"We've met before, right?" Chang Suining asked.
"Of course." The woman frowned and said in a bad tone, "Last time, Madam Chang almost had me buried."
Chang Suining looked at the angry woman who took off her veil and said, "You are still angry after all this time."
The woman who was forced to sit in the haystack on the ground raised her bound hands and said, "What do you think I am angry about, Madam Chang?"
She rescued him out of kindness, and he invited her to come here with him, but he turned around and had her hands and feet tied up! "I'm sorry, I was indeed rude."
Chang Suining explained, "I am not sure of your intentions. I don't know if you have anyone with you. We cannot determine whether you are a friend or foe based on just one arrow. Normally, I would never do this. But right now, my brother's life is at stake. I dare not take any risks. Once I am sure that you are not an enemy, I will make amends."
After hearing the words before the apology, the woman's expression softened: "Don't trust others easily. It's better to be cautious."
"I am sincerely helping you." The woman accepted the arrangement of being tied up and talking, and said solemnly: "I have been in the capital for a while. After hearing that your husband was in trouble, my eldest princess sent a pigeon to the capital and ordered us to do our best to help him."
This was a relatively subtle statement, but it was all she could say.
But even so, Chang Suining was still obviously puzzled: "Grand Princess Xuan'an...why would she help our Chang family?"
"Your Highness and General Chang have been friends for many years, but Your Highness has never made it public to avoid suspicion."
It is often said that one is half-believing and half-doubting.
She couldn't help thinking of Lao Chang's strange attitude when he mentioned her aunt.
"Do you have any evidence to prove that my father is on good terms with the Grand Princess?"
After asking, Chang Suining felt that it was a bit unreasonable, but without any evidence, she really didn't dare to believe it.
Unexpectedly, the maid immediately said, "Of course!"
"I was entrusted by your Highness to privately go to your mansion to deliver letters to General Chang. I also delivered medicine to relieve the pain of leg disease! When I delivered the medicine that time, I was almost discovered by Madam Chang... At that time, Madam Chang and Mr. Chang were burning paper for sacrifice. Does Madam Chang have any impression?"
Chang Suining remembered: "So it was you."
"It's the maid!"
Combined with the many clues from before, Chang Suining already believed it in his heart, but seeing the unusual attitude of the maid, he lied again: "But that can only prove that you have been to the Chang family... Is there anything else?"
The maid became a little anxious, so she decided to use a drastic measure to make the other party believe it completely.
"I also know that Mr. Chang has a cloud-shaped birthmark on his left buttock!"
Chang Suining: “……?”
Maid: "This is exactly what General Chang told my prince before!"
The maid observed Chang Suining's reaction, thought for a moment, and asked hesitantly, "...Mrs. Chang doesn't know about this birthmark?"
That's right, she is a girl, and an adopted daughter, so she must avoid suspicion. How could she have seen a man's butt?
She was careless.
Just as the maid was thinking of changing another one to prove it, she saw the girl nodded: "I know."
When Sui'an was still an infant...she was indeed fortunate enough to see him.
However, it was already strange that Lao Chang told this to Grand Princess Xuan'an. How could this maid come up with this so casually? Could it be that the entire Grand Princess's Mansion... knew what the birthmark on my brother's butt looked like?
Chang Suining's guesses became increasingly bold.
She signaled Chang Ren to untie the maid.
"I have just offended you, Your Excellency."
"It's okay, Madam Chang, just call me to shake the gold." After gaining her trust, the maid couldn't wait to talk about saving people: "I wonder what Madam Chang's plan is now? If there is no way to save people, I have a suggestion..."
Chang Suining: "Is it also a prisoner robbery?"
The maid Yao Jin was startled: "Is this also Madam Chang's plan?"
"No, many people have suggested this." Chang Suining: "But I think there is a better way."
"Madam Chang, can you tell me?" Yao Jin said, "Our Highness also has someone available in the capital who might be able to help."
In the current situation, the so-called "better way" is bound to be extremely risky, and it is always better to have more effort.
Yao Jin said, raising his hands to Chang Suining: "If Madam Chang still doesn't trust me and is afraid that I will reveal the plan, just tie me up again."
He even suggested: "Or give me the same poison you just fed to the man in black."
"...No need, I only brought one." Chang Suining wanted to give it a try, so he asked directly, "Does Her Royal Highness the Grand Princess have anyone she can use in the Duke Ying's mansion?"
She asked this question because she understood the aunt's temperament and methods.
Her aunt was not just a pleasure-seeker and obsessed with men as rumored.
If the Ming family had a secret agent planted by the Grand Princess, he would definitely be very useful, and she wouldn't have to rush and take the risk to meet Meng Lie at this time.
Furthermore, Princess Xuan'an has her own power in Xuanzhou, a first-class wealthy place. She is different from the court officials under the empress. If such a force can be deeply involved, even if the plan fails or changes, it will provide an extra retreat and support.
After all, Xuanzhou is very close to Yangzhou, where the changes are happening now... The empress will always be more cautious about it.
No matter how you weigh it, this is a great partnership.
And through this, she could also further test the attitude of the Grand Princess and her subordinates towards her brother.
After a moment, the maid Yao Jin nodded without hesitation: "There is one."
She immediately asked, "Are you going to kill or kidnap anyone?"
"No." Chang Suining said, "That won't prove my brother's innocence."
Yao Jin was stunned for a moment: "... Is Chang Langjun really innocent?"
Chang Suining looked at the maid.
This attitude of the other party is worth thinking about.
Therefore, Princess Xuan'an did not know that her brother was wrongly accused, but she still wanted to rescue him immediately and did not care about the truth at all.
