Chapter 189 The Truth, You Can Lend Me Your Shoulder
Jiang Hongzhi's words were like a thunderclap, leaving Shen Chu momentarily stunned.
She never expected to hear her father's name from Jiang Hongzhi's mouth.
She clenched her fists tightly to suppress her inner turmoil, and asked coldly:
What did the letter say?
Jiang Hongzhi thought for a moment and said, "The letter was written in Shen Zhixing's name to a man named Hatu. It roughly means that he agrees to Hatu's request and is willing to cooperate with Hatu."
"Do you know who Hatu is? Do you know what the purpose of these letters you've written is?"
Jiang Hongzhi shook his head.
"At first I didn't know, I didn't even know who Shen Zhixing was. I thought that if I wrote two letters, I could be exempted from a loan of 10,000 taels of usury, so I agreed."
Two months later, Liangzhou was massacred by the Northern Rong, and Shen Zhixing and the Ning'an Marquis's family were sentenced to beheading and their heads displayed to the public.
Only then did I realize who they were, and that the letter Master Feng had me write was intended to frame Shen Zhixing.
Shen Chu stared intently at Jiang Hongzhi.
It turns out that the so-called secret letters between Father and the Northern Rong were all written by Jiang Hongzhi imitating Father's handwriting.
Just because of a loan of 10,000 taels of silver at exorbitant interest rates
Her father became a traitor who colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country, and the lives of all 763 members of the Shen family were lost just like that.
The blood at Caishikou couldn't be washed away even after a day and a night.
Unable to contain the surging hatred in her heart any longer, Shen Chu grabbed Jiang Hongzhi by the neck.
"Do you know how many people have died because of these two letters you copied?"
A total of 763 people! The entire Shen clan of Marquis Ning'an was wiped out!
Just because you owe ten thousand taels of usurious money, and they have no grudge against you, why would you harm them?
"Aren't you afraid of retribution for doing such a heinous thing?"
Overwhelmed by intense anger, she lost her temper and gripped Jiang Hongzhi's neck tightly with her fingers, relentlessly questioning him.
"Cough cough cough..."
Jiang Hongzhi's eyes rolled back as he was being choked, and he coughed rapidly.
“Chen Chu”.
A soft shout rang in my ears.
Shen Chu ignored it.
"Chen Chu, calm down, he'll die if you keep pinching him."
Pei Yuan's long, strong hand grasped her wrist.
"Chen Chu, what are you doing?"
When Shen Chu came to her senses, she saw that Jiang Hongzhi's face was pale, he was panting heavily, and he slid to the ground.
She lowered her eyes and stared at her hands, her rootless fingers slowly closing together.
Almost there.
She almost strangled Jiang Hongzhi.
She looked up and saw Pei Yuan staring intently at her with furrowed brows, his shimmering peach blossom eyes filled with concern.
The anger that had been surging in her chest subsided, and her eyes suddenly reddened.
Pei Yuan had never seen Shen Chu like this before.
Shen Chu's eyes were always full of smiles, lively and clear.
However, at this moment, his emotions were a complex mix of sadness, excitement, and anger, all intertwined, making him look like a wronged child who wanted to cry.
Pei Yuan suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
After hesitating for a moment, he raised his hand and patted Shen Chu on the shoulder.
"How are you?"
She quickly lowered her eyes and gently shook her head, "I'm fine."
The sound was muffled, somewhat blocked.
Pei Yuan frowned. Was he crying?
Because of Shen Zhixing, because of the Ning'an Marquis's Mansion?
Shen Chu realized that she had lost her composure just now.
Given Pei Yuan's keen senses, her behavior just now was enough to arouse his suspicion.
She took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, quickly composed herself, and said softly:
"I apologize for my outburst. A few days ago, when I was reviewing the files of the Dali Temple, I saw the files on Prefect Shen for treason."
Your Highness knows that our Changning Marquis's Mansion and Ning'an Marquis's Mansion share the same ancestry, so I have paid more attention to this case.
I never expected there to be such a big hidden story behind it.
It turns out that the letters allegedly related to Prefect Shen's treason were actually forged by Jiang Hongzhi.
"Your Highness, Prefect Shen is innocent!"
Despite trying her best to control her emotions, she couldn't help but choke up a little when she said the last sentence.
Pei Yuan looked at Shen Chu thoughtfully, his expression unreadable.
Chen Chu felt uneasy and dared not look him in the eye, instead turning a cold look at Jiang Hongzhi.
"And then what? Since you did such a secretive thing for the Feng family, how could they possibly let you live in this world?"
A smug glint flashed in Jiang Hongzhi's eyes.
"That's because I was quick-witted. Although I didn't know what they wanted to do when I was writing the letter, I was afraid that the Feng family would kill me afterward."
So I secretly hid the letters from Shen Zhixing that they gave me, as well as the original letters that they fabricated for me to transcribe.
I told Master Feng that I had handed over all these pieces of evidence to a close friend from my school days.
If I am harmed, my friend will expose this physical evidence to the world.
The Feng family secretly sent people to my house several times, but failed to find any physical evidence. They were wary and therefore dared not act rashly against me.
Shen Chu frowned. "Later, you used this to threaten the Feng family, which is why they secretly helped you with your business?"
Jiang Hongzhi nodded, "That's right. The Feng family is wary of me, so they made me sell smuggled salt with Yao Sihai."
Shen Chu and Pei Yuan exchanged a glance.
Do you know where the Feng family sells all their salt?
Jiang Hongzhi shook his head, "Master Feng is very cunning. He only let me participate in the salt-making process."
They funded the construction of two saltworks in Hanyang, where I was only responsible for salt production, while Yao Sihai was in charge of obtaining salt permits and travel permits.
All the salt produced was handed over to the people of Leigongzhai to be transported to the dock, and then the Feng family took over. As for where it was transported to and how it was traded, I had no idea.
Six months ago, their need for salt suddenly increased significantly. The salt fields in Hanyang couldn't produce enough, so I had no choice but to ask the Zhang family's salt fields to help when Zhang fell ill.
Two months ago, Hanyang Prefecture was hit by floods, and the salt fields were submerged, making salt production impossible. The Feng family was pressing for salt production, so I had no choice but to have the Zhang family's salt fields work day and night to boil salt.
Unexpectedly, Magistrate Zhao learned of my mistreatment of the salt workers. After inspecting the salt fields, Magistrate Zhao went to find Zhang.
I feared that if Madam Zhang found out the truth, I would have no choice but to go all the way and send someone to contact Lei Ying, intending to kill Madam Zhang and frame Magistrate Zhao.
This is the truth behind the Shiodo riot; I never imagined it would involve so many people.
It also involves a case from ten years ago.
All of this was orchestrated by the Feng family behind the scenes.
Shen Chu asked coldly, "Where are the letters you hid?"
Jiang Hongzhi hung his head in frustration. "I hid in my house in Yueyang, my hometown, and only told my mother."
The Feng family must have gotten the truth out of my mother and found the evidence.
That's why, after driving Yao Sihai to his death, they wanted to kill me to silence me.
Chen Chu's heart sank to the bottom.
Jiang Hongzhi was taken away.
Shen Chu sat in the chair without saying a word.
Pei Yuan pulled up a chair and sat down.
"Want to cry?"
Shen Chu turned to look at him.
He raised an eyebrow and patted his shoulder.
"You can lean on my shoulder."
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