Song Jiyun suddenly became interested and asked Eleventh Grand Master Song in detail about the matter, "Who told you about this? Has anything like this happened before?"
Eleventh Grand Master Song laughed and said, "The Xiong Family of Second Young Miss’s in-laws were able to buy such a large piece of forest land in Wuyuan because their ancestors had a relative who was a clerk at the Wuyuan County Yamen. He got early news that when a family of officials in Wuyuan was being investigated, they spent some silver to grease the wheels."
As he spoke, he also pointed in the direction of Yinyu Hall, "Isn’t there a ready example right beside us? You’re asking me, but it would be better to ask your son-in-law!"
When Song Jiyun thought of her visit to Yuan Yunzhong and the thick stack of official documents on his desk, she laughed and said, "You should also help me keep an eye on this."
Eleventh Grand Master Song readily agreed.
Song Jiyun then took an unprecedented interest in the affairs of the Hong Family.
*
However, Song Tao in prison was shivering with cold.
Ever since that day, after Hong Xi unreservedly "revealed" his true colors, she had been guarded against him throwing her out as a scapegoat and had been carefully watching him.
Even so, she didn’t see clearly what means Hong Xi used, but within a single day, the Jailor, who had been indifferent to them, suddenly started to treat Hong Xi with kindness. He not only quietly brought him food and drinks behind the Imperial Guard’s back but also passed messages to him.
"The Left Administrative Commissioner of Jiangxi, the councilors, the grain transport inspector, the register inspector... they’ve all been held accountable," the Jailor said as he stuffed a change of clothes into Hong Xi’s arms, "Didn’t Chief Historian of Prince Ning’s Mansion run away before? Not only was he found this time, but the Inspector General beheaded him directly."
Upon hearing this news, not to mention Old Grand Master Hong, even Hong Xi was taken aback, "Beheaded directly? Without any trial?"
"Alas!" the Jailor sighed, "What’s there to trial? The Inspector General has the imperial sword; he can behead whoever he wants to behead. That councilor’s rank is not low, right? Third Rank. And he got imprisoned just like that."
There is no such thing as the imperial sword; it’s a fabrication of dramas.
Even an Inspector General representing the emperor couldn’t just kill people like that. And Yuan Yunzhong dared to act so recklessly; surely he had some backing.
Hong Xi gave Old Grand Master Hong a look, his face grave, as if on purpose, he said, "The Chief Historian of Prince Ning’s Mansion has run for some days, right? How come he was found and executed just like that?"
Guessing that the Jailor had also heard a lot of rumors these days, he excitedly shared with him, "I heard from the constables at the yamen that the Inspector General’s people knew where the Chief Historian was all along. However, considering that he was a confidant of Prince Ning, they were afraid that once caught, he would spill all the beans, which would make it difficult for them to deal with Prince Ning—punish him or not. So they decided to let him go.
"Who knew that he would be so audacious, not fleeing far, and even expecting Prince Ning to stand up for him, occasionally sending people to pay respects to Prince Ning, hoping that Prince Ning could absolve him of his crimes.
"So, the Inspector General’s men caught him easily. But he, relying on Prince Ning’s favor, resisted arrest.
"Isn’t that courting death?
"He was made an example of by the Inspector General, justly so."
After hearing this, Hong Xi said with a smile, "Thank you for telling me all this. When our family’s steward comes to visit, please make it easy for him. I would like him to know how well you have taken care of our people in prison, so that he can thank you properly."
The Jailor’s face flushed with excitement, his eyes showing greed while he humbly said, "Of course, of course. Who doesn’t know that the Hong Family are great benefactors of Jingde Town? Once this misunderstanding is cleared up, the good days will still be ahead!"
"I take your kind words!" Hong Xi replied courteously, "What about the Left Administrative Commissioner and the others? Were they just held accountable? Has the Imperial Court said anything?"
