By the time Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan returned to Moyuxuan, it was already evening, just in time for dinner. The teahouses and taverns in the streets and alleys were all talking about the matter.

As more people talked about it, all sorts of rumors and gossip spread, inevitably dragging the Yun family into it.

The next day, those nasty words reached Shen Wan's ears. At the time, Shen Wan was sitting there thinking about something when Yin Shuang went out for a short while. When she came back, her face was full of anger, and she said indignantly, "Your Highness, you have no idea how people outside are spreading rumors about the Yanping Prince's Mansion killing the son of the Princess of Huyang. They all say that the bad luck of the Yanping Prince's Mansion was brought by the Yun family. If the Yun family hadn't used the death-exemption token as a betrothal gift, there wouldn't have been the story of the Yanping Prince's heir needing to use the death-exemption token to save his own life after committing murder..."

The Yun family was worried when they heard the news of the Prince of Yanping's accident, and their worries were indeed well-founded.

Shen Wan was also very angry, but since others could say whatever they wanted, it wouldn't matter if she got angry to death. Besides, before the Yun family obtained the pardon, Xie Jingyan had reminded the Prince of Yanping to stay away from the son of Princess Huyang. The Prince of Yanping should now understand that the Yun family's pardon was for him.

As long as the Prince of Yanping doesn't think that way, there's no need to pay attention to other people's gossip and rumors.

Shen Wan didn't know if Xie Jingyan had found out anything. She went to Xie Jingyan's study to find him. As soon as she stepped out, she saw Tang Ze, the eldest son of the Duke of Tan, and Lu Cheng, the heir of the Marquis of Xuanping, walking towards Xie Jingyan's study. They seemed to be walking very fast.

As Shen Wan reached the study door, she heard Tang Ze's voice, "Brother Jingyan, is there any way to get into the Ministry of Justice's death row? Lu Cheng and I just went to the Ministry of Justice to visit him, but they dared not let us in. They said that the Empress Dowager had given the Ministry of Justice an order that no one was allowed to visit the Prince of Yanping. Moreover, my people found out that the Ministry of Justice tortured the Prince of Yanping last night."

The three of them were always together, and their relationship was even closer than that of blood brothers. When the Prince of Yanping's heir was in such a predicament, the two of them were so worried that they tossed and turned, barely sleeping all night, and felt extremely guilty.

They had arranged to drink together yesterday, and the Prince of Yanping even arrived a quarter of an hour early to wait for them at Deyue Tower. However, when they arrived, the Prince of Yanping's servant was reporting something to him when the Prince of Yanping stood up and said, "I have something to do today and cannot drink with you."

Lu Cheng asked curiously, "What could be more important than drinking with us?"

Tang Ze even joked with the Crown Prince of Yanping, "You're not on a date with some girl, are you?"

The Prince of Yanping smiled, neither admitting nor denying, and left with the words, "The cost of the wine is on my tab."

Both of them were filled with regret. If they had detained the Prince of Yanping yesterday and prevented him from leaving, the incident of killing the son of Princess Huyang would not have happened.

Xie Jingyan put down the book in his hand and said, "I was just about to visit someone in prison, let's go together."

Tang Ze said, "I knew you had a way."

Xie Jingyan stood up, just as Shen Wan walked in. Xie Jingyan said, "I might not be back for lunch, so don't wait for me."

Shen Wan nodded, made way for them, and the three of them left.

The three rode their horses toward the Ministry of Justice. As they passed through the bustling street, they saw the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review leading his yamen runners to shut down Xinglong Gambling House. Tang Ze and Lu Cheng found it very strange. Xinglong Gambling House had considerable power behind it and seemed to be related to the Left Prime Minister's residence. Why was it suddenly shut down?

Unable to contain his curiosity, Tang Ze, who happened to have some connection with the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, went over to inquire about it.

When he caught up, Lu Cheng asked, "What did Xinglong Gambling House do wrong?"

Tang Ze said, "Xinglong Gambling House set up a gambling game, betting on whether the Prince of Yanping would be punished for killing the son of Princess Huyang. When this reached the Empress Dowager's ears, it caught her off guard, and she ordered the Dali Temple to shut down Xinglong Gambling House."

