Chapter 310 The Game Between the Two Sides
When Xu Laosi and Feng Lianhua were thrown into prison, they were unaware that their evil deeds had been exposed. They clung to the prison door and cried out loudly about their injustice.
After being whipped several times by the jailers, they were forced to behave themselves in pain and began to think about why they had been arrested.
The couple racked their brains and finally figured out why they had been arrested. Xu Laosi slapped Feng Lianhua across the face:
"It must be because you, you wretched woman, stole the gold hairpin from the jewelry store last time and were discovered. The manager reported it to the Jingzhao Prefecture, which is why we were arrested!"
Feng Lianhua covered her face and shrank back, then began to recall the scene of stealing the hairpin. Confirming that no one had discovered her theft, she immediately retorted loudly:
"You're talking nonsense! Stealing the hairpin happened last month. If it had been discovered, it wouldn't have taken until now! It's most likely because you went to a brothel a few days ago and didn't pay, so they reported you to the authorities!"
Xu Laosi felt guilty for a moment, but resolutely denied it, and slapped Feng Lianhua across the face again: "You damned woman, talking nonsense!"
His son is a high-ranking official, and he has a princess as his backer. So what if he doesn't pay for his drinking and carousing?
Besides, if he doesn't identify himself, no one will know that he's the one who drinks at brothels without paying, and the authorities won't arrest him for such a trivial matter.
"Ah—that damned Xu Laosi, it's clearly your fault and you still hit me! I'll fight you to the death!"
Feng Lianhua got angry after being slapped twice, and pounced on Xu Laosi, scratching four bloody marks on his face.
"hiss--"
Xu Laosi gasped in pain, then flew into a rage and grabbed Feng Lianhua, slapping her several times.
The couple refused to give in to each other, and a full-blown fight broke out in the cramped and filthy cell, disturbing the peace of the other inmates.
The jailer was alarmed and lashed out with his whip through the cell door, finally stopping the couple who were fighting until their faces were bruised and swollen.
Xu Laosi huddled in the corner, panting heavily, planning to divorce Feng Lianhua once he got out and marry a young, beautiful, and gentle woman.
At his age, he might still be able to have a few more sons.
Xu Laosi's thoughts became increasingly idyllic, as if he were already living a blissful life with his beautiful wife in his arms and his young children around him.
Suddenly, Feng Lianhua screamed "Ah!", shattering all his beautiful fantasies.
Xu Laosi cursed angrily: "What are you yelling about, you damned woman? Do you want to get whipped again?!"
Feng Lianhua, however, couldn't bother arguing with him. She scrambled over to him, her face, bruised and purple, filled with terror: "Could it be...could it be that those two things have been discovered?"
Xu Laosi didn't react for a moment. He opened his mouth to curse again, but just as the curse was about to come out, he suddenly realized what Feng Lianhua had said, and his face turned pale instantly.
No, it can't be. Those two things were done so discreetly, and no one witnessed them. How could they possibly be discovered?
Besides, this is the capital. Even if someone back home discovers something, would they be able to travel thousands of miles to the capital to report it to the authorities and seek justice for two people who have long since died?
After reassuring himself in this way, Xu Laosi's fearful expression returned to calm, and he glared fiercely at the uneasy Feng Lianhua:
"Don't think nonsense. Our son is a high-ranking official with a bright future. We are just ordinary, law-abiding citizens. We would never do anything like murder or arson!"
Startled by Xu Laosi's chilling gaze, Feng Lianhua involuntarily took a step back: "Yes, yes, I was just imagining things. I didn't do anything, I didn't do anything..."
The man in front of her smothered the woman surnamed Liu to death; she merely handed her a stick and helped hang the woman surnamed Liu from the roof beam, creating the illusion that she had committed suicide by hanging.
Ma Dahua wasn't killed by her; she was just keeping watch at the door to prevent anyone from getting close and had no idea what happened inside the house that night.
Feng Lianhua comforted herself, and her panicked heart gradually calmed down.
Looking at Xu Laosi's fierce face, and remembering how he would pick on her whenever things didn't go her way, scolding and insulting her at best, and punching and kicking her at worst, her heart grew colder.
This couple, who had shared a bed for decades but were always at odds, spent three whole days in jail.
During this time, they kept hoping that Xu Huaining would come and rescue them, but Xu Huaining never even stepped into the prison.
The couple felt like each day was an eternity in their prison cell, and they harbored resentment towards Xu Huaining, suspecting that their son was going to completely abandon them.
Xu Huaining, however, was not what they thought. After the two were imprisoned by the Jingzhao Prefecture, he exhausted his connections to ask the Jingzhao Yin for information, trying to find out the reason for their imprisonment.
Unfortunately, the Prefect of the Capital kept his mouth shut and strictly ordered his subordinates not to reveal any information about the case, so Xu Huaining did not get any useful information.
Seeing that Xu Laosi and his wife had not been released for a long time, Xu Huaining could no longer sit still. He went to the princess's residence to ask Princess Shanmin for help in getting them out of prison.
Otherwise, having parents who have served time in prison would be very detrimental to his future.
If Xu Laosi and his wife are indeed convicted, he will likely be dismissed from his post due to their involvement, ruining his future and leaving him with no place to stand in the capital.
Upon hearing Xu Huaining's purpose, Princess Shanmin frowned, her face revealing blatant disdain: "Country bumpkins are truly uncouth; even such a trivial matter requires my personal intervention!"
Xu Huaining was extremely embarrassed, but he didn't show it on his face. He bent over even more and said, "It is my fault. I hope the princess can lend a helping hand."
Princess Shanmin, despite her disdain, reluctantly said for the sake of his handsome face, "I will send someone to have the Prefect of the Capital release him. You can go home and wait for news."
Xu Huaining secretly breathed a sigh of relief and put on a grateful expression: "Thank you, Princess."
He stayed at the princess's residence for an afternoon to play with Princess Shanmin before returning home with whip marks hidden under his clothes.
Princess Shanmin kept her word and sent her trusted confidant to the Jingzhao Prefecture the next day, demanding that the Jingzhao Prefect release the person.
The Prefect of the Capital dared not offend Princess Shanmin, nor did he dare to actually release the person behind Ning Sihan's back. So he verbally agreed, and after Princess Shanmin's confidant left, he personally went to the Dali Temple to explain the situation to Ning Sihan.
Ning Sihan took some time to meet with the Prefect of the Capital. After listening to him explain his predicament, she didn't even flinch, and said in a calm voice:
“Under the emperor’s nose, if anyone interferes with the Jingzhao Prefecture’s impartial handling of cases, Lord Du can have the Censorate intervene.”
Lord Du's lips twitched, and his head began to buzz with pain.
He dared to let the Censorate intervene, probably because as soon as the Censorate went to the Emperor to file a complaint, he was ousted from his position as Prefect of the Capital by Princess Shanmin.
With this in mind, Lord Du dared not say no to Ning Sihan and could only agree with a wry smile.
In any case, releasing the person is out of the question. Princess Shanmin cannot be offended, and Prince Ning is even more untouchable than Princess Shanmin. Besides, Prince Ning has the moral high ground.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com