Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved

Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Joint Trial by the Three Departments, Restoring the Truth
 

Many of the mountain bandits had been silenced that year.

This middle-aged man was shrewder and guessed that the issue was too significant, with fortunes to be made but no life to enjoy them—so he fled at the first sign of trouble.

Sure enough, not long after his escape, he heard about the bandit suppression.

Not daring to offend the Marquis Mansion, he hid his true identity for many years until he was found by Jun Yuyan’s men.

More than that, he also produced a piece of evidence—a letter of correspondence between Lady Wang and the bandit leader from back then.

He had stolen it while fleeing to save his life.

Sixteen years had passed, and he hadn’t expected it would actually come in handy.

Lord Xu Darong slammed the table and said in a deep voice, “Lady Wang, do you have anything else to say?”

Lady Wang shouted, “This is forged, a counterfeit of the handwriting! Someone is framing me! Don’t expect me to confess! It’s impossible! No one is more innocent than I am!”

The commoners outside heard this and were outraged.

“She is shameless! To think she still won’t admit it!”

“What can be done about this? Should she just get away with it?”

They were worried that Lady Wang would not be brought to justice.

“Make way! His Highness the Second Prince is arriving!”

Suddenly, the Second Prince rushed over and strode into the court.

Murong Man’s heart, which had been in her throat, finally settled, and she hurriedly threw herself towards the Second Prince.

“Your Highness, you must seek justice for my mother! Prince Ling and Princess Consort Ling have brought forward a witness to frame my mother and ruin the reputation of our Marquis Mansion!”

Her eyes brimmed with tears, as if she was about to faint.

The Second Prince’s expression turned extremely ugly.

That morning at his mother’s residence, he had heard that Na Kesi and Fu Baozhu had become an item, widely known to all. So, when he paid his respects to his father, he deliberately mentioned this “news” and subtly hinted that General Fu was quite pleased with Na Kesi as a future son-in-law.

The Emperor was indeed very angry and surely harbored doubts.

However, to someone like the Emperor, who had held power for so long, even if Na Kesi married Fu Baozhu, it wouldn’t make much difference.

He was just annoyed that General Fu seemed to be colluding with the Western Regions, wanting his daughter to marry there and become a Prince’s Consort.

Thus, the Emperor’s suspicions flared up again.

The Second Prince, not wanting to be involved, quickly asked to leave and returned to his mother’s palace to wait for Na Kesi to enter the palace and seek the Emperor’s permission for the marriage. At that time, if his father was unwilling, he could speak favorably on Na Kesi’s behalf.

Who would have expected that he would end up waiting in vain, only to find Jun Yuyan and Murong Jiu intervening in the matter, and Fu Baozhu’s true identity being exposed!

The Second Prince’s eyelids twitched violently. Unable to report to the Emperor in time, he immediately left the palace, instructing people to summon the Minister of Dali Temple and the Minister of Punishment.

The Marchioness was no ordinary citizen, and with the involvement of the General’s Mansion, the Shuntian Prefecture Governor’s trial might not satisfy the public.

Only by having both the Minister of Dali Temple and the Minister of Punishment together could a conclusive verdict be delivered in this case, setting it in stone, leaving no chance for others to overturn it.

Even if the case could be revisited, that would be months later at least.

By then, General Fu might have already become his man.

It was just that he still did not have leverage to sway General Fu, whether through threats or incentives, something that the General would care about.

Previously, he thought of Murong Jiu’s devotion to him, waiting until Murong Jiu was completely under his control before revealing to the General that Murong Jiu was his biological daughter.

She could even threaten Murong Jiu and the child in her womb, thus forcing General Fu to serve him.

If that did not work, he would destroy the General of the Northern Command’s Residence and take control of the soldiers under General Fu.

Suppressing the complex emotions in his heart, just as His Highness the Second Prince arrived, Vice Chancellor of the Dali Temple, Sikong Fu, and Minister of Punishment, Jia Shibai, also arrived, which amounted to an examination by the three departments.

Xu Darong quickly came forward to pay his respects, and after His Highness the Second Prince explained his intentions, he hurriedly arranged seats for the three men.

Vice Chancellor Sikong Fu was a middle-aged man who looked very stern and thin as bamboo, resembling a scholar from an academy, with a sharp gaze that was commanding without anger.

Standing behind him was a clear and distinguished young man, none other than the Vice Chancellor of the Dali Temple, the Top Scholar from two years ago, the new noble of the Capital City, Su Yuting.

Murong Jiu glanced at him several times.

This was because Su Yuting was truly upright. After the entire family at the General’s Mansion was executed, he led the scholars of the Capital City to submit a petition to vindicate General Fu.

Murong Jiu remembered that at that time, His Highness the Second Prince was so angry that he smashed several expensive vases. Now, thinking about it, it might have been because Su Yuting had found some incriminating evidence.

However, not long afterward, news emerged that Su Yuting had accidentally fallen into the moat and lost his life.

Sikong Fu seemed to be an upright official as well; he was Su Yuting’s teacher.

But that Minister of Punishment, Lord Jia, was unmistakably a partisan of the Second Prince’s faction and would soon send a concubine-born daughter from his family to serve as a concubine to the Second Prince.

Murong Jiu knew what the Second Prince intended to do.

Unfortunately, today was destined not to go his way.

“Ah Jiu, what are you looking at?”

The low voice of Jun Yuyan reached her ears; Murong Jiu turned her head and saw a somewhat resentful look in his eyes.

Could it be that he was jealous because she had looked at Su Yuting a few more times?

Murong Jiu found it amusing internally and hurriedly pinched his fingers to appease him.

This man was really easy to coax; his downturned lips soon lifted slightly into a small smile.

His Highness the Second Prince happened to see their interaction and instinctively furrowed his eyebrows, feeling a surge of anger in his heart.

“I have heard of this matter and find it incredibly perplexing. If it truly was the Marchioness who did this, she must be severely punished, but I won’t let a criminal go, nor will I wrongly accuse a good person. Therefore, I have specially invited Lord Sikong, the Vice Chancellor of Dali Temple, and Lord Jia, the Minister of Punishment, to thoroughly investigate the matter today so that I can report to the Emperor!”

As he said this, he looked at Jun Yuyan, “Eldest Imperial Brother, do you have any objections?”

Jun Yuyan, unhurried and indifferent, replied, “If we can restore the truth, I naturally have no objections.”

His Highness the Second Prince felt that his attitude was too confident, but he himself was also confident.

After so many years, he did not believe any evidence could still be found.

Even if there were an old midwife and the mountain bandits from back then, what new evidence could they possibly turn up? The so-called letters were no proof either; over many years, Lady Wang’s handwriting had inevitably changed.

He had already examined the letter, which did not bear Lady Wang’s signature nor a seal—merely handwriting, which was insufficient to convict Lady Wang.

He smiled, “With the three departments examining this, we will surely restore the truth.”

His Highness the Second Prince pushed Murong Man away and sat down by himself.

He did not want Murong Jiu to think he had feelings for Murong Man.

Previously, he could not bear to see Murong Man suffer, but these days, the face of Murong Jiu often appeared in his dreams.

This time, he would have to inconvenience her, but once the major tasks were accomplished, he would make it up to Murong Jiu, and let their father and daughter, and siblings recognize each other.

His Highness the Second Prince spoke out loudly, “Let’s begin, Lord Xu. Where did we leave off just now?”

Lady Wang cried out urgently, “Your Highness the Second Prince! They are fabricating false evidence to frame your servant!”