Listening to the magistrate speak, both the plaintiff and the defendant responded. Song Shiren handed over the indictment. Mei Zhili feigned to read it, then passed it to Zheng Tuo, who in turn let Fan Xian peruse it. Fan Xian examined it carefully and found that it was largely as he had anticipated. He nodded and returned it.

Song Shiren cupped his fist in a cold gesture and said, "This student simply does not understand why this Master Fan Xian stands so proudly in court, without bowing or kneeling. With such conduct, it is no wonder he committed such a brutal act last night!"

Fan Xian glanced at the lawyer and asked curiously, "Does one have to kneel in court?" He had been studying the laws of Qing Yu Nian diligently in Danzhou and understood the point, but he asked the question deliberately.

"Naturally. Do you dare disrespect the majesty of the court?" Song Shiren frowned at him. In truth, he was extremely unwilling to take on this case, considering he was facing the Fan family – a family that was unassuming but whose power many feared. But he had gone too far down the path of the Minister, unable to turn back, and therefore could not refuse.

Fan Xian chuckled and said, "Then why isn't Master Song kneeling?"

Song Shiren narrowed his eyes at the young man, wondering if he was truly an idiot or just pretending to be one. He said stiffly, "I hold an official rank. It is the law of the court that one with such rank need not kneel before a magistrate."

Fan Xian cupped his hands towards Magistrate Mei Zhili and said, "Student greets his teacher. I wonder if I need to kneel?"

Hearing this form of address, Song Shiren knew that Fan Xian must hold some official rank. However, the Minister’s office had checked, and this Fan Xian clearly had not participated in the imperial examinations. How could he be a Xiucai (a degree in the imperial examination system)? He snapped open his folding fan and asked, "May I ask, Master Fan, in what year did you pass the prefectural examination?"

Fan Xian replied politely, "The Danzhou prefectural examination of the year before last." Fan Jian had arranged these matters before he entered the capital, but he himself was unaware of it until today when he was about to go to court, realizing he had unknowingly acquired the status of Xiucai.

The matter of kneeling was thus dropped, and the court proceedings officially began. Both sides circled around the main issues, stating their respective opinions. Guo Baokun insisted that he had been beaten by Fan Xian and the Fan residence guards last night, while Zheng Tuo maintained that Master Fan had stayed in the Fan residence all night, with many servants as witnesses. As the confrontation intensified, the discussions among the onlookers outside the Kyoto Prefecture office gradually grew louder. More people seemed to believe Fan Xian, feeling that such a handsome and gentle young master could not possibly be the one who had committed such a cruel act. Meanwhile, the young Master Guo, sitting in his wheelchair, looked like anything but a good person.

Mei Zhili watched the bickering below, growing weary. He waved his hand to silence the crowd.

"May I ask, Your Honor, the assailant is standing right here in court. Why do you not apprehend him immediately?" Song Shiren took the initiative, thinking that the indictment was written clearly, yet the magistrate had not spoken for so long, perhaps already deciding to favor the Fan residence. Therefore, he quickly pressed forward.

Zheng Tuo smiled slightly, "Master Song's tongue is a bit too hasty. Young Master Guo was attacked last night, and according to the indictment, his head was covered with a sack before he suffered this unfortunate incident. Since his head was covered before the beating, how could he have seen the attacker's face, and how can he be certain it was Master Fan?"

"Naturally, he heard Master Fan's voice. Moreover, Master Fan himself admitted it at the time. Is he now going back on his word?" Song Shiren looked at Fan Xian with blatant sarcasm. "A real man should have some responsibility!"

Fan Xian knew that he was being provoked, but his face remained calm, even a little bewildered, as if he did not understand why he was being framed. Zheng Tuo's voice rang out in a timely manner, full of mockery, "Voice? I have thoroughly studied the Qing Yu Nian legal precedents and have never heard of a case being decided solely on the basis of voice."

Song Shiren was not worried and said slowly, "If the voice is not enough to prove Master Fan's identity, then I invite everyone to listen to a poem." With that, he took a piece of paper from his sleeve and slowly recited it.

...

...

Mei Zhili, sitting behind the court table, was somewhat distracted. Suddenly, hearing this poem, his spirits were lifted. He said, "Good poem, good poem. I wonder who wrote it?" After saying this, he remembered that he was in court, not in his study, and that he was presiding over a trial, not a poetry gathering. He coughed twice and asked Song Shiren to hand up the poem.

He examined it carefully and felt that, talent aside, the author's mastery of words was rare and beautiful. He asked Song Shiren curiously, "Who wrote this poem, and what is its relevance to this case?"

Song Shiren replied respectfully, "This poem was composed by Master Fan Xian at the Jing County Prince’s poetry gathering yesterday. And when Master Fan blocked the street and brutally attacked Young Master Guo last night, he also recited these lines, declaring that he would do this and that to Young Master Guo."

Mei Zhili was greatly surprised. He looked at the young man in court with a sincere and bright smile. He never expected that this one from the Fan residence could write such a poem. Hearing what Song Shiren said next, he was even more puzzled and pained, thinking, 'You can beat someone, but why do you have to recite a poem? This kind of combative place is not for refined elegance. Now you’ve given the other side a handle to grab.'

