Chapter 211 Real gold and silver can also be rewarded.
Xie Yun slumped into the chair. Four days of interrogation had passed without Jiang Yu using any torture instruments, yet he felt he had endured endless torment. This torment was mental, but it was far more agonizing than physical torture.
This time he truly witnessed Jiang Yu's prowess. He raised his eyelids and looked at Jiang Yu, saying, "Jiang Jinglan must have burned countless incense sticks to have a junior like you."
He said this through gritted teeth, but Jiang Yu took it as a compliment and said with a smile, "Thank you for the compliment, but your Xie family also has outstanding descendants, it's just that they've been dragged down by you."
Upon hearing this, Xie Yun's face showed regret. He closed his eyes, seemingly unwilling to speak further. Jiang Yu gestured for him to be taken to prison and then to see the Emperor. Today was the 29th of the twelfth lunar month, and she hoped to resolve this case before the New Year.
I suppose the Emperor thinks the same way.
He walked out with the recorded statement in his hand. Just as he reached the door, an official from the prison rushed over and said, "Duke of Chu, Princess Yalin has arrived and insists on seeing Xie Ning'an."
After hearing this, Jiang Yu hesitated for a moment and said, "Go and ask Xie Ning'an if she wants to see her. If she does, make arrangements. If she doesn't want to see her, let the princess go back."
"Yes." The official jogged away, and Jiang Yu returned to his temporary office, took all the interrogation records from the past few days, and headed out.
Upon arriving at the entrance of the prison, Princess Yalin pleaded with the official from before, "I just want to say a few words to him, please let me see him."
“Princess, it’s not that I don’t want you to see me, it’s that Xie Ning’an doesn’t want to see you. You should go back.”
"No, I want to see him. Let me in." Princess Yalin was already in tears. Jiang Yu walked over and said, "If the princess wants to see Xie Ning'an, she should ask the emperor."
It's truly baffling what's wrong with this princess's brain. Xie Ning'an broke off the engagement with her precisely because she didn't want Xie family affairs to involve her, but she just had to insist on getting involved herself.
"Duke of Chu, I beg you, please let me see him, okay?" Princess Yalin grabbed Jiang Yu's arm and pleaded. Jiang Yu frowned and gently shook her off. Just as he was about to say a few words of advice, Prince Yong arrived.
"What are you doing? Are you determined to ruin the whole family?" Prince Yong shouted, then forcibly pulled Qin Yalin into the carriage.
Jiang Yu sighed, walked to her sedan chair, got in, and headed towards the palace. Upon arrival, the emperor, seeing her, asked, "Is the interrogation complete?"
Jiang Yu handed the confession to Zhao Fuquan, "So far, it seems only the tax revenue from Jiangzhou, Lingnan, and Linwu has been embezzled, but..."
The emperor frowned slightly. "Speak."
“Yes,” Jiang Yu said, “but we don’t have any concrete evidence against the King of Lingnan. Right now, we only have Xie Yun’s testimony.”
"Hmph!" The emperor snorted heavily. Now it seemed that Xie Yun had also been deceived by him.
Jiang Yu didn't think Xie Yun was that stupid; he just didn't want the Prince of Lingnan to fall now. But the current situation was that even if he presented concrete evidence that the Prince of Lingnan was plotting a rebellion, the Emperor wouldn't take action against him.
After eliminating the Xie family, the imperial court will need some time to process the situation. If they were to take action against the Prince of Lingnan now, it would be quite difficult.
"What do you think should be done with the Xie family, my dear minister?" the emperor asked, looking at Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu thought for a moment and said, "In any case, Jufeng Money Shop and Jufeng Trading Company will belong to the imperial court."
As for who in the Xie family lives and who dies, that depends on the emperor's will and the Xie family's abilities.
The emperor hummed in agreement, "You've been busy for so many days, go back to your residence and rest."
"Yes." Jiang Yu bowed and left the imperial study. Although the weather was cold today, the sun was shining brightly. She looked up at the sky, and a smile involuntarily appeared on her face.
After she left, the Emperor pondered for a while and said to Zhao Fuquan, "Bring Xie Ning'an and Xie Yun here."
He also wanted to close the case before the new year so he could have a good holiday.
A short while later, Xie Yun and Xie Ning'an were brought over by the Imperial Guards. Neither of them had their usual radiance, but they were unharmed, as if they hadn't been interrogated. This further convinced the Emperor that Jiang Yu was a rare talent.
Looking at the two kneeling on the ground, the emperor said, "Having committed such a heinous act, they should be executed along with their entire families."
These words made Xie Ning'an and Xie Yun kowtow and beg for mercy again. No matter what they thought in their hearts, they had to show a submissive attitude in front of the emperor.
"This sinner is willing to die," Xie Yun said, "but I hope Your Majesty will spare Ning'an's life. Although he is not very talented, he is familiar with all the affairs of the Xie family, such as the money shop."
In other words, they wanted to use Jufeng Money House to pay for Xie Ning'an's life.
"Grandfather!" Xie Ning'an's heart trembled when she heard these words. No matter how many wrong things her grandfather had done, his kindness to her was always from the bottom of his heart.
Xie Yun turned to look at him, "It's my fault, I should have listened to you sooner."
“Grandfather!” Xie Ning’an’s voice choked with sobs. Xie Yun smiled at him, then looked at the Emperor: “Your Majesty, I, Xie Zizhang, and Xie Zinan are all unforgivable, but Ning’an was hardly involved in the matter. I beg Your Majesty to spare his life.”
The emperor watched the two remain silent for a long while before finally saying, "Xie Ning'an, are you familiar with the business of Jufeng Trading Company?"
Xie Yun and Xie Ning'an exchanged a glance, and Xie Ning'an said, "Familiar."
"Very well, Jufeng Bank and Jufeng Trading Company will henceforth belong to the imperial court, and Xie Ning'an will be in charge of their management." The emperor looked at Xie Ning'an and said, "But you must guarantee that after Jufeng Bank and Jufeng Trading Company belong to the imperial court, no trouble will arise."
This is also why the emperor is wary of the Xie family. Jufeng Money Shop and Jufeng Trading Company have been operating since the previous dynasty and have many powers in Daqian. Moreover, they are spread throughout the prefectures and counties of Daqian. If there is any unrest, it will be a great trouble.
Xie Ning'an was already in tears. He turned to look at Xie Yun and saw his smiling face. He clenched his fist tightly and said, "This humble subject guarantees that Jufeng Trading Company and the bank will not cause any trouble after they are returned to the imperial court."
The emperor smiled and said, "Very well, I will send people to assist you in managing it."
He was naturally worried that Xie Ning'an would have all the power over Jufeng Trading Company and the money shop. He needed to send a trustworthy official to assist him. Moreover, Jufeng Money Shop and Trading Company needed to undergo a series of reforms before they could truly be brought under the control of the imperial court.
"Xie Yun, Xie Zizhang, and Xie Zinan are guilty of plotting a rebellion and will be executed after the New Year," the Emperor added.
"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty." Xie Yun kowtowed to express his gratitude, relieved that Xie Ning'an had been saved.
The emperor released Xie Ning'an to return home, while Xie Yun was taken back to prison. After the two left the imperial study, the emperor laughed heartily a few times, then said, "I will reward the Duke of Chu with five hundred mu of fertile land, one hundred taels of gold, and one thousand taels of silver..."
Although the emperor was stingy, he could reward people with real gold and silver when he was truly happy.
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