Hong Xiaoduo poured herself a cup of tea to relieve the lingering taste of the sweet and sour pork she had eaten too much for lunch.
After clearing his throat, he calmly looked at Hong Zhixuan, who had an 'righteous' expression.
From Prince Yi's perspective, the scene resembled a courtroom, with Lady Hong appearing as a confident presiding judge and Magistrate Hong somewhat like a criminal being tried.
Hong Xiaoduo said, "Magistrate Hong, you don't really think that I've forgotten my identity as an ordinary citizen just because I'm a high-ranking official in the court, and that I'm just acting recklessly by taking advantage of others' power, do you?"
The reason I said you can't leave is for you and your lackeys to listen carefully. Let's not even talk about how you, a fifth-rank county magistrate, have been corrupt and exploitative of the people.
Now let me tell you something related to me. The reason you came here is to find your fourth son, who was lost ten years ago.
But don't you know very well how your son got lost? Was the child lost? Was he stolen? Isn't it because you know he was born to your wife and the steward of your household, but because of your father-in-law's wealth and power, you dare not confront your wife, and you can't bear the humiliation of seeing that child every day?
So, did they pay someone to kidnap him and then throw him into a ravine?
Afterwards, you secretly met with the perpetrator, offering him drinks as a way of thanking him, and then poisoned his drink in an attempt to kill him and silence him.
You thought you had gotten away with it, but you probably didn't expect that after the murder, the perpetrator used the other half of the reward to buy drinks for his buddy. After drinking too much, he told his buddy what had happened.
And his buddy wasn't any better; after he disappeared, he ransacked his place, took the reward money he'd received from you, and used it for himself.
Besides being disloyal, such people are also prone to drinking.
Therefore, what you thought was a flawless plan does not exist.
Knowing full well how your son died, you still harbored wicked thoughts after learning how Minister Wei, Prefect Ye, General Gong, and others found their child, and that Censor Luo and his group were also coming to me to look for my child.
I really don't know what you're thinking. How can you think that the rumors about my secret technique for bloodline identification are just a charade to fool people?
Why did you come along? Were you trying your luck?
Indeed, my seven children grew up together through thick and thin, and their families are all high-ranking officials. If you are lucky enough to recognize one of them, then his connections with his siblings will naturally be of use to you and will help your career.
Hong Zhixuan, you really are a master strategist.
Just for hiring someone to kill your own child, even if that child wasn't your own flesh and blood, it's still hiring someone to kill. As a fifth-rank county magistrate, you should know this is a serious crime, right?
Moreover, as an official appointed by the imperial court, you knowingly broke the law.
So, do you think you can still leave?
Hong Zhixuan grew increasingly annoyed as he listened. He was about to defend his master when he turned his head and saw that his master was pale and trembling uncontrollably. His heart sank. Oh no!
"You, you, you, you're talking nonsense, you're slandering me, how do you know all this?" Hong Zhixuan felt dizzy and slumped to the ground, pointing at Hong Xiaoduo unwillingly.
“If you don’t want anyone to know, then don’t do it in the first place. If you hadn’t been so greedy and hadn’t taken this risk, wouldn’t everything have been fine? So, you’re courting death yourself, and you can’t blame anyone else.” After saying this, Hong Xiaoduo looked back and forth between Imperial Censor Luo and Prefect Zhong.
"My lords, who would like to take over Hong Zhixuan and bring him back to deal with him?"
Upon hearing this, the two exchanged glances. Censor Luo then ordered his attendants to take the man out, place him under guard, and bring him back for further interrogation.
The censor has the power of impeachment, inspection, and judicial supervision, so it is more appropriate to hand this person over to him for trial than to hand him over to Prefect Zhong, who is a fifth-rank official.
Censor Luo's attendant grabbed Magistrate Hong by the back of his collar and roughly dragged him out. After realizing what was happening, Magistrate Hong's attendant, like a stray dog, resignedly followed behind.
Inside the hall, Prince Yi, Imperial Censor Luo, and Prefect Zhong were all indignant about Magistrate Hong's actions. How could there be such a despicable person in the world?
However, compared to the matter of Magistrate Hong, actually finding his child on this trip was even more exciting.
The three were anxious, wanting Hong Xiaoduo to tell them definitively that one of the four children beside her was indeed their child.
However, the three of them dared not speak.
They were all old enough to be Hong Xiaoduo's father, yet they couldn't help but be cautious in her presence.
"Don't be nervous, everyone. You three heard right, you have indeed found your children. Please wait a moment, I'll have someone call them over to meet you." After Hong Xiaoduo finished speaking, she called Huang Yixing in and told him to tell Quan Jinghuai to bring the children over.
She also specifically asked Feiyan to come along, saying they would go shopping together later.
After Huang Yixing left, the three Prince Yi and his companions were in an uproar. Some cried, some laughed, some asked their attendants if their clothes were appropriate, and some excitedly inquired with Hong Xiaoduo about their child's preferences.
Hong Xiaoduo patiently responded to each question.
"Gentlemen, after you meet your children, they may make some requests that may not please you. Please be prepared. Whether you agree or disagree, you can try to persuade them later. Please don't refuse too decisively." Before the children arrived, Hong Xiaoduo quickly gave the three of them a heads-up.
"It's alright, it's alright. I will do my best to satisfy whatever the child wants, as long as it doesn't violate the law," Imperial Censor Luo immediately said.
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