After my luck was stolen, I led my whole family to defy fate and change our destiny.

Chapter 128 Opening of the Court

Seeing Gu Mingtang earn money, the jailers couldn't help but feel envious. Some of the bolder ones had already secretly discussed how to steal the money while Gu Mingtang was asleep.

Unfortunately, their plan failed. That very night, Zhou Zhixing came to visit them in prison and took away the one hundred taels of silver.

"Wow, you can even make money in jail, I really admire that."

Gu Mingtang briefly explained how the jailer had asked him to grind beans.

Zhou Zhixing was furious: "These people are clearly trying to extort money from the prisoner and torture you in the process. You're lucky the Emperor hasn't stripped you of your official position, otherwise the whip would be on your head."

Gu Mingtang sighed; he knew all too well.

"I'm afraid the person behind this wants to torment you but hasn't thought of a better way yet, so they've made you grind beans. You've had a tough time."

Gu Mingtang, as if struck by a sudden thought, said to Zhou Zhixing, "Come on, let's arm wrestle."

Zhou Zhixing raised an eyebrow. It wasn't that he looked down on his future brother-in-law; he had never lost a contest of skill.

"bring it on"

The two were competing on the table. Well, this is my future brother-in-law, I have to give way.

Gu Mingtang noticed that Zhou Zhixing was loosening his grip and was telling him, "Don't let me win, show me your strength."

"Row"

Not long after, Zhou Zhixing won.

Gu Mingtang rubbed his wrist: "With that much strength, how long would it take you to grind a bucket of beans using the biggest graphite stone over there?"

He knew the largest stone mill in the Ministry of Justice; it was very heavy. It was originally used as a torture instrument, but later it became too cruel and was changed to grind beans.

"About fifteen minutes."

Gu Mingtang exclaimed in surprise, "No way, why did it take so long?"

"Longer? You couldn't even beat me in an arm wrestling match, so you must have taken even longer? Um, come to think of it, earning a hundred taels of silver wasn't easy for you, was it?"

Gu Mingtang frowned: "No, I finished grinding in less than fifteen minutes."

Zhou Zhixing: "?" Bullshit.

Gu Mingtang looked around. Could someone really be helping him? A deity?

ghost?

Gu Mingtang shook his head to clear his mind of the jumbled thoughts. This wasn't the time to think about that, because even if it was a ghost, it was a good ghost.

Zhou Zhixing flicked his robe and sat down: "Your case will be formally heard tomorrow, so be prepared."

"What preparations? Haven't you already done most of the investigation?"

Zhou Zhixing sighed: "I wanted to find the mastermind behind this, but I had just dug up a big fish and hadn't even caught him yet when he committed suicide by poisoning himself. Your subordinates initially praised you, saying it was impossible for you to do such a thing, but now they've all turned against you, saying you're always extravagant and wasteful."

"The person behind this is probably someone with considerable influence; I'm afraid we'll encounter some unexpected trouble during tomorrow's trial."

Gu Mingtang's expression was solemn. He knew it was the Prime Minister, but he couldn't tell Zhou Zhixing this directly. First, he couldn't say how he knew, and second, he was afraid that Zhou Zhixing might be in danger.

The Prime Minister has held a high position of power for many years, and with the support of the Imperial Concubine and the Second Prince, he is indeed not easy to deal with.

Gu Mingtang patted Zhou Zhixing on the shoulder: "I know you did your best, but the person behind this is probably not simple."

Zhou Zhixing looked somewhat ashamed: "Old Gu, I..."

"I know what you want to say, but some things don't need to be said between brothers; it would seem pretentious. If something happens to me tomorrow, I hope you'll take care of my family. If the whole family is implicated, remember your promise to me: if you marry Gu Xinyi, at least one member of our family will survive."

Gu Mingtang turned around and pulled a piece of paper from under the bed: "I've earned some money these past few days, so I had the officials prepare some writing materials for me. Take a look, and I'll revise it if it's not suitable."

