A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 371 Ending (40)

Outside the imperial city gate.

The crowd of onlookers was so dense that it was impossible to move.

Therefore, a large number of imperial guards and palace guards were mobilized from the palace!
The Imperial Guards stood watch on the perimeter of the common people, while the Imperial Bodyguards formed a human wall to separate the common people from the officials. The two platforms were surrounded by layers of elite troops, who were responsible for protecting the emperor!

At the hour of Si (9-11 AM), all civil and military officials took their places.

Today's scene left only a few officials bewildered, but those of the third rank and above, who were at the center of the Great Zhou regime, more or less sensed the bloody smell of an impending storm!
The wedding and the public trial were merely the prelude to the grand drama of imperial power. The Empress Dowager had been wielding influence over the court for years, and the new emperor's dormant ambitions were finally about to be revealed. The feigned harmony between these two rival factions, locked in open and covert struggles, had finally reached the point where the pretense would be torn away, and a life-or-death struggle would ensue!

Many people's fates will be rewritten today!
A quarter of an hour later, the central gate of the imperial city slowly opened, and the dazzling bright yellow, symbolizing supreme power, forcefully entered the field of vision. The high-pitched and sharp shout of the chief eunuch Zhou Chun resounded in all directions!
"The Emperor has arrived——"

"The Queen Mother has arrived——"

With the imperial guards leading the way, the emperor's gilded palanquin and the empress dowager's vermilion phoenix palanquin slowly approached, one after the other!

Everyone, immediately kneel down and shout "Long live the Emperor!"
Emperor Shen Zhu and Empress Dowager Song Zi ascended the platform amidst impassioned recitations and took their seats on the dragon throne and phoenix throne, respectively.

His stern and aloof gaze swept over the officials and commoners below. The emperor slightly raised his arm, his every gesture exuding imperial majesty. "Rise!"

"Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor!"

"Long live the Empress Dowager!"

After expressing their gratitude, everyone stood up.

The emperor turned his gaze toward the courtroom and said in a deep voice, "Where are the Three Judicial Offices?"

The three men stepped forward from the officials' assembly and bowed in unison, saying, "Your subjects, Qin Songyang, Minister of Justice; Lu Xun, Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review; and Ji Yue, Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, pay their respects to Your Majesty!"

The emperor inquired, "How are the preparations for the public trial going?" "Your Majesty, everything—the deceased, the suspect, the witnesses, the evidence—is ready and the trial can begin at any time!" Qin Songyang replied.

The Emperor nodded slightly: "This case is of great importance. Both the suspect and the deceased are officials. All ministers must uphold justice and demonstrate the integrity of the laws of our Great Zhou!"

The three men said in unison, "Your Majesty's teachings will be obeyed. We will live up to His Majesty's boundless grace and the expectations of the common people!"

The emperor was very satisfied. "In that case, let's begin!"

The three walked to the courtroom and sat down side by side in the presiding judge's seat at the jury table.

The bailiffs from the Dali Temple, wielding black and red fire-and-water sticks, rushed into the courtroom, lining up on both sides and shouting "Majesty!"

The people were startled and held their breath even more, not daring to utter a single word.

Meanwhile, in the wedding hall, the Empress Dowager spoke up: "Prince Zhongshan, isn't the auspicious time approaching? It's time to take your seats."

The Zhongshan king bowed to the emperor and empress dowager, offering no further flattery, only saying, "This old minister kowtows to thank Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress Dowager for your great kindness!"

Whether the marriage will go through or not, the Prince of Zhongshan knew in his heart. He only hoped that Shen Che could accept his fate and not act impulsively.

"Summon suspect Song Shuyu to court!"

"The new guy has arrived——"

As the two voices fell in sync, Song Shuyu, who was being escorted by constables from the Ministry of Justice, arrived almost simultaneously with the wedding procession!
Across the sea of ​​people, Song Shuyu, dressed in prison garb, and Mu Qingcheng, dressed in a bright red wedding gown, gazed at each other from afar...

I highly recommend my completed suspense/detective novel of the same genre, "Dragon's Bone Mirror." The female lead is super cool, I guarantee you won't regret reading it!