Who Says There's No Evidence

As these words fell, the entire hall fell silent.

It was as if someone had submerged the entire hall underwater, all sounds sucked away, leaving only strained breathing.

The officials on both sides kept their eyes downcast, feigning composure, but there was a distinct tension in their postures. Their sidelong glances no longer concealed, they openly peered toward the center of the hall, eager to see how Gu Chengyin would respond.

The Minister of Justice sat upright, a faint smirk curling at the corners of his lips, barely perceptible.

The Censor-in-Chief remained expressionless, but beneath that impassive mask, there was a clear air of anticipation, as if waiting for a good show.

Yuan Zhengqing still sat there, his gaze calm as still water, revealing nothing.

Every eye in the room was fixed on Gu Chengyin.

Gu Chengyin did not answer right away. Leaning back in his chair, he looked like a spectator watching a play that had nothing to do with him.

His gaze was eerily calm—so calm it sent a chill down Cui Zhenji’s spine.

Then, he smiled.

The smile began at the corners of his mouth, spread slowly across his face, and finally filled his eyes with amusement.

There was no tension, no panic, not even anger.

Only an indefinable sense of... irony.

Cui Zhenji’s brows furrowed as he snapped,

“What are you laughing at?”

Gu Chengyin did not answer his question directly. Instead, he looked at Cui Zhenji with a smirk, still grinning.

After a long pause, he spoke unhurriedly,

“Minister Cui, are you saying that five managing elders of the Azure Sword Sect jointly submitted a report to accuse me?”

Cui Zhenji nodded in confirmation.

“That is correct.”

“And they accuse me of using my authority to usurp the position of Azure Sword Sect’s sect leader?”

“That is correct.”

Gu Chengyin’s smile deepened.

“Then allow me to ask, Minister Cui—who was the original sect leader of the Azure Sword Sect?”

Cui Zhenji was taken aback and instinctively answered,

“Well... it was naturally Jiang Qingshan, the former Sect Leader Jiang.”

“And what cultivation level does Sect Leader Jiang possess?”

“The Golden Core stage.”

“And what is my cultivation level?”

Cui Zhenji’s brow furrowed even tighter. Gu Chengyin had never shown his hand in front of outsiders before.

He couldn’t be certain of the exact realm, but based on his aura, he was definitely at the Foundation Establishment stage.

“Foundation Establishment?”

Gu Chengyin nodded, his smile unwavering.

“Then I ask you again, Minister Cui—how could someone in the Foundation Establishment stage possibly seize the sect leader position from a Golden Core stage cultivator?”

Gu Chengyin paused, his voice still unhurried:

“Through force? Through official authority?”

“But the problem is—no matter how much authority I had, I could never control a cultivation sect.”

Cui Zhenji opened his mouth, but found himself at a loss for words.

Because every word Gu Chengyin spoke made perfect sense.

How could a Foundation Establishment cultivator seize power from a Golden Core cultivator?

And how could a government official give orders to a cultivation sect?

Wasn’t this a joke?

Yet the letter of accusations from those five managing elders was crystal clear.

It claimed that Gu Chengyin, during his inspection tour of the sect, had formed factions, won people over, and ultimately forced Jiang Qingshan to abdicate the sect leader position.

But as Cui Zhenji thought about it, something felt off.

Force Jiang Qingshan to abdicate?

Jiang Qingshan was a Golden Core cultivator, and Gu Chengyin was Foundation Establishment.

How could a Foundation Establishment cultivator force a Golden Core cultivator to step down?

Unless... Lin Qingyan had intervened.

But the joint report mentioned nothing about Lin Qingyan, not even the Heavenly Masters Residence.

Cui Zhenji’s mind raced. He understood why she wasn’t mentioned.

Not because they didn’t want to, but because they didn’t dare.

Reporting Gu Chengyin was one thing—there were still laws and justice to fall back on.

But if anyone dared to implicate Lin Qingyan in even a single word, they might as well be asking for death.

Even Cui Shifan, the current Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, only targeted Gu Chengyin alone.

But Cui Zhenji could not say any of this out loud.

Because he was the Minister of Rites.

Because behind him stood Cui Shifan.

Because his role today was to convict Gu Chengyin.

Cui Zhenji gritted his teeth and pressed on.

“Gu Chengyin, stop trying to evade the issue.”

“The five managing elders’ report states it clearly.”

“You took advantage of the sect inspection to form factions, win support, and isolate Jiang Qingshan, ultimately forcing him to abdicate.”

“Now, how do you explain yourself?”

Gu Chengyin shook his head helplessly and sighed.

“Minister Cui, do you judge a case solely on a report?”

Cui Zhenji was taken aback and asked sharply,

“What do you mean by that?”

“What I mean is, a report is dead; people are alive.”

“You bring me a report to question me. Does that mean I can do the same to you?”

“For example, I could find a few people to write reports accusing you, Minister Cui, of corruption and abuse of power.”

“Then I bring those reports to you and demand an explanation. Would you be able to clear your name?”

Cui Zhenji’s face turned green. He slammed the table and roared,

“You!”

Gu Chengyin raised a hand, cutting him off.

“See? Always in such a hurry.”

“I’m not saying you actually abuse your power—I’m just giving an example.”

Gu Chengyin leaned back in his chair, his posture lazy and relaxed.

“My point is, to judge a case, you need evidence.”

“A report is just a clue; it can’t be used as proof.”

“If you want to convict me, bring real, solid evidence.”

“For example, proof of forming factions, proof of usurpation...”

Cui Zhenji fell silent.

What evidence could he produce? He had nothing.

The five managing elders’ report contained only accusations, no proof.

Only rhetoric, no concrete facts.

Bring it to the Three Judicial Departments, and it would fall apart under scrutiny.

But what choice did he have? He had to press on.

“Gu Chengyin, don’t quibble.”

“Those five managing elders are veterans of the Azure Sword Sect, highly respected within the sect.”

“With them filing a joint report against you, would they manage to falsely accuse you?”

Gu Chengyin let out a laugh—both helpless and amused.

“Minister Cui, can respected people never falsely accuse others?”

Cui Zhenji choked on his words.

“This...”

“How many wrongful convictions were masterminded by people of high standing?”

Gu Chengyin continued. “How many wrongly accused suffered at the hands of those so-called respectable figures?”

“Minister Cui, your argument doesn’t hold water.”

Cui Zhenji’s face flushed red. He wanted to argue back, but found himself unable to refute.

Because everything Gu Chengyin said was logical and persuasive.

While everything he said was untenable.

But even so, Cui Zhenji had to keep up the act.

To last until someone else stepped in to stop him.

And just as Cui Zhenji had hoped—

His clumsy performance did finally draw someone’s intervention.

“Who says there’s no evidence!”

Just then, a voice rang out from outside the hall, drawing the attention of everyone inside.

And Gu Chengyin, who had been lounging lazily in his chair, narrowed his eyes at the sound.

Because he recognized it.

It was Jiang Jianli.