Chapter 110: Interrogating Crimes (2)

Chapter 110: Interrogation of Crimes (2)

"In fact, the Second Prince has been persecuting the sons of court officials for many years, and Qin Yuanshan sold me to him three years ago. At that time, he had taken a fancy to my elder brother Qin Jiao, but Qin Jiao's health was ruined by grief after his mother’s death, and he was sent to Nanzhou by the family's principal wife to recuperate. The Second Prince was very angry about this, so after much deliberation, Qin Yuanshan made me go in his place."

Qin Yuanshan still struggled desperately: "Qin Chaole, stop your nonsense!"

Qin Chaole ignored Qin Yuanshan and continued: "I was unwilling at first, but Qin Yuanshan threatened to sell my mother to a brothel if I didn't go. So, through the Second Prince’s patronage for three years, Qin Yuanshan obtained the position of Vice Minister of Rites, and I ended up covered in whip scars and addicted to the poison 'Charming Spring,' along with some fleeting splendor and vanity."

"I thought I could just get by like that, but who would have thought Qin Yuanshan would again want to sell my mother just because I was disobedient! She stayed by his side for over a decade; even if he had raised a cat or a dog, you'd feel something for it. Qin Yuanshan, you are a beast!"

Qin Chaole yelled, urgent and harsh. Shame, pain, anguish—a tide of emotions flooded Qin Ji’s heart, while Qin Han couldn't take it anymore and ran out crying. Qin Ji, afraid something might happen to her, quickly chased after her.

"This is a note from Qin Yuanshan, with evidence he planned to sell my mother." Qin Chaole first took out a short note from his bosom and handed it to Shen Fuqing, then took out over a dozen letters.

"These are letters exchanged between Xie Chengyi and Qin Yuanshan, which I found in Xie Chengyi's study. They clearly state the 'arrangements' for me and Qin Jiao."

Calling them "arrangements" is euphemistic. Qin Jiao had seen those letters, and most of them were about how to break him and Qin Chaole, and how to administer Charming Spring.

"Oh, and there is one letter in there that is a confidential letter from Xie Chengyi to Zhaoxiu Tower in Nanzhou. Since the Nanzhou case had already been taken over by the Prince of Lingnan at that time, the letter was never sent, and he forgot to burn it, so it survived."

Xie Chengyi glared at Qin Chaole with venom in his eyes.

Only then did he understand why Qin Chaole had frequented the Second Prince's residence so often these past two months, often dragging him to the study to fool around—it was all to steal the letters and stab him in the back.

Xie Chengyi looked at Qin Chaole with hatred: "You have the nerve to call Qin Yuanshan vicious? In my eyes, you're no better—an untamable, ungrateful wretch!"

In the face of Xie Chengyi's scolding, Qin Chaole smiled indifferently. Nothing mattered anymore.

He first glanced at Xie Nai, who had remained silent, and then turned his gaze back to the grave-faced Qin Jiao. "Qin Jiao, I have done what I promised you. Please remember your promise."

"I will keep my word," Qin Jiao replied solemnly.

This was a deal between Qin Chaole and Qin Jiao.

That night, Qin Chaole came to find Qin Jiao and told him everything that had happened in the three years since Qin Jiao left the capital, as well as Xie Chengyi's plans to target him again. At the same time, Qin Chaole proposed that if Qin Jiao would help him find a way to cure the Charming Spring addiction and get him and Concubine Yin out of the capital, he would go to Xie Chengyi's study to steal the incriminating letters and testify against Xie Chengyi and Qin Yuanshan's crimes.

What Qin Chaole said was true—this deal was a win-win for Qin Jiao. So he immediately wrote to Xie Nai and informed him of the matter. To Qin Jiao's surprise, in Xie Nai's reply, not only did he suggest that Military Doctor Hou could cure Qin Chaole's poison, but he also said that Miao Mao and Xie Ji'an had successively come to him and voluntarily confessed that Xie Chengyi was planning to kidnap Qin Jiao during the Spring Hunt in collusion with Consort Dowager Ying.

Qin Jiao really didn't like the clichéd tactic of luring the snake out of its hole, and he had previously rejected Xie Xuanran's proposal. But being constantly targeted by a venomous snake was really sickening.

Coincidentally, with Qin Chaole taking the initiative to form an alliance this time, and Miao Mao and Xie Ji'an willing to turn over a new leaf, it would have been foolish to reject this opportunity.

Thus, a foolproof plan to catch them in the act was finally formed.

Qin Jiao acted as the bait, Qin Chaole stole the letters while pretending to be at odds with Qin Jiao to divert Xie Chengyi's attention. Miao Mao and Xie Ji'an pretended nothing had happened, going about their usual tasks of preparing medicines and "blocking people."

Xie Chengyi thought his plan was flawless, but in reality, it was full of holes like a sieve.

Xie Nai had already informed Xie Xuanran of the plan. However, as Xie Xuanran said, he wanted to spare some face for the elders, including Consort Dowager Ying. After all, Xie Nai's mother, Imperial Noble Consort Li, and Xie Xuanran's mother had already passed away, and the most honored woman in the imperial harem now was Consort Dowager Ying.

Xie Xuanran thought things through carefully. He assigned the case to the craziest and most straight-arrow Shen Fuqing, with the Shadow Guard assisting from the sidelines. He and Lin Wen joined the delegation’s hunt to avoid the awkwardness while ensuring that Wu Fei received no news of the matter—killing two birds with one stone.

Although the process was cumbersome, things turned out well in the end.

Xie Chengyi was caught red-handed, and Qin Chaole had obtained the letter evidence.

Shen Fuqing opened each letter provided by Qin Chaole and read them, then passed them to the other officials of the Court of Judicial Review.

"Yes, this is the Second Prince's handwriting."

"This letter is in the handwriting of Vice Minister Qin, and it bears his personal seal!"

"This letter also bears the Second Prince's personal seal."

"It matches. The letter paper is snow cypress paper, specially supplied by the palace. Each palace has records of how much they receive. If there are still doubts, we can call the staff from the Internal Affairs Office to confirm."

With each word from the Court officials, the faces of Xie Chengyi and Consort Dowager Ying darkened. "You are slandering an imperial prince! Once I meet His Majesty, all of you will be executed!" Consort Dowager Ying shouted angrily.

Seeing that Consort Dowager Ying remained obstinate, Shen Fuqing thought for a moment and said, "Would Your Highness like to meet the 'fake Qin Jiao' now in the Medical Bureau? I hear he is a person from your palace, acting on your orders."

Upon hearing this, Consort Dowager Ying went pale in an instant. Then Shen Fuqing poured fuel on the fire, "And the physicians, medicine boys, and guards who served in the Medical Bureau... all these witnesses—would Your Highness like to meet them as well?"

This time, Consort Dowager Ying fell silent.

Shen Fuqing curled his lip in a cold sneer, not hiding his contempt.

He waited a moment, and when he was sure that Consort Dowager Ying and Xie Chengyi had nothing more to say, he retrieved the stack of letters and pulled out the secret letter written to Zhaoxiu Tower.

"Second Prince and Your Highness, Consort Dowager, have nothing more to say, correct? Then I will now proceed to the Second Prince's second crime: conspiring with his cronies at Zhaoxiu Tower to traffic people."

Shen Fuqing shook the secret letter in his hand and said leisurely.

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