Chapter 540: Ironclad Evidence

Chu Jiuqing was in no mood to watch them fight each other. He glared at Qin Shousheng coldly, took the stack of evidence from Zhuifeng and threw it in front of Qin Shousheng.

"The evidence is irrefutable. What else can you say?"

Qin Shousheng didn't believe this so-called ironclad evidence at all, and picked it up tremblingly.

After just one look, his face turned pale, and cold sweat dripped down his forehead.

How is it possible? How did Prince Ning collect all these pieces of evidence?

His expression froze instantly, and his body collapsed limply as if the bones had been pulled out.

"Qin Shousheng, confess quickly. Where did the money you embezzled go? Whose pocket did it go into? Tell the truth, and I will spare your life."

Qin Shousheng's face was ashen. What would be the point of betraying the Crown Prince now?

He has become a scapegoat, a pawn abandoned by others.

Stay calm and don't confess!

If the prince were really dragged into this, he would probably die even faster.

His only son was a tutor to the Crown Prince's son in the Crown Prince's residence. If anything went wrong, his son would surely die...

Qin Shousheng pretended to be calm and acted fearless. "I have already squandered all the gold and silver treasures I looted. I don't have a penny left. I spent it all..."

"Even the people behind you can't protect themselves, don't even think anyone can save you." Chu Jiuqing finished speaking, his eyes instantly turning cold, filled with murderous intent. "Qin Shousheng, you are corrupt, levying heavy taxes, forming cliques, abusing public power for personal gain, and taking human life lightly. The evidence is conclusive and you must be sentenced to death immediately!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Shousheng fell to the ground. The guards who were closer to him clearly saw some yellow liquid flowing out of his crotch.

Qin Shousheng didn't want to die, so in order to survive, he had to move the prince out.

"Prince Ning, please spare my life. Prince Ning, please think twice. I am the magistrate of Anyang County appointed by the Crown Prince. Even if there are any violations of law and order, they must be handled by the Dali Temple. You have no right to execute first and report later."

Chu Jiuqing raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a sneer of disdain. "Your crimes are extremely heinous, and the evidence is irrefutable. Even death alone will not suffice to appease the public's anger. Take you away and keep you under guard. Tomorrow at noon, behead you at Caishikou as a warning to others!"

Qin Shousheng was so frightened that his eyes rolled back and he fainted.

Chu Jiuqing continued, "Shen Yuanze seduced a decent woman, a crime punishable by death. But you refused to repent and aided the tyrant, helping Qin Shousheng smuggle salt, profiting from it and exploiting the people. Your crime is unforgivable, and you must be executed!"

"Prince Ning, please spare my life! Prince Ning, please spare my life!..."

Shen Yuanze was terrified, and his body was so weak that he had diarrhea and his urine and feces flowed into his pants pocket.

He knew he could no longer argue, so he gathered all his strength and kowtowed to the ground. He was dragged out by two guards while shouting and was thrown into the death cell.

Chu Jiuqing glanced at Chen Ruolan with cold eyes and looked at Miao Hong.

"Miao Hong's medical skills were inadequate, and he conspired with Chen Ruolan to replace Jishitang's medicine with genuine products, causing Hu Yu Niang's poisoning. You are vicious and reckless, and you must be executed immediately."

Miao Hongru was struck by lightning and froze for a moment. He had been kneeling on the ground with his back supported, but now it seemed as if all his bones and muscles were pulled out. He collapsed to the ground with a bang, his eyes full of fear and despair.

He regretted it. If he had known the outcome would be like this, he would have refused to listen to Chen Ruolan's instigation. He didn't want to live a good life, but he had to hurt others. Now he had even killed himself...

His face was pale, his heartbeat was accelerating, he kowtowed repeatedly, and slapped himself repeatedly, "Master, please spare my life, Miss Chen, please spare my life, I was blinded by greed and bewitched by Chen Ruolan. This was all Chen Ruolan's instructions, Master, please spare my life!..."

"You, you, you, shut up! You killed the man and replaced the medicine. I didn't force you to do this. Stop spitting blood!"

After Chen Ruolan finished speaking, she crawled to Chen Qingqing on her knees, kowtowed and begged for mercy.

"Sister Qingqing, I know I was wrong. It's all because I didn't know the limits of my ability. I was possessed by a ghost and my brain was filled with water. Please save me, sister. We can still be good sisters from now on. I will never dare to go against you again."

Chen Qingqing stood looking down at her, watching her kowtow like crazy, with no expression on her face.

After she knocked her forehead until it was covered in blood, he leaned down slightly, hooked his hand under Chen Ruolan's chin, and smiled coldly.

"You know I'm your sister now? It's too late. I already stopped recognizing you as my sister because you don't deserve it!"

Chen Ruolan felt a chill in her heart when she saw her eyes, but her desire to survive made her beg for mercy and speak kindly.

"Sister Qingqing, I really know I was wrong. Please don't be so stubborn with me. Just forgive me this time! I will change in the future. I will definitely change..."

Chen Qingqing looked down at Chen Ruolan, who was kneeling on the ground and crying bitterly, without a trace of sympathy in her eyes.

"You brought this upon yourself. No one can save you."

Chu Jiuqing's face was filled with disgust, and his voice was cold and ruthless. "Criminal Chen Ruolan, stop quibbling. I have already investigated and found out that you instructed Miao Hong to kill people and frame Jishitang. The evidence is irrefutable and you are sentenced to death immediately."

After that, he said to the guards on his left and right, "Take them away, prepare their last meal, and take them to Caishikou to be beheaded tomorrow morning."

Chen Ruolan was so frightened that her bones and muscles became weak and her soul was scattered to the ground. She was dragged away by the yamen runners.

Everything is settled.

Chu Jiuqing looked at the Chen family, his eyes not as sharp as before, "Uncle Zhanshan, I'm late and made you suffer."

Chen Zhanshan felt like he was dreaming. His family's grievances were finally redressed, the sugar mill was saved, and they no longer had to live a miserable life of fleeing.

Someone finally took care of that bastard Qin Shousheng.

Good, that’s great!

Just when he was secretly happy, he heard Chu Jiuqing calling him uncle. He felt flattered and waved his hands quickly, "No, no, I dare not call you that. Your Highness Prince Ning, please just call me by my name."

"Yes, yes, yes. Your Highness Prince Ning is wise and brave. He has cleared my family's grievances. I am deeply grateful." Lin also looked respectful.

Chu Jiuqing shook his head and smiled, "It is my duty to punish evil and promote good. Uncle and aunt, there is no need to be so polite. This is not the place to chat. I have asked my men to prepare the guest rooms. Let's leave here first."

Seeing Chu Jiuqing's warm face and no airs of a prince, Chen Zhanshan felt relieved and said, "Okay, let's go."

Chen Qingqing stood still and looked at Chu Jiuqing, "Prince Ning, can you let me handle Chen Ruolan?"

Chu Jiuqing was stunned and looked at Chen Qingqing in confusion, "My benefactor, Chen Ruolan has committed murder and is guilty of heinous crimes. Please don't be soft-hearted."

"Don't worry, Prince Ning, I won't be soft-hearted."

"Okay, I promise you." Chu Jiuqing nodded in agreement.

Chen Zhanshan and his wife left the prison under the guidance of the guards...