Chapter 185 No Way to Turn Things Around

"We sent a visiting card to Lord Shangguan as soon as we arrived in the capital."

Lord Shangguan was very kind to us candidates.

To encourage us, Lord Shangguan hosted a banquet at his residence and invited us all.

The elder carefully inquired about our studies and encouraged us to study hard for the exams so that we could become useful people to Chongqing in the future.

On that same day, His Highness Prince Wu led officials from the Ministry of Justice to the Shangguan residence, saying that the old man was involved in the case of privately making dragon robes, and took the old man away.

The old man said at the time that the case had nothing to do with him, but for the sake of the fairness of the laws of Da Yu, he was willing to take the plunge!

"Yes, the elders even encouraged us to study hard."

"Yes, when the old master left, the old lady told him to come back soon, and the mansion prepared his favorite Shaoxing wine drunken crab."

"Yes, the old lady even prepared Shaoxing wine-infused drunken crabs, but it's a pity that the old master couldn't come back."

The scholars chatted amongst themselves, and the onlookers seemed to have witnessed the scene from that day.

An elderly man with white hair and beard was instructing these candidates.

The elderly lady, her hair and beard both white, couldn't help but nag a few words as she saw her husband off, telling him to come back for dinner soon...

But what happens in the end?

What they received was the cold body of Lord Shangguan...

Lin Xiang listened attentively, and after hearing all of this, he asked another question.

"How was the old man's health that day?"

"The old gentleman is in excellent spirits, with a ruddy complexion and very good energy," several scholars said almost simultaneously.

Lin Xiang nodded, indicating that the candidates could leave.

"Your Highness, is there anything else to say?"

Lord Shangguan was taken away by you without any warning; what you said is all just your speculation.

But many people can testify that the old man was unwilling when you took him away.

Similarly, the older man also wanted to end the confrontation as soon as possible so he could return home sooner.

But in the end... the old man died suddenly in the Ministry of Justice prison..." Prime Minister Lin continued.

“What if he was already in poor health?” King Wu said coldly.

Lin Xiang glanced at the King of Wu, and immediately ordered a yamen runner to bring in another person.

The visitor was dressed in the official robes of the Imperial Medical Academy.

This person was none other than Physician Hong from the Imperial Hospital, who frequently treated Lord Shangguan.

"Imperial Physician Hong, you are a senior physician in the palace. For so many years, you have been the one who has been overseeing the medical records of the old master and lady of the Shangguan family."

"Tell me, how was Lord Shangguan's pulse those past few days?" Prime Minister Lin asked.

Physician Hong bowed respectfully to Prime Minister Lin, then stood up straight.

He then pulled a booklet out of his sleeve.

"This is Lord Shangguan's medical record."

Two days before the old master was taken away by the prince, I happened to go and check his pulse.

The elder man's pulse was strong, his blood and energy were plentiful, and he showed no signs of fatigue.

The old man also told me that he would like to ask me for some wine in a few days.

Therefore, the prince's claim that Lord Shangguan was unwell was simply a fabrication.

This is the seal of the Vice President of the Imperial Medical Academy, which I affixed after I returned to the Imperial Medical Academy last time to check on the old master's health.

"This is not something I made up casually."

After Physician Hong finished speaking, he presented the booklet containing the pulse records of Lord Shangguan.

The King of Wu had nothing to say.

He felt that whatever he said was wrong.

No matter what he says, there is always corresponding evidence.

Everything points to him; he's the one who killed Lord Shangguan.

Thinking of this, King Wu stopped talking and stared blankly ahead no matter what Prime Minister Lin asked.

At this point in the trial, it seemed that the whole truth had come to light.

Lin Xiang organized all the files and confessions.

All those involved in the case have been temporarily detained at Dali Temple.

Your Highness, please! This is His Majesty's decree.

As for the final verdict… it must be submitted to His Majesty for his decision.

After speaking, Prime Minister Lin struck the gavel again, announcing the adjournment of the court.

The King of Wu, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, and the jailers and officers on duty that day were all taken away.

The King of Wu became the first prince of the dynasty to be imprisoned for involvement in a case.

The King of Wu knew that everything was over, and he was truly going to become a commoner!

He has no chance of turning things around!

...

When news of the King of Wu's imprisonment spread, Ruan Ronghua in the palace immediately fainted.

After being woken up by the palace servants pinching her philtrum, Ruan Ronghua hadn't figured out what to do when another message arrived.

The Ruan family was surrounded by the Imperial Guards. The eldest son of the Ruan family was imprisoned in the Dali Temple prison, the whereabouts of the second son of the Ruan family were unknown, and the others were temporarily detained in the Ruan residence.

Ruan Ronghua then fainted again.

Once she was fully awake, she struggled to go find Consort Wu.

Unfortunately, ever since Consort Wu learned that a legitimate princess had appeared, she has not seen any outsiders for several days.

These past few days, Princess Shou Kang has been accompanying Consort Wu.

Ruan Ronghua suddenly felt despair.

Her family home was besieged, her son was imprisoned awaiting the Emperor's judgment, and she was trapped in the palace with no way out.

"Where is Xingzhi? Where did Xingzhi go?" Ruan Ronghua muttered to herself.

...

Song Zhimian watched as Ye Yunshu sent the shady accounts of Minjitang, the owner's confession, and the evidence of collusion between Wu Jiande, the military commander of Weiyuan Army, and the prince to the north.

"Judging by the time, it should arrive at the same time as Prime Minister Lin's memorial."

"I wonder if His Majesty will still have any goodwill towards this son after seeing all this!" Ye Yunshu sighed.

Song Zhimian remained silent, simply watching Ye Yunshu organize the account books on the table.

"It's estimated that it will take at least half a month to get the results."

Whether the King of Wu lives or dies depends on these next two weeks.

As for Wu Jiande... no matter how His Majesty deals with him, Wu Jiande will not have a good ending.

To save face, Wu Jiande died unexpectedly.

What if Your Majesty doesn't want to save face...

Wu Jiande will be uprooted, and all his previous achievements will be erased.

By the way, your sister will also become a widow because of this.

"As for your father... that depends on how much he was involved in. If he was involved in a lot, not only will he lose his title of Marquis of Loyalty and Valor, but he might not even be able to keep his life," Ye Yunshu continued.

Song Zhimian responded with an "oh," as if Ye Yunshu were talking about someone else's business.

Ye Yunshu found it uninteresting.

She stared at Song Zhimian for a while and then suddenly spoke.

"Song Zhimian, why don't you go to the southwest for a while?"

"Go to the southwest?" Song Zhimian was stunned.

"Yes, we're going to the southwest. The current situation is that the seventh brother can't come back for the time being, so we need to send some things over there from Beijing."

The young prince also needs reliable people to take care of him.

Why don't you help the Crown Prince deliver some things? And while you're at it, keep an eye on the young prince.

"Of course, all of this will have to wait until His Majesty has dealt with the Prince of Wu before we leave," Ye Yunshu said with a smile.

Song Zhimian...

Actually, she really wanted to go out; staying in the capital was really driving her crazy!

But she had to see the King of Wu's fate with her own eyes!