Chapter 1245: Becoming a Defendant

The cotton cloth was given by Gu Yiyang.

Knowing Chen Guanlou had an eldest sister and a niece about to be married, fine cotton cloth would definitely be useful, so he sent it.

Chen Guanlou accepted his favor; this kid could be considered to have loyalty, just sometimes having a silly look that wasn't grounded.

And so, when Gu Yiyang was beaten in a brothel, Chen Guanlou acted decisively, helping to beat them back. He didn't bully people either, only using martial arts, not using internal energy, and beat the people into a mess.

The two laughed heartily, drinking together and running off to the pleasure boats to live it up, holding the most beautiful girls and joking wantonly. In the end, Gu Yiyang picked up the tab.

Originally thought it was just a simple brothel fight.

Never expected that after two or three days, someone actually reported them to the Jingzhao Prefecture, saying the two of them had beaten someone to death.

Absurd!

The Jingzhao Prefecture sent people to the Heavenly Prison to pass the message, asking Chen Guanlou to go to court the next day.

Originally they wanted to arrest people, but thinking he was a ninth-rank martial artist, forget it, forget it, still politely invite him to court, and hurry to end the case.

"Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, don't leave the capital these few days. Otherwise, you will carry the crime of fleeing in fear of crime. Since the person didn't die because of you, go to court tomorrow morning and explain the matter clearly."

The people of the Jingzhao Prefecture were actually quite good.

Chen Guanlou endured his anger and asked: "Who died? Why say I beat someone to death? What were the results of the doctor and coroner's autopsy, and what was the cause of death?"

"The corpse has been repeatedly examined, and the cause of death was internal organ rupture caused by violent beating. According to the investigation, half a month before the deceased died, besides having a fight with you, there were no other abnormalities. The deceased's identity was a concubine-born son of the third branch of the Duke of Nan's mansion. Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, if you aren't at ease, find the Hou Fu. With the Hou Fu coming forward, perhaps there is still room for maneuver."

Chen Guanlou wasn't worried about himself; he knew the strength of his own strike, absolutely impossible to damage internal organs and cause death. This case had twists.

He asked: "What's the situation with Gu Yiyang?"

"Already sent someone to notify him, asking him to go to the Jingzhao Prefecture to court early tomorrow morning."

This unlucky Gu Yiyang was indeed a loser, walking in bad luck this year, offending the Grand Duke. He even implicated him.

"Fine, I know this matter. I will go to court on time tomorrow."

"That's good, that's good."

The Jingzhao Prefecture's working staff looked relieved. He was afraid the other party would rely on the martial artist's identity and refuse to cooperate. Thank God, he was a reasonable martial artist. He was scared to death the whole time.

Chen Guanlou didn't go to the Hou Fu but went to the Ministry of Justice.

Sun Daojing, seeing him, immediately had a nose that wasn't a nose, and eyes that weren't eyes.

"I told you to keep a low profile on weekdays; now look, you've gotten yourself into a legal mess."

"I say I didn't beat anyone to death, and that person died with twists—do you believe it?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Daoning's brows twitched slightly. "Really? It's really not you who beat him to death?"

"If I were to kill someone, would I do it in broad daylight and give others a handle against me? Do you think I'm you, being manipulated by others all day long?"

Sun Daoning was furious!

What was wrong with him?

He was a dignified Minister of the Ministry of Justice; did he offend the heavens, that every time they met he had to be dragged out and mocked? It was just that he was slightly weaker, that's all.

He couldn't even be bothered to roll his eyes; it was too much effort!

He gave a light cough and asked solemnly: "What do you want to do? Let's get this straight first: no personal attacks. Otherwise, I can't be bothered to deal with you."

Chen Guanlou promised repeatedly that there would be no personal attacks, then said: "Is there any way to take the case over and have the Ministry of Justice try it?"

