"Sheng Lengshuang, don't talk nonsense. I didn't do such a thing!" Sima Min said angrily, "That is my father. No matter how much I want to get out of the Ministry of Justice's prison, I would never do such a thing."
"I know, because I was once engaged to Prince Mingrui, you are unhappy in your heart, so you have been targeting me again and again."
Sheng Lengshuang acted as if she had heard the biggest joke. She smiled and asked Cheng Han, "Lord Cheng, do you find Sima Min's joke amusing?"
Cheng Han forced a smile, "Miss Sheng, I cannot comment on this matter. I am not aware of the inside story."
He did not want to offend either of them. One was protected by Prince Mingrui, and the other was his fiancée who could bring him considerable benefits.
Sheng Lengshuang, knowing his thoughts, her smile faded slightly, "Lord Cheng, you should make a decision quickly."
She raised the documents in her hand, "We have now found conclusive evidence that it was Sima Min who murdered Prince Rui. Her intention was to get out of the Ministry of Justice's prison. She just didn't expect that after Prince Rui's death, the situation in Prince Rui's mansion would be so dire."
"Sheng Lengshuang, the so-called evidence is merely fabricated by you. You are trying to frame me!" Sima Min shouted, suppressing her panic.
Sheng Lengshuang looked at her with the disdain one would give an ant, "Sima Min, next time you try to frame me, please come up with a better reason. Don't say such ridiculous things. Unhappy in my heart? Is it worth it for me to be unhappy over a thing like you?"
"Also, if I truly wanted to frame you, do you think you would still be alive and well? Don't forget, Prince Rui's mansion, without Prince Rui, is not even comparable to an ordinary family. It would be a mere word for me to deal with you."
Sima Min was speechless. Utterly wronged, she glared hatefully at Sheng Lengshuang. Never before had she wished to kill Sheng Lengshuang so much.
Sheng Lengshuang threw the documents in front of her, "Look at this evidence. It shows how you plotted to kill your own father to get out of the Ministry of Justice's prison. Oh, and I must tell you something. His Majesty has decreed that you will be torn apart by five horses in public three days from now, to appease Prince Rui's soul."
"Furthermore, Prince Rui's mansion has been demoted to commoner status. This means there is no Prince Rui's mansion anymore; there is the Sima family."
Upon hearing this, Sima Min collapsed onto the ground, her eyes vacant as she stared ahead. Prince Rui's mansion was gone? She would be torn apart by five horses in public? How did things turn out this way?
She truly did not understand.
Once a county princess and the only legitimate daughter of Prince Rui's mansion, she had always had everything she desired and was doted upon by everyone.
But now, she had met such an end.
Suddenly, her peripheral vision caught sight of Sheng Lengshuang, radiant and elegant, standing outside the prison cell. All her resentment seemed to find an outlet.
"It's you! It's you, you bitch, who has brought me to this point!" She gripped the prison bars with all her might, her face contorted in a ferocious glare at Sheng Lengshuang, "I will not let you go. I will never let you go."
Sheng Lengshuang crossed her arms and looked down at her, as if at a loser, "People like you, who can even kill their own father, will never admit they are wrong. No matter how much I say, it will be useless."
"Fortunately, you will soon face the ultimate punishment."
Sima Min shivered. All her hatred turned into fear and panic. She clasped her hands together and pleaded, "Miss Sheng, please spare my life. I know I was wrong. I promise, from now on, I will stay obediently in my home and will never trouble you again."
Sheng Lengshuang scoffed and pointed a finger at herself, "Do I look like a fool? You've made similar promises countless times, but what was the result? Sima Min, you have brought this upon yourself."
"You are too conceited. You've forgotten that the Eastern Jin Dynasty belongs to the Mo family, not the Sima family. Moreover, you were trying to scheme against the Emperor's most trusted uncle. Do you think the Emperor would allow you to scheme against his uncle so casually?"
Sima Min's face grew increasingly grim. She gritted her teeth and fell silent. If her plan had succeeded, Prince Mingrui would have married her for the sake of his reputation and her honor.
"Prince Mingrui would not marry you for his reputation or yours; he would only kill you," Sheng Lengshuang said, as if knowing her inner thoughts. "Do you think you can achieve your desires by resorting to such despicable tactics? You really overestimate yourself."
Sima Min's face flushed with embarrassment, not believing that her actions were wrong. Everyone acted for their own benefit, and it was perfectly normal for her to do these things for her own benefit.
"Miss Sheng speaks very nicely. Those years, how many malicious things did you do in Shili Slope Village? Even if you have changed, you cannot erase what you have done."
Sheng Lengshuang heard this without the slightest change in her expression, "At least I have changed. Unlike you, who neither believes your malicious deeds were wrong nor repents them."
"Forget it, why am I wasting my breath talking to you here? Anyway, you will be executed in a few days. Alright, Miss Sima, cherish your remaining days."
With that, she turned and walked away.
"Sheng Lengshuang, come back here! Come back here, do you hear me?" Sima Min shouted loudly, turning her head, "You can't treat me like this. You have no right to treat me like this! I want to see His Majesty! I want to see His Majesty!"
Sheng Lengshuang ignored her, not looking back at Sima Min again. For someone like Sima Min, the sooner she was dealt with, the better.
Exiting the Ministry of Justice's prison, she saw Mo Lingxi standing by the carriage. She raised an eyebrow, "Why isn't Prince Mingrui going to see your admirer? She's been thinking of you all this time."
Mo Lingxi's face was stern. He lightly tapped her head, "If you talk nonsense again, see how I deal with you."
Sheng Lengshuang glanced at him sideways, "I didn't hear you clearly just now. Say it again."
Mo Lingxi's survival instinct was very strong, "I was saying, how could I possibly go see Sima Min? Just a glance at her disgusts me."
"It seems Prince Mingrui didn't say that."
"That's exactly what I said."
Sheng Lengshuang chuckled twice and did not pursue the matter further, "Tell me, if Prince Rui had known what his legitimate daughter was planning, would he have gone to such lengths to help her get out of the Ministry of Justice's prison back then?"
Mo Lingxi couldn't answer this, "Are you speaking from personal experience?"
Sheng Lengshuang nodded, "In a way. I am also a parent, and I can understand Prince Rui's actions, but I cannot agree with his indulgence of Sima Min. Prince Rui's intentions were good, but he underestimated human nature and underestimated Sima Min."
Sometimes she thought it was terrifying, that Sima Min, just to get out of the Ministry of Justice's prison, had plotted to kill her own father and then framed her.
Mo Lingxi stroked her head and said softly, "Xiao Feng is not that kind of child. He is very, very good. Usually, the person he mentions the most is you, his mother."