Chapter 195: Chapter 189: Minors Not Allowed Entry
 

Pang Yuan and his two associates were already regretting their decision.

They had originally intended to find someone with no significant background to take the fall, which led them to choose Jiang Cheng, a university student with a clean record.

Jiang Cheng had no connections to power, no influence, and no talent. A textbook example of a scapegoat, silent under the burden of blame.

But who could have expected that Jiang Cheng would be such a hard nut to crack!

When they kicked against him, Jiang Cheng emerged unscathed, while their own feet suffered comminuted fractures.

Facing Jiang Cheng’s “ordering” questioning, Pang Yuan had no idea what to do.

To sentence the Immortal Sect to punishment by rod was out of the question, as it would be impossible and would be a slap in the face to both him and the laws of Liang Kingdom.

To not sentence the Immortal Sect to punishment would mean allowing the sect members to continue their disturbances, which was still a slap in the face to him and the laws of Liang Kingdom.

But this wasn’t Pang Yuan’s fault!

The rules of Great Liang simply did not apply to the disciples of the Immortal Sect!

From beneath the hall, Dean Jian Youqiu of the Treasure and Talismans Academy watched Jiang Cheng’s retreating back and secretly sent a message to Guo Xiuyuan.

Jian Youqiu: Are all the students from your Talisman Department so full of character?

Guo Xiuyuan wiped his sweat: Dean, Jiang Cheng’s personality is actually quite easygoing.

Jian Youqiu widened his eyes: With the support of his Immortal Sect elders, his few words have put the court officials in a spot where they can’t step down. And you call this “easygoing”?

Guo Xiuyuan wiped his sweat again: There’s no need to worry, Dean. Although Jiang Cheng is easygoing, he likes to speak the unvarnished truth. I believe he means exactly what he says—he just wants those officials to be punished.

Jian Youqiu was startled once more: He wants others to punish us? Is he trying to betray his mentors and ancestors, this boy!

As Guo Xiuyuan tried to explain further, he only made things worse, so he simply gave up on explaining.

Once Dean Jian has dealt with a few more talisman disputes involving Jiang Cheng, he will understand.

After all, Jiang Cheng is only a freshman now—Dean Jian will have plenty of opportunities to step in on his behalf in the future.

Suspecting him of killing a prince? What’s the big deal?

Didn’t Jiang Cheng previously allure the Dragon Clan Commandery Princess and furiously excavate the Emperor of Liang’s royal tomb, creating a situation far more dire than this?

The Dean still lacks experience and can’t keep his composure.

He needs more practice.

The officials from the Ministry of Punishments have quicker wits, with Wang Weien asking Pang Yuan in front of everyone, “Minister Pang, did you call ‘Open Court’ just now?”

“Did I call it? I didn’t call it! Yes, I did not call for the court to be opened; the interrogation just now was not official. Let’s start over!”

Pang Yuan, pale as a ghost, thought to himself how fortunate he was that Minister Wang was quick-thinking enough to provide a way out. Otherwise, their shameful performance would have left an eternal stain.

The court historian wrote with divine inspiration beneath the hall: The suspect Jiang Cheng stood imposingly like a deity, while the court officials above scurried like rats, incapable of responding. With the Grand Secretary and mean rats coming together, how could they govern Great Liang properly?

“Open Court!”

Pang Yuan reconvened the court, and it was as if the previous events had never happened.

Immortal Sect disciples breaking into the court?

That never happened.

The court wasn’t even officially in session yet—where was there a court?

As long as the baseline of the law plunges quickly enough, Immortal Sect disciples will never break it.

Liang Kingdom remains a respected rule-of-law country.

“Jiang Cheng, I ask you, Prince Liang Chu died because of your talismans, are you aware of this?” Pang Yuan rallied.

“I am.”

Pang Yuan’s eyes bulged, “Didn’t you just say you were unaware? Who told you?”

“You did, sir.”

“Oh, that was just hushed gossip before the court was opened. It doesn’t count.” Pang Yuan smoothed things over, “Since you are unaware, our evidence is also insufficient on this side. We just wanted to inform you about it. Alright, once Six Fan Gate has collected more evidence, we’ll call you again for a trial. Court dismissed!”

“Wait a moment!” Jiang Cheng stood up and said, “Sir, according to standard courtroom procedure, even if the evidence is insufficient, it’s still necessary to inquire about the suspect’s motive, alibi, and self-defense. Your decision to close court was too hasty, please open court and proceed with the trial again!”

At this point, Pang Yuan was dumbfounded.

It was the first time in his life that he had seen two great Immortal Sects come together to protect someone.

It was also the first time he had seen a suspect who, despite his intentions to close court, actively called for a retrial.

So who exactly is the Minister of Justice here?

Pang Yuan used his divine sense to communicate: This kid doesn’t let me close court. It feels deliberate. You don’t think that Prince Liang Chu’s death could actually be related to the Immortal Sect, do you?

