Chapter 50: Pointed Swords Face Each Other

  The clerk was a sharp-eyed man and saw that the dispute on the public platform had shown signs of easing, so he hastily requested Peng Yinxin to temporarily withdraw from the hall, making it convenient for the bailiffs to come in and sweep the floor. Peng Yinxin whispered to the guard officer, who received the order and ran to the front of the rolling shed, ordering the two hundred forbidden soldiers who were blocking the courtyard to stand their ground, and the iron barrel-like military formation still blocked the retreat route of a group of people from the Crown Prince's mansion.

  The yamen attendants collected the corpse with a faint smile, poured water to clean the floor tiles of the public hall, and Li Qun led 50 guards to withdraw to the back door of the main hall, stationed in the corridor. Further back was the Second Hall Courtyard, where Li Peinan summoned Fei Yi and Min An to discuss matters in the Flower Hall.

  The steward kept running back and forth between the main hall, the warm pavilion, and the second hall's flower hall, serving tea and water to the adults on both sides, and conveying a sentence or two of oral messages. As an intermediary, he knew when to listen and when not to, waiting outside the door if necessary, in order not to offend either side of power.

  In the flower hall, Li Peinan's first sentence was: "I know it wasn't you who killed Bi Si. Think carefully about what twists and turns happened in between, don't let others take advantage of the gap."

  Fei Yi glanced at Min An and deliberately explained to him, "Commissioner Bi wasn't killed by me. Even if I wanted to kill him, I wouldn't have chosen that kind of place, it would've dirtied the flowers in my hand."

  Min An shook his face: "The second young master has always been extraordinary, but unfortunately my master's fate is not good... Ah, I've digressed, the second young master should still hurry up and answer the young master's words."

  Fei Yi turned to Li Peinan and said that when he was taking care of Xiao Xue in Changping Prefecture, a flower farmer told him that the soil in Luanyanggang produced a rare and exotic purple peony. He immediately went there. He rode his horse along the official road to Luanyanggang, and on the way, he didn't see any checkpoints. When he picked the flowers and turned back, the only return route was heavily guarded, and they were strictly checking all passersby.

  Li Peinan concluded: "Peng Yin Xiang calculated the time very accurately, only letting you go and not allowing you to return. It's clear that he wants to frame you."

  Fei Yi nodded, and then recounted the testimony of Han Xiao and Bi Si's old servant in the public hall. Min An participated in the discussion, and finally the three of them unanimously determined that the crucial point of suspicion against Fei Yi for murder was two points: First, Han Xiao's testimony was unfavorable to Fei Yi, according to her statement, she happened to be present at the scene of the crime to worship Mao Shi San's wild grave, and personally witnessed Fei Yi committing the murder. As for the details of how he killed him and why he missed her as an eyewitness, she couldn't answer them all. In the end, she even took her own life in the public hall to deepen the impartiality of her words.

  Since the person is already dead, there is no opposing evidence. Therefore, it's impossible to grasp those vague details in the testimony and refute them again.

  The second disadvantage is that only a soft sword of a certain type can cause the kind of fatal wound that Pis had, with blood congealing at the mouth. Fei revealed that his soft sword had been used only once in the past month to fend off a group of robbers who were after his account book, and was normally kept tightly by his side. If one were to say that Pis was killed by this sword, it would be clearly impossible. Therefore, Li Peinan inferred that the murderer must have forged an identical sword blade to create the special markings on the wound.

  Min thought for a long time, and then said slowly: "The soft sword can be imitated, but the wound not bleeding is not common... Moreover, the corpse spots on Mr. Bi's body have proven that Mr. Bi was killed at the hour of Mao... If the murderer wants to frame the second young master, he must kill Mr. Bi at the moment when the flowers bloom at the hour of Mao, but the second young master said that at that time, there was no one in front of the flower tree..."

  "Can we kill someone else first and then move the body to the grave?" asked Fei Dabian.

  Min An shook his head: "If that's the case, the livor mortis would have changed, and it definitely wouldn't show the appearance of Big Brother Bi lying on his side after death."

  Li Peinan and Fei Yi didn't understand the intricacies of law, but they had common sense. They exchanged a glance, without needing to say a word, and sensed that the person who set this up was no ordinary mind, having actually created a dead end in this instance.

  Whether the case can be solved depends on Min An's autopsy skills.

