Chapter 37 Chang's Imprisonment
This morning.
As usual, Jiang Rong had morning tea with Old Concubine Xie in Songhe Hall.
"My Queen! The commander of the Mingxin Division pays his respects to you!" the guard came to report.
"What?" Old Concubine Xie frowned slightly, "Please ask someone to come in."
The Mingxin Division was the emperor's personal guard, in charge of patrols, arrests, and other matters. They monitored all civil and military officials for the emperor and dared to arrest anyone, including royal relatives.
No one wants to deal with them.
When the Mingxinsi came to visit, bad things usually happened. At the very least, it involved an important case, and at the worst, it could lead to the confiscation of the family's property and the extermination of the whole family.
Concubine Zhao was overjoyed. The good news she had been waiting for finally arrived.
Jiang Rong is about to be caught!
"I, Lu Hua, the deputy commander of the Mingxin Division, greet the Concubine Dowager!" A middle-aged man in a flying fish suit walked in and shook hands to salute:
"I am visiting you today because your residence is involved in a salt smuggling case."
Concubine Zhao secretly clenched her handkerchief in excitement. Here it comes! Jiang Rong is finished!
"After our investigation, we found that someone was smuggling salt from the Xie family's salt mine. We have now seized the six ships of salt stolen from the Xie family. Please ask the Northern Palace to send a steward to count and hand over the salt." Lu Hua continued.
Old Concubine Xie was shocked. "What? Someone is smuggling our salt?"
"That's right. This person sold the goods secretly twice. During the second transaction, we caught him red-handed." Lu Hua said.
"Who is this person?" asked Old Concubine Xie.
"Chang, wife of Jiang Qingrong, the Minister of Works."
Jiang Rong was incredulous. "Impossible! My aunt is definitely not that kind of person!"
"The evidence is irrefutable. We at Mingxin Division will not wrongly accuse the innocent." Lu Hua said in a deep voice:
"The manager she sent to do the transaction was caught by us and has confessed. The guards she placed at the salt field have also confessed. I have seized the first batch of stolen salt money in her room. We have all the evidence! The evidence is as strong as a mountain!"
Old Concubine Xie was also shocked. After she came to her senses, she said, "Thank you, Lord Lu, for helping us recover the salt! Manager Liu, go and take over the salt with Lord Lu."
"Yes." The trusted steward beside the old Concubine Xie accepted the order and saluted.
After Lu Hua informed everyone of the matter, he turned around and left.
Concubine Zhao was completely stunned.
In order to facilitate the illegal salt trafficking, she put a lot of effort behind the scenes...
Otherwise, how could Chang find a buyer so quickly?
Unexpectedly, Chang was arrested, but it had nothing to do with Jiang Rong?
Ming Xin Si didn't mention Jiang Rong at all, which means...
There is really no substantial evidence at all.
It turns out that it was only Chang who had been stealing the salt, and Jiang Rong had no involvement at all? How is this possible? Didn't they conspire together?
Concubine Zhao couldn't understand why Jiang Rong was not tempted by the unexpected wealth.
She was unwilling to give up, and she was trying to drag Jiang Rong into the water, and immediately said:
"Jiang Rong, you teamed up with your aunt to steal the Xie family's salt. Do you know your crime?"
"Rong'er doesn't know." Jiang Rong looked depressed:
"The Concubine gave the Xie family's assets to Rong'er. Rong'er was worried about her young age and was afraid that something might go wrong, so she asked her aunt to help manage it and fill in the gaps for Rong'er. She never expected that her aunt would take advantage of the opportunity to make a profit..."
Jiang Rong stood up and bowed to Old Concubine Xie:
"Rong'er was negligent. It's all Rong'er's fault. Rong'er is too ashamed to accept the power of the head of the family. I'd better give it to Concubine Zhao!"
Concubine Zhao narrowed her eyes. Humph, you have some self-awareness.
