Imprisonment (Part 4)
Su Lingzhao brought many shop deeds to the study and placed them in front of Wang Pan'er: "Father said that from now on you will be a member of the Su family. These are the foundation of the Su family and also your betrothal gifts."
bride price?
This is such a thick stack of assets; most of the Su family's wealth must be here. Merchants are driven by profit; there's no reason for them to hand over half their empire just for a marriage alliance.
Something unusual must be going on. Wang Pan'er looked up and stared directly into Su Lingzhao's eyes.
Sure enough, the moment their eyes met, Su Lingzhao looked away uncomfortably.
Wang Pan'er sneered inwardly: transferring the shop to her now is most likely a scam, like making employees legal representatives in modern society.
There's probably some movement going on in the capital.
She suppressed her thoughts, focused her gaze, and raised the corner of her eye to look at Su Lingzhao, saying, "So many, are they all for me?"
Su Lingzhao explained, "My father has high hopes for you. When he gets old, he will need you to manage the family business."
Wang Pan'er smiled and picked up a pen, flipping through the business contracts one by one, then signing her name and pressing her fingerprint.
Along with the business contracts came the account books from each shop. Su Lingzhao pointed to them and said, "From now on, the Liuyun Chamber of Commerce will rely on Miss Pan'er. Please bear with us."
Wang Pan'er seemed to be in a very good mood, signing the document while replying, "No problem."
After completing his task, Su Lingzhao glanced at Wang Pan'er with reluctance, stood at the study door for a while, and finally sighed before leaving dejectedly.
We must inform Mu Chuan about today's unusual situation.
When Wang Pan'er returned to the manor, she dragged Mu Chuan, who had already fallen asleep, out of bed.
Mu Chuan, still half asleep, glanced at the person who had come in and asked, "Why aren't you sleeping at this hour?"
Wang Pan'er chattered on and on about her experiences at the Su residence that day, and then asked, "Did you say that Prefect Zhao and Master Su received news of their journey to the capital?"
Mu Chuan nodded: "It's possible. It's not surprising that they have connections to the highest levels of society, given that they dare to commit such a serious crime as illegal iron smuggling. I haven't had a chance to tell you this because you've been leaving early and returning late these past few days. His Majesty has already sent an imperial envoy to Jinzhou Prefecture."
As he was speaking, Mu Chuan paused.
The imperial envoy has been dispatched, and at this critical juncture, the Su family is dumping numerous shops on Wang Pan'er—their intentions are as clear as day. He suddenly realized his mistake and angrily cursed, "They're desperate, trying to shift the blame!"
Wang Pan'er nodded in agreement, then sat down on the edge of Mu Chuan's bed: "Am I going to jail?"
She spoke in a nonchalant tone, and Mu Chuan couldn't tell if she was angry or happy: "I'm afraid we can't escape our fate."
Wang Pan'er said "Oh," and then drifted off into her own thoughts, lost in her own world.
Mu Chuan felt bad, thinking that he was incompetent and that Wang Pan'er had suffered this ordeal. After thinking for a long time, he said, "The imperial envoy sent by the emperor is one of our own, so it's not a big deal after he arrives. But it will take about six or seven days for him to reach Jinzhou Prefecture. Why don't you write a proclamation, Pan'er? At least for the next few days, we can keep them in check."
Mu Chuan spoke at length, but Wang Pan'er clearly didn't listen. He became impatient: "Are you even listening to me?!"
"Huh?" Wang Pan'er snapped out of her daze and turned to look at Mu Chuan with a puzzled expression.
Mu Chuan was furious: "What are you thinking about at a time like this?!"
"I'm thinking of getting up early tomorrow, taking a shower and changing clothes, and then having a big meal at noon."
Mu Chuan chuckled and said, "You're something else."
Wang Pan'er comforted her, "What else? I've already signed these business contracts, and the matter is settled. Are you willing to close the net now? Even if you are, I am not. Besides, with you here, my life is definitely safe. When they interrogate me, I just need to be 'pragmatic' and I can probably avoid the pain of torture."
"Eh..."
Mu Chuan looked dejected and rubbed his head against Wang Pan'er's shoulder, holding her tightly and reluctant to let go.
That night, compared to Mu Chuan's restless sleeplessness, Wang Pan'er appeared much calmer and more composed.
After returning to her bedroom, she slept soundly until the sun was high in the sky.