Zhou Zhixing took it and glanced at it, his eyes instantly stinging: "This is... a marriage... marriage certificate?"

Gu Mingtang nodded: "I know my sister best. She's always been stubborn. If anything happens to the Gu family, she'll stand by me. I wrote this marriage certificate myself. She'll understand my good intentions once she sees it, and she'll marry you."

Zhou Zhixing's eyes were a little red, moved by Gu Mingtang's love and care for his younger sister.

It is a kind of worry about the unknown trial tomorrow.

Zhou Zhixing rolled up the marriage certificate and carefully put it away: "If you are in trouble tomorrow, I will use this marriage certificate to marry Gu Xinyi. If not today, I will pretend I never received this marriage certificate, and you can marry Xinyi to me after you are released from prison."

Gu Mingtang patted his arm: "Okay, have a drink with me today."

Zhou Zhixing nodded; that was his purpose in coming today. He took out the fine wine and food he had prepared beforehand and had a good drink with Gu Mingtang.

……

【Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha】

When the two little devils returned, they immediately began to boast to Gu Linglong. Gu Linglong felt both proud and amused to hear that her father hadn't been bullied and had even earned a hundred taels of silver, while the officials had been eating beans until they were sick.

Hahaha, my dad is amazing!

Two little devils: They are clearly the stronger ones.

Gu Linglong was very satisfied with the two little devils. With a wave of her hand, the two little devils instantly felt the strong ghostly aura.

Being a ghost isn't a free and easy life. A ghost's form is the form it took at the time of death. Ghosts who don't enter the underworld will suffer the pain of death from time to time.

Humans need spiritual energy to cultivate, while ghosts need ghost energy. Ghost energy can not only alleviate their pain but also help them cultivate.

Good performance will be rewarded.

The two little devils nodded and bowed excitedly, saying that following their older sister meant they would get to eat meat.

Gu Linglong decided to go back and check if the two little devils were good people in their previous lives. If they were, it wouldn't be bad to let them cultivate.

Ghosts that cultivate to the highest level can even materialize, though Gu Linglong had never seen one before; such ghosts were too extraordinary.

……

The Kaifeng Prefectural Government Office has not been open for business for a long time.

Chu Yuan originally planned to conduct the trial in the palace, but after thinking about it, he decided to hold it in Kaifeng Prefecture instead. People could gather outside Kaifeng Prefecture to watch, and Chu Yuan could see how his loyal minister was scorned by the people.

Lord Zhang from the Ministry of Justice was the presiding judge, with Zhou Zhixing and the Prefect of Kaifeng assisting him.

"Mighty~"

Lord Zhang slammed his gavel, his expression solemn: "The trial of suspect Gu Mingtang, accused of embezzling military funds, is now officially in session. Bring the suspect..."

Gu Mingtang was brought in by two officials. As a first-rank minister, he was not required to kneel, so he simply cupped his hands in greeting.

Lord Zhang nodded and said, "Suspect Gu Mingtang has been reported for embezzling military funds. Do you have anything to say about that?"

Gu Mingtang remained composed and respectful: "I request that Your Excellency allow the person who made the accusation to come to the front hall to confront me."

"Summon the defendant"

The whistleblower quickly bowed respectfully to Lord Zhang.

"Greetings, Your Excellencies"

Lord Zhang waved his hand: "Get up. Do you have any evidence to support your report that Gu Mingtang embezzled military funds?"

"Have"

"Exhibits of evidence"

Behind the yamen, Prince Qi, Chu Jingyan, and the Sixth Prince listened intently to the commotion outside.

Upon hearing that the visitor had evidence, Chu Jingyan lifted the curtain and looked outside, immediately becoming furious.

Gu Mingtang's pupils contracted when he saw the person who had arrived; it was him.

As soon as the evidence was brought out, a sharp voice rang out.

"The Emperor has arrived"

Everyone knelt down, and the common people lowered their heads to the ground, wanting to catch a glimpse of the emperor's face but not daring to. Some of the more timid ones even began to tremble.

"Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"

"Long live your Majesty, long live your Majesty"