"Master Wang—"
The Third Prince saw a familiar name in the account book again, and his voice instantly turned sinister. He looked coldly at the Advisor, who had always been his official clerk.
I never expected that even he was the second son's man!
When Master Wang saw the account books, he panicked. Upon hearing the Third Prince's voice, he was so frightened that he knelt down with a thud and begged for mercy, "Your Highness, I'm innocent!"
"I...I'm just a lowly clerk. The Second Prince has arrested my family, and I really have no other choice!"
"But I absolutely have not betrayed Your Highness, and I have never sent any messages about Your Highness to the Third Prince!"
Wang the advisor tried to defend himself and show his loyalty.
The Third Prince's chest heaved with anger. As long as the Imperial Advisor was outwardly one of his men, whatever he said or did would be interpreted as something the Prince had ordered.
Whether it's betrayal or passing messages, what does it matter!
The second brother's move was really ruthless!
The Third Prince never expected that his second son, who was always known for his philandering and lustful nature, would have such a deep cunning.
Thinking about how he had been completely outmaneuvered by the second prince, the third prince couldn't help but roar, "Fine! Very well!"
The prefect was sweating profusely.
He had initially thought the prince mentioned by the advisor was the third prince, but it turned out to be the second prince.
One case involves three princes. If the investigation continues, not only will they lose their official positions, but they might not even be able to keep their heads.
Moreover, now that the children's lives are safe, the only victims in this case, the couple, were already holding their son and daughter, overjoyed and crying their eyes out, kowtowing to Jiang Jiaojiao several times.
Is it possible to downplay this case?
"Thank you! Thank you so much, my benefactor!"
The couple kowtowed repeatedly, their eyes filled with tears and remorse. "We wronged you by believing that old woman's words. We deserve to die!"
"You have also been deceived."
Jiang Jiaojiao didn't blame them. Instead, she looked angrily at Granny Wang.
Granny Wang knelt down and begged for mercy, "Miss, please spare my life! I was just following orders!"
"You were the one who volunteered and tricked my cousins into hiring you. You're a veteran of the Jin family, how could you be so ruthless!"
Wang Pozi deserves to die!
If it weren't for my cousins accompanying my mother and maternal grandparents to the White Horse Temple to fulfill their vows...
Given their temperaments, they would have killed the old woman outright.
"Young Miss..."
Xiangling murmured, a complex and flustered look flashing in her eyes as she looked at Jiang Jiaojiao.
After she hit the pillar, she was plunged into darkness.
Then... I had a long dream!
She dreamt that the eldest daughter was in love with the second prince and died on her way to escape marriage. The Jin family did not become imperial merchants, there was no Red Mansion, and there were no Daiyu or Baochai girls. She was still that little maid in Ruyi Tower.
Brother Li injured Young Master Yuan for her sake and was imprisoned. In order to save Brother Li, she gave herself to Young Master Yuan and was tortured to death.
She even dreamed that after her death, the Peony Maiden took pity on her and gave her a thin coffin so that she could be buried.
What devastated her even more was that she dreamed that after Brother Li was released from prison, he died together with that young master Yuan in order to avenge her!
In her last dream, she also saw Grandpa Li.
She helped the Fifth Prince ascend the throne and then retired after achieving her goal. Only then did she learn that Brother Li had died. In her grief, she was murdered in front of her and Brother Li's grave.
And the person who killed Old Master Li...
It was none other than Wang Po's son!
In my dream.
She had also met Wang Po and her son, but they were not affiliated with the Third Prince, nor the Second Prince, but rather with the Fifth Prince.
Xiangling's lips trembled. She wanted to tell the young lady everything from her dream, to warn her to be careful of the Second Prince and the Fifth Prince, but—
Everything in the dream was simply too unbelievable.
And... the young lady didn't refuse the marriage proposal. Perhaps it really was just a dream?
After a moment's thought.
Xiangling chose to remain silent, but her gaze towards Wang Po and her son became more wary.
"You can't do anything foolish again. Once someone dies, things really become unpredictable."
Jiang Jiaojiao comforted Xiangling, "Look at Brother Li, if you die, he will definitely fight to the death to avenge you."
Xiangling's heart tightened.
Startled, she grabbed Brother Li's sleeve, crying out, "No—Brother Li, no!"
Li Yunxuan held Xiangling tightly. He dared not think that if Xiangxiang died, he would never live on alone!
The prefect looked at this one and then at that one.
He couldn't bring himself to say anything to appease the situation; he was afraid that before he could finish speaking, the two princes would tear him apart!
really.
The Third Prince was filled with rage and could not calm down in the slightest. He roared, "This whole thing was the Second Prince's scheme, and I will never let it go!"
The Seventh Prince, Li Yan, looked at the Prefect, his dark eyes seemingly able to see through people's hearts, and slowly said, "The children survived because my beloved daughter is beautiful and kind-hearted. The person who poisoned her must be severely punished."
These words were spoken.
Jiang Jiaojiao immediately chimed in with a straight face, "The trial is open, and the perpetrator behind the crime has not yet been caught. How can you remain indifferent, sir?"
"Aren't you afraid to say anything because the person who committed the crime is in a high position and has great power?"
Jiang Jiaojiao looked up at the growing crowd gathering at the government office. "The world is bright and clear, how will Your Excellency explain this to the people outside?"
finally.
The usually composed Mr. Li slowly spoke up, "This matter involves my daughter-in-law, and I will personally plead with His Majesty to plead for her forgiveness and confess her guilt."
Li Yunxuan and Xiangling looked over in disbelief.
Daughter-in-law?
Xiangling was in tears. Had the old man finally acknowledged her?
A hint of excitement and grievance flickered in Li Yunxuan's eyes.
"I will also tell the Empress Dowager about this matter."
Yuan Bao'er followed up with her words.
The prefect was immediately covered in sweat. Everyone was like an ancestor, even the Emperor and the Empress Dowager had been brought up. What could he do?
We have to keep the investigation going, even if it's tough!
Just then.
A group of scholars suddenly appeared outside the government office, shouting loudly, "Those who commit murder must pay with their lives!"
"The emperor is subject to the same laws as the common people!"
Behind the crowd, Luo Shier tightly gripped Jiang Lingtian and whispered, "Don't get discovered! They'll think we're standing up for justice because of you, sir!"
Jiang Lingtian's gaze fell on the hand that was clutching his sleeve, and after a long while, he uttered a single word, "Okay."
at the same time.
A group of people also surged over from the other side of the government office.
Dressed in various cotton and linen clothes, they looked like waiters and servants working in restaurants and eateries.
Those people started shouting before they even got close and stood still.
"The Third Prince ordered the killings..."
"Wrong, wrong. It was the Second Prince who gave the order. The Second Prince ordered the Third Prince's men to poison and kill people, and to frame Miss Jiang and the Seventh Prince."
"Uh... was the person who poisoned him someone from the Second Prince's or the Third Prince's side?"
"Who cares who it is! The most innocent ones are Miss Jiang and the Seventh Prince!"
"Ah—yes!"
"The second prince and the third prince are equally guilty!"
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