Wang Weien: Very likely.

Wei Chenhan: So do we continue the investigation?

Pang Yuan: That’s about enough, which of these powerful figures can we afford to provoke?

Pang Yuan, bracing himself, followed the procedures of Jiang Cheng to a tee, and finally announced the adjournment of the court.

The result:

“Your Honor, please wait, there’s one more matter you haven’t inquired about.” Jiang Cheng timely reminded.

Pang Yuan felt sweat soaking his back; in front of Jiang Cheng, he felt like a student taking a judicial exam, unable to answer a single question yet under the intense scrutiny of the invigilating teacher.

“Jiang Cheng, if there’s anything I’ve done poorly, please tell me directly, and I will definitely make amends.”

“You haven’t asked about the reliability of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman. You should entrust it to a reliable third-party testing institution to assess whether it poses any potential safety risks that could result in death. If there are any, you should immediately report to the Grand Secretary and ban its use nationwide.”

Pang Yuan: Speaking of banning talismans, why are you so familiar with this?

“Alright, alright, let the court reconvene. Just so happens the person in charge of the Taixu Sect is here, and we will send the remaining talismans that Prince Liang Chu used to the Taixu Sect’s Talisman Master Association for testing right away. Jiang Cheng, if you have any other requests, please don’t be polite, just say it.”

“That’s all,” Jiang Cheng nodded.

“Court adjourned!”

Everyone from Tongtian Sect breathed a sigh of relief.

When they first heard that Jiang Cheng was taken away by the government office, Gao Miao thought he was going to take the blame again.

They had tested the Willpower Empowerment Talisman hundreds of times without a single issue; by rights, no mishaps should have occurred.

But judging by the current situation, the major blame for the death of the Prince shouldn’t fall on their heads.

Jian Youqiu curiously remarked, “Xiuyuan, does our academy also teach law? The way Jiang Cheng handled that, it feels like he knows more than the officials from The Ministry of Punishments.”

Guo Xiuyuan replied awkwardly, “Dean, our academy’s students usually have very good self-learning abilities. Having a bit of a hobby in their spare time, like filing lawsuits, is quite normal.”

Jian Youqiu stroked his beard and said, “Students nowadays really are strange, with a fondness for litigation. When I was in school, everyone liked to visit the Jiaofang Division and sleep with big sisters. But we couldn’t wear the school uniform, especially the high school ones.”

Guo Xiuyuan: “Why’s that?”

“Underage, they weren’t allowed in.”

Gao Miao: “Where weren’t they allowed in?”

Guo Xiuyuan: “The Jiaofang Division, of course.”

Dean Jian Yourself explained: “The Jiaofang Division did allow entry. I usually just filled in my dad’s name.”

Gao Miao, Guo Xiuyuan: Huh? Then where weren’t they allowed in?

Compared to Dean Jian, Jiang Cheng’s interests seemed a lot more normal.

At least, Jiang Cheng was legal.

Li Qingge from the Taixu Sect swiftly approached Jiang Cheng.

She whispered, “I didn’t expect you to be quite tsundere.”

Jiang Cheng’s mouth twitched, “Senior Li, the adjectives you choose to describe me sure are imaginative.”

Li Qingge said teasingly, “Isn’t it true? Just over half a month ago, you swore you wouldn’t help us. But in the blink of an eye, you took down Prince Liang Chu. Isn’t that tsundere?”

Jiang Cheng was shocked, “Senior Li, how can you slander me out of thin air? The matter with Prince Liang Chu has nothing to do with me!”

Li Qingge winked, “I know. You’re all about obeying the law, right?”

She held out her hand, “We all said we’d protect you, and we’re not joking. Look, I’m the first to come, right? More reliable than Tongtian Sect. Keep it up, little brother Jiang Cheng.”

Although Li Qingge was his senior, Jiang Cheng had no intention of shaking hands.

Once he shook hands, he would be thoroughly unable to clear his name.

“Jiang Cheng,” called Shang Yufeng as she approached, she was both the Dean of Qingxuan University and the Helmsman of the Taixu Sect’s chapters in Liang Kingdom, essentially the highest leader of all Taixu Sect’s forces in Liang Kingdom.

To save Jiang Cheng, Tongtian Sect only sent the dean of the Treasure and Talismans Academy.

But the Taixu Sect had their top leader attend.

The implications were clear at a glance.

“Senior Shang,” Jiang Cheng respectfully greeted.

Shang Yufeng nodded and transmitted her voice, “You did well, keep it up. Taixu Sect is your firmest support in Liang Kingdom. Go ahead with your endeavors without hesitation; we will always stand by your side.”

Jiang Cheng, at a loss for words, was about to explain when he heard Dean Jian from Lotus University say, “Fellow Daoist Shang, you’ve arrived so early, why don’t I see any students from Qingxuan University here?”