Isn't this what the prefect just threatened people with? This old woman is really pitiful. She has been threatened by several people in a row.
Isn't Prime Minister Gu the prince's brother-in-law? Why doesn't he help the prince? He is really a good official and doesn't take sides.
Only Yuan Xiangxiang felt that something was wrong. There must be something wrong with this matter. Looking at the old woman, the old woman cried again: "My Lord, what I said this time is absolutely true. If I lie, you can beat me to death."
When everyone heard this, they knew what was going on. This old man is afraid of death! What he said just now was a lie, so he said it directly after being frightened by the adults. Now what he said is true, facing a higher official, he is justified!
Yuan Xiangxiang knew that Gu Xiangning had bad intentions. She was extremely angry, but she couldn't find a solution for the moment.
Sure enough, Gu Xiangning spoke up: "Since you want to prove it with death, then go and search. Come, watch over the two young ladies of the Yuan family and this young master. Do not go back to report the news. Then take people to search the Yuan Marquis Mansion to see if they have caught the old woman's nephew. Remember, do not be rude, and be nicer. After all, this is the Marquis' Mansion."
After all, they were going to search the mansion. Yuan Xiangxiang had a bad feeling in her heart. Could it be that this matter was a trap set by Tong Ruyan from the beginning to the end? But the question was, as a woman from the countryside, did she have the ability to do this
Thinking of this, I felt a little more at ease. At this time, someone had already led soldiers to search the Yuanhou Mansion.
"Madam, Madam, something bad has happened. There are many soldiers at the door. They said they want to search our house."
A servant shouted to the housekeeper and the lady that there were soldiers searching the mansion. Lady Yuan was confused, but she still went out with the housekeeper to greet them.
"Sir, may I ask what is going on? You showed up at my door with so many soldiers, what do you want to do?"
The official who came to search looked at the wife of Marquis Yuan and said: "We are under the order of the Prime Minister to come to the Marquis Yuan's mansion to search and rescue people. Madam, please call everyone in the Marquis Yuan's mansion out. Stand here so that we can search."
They actually came to search the Marquis's mansion. Marquis Yuan's wife was stunned: "Whose order did you follow?"
The man was thinking about going back quickly to report! So he waved his hand and said, "Madam, please invite everyone out quickly. We are only searching. If you don't believe me, you can send someone to go in with us. Those who go in to search, please be careful not to destroy anything in the mansion. Go in and search."
Mrs. Yuan was pushed aside, looking grim. She did not forget to call the housekeeper: "Hurry up and arrange for someone to watch those who are searching, don't let them steal anything."
When the officers and soldiers heard this, their faces turned black. They were here to search and rescue people, not to search and confiscate houses. How could they not be angry when they were treated like thieves
This led to them searching extremely carefully, wishing to remove every bit of dust in every corner of the mansion.
The entire mansion was searched, and many soldiers came out one by one to report: "My lord, the main hall was not found."
"Your Excellency, the kitchen was not found."
My Lord, I was not surprised. No one would hide someone in an obvious place. Soon, most of the searchers had arrived, and only two or three teams were left.
Madam Yuan Hou had calmed down by now and looked at the man in front of her: "Sir, if this search turns up nothing, who will take responsibility? Who can afford to lose face for my mansion?"
The leader of the search officers and soldiers smiled and said, "I don't know about that. I just came here to search on orders. Besides, the search is not yet complete, so there is no guarantee that we won't find anything."
Madam Yuan Hou was so angry at these words that her heart ached. She snorted coldly, "Then I will see what you can find out today."
As soon as he finished speaking, a small group of people rushed out excitedly: "Sir, we found it. We found it in an abandoned old yard behind the kitchen. He claimed to be the nephew of the old woman and was brought here inexplicably!"
"Since we have found her, let's take her away. This will be a good opportunity to report to the Prime Minister." The man waved his hand and stopped paying attention to Marquis Yuan's wife. He led his men directly to the government office.
Lord Yuan finally received the news and came back belatedly. He looked at the angry wife of Lord Yuan and asked, "What happened? My mansion was searched randomly. I will go to the palace to file a complaint now."
Mrs. Yuan still didn’t know what was going on, so she could only follow Lord Yuan into the palace.
At this time, the soldiers who went to search arrived in front of the government office gate in a mighty manner, escorting the two guards and the old woman's nephew.
"Reporting to the Prime Minister, a man was found imprisoned in Marquis Yuan's mansion."
The old woman has now seen the man, and her eyes widened instantly: "My nephew, my nephew. I thought I would never see you again in this life. Thank you, Lord Qingtian, for saving my nephew."
Yuan Xiangxiang was not a fool. The moment she saw her nephew, she realized that she was being plotted against. What malicious accusations? These were traps from the beginning. The other party had calculated that they would attack Tong Ruyan.
