Chapter 19 Prince Heng Suffers Setback in Officialdom
Lanyue Pavilion.
After returning, Jiang Fenghua focused on practicing calligraphy until Lianye informed her that Xie Shang had gone to the Sandalwood Courtyard. Only then did she put down her wolf-hair brush: "As expected."
"I'm afraid His Highness will consummate his marriage with that woman tonight." Lianye became angrier the more she thought about it and couldn't help but complain, "What does His Highness like about Su Tingwan? She has no trace of a proper lady, she doesn't even know how to use respectful titles, is that the kind of woman His Highness likes?"
Jiang Fenghua's mind wasn't on Lianye's words. In her previous life, she hadn't understood why Xie Shang doted on Su Tingwan so much, and today she understood it even less. Not only did he hold a wedding ceremony with her at the local temple, but he also rode a horse into the city, so ostentatiously.
She always felt that no matter what she did, Xie Shang would marry Su Tingwan.
The Xie Shang of ten years later is very different from the Xie Shang of today. It should be said that the Xie Shang after ascending the throne is very different from the Xie Shang before ascending the throne.
Jiang Fenghua pinched the bridge of her nose. She had been paying attention to Xie Shang since her rebirth. She remembered that she was only five years old that year, while he was already fifteen. She was reborn just as he was in high spirits after winning a battle.
But despite his great achievements, he was punished by the emperor. When she saw him cry, she was heartbroken and sobbed uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face. That was the only time she saw him in ten years, and she never showed her face to him again after that.
Later, he was quite diligent, not neglecting either his studies or martial arts. He concealed his brilliance, and after he left the palace at the age of twenty to establish his own residence and was enfeoffed as the Prince of Heng, he rarely left his residence and seldom appeared in public. He met Su Tingwan when he was twenty-two years old. That year, Su Tingwan was fourteen years old and had just returned to Shengjing from the border. She was a girl who loved to laugh like a little sun. The Su family had an old residence in Shengjing, so she lived in the Su residence. Occasionally, she would be invited by Consort Su to stay in the palace for a short time. Over time, the two became acquainted.
As for what happened to them later, it was only natural that they ended up together.
She thought: Xie Shang might be different from what she knew.
Hongxiu, who usually dislikes gossip, came in happily tonight. "The prince has gone out. I heard from the gatekeepers, Steward Li and Steward Zhang, that the concubine in the Sandalwood Courtyard got so angry that she smashed a basin."
Jiang Fenghua smiled slightly, her expression indifferent, and said, "As expected."
Tan Wanqing had never failed before. As for Su Tingwan's mood, she didn't care. Since she had entered the Heng Prince's mansion, she would just have to wait it out!
Since Xie Shang went out that night, he hasn't returned to the Prince's Mansion for two days, and he has been living and eating at the Jingzhao Prefecture government office.
Jiang Fenghua asked Steward Cheng to send him a few sets of clean clothes and Granny Xu to send him some delicious food, without saying anything else.
From the second day after Su Tingwan entered the mansion, she began to learn rules and etiquette from Granny Wang, so Granny Wang naturally did not show any mercy.
Inside the yamen, Yang Jing's death was gruesome. His genitals had been cut off and put in his mouth. There were also whip marks on his body. Apart from his face, he had many new and old wounds, as if he had been abused for a long time.
However, it's strange that since he clearly died in the sedan chair, where did the whip marks on his body come from?
Clearly, the sedan chair was not the primary crime scene.
Things were far more complicated than they appeared on the surface.
Xie Shang was focused on the case and soon discovered something amiss. He personally led his men into Minister Yang's residence, arrested everyone in the house, and took their statements.
Too much consistency in their testimonies can raise suspicion.
He personally supervised the first, second, and third trials, and thoroughly investigated all 285 people in the Yang family in each round.
Xie Shang finally concluded that the murder of Minister Yang was not murder, but revenge, because Yang Jingsheng, as Minister of Justice, was the main culprit in the case, and not just one case, which was puzzling.
It even uncovered a major case from three years ago involving the disappearance of a young girl. This case was far-reaching, and the former Prefect of Jingzhao was dismissed and investigated for his poor handling of the case.
Later, the case of the missing girl was handed over to the Ministry of Justice, and from then on, the case was lost without a trace, and no one cared about it. The victim had nowhere to turn for help.
Who would have thought that Yang Jingzheng, the Minister of Justice, was the mastermind behind the disappearance of the young girl?
When Xie Shang investigated this matter, he felt that the crimes committed were too numerous to mention.
Half a month later, he found out the whole truth, collected the evidence, compiled it into a book, and presented it to the Emperor.
"Yang Jing is a high-ranking official of the second rank in the imperial court, so naturally no one dares to investigate or deal with him, which is why he has no scruples," Xie Shang said passionately.
His sharp gaze swept over the officials in the Golden Palace, finally meeting the emperor's eyes. He knelt respectfully in the Golden Palace and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I beg you to judge the matter. Minister of Justice Yang Jing truly deserves to die. Even if he is torn to pieces after his death, it will not be enough to comfort the souls of the 118 young girls who died. The entire Yang family were accomplices. I request that you confiscate their property and execute them."
The emperor's eyes were deep and his anger was uncontrollable. "This is my important minister, the Minister of Justice of the Great Zhou. For three years, you have not found a single clue, and he has managed to get away with it. Censor-in-Chief, come and explain to me."
Imperial Censor He was so frightened that his legs trembled, and he stepped forward timidly. "Your humble servant seemed to have noticed that Lord Yang had said something inappropriate, but I thought it was a joke and did not take it to heart."
It's normal for the Minister of Justice to make dirty jokes; which man doesn't make dirty jokes when they get together? Who would have thought he was actually that kind of person?
The emperor slammed his fist on the desk with a loud thud, startling everyone into kneeling down. "Your Majesty, please calm down. Your health is of utmost importance."
"My fifth brother handled a major case on his very first day at work. It's truly a cause for celebration."
Second Prince Xie Yu suddenly spoke up, his tone sarcastic, "I just have a question. Fifth Brother, after all your impassioned speech, have you caught the murderer of Minister Yang? Fifth Brother is the Prefect of the Capital, and every case should have a beginning and an end. I think the case of the missing girl was committed by Minister Yang, but where is the murderer of Minister Yang? This should be the first case!"
The Golden Palace was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. No one dared to raise their heads. The emperor squinted at Prince Heng, Xie Shang, his meaning clear: he wanted to know too.
Xie Shang frowned slightly, his eyes unfathomable. He cupped his hands and addressed the emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, I have not yet found the murderer who killed Yang Jing, but Yang Jing's death is indeed well-deserved..."
The emperor spoke coldly, "Since nothing has been found, the case is not closed. Prince Heng, go and investigate. Court is adjourned."
Chief Steward Cao announced loudly, "If you have something to report, speak now; otherwise, the court is adjourned."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Respectfully seeing Your Majesty off."
"Father!" Xie Shang cried out urgently, "If we don't punish the Yang family, it will chill the hearts of the people."
The emperor turned and gave him a cold look. "You've got the priorities backwards."
Xie Shang trembled violently, his eyes deep and empty. He stared at the emperor's back as if it were an endless cliff, filling him with fear.
Once everyone had left, the Second Prince Xie Yu casually walked towards him and teased, "Fifth Brother is decisive and wise, but unfortunately he has a lot of passion but nowhere to use it. No matter how hard Fifth Brother tries, he will only be disliked by Father."
Xie Shang clenched his fists, gave Xie Yu a cold glare, and ultimately left without saying a word.
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