Chapter 174 Aunt Yunfang, it's you?
Zhang Shaoyin, standing beside Jiang Fenghua, said, "He repeats these words every day, so I dare not really take his life. After all, there is no evidence to prove that he orchestrated the assassination of the princess. Moreover, it was pitch black that night, and everyone's attention was focused on the fire at the Zhang family's residence. The surrounding people were frightened by the assassins, and no one could prove that Ji Chen assassinated the princess..."
He also asked Lord Yang, who said that when he arrived, Ji Chen was already injured and lying on the ground. The person who did it was Lin Yu. There were two daggers on the ground, one belonging to Ji Chen and the other to Lin Yu.
Lin Yu injured Ji Chen to protect the princess, and he wasn't held accountable for crippling one of Ji Chen's hands. They're already in a difficult situation.
If Lin Yu had killed someone back then, she would probably be the one locked up in jail today.
Ji Chen had a dagger, but that doesn't prove he used it to stab the princess, since neither the princess nor Lin Yu was harmed.
The assassins shot arrows at Princess Heng, but all of them eventually committed suicide by poisoning themselves, making it very difficult to find the real mastermind.
There were also people outside deliberately escalating the case, putting pressure on the government, who didn't know what to do.
Zhang Shaoyin explained all his concerns.
Jiang Fenghua remained silent, watching the scene unfold. She thought Ji Chen was trying to twist the truth, that there was no way to deal with him without evidence.
Before Jiang Fenghua could speak, Zhang Yumo suddenly said to Ji Chen, "Young Master Ji and Madam Zhang were engaging in illicit affairs in the back courtyard of the Zhang residence. Everyone saw it. Young Master Ji claims to be a scholar, yet he has no shame in seducing a married woman. According to the laws of this dynasty, adultery can be punished with death. With such depraved morals, do you think you can still participate in the imperial examinations?"
Ji Chen was stunned. "It was your Zhang family that framed me, trying to ruin my reputation by framing me with an old and ugly woman. I haven't even settled accounts with you yet, and you're already blaming me."
"You were the one who secretly went to the inner quarters of the Zhang family mansion to have an affair with the second madam and was caught in the act. Now you're trying to twist the truth. Even if this goes to court, you won't be able to deny your shameful deeds." Zhang Yumo never expected him to be so shameless.
Ji Chen knew that Jiang Fenghua had set them up, but they had no evidence and had suffered in silence. He said, "I was framed by your Zhang family, and now you are smearing me. Are you trying to kill me? You dare to protect each other even under the emperor's nose."
He added, "If you're so capable, bring Madam Zhang here to confront me!"
Zhang Yumo clutched his handkerchief. He knew perfectly well that they had also caused his second aunt's death, yet he was still saying this on purpose.
Just then, another soldier came in, "Reporting to Magistrate Zhang, a group of people claiming to be relatives of Ji Chen have arrived outside the yamen. They demand that the government release him, or they will file a complaint with the emperor. What should we do now?"
Zhang Shaoyin turned to Jiang Fenghua and said, "Please give your instructions, Your Highness." If they had evidence, they would certainly help the Princess seek justice.
Jiang Fenghua said, "Whether we release him now or not, they will still cause trouble. They tortured him without any evidence. If this gets reported to the Censorate, it might implicate the Prince."
"Ah! Is it that serious?" Zhang Shaoyin was also frightened. He thought of how Prince Heng had been so imposing and composed when he interrogated prisoners here. How come he wasn't as capable as the prince?
Everyone in the capital now admires Prince Heng and his wife. Xie Shang has even gone to the border as a general. If the prince is impeached because of these things, his crime will be serious.
Jiang Fenghua curled her lips, "Although there is no evidence to suggest that Ji Chen is in cahoots with the assassins, I have heard about him. In fact, it is not unjust for him to be beaten, after all, Ji Chen has done a lot of immoral things."
Her voice wasn't too loud or too soft, and Ji Chen heard it. Whether it would affect Xie Shang or not was not the main issue. Prince Heng was currently fighting for the country and repelling the enemy. The Censorate wouldn't be so foolish as to impeach him for something like this.
The Su family had the upper hand in this round, and she still felt uncomfortable. She clearly wanted Ji Chen dead, but now she had to let him go. Just thinking about it made her feel as disgusted as if she had swallowed a fly alive.
Now, besides his wife Yunfang, who else could stand up for Ji Chen and cause trouble? Would the Su family really invite trouble?
Jiang Fenghua had already figured it out: the only way to quell this matter was to have Su Tingwan step in.
As far as she knew, Su Tingwan had gained favor with Empress Cheng these days, making the Empress Cheng very happy. She didn't know what had gotten into her, but she actually got the Empress's permission to freely enter and leave the palace.
Jiang Fenghua didn't return to the palace because she had to deal with supplies and the Zhang family's affairs outside the palace.
Ji Chen started shouting again, "Injustice! The soldiers beat someone to death and tortured him to extract a confession! Is there no justice left...?"
No matter how much he shouted or yelled, Jiang Fenghua ignored him and left the dungeon directly.
This left Ji Chen somewhat bewildered. He had assumed that Jiang Fenghua had come specifically to kill him.
Jiang Fenghua arrived outside the yamen and, sure enough, saw Yunfang outside beating a drum and pleading for justice, "Your Honor, please spare my husband! He would never assassinate the Princess! He's just a weak scholar, how could he possibly kill someone!"
After her howling, she attracted a lot of people, who discussed it amongst themselves. They didn't really know what had happened, but after her tearful account, they roughly understood.
On the day the fire broke out at the Zhang family residence, Princess Heng was suddenly assassinated upon arriving at the residence. The assassin then committed suicide by poisoning himself. This incident caused quite a stir, and with the Zhang family holding a funeral these past few days, everyone has almost forgotten about it.
Jiang Fenghua walked up to Yunfang and said with feigned surprise, "Aunt Yunfang, it's you?"
Jiang Fenghua had not seen Yunfang since she was expelled from the Heng Prince's Mansion. This question aroused everyone's suspicion. The Heng Prince's Consort knew her and even called her Aunt Yunfang.
Yunfang was stunned, unsure of what she was going to do. She remained on guard and quickly performed a proper courtly greeting to Jiang Fenghua, "This servant greets Your Highness."
Jiang Fenghua was beautiful and pregnant. When she stood in a crowd, she was the most dazzling and beautiful. A good appearance always attracts attention and makes people like her unconsciously. In particular, the fact that she was busy worrying about Jishantang while carrying a big belly had long been a topic of conversation.
The common people, eager to see the spectacle, bowed upon seeing Princess Heng, saying, "Greetings to Princess Heng, Your Highness."
Jiang Fenghua stood there neither humbly nor arrogantly, smiling as she acknowledged everyone's response.
She then said to Yunfang, "Get up. Why are you here banging on the yamen's appeal drum?"
Her voice was gentle, and her manner was kind, as if she were meeting an old acquaintance. "I heard you got married."
"Yes." Yunfang knew she was asking a question she already knew the answer to, and she rolled her eyes inwardly. She wasn't married, so why would she come to plead for her husband?
On the surface, she remained composed and dared not reveal any extra emotions, because General Su had said that her mission was to save her husband and seek justice for him.
"The man you married is Young Master Ji. Alas, life is unpredictable. I never thought you would marry him. Young Master Ji was staying at the Prince's Mansion when he suddenly moved out. I happened to be visiting my parents' home and not at the manor. It was the Prince who arranged the marriage for you." She spoke casually, her gentle demeanor harmless.
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