  "How can I... without bleeding, and control the changes in the corpse's spots..." Min An sat in the chair, deep in thought, still remembering the word "ice" that Han Xiang said with a smile, and suddenly had an idea, "It's ice!"

  He cautiously did not shout out, but only calculated in his heart whether the frozen corpse was possible. After all, his master had never mentioned such an example before, and there was no record of it in the autopsy method. He wanted to confirm this inference before reporting the result to the two princes.

  Min An looked up to see Li Peinan, and found that Li Peinan was now sitting on the other side of the flower hall, calling for Fei Yi to discuss matters. He couldn't hear their conversation, so he had to wait until they finished discussing before reporting his proposal.

  Li Peinan pointed to the chair beside him, indicating for Fei to sit down. Then, he barely moved his lips and spoke in a low voice, "In this public hall, we can't avoid a fierce battle. First, let's get Min An out of here."

  Fei Yi said with a sideways glance: "I've had this idea for a long time. He's the weakest in martial arts, and when it comes to actual fighting, he can't even protect himself."

  Li Peinan had just finished speaking, and he didn't say much more. He stood up and left the flower hall to instruct Lü Qun about some details outside. Fei took this opportunity to walk up to Min An and ask: "Has your headache and back injury healed?"

  "It's all right."

  "How about your teeth?"

  Min An smiled again, revealing his neatly repaired and shiny false teeth to Fei Yi. Fei Yi averted her eyes, not looking at Min An's radiant smile, and asked: "After I left the Hanguan, did you get into any trouble?"

  Min An said with a wronged expression: "I've always been obedient, how could I get myself beaten up?"

  "Is that the punishment?"

  Min An worried that he would be caught in the middle, so he didn't dare to tell Fei Yi about it. He just said: "No, the young master treats me very well, and the general is also good to me. I've even become familiar with Bao Zi."

  Fei Yi stood in front of Min An's chair, hands behind his back, humming a tune. Min An couldn't help but notice the faint imprint of flower petals on Fei Yi's hem. He recalled Fei Yi's fastidious nature and instinctively bent down to brush off the petals, saying: "Second Master treats Xiaoxue so well, even going to great lengths to personally pick flowers for her."

  Fei Yi took a step back and said calmly, "If it were me waiting for you, I would be the same."

  Min An raised his head in surprise, and only then did he say sincerely: "Thank you so much, you're really a good person." In his heart, he thought that if he truly treated him with kindness, he would definitely repay him with all his might.

  Min An didn't distrust Fei Yi, but rather Fei Yi had previously planted an idea in his mind that he remembered clearly. When Fei Yi accompanied him on a trip to Peach Blossom Village, she said in the carriage: "The kindness I've shown you will all be repaid later."

  Especially Yu Fei also emphasized that since he was young, his side has been crowded with people seeking wealth and honor. Without taking out corresponding things to exchange, it is impossible to expect him to treat others well for no reason.

  So Min An always felt that when interacting with Fei Yi, he must be true to himself and offer corresponding benefits in exchange for convenience. Even if he didn't seek convenience, he had to treat Fei Yi well and show him his sincere heart.

  Fei Yi carefully observed Min An's expression, seeing that he seemed to have not grasped the meaning of his words, and his eyes involuntarily dimmed. In this half month of separation, he often thought of Min An's mischievous smile and various playful expressions, feeling that the reason he was worried about Min An was that he had casually left Min An in Li Peinan's care, leaving him to train at the inn, which would inevitably leave Min An isolated and helpless, suffering some hardships.

  His guilt and concern were all written on his face, but Min An couldn't understand it, and also concealed the fact that Li Peinan was punishing him. It seemed that Min An had become estranged from himself.

  However, Fei Yi thought for a moment, wasn't this the result he wanted? Why bother to feel melancholy? Fei Yi lowered his head and calmed himself down. His calm nature eventually overcame his fluctuating thoughts, allowing him to face Min An once again with his usual composure - neither hot nor cold, maintaining an appropriate distance.

  Min An saw Fei Yi standing aside with his hands behind his back and not speaking, and asked anxiously: "What are you thinking about? Are you worried about the case?"

  Fei Yi raised her head and smiled slightly: "Even if the sky falls, it won't make me worry."

  Min An was also infected by him and smiled: "That's true, except for hearing that Xiaoxue is ill, it's hard to see you change your face."

  He always mentions Xiaoxue whenever he talks to me, I wonder if it's because I've been too concerned about her lately. Maybe in his heart, he has already assumed that Xiaoxue is my fiancée...

