Not long after, Lord Wei's men barged in, shoving the villagers aside as they tried to break up the crowd with brute force.
"Close the doors!" the magistrate barked, his voice cracking under the pressure. At once, his officers rushed to shut the door of the court, barring anyone from entering or leaving.
Li Jun raised her fan to her lips, a soft chuckle slipping past. "Well, well… so now you would silence witnesses and destroy evidence? How bold of you."
She turned away from Lord Wei and the magistrate as though they didn't exist at all and stepped toward Wang Wuyue, who had been watching her in silence all this time.
"Wu Yue, wasn't I amazing just now?"
Wang Wuyue pressed her lips into a thin line. She hadn't expected the Empress to expose Fang Wen's death with such precision and sharpness. Admiration flickered in her chest before she could stop it.
But the moment Li Jun's teasing words brushed her ears, that admiration soured. She clicked her tongue softly, turning her gaze away with a huff. "...Annoying…" she muttered under her breath.
The magistrate roared, "Kill everyone here! Leave no witnesses!"
Chaos erupted instantly. Officers surged forward, blades glinting in the sunlight.
The Empress moved quickly, pulling Madam Shu aside to safety. Meanwhile, Wei Ang stumbled in panic and crouched under a table, his face pale with fear.
Shen Yuqing was like a shadow, blocking, twisting, and throwing down any man who dared rush at Li Jun. Wang Wuyue's fists and kicks struck ruthlessly, sending attackers sprawling across the hall.
Li Jun leaned lazily against a wooden pillar, popping a few leftover nuts from breakfast into her mouth as she watched the fight.
The two women fought with speed and strength that the men fell one after another. In moments, the once-proud enforcers lay scattered across the ground, groaning, faces swollen blue and white from the beating.
Lord Wei's confident sneer was gone. His face had darkened, his lips trembling with the first bitter taste of fear. "This… this isn't possible… You will regret this. I'll make sure none of you leave this village alive!" he muttered.
He glanced around for an escape and stepped back toward the side door. Before he could reach it, Shen Yuqing blocked his path with a swift step.
Her palm shot out, striking his chest. Lord Wei staggered back, gasping, and just as he tried to regain his footing, her fist landed squarely against his jaw.
"Mercy! Mercy!" Lord Wei's voice broke into a pitiful wail, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. His earlier sneer was gone, replaced only with fear and desperation.
The magistrate tried to raise his arms to shield himself, but every block only earned him another punishing blow. A kick sent him sprawling to the floor, Wuyue's boot pressing firmly against his back, pinning him down.
"Stop—! I… I surrender!" he cried, his voice cracking. His official hat had fallen off, his robe torn and stained with dust. The dignity of a court officer was nowhere to be seen, he was reduced to a trembling wreck, coughing as he begged for his life.
Side by side, Lord Wei and the magistrate knelt, battered and humiliated, their arrogance stripped away.
Lord Wei shouted, his voice trembling with anger. "How dare you! Let's see… will you still be so proud when my brother-in-law arrives? He is in this village right now!"
Li Jun looked straight at him. "Oh? Wen Zhiming is here? Then call him. Let the mighty Governor of He Zhou come and save you."
Lord Wei leaned closer to one of his men and whispered quickly. The young man jumped to his feet and ran out of the hall in panic.
---
A few hours later, the sound of drums and gongs grew louder. Villagers rushed outside, lining the road with a mix of fear and curiosity.
Governor of He Zhou sat high upon a grand sedan chair, lifted by eight strong carriers. Silk curtains swayed with every step, and golden tassels gleamed in the sunlight. Around him marched guards in shining armor.
Wen Zhiming leaned lazily on the armrest. His chin lifted, his eyes looked down on everyone. The villagers lowered their heads, none daring to meet his gaze.
Everyone pitied Shu Hua. Against such power, what hope could she have? Even if she was innocent, how could a single woman fight the authority of the mighty Governor of Hezhou?
Whispers spread through the crowd: "Poor Shu Hua… she will be crushed."
The grand sedan chair stopped before the court. With a snap of his fan, he ordered his men to open the doors.
The court doors burst open. Wen Zhiming strode in, his robes sweeping proudly, guards clanking behind.
His voice thundered across the hall: "Who dares to lay a hand on Lord Wei? Are you tired of living?!"
Lord Wei scrambled forward, crawling on his knees until he reached Wen Zhiming. He threw his arms around his brother-in-law's leg, tears and snot running down his face. "Brother-in-law, save me! This madman wants to kill me!"
Li Jun sat lazily upon the magistrate's chair, one leg resting on the wooden desk as she leaned back with ease. A fan hid half her face, leaving only her sharp eyes visible. On either side stood two striking women, beautiful yet dangerous.
Wen Zhiming's brows furrowed. Rage rose in his chest. "Impudent!" His voice boomed like thunder. "How dare you sit before me in such a shameless manner? Do you not know who stands before you?!"
Gasps echoed among the villagers. No one had ever dared provoke the mighty Governor, and yet here sat a young brat behaving without the slightest respect.
Her voice slipped coolly from behind the fan. "Oh? And who are you, that I should offer my respect?"
The court fell heavy with silence after Li Jun's calm reply. He raised his hand, ready to order the guards forward. "Insolent dog! Kneel before me or—"
But before he could finish, Li Jun lowered the fan from her face.
