The prefect's surname was Zheng, and others called him Prefect Zheng.

Now that he had a clue, he naturally had to investigate further. Wen Jingchi went directly to his mansion.

Upon learning that the prince had arrived, Prefect Zheng came out warmly to welcome him.

"I greet you, Your Majesty. I wonder what you are here for?"

He knew very well that Wen Jingchi would not come to see him if there was nothing wrong.

He was just an official of medium importance, and he didn't even have to go to court.

Giving him a cold look, Wen Jingchi threw a portrait at him, and in front of it was the dead steward.

This scene made Zheng Fuyin no longer able to remain calm.

Wen Jingchi clearly saw his hands trembling. If he wasn't guilty, he wouldn't have had such a reaction.

"Tell me, what is your relationship with this person?"

Zheng Fuyin showed an embarrassed expression: "Your Majesty, I don't know what you mean by this?"

"What about these? Now you can tell me the truth you know. If you don't, I will present the evidence to my father. At that time, whether you tell it or not, you will be sentenced to death, and your wife and children will be exiled.

If you tell me, maybe I can give you a lighter punishment because of your meritorious service. Think about it yourself."

Sitting aside, Wen Jingchi poured a cup of tea and drank it calmly, not taking the matter to heart at all.

He believed that as long as one was not a fool, one would be able to understand the clear path he had given himself.

Looking at the evidence on the table, Zheng Fuyin's face changed instantly. He never thought that Wen Jingchi could actually search for these.

If we tell this to the emperor, and it turns out to be just as he said, the consequences will be disastrous!

Thinking of his wife and children, Zheng Fuyin could only sigh: "Yes, the steward is indeed related to me. We make profits together. I will give him some of the money I earn every month."

"How long have you been doing this?" Wen Jingchi asked in a neutral tone.

"We probably did this secretly for nearly five years, kidnapped and sold a lot of children, and made a lot of money from it. Your Highness, there is nothing else. You should know everything later."

With a long sigh, Zheng Fuyin closed his eyes tightly and said, "Since you know everything, I should accept the punishment I deserve."

This made Wen Jingchi laugh coldly: "You should be punished, but the person behind you who instigated you should be punished even more. Tell me, who instigated you? Otherwise, how could a small prefect like you dare to do such a powerful thing? There must be someone protecting you."

Such a fierce way of questioning left Zheng Fuyin at a loss for words. The butler came to his side and whispered in his ear.

"Master, the lady and the young lady have been taken to the countryside and are on their way. It is estimated that they will be back home in half an hour and they will be safe."

Hearing this, Zheng Fuyin's heart finally settled down, and a smile of relief appeared at the corner of his lips.

"Your Highness, you don't have to ask. This is all my fault. I did it all by myself. I have no backing at all."

Originally he was planning to explain everything, but his sudden change of attitude made Wen Jingchi feel strange.

"Zheng Fuyin, stop playing tricks on me. You can't possibly be the real murderer because you don't have that much power. When the steward died, the word 'Hou' was written on his body. You don't have this title at all. How could it be you?"

After a moment's pause, he obviously didn't know how to answer this question, and after thinking for a while he began to explain.

"That's because there's that character in my name, so he wrote my name. I've known him for many years. At that time, I didn't have the name I have now. I took the imperial examination only after I changed my name..."

Such words were obviously false, and Wen Jingchi became angry and embarrassed.

"Zheng Fuyin, who are you fooling? If you don't tell me, I will execute your entire family."

"If the prince wants to execute my entire family, then go ahead. Anyway, I have said that it is a capital crime. If I don't tell the truth, it will be a capital crime too. Why should I lie? There is really no mastermind behind this!

I think the prince is eager to make achievements, so he wants to implicate other people. If that's the case, then I have a backer behind me."

If it was something else, it might be related, but he also contributed a lot to this matter, so it is impossible for it to be related to him.

Wen Jingchi also realized that Prefect Zheng clearly wanted to take on everything himself.

"You are worried about the safety of your family, so you dare not tell the truth, right?"

Raising his eyebrows slightly, Wen Jingchi asked seriously.

Judging from his expression, he was obviously asked the right question, but he didn't dare to admit it and could only close his eyes in pain.

At this moment, Wen Jingchi's men came to report.

"Your Majesty, you are indeed as good as a god. Those people did find the wife and children of Zheng Fuyin. Now his wife and children are in our hands. We rescued them and they are safe and sound."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Fuyin was instantly panicked: "How could this happen?"

The housekeeper next to him was also panicked and didn't know what was going on.

A subordinate came over, he was Zheng Fuyin's man, and told them what happened. There were bloodstains on his body.

Prefect Zheng collapsed in his chair, the remorse in his heart reaching its peak.

"How could he do this? I told him I would take care of everything, but he still didn't let my wife and children go. He's so cruel."

Everything he did was just for his family, but now he can't even protect his closest people. It's really ridiculous.

Seeing the chilling look on Zheng Fuyin's face, Wen Jingchi looked at him with a bit of regret.

"If you don't tell me the truth now, I'm afraid you will really take this secret to your grave. Besides, your family is in my hands now..."

He didn't say the rest of the words, but his eyes were somewhat fierce.

Prefect Zheng clenched his fists and hesitated for a moment.

The people above are not good people, they are vicious enough, and Wen Jingchi doesn't seem to be that kind either.

If he didn't tell me, his entire family would be executed, and he would not be able to protect his wife and children. It would be better for him to cooperate with him...

With a helpless sigh, Zheng Fuyin had no choice but to tell everything.

"Your Majesty, before I tell you the truth, I hope you can save my wife and children. Even if you must execute me, I have no complaints. I hope you can spare their lives. I will be very grateful..."

He knelt on the ground and kowtowed heavily to Wen Jingchi.

"As long as you tell the truth, I will never embarrass your wife and children, nor will I let you die. Tell me who it is."

Wen Jingchi no longer had any patience left and angrily threw the tea onto the table.

"That man is the Marquis of Huaiyang! He looks low-key and has no say in the court, but in fact he has evil intentions.

As far as I know, child trafficking is just one of his crimes. He cooperated with me in the first place just to divert attention. He has many black industry chains under his name, and I don’t know much about the others…”