Pei ordered to return to the Temple of Great Rites first. A dead body on the street would only make things more out of control. The people from the Temple of Great Rites quickly cleaned up the street, and after the empty space where the dead body was moved away appeared, there were only a group of frightened civilians left.

  After returning to the temple, Jing Wanyu obviously wanted to follow Pei Tan into the main hall, but was stopped outside the courtyard. "The master ordered Miss Jing to return to the backyard and rest on her own."

  Jing Wan'er looked at the bailiff blocking her way and moved her lips: "I still have something to say to you, sir."

  The official was unmoved. In his eyes, Jing Yuanner's identity had never been anything to write home about anyway.

  Jing Wan's lips slowly pursed together.

  Shen Xingwen gazed at Jing Wanyu, a hint of profound smile in his eyes.

  The body was then sent to the morgue, and a detailed autopsy result would naturally require dissection to be confirmed. However, there is only one mortician, Shen Xingwen, and such work usually requires at least two people who understand autopsies to collaborate.

  "Judging from Miss Jing's observation of the corpse, she seems to have some knowledge about it." Shen Yu said with a calm tone.

  Pei Tan glanced at him, but didn't know if he was doing it on purpose. The smile on his face made people feel uneasy.

  "You are the mortician of Dalit Temple." Even if it's a temporary transfer, you should still do your job as a mortician properly.

  Shen Yu couldn't help but smile inwardly, and still slowly bowed to Pei Tan before turning around and leaving the hall.

  Pei County came in afterwards. He was originally responsible for guarding the Temple of Great Rites, but now the temple was surrounded by the Golden Armor Guards.

  "Your Excellency, Wei Xiang has arrived." Pei County's face was filled with gloom. "He brought the imperial edict from the palace."

  The eunuch in charge of delivering the imperial edict stood beside Wei Xuanzhen, his eyes scanning the officials in the courtyard with a hint of ruthlessness. He slowly pulled out the imperial edict from his sleeve and read it aloud: "From this day on, all court affairs will be temporarily handled by Prime Minister Wei. The Ministry of Justice has been incompetent and derelict in its duties, causing His Majesty to overwork and fall ill. If there is any further dereliction of duty, the entire Ministry of Justice, from top to bottom, will be punished!"

  This imperial edict not only rendered the authority of the Grand Justice Temple useless, but also shifted the blame for all the recent events onto the temple.

  The eunuch's face remained expressionless as he finished reading the edict, then turned coldly to Wei Xuanzhen: "Your Excellency, I will take my leave now."

  Jin Wuwei was standing behind Wei Xuanzhen at this moment, and the oppressive atmosphere made people feel uneasy.

  Wei Xuanzhen's handsome face suddenly broke into a gentle smile, and he slowly walked up to Pei Tan, looking at him: "Lord Pei, you've worked hard, from now on, let Ben Xiang take care of it."

  No matter how polite you are, it can't hide the ruthlessness of this imperial decree.

  The Dali Temple was ordered by the emperor to maintain law and order in Chang'an during the imperial examination, together with the Golden Armor Guard. However, when something happened, the Dali Temple took all the blame, while the Golden Armor Guard began to take orders from Wei Xuanzhen.

  "These days, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you at the Grand Temple." He said with a faint smile.

  Pei Tan was originally lowering his head, hearing the words just about to respond, suddenly glanced at the trees with a flash of light.

  A corner of a dress and embroidered shoes hidden among the green leaves, as if one could still see the girl's hair.

  Bai Tan slowly looked back at Wei Xuanzhen: "May I ask another question, how does Master Xiang plan to handle this matter?"

  Wei Xuanzhen rolled up her sleeves, gazing at Pei Tan's face with a distant look, and suddenly smiled slightly, saying: "Why didn't you bring the husband and wife from the wine tower to the Dalisi Temple for interrogation today, Lord Pei?"

  The hem of her skirt fluttered in the thicket.

  "They have nothing directly to do with the deceased's death."

  Wei Xuanzhen's smile remained unchanged: "To make a judgment, evidence must be complete. The trial has not yet taken place, how can Lord Pei be certain there is no connection? Moreover, the deceased fell to his death after drinking at the wine tower, this point is an unalterable fact."

  Who would have thought that they still had to drag Zixian and her husband into this.

  "It would be better if Lord Pei didn't get involved in this matter. Instead, think about how you will report back to the palace after the case is closed."

  Wei Xiang's face was as warm and gentle as jade, and he said with a subtle smile.

  The Jinwu guards, who were originally just wandering outside the Temple of Great Awakening, thoroughly occupied the interior of the temple. Wei Xuanzhen personally sat in the temple and ordered that all the wine guests on the Moon-Watching Pavilion today be brought back without exception.

  In the evening, the night sky was quiet, and only Pei Tan's study had lights on. Jing Wanyan woke up with a start at Lin Qingqing's bedside, looking at Pei Tan walking out of the secret passage with a lantern in his hand.

  "Really..." Jing Wanyu's eyes were deep and moving, "Aren't they leaving?"

  Pei Tan's gaze swept across the girl's face and looked at Lin Jingjing on the bed, his lips moving slightly: "The Dali Temple is no longer safe either."

  Lin Jingjing will be found out sooner or later, and even Zixian'er and her husband can't escape, let alone Lin Jingjing.

  "Sir, Wei Xiang's methods are such that it's hard not to think this isn't an investigation at all, but rather... intimidation."

  Lock up all relevant parties involved, without first asking if they are guilty, it's like a net that catches everything at its root.

  The girl's stubborn expression was as if she refused to lower her head.

  Pei Tan is not stupid like a pig, and the signs that Jing Wanyu brought up are somewhat problematic in his eyes.

