"Your Majesty, he's completely framing me!"

Qiao Hongyang glared at the man, threatening, "You dare to spout nonsense in front of His Majesty? Aren't you afraid of losing your head?"

The commoner, terrified, repeatedly kowtowed to Jiang Chen, "Your Majesty, everything I've said is true! Not a single lie!"

Qiao Hongyang roared, "You still dare to speak!"

Jiang Chen's gaze turned cold, and he shouted, "Guards, slap him!"

Qiao Hongyang was initially startled, then looked at the commoner with a smug expression.

*Hmph, I'm going to be the emperor's brother-in-law! His Majesty is my backing!*

The commoner was also frightened and continued to kowtow to Jiang Chen.

Shi Ping led the guards into the hall and, without a word, pinned Qiao Hongyang down.

Then, Shi Ping asked Jiang Chen for instructions, "Your Majesty, how many slaps?"

Qiao Hongyang looked stunned and hurriedly cried, "General Shi, are you mistaken?"

While shouting, he looked at Jiang Chen, "Your Majesty, isn't it that lying scoundrel who's supposed to be slapped?"

Jiang Chen coldly snorted, "You dare to threaten so brazenly in front of me, do you really think this is your home? Twenty slaps!"

"Yes!"

Shi Ping responded with a heavy voice, cracking his knuckles. Then, he raised his hand and slapped Qiao Hongyang's face fiercely.

*Pa!*

With a crisp sound, five bright red finger marks appeared on Qiao Hongyang's face.

Qiao Hongyang howled in pain, and Jiang Chen shouted, "Cover his mouth!"

"Yes!"

Shi Ping reached out with his left hand to pinch Qiao Hongyang's cheeks, preventing him from shouting. Then, his right hand delivered a flurry of blows.

The crisp sound of slaps echoed in the hall, causing the surrounding ministers to tremble with fear.

To them, beatings or beheadings were not as humiliating as being slapped in the face.

Being slapped in front of so many people would leave one without any face, even if the injuries were minor.

Soon, Shi Ping stopped and said, "Your Majesty, twenty slaps have been delivered."

At this moment, Qiao Hongyang's cheeks were swollen, his face red, and blood flowed from the corners of his mouth. After being released, he knelt on the ground, trembling, without any of his previous imposing manner.

Jiang Chen then said, "Bring in the second witness."

"Yes!"

The first witness was taken away, and the second witness was brought up.

"Tell what happened that day," Jiang Chen said.

The second witness then explained the events of the day, which were essentially the same as what the first witness had said, except for a few fewer details.

This time, Qiao Hongyang didn't dare to threaten anyone again, but he still glared at the witness.

Soon, the third and fourth witnesses were also summoned and explained what they knew.

After all four witnesses had spoken, Jiang Chen looked at Qiao Hongyang, "Do you admit what these four have said?"

Naturally, Qiao Hongyang would not admit it.

If he admitted it, wouldn't that confirm his crime of murder?

"No! I didn't kill anyone! They're colluding to frame me! I beg Your Majesty to investigate!"

Jiang Chen nodded, said nothing, and looked at Wu Zuo, "Wu Zuo, what Qiao Hongyang said also makes some sense. What do you say?"

Wu Zuo then said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject also has material evidence."

Jiang Chen nodded and said, "Present it."

Soon, a wooden box stained with blood was presented.

Wu Zuo said, "Your Majesty, according to the investigation, this is the murder weapon used by Qiao Hongyang."

Jiang Chen nodded and looked at Qiao Hongyang, "Qiao Hongyang, how do you explain this?"

Qiao Hongyang immediately said, "Your Majesty, this thing isn't mine! They planted it on me!"

Jiang Chen nodded again, "What you said also makes sense."

Then, Jiang Chen looked at Wu Zuo again, "What explanation do you have for what Qiao Hongyang said?"

Wu Zuo was able to hold his position as Minister of Justice, not only because he could fathom Jiang Chen's thoughts, but also because his professional skills were not bad.

He turned the wooden box over and said, "Please look, Your Majesty, there is the character 'Qiao' on the bottom of this wooden box. This subject has investigated and found that this is a mark left specifically when the Qiao family custom-made the wooden box."

Qiao Hongyang was shocked.

He usually loafed around and didn't know there was such a thing.

Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes and looked at Qiao Hongyang, "Qiao Hongyang, what else do you have to say?"

Qiao Hongyang stammered and couldn't speak.

Jiang Chen looked at Wu Zuo again, "Have the other perpetrators been caught?"

"Your Majesty, they have all been captured, and they have all confessed that Qiao Hongyang ordered them to do it."

Hearing this, Qiao Hongyang finally couldn't hold on any longer and fell to the ground with a thud.

Tears and snot streamed down his face, and he cried, "Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me!"

Jiang Chen coldly glanced at Qiao Hongyang, "Wu Zuo, according to the laws of the Great Wei, how should Qiao Hongyang be punished?"

Wu Zuo said loudly, "Reporting to Your Majesty, according to the laws and regulations, he should be beheaded!"

Jiang Chen nodded and said, "Then convict him according to the laws of the Great Wei!"

Qiao Hongyang's face turned ashen instantly.

He thought today was just a formality.

But he didn't expect that the result would be beheading!

It wasn't until Shi Ping brought people over to take him away that he came back to his senses, struggling and shouting, "My sister is Concubine Hui, the most beloved concubine of Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, please spare me! Spare me!"

Jiang Chen coldly glanced at Shi Ping, and Shi Ping immediately understood, gagged Qiao Hongyang's mouth, and quickly took him away.

Soon, the hall was silent.

The ministers had different thoughts in their hearts.

Some felt that Jiang Chen was selfless and did the right thing.

Others felt that they had to re-examine Jiang Chen's attitude towards Concubine Hui.

Jiang Chen sighed at this time and said, "Gentlemen, I am very distressed!"

The ministers looked at Jiang Chen curiously, not understanding what Jiang Chen was distressed about.

"Qiao Hongyang's sister is Concubine Hui, whom I love. Concubine Hui has recently established a Charity Foundation, which is a great thing that benefits the country and the people!"

"But I didn't expect Qiao Hongyang to rely on this to act recklessly outside! I am really heartbroken!"

As he spoke, Jiang Chen's face was filled with pain.

"Gentlemen, you must take this as a warning!"

After speaking, Jiang Chen flicked his sleeves and left.

Back in the Qianzheng Palace, Jiang Chen's expression was very relaxed, and there was no trace of the previous pain.

As soon as he sat down, he heard Concubine Hui's noisy voice outside, "Where is His Majesty? I want to see His Majesty! I want to see His Majesty!"

When Feng Jin, who was serving Jiang Chen, heard this, he knew what Concubine Hui was here for.

Obviously, she was here to plead with Jiang Chen.

This was a difficult matter!

Feng Jin thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, should this old servant go out and tell Concubine Hui that Your Majesty is unwell?"

Jiang Chen smiled and waved his hand, "Go, let her in."

Feng Jin was very surprised that His Majesty actually wanted to see Concubine Hui?

Didn't His Majesty know the purpose of Concubine Hui's visit?