The Great Xia Emperor’s smile faded. He asked in a deep voice, "What crimes have you committed?"
Zhou Tieyi replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, my Zhou family is implicated in the ink stone smuggling case along the Taihang Mountain provincial roads. I am here to confess and accept punishment."
The court fell silent, holding its breath. They knew the Emperor’s ruling on Zhou Tieyi would likely dictate the trajectory of the entire Ink Stone Case. As a family holding the title of General, it was no surprise the Zhous were involved in smuggling, but they were certainly not the biggest offenders. At most, they were mid-to-high level, far behind royal relatives like Prince Ning.
Chapter 444