Kneeling on the ground and listening in, Shi Chun felt a bit puzzled. When did we become some kind of criminal leaders? Aren't we just ordinary people trying to survive in the Land of Exile?

However, on second thought, fine; to outsiders, all their killing and robbing would hardly seem normal. If not bandits, then what?

In that sense, calling himself a bandit leader didn't seem wrong.

At the same time, because of Qie Shan's words, he felt a bit honored. After all, was he not just a nobody back then? Even now in front of them, he's likewise insignificant, alright? If it weren't for committing an offense, you guys wouldn't even know who Shi Chun is.

Then, hearing the involvement of Wu Jinliang, his heart turned half cold. What's the situation? Does Life Prison even want to capture Wu Jinliang?

He regretted it, truly regretted it. If he had known this was how things would turn out, he should've listened to Wu Jinliang and just hidden in the Netherworld; stealing and robbing in secret for whatever they lacked.

Speaking of Wu Jinliang, it's undeniable that even Queen Xin has heard of Wu Jinliang. When reporting Shi Chun's situation, Wu Jinliang was mentioned; his name is so damn unique that it's difficult not to leave an impression.

Now, hearing Wu Jinliang's name again, her expression darkened as she turned to look at the palace-attired woman beside her. The meaning was clear without words.

The palace-attired woman weakly replied, "According to investigations, Wu Jinliang is the second-in-command of East Nine Plain."

Second-in-command naturally falls under the category of so-called bandit leaders.

Okay then, Queen Xin could understand such concise filing; after all, with Life Prison, formal reports were already a good thing, expecting detailed accounts was asking too much. Did they think they were her subordinates?

But this couldn't dispel her anger; rather, it made her glare at the palace-attired woman in fury—since you all knew, why didn't you act earlier? Why tell me only now?

The palace-attired woman felt wronged; she also just discovered this while investigating previous filing situations of Life Prison. When Life Prison issued this file back then, Shi Chun had just been born in Life Prison; how could anyone know who Shi Chun was or whether he was worth the Royal Court's attention?

Over the years, Life Prison has issued numerous investigation requests; East Victory Royal Court isn't a subordinate of Life Prison. Expecting them to actively take serious action for your unfounded case is unrealistic.

Once glanced over, it's stored away and ignored.

In short, during the filing back then, the Royal Court wouldn't pay attention to Shi Chun.

Even though Shi Chun has gained some minor fame now, no one would associate him with that old, buried matter from Life Prison.

However, she understood that there was no use feeling wronged now; with so many watching, it wouldn't be good to argue publicly, it's not too late to explain privately later.

The Demon Queen hiding in the rear hall was contemplating silently.

Queen Xin didn't scold her subordinates publicly, instead aiming her discontent at outsiders, "I'm about to execute justice here, and you bring up an incident from years ago at this very moment, isn't this too much of a coincidence?"

Qie Shan continued smilingly, "Your Majesty, you overthink. Coincidence depends on perspective. Ten days ago, someone from the Qi family disguised themselves and infiltrated Life Prison again. After being discovered, this old case was revisited. Another from the Qi family—what exactly do they want? The Judge decided to review everything, aiming to bring all involved parties to justice.

In other words, ten days ago, I was ordered to leave Life Prison to search everywhere for this person, to no avail, not knowing where he'd hidden.

Your Majesty knows Life Prison has weak information channels outside. As rumors of Shi Chun's capture and impending execution reached me, only then did I learn he was in East Victory Royal Court's hands; rushing there, it was already too late. Thankfully, I managed to arrive at the last moment. People repeatedly meddling with Life Prison is no trivial matter, hence asking for your understanding of my intrusion."

Upon hearing this, Queen Xin glanced again at the prime suspects on the Jade Scroll and seemed to murmur to herself, "Qi family infiltrated Life Prison again ten days ago…"

She too was curious about the Qi family's audacity; what were they seeking that warranted such plots?

Meanwhile, she was also gauging the timing; ten days ago Shi Chun hadn't been caught, nor was there any decision to execute him; if their claims are true, then it wasn't a spur-of-the-moment action.

Qie Shan, unfaltering and smiling, awaited her response, internally filled with doubt.

In truth, he wasn't clear on what was going on either.

Twelve days ago, the Judge suddenly summoned him, instructed him to secretly capture a member of the Qi family and take them to Life Prison.

Then today, the Judge summoned him again to take Shi Chun back under the guise of this situation.

The premise for capture was confirming Shi Chun's demise; only then would he act, otherwise he would remain hidden if anyone intervened.

The specifics weren't disclosed by the Judge.

But he wasn't dull; this task couldn't be accomplished by a fool, he would analyze on his own. His excuse to take Shi Chun away was that the Qi family member infiltrated Life Prison, but he knew very well it was him who secretly captured them for Life Prison ten days ago.

Which meant, ten days ago, the Judge was already preparing for today.

Running errands outside, he had his own information channels; based on what he'd gathered, ten days ago, something involving Shi Chun occurred—a major crisis during the pursuit of Shi Chun and Li Hongjiu, an earth-shattering battle at sea.

Whether this was related, he didn't know.

Under his careful calculations and comparisons, he discovered that the Judge summoned him for a task just shortly after Shi Chun and Li Hongjiu had encountered danger.

