"By the way, what did you just say?"

Facing the somewhat absent-minded Ling Yudao, Ling Yuwei asked:

"Where are we going next, are we going together?"

Lin Yi's trip this time is to the Imperial Punishment Bureau.

And this is not a place where just anyone can go.

In general, those who can go there are basically upper-class figures like the empire's aristocrats.

It's called the Imperial Punishment Bureau, but it's actually just the executioners under the imperial aristocracy.

Their existence is merely to make it look relatively 'fair' when those aristocrats deal with certain special groups (suppress them).

Ling Yudao, as the Grand Pavilion Master of Linlang Pavilion, also holds a high status.

But their Linlang Pavilion does not belong to the power of any empire, meaning neither Ling Yudao nor Ling Yuwei fall under the empire's jurisdiction.

The empire's laws cannot bind them, nor can they enjoy the empire's protection and policies.

Because of this, they also have no right to go to the Punishment Bureau.

But if Ling Yudao truly wishes to go, it's not impossible.

However, all this would require Ling Yudao to show up, and it can't avoid some wrangling.

Therefore, Ling Yuwei's implication is: Are we also going to the Imperial Punishment Bureau?

Lin Yi, as the Jialan King of the Jialan Empire, has every right to go to the Imperial Punishment Bureau.

Ling Yuwei also isn't worried that Lin Yi will encounter any trouble there.

Yet she still wants to follow and take a look.

To see if Lin Yi's visit this time is as she imagined.

And if she wants to go to the Imperial Punishment Bureau, it must be Ling Yudao who shows up.

Otherwise, Ling Yuwei wouldn't bother asking for Ling Yudao's opinion.

The result that disappointed Ling Yuwei was Ling Yudao's response:

"We're not going, let's go home and wait for news."

Ling Yuwei was taken aback, and then asked in confusion:

"Why not go."

"We just want to see why Prince Lin Yi is going, can't we even do that?"

Ling Yudao looked up toward the direction of the Jialan Imperial City and addressed a somewhat helpless question:

"If we go too."

"Not only would we be unable to help him at that time, but we might also implicate him because of us."

There were some things Ling Yudao couldn't and didn't want to say:

"Within the Jialan Royal Family, there are countless individuals waiting to catch us making mistakes."

"Going there is just falling into their trap."

"But..."

Ling Yuwei originally wanted to insist on something.

However, upon seeing Ling Yudao's undeniable gaze, she could only fall into silence.

Ling Yudao, of course, knew what Ling Yuwei was thinking at that moment.

But there were some things Ling Yudao was temporarily unsure how to explain.

However, to reassure Ling Yuwei, he divulged a little:

"Don't worry, he won't be in trouble."

"We have our people in the Punishment Bureau."

"If he really encounters any trouble there, I will intervene."

Ling Yuwei was stunned upon hearing this.

She then looked at Ling Yudao in shock:

"We have people in the Punishment Bureau?"

"Why didn't I know about this?"

Ling Yudao tenderly patted Ling Yuwei's head, chuckled, and said:

"Why do you think our Linlang Pavilion has survived under the Three Great Empires for so long?"

Ling Yuwei suddenly realized something, incredulously looked at Ling Yudao:

"You mean not just this Jialan Punishment Bureau, but all within the Three Great Empires..."

Ling Yudao made a silence gesture before Ling Yuwei and then nodded:

"Just know this."

"Therefore, not just anyone can bully our Linlang Pavilion."

...

...

The Jialan Dynasty is situated to the east of the Jialan Imperial Capital, housing all royal family members of the Jialan Empire.

The entire Imperial City is separated from the imperial capital by towering red walls, fully displaying the majesty and solemnity of the royal family.

And the Punishment Bureau stands beside these red walls, a tall white building.

In the Three Great Empires, white symbolizes sanctity and rebirth.

The symbol of the Punishment Bureau is a single-handed sword representing power, pointed upwards, with the hilt facing down.

Encircling the sword is a vine symbolizing 'equality.'

