Chapter 113: Retrial

Chapter 113: Retrial

Money can make the devil grind the mill.

Driven by the money, within an hour, all the villagers had left the village. The guards checked and no one was left behind.

"Master, everyone has left," Zhuiyun reported to Yu Zheng.

Yu Zheng nodded. "Leave a team of constables on the hill to prevent anyone from sneaking back."

"Yes," Zhuiyun replied, giving the orders. Once everything was arranged, he went with Yu Zheng to inspect the river embankment again.

After finishing everything and returning to the city, it was already mid-afternoon.

By this time, the rain had temporarily stopped, and the streets, quiet all day, were now bustling with people.

Yu Zheng rode his horse down the long street, his handsome face weary and serious as he headed towards the prefectural residence.

After a night and a day of tiring work, he was utterly drained and just wanted to go back to take a hot bath and have a good sleep.

Seeing that the rain had stopped, Jiang Shu, who had been cooped up in the inn all day, guessed that Yu Zheng had rested sufficiently and wanted to ask about the details of Zhao Renxian's arrest.

After all, they were somewhat involved in the matter, and not knowing the rest of the story left her uneasy.

The mistress and maid took a carriage to the prefectural residence, and upon arriving, they saw a crowd gathered in front of the entrance, a lively scene.

"With a belly that size, she must be eight or nine months along," someone remarked.

"How can Prince Jing be so heartless? This woman has been kneeling here for half an hour, but he refuses to see her."

"What are you all making noise about!" The guard on duty shouted to disperse the onlookers, then frowned in annoyance as he looked at the pregnant woman kneeling on the ground. "I’ve already told you that Prince Jing isn’t here, go home."

"Officer, please, let me see Prince Jing. My husband is really innocent," the woman cried, pleading desperately.

Jiang Shu and Tanyu squeezed through the crowd and were shocked to see that the kneeling woman was none other than Lady Wang, whom they had met the other day at Lingyin Temple.

"Young Master Jiang," Lady Wang recognized Jiang Shu, her beautiful face covered in tears, her expression filled with sorrow.

"Why are you here? Let’s talk somewhere else. You shouldn’t kneel like this, the ground is still damp; you might catch a chill," Jiang Shu said, asking the maid to help Lady Wang stand up.

With difficulty, Lady Wang rose, holding her waist and sobbing. "A few days ago, my husband offended the son of the prefect and was thrown into prison, sentenced to be executed in autumn."

"This morning, I heard that Prefect Zhao was investigated by Prince Jing for corruption and other crimes, so I came to beg Prince Jing to release my husband."

She had thought her husband was as good as dead and had prepared herself to mourn and live as a widow. But now that Zhao Renxian’s crimes were exposed and he was imprisoned, she saw hope again.

However, no matter how much she begged, the guards refused to let her see Prince Jing, and the glimmer of hope in her heart turned to despair again.

After hearing Lady Wang’s story, Jiang Shu asked, "What crime was your husband accused of?"

"Murder."

Jiang Shu was taken aback. "Are you sure your husband is innocent?"

A murder charge was not like other crimes; someone must have died for such a charge to be made.

Lady Wang nodded vigorously, her voice firm. "My husband is very timid; he’s even afraid of blood and can’t even watch a chicken being killed. He wouldn’t have the courage to kill anyone."

If the person who committed the murder wasn't Young Master Wang, then who was it?

The answer is obvious.

To be precise, Lady Wang had once helped Jiang Shu before. Grateful for her kindness and considering her pregnancy, Jiang Shu decided to return the favor.

Of course, Jiang Shu merely wanted to ask Yu Zheng to investigate the matter. If Lady Wang's husband was truly wronged, then he should be cleared of the charges.

If the charges were true, Jiang Shu would not plead for leniency due to personal bias.

"Don't worry for now, I know Prince Jing. I'll take you to see him." Jiang Shu gently reassured her.

Upon hearing this, Lady Wang's deadened eyes lit up with hope. "Really? Thank you, Young Master Jiang."

Jiang Shu walked up to the guard and asked him to announce their visit to Prince Jing, as an old acquaintance seeking an audience.

