The Marquis of Zhongyong's Residence.
Bringing Granny Cai and the others into the palace was a plan devised by Ye Zhen and Xie Tingzhou in advance, so Ye Zhen knew that Xie Tingzhou would come to pick them up later.
Therefore, as soon as Granny Cai entered the mansion, Ye Zhen had the old woman eat something first, and then wash up and change into clean clothes.
While Granny Cai was eating, Ye Zhen also told her about his upcoming audience with the Emperor.
Worried that the old woman might be frightened, Ye Zhen straightened her clothes and comforted her, "Grandma, I will accompany you to the palace later. Just tell me the truth, don't be afraid."
The clothes were chosen by Ye Zhen; the fabric was comfortable and understated.
As she touched the fabric, Old Lady Cai laughed, her front teeth wobbling. "I've always heard that powerful and influential people are hard to get along with, and they're quick to beat and kill the poor."
But I've been fortunate enough to meet two good people. I've suffered my whole life, but unexpectedly, in my old age, I'll be able to enjoy a few days of happiness. This life has been worthwhile.
On the way to the capital with the Marquis of Zhongyong, the Marquis had someone prepare new clothes for her. Worried that her health might not be able to withstand it, he also spent money to hire an old woman to take care of her along the way.
Upon arriving at the Marquis's residence, Ye Zhen prepared delicious and tender food for her, and also gave her new clothes.
With a kind face and showing no disdain for her, Old Lady Cai felt very grateful and became bolder, chatting with Ye Zhen as usual.
"But I'm actually a little scared. I've lived this long and never seen the Emperor or the Empress. It would be best if you could come to the palace with me."
Having grown up in the countryside, Ye Zhen couldn't help but think of the kind old women in the south when she saw Granny Cai, and smiled, "Okay."
She was also supposed to enter the palace.
Old Lady Cai then asked, "I heard that if you kneel incorrectly in the palace, you might be punished with a beating. Is that true?"
I've seen county magistrates beat people with a board; their buttocks were practically bruised and bleeding. It looked really painful. I'm not much flesh on my body; I wouldn't just die from one blow, would I?
She wasn't afraid of dying, but she didn't want to die in agony either.
"Don't worry, it won't happen..."
Ye Zhen then offered another gentle reassurance.
Grandma Cai finally smiled again, "No wonder your father-in-law praised you all the way. You really are a good daughter, and your father-in-law is a good man too."
She then told Ye Zhen, with a smile, about how she had made things difficult for Marquis Zhongyong.
After chatting for a while, Old Lady Cai felt that she was ready and didn't need to be nervous at all. She treated the Emperor and Empress as bodhisattvas in a temple, and she was just going to the bodhisattvas to say some heartfelt words.
But when Xie Tingzhou came in to escort them to the palace, her legs went weak again, and she looked at Ye Zhen pitifully, "Girl, can you help this old woman up?"
I can't walk anymore.
Yin Yue, being very perceptive, carried her onto the carriage, while the old lady of the Marquis's mansion was also carried onto another carriage.
Since the emperor was still waiting and the palace road was long, Xie Tingzhou had the carriage drive directly into the palace gate.
After getting off the carriage and seeing the magnificent palace, Old Lady Cai's legs went weak again, and Ye Zhen and Xie Tingzhou had to support her on one side. On the way, they met Cai Yu and his nephew.
Cai Yu and Xie Tingzhou exchanged greetings, and Cai Yu inadvertently caught a glimpse of Old Lady Cai's face, causing her eyes to widen in shock.
Xie Tingzhou noticed the change in his expression and saw the eunuch come out to greet him, so he gestured for Cai Yu to go inside first and that they could talk about other things later.
The old lady of the Marquis's mansion, who reeked of decay, waited outside the hall, awaiting a summons to enter.
After everyone bowed, the emperor continued to look at Lei Ce.
Ye Zhen glanced at the Empress again without showing any emotion, her eyelashes trembling slightly. Although she had guessed it before, she was still shocked when she confirmed it.
Xie Tingzhou is truly a prince.
