After they left, the shop assistant shakily closed the shop door and ran home.
The silk shop owner was secretly taken to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, where he knelt trembling on the cold, iron-like gold bricks.
As soon as he saw that he had arrived, he knew in his heart that something must have happened to the Eighth Prince. He could only hope that the Emperor would not blame him.
The Fourth Prince sat majestically behind his desk and asked the silk shop owner, "Zhang Wei, do you know your crime?" The silk shop owner immediately collapsed to the ground, crying, "Your Majesty, spare my life! This humble subject knows his crime!"
The Fourth Prince said, "Since you have admitted your guilt, then tell me everything you know about the Second Prince and the Eighth Prince."
The silk shop owner dared not refuse and recounted in detail the times and conversations between Hongshi and Eighth Master over the past year or two.
After listening to what the Fourth Prince said, he had someone record what the silk shop owner had said, then dismissed everyone with a blank expression and pondered alone in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
After returning to the Jingzhao Prefecture, Prefect Li Wan went straight to the prison, where he found Tie Zhu and Ruan Dafeng.
When Tie Zhu saw that Li Wan had led him to Ruan Dafeng's cell, he asked with suspicion, "Lord Li, what are you trying to do?"
“Yes, Lord Li, what do you mean by this?” Ruan Dafeng was equally puzzled.
Li Wan said, "Didn't you want to sue the Prince? Now the Emperor has ordered the trial of this case, and I'm here to ask for your statements."
"Really!" Ruan Dafeng and Tiezhu exclaimed in unison.
Li Wan said, "Of course, would I lie to you?"
Ruan Dafeng was overjoyed. After so many days of waiting, he finally got his reward. He knelt on the ground excitedly and said, "Father, did you see that? The Emperor has agreed to try this case. Those corrupt officials will finally get their comeuppance. You can rest in peace now!" After saying that, he kowtowed heavily, and two lines of hot tears streamed down his face.
Tie Zhu's eyes were also a little moist. He went over and helped Ruan Dafeng up, saying, "Dafeng, thank you. If it weren't for you, our fellow villagers who were murdered would have continued to die unjustly. Now that they have been brought to justice, I thank you on behalf of those villagers." After saying that, Tie Zhu was about to bow to Ruan Dafeng.
Ruan Dafeng quickly grabbed him and said, "Hey! Tiezhu, what are you saying! There's no need for thanks between us."
Li Wan was also touched by their reaction, but remembering the task the Emperor had given him, he knew he couldn't be careless. He said, "You can celebrate after the case is over! Right now, we need to get your statements taken quickly; the Emperor is waiting!"
After Tie Zhu and Ruan Dafeng finished their business, Li Wan was about to return to the government office to organize the other materials for the case and then hand them over to the Emperor. Just as he was about to get up and leave, Ruan Dafeng called out to him, "Lord Li, please wait a moment."
Li Wan turned around and asked, "What's wrong? Is there something you need?"
Ruan Dafeng said, "I want to ask you about someone. Have you heard of a concubine named Ruan Meiying in the Prince's mansion? How is she doing now?"
Li Wan asked, puzzled, "What does the Prince's concubine have to do with you?"
Ruan Dafeng said, "She is my sister. The reason I was able to obtain the evidence this time is because of her help. I didn't tell her before because I was afraid that if she were exposed and others found out, it would put her in danger."
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