As the place overseeing imperial penalties, one could say the Punishment Bureau is feared by all the empire's commoners.

Because no one wishes to ever step into this place.

Once a commoner steps inside, it's almost unheard of for them to come out unscathed.

This is the place where Jarvis's nightmare began.

Jarvis thought he would never return to this place in his lifetime.

But unexpectedly, he found himself here again, and this time he came voluntarily.

Looking at the imposing characters "Punishment Bureau" on the building, Jarvis was momentarily lost in thought.

As Jarvis was contemplating the unpredictability of life, Lin Yi, hunched over and supporting the carriage, said irritably:

"Stop pretending to be so deep, come over and help me out."

...

...

Gongsun Yan, Chief Judge of the Jialan Imperial Capital Punishment Bureau.

He is also the Eastern Prince of the Jialan Empire, with a princely status, ranking above some princes and princesses of the Jialan Royal Family.

In the Jialan Imperial Capital, he is the only one besides the Emperor himself who holds the power of life and death.

In any circumstance, Gongsun Yan holds the authority to judge and execute first, reporting only afterward.

Even if the opposing party is a noble or wealthy person, there is no exception.

It's said that in the Jialan Imperial Capital, some would rather offend a prince or princess than provoke the fearsome Chief Judge, Gongsun Yan.

In the eyes of the people, Gongsun Yan's image is that of a Death God, walking between life and death.

Such that the mere mention of his name spreads fear and panic, and can silence the cries of the night:

"Wuuu~~~"

In a garden full of singing birds and fragrant flowers, a little girl, who looked only three or four years old, was running while crying:

"I will never play with Uncle Royal again, wuuu~~"

Seeing her so upset, it moved hearts to sadness and eyes to tears.

Even someone with a heart of stone would feel compelled to offer comfort.

But not far behind the little girl, a middle-aged man in his forties wore a cheerful expression:

"Little girl, you're too inexperienced to compete with me."

He said, taking a triumphant bite from a red, juicy fruit in his hand.

At that moment.

A lavishly dressed woman, having seemingly heard the girl's cries, rushed over from the nearby cloister:

"Ying'Er, why are you crying again?"

Upon seeing her, the little girl immediately jumped into her arms, accusingly pointing to the proud man not far away:

"Uncle Royal took my food again."

"It was a gift from Father, and I hadn't even wanted to eat it yet."

The woman glanced at the smug man sitting in the rocking chair and said irritably:

"Older brother, you're bullying Ying'Er again."

The man chuckled at her words:

"How is that bullying?"

"She said she would give it to me, then changed her mind."

"In my rulebook, there's no room for backing out."

Seeing the man speaking so righteously, the woman could only shake her head in resignation:

"You're an Imperial Judge, yet you argue with a 3-year-old girl, don't you feel ashamed."

Gongsun Yan, in front of the little girl, tossed the whole fruit into his mouth provocatively and chuckled:

"Precisely because of who I am."

"I must make her understand the world's cruelty from an early age."

The little girl, seeing her favorite food eaten, began crying 'waaah waaah':

"Uncle Royal is a bad man, Ying'Er will never play with you again."

Gongsun Yan took a cloth nearby to wipe his hands, smiling mischievously:

"Ying'Er is not so little anymore."

"I might set a time soon to help her awaken her magic."

At the mention of serious matters, the woman cast the man a grateful glance, saying:

"That's more like the thing you should be doing."

However, just then, a guard in a Punishment Bureau uniform hurried over.

The woman, sensing the situation, instinctively picked up the little girl:

"Ying'Er, let's go get something even tastier to eat."

The little girl, in her mother's arms, innocently asked:

"Better than qiqi fruit?"

"Of course!"

"Hooray..."

Watching the little girl leave with joy and excitement.

The smile on Gongsun Yan's face vanished at some point, leaving only an icy, emotionless expression.

The guard jogged up to the pavilion, bowing:

"Chief Judge, someone has struck the Injustice Drum."