In the Empress Dowager's eyes, the Prince of Yanping killed her grandson and must pay with his life. Xinglong Gambling House actually thought that the Prince of Yanping still had a chance to live. It would be strange if the Empress Dowager wasn't angry. In addition, it is possible that the eldest prince was taking the opportunity to eliminate the power of the Prince of Jin and the Left Prime Minister's Mansion. After all, it is not easy for such a small matter as a gambling house setting up a gambling game outside the palace to get into the palace, let alone reach the Empress Dowager's ears.

The three rode their horses and quickly arrived at the Ministry of Justice prison.

Princess Yanping, accompanied by Princess Qinghe, came to visit the Prince of Yanping in prison, but was stopped by the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. "The Empress Dowager has ordered that no one is allowed to visit the Prince of Yanping in prison. Please, Princess Yanping, do not make things difficult for us."

Princess Yanping looked haggard. Even Tang Ze and Lu Cheng were worried about the Crown Prince of Yanping and didn't sleep a wink all night. How much more so Princess Yanping! She almost begged, but who in the Ministry of Justice dared to disobey the Empress Dowager? The Crown Prince of Yanping had not killed an ordinary person. He was the only son of Princess Huyang and her husband.

Xie Jingyan dismounted and strode over, with Tang Ze and Lu Cheng following closely behind.

Upon seeing Xie Jingyan, the Vice Minister of Justice quickly bowed to him, saying, "Greetings, Prince Ling."

Xie Jingyan remained silent, while Chen Feng said, "I would like to trouble Vice Minister Li to lead the way. My lord wishes to visit Cheng Yuansheng, a death row inmate in Yunzhou."

Tang Ze, “……!!!”

Lu Cheng, “…!!!”

The two looked shocked.

They clearly hadn't considered that this could be done.

Vice Minister of Justice, "..."

He's found a loophole that's impossible to plug.

The Empress Dowager forbade anyone to visit Prince Yanping in prison, but Prince Yanping was not the only one in the Ministry of Justice's death row; there were many other criminals as well.

Cheng Yuansheng, a death row inmate from Yunzhou, was not only imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's death row cell, but his cell was right next to that of the Prince of Yanping's heir. Prince Ling had come prepared.

But a death row inmate from Yunzhou and Prince Ling are not even remotely related, let alone eight hundred times.

This is clearly a pretext for going to the Ministry of Justice's death row. If he lets him go, he will be in deep trouble if the Empress Dowager questions him.

The Vice Minister of Justice looked troubled. "This is no different from visiting the Prince of Yanping's heir in prison..."

Xie Jingyan said, "Are you going to stop me?"

"...I wouldn't dare."

"If you don't dare, then move aside!" Xie Jingyan said impatiently.

"But what about the Empress Dowager..."

Xie Jingyan said, "If the Empress Dowager questions me, I will bear the full responsibility."

The Vice Minister of Justice had nothing to say and silently made way for him.

The Ministry of Justice cannot afford to offend the Empress Dowager, nor can a mere Vice Minister of Justice like Prince Ling. Besides, this loophole is truly vast, one that even a Vice Minister like him cannot close, not even the Minister himself.

Xie Jingyan stepped into the Ministry of Justice prison, followed by Tang Ze and Lu Cheng. Princess Qinghe, supporting Princess Yanping, also wanted to go in, but was stopped by the Vice Minister of Justice.

Even if the Prince of Ling is imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's death row cell, he can still use the pretense of visiting others in prison. If the Empress Dowager finds out, she will be angry and at most scold the Minister of Justice. But if the Princess of Yanping and the Princess of Qinghe are allowed to enter, their official hats may not be able to stay on securely.

Lu Cheng turned back and said to Princess Yanping, "We will visit Brother Xun in prison in the same way."

He reached out to the maid, who quickly handed the food box she had brought to Lu Cheng.

Lu Cheng picked up the food box, turned around, and caught up with Xie Jingyan and Tang Ze.