  But the gap between a first-class prime minister and a third-class grand justice is not something that just anyone can bridge.

  Miss Jing Wan'er would never be so obedient, she stood up and said, "They are trying to keep you out of this, they don't want you to get involved in this matter, there is no one else in the whole city of Chang'an who is willing to thoroughly investigate this case like you."

  Those who died in vain would have died for nothing, a ripple effect, just because the dead were ordinary people, they had to downplay major events and trivialize minor ones.

  Is this the great Tang Dynasty that is said to be as vast as the weather and mountains?

  Pei Tan didn't notice the girl's flattery; he just lowered his eyes, and the lantern in his hand cast a reflection on his face.

  The time of death is closely related to the state before death. If a person was writing on the table with his fingers, the time when his fingers turned blue after death would indicate that he fell to his death immediately after finishing writing.

  At that time, Zixian and her husband did not have time to kill anyone.

  Suicide.

  The case of suicide revealed the cruelty of the imperial examination, and Zhongzong, in order to show off the glory of the Tang dynasty, gathered all the talented scholars in Chang'an, but now the imperial examination has become a scene of bloodshed.

  "If Wei Xiang wants to suppress this matter, he will not resort to suicide. For the sake of the Tang imperial family's face...he will find a scapegoat." These words slipped out from between Jing Wanyi's teeth.

  Is there a more reasonable scapegoat than Ziyu and her husband?

  Plotting for wealth and taking lives, the death of candidates and the imperial examination have nothing to do with the great Tang Dynasty.

  It's really cold.

  Pei Tan gazed at the girl's face, which still retained a hint of innocence. It is said that people who are too intelligent will die young. If they discover the truth and refuse to pretend to be foolish, they will suffer every moment in this world.

  "This matter... Dali Temple has no right to intervene anymore."

  Jing Wan'er gazed at Pei Tan, her expression seemingly dazed.

  After a moment, she lifted the quilt beside her and revealed a tear-stained face hidden behind her hair: "That gentleman, tell Lin girl first."

  Lin Jingjing had been pretending to sleep earlier, but after Pei Tan spoke, her trembling body under the quilt was discovered by Jing Wanyan.

  She tried to get up, but fell straight to the ground. Jing Wanyu couldn't support her in time: "Lin Niang!"

  Lin Jingjing's slender arms, as thin as if they had no bones, propped up the ground, "Sir, aren't you going to take care of Fan Lang's case?"

  Pei Tan had been awake since she entered the bedroom, and those words just now made her heart break into pieces.

  "Fan Lang has been alone all his life, both parents are dead. He lived in this world miserably, I couldn't bear him to have no place to rest after death." Lin Jingjing seemed to be numb already, "Please, sir, return Fan Lang's body to me, I want to find a place for him and give him a proper burial..."

  "By now, this case is no longer under the jurisdiction of the Dali Temple. Later on, it will likely be handed over directly to the Ministry of Punishment. At that time, the body will also be handed over to the Ministry of Punishment for burial and sealing."

  This is the normal procedure, just as Lin Jingjing said. Fan Wenjun no longer had any relatives in this world, and even if the case can be clarified, Lin Jingjing's identity does not qualify her to attend Fan Wenjun's funeral.

  There are even more cruel things in this world, people die like a lamp going out, but those who love them have no right.

  Lin Jingjing suddenly smiled bleakly after a moment of stunned silence, "Since that's the case, I don't have anything to hold on to either. Why not go underground and accompany Fan Lang? I couldn't be with him in life, how could I bear to let him be alone over there?"

  Jing Wan'er rushed out at the same time, but only grabbed her sleeve, Lin Jingjing decisively crashed towards the table!

  Because she wanted to see her beloved Xue Zhan's name cleared with her own eyes, and the thought of giving him a proper burial was what kept her alive. Now that this thought has been extinguished, Lin Jingjing cannot survive for even a moment longer.

  "Lin Niang, don't be impulsive!" Jing Wanyu's face also changed color with anxiety.

  Pei Tan's lantern slipped from his hand and fell to the ground, and he reached out to grab Lin Xiangxiang, but he wasn't someone who could cover a thousand miles in one step either. Moreover, Lin Xiangxiang was someone who sought death with all her heart, so even if Pei Tan reacted quickly, it wouldn't be enough.

  A flying stone flew in from the window and hit Lin Jingjing's neck, causing her to fall softly on the floor in front of the table just before she was about to crash into the corner of the table.

  Lin Jingjing convulsed once, but never had the strength to climb up again.

  "Pei County."

  Pai Shi Wei originally did not leave Pai Tan's side, staying within fifty paces. Pai Tan entered and exited through a secret passage, and Pai Xian guarded the outside. With him there, no one would be able to get close to this house.

  Pei Xian walked in from outside the door and glanced at the woman on the ground.

  Lin Jingjing's eyes welled up with tears, and the most desperate thing in the world is being unable to choose between life and death.

  Pei Tan slowly walked away, the imperial edict had been issued, and even he was powerless. "Lin Niang, if you die, then this world will truly have no one who knows that a scholar named Fan Wenjun once wrote articles with unparalleled literary talent."

  The article that was printed in Lin Jingjing's mind and recited by her without missing a single word is the only legacy left behind by Fan Wenjun.

  Lin Jingjing trembled slightly.

  Lin Jingjing's death took away the last trace of Fan Wenjun in this world.

  Should it be said to be cruel or affectionate?

  Pei Tan slowly squatted down in front of her, his eyes staring at her dry wooden eyes: "If Fan Wenjun's manuscript was destroyed by the Ministry of Punishment, they can't destroy what's in Lin Niang's mind."

  Unless it's murder.