Sun Daoning shook his head repeatedly. "Not appropriate! The Shuntian Prefecture hasn't reported it or asked for help, so it's not easy for the Ministry of Justice to intervene. Moreover, this isn't a major case; the Ministry of Justice doesn't have sufficient grounds to snatch the case, and it would easily invite criticism.

Besides, because of you, there are definitely many people watching this case. If the Ministry of Justice were to take the case proactively, it would actually be disadvantageous to you. Since the Shuntian Prefecture hasn't come to arrest you and only gave routine notification, it seems they still harbor goodwill toward you. Don't worry, things aren't that bad."

"Then can you issue an official document, with the Ministry of Justice coming forward to send a medical official and a coroner, requesting a re-examination of the corpse?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Daoning immediately became serious. "Do you suspect the Shuntian Prefecture of cheating?"

"I don't suspect anyone. I just don't trust the Shuntian Prefecture's coroner and medical official. I only trust my own people!"

Chen Guanlou said so.

Sun Daoning pondered for a while. "I can issue an official document requesting the Shuntian Prefecture to cooperate. If you really didn't kill anyone, why would they frame you? Could it be just because your surname is Chen?"

"Why don't you mention that Gu Yiyang's surname is Gu? In this case, not only am I a defendant, but Gu Yiyang is also a defendant. I suspect I'm being implicated and suffering an unprovoked disaster. The person they really want to deal with might be Gu Yiyang, which is to say, Imperial Consort Shu in the palace."

Sun Daoning nodded, accepting this explanation.

After all, Chen Guanlou had been holed up in the Heavenly Prison all these years, not seeking the limelight, so there was no reason to target a lowly prison warden.

"This is what you call having the wrong friends! Gu Yiyang looks like a jinx, and you still hang out with him. Look, you've been implicated by him. I heard it was a brawl in a brothel; maybe this brawl was planned."

That makes sense!

"Don't just stand there making sarcastic remarks; think hard about how to help me."

"Tomorrow at the hearing, I will send someone to listen in. If the Shuntian Prefecture is biased toward the plaintiff, then I will have grounds to take the case over for a retrial. But if that happens, you will become the center of attention, which might be disadvantageous to you."

"I only trust you. As long as you try the case, disadvantageous or not, so be it."

Sun Daoning was moved! For a long time, the brat had finally said something human.

He, a dignified Minister of the Ministry of Justice, was the most fair and upright in his conduct.

His uprightness had finally been recognized by the brat.

He was a bit excited, and tears almost came out. The brat was a real troublemaker!

"Don't think that just because you said something nice, I'll be biased toward you. If someone really died because of you, I will definitely judge it fairly. And then I'll have you doing hard labor!"

"Absolutely impossible! I have a sense of proportion when I strike, and I didn't even use internal energy, so how could anyone die! It's clearly the other side committing murder on purpose to frame me!"

"You'd better have evidence!"

"Just find any Ninth-Rank warrior, and they can verify my statement."

"The Ministry of Justice doesn't have a Ninth-Rank warrior at your disposal."

"I'll find a way myself."

The two agreed, and Chen Guanlou returned straight to the Heavenly Prison.

Gu Yiyang had been waiting in the Heavenly Prison for a long time.

Seeing him, he was very disdainful. "Do you know that you're offending the Grand Duke this year and having bad luck? You were jailed in the first half of the year, and not long after you got out, you're now being accused of beating someone to death. Stay away from me. Come find me when your bad luck is gone."

Gu Yiyang:...

A wasted feeling of guilt.

"But I have no connection with the Nanguo Mansion."

"You have no connection, that doesn't mean Imperial Consort Shu has no connection with the Mansion."

"You mean, this is aimed at Imperial Consort Shu?" Gu Yiyang was shocked.

"Never mind who it's aimed at; now you're the defendant, and I've been implicated by you and have become a defendant too. Tell me first, why did you fight that day, and what's the background of that bunch of people? My going to the brothel that day was a last-minute decision, so it must have been aimed at you."