At that turbulent moment, the Dali Temple's eunuchs, clad in dignified official uniforms, marched with measured and powerful steps, like an unstoppable torrent of justice, pouring into the royal compound, rife with conspiracy and sin. Their expressions were solemn, their gazes stern, as if they were examining every injustice in the world.
Old Lady Wang, now devoid of her former arrogance, still uttered a final struggle, crying out in despair at the top of her lungs. Her shrill voice echoed relentlessly through the air, like the desperate wail of a night owl, tinged with a chilling sense of desolation and resignation. Su Jinli stood quietly by, her eyes a crisscross of complex emotions: relief that her mother's injustice had been redressed, yet also anger and contempt for the vicious woman before her.
As Su Jinli watched helplessly as Old Lady Wang was dragged away by the police, the scene felt like a final sentence of fate. In that instant, her thoughts, like a wild horse unleashed, drifted uncontrollably back to the distant past. The gates of memory slowly opened, and her biological mother's gentle and kind face unfolded in her mind like a delicate painting. She seemed to see her biological mother sitting by the window, patiently teaching her to paint. Her eyes were filled with love and expectation, as she held her small hand, sketching beautiful lines on the white rice paper. Those warm moments, like the warm spring sun, had once brought her endless comfort, but now, like a sharp knife, they pierced her heart.
Su Jinli's eyes instantly moistened, and hot tears flowed uncontrollably, slowly sliding down her fair cheeks. "Sister, don't cry." Young Marquis Su looked at his sister with heartache. He quickly pulled out a white handkerchief from his bosom and gently handed it to her, his eyes filled with concern and determination. "No one will dare to bully you anymore. With my brother-in-law and I here, we will never let you suffer even the slightest injustice again."
Jiang Yan silently walked over to Su Jinli, stretched out his strong arms, gently wrapped his arms around her shoulders, and held her tenderly in his embrace. His eyes were filled with endless heartache and comfort, and he whispered, "Madam, everything is over. My mother-in-law's injustice has finally been vindicated, and the wicked will receive the punishment they deserve. This long period of suffering has come to an end, and the days ahead will only be filled with sunshine and peace." Jiang Yan's voice was low and warm, like a spring breeze, gently caressing Su Jinli's heart and bringing her a touch of comfort.
Su Jinli nodded slightly, taking a deep breath and trying to calm the turmoil within her. Accompanied by Jiang Yan and Young Marquis Su, she slowly left the place that had caused her so much pain and anger, and set out on the road back to the Prime Minister's residence. Along the way, Su Jinli's mood gradually calmed, but her eyes still shone with an indescribable sense of fatigue and emotion.
Back at the Prime Minister's residence, Prime Minister Su was handling affairs in the study. When Jiang Yan presented the blood letter carrying his mother's grievances to him, Prime Minister Su's face instantly turned ashen, and his eyes burned with raging anger. His hands tightly grasped the blood letter, trembling slightly, as if the thin paper weighed a thousand pounds. "How dare the Wang family be so bold as to do such a heinous thing and murder my wife! This is simply a heinous crime!" Prime Minister Su was so angry that he was shaking all over. He suddenly smashed the teacup in his hand to the ground. With a crisp "clang", the teacup instantly shattered into pieces, and the fragments splashed to the ground, as if symbolizing the impending collapse of the Wang family.
Prime Minister Su knew that such an evil act could not be easily forgiven. He immediately bent over his desk and wrote furiously, his brush like a sword of justice, slashing across the rice paper with anger and determination. Every word seemed to carry his bitter hatred for the Wang family, every stroke imbued with his unwavering determination to seek justice for his wife. He detailed the old woman's crimes, earnestly pleading with the emperor to severely punish the murderer and bring comfort to her soul.
Time slipped quietly in a shimmer of tension and anticipation, the three days seeming an eternity. Finally, the imperial edict, like a dazzling ray of light, pierced the gloom. It declared: The old woman of the Wang family is vicious and has committed an unforgivable crime. She must be immediately imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison, and all the Wang family's property must be confiscated as a warning to others. This edict, like the toll of justice, resounded throughout the capital, inspiring all who heard it and making them feel the power of justice.
Upon hearing the news, Su Jinli decided to visit Old Lady Wang in the Sky Prison. She wanted to confront this vicious woman face to face and force her to confess her crimes. The Sky Prison was a dark, damp place, filled with despair and fear. Led by the jailer, Su Jinli slowly made her way through the narrow, dimly lit corridors. A foul stench permeated the air, and the faint flickering light of fire on the walls stretched and shortened her figure, as if narrating the impermanence and vicissitudes of life.
When Su Jinli arrived at Old Lady Wang's cell, she saw an elderly woman with completely white hair and a gaunt face. Old Lady Wang huddled in the corner of the cell, her eyes hollow and filled with resentment. Upon seeing Su Jinli approach, she slowly stood up and, through the cold bars, a strange smile played on her lips. "Your mother stood in my son's way, she deserves to die! Even in hell, I won't regret it!" Old Lady Wang's voice was hoarse and eerie, like a curse emanating from the depths of hell.
Su Jinli looked at her quietly, her eyes devoid of anger, only deep pity. "If my mother were still alive, seeing you like this, she'd probably sigh and bring you a bowl of hot soup. She'd always been kind, and even facing someone as evil as you, she'd surely feel compassion. But you, however cruel, have done such a heartless thing for your own selfish gain." Su Jinli's voice was calm yet firm, and every word was like a hammer, hammering down on Old Lady Wang's heart.
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