Chapter 142 Shouldn't It Be
He Zongwei felt that he had found Fan Xian's loophole, and became more and more confident as he spoke.
"There are two possibilities. The first is that you were worried that the servants in the courtyard might accidentally discover your whereabouts, so you deliberately drove them away!
The second possibility is that you actually did not disperse the servants at all, but you were not sure whether you were seen going out late at night, and you were worried that they would reveal your whereabouts due to inquiries from the Kyoto Prefecture, so you deliberately lied.
No matter which of these two, it is enough to prove that you are guilty! Mr. Fan, do you have anything else to say?"
Fan Xian remained calm and looked at He Zongwei as if he were a clown, without saying a word.
He Zongwei nodded, turned around and bowed to Mei Zhili.
"My Lord, Fan Xian has nothing to say!"
Mei Zhili looked at Fan Xian.
"Are you sure you have nothing else to explain?"
Fan Xian smiled.
"My lord, I am too lazy to explain to him. I still have something to say to you. The first thing is that I did not drive the servants away last night. I drove all the servants away on the first day I entered the mansion. If you don't believe me, you can go to the mansion to inquire at any time.
You can't be planning to beat Guo Baokun as soon as I entered Kyoto, I didn't even know him at that time! So, what He Zongwei just said is pure nonsense! This is why I was too lazy to explain to him. "
After suddenly realizing it, Mei Zhili became curious.
"Why did you drive the servants away?"
Fan Xian laughed.
"It's a personal habit. I've been like this since I was a kid. I'm used to being alone."
Mei Zhili nodded and declined to comment.
"And the second point?"
Fan Xian said.
"As for the second point, what I want to say is that I have already taught Guo Baokun a lesson, whether it was the conflict between us at Yishiju or the contest at the poetry meeting. To be honest, I never took him seriously at all. There is no reason to take such a big risk just to beat him up. It's unnecessary, don't you think?"
Mei Zhili nodded subconsciously.
"Makes sense."
Even Guo Baokun was a little unsure at this moment. Was it really Fan Xian who beat him last night?
He Zongwei was a little anxious.
"My Lord, please don't be fooled by him. Young Master Guo has only had a conflict with him recently, and Fan Xian can't produce an alibi for last night. He is highly suspicious!"
Fan Xian only said two words.
"evidence!"
He Zongwei was speechless; he had run out of ideas.
Seeing this, Mei Zhili knew what the judgment should be.
"If that's the case, then it seems that there is something else behind Fan Xian's attack on Mr. Guo. Fan Xian's motive is insufficient, and the plaintiff's evidence is also insufficient. In my opinion, this case ends here..."
"grown ups!"
Suddenly interrupted by a sound coming from outside the yard, Mei Zhili was very displeased and yelled outside the yard.
"What's the matter?"
The voice outside the yard came again.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall looked outside the courtyard. Mei Zhili even stood up directly. Mei Chengan was no exception. He stood up and moved to the middle, looking towards the gate of Kyoto Prefecture.
Suddenly, at least dozens of soldiers in armor appeared at the gate. They divided into two columns and marched to the door of the hall, standing still facing each other.
He Zongwei, who had given up hope, came back to life again. He quickly turned around and walked in front of Guo Baokun and whispered.
"Master Guo, Fan Xian is finished!"
……
Kyoto Prefecture.
The onlookers had now scattered and knelt on both sides of the road, including Versace. He secretly raised his head and looked towards the end of the road.
I saw an extremely luxurious carriage escorted by several guards in full armor and carrying swords, followed by the prince's ceremonial guard, and the group was heading towards Kyoto Prefecture in a mighty manner.
The carriage stopped at the gate of Kyoto Prefecture. The prince, dressed in luxurious clothes, got out of the carriage, looked around, and after the eunuch accompanying him had placed the horse stool, he slowly walked down the stairs.
After getting off the carriage, the prince did not stop and went straight to the gate of Kyoto Prefecture. The ceremonial guard behind the carriage quickly followed.
There was an accident when entering the gate. Logically speaking, the clear height of the gate of Kyoto Prefecture was not low, at least more than four meters. However, two eunuchs in the prince's guard of honor who were holding a canopy more than three meters high made a stupid mistake and were stuck by the curtain hanging on the roof.
Huagai is also called umbrella cover or treasure umbrella. "Hua" means flowers, garlands, etc.; "gai" means umbrella for sunshade. It is a kind of ceremonial weapon.
The prince heard the noise behind him and stopped and looked back.
The prince was speechless upon seeing this.
"What are you doing? Lay them down! One in front and one in the back."
The two eunuchs panicked and hurriedly did as they were told. After some twists and turns they finally got the cat in.
The prince gave them a displeased look, then turned around and continued walking.
As soon as the prince entered the courtyard, the soldiers who had come to stand guard in advance all knelt on one knee to greet him.
When the prince stepped into the hall, everyone except Fan Xian knelt down, bowed and spoke in unison.
"Meet His Highness the Crown Prince."
Although Fan Xian did not kneel down or speak, he bowed.
The prince's eyes had been on Fan Xian since he entered the hall, and he only looked away when he passed by him.
The second person the prince noticed was Mei Zhili, who was kneeling on the ground.
"Oh, Master Mei!"
As he said this, he took two quick steps forward and helped him up.
"Please get up quickly!"
"Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
After writing the letter, Mei Zhili stood up.
