They all want to change my future.

Chapter 60 Jingzhao Prefecture

Wei Yu, the Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, was in a good mood today.

With the end of the workday approaching, the pile of documents on my desk has been mostly dealt with.

Nothing major happened today; there were no brawls among the servants of royalty or no one bothering to report the crime.

It was another beautiful and peaceful day.

Wei Yu picked up the slightly cooled teacup and took a leisurely sip.

Just as the tea soup slid down my throat—

"Thump!!"

A deep, penetrating drumbeat suddenly erupted, instantly spreading to every corner of the Jingzhao Prefecture.

The drumbeats were deep and powerful, carrying a resonant force that went straight to the heart and lungs, even causing a slight ripple to appear on the teacup beside Wei Yu.

Wei Yu's hand trembled, and half a mouthful of tea choked him, causing him to cough violently.

He clutched his chest, his face flushed, but his eyes were fixed on the direction from which the sound came—the front office, the petition drum!

This drum is not one that just anyone can beat.

Ordinary people, and even ordinary officials, simply don't have the qualifications, or rather, the power to even attempt it.

The person who could make such a sound throughout the entire Jingzhao Prefecture was at least a cultivator at the Fifth Realm True Essence Realm.

What kind of trouble has come today?

Wei Yu put down his teacup, disregarding official etiquette, and shouted loudly outside, "Someone! Go quickly and see who is beating the Dengwen Drum!!"

The words had barely left his mouth when hurried footsteps sounded, and a constable scrambled into the back room, his face still showing lingering shock.

"Sir! Someone has beat the drum to file a complaint!"

"Nonsense! I heard you!" Wei Yu said irritably. "Who are you suing? Who filed this complaint?"

The constable swallowed hard, lowering his voice but sounding even more nervous: "The person who filed the complaint... claims to be Li Zhi from Zhaoyang Prefecture."

"Who?"

Wei Yu frowned, feeling that the name sounded somewhat familiar.

"Li Zhi is the one who caused all the trouble a few days ago."

The constable looked at Wei Yu cautiously and added, "Yesterday, the magistrate scolded him."

Wei Yu remembered, the person who had won the admiration of everyone at the Red Silk Pavilion.

I actually cursed him myself, saying that the brat from that sect didn't deserve it.

Upon thinking of this, a series of information flashed through Wei Yu's mind:

He came from the south, wields a sword, is young but possesses considerable skill, and is suspected to be a high-ranking disciple of the Sword Sect...

More importantly, this person should be someone the sect has chosen to make a name for themselves and to compete with the Empress.

So, is this targeting me? Or is it someone else?

As a subordinate of Her Majesty the Empress, Wei Yu's heart skipped a beat.

My good mood vanished, replaced by vigilance and reflection.

Using the name of Zhaoyang Prefecture, but not a sect, what a clever scheme.

How could I possibly refuse to give face to the royal family?

So, who is he going to sue?

Wei Yu felt increasingly uneasy and didn't want to get involved at all.

But when the drum of petition was sounded, under the watchful eyes of everyone, could he, as the Prefect of Jingzhao, ignore it?

No.

Not only can we not ignore it, we must take immediate and serious action to manage it.

"Sigh..." Wei Yu sighed deeply, resignedly rising to his feet. "Change your clothes, proceed with the court proceedings!"

A moment later, in the main hall of the Jingzhao Prefecture.

"mighty--"

The bailiffs stood on both sides, and the sound of their water and fire sticks striking the ground was neat and heavy, exuding the authority of the officials.

Wei Yu, dressed in a crimson official robe and wearing a black gauze hat, sat upright under the plaque with the bright mirror hanging high.

His expression was solemn as he tried his best to maintain the official demeanor of a fourth-rank official, his gaze sweeping across the hall below.

Li Zhi stood there. He wore a clean blue robe, without a single wrinkle.

He didn't kneel, but simply cupped his hands slightly as a gesture of greeting.

He even had a relaxed smile on his face, and his eyes curiously swept over the scene in front of him, as if he were on a picnic.

Upon seeing this, Wei Yu's displeasure intensified.

He grabbed the gavel and slammed it heavily on the table with a loud "bang!"

"Who is standing here? What is your complaint? Why have you struck the drum to appeal?"

