Chapter 22: Actors show off their acting skills
In Kyoto Prefecture.

Li Chengyun stepped forward.

For a moment, there was silence all around.

Mei Zhili was helpless against Prince Li Chengyun.

However, due to the power of the Minister of Rites Guo Youzhi, he had to ask everyone present.

Guo Baokun's guards were brought in one by one.

They were obviously influenced by Guo Youzhi's suggestion, and they all insisted that it was Fan Xian and Fan Sizhe who did it.

This situation is quite unfavorable to Li Chengyun's side.

The people watching outside the gate also noticed something was going on.

People were talking about it, saying that Fan Xian and Fan Sizhe had severely injured Guo Baokun and should be severely punished.

There were even voices blaming the Sixth Prince Li Chengyun, saying that he shouldn't have muddied the waters in this matter.

Fan Ruoruo was standing aside, and when she heard the people's discussions, her expression suddenly became solemn and her brows furrowed.

She looked at the guards who kept pointing at Fan Xian and Fan Sizhe, and felt worried for them.

There was a flash of pride in Guo Youzhi's eyes.

Li Chengyun raised the corner of his mouth slightly, pointed at the servants and guards of the Guo Mansion with his fingertips, and said calmly:
"Master Mei, these so-called witnesses are just disciples of the Guo family, and they are of humble status."

"Can we trust their words based on just one side of the story?"

Li Chengyun then turned to Guo Youzhi, a hint of teasing flashing in his eyes:
"Master Guo, how can you guarantee that what they say is true?"

"How do we know if you secretly instructed and falsely accused Fan Xian and Fan Sizhe?"

"Perhaps, what they described was just a play you made up."

"In my opinion, this matter must be thoroughly investigated!" Li Chengyun said in a firm tone, leaving no room for doubt.

When Guo Youzhi heard this, his eyes widened and he was shocked:

"Ah? The people in the Guo Mansion are not trustworthy. Do you think the words of you, the Sixth Prince, can be trusted?"

"You have a close relationship with Fan Xian and Fan Sizhe. How can your words serve as testimony?"

Although he thought so in his heart, Guo Youzhi did not dare to speak out.

After all, Li Chengyun is of royal blood and extremely noble. How could these servants and guards compare to him?

Mei Zhili also looked embarrassed and asked doubtfully:

"Sixth Prince, how can we prove it? Right now, these are the only witnesses."

Li Chengyun did not answer immediately, but just glanced at the heavy killing stick in the hand of the yamen runner.

Everyone present understood immediately that torture was going to be used to extract a confession.

Everyone felt a chill in their hearts, thinking that the Sixth Prince was truly ruthless.

Minister of Rites Guo Youzhi looked at Li Chengyun angrily, questioning in his tone:

"Sixth Prince, are you planning to torture me into confessing?"

Li Chengyun gently waved his hand and responded innocently:

"Master Guo, why do you say that? When did I ever say I would torture someone to extract a confession? Don't judge me by your own standards."

He turned to Mei Zhili and continued:
"As for the interrogation, Lord Mei is a veteran in the court, so he is naturally more skilled than a fledgling prince like me. How dare I interrupt? Everything depends on Lord Mei's decision!"

Guo Youzhi's face suddenly turned gloomy and he sneered in his heart.

He knew that Li Chengyun was deliberately beating around the bush, using his status as a prince to force Mei Zhili to use torture.

He hurriedly looked at the prince, hoping that the prince could come forward to stop it.

But the prince looked straight ahead, as if he hadn't seen him, and obviously had no intention of interfering in the matter.

The second prince also did not speak.

Guo Youzhi was anxious but helpless.

He knew that the only person who could stop Li Chengyun now was Mei Zhili.

Mei Zhili felt helpless when he saw this.

He gritted his teeth, glanced at the guards and servants, and said in a deep voice:
"You guys, your testimony is unclear, so..."