  Fei Yi's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and his eyes seemed to be thinking about something. His hands moved unconsciously. He pinched Min An's chin, causing Min An to grit his teeth in pain, revealing the tooth that had been filled.

  "What's wrong?" Min An replied vaguely.

  Fei Yi carefully examined Min An's filling and said calmly: "It's filled quite well."

  Min An withdrew his hand from pulling off Fei's clothes and chuckled: "Xuan Xu's craftsmanship is naturally good."

  "Oh?" Min's hand on his arm tightened slightly. "Who is Xuan Xu?" He could hear the undertone of praise for a stranger in her voice.

  Min An thought the conversation under this action was quite strange, and finally rescued his own chin from Fei's hand. He didn't have much guard against Fei, and while rubbing his chin, he whispered: "Xuan Xu's skills are great, he knows many tricks, and his temper is gentle, in short, I like him very much!"

  He endured for half a day without saying a word, and finally picked up a seed and flicked it at Min An's forehead: "Didn't you hear that she likes Xiao Bao?"

  "Xuan Xu, I like it too!"

  He took out another seed and pressed it between his fingers, asking: "Is this real or fake? And where is the mysterious sequence from?"

  Min An saw Li Peinan's figure walking outside the carved window of the flower hall, and hurriedly waved his hand: "Don't ask anymore, the young master doesn't like me to discuss private matters, and was heavily punished for it once."

  She didn't say a word, her lips pursed tightly as she stood in front of Min An, carefully observing his reaction. She noticed that he was indeed very scared, his face had even turned pale. He had no idea what method Li Peinan used to control Min An, but it had reached the point where he changed color at the mere mention of it.

  Li Peinan walked in, looked at the two people sitting and standing, and was very displeased with the atmosphere that had suddenly become quiet on their side. Without thinking, he called out: "Come over here."

  Min An naturally knew who he was calling and obediently walked over.

  Li Peinan casually lifted the lid of his cup, touched the rim to test the water temperature, and Min An hastily picked up a nearby teapot and poured another cup of tea for Li Peinan. He looked at him with eager eyes: "Young master, do you have any orders?"

  Li Peinan calmly accepted the tea presented by Min An with both hands, took a sip and said: "Later, Peng Yin will ascend to the hall again. I'll arrange for someone to refute the two pieces of evidence that are unfavorable to the two young masters. Then, I'll send you out. After you leave, remember not to come back."

  Min An was surprised: "Why?"

  Li Peinan retorted directly: "Your martial arts skills are low, and you're also afraid of death. Staying here is useless."

  If it were someone else, that person would have to show some determination in front of the young master and then bring out a resolute attitude. Fortunately, Min An was not someone else, he had his own plans, so he nodded quickly and replied: "Good."

  Simple and neat, obedient and decisive.

  Li Peinan smiled slightly: "I like this kind of..." He forcibly restrained himself, not saying the word "you" before turning around and walking out the door.

  Min An-chao didn't wear his official uniform and beckoned with his hand, the two of them followed Li Pei-nan through the corridor to the public hall. The scene in the public hall was still as usual, Peng Yin stood on the green brick platform of the warm pavilion, raised his hand slightly towards Li Pei-nan, after going through the formalities on the surface, he sat down and ordered the guards to ascend the hall, the imperial guards stationed at the front of the rolled shed, blocked the exit.

  The chief clerk, fearing Li Peinan's prestige, secretly passed on the message, omitting the lengthy shouting of "Sheng-Tang-Lao" by the attendants on both sides, and urging them to hurry up and beat the drum twice to settle the matter.

  The second trial begins.

  Li Peinan and Fei Yi sat in the left chair of the warm pavilion, while Min An stood behind them. The corresponding right-hand seat was empty, with no one having a status that could rival the two princes of Chu Nan.

  Peng Yin suddenly saw that Fei was sitting still and not moving, so he slapped the wooden block: "The suspect is to be tried in this hall!"

  Li Peinan raised his left hand slightly, gesturing for him not to move, and glanced at Lai Qun.

  Li Qun stepped forward and said to Peng Yinxin, who was standing behind the public case: "I beg to report to Your Honor, the second young master has been working day and night and caught a chill, it's not easy for him to stand in the hall to receive your orders. Why don't I replace the second young master to receive the trial? Please make a decision, Your Honor."

  Peng Yin thought that if he insisted on the formalities again, this second trial would not be able to proceed either. He could only grit his teeth and agree to Li Qun's request in private.

