Chapter 87: The Clouds Part and the Sun Emerges

“Are you Li Lingyu?”

Minister of Justice Li Jing was the first to react; he had clearly recognized the young woman. Among the three presiding officials present, only his expression was markedly different from the others.

“I am. Uncle Li Jing, it has been many years since we last met; your niece greets you respectfully.”

Li Lingyu was dressed all in white. Though attired plainly like a commoner, her beauty was unparalleled—radiant and fresh as a lotus emerging from water. Upon receiving her reply, Li Jing’s gaze shifted yet again. At this moment, the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review and the Censor-in-Chief also gathered their wits.

“Li Lingyu? Are you the daughter of the Minister of Rites, the Prince of Hejian?”

“Yes, my lords, that is I.”

After bowing slightly to Li Jing, Li Lingyu made her salutations to the other two officials. The Chief Justice hastily returned the gesture, though his expression grew increasingly grim.

The young woman before them had a formidable background. Her father was none other than Li Xiaogong, Minister of Rites and Prince of Hejian, ennobled personally by Emperor Taizong. The ministerial post alone, while of the third rank, was among the six ministries the one with the least actual power. However, the princely title of Hejian was of the highest first rank, equal to a Duke or one of the Three Masters of the Crown Prince, and second only to the royal princes. By this status alone, she stood above everyone in the hall.

More importantly, Li Xiaogong was of imperial blood, a cousin to Emperor Taizong, Li Shimin. During the unification of the realm by the Li family, Li Xiaogong’s military merits were second only to Li Shimin among the royal family. Since the young woman before them was Li Xiaogong’s daughter, she was tantamount to a county princess. By the rites, even the three presiding officials had to treat her with deference.

“Your Highness, what brings you here today?” After a pause, the Chief Justice tentatively asked, his eyes shifting to Li Jing. As colleagues, he was well aware of the close ties between Li Jing and Li Xiaogong—a history stretching back deeply.

In the final years of the Sui dynasty, Li Jing served as a prefectural magistrate. On discovering Li Yuan’s plans for rebellion, he feigned imprisonment to travel to Jiangjun, intent on informing Emperor Yang of Sui. However, he was captured by Li Yuan in Chang’an, and was to be executed, but was saved by Li Shimin and recruited into his retinue.

In the first year of the Wude era, Li Xiaogong was appointed Senior Grand Master of the Left, and tasked with pacifying Bashu on Li Yuan’s orders. Soon after, Li Shimin secretly sent Li Jing to serve under Li Xiaogong. From that campaign onward, they shared a superior-subordinate relationship and together won great victories in suppressing regional warlords during the early Tang. In the fourth year of Wude, they destroyed Xiao Xian and pacified the southern provinces; in the sixth year, they jointly led forces against Fu Gongzhi, quelling Jiangnan in a single year.

Li Xiaogong and Li Jing’s bond—brothers in arms who had survived battle together—was renowned among civil and military officials. Though after Li Shimin’s ascension, Li Xiaogong withdrew from public life to indulge in banquets and music, this only endeared him further to the emperor. The military achievements Li Jing gained under Li Xiaogong’s command were never overlooked, proof of their extraordinary relationship.

As expected, upon recognizing Li Lingyu, Li Jing’s demeanor softened, ceasing his quarrel with Wei Zheng. Before Li Lingyu could answer the Chief Justice’s question, Li Jing spoke up.

“Are you here to overturn the charges against this young man Lu Xin? Were you present in the Eastern City four days ago?”

“My lord,” Li Lingyu replied, her expression changing at the mention of the Eastern City. After a moment’s hesitation, she gritted her teeth and lowered her voice. “I was indeed in the Eastern City. At the time, black-clad assailants committed murder in the alleys; I nearly lost my life. I was saved only because this gentleman appeared suddenly and drove off the attackers. When I heard the court was to try him as the culprit, I could not bear the guilt and had to come forward!”

Her voice suddenly rose as Li Lingyu lifted her head sharply.

“My lords, the blood of the Li Tang imperial house flows in my veins; I bear the honor and shame of the royal family. His Majesty governs tirelessly for the good of the people, all so that our great Tang may endure for generations and the common folk may prosper. But to achieve this, the court must be just. Justice demands clarity in the law and fairness in punishment. If even a minor magistrate’s wrongful judgment can unsettle the people, how much more so when it is the Three Judicial Offices, appointed by the emperor himself, presiding?”

“You mean, it was he who saved you from harm that day?”

Hearing her account, Li Jing’s face changed dramatically, and he took a step forward. Clearly concerned for her safety, the fear in his eyes was unmistakable.

“Lingyu, how could you be so reckless! You are a princess—how can you roam the city alone? If anything had happened to you, what would your father... what would he have done… Ah!”

