His gaze shifted to Ji Muqing who was kneeling on the floor. Her appearance was no longer pristine.
He waved his sleeve. “Murderers pay with their lives! My daughter was killed by you, so don’t even think of escaping death!”
How ferocious!
Ji Muqing insisted, “I didn’t kill her. She fell on her own. It has nothing to do with me!”
“What an arrogant woman! This happened in front of everyone, but you still can deny it. Today, I will take your life.” Done speaking, he pulled out a sword from one of the runners and wanted to chop Ji Muqing.
Fortunately, Governor Yi stopped him timely. “Lord Liang, this is unacceptable! Regarding this matter, I will give you an explanation, but in the meantime, reel in your anger.”
“Get out of my way!” He pushed away Lord Yi, raised the weapon and chopped down.
Ji Muqing widened her eyes, and her body collapsed softly on the floor. Her eyes were transfixed on the descending blade.
Clang!
At the last minute, a small stone hit the blade, deviating from its course. The sword jumped out of Lord Liang’s hands, and fell on the floor. Due to the strong impact, Lord Liang had to retreat back several steps and finally stopped after his shoulder collided against the governor’s arm.
In the next moment, Ji Muqing loudly shouted, “Eldest Brother! Second Brother!” She was like a drowning cat grabbing onto it’s last hope as she got up and rushed to Ji Li and Ji Huan.
Then, they saw Ji Li’s icy face, Ji Huan’s fiendish expression and several sturdy and intimidating soldiers walking through the entrance.
Their postures straight as planks. All of them emanating awe-inspiring presence which simply oppressed the present crowd. If the Governor and Minister Liang didn’t mishear the murderer, she actually called Ji Li and Ji Huan Eldest Brother and Second Brother? So to say, the murderer was none other than the future Crown Princess? However, the last point was not known to the Capital Governor. This was only known by Minister Liang.
The several yamen runners who were at the crime scene before were all stunned. Was that a joke?! Didn’t Teacher Ji say that the criminal was speaking nonsense? How could the murderer actually call Ji Li and Ji Huan brothers?
Ji Li thoroughly protected Ji Muqing behind him, then he narrowed his eyes as he gazed at the corpse. His boots, embroidered with blue jade, turned toward Minister Liang, and he went to him.
His cold voice resounded. “Minister Liang, what does your daughter’s death have to do with my little sister?” He sported an expression that said that ‘this has nothing to do with us’.
Although Minister Liang had never confronted Ji Li, he did know that this man was vicious and merciless unlike his courteous facade. If not, how could he sit so firmly on the seat of the army secretary. However, there was a proverb which said, “Reason makes the world goes round.” Reason was on his side, and besides, he was mourning for his daughter at this moment. With a grim expression, he spoke, “Everyone saw that your sister pushed my daughter and sent her to her death.”
“Where is the witness?”
“Bring them!” Minister Liang gestured.
Immediately, the shopkeeper of the rouge store was lead in along with two other women who were present at the scene. They neatly kneeled to the floor.
Lord Liang ordered, “You three, explain everything that happened. Don’t leave even a single detail out.”
The shopkeeper and the two women looked at each other before the trembling shopkeeper raised her head and started to narrate. “At that time… both young ladies saw a piece makeup that they fancied. The accident took place in a corner of the store. Miss Liang was the first one to raise her hand, and then, they started brawling. Quickly, a crowd surrounded them, but because of that, I couldn’t see clearly everything. I only saw Miss Liang retreat a few steps back. Next, she seemed to stumble on something and… the rest of the story, you know it.”
When she was done, Ji Huan could no longer suppress his temper. He questioned her. “Then, did you witness who pushed her?”
The shopkeeper shook her head. She shrunk her shoulders and said, “I don’t know.”