But upon hearing this, Old Concubine Xie shook her head:
"Even I thought your aunt was a good person, let alone you. Her thoughts were too hidden, and it's not your fault that you didn't notice. Everyone makes mistakes, but it was just a small mistake. You should learn from it and don't trust others easily in the future."
"Old Concubine Dowager! Chang and Rong girl are a family." Concubine Zhao said hurriedly.
"Old Concubine Dowager, please understand clearly. Since the Crown Princess took over the business, she has been checking the account books every day. I serve the Crown Princess personally, and I can testify that the Crown Princess has never had any private dealings with the Chang family. The Crown Princess has indeed been deceived in this matter!" Feicui knelt down and saluted.
She was a servant girl of the Xie family and Xie Lingxi's maid in charge. She was not brought from the Jiang family by Jiang Rong, so her testimony was credible.
"Of course I believe Rong'er." Old Concubine Xie nodded.
Seeing this, Concubine Zhao changed the subject:
"But the Xie family had such troubles because Rong'er was too young and hired the wrong people. She still needs experience. She is not capable of being the head of the family."
"If we don't let her do it, how can she gain experience? Okay, the power of the head of the family has been handed over to Rong'er. This matter cannot be changed. It's settled." Old Concubine Xie made the final decision:
"I'm a little tired today, you all go down and have a rest."
Concubine Zhao was so angry that she felt suffocated, but she could only take her leave.
After everyone in the room has left.
The nanny stepped forward and said, "My Lady Consort, Concubine Zhao's worries are groundless. Regarding the Chang family matter, what if the Crown Prince's Concubine..."
"She is the Crown Prince's Consort that Xi'er married with a formal marriage. The Xie family's assets will definitely fall into her hands after I die." Old Concubine Xie said calmly:
"Now I can still take a good look for Brother Xi to see if the person he chooses is worthy of the position of the Crown Prince's Consort. If not, I still have time to find someone I can trust before I die. If I don't let her take charge of the family now, it will be too late if she causes trouble in the future."
"Time will tell. We'll have to wait and see if she can handle it. I think this kid is a good one. I hope I'm not wrong about her."
The nanny suddenly realized that the old concubine was far-sighted.
…
Return to Jinyuyuan.
Feicui said with a look of fear, "I was really worried that the Chang family's affairs would involve you. Fortunately, the Concubine Dowager did not take away your power as the head of the family..."
"Grandma won't do that." Jiang Rong smiled faintly, confident in her thinking.
How could the old empress dowager who has been in charge of the Xie family for many years be a mediocre person?
Of course, she would not completely believe in herself now, but she knew very well that she was the future mistress of the Northern Palace.
She had to make a judgment early on whether she was worthy of being trusted.
Therefore, she will definitely let Jiang Rong continue to be the head of the family.
In his previous life, Jiang Rong also used time to slowly build trust between him and the old concubine.
There is no such thing as trust without reason in this world. Feelings are built up bit by bit.
"Miss, the second master is here to see you!" Yingxia hurried in to report.
"Please ask uncle to come in."
As soon as Jiang Qingrong came home from court, he heard that his family was surrounded by the Mingxin Division. He witnessed Chang being captured, and hurried to the Beiwang Mansion for help.
"Rong'er, your aunt has been captured. You must rescue your aunt!" Jiang Qingrong said anxiously.
"Uncle, the people from Mingxinsi came here just now and said that the evidence is conclusive... But don't worry, my aunt and I are like mother and daughter. No matter what, I will plead with the concubine, hoping to save my aunt's life." Jiang Rong said.
"Can only save one life?" Jiang Qingrong frowned.
Then Chang is still a criminal.
Does he care about Chang's life or death? He can't let himself have a criminal wife!
"There must be some misunderstanding. Your aunt is not that kind of person..." Jiang Qingrong hinted.
He wanted Jiang Rong to exonerate Chang.
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