Duke Jing's younger sister

Chapter 186 Clearing My Father’s Name

Xiao Wenhao narrowed his eyes and looked at her.

When a woman speaks in such a sarcastic tone, no matter how calm she appears on the surface, she is definitely jealous in her heart.

Under the stone table, he gently raised his foot and rubbed her calf back and forth.

"No matter how many beauties there are, none can compare to your majesty's elegance and grace."

Han Yunning had a blank expression on her face. She smoothed down her messed up skirt, her eyes as calm as autumn water. "Don't give me that. Let's get down to business."

Seeing that she was unmoved, Xiao Wenhao couldn't help but feel bored, and straightened his expression and said,

"You were the one who did the Jiang family's thing, weren't you? Do you think you can bring the Jiang family down with this little trick?"

"Your Highness has misunderstood."

Han Yunning picked up the teacup and gently shook the tea in it.

"I have never thought of destroying the Jiang family, and I don't think I have the ability to do so."

This is really confusing.

Since you don't want the Jiang family to be destroyed, why go to so much trouble?

Xiao Wenhao asked in confusion, "Then why did you send someone to copy Jiang Minzhi's handwriting, write the article on the three crimes of the emperor, and spread it everywhere?"

In the imperial garden, the peonies had already withered, and even the lotus in the pond had only a few green and yellow leaves left.

Revealing a sense of dejection.

Han Yunning's lips curled up slightly. "The Lin family has fallen, and most of the students of the East School have been cut off like weeds. At this time, how can His Majesty allow the Jiang family to get into trouble again?"

Xiao Wenhao naturally understood that his father was just angry for a moment.

Once he calms down, Jiang Minzhi will be safe.

But others cannot guess the emperor's mind and will only think that the Jiang family is in great trouble and may repeat the same mistake they made eight years ago.

"But it doesn't matter." Han Yunning's eyes flashed with a hint of sternness, "It's worth it to make her sad for a while."

"By the way, please ask His Royal Highness to tell the people in the Ministry of Justice to take good care of Lord Jiang."

Xiao Wenhao smiled without saying anything. He naturally understood the deeper meaning of her words.

It’s a pity that he would not offend Jiang Minzhi for a woman.

To him, women are like flowers in the imperial garden. If there is no winter jasmine, there is still summer lotus; if there is no autumn chrysanthemum, there is still red plum.

It's just an object to play with.

"Then...I'll come to see you tonight?" Xiao Wenhao held her soft fingertips.

Han Yunning's expression remained unchanged. He calmly withdrew his hand and said with a smile, "Unfortunately, I feel a little unwell today."

After saying that, she turned and left, leaving behind only a meaningful smile.

-------------------------------------

As soon as Jiang Li returned to the Jiang family, he sent several maids working in the kitchen to tie up Zou and interrogate her overnight.

However, Zou refused to admit it like a rock.

At midnight, a half moon rose in the sky which had been gloomy all day.

Jiang Li sat upright on the armchair in the hall, his hand on his forehead, listening to Zou's intermittent sobs, feeling overwhelmed.

"Mrs. Zou, save your crying for those who are soft-hearted towards you."

Jiang Li raised her eyelids and cast a dim gaze on her. "It's a pity that the person who was soft-hearted towards you has been sent to the prison of the Ministry of Justice by your own hands."

"If you don't tell me the truth, don't blame me for being cruel!"

"Pfft—what the hell is the truth?"

Zou's hands were tied behind her back, and there was a group of nurses around her who were watching her with eager eyes.

She cried for a long time, her eyes were swollen like walnuts, and her voice was hoarse.

"You clearly took advantage of the master's absence to instigate this group of lowly slaves to torture me. When the master comes back, I will make sure you are in trouble!" she roared.

A disdainful smile appeared on Jiang Li's lips, and her eyes suddenly turned cold.

With a wave of his sleeve, the teacup beside him flew into the air.

The porcelain cup fell to the ground and broke into pieces instantly. The tea splashed around Zou's body and drops of water fell on her skirt.

"You keep talking about your father, but why did you frame him to such an extent?"

Jiang Li said, "If you don't tell the truth, I'm afraid he will never come back!"

Zou was stunned for a moment, but still firmly believed that Jiang Li was bluffing.

She just sold a few manuscripts to that scholar. How serious a crime could that be?

She didn't believe him even though he was exaggerating and saying that Jiang Minzhi's life was in danger!

Besides, didn’t Jiang Minzhi once get exiled to Liangzhou, but he returned safely?

I guess this was also an open or covert struggle in the officialdom. Some people were jealous of his smooth career and were trying to trip him up.

Don't even think about throwing dirty water on her head.

Seeing that Zou was stubborn and unyielding, Jiang Li was at a loss. "It seems that if I don't teach you a lesson, you won't know how big a mistake you've made."

She held onto the table and slowly stood up, "Someone come—"

"The slave is here!"

All the maids in the room responded in unison and knelt down to greet.

"Drag Zou to the courtyard and give her twenty strokes of the cane. If she still refuses to speak, give her another twenty strokes until she opens her mouth!"

Zou panicked immediately, "Jiang Li, you can't do this to me! I am your elder after all! Jiang Li——"

She kept crying and shouting and was dragged out by force.

Listening to the wailing coming from the yard, Jiang Li closed his eyes.

"Girl," Xingping brought a bowl of sweet soup, "eat something. You haven't eaten a single bite of food since you came back."

Jiang Li sat down on the chair, took the porcelain bowl, and started eating bite by bite.

She needed to conserve her energy and must not fall down, so even though she had no appetite, she had to force herself to swallow.

But with something on his mind, even the sweet soup tasted like wax and had no flavor.

After a while, the maid who was torturing her came back and said, "Miss, Zou has confessed."

Jiang Li put down the porcelain bowl and asked hurriedly, "Hurry up and tell me!"

Zou was a man of some integrity. She was pressed on the torture bench by several people and was beaten with more than twenty sticks.

Only after he was beaten to the point of being nearly dead did he feebly confess.

"According to Zou, it was sold to a student from Changzhou for one thousand taels of silver."

Students from Cheung Chau?

This might be enough to fool Zou, but Jiang Li would never believe it.

"Let the housekeeper write a testimony and have her sign it."

"Yes." The nanny took the order and left.

Jiang Li paced slowly in the hall and called Du Li and Du Xin out, "There is something I need you to do for me."

The two stood in the hall, bowed and said, "At your service, young lady."

"Your Majesty has sent people to confiscate the article "On the Three Sins of the King". Now it is no longer available in the market. Can you think of a way to help me find a copy?"

"Also..."

Jiang Li pondered for a moment, "Go and look for any scholars or talents in Jiangdu City who are good at imitating handwriting. You must find them as soon as possible."

"Thank you."

She bowed slightly, "This matter is extremely important. Please do your best."

The two were startled and hurriedly avoided her greeting.

"Young lady, you must not do such a great gift. We can go back to the Guardian Division and ask for their help. We will definitely be able to give you a satisfactory answer in the shortest possible time."

"There is one more important thing..." Jiang Li's eyelashes trembled slightly, "Remember, you must not spread the Jiang family's affairs to the Northland, do you understand?"

"I understand." The two men took the order and left.

Jiang Li has already prepared for the worst.

Even if the person who copied the poem was found, he would probably have been killed long ago.

But as long as there is Zou's confession and a person who could imitate his father's handwriting was killed for no reason, it is enough to prove that there is a mystery behind his father's affairs.

Investigating the case was not something she could do.

What she had to do was to implore Emperor Hongyang to order a thorough investigation of the case and clear her father's name.