The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class

Zong Jincheng nodded, indicating that he understood.

The interrogation outside had finally reached the stage of coercing a confession. An officer came in with a written confession, and the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review widened his eyes upon reading it. He then turned sharply and said, "Madam Wang, why don’t you confess? Your mother-in-law has already admitted everything."

Madam Wang looked dazed and replied, "Your Honor, what are you talking about? Didn’t my mother-in-law already surrender herself?"

The Minister sternly said, "Liu's Mother has confessed that Liu Wu’s death is also related to you. If you tell the truth yourself, I can still consider it as a voluntary surrender, and the law may grant you a lighter sentence."

Madam Wang shook her head in terror, tears streaming down her face. "Your Honor, please investigate thoroughly. I truly know nothing about this. When the incident happened, I was sleeping with my son. Although he is only five years old, he can testify for me and would not lie."

Zong Jincheng craned his neck, waiting to see the outcome of the coerced confession. However, no matter how they tried to pressure her, it only became clearer that Madam Wang was wronged. Her eyes, swollen from crying, were barely open now.

How tragic...

Although the little troublemaker felt a pang of sympathy, the Minister knew it was better to continue the interrogation. Just as he was about to speak, another officer entered and said, "Your Honor, Liu's Mother has fully confessed and provided a very detailed statement."

At this, not only was Madam Wang stunned, but even the Minister was dumbfounded.

Wait, I was just trying to pressure Madam Wang. How did Liu's Mother suddenly confess everything?

Everyone quickly left to interrogate Liu's Mother instead.

According to her confession, besides Liu Wu, she had once had a second son who died at the age of five after accidentally falling into a well and drowning.

When the Court of Judicial Review questioned her about this, she sneered, "Accidental drowning? That was murder. A father murdering his own son deserves to be torn to pieces."

Everyone was shocked. Another murder case in her family?

The Minister followed up, "Since you knew Liu's Father was the murderer, why didn’t you report it to the authorities?"

"Report it?" Liu's Mother scoffed. "Without evidence, what good would it do? He claimed it was an accidental drowning. There were no witnesses, no physical evidence. How could you have proven he was the murderer? Doesn’t the law require evidence?"

The Minister narrowed his eyes. "So, Liu's Father was killed by you, and it wasn’t an accidental death?"

Liu's Mother laughed maniacally. "Yes, without evidence, it was ruled an accidental death, just like when he killed my little son all those years ago. To all the neighbors, he was a loving husband and father who never laid a hand on his children. But who could have known that this beast enjoyed tormenting people in the most twisted ways? My poor child, if he did even the slightest thing to displease him, he would hold his head underwater and torture him, leaving no physical marks. When he said it was an accidental drowning, I knew he must have killed my son while tormenting him. My son, my son was so young, yet he had such a monstrous father..."

Liu's Mother, who had remained stoic until now, finally broke down in tears, overwhelmed with grief.

The Minister was even more confused. "If that’s the case, the person you hated is already dead. Why did you kill Liu Wu? He was your son too, and your only living son at that!"

Liu's Mother wiped her tears and looked up with a cold smile. "My only son? Ha... He was just like his father, a born monster. Outwardly, he was filial to his mother and loving to his wife and child, but inwardly, he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a carbon copy of his father. My dearest son, yet he carried the blood of the man I hated most, inheriting his vile nature... It’s both laughable and tragic. I killed Liu Wu not only to protect myself but also to ensure my grandson wouldn’t suffer the same fate as my little son. He’s only five years old, the same age, just as sweet and pitiful."

"You’re ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‍insane... Killing your own son for the sake of your grandson, defying all human ethics." The Minister, who had likely never encountered such a bizarre case, was so furious that he could barely speak, wanting only to curse.

At that moment, the Crown Prince stepped out from behind the scenes and asked bluntly, "Why did you turn yourself in? Like when you quietly killed his father, you could have passed it off as a natural death. Why didn’t you continue to cover it up after killing Liu Wu?"

The Minister, seeing the Crown Prince, quickly knelt and greeted him. "Your Highness."

"Long live the Crown Prince!" The entire room of officers knelt in unison.

"You... You are..." Liu's Mother finally realized who had been listening to the interrogation all along. It was the Crown Prince, the legendary figure often spoken of among the common people.

"This humble woman pays her respects to the Crown Prince."

Zong Jincheng watched in amazement. This woman had been so defiant when facing the Minister, but the moment she heard the Crown Prince’s title, she immediately knelt.

It seems the Crown Prince’s reputation is indeed great, earning respect even from a murderer.

The Crown Prince spoke calmly, "It’s because the real perpetrator this time isn’t you. She doesn’t have your perfect methods, and you were afraid she wouldn’t escape, so you decided to take the blame for her, right?"

Liu's Mother trembled but forced herself to remain calm. "Your Highness, this humble woman doesn’t know what you’re talking about."

The Crown Prince continued, "The moment we suggested separate interrogations, you panicked. You had been refusing to confess, but suddenly you spilled everything. Your goal wasn’t to have the case closed quickly—otherwise, you wouldn’t have dragged it from the local magistrate to the Court of Judicial Review. What you feared was that your timid daughter-in-law might slip up during interrogation, wasn’t it?"

Liu's Mother urgently replied, "Your Highness! Without evidence, please do not slander an innocent person. I killed Liu Wu with my own hands. How many times must I say it before you believe me?!"

The Crown Prince frowned slightly at her outburst. His health was frail, and he took a step back. "The two blows to Liu Wu’s head—one was from you, and the other was from Madam Wang, wasn’t it? You discovered that Liu Wu was abusing Madam Wang and your grandson, which triggered your fear and hatred of Liu's Father. So, you covered up her involvement in Liu Wu’s murder."

Liu's Mother glared at him. "You’re lying. All the neighbors know that my daughter-in-law and son were deeply in love. What reason would she have to participate in his murder?"

"Because it was abuse—the kind that leaves no visible marks, just like how Liu's Father treated you and your little son back then, wasn’t it?" The Crown Prince used her own words to pierce through the veil.

Though Liu's Mother was Liu Wu’s mother, she was also the grandmother of Madam Wang’s child. Having endured Liu's Father’s torment, she stood by her daughter-in-law when she realized Madam Wang was planning to resist Liu Wu.

She protected Madam Wang, just as she wished someone had protected her in the past.

Tears streamed down Liu's Mother’s face, but she remained resolute. "Both blows to Liu Wu’s head were struck by me alone. Madam Wang had nothing to do with it. She is innocent and pregnant. Please stop summoning her for interrogation. If anything happens to the child, I will file a complaint with the Emperor and drag all of you officials into this mess."