After returning, Yinzhen cuddled with his young wife and slept soundly, while the Ming and Ji families spent their time in prison.

Ji Xinyi and Ming Shu were already in the yamen's jail. They were hoping their families would send someone to rescue them. As it turned out, their families did come, but they too ended up in jail and couldn't get out.

Ji Xinyi looked bewildered when she saw her parents locked in the cell next to hers: "Father, Mother, how did you get in here?"

Ji Xinyi's father, Lord Ji, usually doted on his youngest daughter, but now he can't bring himself to dote on her.

He was brought in on the charge that his daughter had committed insubordination and offended the royal authority.

He immediately launched into a tirade: "How dare you say that? You've offended not just anyone, but the Emperor's son! How dare you? If I had known this would happen, I should have strangled you when you were born."

Ji Xinyi's father truly wished he could strangle his daughter.

It's okay to spoil her a little on a regular basis, after all, she's a daughter. No matter what she looks like, she takes after him, so naturally he likes her.

But no matter how much I like it, it can't compare to my own power and status!

Don't expect a kind father to be someone who can associate with pirates.

Besides Lord Ji, Madam Ji also complained a lot. She was used to a life of luxury and couldn't stand the smell of the prison.

Seeing that even Ji Xinyi's parents were no longer willing to protect her, others naturally started to criticize her.

Hearing this, Ji Xinyi felt a chill run down her spine.

Although Ji Xinyi is not particularly attractive, she is spoiled by her father and pampered by the entire Ji family. Otherwise, she wouldn't have developed such a simple-minded personality.

This was the first time she had ever been told this, and she couldn't take it anymore and burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably.

Her crying annoyed the other inmates in the same cell.

Ming Shu said impatiently, "Can't you all stop crying? It's so annoying."

Upon hearing this, Ji Xinyi cried even harder.

Another cell held the Ming family members. After learning that her stepdaughter had caused their family's misfortune, Madam Ming couldn't help but start complaining to Lord Ming.

"Look at your good daughter! Before, if I said anything to her, you would say I was too strict, making me afraid to speak up or even touch her. Now look what's happened! The whole family is suffering because of her. What kind of life do I have?!"

Lord Ming was annoyed by what he heard. He also resented his daughter for being so immature and reckless, but now that she was already inside, what was the point of saying anything?

He now only hopes that His Majesty will be merciful and spare his life. As the saying goes, as long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn.

"Alright, everyone else is quiet except you. Just stay still and be quiet for a while."

Madam Ming fell silent.

She was a second wife, from a less privileged background, and lacked confidence. Even in prison, she couldn't shake her timid and submissive nature.

Once Lord Ming spoke, she dared not utter a sound.

Although no one spoke, no one knew what they were thinking.

The people in the cell didn't sleep all night. It wasn't that they weren't tired, but the cell was unclean and there were rats. How could a group of people who were used to a life of luxury stand such an environment? Naturally, they couldn't sleep.

Meanwhile, Yinzhen woke up and slept soundly through the night.

After getting up, he leaned against the bed and read for a while. After about two incense sticks' worth of time, there was movement next to him.

"woke up?"

Tong Cheng'er opened her eyes groggily and mumbled an "Mmm" in her sleep.

"Get up when you're awake. After you eat, I'll take you to the trial."

Upon hearing this, Tong Cheng'er finally came to her senses.

She remembered that this person had gone to ransack the house last night and didn't return until very late.

"good."

The two got up together, ate breakfast, and Tong Cheng'er changed into men's clothing. Just as she was about to leave, Su Peisheng came over and said, "Master, Madam, the Eighth Prince has arrived."

Yinzhen: "Let him in."

When the Eighth Prince entered, he was somewhat surprised to see Tong Cheng'er dressed in men's clothing. He then said, "Greetings, Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law."

Yinzhen: "Eighth brother, no need to be so polite. What brings you here?"

Eighth Prince: "I originally wanted to go directly to the yamen, but since Fourth Brother was also going, I came here to go with him."

Yinzhen nodded: "We were just about to set off, let's go together!"

The group went to the yamen together.

The head of the yamen at this time had already been placed under guard, and the current head was one of the officials who accompanied the group, sent by Emperor Kangxi.

The official in charge bowed before asking, "When will the interrogation take place?"

The Eighth Prince looked at Yinzhen, knowing he couldn't make the decision.

Yinzhen said, "Now."

The Ji and Ming families hadn't slept all night, and it wasn't impossible to interrogate them now.

This interrogation process was somewhat different from previous ones, since the crimes they committed were different.

Yinzhen learned some modern interrogation techniques from Tong Cheng'er and decided to interrogate people in a small dark room.

Yinzhen said to the Eighth Prince, "I will need your cooperation later."

Eighth Prince: "Of course, I'll listen to Fourth Brother."

Although the Eighth Prince wanted to make a name for himself, he knew that as long as he cooperated well in this case, that would be enough.

Yinzhen gave some instructions, and by the time everything was arranged, almost half an hour had passed.

Tong Cheng'er was also present during the interrogation. Yinzhen had said that torture would not be used for the time being, so she wanted to see how it would go.

Yinzhen interrogated Mingliyan, while the Eighth Prince interrogated Ji Qingwei.

Inside the prison cell, the bailiffs came and took Ming Liyan and Ji Qingwei out, then led them to two small, dark rooms.

Upon entering the small dark room, Ming Liyan saw Yinzhen. As the prefect of Guangzhou, Ming Liyan was one of the officials responsible for receiving Emperor Kangxi when he came, so he naturally recognized Prince Yinzhen.

When he saw Yinzhen, he felt a chill run down his spine.

Normally, a young girl's words or actions would not alarm a prince to interrogate her. A case that can be interrogated by a prince must be quite serious.

Ming Liyan naturally knew what he had done all these years, and his face was filled with unconcealed terror.

Yinzhen found it amusing; this guy's mental fortitude seemed a bit lacking!

In fact, Yinzhen had really misunderstood them. The people in the prison hadn't slept all night and hadn't eaten breakfast, so they were starving! Their mental state was already poor, and coupled with the fact that they had gotten used to a good life in the past few years, they had indeed let their guard down.

Yinzhen: "It seems that Lord Ming knows what the next interrogation will entail, which makes things easier."

Ming Liyan's face was pale.

"Su Peisheng, please invite Lord Ming to come in and sit down. Time is of the essence, and I hope you will cooperate fully later."

Su Peisheng led two men into a small, dark room. The room was truly dark, with only a tiny window letting in a sliver of light.

Ming Liyan was tied to a chair.

Yinzhen said, "I won't go into details about what Lord Ming did. The evidence is conclusive, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to implicate his entire clan. However, Father Emperor is merciful. If Lord Ming is sensible and cooperates honestly, he will avoid suffering more. Also, if Lord Ming is unwilling to cooperate, Father Emperor might exterminate several clans without anyone knowing if he is displeased."

Ming Liyan didn't know the extent of his investigation, so he dared not say anything.

After all, the more you say, the more mistakes you make.

He wondered what if it was a trap?