Rumors are circulating that the Crown Prince went missing during an autumn hunt a few years ago, and the Emperor and Empress, who value the Crown Prince highly, have been searching for him all these years.
But Xie Tingzhou said he was hurt by his closest relatives...
Ye Zhen glanced at the Empress again, then lowered her eyes.
Lei Ce arrived before them, and when Ye Zhen and the others came, he was recounting the evidence of Fu Jiang's crimes.
When a plague broke out in Qingzhou, Fu Jiang not only failed to report it, but also colluded with bandits to massacre the entire village, and finally burned the village to ashes.
Two hundred and thirty-one lives were murdered.
Lei Ce also found the person who gave the smallpox-stained handkerchief to the old lady of the Marquis's mansion outside the pharmacy, and the person confessed and signed the document.
The investigation also uncovered Fu Jiang's collusion with wealthy businessmen over the years, his secret exploitation of the people, and his other acts of embezzlement.
After Lei Ce finished speaking, he glanced at Xie Tingzhou.
His investigation in Qingzhou went too smoothly, as if someone had delivered all the evidence to him.
The evidence has been repeatedly verified and is all true.
He suspected it was Xie Tingzhou.
Xie Tingzhou pretended not to notice his gaze, concealing his merits and fame, and lowered his eyes to look at Ye Zhen in front of him.
With conclusive evidence, the emperor had a reason to kill Fu Jiang: "Grand Princess, the law is in order, Fu Jiang's crime is unforgivable."
Royal guards are responsible for protecting the country, yet they assassinate those who have contributed to its prosperity. They cannot distinguish right from wrong and deserve to die.
The Grand Princess is old and plagued by illness; she should recuperate at the Imperial Estate from now on.
The emperor wanted to kill her, his secret guards wanted to kill her, and he also wanted to confine her to her quarters.
The Grand Princess gritted her teeth and asked Old Woman Cai, "Who is Fu Jiang's biological mother?"
Her imposing manner made Old Lady Cai, who was already nervous, even more afraid when she was stared at like that. She couldn't help but look at Marquis Zhongyong.
Along the way to Beijing, they had developed a good friendship, and whenever she was scared, she would subconsciously rely on him.
Seeing this, Marquis Zhongyong squatted down beside her and said, "Just tell me the truth."
Old Lady Cai seemed to have gained some confidence, and then she told the whole story. At first, she stumbled a bit, but as she spoke, she became more and more fluent and even bolder.
She said to the Grand Princess, "That Fu Jiang has never been a good person since he was a child, just like his mother."
Her mother is not your daughter at all. That noble person who is like a Bodhisattva is your daughter. Don't be fooled by them.
Fu Jiang, that wicked seed, should have been drowned at birth. The butcher Fu was foolish enough to raise him, allowing him to harm so many people; it was truly a sin. He deserved his retribution after death—his own son dug up his grave.
She meant well in offering comfort, but it only made the old princess more suspicious that she was a swindler hired by the Marquis of Zhongyong.
Especially with the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery squatting beside her, it looked exactly like a threat to her.
No, she can't be fooled. She has to save Fu Jiang. Whether he is or not, she will personally interrogate him from now on.
What if the emperor and his accomplices conspired to deceive her?
After a few moments of silence, she took out a booklet from her bosom. "Your Majesty, I am willing to exchange this for Fu Jiang's life."
The booklet was presented to the emperor by Chen Banjun, and the emperor's eyes lit up slightly after reading it.
This booklet contains evidence of crimes committed by the late emperor's faction. Over the years, he has been plagued by the late emperor's faction. If he could get rid of these people, his reign as emperor would be easier.
But Fu Jiang is a man of heinous crimes. If he were to be pardoned, wouldn't he become a tyrant?
Although the booklet contains records, some of the evidence is in the hands of the old princess.
Just as the emperor was in a dilemma, Xie Tingzhou spoke up, "Your Majesty, I have a letter written by my grandfather before his death. After reading this letter, you will understand everything."
He looked at the Grand Princess and said, “Fu Jiang is indeed not a descendant of the Grand Princess. My father is the son of Princess Nianxi, and Princess Nianxi was not imprisoned by my grandfather.”
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