His voice was loud and clear, carrying the oppressive aura typical of officialdom.

Li Zhi then withdrew his gaze from the tour, looked up to meet Wei Yu's eyes, and, with a look of amusement, said loudly:

"My name is Li Zhi, a retainer of Zhaoyang Prefecture."

I hereby accuse Lu Jiu, a member of the Lu family of Luyuan, and more than ten of his accomplices of attacking me this afternoon within Luyuan with weapons, intending to forcibly seize my personal martial arts manual.

Such behavior is utterly lawless and extremely arrogant. We earnestly request Your Excellency to investigate and severely punish such acts.

He explained it very clearly, word by word.

Wei Yu sensed something was amiss. The time, place, people, events, and demands were all clearly stated, indicating that someone familiar with the court was behind it.

Which lawyer? Or which official?

Wei Yu's gaze fell on Li Zhi's empty hands: "Li Zhi, since you've come to file a complaint, do you have a complaint to submit?"

He wanted to see who was behind it.

"The complaint was filed in haste and was not prepared in advance."

Li Zhi frankly admitted that all of this was naturally taught to him by Qu Hongxiao.

As a fourth-rank official and a sixth-realm cultivator, Wei Yu, the Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, was naturally recorded in the Star Gazing Tower. He was skilled in criminal investigation, especially in the ability to decipher handwriting, which could be described as master-level.

How could Qu Hongxiao not be on guard?

Upon hearing Li Zhi's statement, Wei Yu's eyelids twitched.

This was a well-prepared visit, and their intentions were not good.

But is the lawsuit being sued against the Lu family?

Thinking of this, Wei Yu also felt troubled. The Lu family was not powerful; their only advantage was that they had pledged allegiance to the Empress early on.

How should I judge it myself, according to the law or...?

Before Wei Yu could even consider what to do, Li Zhi asked leisurely, "My lord, you're not thinking about what to do, are you?"

That attitude, that tone...

They don't look like a victim who came to file a complaint.

They clearly seemed to be there to watch a play, even with a hint of urgency, wanting the show to start quickly.

Wei Yu sensed something was wrong, something very wrong.

This situation is definitely not that simple; I can't continue to be so passive.

The current approach is to stall and drag it out.

Wei Yu's mind worked quickly, and he soon came up with a solution: "This case is of great importance and involves people who cultivate themselves. I need some time to investigate the case."

"I see."

Li Zhi clapped with a half-smile, a gesture that made Wei Yu's forehead bead with sweat. Could it be that he had already anticipated this? Could it be that the Lu family had already confessed?

Are you right outside the door?

Wei Yu's heart was in her throat, but Li Zhi said, "It's perfect timing. I have a dinner appointment with someone, so I'll come again tomorrow."

The courtroom was completely silent.

Even the constables standing on either side with their fire sticks seemed stunned; several of them opened their mouths involuntarily, then quickly shut them again.

Wei Yu was also stunned.

He even doubted whether he had misheard.

Li Zhi actually agreed?

"What...did you say?" Wei Yu couldn't hold back any longer. Why wasn't this kid following the script?

Shouldn't you question me and tell me to go to the deer park immediately to arrest the person, or come up with other methods?

You just agreed like that.

I said it was getting late and I needed to go back for dinner.

Li Zhi's expression was innocent and honest.

Wei Yu looked at the other person, then closed his eyes after a long while. He couldn't understand it, but wasn't the way things were developing exactly as he had imagined?

"Fine, you can go now."

Li Zhi smiled, then turned and walked leisurely out of the courtroom. His figure in the blue robe stood out conspicuously and with remarkable composure in the solemn atmosphere of the government office.

Looking at that figure from behind, Wei Yu felt increasingly uneasy.

Why does it feel like he's already finished what he needed to do?

What exactly does he want to do?

What he wanted to do was, of course, to stir up trouble. Now that the case was being filed, Wei Yu and the Lu family were both under the Empress's command, so he would naturally inform the Lu family. The next step was to see who the Lu family could implicate.

This was naturally Qu Hongxiao's request.

As for Li Zhi, he was only responsible for performing on stage, but he really had to go back for dinner, since he had made an appointment with Ji Baizhi.