Wen Zhiming's breath caught in his throat. His body stiffened, and the fan slipped from his hand, clattering loudly to the floor.
It was a face he could never mistake.
"Brother-in-law, why do you stand there… hurry, seize that man!" Lord Wei whimpered, clinging desperately to Wen Zhiming's leg.
For a moment, Wen Zhiming's face showed panic. Then, with effort, he forced his pride back into place. Outside, more villagers pressed toward the court, their whispers filling the hall. He glanced at the doorway and barked an order.
"Close the doors! Lock them now!"
Two guards moved quickly, slamming the heavy doors shut. The sound echoed like a drumbeat.
Lord Wei laughed, cruel and high. "Now you see! Once the doors are shut, you will die. This is the end for you!" He jabbed an accusing finger at Li Jun.
For a single breath, Wen Zhiming looked like a man about to break. Then, he slapped Lord Wei across the face. The crack of hand against skin rang sharp in the quiet hall.
Lord Wei's smug laugh died; his head snapped to the side. Tears and blood mixed on his lip. He staggered but did not fall.
"Silence!" Wen Zhiming snapped. He pointed to his guards. "Seize this man and the magistrate, bring them both before me!"
The guards hesitated for a heartbeat, then obeyed, stepping toward Lord Wei. His eyes flew open, panic replacing arrogance. He tried to stand straight, to plead, but his voice shook.
"Brother-in-law, no! I… what are you doing? I asked for your help!"
The magistrate, who had earlier knelt in disgrace, looked from Wen Zhiming to Li Jun, utterly bewildered. "My Lord… I… why would you take me?" His words broke off as two guards seized his arms.
Both Lord Wei and the magistrate stared at Wen Zhiming, their faces filled with confusion and betrayal.
"You stand accused of cruelty and used your rank to harm the innocent. That is a crime against the throne," Wen Zhiming declared, hoping to win the Empress's favor.
"What nonsense is this? You should kill this madman, bring him down now!" Lord Wei yelled, his words shaking the hall.
"Shut up," Wen Zhiming hissed, cold and sharp. The hall fell instantly silent. Even the guards seemed to hold their breath.
Then, in a move that stunned everyone, the mighty governor dropped to his knees before Li Jun. His hands and forehead pressed against the floor. "Your Majesty… long live ten thousand years!" he cried, his voice trembling but loud enough for all to hear.
Lord Wei's face went white with shock and shame. He scrambled backward on his knees, fumbling to rise, but the guards kept a firm grip on him. "Y-Your M… Majesty…" he stammered.
One by one, every guard fell to their knees, including Lord Wei and the magistrate. The hall resounded with their voices: "Your Majesty… long live ten thousand years!"
Wei Ang and Shu Hua exchanged a stunned glance. Neither had imagined that the young master before them was none other than the Empress Shangwen.
Wen Zhiming did not dare meet Li Jun's eyes. He kept his head bowed. But those watching could see the tremor in his voice, the sweat at his temple. It was loyalty performed, wrapped in fear.
Li Jun rose slowly from the magistrate's chair and smoothed the front of her robe.
"Wen Zhiming, I gave you a chance before. If you remembered what I told you, you would never dare misuse your post. He Zhou is suffering from a terrible flood, what are you doing here?"
Wen Zhiming's face went ashen. He swallowed, his voice shaking. "Mercy, Your Majesty… I… I only came to visit a relative…"
Li Jun's palm slammed against the table. "If I were not the Empress, do you think I would still be alive in this hall?"
At last, she gave her order. "Bring them to the prison. All of them—Lord Wei, the magistrate, and Governor Wen Zhiming. Hold them until the court can properly judge their crimes."
At once, the court officers obeyed, dragging the three men away in chains.
"Mercy, Your Majesty! Mercy!"
"Spare us, Your Majesty!"
---
Night settled heavy over the magistrate's office. The prison was quiet, only the sound of dripping water and the faint rustle of rats in the dark.
Inside one of the cells, the once-proud governor sat on the cold ground. He clenched his fists, eyes burning with hate. Li Jun must die, he swore in his heart.
Then, a figure appeared. A man dressed in black, his face hidden behind a mask, stepped into the prison. His movements were silent, even the guards outside did not stir.
Wen Zhiming's eyes lit up with desperate hope. He hurried to the bars, gripping them tightly.
"Quickly! Tell Her Highness this is the perfect time to act. Li Jun is in Nian Yu village." His voice dropped to a whisper, shaking with urgency.
The masked man tilted his head, as if listening carefully. For a moment, silence lingered.
Then, Steel flashed in the darkness.
The blade swept across his throat. His eyes widened, frozen in disbelief, and his head toppled to the ground with a dull thud. Blood splattered against the cell bars, dripping into the dirt below.
The Magistrate and Lord Wei shrieked in terror. Their faces turned pale as death itself stood before them. "N-no! Spare us…" Lord Wei begged.
But mercy did not exist behind that mask.
One by one, the blade fell again. Their screams cut short, leaving only silence and the stench of iron in the air.
When it was done, the masked man wiped his sword clean and vanished into the shadows as quietly as he had come.
By the time the guards noticed something wrong, only lifeless bodies remained.