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The two sides began to bicker, with the situation seeming likely to escalate into another physical altercation.

Seeing the matter getting worse and worse, the innkeeper was frightened; if a life was lost, could the inn still operate in the future?

So, he instructed the waitstaff to hurry and seek help from the officials.

As a shopkeeper, he regularly provided the officials with various favors, so the officials’ willingness to help him settle some minor disputes in return wasn’t an issue.

Therefore, the waitstaff quickly brought back two official runners.

As soon as the runners arrived, the two fighting parties began to regret, resent, and blame each other.

“You really called someone?”

“If this matter gets any bigger, it won’t look good for anyone!”

“Yet you’re the one who called them?”

“It wasn’t me!”

“If not you, then who?”

Both sides blamed each other, starting with verbal disputes before pushing and shoving, escalating into ripping and punching.

The situation was unmanageable.

Even the two official runners were affected, receiving a few blows themselves.

This annoyed them, and they directly took all parties, along with Li Jixian lying on the ground and the disheveled woman, to the Jingzhao Magistrate’s office.

Now the matter had become serious.

Both sides were getting nervous.

Especially the man who recognized Li Jixian’s identity.

Since he started the fight, this issue was no longer as simple as it seemed.

He steeled himself and decided to go all out.

If they were going to die, they might as well make it a big spectacle!

What about the Crown Prince?

Could the Crown Prince just sleep with someone else’s wife?

No matter what, they were the ones in the right!

Only by making a big scene could they have a slim chance of survival!

In the end, this matter reached the Jingzhao Magistrate.

The former Jingzhao Magistrate was Wenren Zong, who had been demoted and exiled after his defeat. The newly appointed Jingzhao Magistrate, Lu Xun, was an old official with neither remarkable ability nor adaptability. He was, however, deeply experienced.

The Emperor had appointed him to oversee Jingzhao precisely because he was stubborn, impartial, and not affiliated with any factions.

As a Fourth-Rank Official, Lu Xun wouldn’t usually need to involve himself in such minor civil disputes. However, with most of his subordinates unavailable, he happened to be at the Jingzhao office, and upon hearing about the case, he decided to handle it personally.

As the Jingzhao Magistrate, he naturally recognized the Crown Prince.

When Li Jixian was brought in unconscious and with a bruised face covered in blood, Lu Xun was shocked and instantly recognized him.

“Why is His Highness the Crown Prince here?” He shouted, losing his composure.

This demonstrated his lack of adaptability.

If he had been more flexible, he would have long been promoted to a higher position rather than still working at the Jingzhao office, handling these tedious tasks.

Anyone with some sense would realize that this was an awkward situation.

What he should have done was try to cover up the matter and preserve the imperial family’s dignity.

Instead, not only did he fail to do so, but he also blurts out Li Jixian’s identity on the spot.

Now the cat was out of the bag.

Everyone was shocked.

Li Jixian had just regained consciousness and, upon hearing the cry, his vision darkened, and he fainted again.

The matter could no longer be concealed.

For any other official, why bother with an investigation, right?

But Lu Xun was not just any other official.

He insisted on carrying out the investigation, as the Crown Prince could not just take someone else’s wife by force.

Lu Xun first ordered someone to revive the Crown Prince and then began the interrogation.

Considering that his opponent was the Crown Prince, he had to tread carefully. He even called in a doctor to give Li Jixian a thorough examination.

By the time Li Jixian regained consciousness, his Attendant No. 2 had finally arrived, accompanied by a group of Imperial Guards who stormed into the

room..