“This woman, Madam Cen, pays her respects to Your Excellency!”
The woman, ushered in by the bailiff, knelt on the ground. As soon as she glanced at the man, tears began to stream uncontrollably from her eyes.
The man raised his head, his eyes bloodshot as he looked at the woman. His trembling lips seemed to be silently reprimanding and questioning her.
“Are you his wife?”
“Yes!”
“What is the reason for your coming?”
“To seek a reduction in my husband’s sentence.”
“Murder is a capital offense!”
“But my husband was not the mastermind. My husband…”
“Silence!” the man interrupted the woman’s words furiously. The bloodshot in his wide-open eyes seemed ready to tear apart at any moment.
Hearing that there was a mastermind behind the man, Liu Yujing stepped forward and fiercely kicked the man in the chest, knocking him to the ground. He then stepped on the man’s back. Feng Quan did not stop him this time; instead, he handed Liu Yujing a knife. Liu Yujing took the knife and placed it on the man’s neck.
His face contorted with ferocity, he roared at the woman, “Speak!”
“No, please don’t harm my husband.”
The woman rushed forward and hugged the man from behind, using her head to nudge the cold gleam of the blade, attempting to push it away from her husband’s neck.
“I’ll speak, I’ll tell you everything!”
The woman sobbed, recalling what she had heard and seen that day. “Although my husband had been lurking in the Liu residence, he could never find an opportunity to strike. Until one day, a man appeared.”
“What did this man look like?” Zou Cheng’en asked.
“He was a man with a face like jade, possessing the grace of a clear moon and a gentle breeze. He suddenly appeared and gave my husband a packet of poison.”
“Do not spout nonsense! Everything was done by me alone!” the man roared.
“Shut up!”
Liu Yujing’s veins bulged as he forcefully stepped on the man’s back, causing his spine to crackle. The blade pressed down, cutting through the man’s neck. The instantly flowing blood made the woman’s cries more apparent.
“What else do you know?”
The woman cried and shook her head. “I only know that it was that man who instigated my husband to poison, and he said, he said he would take care of everything, telling my husband to set his mind at ease.”
“Describe that man’s appearance more carefully.”
The woman replied, “That man had round eyes and a slightly upturned nose. He was very handsome, about six feet tall, with fair skin, and looked a bit thin.”
Zou Cheng’en was silent for a few seconds, then looked at Feng Quan. Feng Quan, understanding his intent, walked off the dais and found a portrait of Feng Luan from the scribe. This portrait was what the Metropolitan Governor had issued when Feng Luan was wanted for stripping Liu Ling and tying him to a tree.
He returned to the hall with Feng Luan’s portrait and spread it before the woman. “Is it him?”
The woman looked up and saw the portrait.
“It is him!”
…
“Your Highness, someone from the Ministry of Justice has arrived, they say… they say they wish to apprehend the Princess Consort!”
In the study, Nan Shiying was eating pastries newly developed by the kitchen. Upon hearing Shi San’s words, she choked on a pastry. Ji Jinmo handed her a cup of tea. His slightly curved lips conveyed an indescribable sinister and chilling demeanor. “To come to my residence to apprehend my Princess Consort?”
Shi San’s body went cold, feeling the pores on his back exude a chilling aura. He swallowed and quickly explained, “No, no, it’s to apprehend Feng Luan.”
Although the Princess Consort and Feng Luan were the same person, outsiders were not aware of this.
If Lord Zou knew that Feng Luan was the Princess Consort, even if he were given a hundred times the courage, he would not dare to brazenly come to their doorstep to apprehend her!
Nan Shiying took a sip of tea, finally managing to swallow the pastry stuck in her throat.
“Apprehend Feng Luan?”
“So, after investigating for so long, the Ministry of Justice has come back to me?”
Nan Shiying couldn’t help but want to laugh. Without any trace of panic or fear about being wanted, she shifted her position and picked up another pastry. Turning to Ji Jinmo, she said, “My lord, this is good. When you bring me food next time, remember to ask the kitchen to make more of it!”
Ji Jinmo frowned upon hearing this. “You intend to go to the Ministry of Justice?”
Nan Shiying nodded. “Of course. Would you have me openly refuse arrest?”
“You…”
Nan Shiying picked up a pastry and stuffed it into Ji Jinmo’s mouth, silencing him. She then stood up, tidied the hem of her skirt, and sighed faintly, “I’ll have to put on Feng Luan’s skin. Changing clothes again, what a hassle!”
…
Zou Cheng’en personally led his men to the 왕府 (Prince’s Estate). Standing outside, he felt apprehensive—what if His Highness insisted on not releasing the person?
As he was thinking, he saw a figure walking out leisurely. Facing the imposing Ministry of Justice bailiffs, his face still held a calm and collected smile. “Don’t make a move. I can walk by myself!”
The Ministry of Justice bailiffs looked at each other, then turned to look at Zou Cheng’en.
They truly did not dare to apprehend this person!
“Young Master Feng!”
Zou Cheng’en looked at him, wondering if he would still be able to smile later.
“Since Young Master Feng is so cooperative, we naturally will not resort to force. Young Master Feng, please!”
Jia Huan led a horse over and handed it to Nan Shiying. Zou Cheng’en said nothing more. Nan Shiying mounted the horse and rode alongside Zou Cheng’en.
Riding to the Ministry of Justice, Nan Shiying dismounted and walked inside.
“My lord, it’s him! It’s him!”
As Nan Shiying entered the inner hall, the woman kneeling in the pool of blood suddenly looked up and shouted, pointing at her nose with an excited and eager look, as if she had seen a lifeline.
Nan Shiying was slightly stunned, then smiled. “Madam, do you recognize me?”
The woman trembled under her smile, then nodded with conviction. “I do. It was you who instigated my husband to poison Young Master Liu. Even if you turned to ash, I would still recognize you!”
Hearing this, Nan Shiying understood.
She turned to ask Zou Cheng’en, “Lord Zou, is this the reason you wish to apprehend me?”
Zou Cheng’en glanced at her, walked to the hall, turned, and sat down. “Young Master Feng, do you have anything you wish to refute?”
Nan Shiying spread her hands. “Refute? My lord, do you believe this madam’s statement?”
If it were merely an identification, Zou Cheng’en might not have believed it so readily, but… he raised the packet of poison and then took out the poison formula Nan Shiying had previously written. “There is also physical evidence.”
Nan Shiying stepped forward and glanced at it.
Her peripheral vision caught sight of a man holding a long saber, his expression cold and vigilant, watching her.
Was he afraid she would destroy the evidence?
Nan Shiying chuckled softly, leisurely pointing at the characters on the poison. “Putting aside everything else, the handwriting imitation is indeed quite similar!”
Zou Cheng’en’s eyes were fixed on her, scrutinizing her. However, he saw no panic or guilt on her face. Compared to her previous composure, her expression seemed to hold a hint of amusement.
He frowned deeply, forming a Sichuan character on his brow. “You mean to say someone framed you?”
“My lord, everything this humble woman says is the truth!”
“This humble woman saw him give this poison to my husband with her own eyes!”