After washing up, when he came out of the bedroom, the girls, at Mu Chuan's instruction, had already boiled a large pot of water, and the kitchen was bustling with activity as they prepared a sumptuous lunch.
Wang Pan'er washed herself thoroughly from head to toe, inside and out, and walked into the dining room with her wet hair down, feeling refreshed.
Inside the dining room, her two younger sisters sat waiting for her.
Wang Xiaoyao looked at Wang Pan'er with concern, hesitating to speak; Wang Chengxi was not so perceptive and intelligent, and could not realize how serious the upcoming events were, but she obediently sat beside Wang Xiaoyao with a burning gaze.
They actually made such a big fuss!
Wang Pan'er sat down in the chair that Mu Chuan had helped her up, and said to her two younger sisters, "It's just a trip to the prison, you two... hey!"
It sounds easy, but after all, she would have to suffer in prison. How could Wang Xiaoyao be at ease? "Once Sister Pan'er is inside, who knows what awaits you..."
Wang Pan'er comforted her, "How could life be any worse than in Wangjia Village? At least you're safe in prison, right? Besides, this won't be for nothing. Those cannibals and blood-drinkers who prey on the people will eventually have to pay the price."
That makes sense.
"In that case, it was all my duty. You suffered in my place this time." Mu Chuan earnestly promised Wang Pan'er, "Once this is over, I'll do whatever you want."
Wang Pan'er didn't want to talk anymore, so she served everyone a bowl of stewed chicken soup that was bubbling with oil, and said, "Let's eat, let's eat. We can talk about the future another day."
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Wang Xiaoyao styled Wang Pan'er's hair into a bun, and then the group escorted Wang Pan'er to the entrance of the manor.
Amidst everyone's reluctant gazes, Wang Pan'er boarded the donkey cart as usual.
As expected, as soon as they entered the city gate, two soldiers came up with portraits in their hands.
After comparing Wang Pan'er's facial features and confirming that she was the correct person, they detained her immediately.
Private ironwork is a serious crime, and the officers and soldiers did not allow Wang Pan'er to have a word to it, and directly escorted her to the dungeon inside the yamen.
They passed through a dark and damp passageway.
The heavy iron gate at the end of the passageway opened, and Wang Pan'er was handed over to the jailer. The iron gate closed, and inside lay Wang Pan'er's place of survival for the foreseeable future.
The lead jailer, carrying a dim lantern, led his men deeper into the dungeon.
The deeper you go, the more the stench of decay assaults your senses.
Wang Pan'er couldn't help but gag a few times, which drew a mocking laugh from the jailer, who seemed used to it: "Can't even take it this badly?"
Wang Pan'er didn't respond, her face scrunched up as she tried to adjust.
The jailer walked to an empty cell, shoved her inside, then slammed the thick, heavy chain onto the moldy wooden bars and locked it.
The floor of the cubicle was covered with dry straw, but unfortunately it was mixed with blood and some unknown filth, so it was impossible to use it.
Wang Pan'er pinched her nose and gathered them into a corner, then walked to the opposite corner of the filth, leaned against the wall, and sat down.
Fortunately, it was summer, so the dungeon was cool and not hot. If it were winter, one would surely freeze to death.
As evening approached, the deathly quiet dungeon finally stirred.
The prisoners returned, chained together.
After the jailers locked everyone up, they gave them their prison food.
Having eaten too much at noon, Wang Pan'er had no appetite at all when faced with the sour, rancid porridge and hardened cornbread in front of her.
When the old woman next door saw that she wasn't eating, she pointed to the bowl on the ground and gestured for Wang Pan'er to give it to her.
Wang Pan'er took the bowl and listened to the whispers of the people around her. She learned that being imprisoned was not just about being in prison; during the day, one also had to go out and do manual labor, and the most recent task was firing a kiln.
Oh my god.
Wang Pan'er's vision blurred, and she could only pass the time by constantly thinking about how to make Mu Chuan compensate her after she left.
The damp, mud-brick floor was no place for a person to sleep; she remained in a state of semi-consciousness all night. In just half a day, she felt as if all her energy had been drained.
The next morning, the jailer came to open the gate again, intending to take the prisoners out to do hard labor.
Wang Pan'er squatted by the door, waiting to go out and breathe some fresh air.