So unreserved and unprincipled... Was it really just because of their "old friendship" with Lao Chang? If so, how deep was this friendship? ...
After the assassination scene was discovered, because of the clues deliberately left by Chang Suining and the fact that the officials had gone to Chang's house to confirm, the government quickly determined that the person who was assassinated was the girl from the Chang family.
The officers guarding outside Chang's mansion were terrified.
The Chang family girl sneaked out to avoid their sight... and after she went out, something unexpected happened! The government did not publicize this matter, but there were too many eyes watching the Chang family's actions, so although the news of Chang Suining's accident did not spread widely, everyone who should know already knew it.
When the news reached the palace, Ming Luo said, "Your Majesty, don't worry. Since Madam Chang was not found at the scene, I think the other party must have other plans. Madam Chang's life will not be harmed for the time being."
"I wonder who could have done this..." The Holy Ce Emperor had a gloomy face and many guesses in his mind, but he first told Ming Luo: "Go back to the Ming family and meet Chang."
Ming Luo understood and agreed, then left immediately.
After leaving Ganlu Palace, Ming Luo raised the corners of his mouth slightly.
Did the madman succeed? He should have succeeded, right?
I should have the answer when I meet Chang.
But she had never met Chang.
Ming Luo suddenly felt unsure, but he did not dare to delay and immediately returned to the palace to report to the Holy Ce Emperor: "...The servant said that I don't know when my mother left the house, and she has not returned yet."
Out of careful consideration, Chang was placed under house arrest in the palace at the order of the Holy Ce Emperor.
Upon hearing this, the Holy Ceremonial Emperor sneered in anger: "She really tried every possible way to be stupid... She'd better be even more stupid, so that she doesn't make a big mistake."
Did that stupid woman really think that she was the adopted daughter of a military commander whom she could fight and kill at will?
Soon, under the instruction of the Emperor of the Holy Ce, various places secretly searched for the whereabouts of Chang and Chang Suining inside and outside the capital.
The news that Chang Suining was assassinated and his whereabouts were unknown also reached the ears of the Yao family, Zhengguo Mansion, Changsun family and other parties.
For a time, there were no less than ten young ladies, led by Yao Xia and Wei Miaoqing, who were so worried that they couldn't eat or sleep.
Duan also repeatedly urged her son to inquire and look for the person.
Duan didn't know that Wei Shuyi had already arranged to find the person the moment he learned about this.
Many people could not sleep that night.
The sky darkened and then brightened. The rain had stopped long ago, but the sky still hadn't cleared up. The dark dungeon of the Dali Temple had also become increasingly damp and cold recently.
"...I heard that the Chang family's lady was assassinated and her whereabouts are still unknown!"
"Yes, many people died where the accident happened, and the whole river was dyed red!"
"I don't know who did it."
Chang Sui'an, who had just been pulled down from the rack, heard the jailers talking and suddenly opened his injured and swollen eyes: "What are you talking about? What happened to my sister!"
"Hey, aren't you talking quite loudly now? Why are you pretending to be dead when you are tortured?"
"...You didn't even let my sister go!" The boy's eyes were suddenly filled with tears of grief and anger: "What did our Chang family do wrong? Why? On what grounds!"
He still doesn't know who framed him. He refused to plead guilty because he didn't want to tarnish his father's reputation and didn't want his sister to be slandered...but now his sister is in trouble!
The boy's prison uniform was stained with blood, but blood was still oozing out. His hands and feet were bound with iron chains, and tears left two grayish-white streaks on his dirty face.
The young man, who had never resisted since he was taken into this dungeon, whether he was wronged or tortured, suddenly broke free from the jailers on both sides.
He wants to save Ningning!
“Stop him!”
"Hurry, a serious criminal is trying to escape from prison!"
Soon, a group of jailers with knives surrounded the man and stopped him. One of them held a long knife and stabbed Chang Sui'an in the shoulder, which had already been punished.
The wounded boy fell to his knees on the ground, blood gushing from his mouth. Under the huge emotional shock, his already extremely weak body could no longer support him, and he fell to the ground and fainted.
Han Shaoqing, who is now the presiding judge of this case, rushed over after hearing the news.
The boy had been thrown back into the cell and was lying on the haystack with a pale face, and it was unknown whether he was alive or dead.
Han Shaoqing: "You still refuse to confess?"
"Master Han, we have used almost every possible torture method in the torture chamber, but he still refuses to confess."
Thinking of the deadline given by the higher-ups, Han Shaoqing frowned and said, "No more delay."
The jailer hesitated for a moment and then said "yes".
A moment later, someone entered the prison, took the unconscious boy's right hand, and pressed it on the confession that had been prepared long ago.
"Master Han... the prisoner is in a bad condition. Do you want to ask a doctor to treat his injuries?"
Han Shaoqing held the confession in his hand and said, "The serious criminal Chang Sui'an has confessed his guilt. After the three courts make a decision, the execution will be carried out on a chosen day."
Seeing Han Shaoqing turned around and left, the two jailers exchanged glances and understood that this meant that he would not be given medical treatment.
Anyway, he has already "confessed", so it won't matter even if he dies before serving his sentence.
When a military general is fighting outside, there are disadvantages to executing the son of a military general for any reason. If he can die in prison himself... there will be more "room" for his explanation in the future.
As it was getting dark, someone came to the outside of the Dali Temple dungeon and claimed that he wanted to see Chang Sui'an.
This chapter has more than 3,000 words, and the update that was taken during the leave is completed (words must be kept (づ￣3￣)づ╭)
As for the case, it will become clear tomorrow.
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