Chapter 278 If she refuses to give in, keep her locked up.

After the jailer became familiar with Xia Chan, he told her about the other members of the Yao family.

After the disaster, almost no one survived in the prison.

Including the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery.

He was already deeply poisoned by the elixir, and he lived in constant fear. He was terrified during his two interrogations and died on the torture rack.

As the closest woman to the Marquis of Zhongyong, Concubine Zhao naturally spoke her mind without reservation. However, she did not survive and died in prison.

When Yao Qingxu learned that Marquis Zhongyong and Concubine Zhao had died, he went mad with fear. He huddled in a corner all day, kneeling before a rat as if it were his father, begging the rat to take him out.

Yao Qingxu's wife, Madam Lu, took care of him, but she was exhausted. In the end, she became ruthless and beat and scolded him, hoping that he would come to his senses and pull himself together.

Qingling knew their situation, but her face remained expressionless.

She said, "Madam Lu is weak. The former Lady Hou used to boss her around. Yao Qingxu is her husband, her everything. Yao Qingxu has gone mad, and she has completely lost her backbone. Fortunately, Bang'er is still here. As long as Bang'er is alive, she can live."

Lou Yue asked, "Isn't the case closed? Why aren't we being released yet?"

Qingling said, "With so many prisoners brought in, and the severity of their crimes varying, we need to conduct further trials and determine the sentences based on their crimes."

Lou Yue said dejectedly, "We are just a small Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion. By the time those important officials are sentenced, it will be after the Lantern Festival, won't it?"

Everyone felt a little dejected when she spoke.

Although there's no shortage of food here and it's not that cold, and we have nothing to do all day, who would want to squeeze into this tiny room? We're all going crazy from being cooped up like this!

Qingling looked up at the iron bars on the window; the sun was shining brightly outside.

She thought, it shouldn't take that long, right?

...

Inside Xiangyuan Garden, Prince Xin, Tao Weixian, Zhan Xingzhuo, and Shao Wenchu, the third son of the Minister's Mansion, gathered together for a drink.

After much investigation, they finally found out about Consort Shu and Grand Tutor Chen, and everyone could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"...That Lin Shiyuan is just a piece of trash." Tao Weixian's tone was not without smugness. "You think he has some great skills? In the end, he's still just a brute."

Shao Wenchu ​​glanced at him and said in a low voice, "It was the prince who made the arrangements first. If it weren't for his arrangements, do you think you could be here drinking and listening to music in peace right now?"

Tao Weixian stood up with a smile, respectfully poured wine for Prince Xin, and then raised his wine cup to toast him in a proper manner.

Prince Xin glanced at him indifferently, took a sip of wine, and said, "His Majesty's original intention was not to investigate corruption, but to eliminate 'key officials'."

Those powerful ministers who constrained his imperial power and affected his imperial authority.

Five years ago it was Grand Tutor Zhou, now it's Grand Tutor Chen... This time, the imperial court can be described as a river of blood.

A moment of silence fell over them, and their hearts tightened.

When it comes to important officials, their families can all be described as powerful clans.

Tao Weixian suddenly chuckled and said, "What's there to be afraid of? We're just following the prince because we like to make a little money. We have no interest in power."

As he spoke, he tried to pick up the chicken leg with his chopsticks, but found he couldn't pull it off, so he simply threw the chopsticks aside and used his hands to pull it off.

He even tore off a ring of meat from the edge of the chicken leg.

This shows that this person is greedy for money.

Prince Xin waved his folding fan, glanced at him indifferently, his gaze met Zhan Xingzhuo's in mid-air, and then looked at Shao Wenchou.

Shao Wenchu ​​smiled and looked at Zhan Xingzhuo, saying, "Brother Xingzhuo, are you silent because you're worried about the Yao family?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the door opened, and Zhou Zhining personally carried in a tray.

She placed a plate of white jade tofu on the table.

“Use broth that has been simmering for three days and three nights, and pour it spoonful by spoonful over this tofu. Use the heat of the broth to cook the tofu, but do not let the tofu break in the slightest. The tofu must also absorb all the umami flavor of the broth to make it a jade tofu.”

Zhou Zhining's voice was soft and sweet as she meticulously explained how to make this white jade tofu.

Tao Weixian, who had been rejected by Zhou Zhining before, felt a stirring in his heart again upon seeing her stunning beauty and gentle, considerate demeanor.

He said, "No wonder I haven't seen you at Jinmantang these past few days. So you've been here learning from others."

Zhan Xingzhuo looked at Zhou Zhining expressionlessly, his eyes saying, "Still entangled with Tao Weixian?"

Zhou Zhining braced herself to meet his scrutiny, and said with a smile, "Your Highness is clever. You deceived Lin Shiyuan and brought peace to everyone again. I want to do something to thank Your Highness, but I don't know what to do. After thinking about it, I can only show my sincerity by cooking for you myself."

Prince Xin raised an eyebrow and glanced at her; she was quite sensible.

However, she was the one who started this trouble in the first place, and it's really presumptuous of her to do such a small thing to thank him.

Tao Weixian belatedly realized what was happening, glanced at the chicken leg he had torn off, and respectfully placed it on the plate in front of Prince Xin: "Your Highness, this chicken was raised with expensive medicinal herbs, and its taste is different from other chickens. Please try it."

Prince Xin picked up his chopsticks and gently nudged the chicken leg, causing it to fall onto the table.

Tao Weixian looked embarrassed.

Prince Xin looked at Zhan Xingzhuo: "Many members of the Yao family have died, but Yao Qingling is still alive and doing quite well."

Zhou Zhining paused, then quietly clenched her fist.

Yao Qingling is still alive?

Wasn't she sick for a long time after giving birth and extremely weak?

And that child, how could he even hold on?

How is that possible!

Didn't Yao Qingling submit to the prison guard in order to save her life, only to die in his bed in the end?

So, who exactly died?

The information she received was wrong!

This shocking news left Zhou Zhining completely stunned.

She looked at Prince Xin, wondering why he hadn't told her.

"...The evidence against the Marquis of Zhongyong is conclusive. He was lucky and died without much suffering. As for the Marquis's family, even if they survived until now, they will not escape punishment. The Marquis's family is not a prominent family, and no one speaks up for them. They will likely be exiled even if they survive."

Shao Wen-Chu slowly ate a bite of tofu, talking about the future of the Yao family.

He looked at Zhan Xingzhuo: "I heard that Yao Qingling refuses to hand the child over to you. Is she using this child as a lifeline to force your Duke's Mansion to protect her and her child's lives?"

Zhan Xingzhuo calmly picked up his wine glass, took a small sip, and said nothing.

He still felt resentful whenever he thought of the harsh and vicious words Yao Qingling had said to him.

This time, he would never go to her again.

If she doesn't give in, keep her locked up.

He would plead for her only when she was willing to back down.

Zhou Zhining watched him silently, forced to swallow her resentment.

Prince Xin held his wine cup, scrutinizing Zhan Xingzhuo and taking in his expression. Zhan Xingzhuo suddenly sensed something strange in Prince Xin's gaze and looked over: "Your Highness, is there something you wish to say?"

Prince Xin gave a faint, wry smile, slowly swirling the wine glass in his hand: "No."

The next day, Prince Xin went to the emperor to plead for Yao Qingling, saying that she and Marquis Zhongyong were not on the same side and that she could be pardoned.

The emperor looked at his younger brother with great interest: "You actually pleaded for Yao Qingling?"

"Heh, besides you, there's someone else pleading for Yao Qingling. I'm curious, who exactly is this Yao Qingling?"