If it was truly related, he was curious about how the Judge knew so quickly about a fight occurring in the remote wilderness of Juku State. Did someone present at the scene happen to be the Judge's spy?

If at that time they were already making plans for Shi Chun, who had fallen into the hands of East Victory Royal Court, then Shi Chun was indeed worth pondering about. What made him worthy of the Judge's personal attention and effort...

"Yin Clan Leader, didn't you say Shi Chun must die this time, and that nobody's plea would work?"

Queen Xin's sudden words awoke Qie Shan's thoughts.

Qie Shan turned his head to look at Yin Luo, the leader of the Qingqiu Fox Clan, someone he was acquainted with.

Yin Luo, with a tense face, gazed at Qie Shan and spoke slowly, "Do you know what good deed he did?"

Qie Shan smiled and said, "I'd love to hear the details."

Yin Luo said solemnly, "He pretended to be a friend of our Qingqiu Ancestor, deceived our Qingqiu Clan members into serving him, causing them great harm. How could our Qingqiu Fox Clan let him off easily?"

Qie Shan turned his head to look at Shi Chun, who was kneeling with a face full of blood, his eyes flashing slightly, and he vaguely felt he found the answer to the Judge's intervention. Could it be that this man was indeed a friend of the Qingqiu Ancestor, and thus received the Judge's aid?

Though he pondered, outwardly he maintained composure, holding the Judge's Pen, gesturing, "Yin Clan Leader, I understand your sentiments, but orders are orders, and things have their priorities. Please don't make it difficult for me."

Yin Luo kept a tight face in silence for a while, then slightly bowed to Queen Xin, "Apologies, fare thee well." He glanced at Yin Xu, standing like a golden rooster, and said, "Let's go."

Without saying more, he turned and left.

With a look of unwillingness, Yin Xu had no choice but to follow and drift away.

"Heh." Queen Xin scoffed.

Seeing Yin Luo swallow his big talk back whole, being figuratively slapped in the face, her tone was inevitably full of ridicule.

The Demon Queen hiding in the rear hall couldn't help but smile slightly, murmuring a soft, "So that's how it is..."

As things had come to this point, Qie Shan arrived with logic and proof, and Queen Xin couldn't simply refuse to let them go. If Qie Shan were to label this as killing the witness, and she didn't cooperate, it indeed might seem suspicious of killing the witness. Moreover, they couldn't produce reasonable evidence for killing Shi Chun, causing a big fuss over it would be unfavorable; folks might eagerly await Life Prison and East Victory to clash.

Thus, the weak and pathetic Shi Chun, clanking with chains, was again taken away just like that by Qie Shan and his party.

At this moment, the Demon Queen, maintaining her makeup, finally emerged from the rear hall.

Queen Xin asked, "Was the joke amusing?"

"Not interesting, I'm leaving." The Demon Queen replied blandly, waved her sleeve, and sliced through the void within the hall, disappearing into thin air along with Dao Zhen.

With no others around, the palace-dressed woman finally began babbling to Queen Xin about why she hadn't previously been able to find any records concerning Shi Chun.

After hearing it, Queen Xin no longer wished to discuss the matter, simply waved her hand, saying, "The Qi Family appearing again in Life Prison shouldn't be false; causing trouble again, quite bold, their plotting must be equally bold, investigate!"

"Yes." The palace-dressed woman acknowledged.

Within the crystalline palaces of West Bull King Court, two figures appeared out of nowhere.

After the Demon Queen waved Dao Zhen away, she quietly paced alone within the clear and cold pavilion, occasionally letting out light laughter, "It was him..."

If she hadn't discovered Shi Chun could secretly maneuver in and out of the Beidou Refusal Array, seemed related to the Netherworld, and wore extraordinary Treasure Robe, Treasure Boots, and Treasure Bracelet, and she hadn't lured Shi Chun to turn himself in, personally framing him to a dead end, otherwise, against Life Prison's well-founded intervention, she really might have believed.

After exerting so much effort, patiently circling around with Shi Chun, the play was due to suspicion that Shi Chun had something extraordinary behind him, intending to force out what was behind Shi Chun, never expected to force out the shadow of that prominent figure.

Thus, she also understood what it meant for the Qingqiu Fox Clan to go to East Victory Royal Court and press Shi Chun to his death, it was an act, clearing associations with Qingqiu, and clearing associations with Life Prison.

"Static longing for movement? Considering the persona of that one, observing the situation now, it must be a single leisure piece. To be his leisure piece, there must be something worthy about it. A drop from a few years ago, what was that fellow a few years back, what made him catch the eye..."

In her pacing and contemplation, the reason she concluded Shi Chun was a leisure piece, primarily was Shi Chun's relationship with her, if he were truly directed to approach her, he would not have touched her inappropriately nor flaunted the name of Qingqiu Ancestor so brazenly—to avoid exposure?

In conjunction with numerous other details synthesized.

That previous drama where Life Prison and Qingqiu both emerged, clearly was to cover holes and leaks.

Regardless of what is said, her goal was accomplished, her methods succeeded, discovered the origin of this piece, greatly valuable!

Thinking of it all brought out an uncontrollable smile, it could be said her mood was excellent.

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