Back In Time (The Reincarnation of the Cruel Concubine)

Second defence

"Sorry, Your Majesty, can you explain this?" asked the chief judge, in his hands there was strong evidence that the decoration of the jade inscribed with the name of the empress. The decoration was only one and it was impossible to make a clone of it, since the stone was a gift from the emperor for Yang Jia Li's birthday. The decoration was custom-made by the best craftsmen in the entire country. The decoration was also very well known, because the empress often wore it at various important events of the empire.

"Your Majesty?"

Yang Jia Li was deathly pale, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. Confusion to answer, what should he do? Yang Jia Li forced his brain to think, thinking of a way to survive all this.

"His Majesty the Empress?"

"Your Majesty?"

"Didn't you hear me, Your Majesty?"

The chief justice asked louder as the empress was reluctant to open her voice, Yang Jia Li was still fixated, her eyes glancing right and left.

"That's......" Yang Jia Li covered his lips, he stared at the ranks of the imperial higher-ups. His views met with Yang Hong Hui, the head of the security and defense section. The middle-aged man is Yang Jia Li's uncle, he also got a position as a minister because of the role of the empress. Yang Hong Hui was one of the empress' confidants, being a protector, and at the same time a person who was also involved in the incident of Wu Li Mei falling on the lake.

Yang Hong Hui pointed his index finger at the lips, giving the code so that the empress would not speak. The middle-aged man then pointed at Zhou Xing Huan, then gave a cross with his finger. Yang Jia Li certainly could easily read the intent of the code, the beautiful woman smiled obliquely. In times like these, there is no difference between enemies and friends.

He again normalized his facial expression, Yang Jia Li had discovered his plan. The woman was still reluctant to open her voice, she wanted to observe and wait for the time to speak.

"You see, it's not the jade that says the empress' name, it's not me who bought the mercury!" said the prince.

"I'm innocent, this guy was the one who misidentified me. There must be someone who looks like me."

"He is the queen's man!"

Everyone was shocked to hear that, they were all whispering bold words from the prince. Since there was no choice for Zhou Xing Huan other than to betray Yang Jia Li, after all, that woman would not save him either.

Poor fate for Zhou Xing Huan, he had no support or people who would be his protectors.

"I'm not guilty!"

"This guy misrecognized me!" point it at the mercury seller. "I'm clearly innocent, right?"

"Take me off!"

Zhou Xing Huan rebelled, but was not let go of it. The soldiers who detained him waited for the judge's decision to release or keep the prince.

The chief judge looked at the mercury seller, "Can you explain what this is?"

"It's... it's an object exchanged for a bag of mercury mine."

"Who gave this to you?"

"The prince." said the mercury seller slowly, he was still clinging with his hands tied. Wanting to run away would not be able to, he did not want to die silly by the sword slashes of the soldiers.

It was already awkward, so the seller could only bow and surrender.

"The prince gave it to me, as payment" he said.

"How dare you!!"

"He lied, he just accused me!" shangkal Zhou Xing Huan's. "It's clear that the empress committed the crime."

The chief justice nodded, after getting the decision along with the other judges he ordered the soldiers to arrest Yang Jia Li.

"Hey, what the hell is this!"

"Deliver!!"

Yang Jia Li rebelled when two warriors came to arrest him, the imperial higher-ups of the Yang Clan, or Yang Jian Zhu could do nothing as this became the judicial authority. All decisions are in the hands of the queen herself.

"Deliver!!"

"Take me off!!"

The empress arrived before the chief justice, she stood next to Zhou Xing Huan. "Traitor!" hisses, but the prince could still hear them.

Yang Jia Li clenched his hands together, if Zhou Xing Huan stabbed him in the back, he still had a knife to stab him back.

"He!" point Yang Jia Li at the prince, "He has stolen my precious jade."

Yang Jia Li's words made the people back shocked and confused, who was right because the two of them were throwing accusations at each other.

"A few days ago the prince came to visit, and right after, the jade the emperor gave me was gone. I have been looking for her for quite a while, just ask my lady." Yang Jia Li said.

"All of this must be Zhou Xing Huan's stratagem alone, I'm not involved in any of these crimes."

"This seller clearly said that it was Zhou Xing Huan who came to him."

Yang Jia Li put on a face that was parched, her eyes reddened about to cry. "Would I have the heart to poison Zhou Xie Ling, I am also a mother, there is no way I could have hurt that child. I know what it's like to be abandoned by loved ones, and I still feel sad for the passing of my children. They haven't even seen the beautiful world."

"I think I've been accused of doing things that I didn't do by Zhou Xing Huan, to cover up her mistake she scapegoated me."

Yang Jia Li stared unhurtly at Zhou Xing Huan, "While, I've been being nice to her. But, is this the payback for my kindness to you?"

Yang Jia Li is indeed good at tongue-licking, he can also play roles well. The evidence is that people are sympathetic to him.

"No, everything the queen said was a lie!" shangkal Zhou Xing Huan's. "He was the one who planned all this, I never stole that jade."

"Why did you do all this to me, Zhou Xing Huan?" Yang Jia Li shed her tears, she covered her mouth with both hands. Unable to resist the crying.

"Am I not good to you?"

"I'm the one who asked the emperor to free you from exile, so that you can return to the sense of palace life."

"This is your reply to me, Zhou Xing Huan...."

The prince was rendered speechless, if there was a reward for a two-faced person, then Yang Jia Li was definitely the winner.

Those cries and tears are fake, but people believe them more. Zhou Xing Huan could hear clearly, that people were starting to back corner her.

Feeling fed up with the drama made by the empress, Zhou Ming Hao again drew closer to the grand magistrate. If the drama continues, then the core problem will not be solved. Zhou Ming Hao must save his mother.

"Great judge, I brought the second piece of evidence!" he said steadily, ignoring the piercing gazes of the eastern prince and empress.

"It."

Zhou Ming Hao put down a piece of paper on the chief magistrate's table, "What is this?" ask the judge.

"Tagging proof of mercury purchase."