"Others..."
The Seventh Madam thought for a moment, then shook her head, "I don't know about anything else. Deep waters are beyond my reach!"
“Alright…” Rong Ning nodded and stood up. “I will find a way to deal with your daughter’s matter.”
Upon hearing this, the Seventh Madam trembled with emotion, and the tears she had just stopped flowing again. She bowed deeply to Rong Ning's departing figure, "This sinful woman thanks Your Highness for your grace!"
As soon as they left the Ministry of Justice prison, they saw Ah Ying playing with a little girl. The two of them were squatting on the ground counting pebbles, completely absorbed in the activity.
A three-year-old girl understands nothing and knows nothing; her happiness is very simple.
Rong Ning stood and watched for a while before instructing, "Aying... take the child back!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Upon hearing the sound, Ah Ying scooped up the child and headed towards the prison.
When Aying returned, Rong Ning had already boarded the carriage.
"Ah Ying, do you know where Seventh Madam's family is located?"
"I know!" A-Ying replied quickly, "It's the Zhao family in Fenglin Lane."
"Let's go...we're going to the Zhao family, and we need to hurry!" Rong Ning ordered.
With so many spies planted in the Ministry of Justice, news of Rong Ning's visit to the Seventh Madam in the Ministry's prison had probably already reached the ears of those who were interested. However, Rong Ning had cleared everyone out when she spoke with the Seventh Madam, so they didn't know what the Seventh Madam and Rong Ning had said.
If they don't know, they'll make wild guesses, and if they guess wrong, they'll do things that are beyond their control.
Therefore, Rong Ning needs to go to the Zhao family as soon as possible and get the account book before those people react. This will let them know that Rong Ning has her eye on the Zhao family, so that even if they want to do something, they won't dare to act rashly.
However, the Zhao family was inevitably thrown into chaos by Rong Ning's sudden arrival. When they heard Rong Ning requesting an audience at the gate of the mansion, the matriarch of the Zhao family was comforting her crying grandson with her eldest daughter-in-law.
Hearing the news, he didn't react at first, and asked again uncertainly, "Who did you say came?"
"Your Majesty, Princess Ningding requests an audience!"
"Oh my god! How could this happen so suddenly?"
Madam Zhao handed the child to the wet nurse, tidied herself up, and hurried out with her daughter-in-law to greet them.
His feet kept moving, but his heart was in turmoil. This Princess Ningding was not someone to be trifled with. Her sudden visit to the mansion made him wonder if his master had gotten into trouble in court.
Rong Ning stood with her hands behind her back in the courtyard, watching a large group of people come over, and then a large group of people came to pay their respects.
Despite the chaos, there was still order and composure.
Rong Ning had no dealings with the Zhao family, so there was nothing for her to exchange pleasantries with. If it weren't for the fact that climbing over the wall to go in and take out the account books would have been too abrupt, she wouldn't have come in through the main entrance.
Rong Ning had Madam Zhao dismiss everyone and led her straight to the courtyard where the Seventh Madam had lived before her marriage. Then, under Madam Zhao's watchful eye, she dug out the account books.
Rong Ning glanced at the thick bundle and smiled.
It seems that the Seventh Madam has put in a lot of effort over the past two years.
Madam Zhao is still confused, but she doesn't dare to ask, because knowing too much isn't a good thing.
Rong Ning put away the account book, looked around, and then looked at Madam Zhao, saying with emotion, "Madam Zhu has been married for many years, yet her courtyard is still so tidy, and she hasn't let anyone else live in it. It seems that you love this daughter very much."
When Madam Zhao heard her mention her daughter, who was still imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice, her eyes welled up with tears. "Your Highness, she is my youngest child, the daughter I've longed for day and night. From the day she was born, the whole family doted on her. Even after she got married, she was still the jewel of the Zhao family, but..."
Madam Zhao couldn't continue speaking at this point, and quickly stopped talking in order not to lose her composure.
Parents' hearts are always full of love and worry!
Rong Ning sighed and said slowly, "Madam Zhao, please don't be too sad. Seventh Madam has helped me a lot. From now on, I will take good care of her and her youngest daughter. You can rest assured!"
Madam Zhao was so excited by what she heard that she was about to kneel down to express her gratitude, but Rong Ning stopped her. “There is no need for such a grand ceremony. Zhu committed a serious crime, and the Seventh Madam has not yet divorced and returned home. I cannot guarantee what the final outcome will be. I can only say that she will have a better time in prison.”
"That is enough! Your Highness, I thank you for your great kindness!"
Rong Ning waved her hand and continued, "From today onwards, if anyone comes to inquire why I suddenly came to the Zhao family, you should say this..."
"Your subject obeys!"
From beginning to end, Rong Ning and Madam Zhao never discussed the account book at all.
After leaving the Zhao family and getting into the carriage, Rong Ning instructed A Ying, "Have some people come to keep an eye on the Zhao family, in case anything unexpected happens."
"Yes, Your Highness!" Ah Ying obeyed the order.
After leaving the Zhao family, Rong Ning did not return to the princess's residence, but instead went back to the palace and went directly to the Taiji Hall to find her father, the emperor.
The Taiji Hall was as lively as ever. As a diligent monarch, he would definitely have to argue with his ministers about political affairs at this time.
Rong Ning could hear the ministers' voices rising eight octaves even from outside.
However, as usual, after the eunuch announced, "Your Majesty, Princess Ningding requests an audience," there was an instant silence.
The emperor glanced around, narrowed his eyes, and smirked. He said loudly, "My daughter wouldn't come here unless there was a reason. My ministers, stop arguing and let's hear what Princess Ningding has to say. Someone, let Princess Ningding come in and speak."
The ministers looked at each other, their hearts beginning to waver.
Every time this old lady comes to the Taiji Hall, someone suffers. I wonder who will be unlucky this time.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty!" Rong Ning stepped to the front to offer his greetings, displaying impeccable manners.
Although she infuriated the emperor every time, she never made a mistake in these formalities.
The emperor raised an eyebrow and said loudly, "Get up... What brings you here today?"
Rong Ning stood up, turned around and glanced at the ministers, lingering on the Prime Minister for a moment before turning back and saying slowly, "Your subject has obtained some account books... These are of great importance, so I rushed to the palace to present them to Your Majesty for review."
As she spoke, she presented the ledger.
The emperor held the account book and looked at it silently, but the more he read, the uglier his expression became.
"A-Ning, where did you get these?"
"Your Majesty, I visited Madam Zhu Qi in the Ministry of Justice prison today. It was she who gave it to me."
Madam Zhu Qi?
The emperor's face darkened, his sharp eyes fixed on the Minister of Justice. "You said you couldn't find any evidence of Zhu's dealings with others? Well then, come and see what this is all about!"
The Minister of Justice, whose name was called, stepped forward shakily, bowed his head, took the account book from the emperor, looked at it, and felt his heart sink to the bottom.
"Your Majesty...this..."
"What? You don't understand?"
"No, Your Majesty, it's that these accounts are far-reaching and complex. If these things are fabricated out of thin air, then..."
"What do you mean?"
His words were abruptly interrupted by Rong Ning, "You mean I had someone make up these accounts two years ago, just waiting for the day Zhu Shi was imprisoned so I could kick her when she was down?"
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