He waved his hand violently and shouted, "Someone come!"

"Here!" the bailiffs answered in unison.

"Torture!" Mei Zhili gave the order, and the bailiffs acted quickly.

The coldness and cruelty of the torture instruments made the witnesses present change their statements and beg for mercy one by one.

The prince watched the scene quietly, tapping his thighs lightly with his fingers on his legs.

As the witnesses kept changing their statements, his eyes became brighter, as if he saw the dawn of victory.

Li Chengyun was so proud of himself at this moment that his ecstasy probably reached its peak.

The prince judged that this was the perfect time for him to take action.

The teachings of his aunt the eldest princess echoed in his mind:

"Once we strike, we will make sure that Li Chengyun has no chance of survival!"

The second prince stood aside, frowning slightly. He was still waiting and watching.

There has not yet been a direct conflict between the Crown Prince and Li Chengyun.

Fan Xian and Fan Sizhe also seemed to be fine.

He was thinking about winning over Li Chengyun and Fan Xian, but there was no good opportunity at the moment.

"It is easy to add flowers to a beautiful woman, but difficult to provide timely assistance." The second prince muttered to himself.

He understood that taking action at this moment would only be icing on the cake, and what he had to wait for was the critical moment to provide timely assistance.

Only then can his actions produce twice the result with half the effort.

Li Chengyun looked calm and looked at everyone quietly.

He saw the reactions of the Crown Prince and the Second Prince.

He already knew what they were thinking, but he didn't take it to heart.

He just needs to continue to play the role of that dandy boy, arrogant and domineering, without any scruples.

Unless the Crown Prince and the Second Prince can invite an expert like Emperor Qing or Ye Liuyun to kill him in public.

Otherwise, he would have no fear at all, and everyone present would not be able to hurt him even if they joined forces.

When Fan Sizhe saw Li Chengyun being so arrogant, he was very happy.

Li Chengyun had used his power to pressure others, so Mei Zhili and Guo Youzhi naturally did not dare to be his enemy.

As long as the Crown Prince and the Second Prince do not take action, he and Fan Xian will be safe.

Fan Ruoruo, who was in the crowd, couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and her heart was filled with gratitude towards Li Chengyun.

If it weren't for the Sixth Prince, Fan Xian and Fan Sizhe would probably be in great danger.

However, just when Fan Sizhe and others thought they had victory.

Guo Baokun, lying on the stretcher, suddenly let out a shrill scream.

The cry was full of unwillingness and despair, which made people feel sympathy when they heard it.

He suddenly rolled off the stretcher, then bent his body with difficulty and moved forward bit by bit, like a wounded beast looking for the last shelter.

He struggled to crawl to Mei Zhili's desk.

His eyes were filled with sadness and anger, and he shouted at Mei Zhili angrily:

"Master Mei, in this bright and clear world, is there no justice?! Is there no law?!"

He pointed to his scarred body and continued:

"Open your eyes and take a good look! I am covered in wounds and my face is swollen like a pig's head. Even if I recover in the future, I will be left with indelible scars!"

"I've been so badly hurt and so helpless, can't I get some justice for myself?!"

"Just because that person is a prince, can he beat him up in the street and ignore the laws of the country?!"

"My father and I have already made concessions! We only want to capture those two accomplices. Isn't that enough?!"

Tears flashed in his eyes and his voice choked:

"The Sixth Prince beat me, and my father and I dare not bear any resentment, but Fan Sizhe also hurt me. Don't I even have the right to demand that he be punished?!"

He took a deep breath and continued:
"Master Mei, I am the only son my father has! When he saw how miserable I was, his heart was broken and tears were streaming down his face. He almost cried himself blind!!"

"He devoted his entire life to the court and would die for His Majesty, so why did he suffer such unfair treatment?!"

He shouted in anger and grief: "He is just an old man who wants justice for his son! Is there no place for him in this world?!"

(End of this chapter)