The prince smiled, then noticed Mei Cheng'an kneeling beside him, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
"Cheng'an?"
As he said this he patted his shoulder.
"Why are you here too? Hurry up, hurry up."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Mei Cheng'an stood up before replying.
"Your Highness, I know both of them in the hall and we have a good relationship. I just wanted to come and see what's going on."
The prince smiled and patted his shoulder again when he heard this.
Mei Zhili spoke.
"Your Highness, why are you here?"
The prince said.
"I came to see you try a case."
Mei Zhili was stunned for a moment, then turned sideways, revealing the main seat behind him, and gestured with his hand.
"In that case, Your Highness, please take a seat."
The prince grabbed Mei Zhili's arm.
"You are the governor of Kyoto. That is your position. As for me..."
The prince looked around and saw the stool next to the pillar where Mei Chengan was sitting, and walked straight over.
Mei Cheng'an: “…” The prince picked up a stool and walked directly onto the stage. He placed the stool on the side of the main seat and then sat down directly.
Mei Zhili was stunned for a moment.
"His Royal Highness, this..."
The prince looked at him and smiled.
"Stop standing there and sit down to continue your trial. Don't let me delay your work."
Mei Zhili bowed, then walked onto the stage, walked around the table and sat down in the main seat.
Mei Cheng'an also quickly walked to the side, moved a low stool for himself and sat down. Tell me, is the prince a bit coquettish? There is no shortage of stools here, but the prince insisted on taking his one.
The prince looked at He Zongwei who was still kneeling in the hall.
"You should get up too."
He Zongwei bowed again before standing up.
The prince looked at Mei Zhili.
"Master Mei, continue."
Mei Zhili nodded.
"Yes."
……
A street not far from Kyoto Prefecture.
The second prince was sitting in a booth and watching Dream of the Red Chamber.
Ten meters away, Li Hongcheng was listening to someone's report. After listening, Li Hongcheng waved his hand to send the person away, then turned and walked towards the second prince.
"His Royal Highness has already shown up in Kyoto Prefecture."
The second prince raised his head upon hearing this, his eyes bright.
"He really did go down in person."
After saying that, the second prince stood up, stretched, and said.
"Since the prince has gone, let's go join in the fun. He's going to help Guo Baokun, so let's go help Fan Xian. This is only fair."
Li Hongchengdao.
"I won't go."
The second prince looked at him.
"Are you busy later?"
Li Hongcheng shook his head.
"That's not true."
The second prince picked up the Red Mansion on the table and stuffed it into Xie Bian’s hand.
"Then let's go together. Just watch the fun."
Li Hongcheng thought about it and nodded.
"That's fine."
……
In the lobby of Kyoto Prefecture.
Mei Zhili glanced at the petition on the table and was about to continue with the sentencing.
Fan Xian spoke.
"Your Highness, the case has been concluded."
The prince looked surprised.
"Is the trial over?"
Fan Xian said.
"Lord Mei has just made his verdict. I don't have enough motive, and the plaintiff has insufficient evidence. This case ends here."
Upon hearing this, the prince looked at Mei Zhili.
Mei Zhili nodded to the prince.
"Indeed."
The prince said.
"So Fan Xian is not a suspect?"
He Zongwei continued.
"Your Highness, Fan Xian is still under suspicion."
The prince nodded upon hearing this and looked at Mei Zhili.
"Since the suspicion has not been cleared, how can the case be closed?"
Mei Zhili said frankly.
"Because the plaintiff's evidence is insufficient to accuse Fan Xian of being the murderer, Your Highness, a case is judged based on evidence. Everything that happened in court has been recorded, and Your Highness can review it."
The prince glanced at He Zongwei, only to see He Zongwei lowering his head with an embarrassed expression, and secretly cursed him as a waste.
He immediately adjusted his expression, looked at Mei Zhili with a smile and waved his hand.
"No, no, it depends on the case. The laws in Kyoto Prefecture are strict. You have always been fair, so I trust you."
Mei Zhili breathed a sigh of relief, as long as he didn't interfere in the case.
He Zongwei's heart sank when he heard this. He thought things would turn around once the crown prince showed up, but now it's all over.
The prince paused and continued.
"Now that this case is closed, while everyone is here, I have a case here too, so why not try them together?"
……
Fan Mansion.
backyard.
Liu Ruyu paced back and forth, feeling a little anxious and uneasy, not knowing what was going on in Kyoto Prefecture.
Master, it's really true. It's already this time and you still don't...
Before Liu Ruyu could finish complaining in his heart, he saw Fan Jian and hurried to meet him.
"Master, why did you come back just now? Fan Xian is still in Kyoto Prefecture."
Fan Jian's face was calm and his tone was steady.
"I know."
Liu Ruyu said hurriedly.
"I know you won't hurry over."
Fan Jian looked at Liu Ruyu.
"I didn't expect you to worry about him."
After saying that, Fan Jian walked around Liu Ruyu and went to the pavilion in the courtyard and sat down. A maid handed him a towel to wipe his hands and brought him tea.
Liu Ruyu was speechless and turned to look at him.
"Master, you still have the mood to tease me at this hour? Although my last name is Liu, I am also a member of the Fan family. Fan Xian's conviction is a slap in the face of the Fan family. Besides, Sizhe was also involved in this matter after all. Isn't it right for me to care about it?"
……
(End of this chapter)
