Chapter 610

An old man slowly walked out from the crowd of onlookers, and the surrounding people couldn't help but stare in surprise.

This person was He Manshan, the great-uncle of He Family Village; don't let his frail old appearance fool him—within a radius of ten li he was a notable figure.

For any matter that arose in the village, even if the magistrate didn't seek him out, people would still go to the great-uncle for help, and his prestige in the ten-li area was high.

But having said that, no matter how high his prestige, it could not surpass that of the Regent King of Southern Qi, Xiao Yin.

He Manshan cautiously approached Baixiaosheng and Xiao Yin, then slowly knelt down.

"This commoner pays respects to the Crown Prince and the Prince!"

He Manshan kowtowed properly, then tremblingly produced from his bosom an object wrapped in bright yellow silk.

After he took it out, everyone gasped, wondering if this old man had gone mad.

To dare keep such a bright‑yellow object in one's pocket—is he tired of living, or what?

Baixiaosheng frowned deeply, his face darkening as he said coldly, "You have a lot of nerve! You dare block the Regent King's order—do you not want to live?"

He Manshan showed no fear on his face, speaking slowly: "Your Highness, please calm your anger; I am not causing trouble without cause, but I encountered an injustice at the Spring Sacrifice that ought to be redressed—this is a rule set by the late emperor, Your Highness, please look!"

He Manshan slowly took out the piece of gold tablet wrapped in the bright yellow silk and held it out with both hands to Baixiaosheng.

Unexpectedly, it was an imperial pardon gold tablet, its surface bearing the era name of the late emperor.

He Manshan raised the gold tablet high, and Xiao Yin's expression also shifted slightly.

I never expected the late emperor to have left such a tablet!

Baixiaosheng, who usually kept abreast of all news, also recalled that the late emperor had once settled a grievance for the nearby populace during the Spring Sacrifice, which seemed to be closely related to the He family.

Back then, He Manshan's father helped the late emperor solve that case, and, pleased, the emperor bestowed the gold tablet.

Thus the He family enjoys great prestige in this area.

When the villagers saw the great-uncle facing off against today's powerful nobles, they were instantly roused.

They cared nothing for whether one was noble or not; in their eyes only the great-uncle He Manshan mattered.

They feared Xiao Yin might act against He Manshan, so they surged forward; seeing the indignation of the ten‑li populace stirred up, they felt the case of Lin Jingyuan would have to be investigated whether they liked it or not.

But how to handle this case? Lin Jingyuan's death was obscure, and Xiao Yin also suspected foul play, ordering a thorough investigation.

Who would have thought the killer was a formidable figure who struck directly at Lin Jingyuan on the river?

Since the deed was done on a boat on the river, afterward not a single clue was left.

Even the servants and boatmen who attended Lin Jingyuan vanished mysteriously, their fate unknown.

Xiao Yin actually guessed those two were likely dead, silenced long ago; the case was handled cleanly and neatly.

When the Lin family traveled south, they hired two boats.

One carried the Lin family's womenfolk, the other was solely for Lin Jingyuan.

At that time Lin Jingyuan was in low spirits, so he alone boarded a black‑covered boat and trailed behind the larger vessel.

Intended to seek solitude, he instead found no place to bury his body, becoming the site of his death and the loss of his soul.

In Shang Jing rumors said this was Xiao Yin's doing, and people's impression of him was not good.

Such ruthlessness and efficiency seemed like Xiao Yin's work.

Moreover, Lin Jingyuan had earlier stirred up the students of the Imperial Academy, later smashed the medical clinic of the Princess Consort of Rui, and afterward Xiao Yin launched a massacre of the scholars of Shang Jing.

No matter how one considers it, Lin Jingyuan's death cannot be separated from Xiao Yin.

At this moment, although they could not touch Xiao Yin, it still left him feeling as disgusted as if he had swallowed a fly.

Xiao Yin originally intended to arrest all these officials, one by one, and if they did not keep quiet, to leave their heads behind.

He did not expect He Manshan to appear, together with the late emperor's pardon gold tablet.

Xiao Yin hesitated a little now; no matter how arrogant and domineering he was, no matter how firmly he held military power to control everything, he could not ultimately oppose the late emperor.

Recalling the scene from his childhood when the late emperor held him on his knee and told him those stories, Xiao Yin felt a faint ache in his heart.

From childhood onward he faced many hardships; Empress Dowager Ning'an and Emperor Longqing treated him as a tool, but only the late emperor truly loved him.

Some people insist on bringing up his father emperor, and at this moment Xiao Yin truly could not bring himself to act.

The crowd of onlookers swelled, and the noble ladies who had heard the news also came flocking over.

Gu Jiu Ling hurried over to Xiao Yin's side.

The guards ahead had already relayed the news here to her at great speed.

Gu Jiu Ling also felt somewhat nauseated at this moment; the officials' misunderstandings and prejudices toward Xiao Yin were so great that they disregarded any occasion or setting.

She truly experienced what is meant by 'many mouths can melt gold, accumulated slander can destroy bones.'

Gu Jiu Ling looked at the officials pressing forward and the onlooking crowd.

Suddenly Gu Jiu Ling sensed something amiss, though she could not pinpoint what.

She was about to speak when Xiao Yin raised his hand, firmly grasped hers, and whispered, "Stay calm, do not panic."

Gu Jiu Ling's eyes flickered slightly.

If Xiao Yin were not concerned about reputation, these people would already be dead.

Everyone says the Prince Rui of Shang Jing in Southern Qi is ruthless, but they have never truly seen what real ruthlessness is.

Xiao Yin drew a breath and coldly smiled: "In that case, this investigation simply cannot be avoided."

Today's case, no matter how it is examined, would actually yield no result, yet it has been blown up into a huge spectacle.

As the sky grew dark, it seemed that at this hour they were not trying the case but trying Xiao Yin himself.

He instead wanted to see what tricks this rabble could still pull.

Baixiaosheng turned and signaled to an attendant; the attendant hurried forward a step and announced loudly, "By the Prince's order, immediately bring Lord Lin's remains here for a public autopsy!"

He Manshan kowtowed heavily, and those several officials, ordered by Xiao Yin to relax, hastily knelt on the ground.

"Your Highness is wise!"

"The Prince is wise!"

Xiao Yin merely gave a cold smile.

Not long after, the sky had already completely darkened at this time, the Bai Xiao Life people lit lamps all around, hanging the wind lanterns on the trees.

Wind lanterns were hung in a large expanse, illuminating this open space as brightly as daytime.

Several strong men carried the coffin slowly over.

The sound of the pry bar prying open the coffin creaked chaotically, and the surrounding crowd couldn't help feeling waves of nausea.

With a click, the coffin lid was lifted; just as a few coroners were about to step forward to examine, Gu Jiu Ling shouted loudly: 'Wait!'

Gu Jiu Ling walked slowly toward the coffin.