capital last year.

His daughter, Xue Fangfei...

was Mr. Shen's late wife.

This is too pitiful.

-Right. -Yes.

-Yes. -Right.

-So heartbreaking. -That's right.

When I found out my father-in-law had committed corruption,

I was shocked.

Now that I've learned

that he was framed by a villain,

it pains me

now that I recall it.

Father.

Father.

It was tough for you.

Ye Shijie.

Magistrate Xue,

it's all right.

It's fine now.

Magistrate Xue, it's all right.

It's fine now.

Mr. Shen, please forgive him.

You haven't seen Magistrate Xue for a long time.

I'm afraid he can't recognize you anymore.

Duke Zhou, Magistrate Xue is in shock.

Can I take him back to rest first?

You may leave.

Who wrote this story?

It's really cruel.

What do you mean?

The father is corrupt.

The daughter had an affair.

The son was murdered.

The family of three suffered tragic fates one after the other.

Isn't this common in storybooks?

What storybook?

Framing

and silencing people.

Framing?

Was Mr. Shen's late wife framed

for having an affair as well?

We can't be sure.

Duke Su has always been bold.

-He dares to say anything. -Yes.

Duke Su, I'll leave this matter to you.

Investigate the truth behind the deaths of the Xues

and clear the family's name

so Mr. Shen can feel relieved.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Interesting.

How interesting.

Why didn't Your Majesty ask me to join

such an interesting imperial court trial?

An investigation is not child's play.

Why did you come here?

I have something important to inform you about.

Ms. Jiang Li has a sharp tongue.

She has successfully overturned the Xue family's case.

While Your Majesty feels indignant

about your upright subject being framed,

I wonder if you have thought

you were also being played

like a fool?

Wanning,

don't speak nonsense.

What a coincidence.

I heard Mr. Shen's wife

was Huaixiang's most talented lady,

so I got curious and went to take a look.

Indeed.

Mrs. Shen has a unique face.

It was rare indeed.

That's why I was shocked

when I saw Ms. Jiang Li.

Because she looks exactly the same

as Xue Fangfei.

-What? -Is that so?