"How were you caught?"
"Last night, four villains broke into the Shen family and raped the Shen sisters. Coincidentally, General Qiu returned to the capital and passed by the Shen family. He noticed the abnormality and ordered his men to capture the villains. It can be said that he rid the people of a scourge."
"Yes, maybe these bastards are the murderers who abused Zhang Xing'er and Wang Baozhu."
"It must be."
"..."
Shen Yu couldn't help but purse her lips. How could it be such a coincidence? General Qiu returned just as the villains were committing a crime, as if it had been arranged in advance.
She pulled back the foot that had stepped onto the stool, glanced furtively at Shen Lan, and turned to leave, only to bump into someone's arms.
Looking up, I saw King Jing.
King Jing wore a veiled hat, and through the thin veil, his usually gentle eyes appeared unusually sharp.
He glared at Shen Lan and shouted, "Shen Lan, listen to my command!"
Shen Lan knelt down solemnly.
"These past few days have seen a series of murders in the capital. I hereby order you to take Miss Chenyu back to Qinghe County and ensure her safety. If she returns to the capital within ten days, I will have you beaten to death! I will show no leniency!"
After saying this, King Jing turned and left.
Seeing this, Chen Yu had no choice but to get into the carriage and secretly instructed Cui Wei to go to the Dali Temple to find out what was going on.
------
Shen Shi (3-5 PM).
Chen Yu, along with Jiu'er and Fei Cui, were washing herbs in the courtyard. She carried a basket of plantain and poured it into a basin of water, then sat on a wooden stool and began washing the leaves.
At this moment, Cuiwei rushed over and squatted down beside her, whispering, "Miss, what happened at the Dali Temple today was truly unpredictable and full of twists and turns."
Chen Yu scoffed, scooped up the washed plantain and placed it in a bamboo basket, then lifted it to drain before speaking:
"With the support of the ministers, the Sixth Prince will surely be able to turn misfortune into good fortune and escape punishment, which is within my expectations."
It's a pity about Wang Baozhu and Liu Niang. Children born to mistresses are just stepping stones for legitimate daughters. Wang Baochai not only failed to use Wang Baozhu, but also caused her death.
Alas... how can ordinary people possibly fight against royalty and nobility?
Cuiwei nodded, took the bamboo basket from Chenyu's hand, placed it on the stone table beside her, then picked up a basket of plantain and poured it into the water, echoing:
"Yes, Miss is incredibly insightful. The four villains all gave the same testimony, saying that Wang Baochai rewarded Steward Liao with a jade pendant. When Steward Liao was humiliating Wang Baozhu, he lost a bead. Fearing that the matter would be exposed, he stole the Sixth Prince's bead. This resulted in the Sixth Prince's jade pendant being missing a bead."
Chen Yu threw the plantain she had just scooped up into the basin of water, her nose flaring with anger.
The Shen sisters were humiliated by villains, and General Qiu happened to be returning to the capital when they witnessed it. All of this seemed to be going smoothly, but it was obviously a premeditated plan by the Sixth Prince's faction.
Even if she knew the truth, so what? Now the evidence is conclusive and flawless, how could she possibly defeat the Sixth Prince's faction?
She stood up and walked into the house. Cuiwei, still excited, continued to report beside her, "Miss, do you know what happened to Qiu Shuang'er?"
Shen Yu suddenly stopped in her tracks and looked at Cui Wei, asking, "Did you hear Zhang Manguan's case today?"
Cuiwei nodded, then helped Chenyu back to the house and sat her down, standing beside her to report in detail:
"After the Sixth Prince and Wang Baochai were released, General Qiu, knowing that the Emperor was in the back hall listening to the trial, knelt down and begged the Emperor to release Qiu Shuang'er."
The emperor himself appeared and personally tried Zhang Manguan's case.
Qiu Shuang'er naturally refused to admit her guilt.
The officials ordered someone to present the evidence: a peony-red fingernail that matched perfectly with Qiu Shuang'er's little fingernail.
Shoe prints, fingernails, and the time of the crime all confirm that Qiu Shuang'er did indeed go to Zhang Manguan's house.
General Qiu disagreed, saying that although Qiu Shuang'er was arrogant and domineering, she would never disregard human life.
Yan Wang even knelt down to plead for Qiu Shuang'er, saying that he was investigating the whereabouts of the 50,000 guan of silver notes and would definitely find the real culprit.
Unexpectedly, the Emperor slammed the gavel down on Prince Yan's head and ordered the guards to arrest General Qiu.
Upon hearing this, Shen Yu's almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise. "Why did you arrest General Qiu?"
"Because Prince Jin and Master Bai found the 50,000 guan silver notes in General Qiu's house. With conclusive evidence, the Emperor ordered Qiu Shuang'er to be executed at noon tomorrow, and General Qiu was thrown into prison."
Bang! Shen Yu slammed her hand on the table in anger. General Qiu had guarded the border for decades, only to be framed like this. It must be the work of the Sixth Prince's faction.
The fact that the Sixth Prince and Wang Baochai were imprisoned must have been orchestrated by Hongyu.
It seems that Hongyu is indeed taking revenge on Qiushuang'er. No, given Hongyu's personality, why would she only take revenge on Qiushuang'er? What about Yan Wang as well?
Shen Yu hurriedly asked, "Has His Majesty punished Prince Yan?"
Cuiwei shook her head, then suddenly remembered something. "Miss, when I left Dali Temple, everyone was heading out, but a masked woman hurriedly ran in. Although I couldn't see her face, her eyebrows and eyes looked exactly like Miss Hongyu's."
Chen Yu suddenly stood up; it must be Hong Yu.
Hongyu is on her way to Dali Temple.
Qiu Shuang'er and General Qiu were taken away, but Prince Yan remained kneeling and refused to get up. "Father, someone has framed Shuang'er and is targeting the Prince Yan's Mansion. They want to kill Shuang'er!"
The emperor, his face grim, rose to leave, only to see a woman in red rush in and kneel down with a thud.
"Your Majesty, please, Your Majesty, do justice for Hongyu..."
The official was shocked. He squinted and looked at the woman in red. She was petite and voluptuous, and indeed resembled Hongyu. He gestured for Bao Qianshan to go and confirm.
Bao Qianshan walked to Hongyu's side and examined her closely.
Hongyu simply removed her face mask, revealing a face full of scars. She then raised her wrist, revealing a red mole.
Upon seeing this, Bao Qianshan was so frightened that he retreated repeatedly, saying in a panic, "Your Majesty, this woman is indeed Zhang Hongyu."
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