Upon hearing this, the Jailor looked around, and when he saw no one was in the cell, he lowered his voice and said, "This is a serious matter, almost half the people in Jiangxi’s political circle have been involved. They say that the Left Administrative Commissioner and the others have been held accountable, but in fact, they have been detained. Someone from Magistrate Jiang, whom you should know, confirmed it. He’s a senior brother to the Inspector General, and their relationship is very good. The word from around him is definitely reliable; he said that this time, the Inspector General said that if everyone is let off on the basis that the law does not punish the multitude, then wouldn’t people form factions and indulge in embezzlement and bribery freely."
"Our Chief Accountant said that the writing of the Inspector General is brilliant and sharp as a blade. With just a few sentences submitted upward, they won’t just die—they’ll be practically begging for it. What the Emperor fears the most is the formation of secret cliques. By colluding to help Prince Ning, haven’t they touched the Emperor’s reverse scale?"
Upon hearing this, a forced smile appeared on Hong Xi’s face, but he still said, "It seems Master Accountant is also formidable. To see all of this."
"That’s right!" The jailor boasted for a while before leaving.
However, Old Grand Master Hong seemed to have been struck by a heavy blow, his face turning deathly pale, and he appeared unable to even stand.
He asked Hong Xi in a deep voice, "Did you really let Ah Zhao’s name appear on those documents?"
Hong Xi chuckled and said, "Why would I lie to you?"
Old Grand Master Hong was silent for a long moment, and when he finally spoke, his voice was like a thunderclap, "Fine, I agree with you. But you must promise me, from now on, you cannot make things difficult for your Ah Zhao."
Hong Zhao realized something and urgently cried out, "Grandfather!"
Both Old Grand Master Hong and Hong Xi ignored him and continued their conversation.
"Why would I make things difficult for him?" Hong Xi laughed, "I am just trying to protect myself."
"Fine!" Old Grand Master Hong said darkly, "Remember your words. If you dare to trouble Ah Zhao, I will not let you go, even as a ghost."
Hong Xi replied disdainfully, "Instead of thinking about how to trouble me after you become a ghost, why don’t you think about how to absolve Hong Zhao completely?"
Old Grand Master Hong looked at him deeply, stood up, went to the cell bars, and shouted loudly, "Someone come! I wish to confess my crimes."
"Grandfather!" Hong Zhao shouted loudly.
That mournful cry was still echoing in Song Tao’s ears when, after Old Grand Master Hong was taken away, Hong Xi began to force Hong Zhao to write a letter of partition of the family estate.
"Otherwise, even if Grandfather has agreed with you, it will be difficult to clear your name." Hong Xi’s voice was neither loud nor soft, impatient in tone, but to Song Tao, it was like the devil’s murmur, "You write this document to prove that the Hong Family divided the property five years ago, before I returned home. The Hong Family’s estate has nothing to do with you, so naturally, neither do those events."
Hong Zhao seemed resigned to his fate, managing a desolate smile towards him, he said, "At this point, you are still thinking about how to get your hands on the Hong family’s property. It seems you are quite confident in getting out of this strife unscathed. Congratulations! I hope your wishes come true."
Without another word, he wrote the document, signed his name, and pressed his seal.
Hong Xi carefully collected the letter, saying, "Rest assured, since I promised Grandfather, I definitely won’t trouble you anymore."
"Only Grandfather would believe you." Hong Zhao lowered his eyelids, bitterness written all over his face, "You never left my name on those documents, did you? In order to deceive Grandfather, for the family estate, you truly have exhausted every means."
Hong Xi laughed dismissively, "No wonder Grandfather always praised your cleverness; you are certainly intelligent. Yes, I was fooling Grandfather, I just wanted him to take the blame. You know now, and it’s not too late. You can go and denounce the injustice, turn me in."
"Can I even turn you in?" Hong Zhao looked blankly at Hong Xi, murmuring, "I’m afraid even if I go and cry out for justice, I would just be falling into your trap, Grandfather won’t just be unable to avoid punishment, he will suffer even more, won’t he?"
"You’re smart," Hong Xi said with a cold laugh, turning around, and his gaze met squarely with Song Tao, who had been eavesdropping with perked ears.
Startled, Song Tao quickly lowered her head and shrank back into the corner.
But then, a government official stood at the cell door calling her, "Third Miss Song, there is someone here to see you in jail."
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