Jian Zhaoxing

Chapter 163 The Rejection from the Dali Temple

"Uncle, my cousin should have already spoken to you. You must come with me to the Dali Temple to submit the evidence." Lin Zhiqing put the letter away.

"Wait a minute." Lin Congli thought of something else: "Has Liu Mang not made a single move?"

“He’s not sure if it was us, so he won’t come after the Lin family for now, but he’ll probably be making some underhanded moves,” Lu Huai replied.

Jiang Liuyun nodded: "Fortunately, I had the mask Qing'er gave me, so I didn't expose my identity when I was fighting with those people."

"What if we go to the Dali Temple and present these things, and Liu Mang accuses us of theft?" Lin Congli was used to thinking three steps ahead for every step he took.

“He has no evidence, neither witnesses nor physical evidence.” Lin Zhiqing even took back the handkerchief that was as dirty as a rag.

She was certain that she had not left anything at the scene that was related to her.

Even if Liu Mang knew he was the one who did it, he couldn't produce any evidence and couldn't do anything to Lin Zhiqing.

"In that case, let's leave immediately." Lin Congli had no more worries.

After settling everything at the Lin family's residence, the two quickly drove their carriage to the Dali Temple.

However, they were quickly turned away.

"Lord Lin, our lord is very busy with official duties and it is inconvenient for us to meet." The yamen runner was very respectful on the surface.

But Lin Zhiqing noticed that his brows were slightly furrowed, his eyelids were rolled up and then pulled down as he tried to control them, which was a sign of impatience.

“My lord is very busy, and I shouldn’t disturb you, but this concerns lives, so please go and inform him again.” Lin Congli’s face was very tense.

Upon hearing this, the constable's impatience became even more apparent: "Sir, I'm just a gatekeeper, please don't make things difficult for me."

As he spoke, he was about to close the door.

"Wait a minute." Lin Zhiqing stepped forward: "Are you sure you told the adults that we found evidence?"

When the constable heard this question, his eyes darted left and right, and he leaned back, a sign that he was feeling guilty.

But he was in the wrong and yet he nodded vigorously.

Lin Zhiqing instantly understood; it was most likely that the Dali Temple had given instructions not to see any members of the Lin family.

The yamen runner made up a random excuse to appease himself and his uncle, and the news that they had found evidence probably didn't reach the ears of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

"How dare you!" Lin Zhiqing's voice suddenly rose, startling Lin Congli.

Before Lin Congli could react, Lin Zhiqing spoke again:

"The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review has always been an honest and upright official with keen insight. You clearly did not report this, yet you are outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant. If this leads to serious consequences, be careful with your head!"

She spoke quickly and urgently, causing the constable to tense up and take two steps back.

Seeing this, Lin Zhiqing narrowed her eyes; she had indeed figured it out.

"In public, what nonsense are you spouting!" The constable saw people gathering around, trying to shut Lin Zhiqing up.

"You know perfectly well whether I'm lying or not. If this causes a major problem, it will be your responsibility." Her words were so eloquent that no one could refute them.

The constable rolled his eyes, weighed the pros and cons, and finally didn't dare to continue being stubborn: "You...you wait."

After saying that, he walked inside, his steps somewhat hurried.

Lin Zhiqing frowned. Some people just respond to force, not persuasion.

If this matter were merely a matter concerning the Lin family, the yamen runners would naturally not have taken it to heart.

But Lin Zhiqing attributed the potential consequences of this incident to the yamen runners. Since the knife had been used against him, he naturally had to think it over.

Lin Congli knew that Lin Zhiqing was very good with words, but today he experienced it for himself.

To be honest, what she said was indeed very insightful. Lin Congli himself didn't realize that he had already accepted the fact that Lin Zhiqing was more eloquent than him.

The two were lost in thought, and after another half incense stick's time, the yamen runner finally arrived late.

This time, his eyelids twitched to the lower right, one corner of his mouth turned down, and his face showed no hesitation, but rather mockery.

Lin Zhiqing frowned slightly.

From the yamen runner's attitude, she guessed the attitude of the Minister of Justice.

This time, I'm afraid I'll be turned away again.

The thought had barely crossed her mind when the constable spoke up:

"Miss Lin, Master Lin, my husband said he is busy with official business and cannot see you!"

Perhaps to retort to Lin Zhiqing, the word "not seeing" was said with a hint of gritted teeth.

Lin Zhiqing's face showed no sign of weakness: "Won't see me? Why not? I have evidence."

“That’s right, we have evidence, so why won’t you let us in?” Lin Congli stood behind Lin Zhiqing with his hands behind his back, his eyebrows lowered, and anyone could tell that he was in a bad mood.

The constables showed no fear whatsoever; in fact, they appeared somewhat gloating.
“My family said, who knows whether the evidence you have is real or fake.”

"It's very easy to fabricate evidence. If everyone were like you, bringing things of dubious origin and calling them evidence, wouldn't our Dali Temple become a vegetable market in the West Market?"

As the constable closed the door, he said, "You two shouldn't waste my time. Our magistrate said that inanimate objects don't prove anything."

"If you can bring witnesses to the front gate another day, I might take pity on you and let you in."

Lin Congli couldn't stand it anymore. "How dare you speak to an official appointed by the imperial court? How can the Court of Judicial Review have someone as ignorant of etiquette as you!"

But the yamen runner didn't seem inclined to speak to him. With a loud bang, the gates of the Dali Temple were slammed shut.

Lin Congli suppressed his anger and turned to look at Lin Zhiqing:

"Zhiqing, we still have two and a half days. Let's try to find a witness to come over."

There was no other way.

Inanimate objects cannot be used as evidence, meaning physical evidence is not acceptable.

If physical evidence isn't enough, then find witnesses!
But Lin Zhiqing shook her head slightly: "Even witness testimony won't work."

After this experience, she finally understood.

Even if they find witnesses, the Minister of Justice will probably just brush it off with a dismissive "it doesn't prove anything" or "it might be a forgery."

Prisoners transferred from the Ministry of Justice to the Court of Judicial Review for further examination are not allowed to be visited.

Once the three-day review period has passed, if the charges are verified, the Dali Temple can directly take the person to the execution platform and behead them!

Upon hearing Lin Zhiqing's analysis, Lin Congli couldn't help but take two steps back.

Her meaning was clear: the Dali Temple was determined to behead Lin Congyan, and any evidence they presented would be rejected.

"The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review has always upheld justice and would never do such a thing." Lin Congli still couldn't believe it.

Enforcing the law impartially?

Even if the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was indeed impartial in the past, the person who wants Fourth Uncle's life now is the imperial family.

His repeated refusal of Lin Zhiqing's requests to see him clearly indicated that he had chosen to protect himself.

Who would dare to go against those in power?