As Zhao Yiming destroyed the Dark Pavilion headquarters, it was not just Zhao Ningsong's family who were arrested.
There is a transaction record document in the secret cabinet, which records many cases of court officials hiring killers to kill people. All those who were found to be true after investigation were immediately imprisoned and interrogated by the Dali Temple.
Even some who heard the news early and ran away were not spared.
After a month, all the people involved in the case were arrested and the corresponding penalties were imposed.
Depending on the severity of the offense, those with less serious offenses would be dismissed from office, have their property confiscated, or be exiled, while those with more serious offenses would be directly sentenced to death.
Zhao Ningsong was surprisingly at the top of the list of those to be executed. In addition to him, Wang, Old Lady Cao and four others were sentenced to exile.
When Zhao Ningsong received the news, he refused to believe that he was going to die. He emotionally asked the official who delivered the imperial edict to take another look.
"Sir, sir, is it because the light is too dim that you can't see clearly? Please look again, look again! This is a matter of life and death, this is not a joke!"
The official who announced the decree sneered at him, "Don't worry! My eyesight is very good! I can't be wrong. Just prepare yourself and go on your journey!"
Zhao Ningsong was instantly disheartened. How could he be at peace when he was about to die? How could he be at peace?
After hearing Zhao Ningsong's verdict, the Wang family members, who were originally indignant about being exiled, suddenly quieted down. Exile is exile! At least they are still alive.
The news that Zhao Ningsong was sentenced to death quickly spread throughout the capital, and the crimes he had committed were exposed.
Everything else is fine, but because he was plotting for the title of Duke, he deliberately leaked military secrets, causing his brother, Zhao Ningbai, a second-rank cavalry general of the imperial court, to be surrounded by the enemy and eventually die in battle.
It even led to Duke Zhao being ambushed by the enemy in his eagerness to save his son, and his entire army was wiped out.
He first committed treason, then murdered his brother and father. His crimes are extremely evil and he has no humanity.
Now that he was sentenced to death, the people cried out that he deserved it.
After Zhao Ningsong's verdict came out, Zhao Shuhua thought about it for a long time, and considering their father-daughter relationship, she decided to see him off for the last time.
She originally wanted to ask Zhao Yiming's opinion before going, but before she could open her mouth, Tian An spoke for her.
In this way, accompanied by Peng Zhang, she stepped into this dark and smelly prison.
"It's just a quarter of an hour. Say whatever you want to say!" The jailer took the two men to Zhao Ningsong's cell, gave them some instructions, and was about to leave.
Peng Zhang was afraid that his presence would embarrass Zhao Shuhua, so he took the initiative to leave with the prison guard.
"Shuhua, I'm right over there. If you need anything, just call me."
"Okay, I'll just talk to them and then I'll be over."
Zhao Ningsong, who was lying in a pile of dry grass in the cell with disheveled hair and a pale face, heard the noise outside the cell and his eyes suddenly lit up.
He quickly climbed up from the haystack and opened his eyes wide to look outside the cell. His voice was hoarse, but more cautious than ever before, "Shuhua, is that you?"
Hearing this, the people lying nearby quickly got up.
Zhao Shuhua brought the glass lamp closer and replied, "It's me."
Zhao Ningsong rushed to the iron fence as if he had grabbed a life-saving straw. "Shuhua, please save Dad. Dad doesn't want to die. Go and beg Zhao Yiming to let me go. Tell him that as long as he spares my life this time, I will do whatever he asks me to do."
His excited and crazy look frightened Zhao Shuhua, causing her to subconsciously take two steps back.
At this time, the rest of the people also rushed to Zhao Ningsong, and like him, they pressed their bodies tightly against the iron fence, stretching their hands outwards continuously, trying to catch Zhao Shuhua.
"Sister, save me. I don't want to be exiled. I still want to study and become an official in the future. I will also support you when you get married. Sister, please find a way to save me! Please." Zhao Shenghao was the first to speak.
"And me, Shuhua, you must save grandma! Grandma is so old, she can't stand the punishment of exile! I will definitely die on the road." Old lady Cao said very self-awarely.
Even Wang, who had often beaten and scolded Zhao Shuhua and even wanted to kill her, pleaded with a flattering face: "Shuhua, it was all your stepmother's fault before. Please forgive me for my mistakes. Don't bother with your stepmother. Please help her. After she leaves, she will definitely treat you well and find you a good marriage."
Zhao Qianhua, who had always been arrogant and looked down on the illegitimate sister in the mansion, was not willing to be outdone and said, "There's still me, there's still me, Shuhua, please save me. After I get out, I will never steal your things again. From now on, I will give you whatever you like of mine. No, I will give you all of it. I will give you all of it. Please save me..."
Zhao Shuhua was the only person who came to see them in all these days. For them, Zhao Shuhua was their last hope. They coaxed and deceived her, wishing that Zhao Shuhua would release them immediately.
However, apart from the initial discomfort, Zhao Shuhua has been watching coldly. Even at this time, several people are still deceiving herself and painting unrealistic rosy pictures for themselves.
Finally, she thought the visiting time was almost up, so she spoke slowly.
"Father, you have committed the heinous crime of treason and betrayal. You have also committed treason by killing your father and brother. How can I save you?
Because of what you did, I don't even have the face to face Brother Yiming anymore. He's been living in poverty for so many years because of you. Now you want me to beg him. How can you still have the nerve to beg him? Do you think he will let you go? "
After saying this, she looked at Zhao Shenghao and said, "Shenghao, your father has committed such a serious crime, and you are his only son. Even if you can be spared from exile, you will never be able to take the imperial examination and become a scholar. You can't become an official, and you can't support me."
She had not forgotten that Zhao Shenghao relied on being his father's only son to curry favor with Zhao Qianhua, aid and abet the evil, and looked down on and made things difficult for them, the concubines' daughters.
After talking about Zhao Shenghao, she looked at Old Lady Cao again, "Grandmother, since you knew that you were in poor health, why didn't you take it easy when you did the evil?
There is a cause and an effect, and even if you can no longer bear it, this is what you deserve."
Finally, there are the Wang mother and daughter.
"Legitimate mother, you don't know yet! My father signed the letter of making my mother a concubine. I no longer call her Auntie, and you are no longer my legitimate mother. You have no say in my marriage.
Also, I forgot to tell you that I'm already engaged. I don't need to marry an old man, nor will I be a concubine. I'll be his legal wife."
"And Sister Qianhua, I have to correct you. I no longer want your things. Besides, what do you have now?"
These words really hit the heart of several people. Seeing this, they knew that Zhao Shuhua would not help them, so their faces changed and they started to curse at her.
He also claimed that she was also Zhao Ningsong's child and should be imprisoned and go to hell with them.
Zhao Shuhua looked at the ugly faces of several people and began to regret her trip. She was really making trouble for herself.
She left a sentence, "My household registration has been transferred to my mother's name, you can't reach me." This made the others so angry that they almost died. Then she called Peng Zhang who had been waiting for her not far away, and the two left together.
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