Jing Wan'er got up with aching bones all over her body. She didn't know when she fell asleep yesterday, and she directly rested her head on the hard bed board, as if even her arms were no longer hers after this night.

  Dazed and disoriented, I've had this feeling every morning for the past five years, as if I woke up in an unfamiliar place.

  Someone knocked on the door: "Miss, are you awake?"

  After a pause, Jing Wanyu didn't say anything, and that person said: "The master wants the young lady to go to the front hall after she wakes up."

  "Alright, I'll go now," Jing Wan'er said slowly.

  The person at the door left.

  Jing Wanyi lowered her head, tidied up her clothes, and pushed the door to go out. The front hall was not far away, Pei Tan was alone inside, Jing Wanyi's face looked a bit pale, "Sir."

  Pei Tan looked at her appearance, Jing Wanyu stood at the door like this, losing her usual spirit.

  "Your Majesty wants to reopen the old case of Crown Prince Zhang Huai from years ago. In fact, it's not just about overturning the verdict for his elder brother, but also hoping to clear the name of..."

  "Rehabilitate the innocent, wash away the infamy, and restore the imperial family's honor."

  For a crown prince who had been stifled all his life, it was really too desperate to bear the injustice of being accused of rebellion after death.

  Jing Wan'er said softly: "This case is handed over to you, sir. It will definitely be cleared up and the truth will be revealed to the world."

  Pei Tan looked at her face, "The emperor's intention is to declare to the world that the crown prince was innocent. All the people and things involved in the case back then must be investigated clearly, and re-tried. Even though Crown Prince Zhang Huai has been dead for many years, there are still many people who participated in the case against him. It's not necessarily because the crown prince is dead that they won't be held accountable."

  Those who thought they were safe and sound will reveal their true colors under Pei Tan's investigation. No one can escape punishment in this world, it's just a matter of time.

  Jing Wan'er looked at Pei Tan: "Sir, why are you telling me these things?"

  Pei Tan's gaze pierced into the girl's dazed eyes: "Your father was exiled to Lingnan in the third year of the Shengli era due to the crime of losing his post at the palace, even the Grand Justice Temple didn't have detailed records of the case, there was only one reason, it was because the details of what happened back then were not convenient to announce, so they could only hastily deal with it as '

  "Brushing off the loss of face in front of the palace."

  Jing Wan'er was stunned, and Pei Tan continued, "In the past few years, Tian Hou has been seeking immortality and asking about the Tao, and she has almost stopped killing. Even if your father had offended her back then for some reason, at least she didn't want his life."

  Exiled to Lingnan, a place of bitter cold and hardship worse than death. But for the former empress, killing was the simplest solution. Anyone who displeased her would be killed, no need to spare their life and exile them instead.

  Jing Wan's heart flashed a ray of light, her face turned pale and wan.

  "It seems that at that time, your father didn't do anything to make her unhappy."

  Jing Zhe did not offend the queen, nor did he commit any crime against her, yet he was still exiled.

  Jing Wan'er slowly stopped beside Pei Tan, she looked up at him, her eyes flashing with a hint of movement: "Why?"

  All these years she just wanted to know what happened back then, which made her and her father separate, even the emperor was replaced, and her father wasn't released either.

  "Pei Tan's eyes were slightly soft: 'Wan Er, if you want to know why, then you can only find those people who were with your father in the main hall at that time.'"

  In Jing Wan's slightly lowered eyes, many emotions were swirling. After a long while, she said: "They are all trusted followers of the Empress, and we outer palace palace maids have no chance of entering the inner palace of Da Ming Palace."

  For so many years, Jing Wanyi's condition for saving those palace maids who escaped from the deep palace was that each of them had to reveal a secret.

  Jing Wanyi grasped more about the darkness within that deep and secluded palace than others could have imagined. But some secrets, even if she knew them, were impossible for her to do anything about with her identity. She could only endure, day after day in that palace, dealing with the stench of rotting corpses.

  If it weren't for that day when they met at Tai Ye Pond... Jing Yu'er lowered her head again.

  Jing Wan'er never thought that one day she would be able to leave the palace and walk through the streets of Chang'an.

  "On that day, in the grand hall, there was Tian Hou and her five trusted attendants. Four of them had died one after another over the next three years, leaving only one eunuch behind." The girl's voice carried a hint of eeriness and chill.

  What a coincidence that all four people died suddenly, is there any connection with Tian Hou's loss of power and Zhong Zong's restoration?

  Jing Wanner's teeth lightly bit: "There is also a Dan Daoist, Hu Chao."

  Pei Tan kept looking at her, still remembering the day they first met by the Tai Ye Chi. There was still a hint of innocence on this face, yet she had already done so many things in secret. It wasn't easy for someone with his identity to investigate these matters, and he wondered how Jing Wanyu had managed to uncover all these clues step by step.

  The empress summoned the alchemists, which was related to the elixir. Jing Yu'er just didn't understand why they would look for her father in this situation. Her father was the Grand Marshal of Chang'an, and had nothing to do with those swindling Taoist priests.

  "This Hu Chao was deeply favored, but a year later he introduced his own disciple to the Empress Dowager to continue refining the elixir, and he himself went traveling. Now in the great hall, only the Empress Dowager and the eunuch were left."