Mei Zhili was an experienced man. The key to his being able to sit in the crucial position of Kyoto Prefect for so many years was his skill in "smoothing things over." Kyoto was a city of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, where wealthy and powerful people gathered. If he were merely just and upright, he would never last long. When he first entered the palace, Eunuch Guo had passed on to him the four-character mantra: "Pacify and appease." Since then, Mei Zhili had adhered to these words and had indeed passed several years in peace and stability.

So, regarding today's case, he maintained this attitude. He would not make any decisions himself, and would see what the two families could negotiate privately. If that didn’t work, he would simply drag the case on for a few days and pass it on to the Ministry of Justice. Since he was "smoothing things over," he definitely could not allow the case to become a definitive judgment in his office. Therefore, he looked at Fan Xian and Zheng Tuo with some worry.

Zheng Tuo had once worked as a clerk in Mei Zhili's office for a period of time and naturally knew what his old boss was worried about. He smiled and said, "That’s absurd and ridiculous. At the poetry gathering, there were many talented individuals, and many people were talking. It's only natural that someone would copy Master Fan's poem after it came out and astonished everyone. It's not surprising that others know this poem. More importantly..."

He glanced coldly at Song Shiren and mocked, "Does Master Fan suffer from mental illness? He writes this poem in the afternoon and then runs off to beat someone at night, all the while reciting the poem?! Not to mention how comical and laughable such a scene would be, it would clearly reveal who he is. Only a fool would be so stupid, right? This is obviously someone who has a grudge against Young Master Guo and knows about Master Fan's argument with Young Master Guo in the restaurant a few days ago, so they deliberately misled Young Master Guo into believing that Fan Xian was the attacker."

His words, filled with "Master" this and "Master" that, were quite reasonable. However, Fan Xian, who was standing quietly to the side with a smile, coughed awkwardly when he heard him say, "Only a fool would be so stupid." Guo Baokun, sitting in his wheelchair, could no longer restrain himself and cursed, "Don't even think about using clever words and sophistry! This illegitimate son relies on the power of the Fan residence and completely disregards the law, which is why he is so unscrupulous!"

Hearing the words "illegitimate son," Zheng Tuo's face darkened. He deeply felt that his young master's beating the other party into a wheelchair was a very wise move. He said coldly, "Young Master Guo, as a compiler in the palace, you should pay attention to your words. Although I understand that you are angry, you can't just vent your anger indiscriminately. After all, you are a close associate of the Crown Prince. It wouldn't be good to damage the reputation of the palace."

These words were both a jab at Guo Baokun and a subtle point that, in terms of power and influence, the Fan residence could never match the Guo family, who were close to the Crown Prince. Guo Baokun's previous remarks naturally did not hold water. As expected, the crowd outside the fence discussed among themselves, and more people believed that Fan Xian was innocent.

Fan Xian's face showed no expression, but he inwardly admired Zheng Tuo greatly. Some of the things he had arranged last night had been used by Zheng Tuo without any omissions. Strangely, Song Shiren, the lawyer, was not as anxious as Guo Baokun. He smiled and said, "Your Honor, my young master is injured. Can he be allowed to rest first?"

Mei Zhili nodded and had the bailiffs lead the still-furious Guo Baokun and his servants to the back. At this time, Song Shiren turned around and bowed to Fan Xian and Zheng Tuo, saying, "So, Master Fan refuses to admit to the beating." For some reason, after Guo Baokun left, his face seemed more vibrant, as if the real battlefield was about to begin.

Zheng Tuo and Fan Xian smiled simultaneously, without saying a word. You must be joking, Niulan Street was so dark, there were no witnesses and no physical evidence. What can you use to prove that we were the ones who did it? Moreover, the indictment clearly stated that the Guo residence's servants and guards were drugged unconscious. Even if you bring them to testify that "Fan Xian was the attacker," no one would believe it. Even Mei Zhili frowned, called Song Shiren forward, and said in a low voice, "Let's leave it at that for today."

Song Shiren cupped his hands and frowned, "Young Master Guo is a respected palace compiler, and he was beaten in the street. This is a major event. How can it be concluded so casually?"

Mei Zhili was angered and said, "When did this official say it was concluded? It's just being adjourned for further investigation. Your Guo family only claims that he was beaten, you must produce evidence of the beating." Since ancient times, punishment does not extend to high officials. Even if Fan Xian was not a Xiucai, the Kyoto Prefecture Office probably wouldn't be able to use torture on him. So, to get the Fan residence to confess, that was basically impossible.

Unexpectedly, Song Shiren turned around and asked, "Was Master Fan at home all night last night?"

Zheng Tuo replied, "Indeed. The entire residence's servants can testify."

Song Shiren sneered, "Bring the witnesses up." Only then did Mei Zhili realize there was a variable. He nodded, and the Guo residence's people brought a group of people up to the court. These people were dressed differently, and their occupations were different as well. There was a seller of tangyuan (glutinous rice balls), a night watchman, a sedan chair carrier waiting for business at the street corner, and even a prostitute, among others.

Zheng Tuo frowned slightly, feeling that something was not right. The onlookers, however, asked curiously, "What is this for?"