  But he didn't think this was just Lei Qun's first step.

  "Your Honor has determined that Second Master killed Peng Da-ren at the time of the flower blooming at Mao Shi, when the sky was still not fully bright. Even if one were standing on the mound, it would be impossible to see the face of the perpetrator clearly." He stretched out his arms and turned around in a circle in front of the officials, saying: "Everyone, take a look, is my build, stature, and attire very similar to Second Master's? If I were to walk up to the mound and pick that purple flower, wouldn't people mistakenly think it was Second Master who went there?"

  Peng Yin's voice was cold and stern: "General Lei, do you want to deceive the eyes of everyone in this hall? The dying witness clearly stated that it was indeed Gongzi who went to the grave mound and killed Bi Daren!"

  "Pointing at one of the guards in front of the Crown Prince's mansion, Li Qun said: 'Tell the masters that at the time when the flowers bloom at dawn, what was Fei Gongzi doing?'"

  The guard bowed his hands and returned the courtesy to the people in the hall, saying: "I accompanied the young master to find the way into the mountains, and we even rested under a tree for a while. We didn't set out until after the hour of Mao..."

  "Preposterous, sheer nonsense! Does General Lei think that by simply naming a trusted follower, he can refute the dying testimony of a witness? And doesn't he recall the legal principle of not believing close relatives?"

  Li Peinan, who had been sitting silently, suddenly spoke up: "Since Lord Peng says that close relatives are not trustworthy, then I will call out one of the attendants from Lord Peng's retinue to prove where Second Master went."

  Peng Yin was inwardly shocked, how could such a refutation come out, it was clear that Zhu Mushen had not considered this aspect, and he couldn't help but try to keep his composure on his face. He held the fire sign ready to scatter, ordering the yamen runners to drive away Li Qun, but Li Peinan didn't look at him, pointing casually at someone below: "You come."

  Because Peng Xin raised his head to look, he really saw a silver-armored and long-sworded imperial guard walking into the hall. The man had been standing at the bottom of the hall guarding the gate, and it was impossible for him to have any private dealings with Li Peinan. But Li Peinan casually pointed him out, and he also followed suit and walked up to the hall, his expression calm and composed, without a hint of panic.

  He walked to the front of the case, the Imperial Guard looked handsome and elegant. He bowed his head and clasped his hands together in a salute, exuding an air of a great general. "I am Zuō Qīngyuán, the Left Light Cavalry Commander of the Western Garrison of the Imperial Guards. I can prove that at the time of the flower blooming today at noon, I was leading my troops on patrol along the mountain path outside the Luángūn Ridge. It just so happened that I saw the Second Young Master sitting under a tree. Therefore, I can stake my family's reputation and my own life to guarantee that the Second Young Master is not the murderer who killed Bì Dàshī."

  On the public platform, except for Li Peinan and Fei Yi, who had been taken away, and Peng Yinxin, who was deliberately keeping a calm face, everyone present looked at each other in dismay, gradually making strange noises. Peng Yinxin had no choice but to slam his hand on the shock wood and shout: "Zuo Baiwei, think carefully before speaking! Providing false testimony is a serious crime!"

  Zuo Qingyuan said in a slow and measured tone, "Every word I say is true, I have no intention of making false confessions." He turned his head to the court below and shouted, "Can all of you brothers serve as witnesses?"

  A hundred cavalrymen under his command stepped forward in unison and shouted: "Captain's words are true!"

  Peng Yin suddenly looked at Li Peinan, who was sitting calmly beside him, and only then did he realize that before his trial, Li Peinan had already planted his trusted followers in the Imperial Guard. If it weren't for the Non- Clothes case, this hidden plot would not have been uncovered.

  Peng Yin whispered in a low voice, "Lost, lost, the next step must follow Zhu Muxi's proposal and cannot deviate from it again."

  Under the oath of left light, the suspicious person who appeared at the scene of the crime unexpectedly broke down. Peng You had intentionally avoided arresting the other characters in the Prime Minister's mansion and ignored Lie Qun's previous testimony that implicated himself, focusing on a second point: Fei Yu's sword killed Bi Si.

  Thank you Macky for the bubble gum and rocket launcher welcome back sis

  Thank you for the hand grenade from Huang Sang and cc Xiaotaiyang

  Thank you very much, Pigs Ear, Cowboy, breathesky2007, ka, h, Leng Momo and several other beautiful ladies for the landmines l3l4