Ji Hong ordered men to go to Wucheng to verify the truth.
As for Wang Xun.
"You entered the capital without authorization, your crime is akin to rebellion. Minister of Justice!"
Ji Hong called out a name, and the Minister of Justice walked out from the ranks of officials, bowed, and stood before the hall: "Your humble servant is here!"
"Temporarily detain the county magistrate of Wucheng, Wang Xun, in prison. A decision will be made after the matter he mentioned is clarified!"
"Your humble servant obeys the decree!"
Ji Hong ordered Wang Xun to be imprisoned.
"Your humble servant thanks His Majesty for his grace!"
Before entering the capital, Wang Xun had prepared for the worst. The best outcome he had envisioned did not even come close to this moment. Just hearing about Yu Dabou's fate was enough to make him willingly die here.
Ji Hong returned to the palace. The Minister of Justice walked over to Wang Xun and helped him up: "Lord Wang, please!"
No guards escorted him, no shackles bound his wrists. The commoners and officials stood and watched.
...
Gu Yuan, carrying his medicine box, went to the Ministry of Justice prison.
"Lord Wang!"
The jailer opened the cell door, and Gu Yuan walked over to Wang Xun. He put down the medicine box and said to Wang Xun, "His Majesty has ordered me to examine your pulse."
Wang Xun turned towards the direction of the imperial city and kowtowed to express his gratitude. After standing up, he bowed to Gu Yuan, "Thank you, my lord!"
Gu Yuan said, "You're welcome!"
The cell where Wang Xun was held was not as damp and dirty as other cells. Instead, it was very clean and tidy. Even the blanket had a fresh scent, as if it had been dried in the sun.
Beside the straw-filled bed in the cell, a low wooden table was thoughtfully placed. On the table was freshly brewed tea.
Wang Xun invited Gu Yuan to sit by the low wooden table. They sat around the table. Wang Xun rested his arm on the table, and Gu Yuan placed his hand on Wang Xun's wrist to diagnose him. Due to years of worry and resentment, Wang Xun's heart脉 had been damaged. However, now that his wish had been fulfilled and his resentment had subsided, with some rest, he would be fine. However, he still had a cold affliction in his body, likely from catching a chill on the road. With internal and external coldness, he needed to take a dose of Si Ni Tang first.
"Lord Wang's body is fine," Gu Yuan said, raising his hand and smiling at Wang Xun. He continued, "I will prepare the medicinal soup for you in the next two days and bring it to you. After two days of recuperation, I will adjust the treatment based on your body's recovery." Wang Xun wanted to decline when he heard this, but Gu Yuan didn't give him a chance to speak, "His Majesty has ordered that Lord Wang need not refuse."
"Your humble subordinate thanks you, my lord!"
Wang Xun stood up and bowed again to express his thanks.
Gu Yuan did not linger. After leaving the Ministry of Justice, he went to the palace to report.
Hearing that Wang Xun was in good health, Ji Hong nodded and only instructed Gu Yuan to treat him well, saying nothing more.
Gu Yuan personally brewed the Si Ni Tang and sent it to the Ministry of Justice prison.
Then, he went to the Regent's Mansion.
"So tired, so tired!"
From afar, Thirteen heard Gu Yuan's howling.
Gu Yuan rubbed his neck, his muscles stiff from tending the fire while brewing the medicine.
Thirteen, having received orders, did not stop him. Gu Yuan pushed open the study door and saw Ji Jinmo sitting calmly behind his desk. Gu Yuan lunged towards the desk, his hands gripping the edge of the table, his entire face filled with the word 'curiosity'. His desire for knowledge reached its peak: "Jinmo, quickly tell me, didn't sister-in-law go to investigate the mist on Changming Mountain? How did she uncover spies from Liaojiang? You don't know, when I heard about this, all the hairs on my body stood on end. Besides shock, there was only admiration!"
Seeing the admiration on Gu Yuan's face, Ji Jinmo smiled with pride. Gu Yuan felt a bit of an ache in his teeth. I wasn't praising you, why are you showing off?
Before Ji Jinmo married, Gu Yuan never expected that such a cold person would be so smitten.
"Do you still want to listen?"
Ji Jinmo's voice was as cold as ice.
Gu Yuan quickly put on a smile and nodded vigorously, "Yes, yes!"
As he spoke, he turned and walked to the table, picked up the plate of pastries, dragged a chair, and returned to the desk to sit down, making a gesture for Ji Jinmo to speak.
Ji Jinmo looked at him.
Gu Yuan blinked.
Ji Jinmo raised an eyebrow.
Gu Yuan abruptly stood up and put the pastries back.
Stingy!
After putting down the pastries, Gu Yuan sat up straight.
Ji Jinmo then began to speak.
The whole matter began with an unfortunate fat man.
...
Li Da Zui never imagined that their Hengyuan Chamber of Commerce had been engaged in a deadly business all along. He also never imagined that his father's death was not an accident but that he was murdered by the current hall master of the Hengyuan Chamber of Commerce.
He squatted in a corner, his eyes red.
"You, come out!"
The jailer, holding a stick, struck the cell door and chose Li Da Zui from among the members of the Hengyuan Chamber of Commerce.
Before, poison had been involved, and important prisoners were escorted to the Langhuan Army camp. The prison within the yamen held only insignificant criminals, like Li Da Zui. Although he was the deputy hall master of the Hengyuan Chamber of Commerce, he was a fool who knew nothing.
Li Da Zui stood up tremblingly and asked obsequiously, "Officer, you..."
"Enough nonsense, come out!"
"Yes, yes!"
Li Da Zui dared not say more. He didn't know what awaited him, so he was filled with fear. His body trembled uncontrollably, and the clothes that emitted a foul odor shook with him.
"Why are you dawdling, hurry up!"
His legs were weak, and he couldn't take a step. The jailer waved his stick. Although it didn't hit him, Li Da Zui still felt as if he had been struck twice.
His hands gripped the outer side of his thighs, and the sharp pain allowed his legs to exert some strength.
The jailer led him to the inner hall. Li Da Zui saw a man in his prime sitting in the hall. The man was dressed in fine silk, with a solemn expression. His lower body was obstructed by the table, so it was impossible to tell if he wore a jade pendant at his waist.
"Do you not kneel when you see the imperial envoy!"
The jailer scolded him when he saw him standing there blankly.
Li Da Zui then came to his senses, knelt down, and exclaimed, "Greetings, my lord!"
"Tell me, what was the scene when you first saw Feng Luan!"
The man did not tell him to rise. Although Li Da Zui did not look up, he could still feel a sharp gaze piercing his back.
He dared not hide anything or speak falsely. Although he didn't know why the other party was asking this, he honestly recounted everything.
Seeing that Li Da Zui's account of how he boarded the Hengyuan Chamber of Commerce's ship matched what Feng Luan had stated in his memorial, the man lowered his head and made a tick on something that resembled a case file.
"Alright, take him away!"
Li Da Zui's legs were still trembling even after he returned to the prison.
However, Li Da Zui understood one thing: the imperial envoy who interrogated him today was likely verifying the content of the previous memorial.
The imperial court had sent an official to re-examine!