When it was her turn, the jailer glanced at her and said, "You don't need to go. Lord Zhao and Master Su will be here to hear your case later."
Then they took her to the cell closest to the dungeon door.
Wang Pan'er pouted and looked around the cubicle.
This cubicle appeared to be specifically used for interrogating prisoners. Inside, there was a table and a chair, and various instruments of torture hung on the wall. Wang Pan'er couldn't recognize the purpose of most of them, but it seemed that forced confessions were a common occurrence.
She was wrongfully imprisoned, so there's no way she'll be brought to court. It's highly likely she'll be tortured into confessing and forced to sign and put her fingerprints on documents.
As expected, when Lord Zhao arrived, the magistrate had already prepared a confession.
Lord Zhao sat down in the chair, and the magistrate immediately laid out the confession and weighed it down with a paperweight.
Master Su smiled obsequiously and poured Prefect Zhao a cup of hot tea.
Prefect Zhao took a couple of sips, then put down his teacup with satisfaction: "You old codger are clever enough to know how to find someone to get you out of trouble."
How arrogant! They've actually brought up taking the blame in the open.
Few normal people wouldn't be intimidated by a wall full of torture instruments.
Wang Pan'er was genuinely afraid of being tortured. To avoid physical pain, she took the initiative to act, feigning shock and sobbing as she asked, "This humble woman doesn't know what crime I've committed, why are you arresting me..."
Prefect Zhao slammed his gavel down heavily: "The evidence is conclusive, bring it forward."
Wang Pan'er trembled in fright.
The magistrate walked up to her, unfolded the confession, and displayed it before her eyes.
The papers were densely covered with records of witnesses and physical evidence of the shops' smuggling activities. The shops were all owned by Wang Pan'er, and even the account books bore her mark.
Wang Pan'er held her breath, then slumped to the ground, muttering in disbelief, "How could this be... how could this be..."
She raised her head again, looked sharply at Master Su, and scrambled to his side, grabbing his skirt and sobbing: "Is Father dissatisfied with his daughter-in-law? Why are you putting such a big burden on her? I didn't do any of this. I sincerely want to marry A-Zhao and enter the Su family."
She seemed flustered and blurted out, "I have influential acquaintances in the capital. If Father saves me, I will definitely ask them to protect the Su family..."
Master Su sighed. What a pity to have such a good daughter-in-law. He pulled his skirt from Wang Pan'er's hand: "Miss Wang, watch your words! You are blinded by greed and dared to smuggle iron privately. Even if a nobleman from the capital came, he would have to give way. I really liked you as my daughter-in-law, but how could I have imagined that you would lose your mind and commit such a terrible disaster!"
Wang Pan'er cried out in anguish, "I didn't!"
Master Su glanced at the instruments of torture on the wall, then at Wang Pan'er, and said menacingly, "You have them!"
Wang Pan'er trembled and shrank back, her eyes brimming with tears, seemingly unable to believe how things had turned out this way. She began to murmur repeatedly, "How could this be... how could this be..."
Master Su patiently persuaded him: "You are a good child, sensible and intelligent. My Zhao'er is also sincere towards you. For my Zhao'er's sake, as long as you obediently sign and put your fingerprint on the document, I will properly take care of your two younger sisters."
Ostensibly, it's a proper resettlement, but in reality, they're using the two younger sisters as leverage to coerce them.
If Wang Pan'er hadn't responded, who knows what trouble Wang Xiaoyao and Wang Chengxi would have faced? This vast territory of Jinzhou was being controlled by a villain.
She sobbed for a long time, and Master Su and Prefect Zhao waited patiently for quite a while. Thinking that it was about time and the play should be considered complete, she wiped away her tears, looked up at Master Su and asked, "You swear that you will treat my two younger sisters well."
Master Su hurriedly raised his hand: "I'll pay, I'll pay! If I haven't taken good care of your sister, may I be struck by lightning!"
With her fate sealed, Wang Pan'er burst into tears again. She tearfully took the brush from the magistrate, signed her name on the confession, rubbed it on the inkpad held by the magistrate, and pressed her fingerprint on it.
Private ironwork is a serious crime, and the evidence still needs to be transferred to the Dali Temple for trial and determination.
Lord Zhao waved his hand, leaving with the words: "Once all the evidence is prepared, escort them to the capital."
Then, leading a large group of people, they left the dungeon in a grand procession.
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