Seeing Li Jing’s reaction, the Chief Justice and the Censor-in-Chief both grew grave. They exchanged glances, reading the same worry in each other’s eyes. Although this was a joint tribunal, the true authority to decide the case lay with the Ministry of Justice. The Court of Judicial Review conducted the hearing, the Censorate observed, but the Minister of Justice made the final decision and answered to the emperor when questioned.

Yet the Lu Xin case had already been concluded and the verdict pronounced before a crowd of citizens. To overturn it so quickly would not only be humiliating, but could also expose them to charges of negligence or incompetence—a grave matter indeed.

At this moment, not only the Chief Justice and Censor-in-Chief were uneasy; Wei Tun, standing outside the hall, narrowed his cold eyes as he fixed his gaze on the officials within.

The case had been settled, Lu Xin’s fingerprint sealed the confession, and once the verdict was presented and the imperial decree issued, there would be no overturning it—even if injustice were later discovered. At worst, time would have passed and nothing could be done. But now, with these sudden developments, the “cooked duck” seemed about to fly away. How could Wei Tun not be furious?

“Your Highness, it is not that I doubt your word,” the Chief Justice said, his tone measured after years of presiding over Tang’s judiciary. Seeing Li Jing’s wavering, he quickly pressed further. “This case is of grave importance. As a member of the imperial family, you must not misspeak. You say you were in the Eastern City that day—where exactly? For what purpose? And is there anyone who can verify your account?”

Li Lingyu’s cheeks flushed crimson as her gaze faltered, unable to answer.

“I—I… I went to meet—”

“Lord Xiang! Do you want a witness? I am the witness.”

At that moment, Wei Qing strode up to the dais, taking over for Li Lingyu. The Chief Justice’s expression turned icy as he slammed his hand on the desk.

“Wei Qing, as an assistant magistrate of the Court of Judicial Review, you must answer for your words and deeds. Besides, you were pursuing the culprit that day—when would you have seen the princess?”

“My lord, you have watched my every action over these years at the court. Of all people, you should know my character. When Wang Quanyi, the Soul-Capturing Officer of the Divine Censorate, was assassinated, I was present. Many of my colleagues saw what happened; it was certainly not Lu Xin who killed him! I reported this to the Deputy Minister long ago. And on the night of the great fire in the Western Market, Young Master Lu helped me capture the assassin. If such a heroic youth is executed as a criminal, where is the justice in that?”

“Enough! Wei Qing, as you were involved in the case, your testimony is inadmissible by law. Step back. The court requires a witness for the princess, not you, who did not see it with your own eyes. Further argument is pointless!”

Though the Chief Justice’s face shifted several times, he did not grow angry—he knew Wei Qing well as both colleague and subordinate. Though he despised Wei Zheng, he did not dislike Wei Qing. Still, given the gravity of the Lu Xin case and the involvement of the Divine Censorate, he would not easily change the verdict.

“Oh? Then, Lord Xiang, do you mean that if a witness can confirm the princess’s words, the verdict against this young man Lu may be overturned?”

Wei Zheng stepped forward, laughing aloud. At his words, the faces of the three officials darkened again. With Li Jing compromised by his connection to Li Lingyu, he wisely remained silent. The Censor-in-Chief, well aware of the situation, quickly interjected.

“In this joint tribunal, the Censorate is charged with oversight. I bear the emperor’s mandate and will not tolerate a single wrongful conviction. Lord Wei, if a witness can confirm the princess’s account, this court will immediately reverse its ruling.”

“Excellent. Where are Zhu Dazhi, Lin Hu, and the other constables of the Court of Judicial Review?”

At Wei Zheng’s shout, a group of officers entered the hall, all clearly constables by their attire. Ignoring everyone else, they saluted the Chief Justice.

“My lord, four days ago, we were the ones who escorted the princess from Anyi Ward back to the Prince of Hejian’s residence. The prince himself rewarded us with silver for our service. The princess speaks the truth—every word. At the time…”

The constables recounted how they had found Li Lingyu in the alley, leaving nothing out. The Chief Justice listened, his brow furrowed, unable to respond. The Censor-in-Chief glanced at the silent Li Jing, then closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

“It seems we were too hasty with this case. Yet this man forced entry into the Duke’s mansion—a serious crime. Gentlemen, how should we revise the verdict?”

“Hahaha! A serious crime? Had he not been fleeing for his life, would he have entered Lord Changsun’s estate? Even now, you refuse to admit your error? Li Jing, Xiang Yan, Situ Yukong—kneel and receive the imperial edict!”

With a booming laugh, Wei Zheng suddenly drew an imperial decree from his sleeve. The three officials turned pale and fell to their knees in panic.