Gu Xiangning looked at the people from the Yuan family and said, "Miss Yuan, Miss Yuan, this person was found in your house in front of everyone. He really went to great lengths to maliciously slander Madam Fang."
Yuan Xiangxiang also knew that there was no room for maneuver after what happened today, so she could only admit defeat. Because no matter how she explained, others would not admit it.
"This matter is my..."
When she was about to take the responsibility, Yuan Qinqin beside her suddenly said, "This matter has nothing to do with my sister. I did it. I just wanted this woman to leave Brother Fang. She is a country woman and is not worthy of my Brother Fang."
Cao Suixin rolled his eyes and said, "What are you talking about? Although my sister-in-law was born in the countryside, she is beautiful and kind-hearted, unlike you, who has a vicious heart. So what if she was born well? My elder brother Fang doesn't care about her!"
Yuan Qinqin looked at Gu Xiangning with a pale face, "Master Gu, I did this alone. It has nothing to do with my sister or anyone else. You can punish me however you want."
Yuan Xiangxiang looked unhappy. This silly sister must have thought that she did all these things. So she wanted to take the blame for herself!
Gu Xiangning didn't mind who in the Yuan family was convicted. The most important thing was to prove Tong Ruyan's innocence. Otherwise, Fang Shaohua would go in for the exam and come out to find that his wife was gone. That would be great! Fortunately, his wife was saved now.
Cao Suixin looked at Gu Xiangning and said, "Prime Minister, I think the laws of our Great Zhou should be adjusted. Maliciously slandering others and ruining their lives is a heinous crime. How should the sentence be? I think we should give tit for tat."
What does "tit for tat" mean? Does she want Tong Ruyan to destroy Yuan Qinqin? Lord Gu really couldn't understand the meaning of her words.
However, he really didn't know how to deal with Yuan Qinqin for the time being. Gu Xiangning felt a little headache: "What County Lady Fuyou said makes sense. Then, we will temporarily detain her. We will ask the Emperor and the Ministry of Rites tomorrow how to deal with this matter."
Cao Suixin naturally wanted to give face to Gu Xiangning, and looked at Gu Xiangning: "Then I'll trouble you, Your Majesty. I believe the verdict will be issued within three days. We are all waiting!"
Yuan Qinqin was detained, and the matter was temporarily over. They would wait for the verdict in three days to see how to deal with Yuan Qinqin. Seeing that there was no excitement to be seen, everyone dispersed.
Cao Suixin looked at Tong Ruyan and said, "Sister-in-law, let's go. We are going back. You were frightened today. Go back and have a good rest first."
Yuan Xiangxiang walked up to Cao Suixin and said, "Master Fuyou, well done. From today on, we have a feud."
Cao Suixin burst out laughing: "Oh, so our feud started today? I always thought we had a feud a long time ago. Haven't you been mad at me for a long time? What's the matter? Are you only allowed to bully others, but not to fight back?"
Yuan Xiangxiang looked at Cao Suixin, Tong Ruyan and others with hatred, and turned away. Tong Ruyan frowned and said, "This person seems very gloomy. We should stay away from her in the future."
Cao Suixin nodded obediently: "Got it, sister-in-law, let's go home."
As soon as they returned to the palace, news came out from the palace that they were asked to go to the palace. Cao Suixin reluctantly took Tong Ruyan to the palace again.
In the palace, Lord Yuan was crying and complaining to the emperor, saying that Gu Xiangning had brought people to raid his house, and asked the emperor to take charge of the matter for him!
Gu Xiangning naturally refused to admit the crime and simply told the whole story. He was originally going to wait until the morning court session tomorrow to discuss it, but now it was brought forward.
After hearing what Gu Xiangning said, the emperor asked someone to invite Cao Suixin and Tong Ruyan, the two people involved. In addition, Lord Yuan heard that not only his house was raided, but his daughter was also arrested, which made him even angrier.
Not only did Cao Suixin come, but even Yuan Xiangxiang was called into the palace. As soon as Cao Suixin entered the palace, he paid his respects to the emperor: "Fuyou greets the emperor, long live the emperor, this is Fang Shaohua's wife Tong Ruyan."
The emperor looked at Cao Suixin and said, "Everyone, please stand up. Prime Minister Gu has just explained the situation. Please listen to me. Is this true?"
After listening to the description, Cao Suixin nodded and said, "That's right, Your Majesty, it was the Marquis Yuan's Mansion that bullied people. The person was found from the Marquis Yuan's Mansion. In order to frame my sister-in-law, they also arrested innocent people. The Marquis Yuan's Mansion is bullying too much."
Marquis Yuan broke out in a cold sweat. He had no idea that his daughter had done such a thing, otherwise he would not have the nerve to come and complain: "Your Majesty, my daughter has always been innocent. Was she framed?"