  Perhaps Hu Chao smelled something and ran away. After all, at that time the trend of decline had already appeared, so he suddenly became infatuated with finding the elixir of immortality.

  Pei Tan's eyes shone with a soft light: "Wan Er, you missed one. On that day in the grand hall, there was actually another person."

  Jing Wan'er was taken aback and looked at Pei Tan: "What are you saying, sir?"

  "Pei Tan said quietly: 'This person is not only still alive, but also in Chang'an. If the layout is proper, you want to see him, it's not difficult at all.'"

  Jing Wan'er's eyes flickered: "Your Excellency wouldn't be referring to... the Empress Dowager?" She was about to say it, and in the grand hall at that time, there was also an imperial edict issued by the Empress Dowager, who still resided in the Great Ming Palace.

  But can Jing Yuanyuan get the status of Tian Hou?

  Pei Tan shook his head, his eyes becoming even deeper: "I wasn't referring to that person."

  Jing Wan'er was indeed a bit stiff, she looked at Pei Tan, her eyes were dazed.

  Pei Tan's eyes flickered: "It was today's Minister of War - Zong Chuke."

  Jing Wan'er subconsciously took a step back, her eyes widening further and further.

  Pei Tan looked at her deeply and said, "You don't know that the alchemist Hu Chao was able to meet the Empress through his relationship with Zong Chu Ke, and unexpectedly received heavy use and favor."

  Jing Wan'er was speechless for a long time, as if she had been stunned. She never thought that she would hear this name again - Zong Chuke, Zong

  Guest from Chu?

  Zong Chuke is now the Minister of War and was appointed as a third-grade minister after Your Majesty's restoration to power, recommended by Empress Wei.

  However, Zong Chuke's ability is not just a current Shangshu.

  At that time, the Empress was in power, and this Zong Shangshu was already slick with flattery, extremely fawning on those in high positions. Even before Rong Yu'er was born, this Lord Zong was already a first-class prime minister in front of the Empress's palace.

  Such a person, having gone through two dynasties and served under two emperors, was able to have a smooth official career. If even treacherous and corrupt officials can leave their names in history books, then this Minister Zong must certainly have his name recorded.

  Pei Tan was aware of this. At that time, there were still Zong Chuke in the Grand Hall, and naturally there would be more ruthless means than Jing Wanyan.

  Jing Wan'er was slightly cold: "Zong Chuke is loyal to Your Majesty on the one hand, and the closest Dan medicine Taoist by Tian Hou's side is also recommended by him. Even the current Empress Wei's family has a high opinion of him." The person who spoke was shocked, this thief... wants to usurp the imperial power!

  Pei Tan said: "Wan Er, the emperor has supported the Temple of Great Wisdom several times, not without reason. The swords that can be used in the emperor's hands are already few, and the more this is the case,

  At this time, whether the Temple of Great Wisdom can handle the case of Crown Prince Zhang Huai well and gain a bit of initiative for Your Majesty is not only a crucial point that the Temple of Great Wisdom needs to cross, but also a key factor in determining life and death before Your Majesty's eyes.

  Zhong Zong's trust in the Dali Temple is actually reflected in this case. It seems that the Dali Temple has become an outcast in Chang'an, and Pei Tan is even viewed by various families as a thorn in their eyes, known as the "Plague God". But this is precisely the fear shown by those arrogant aristocratic families towards the Dali Temple.

  If Dali Temple loses the support of Zhongzong, or if Zhongzong loses this sword of Dali Temple, both sides will end in a miserable defeat.

  Jing Wan'er suddenly spoke up in the midst of silence: "Is Zong Huo dead because of this?"

  Pei Tan looked at her, with a hint of faint praise in his eyes: "Zong Chuke thought he was too clever, until he paid the price for that cleverness. He made His Majesty deeply wary of him, and could only find a way to get rid of his son through the hands of the Dalisi Temple."

  Pei Tan took office as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the first case he handled offended the current Prime Minister. Looking back now, this was also Pei Tan's first major gift to Emperor Zhongzong after taking office as the Chief Justice.

  Jing Wan'er suddenly took a deep breath, and her heart felt a faint chill.

  Outside the window a willow branch sways, she stares at it and becomes dazed. Suddenly seeing the color of the distant willows, she regrets teaching her husband to seek wealth and honor.

  When her mother became the Empress of Chang'an City, she often reminisced about the interesting things in the countryside. This golden and magnificent Chang'an, where can it compare to the freedom of the distant countryside? It turns out that this is the price of achieving success and fame. There are some people in this world who do not like to pursue fame and wealth, but once they enter, there is no room for regret.

  "This case of Crown Prince Zhao Hui has given the Dali Temple an opportunity to thoroughly investigate all registered and unregistered cases that have occurred in Chang'an over the past three years, including those that happened previously in the Tang Dynasty. This time, it's for the prince's acquittal, and the Taiji Hall will not hesitate to use these means."

  "Sir... will also investigate the Jing family?"

  Pei Tan's eyes were deep and profound as he looked at her, and after a long time, he said: "Yes." Although it was only one word, it was enough to make Jing Wanyan stand still, frozen in place.

  Jing's case was included in Chang'an San Nian and before, and also involved a Taoist named Hu Chao.

  If Da Li Temple wants to investigate all the details of Zhang Huai Taizi, then Jing Shi's case cannot be avoided.