The guard scrutinized Jiang Shu but remained unmoved. "Prince Jing is not in the residence. Even if the Emperor himself came, he wouldn't be able to see him."

"Alright, then we'll wait here. Prince Jing will return eventually." Jiang Shu neither lost hope nor argued, and quietly waited in front of the gate.

The crowd also did not disperse. Firstly, they wanted to see how Prince Jing would deal with the situation, and secondly, they were eager to see what the prince looked like.

After about fifteen minutes, the sound of horse hooves could be heard on the street, approaching from afar.

Jiang Shu looked in the direction of the sound and, overjoyed, rushed to greet the person who arrived. "Your Highness."

Yu Zheng was slightly surprised, pulled the reins to stop, and nimbly dismounted the horse.

"How long have you been here?" Yu Zheng's voice was low and hoarse, his face showing fatigue.

Jiang Shu whispered, "Not long. Where have you been?"

Yu Zheng's clothes and pant legs were still wet, indicating he had gone out in the rain earlier.

There were matters he couldn't discuss in front of so many people, so Yu Zheng kept it brief. "I went out of the city for a while. What happened?"

Seeing the crowd gathered in front of the residence and a sorrowful pregnant woman, he knew something must have happened.

Upon seeing that Jiang Shu truly knew Yu Zheng, Lady Wang felt somewhat relieved and, kneeling before him, recounted the facts.

After listening, Yu Zheng furrowed his brow and instructed Zhuiyun, "Have Zhuifeng bring the two suspects to the courtroom. Gather the case files, witnesses, and evidence."

"Yes," Zhuiyun acknowledged the order and left.

Yu Zheng then said to Jiang Shu, "Take Lady Wang to the courtroom and have her sit down. I'll join you after changing clothes."

Jiang Shu nodded in agreement and had the maid help Lady Wang to the courtroom.

The Lin'an Prefecture government office was located to the north of the Prefectural Residence, a short walk, no more than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.

Hearing that the case would be retried, the crowd rushed to the government office like a swarm of bees, waiting outside the office doors.

Jiang Shu accompanied Lady Wang for about fifteen minutes until Yu Zheng arrived. After a short wait, Zhuifeng brought Young Master Wang and Young Master Zhao to the court.

"Kneel." The bailiffs pushed the two men to the ground.

"Husband." Lady Wang, overcome with emotion, rushed over and hugged the disheveled Young Master Wang, using her silk handkerchief to clean his face.

"Wife." Young Master Wang looked up, his handsome face filled with fear and anxiety.

Jiang Shu and Tanyu were stunned on the spot as they saw Young Master Wang’s face.

This Young Master Wang was indeed the one from Wang Silk Shop, the same one they had worked with!

What a surprising coincidence!

When Jiang Shu had partnered with the Wang family, she had already found Young Master Wang untrustworthy, but she hadn’t expected him to be so reckless.

Before they even left Lin'an Prefecture, he had ended up as a prisoner.

Had it not been for Yu Zheng investigating Zhao Renxian, Young Master Wang would have been as good as dead.

Letting out a long sigh and shaking her head, Jiang Shu pitied Madam Wang.

She was such a good person, how did she end up marrying such a frivolous playboy like Young Master Wang?

Unaware of Jiang Shu’s relationship with Young Master Wang, Yu Zheng lowered his head and carefully reviewed the case records.

Zhufeng struck the gavel, instructing Madam Wang to return to her seat as the trial commenced.

Young Master Wang detailed the events of the incident.

On the night of the crime, Young Master Wang was drinking at the Drunken Rouge Tower when he and Young Master Zhao fought over a woman.

They were on the third-floor veranda, and during the scuffle, Young Master Zhao kicked Young Master Wang, causing him to stumble backward and accidentally push the woman off the veranda. She died on the spot.

Seeing this, Young Master Zhao immediately ordered his attendants to seize Young Master Wang. The next day, Zhao Renxian held a court hearing and sentenced Young Master Wang to be executed that autumn.

After hearing Young Master Wang’s testimony, Jiang Shu fell silent.

Partly innocent, but not entirely so.