bookrebus Chapter 2333 Helplessness, Seeking Advice
Chapter 2333 Helplessness, Seeking Advice
Princess Yun, Chu Yun's principal wife, was a few years younger than Princess Xuan and even more beautiful. At this moment, however, she was pale and collapsed in the main hall, weeping uncontrollably.
"Your Highness! Your Highness... how could he rebel? He must have been deceived! He must have been framed!"
"Please...please let me go! I'm innocent! I don't know anything!"
Her cries, sharp and piercing, echoed in the empty main hall.
Zhao Yu frowned and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, please have some self-respect."
"If you have anything to say, you'll have a chance to say it when we get to the Ministry of Justice prison. Now, please come with us."
Princess Yun was lifted up by two female servants and dragged out of the main hall.
Her cries gradually faded into the distance, eventually disappearing amidst the clamor of the arrest.
Two hours later, the Prince Yun's mansion was also raided.
All 158 people in the household were put into prison carts.
The gates of the mansion were also sealed off, awaiting further action.
The two groups met in front of the Ministry of Justice prison.
Dozens of prison wagons, filled with men, women, and children from the Prince Xuan's and Prince Yun's mansions, were parked in front of the prison gates, forming a dense, dark mass.
Those princesses, concubines, princes, and young ladies who once lived in luxury and were high above others are now disheveled, their clothes in disarray, huddled in the narrow prison carts, trembling with fear.
Some wept softly, some shed tears silently, and some stared blankly, as if they had lost their souls.
The gates of the Ministry of Justice prison slowly opened, like a giant beast's maw, waiting to devour these former imperial relatives.
Di Ying stood in front of the prison gate, looking at the dark mass of prison carts, at those who were once powerful but are now prisoners, and sighed deeply.
He turned to Ling Haoran and said, "Minister Ling, these people are now in your care."
Ling Haoran nodded, his expression still cold and stern: "Prime Minister Di, rest assured, the Ministry of Justice prison will definitely treat them well."
Zhao Yu glanced coldly at the prison carts and said in a deep voice, "If there is any unusual activity, send someone to inform me. The White Horse Cavalry are on standby."
The three exchanged a glance and then went their separate ways.
One after another, the prison carts drove into the dark gates of the Ministry of Justice prison and disappeared into the darkness.
The former residences of Prince Xuan and Prince Yun, once magnificent, are now empty, their gates tightly shut and heavily sealed off.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people from the two prefectures were huddled in cold, damp cells, awaiting their final judgment.
An even bigger storm is yet to come.
Deep within the Ministry of Justice's prison, the candlelight was dim, and a chilling wind blew.
Ling Haoran sat in the interrogation room, surrounded by confessions from the overnight interrogations.
He rubbed his throbbing temples, his face full of exhaustion and anxiety.
Since yesterday evening, he has barely rested, personally overseeing the Ministry of Justice prison and interrogating hundreds of people captured from the residences of Prince Xuan and Prince Yun.
The constables took turns pressuring him, using threats, bribes, and all sorts of methods, but the confession they obtained greatly disappointed him.
The servants and attendants did indeed give some names—a certain official had been very close to Prince Xuan, a certain minister had shared drinks with Prince Yun, and a certain general had received generous gifts from the Prince's residence.
But these were all superficial interactions, trivial matters, and did not warrant the charge of being accomplices in a rebellion.
What Ling Haoran wants is a big fish!
They are the masterminds behind the scenes who actually participated in the rebellion, secretly colluded, and provided funding!
They are the hidden dangers lurking deep within the imperial court, ready to stir up trouble again at any moment!
He slammed the confession in his hand onto the table, stood up, and paced back and forth in the cramped interrogation room.
The candlelight cast his shadow on the mottled wall, its length shifting and changing, much like his restless and anxious state of mind.
"Lord Ling."
A senior official from the Ministry of Justice cautiously approached: "How about... we use a little more torture? Those servants might still be hiding something..."
"it's useless."
Ling Haoran shook his head, interrupting him: "That's all the servants know."
"Those who truly know the inside story are the two princesses, as well as a few trusted nannies and stewards."
"But those trusted confidants are incredibly stubborn; even torture couldn't break them. As for the two princesses..."
He paused, his brow furrowed: "They are royal women, of noble status, and according to the law, they cannot be tortured."
"Besides, even if we did use it, given their personalities, I'm afraid they might not be willing to tell us."
The person in charge sighed and said nothing more.
Ling Haoran remained silent for a moment, then finally made up his mind: "Prepare the horses, I'm going to see Prime Minister Di."
Half an hour later, at the Right Prime Minister's residence.
Di Ying's study was brightly lit.
The round-faced, plump prime minister was also awake at the moment, sitting at his desk, reviewing the preliminary interrogation records sent by Ling Haoran.
Seeing Ling Haoran enter, he raised his head and nodded slightly: "Minister Ling, you've worked hard. Please have a seat."
Ling Haoran didn't stand on ceremony and plopped down in a chair, his face full of worry:
“Prime Minister Di, it’s past midnight and I still can’t sleep. You’ve seen those testimonies, they’re all small fry, none of them are of any use.”
"If this continues, how am I supposed to explain this to His Majesty when dawn breaks?"
Di Ying put down the dossier in his hand, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and slowly said:
"Minister Ling, why are you in such a hurry? When investigating a case, the worst thing is to be impatient and agitated. It's normal that the two princesses are unwilling to speak."
Ling Haoran was taken aback: "Normal? Their men committed treason and deserve to die. Who are they trying to cover for?"
Di Ying smiled slightly, his round, chubby face revealing a pair of small eyes that gleamed with a keen insight into the ways of the world.
"Minister Ling, think about it, why won't the two princesses speak?"
Ling Haoran frowned in thought.
Di Ying continued, "Prince Xuan, Chu Xuan, and Prince Yun, Chu Yun, one is now dead and the other awaits execution. Their rebellion has completely failed."
"As their queens, who do they hate the most?"
Ling Haoran blurted out, "Of course it's His Majesty! It's the Imperial Court!"
"Correct."
Di Ying nodded. "They hate His Majesty, they hate the court, and they hate us officials who confiscate property and arrest people."
"But what they hate even more are those accomplices who were on friendly terms with their husbands, making solemn vows of eternal love, but who turned their backs on them and even kicked them when they were down after their scheme failed!"
He paused, his gaze becoming profound: "They know those people's names."
"The reason they don't speak up is because they want to keep those people alive to avenge their men!"
"They hope those people will remain hidden in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to launch another assassination attempt against His Majesty and the court! Another rebellion!"
Ling Haoran suddenly realized, then frowned: "But how did they know those people would seek revenge?"
"What if those people are just putting on an act and won't actually do it..."
"They don't know."
Di Ying interrupted him, “But they’re willing to gamble. Gamble on those women’s loyalty to their men, gamble on those women having the guts to rebel again.”
"This is their last thought, their last hope. As long as this thought remains, they will never speak."
Ling Haoran fell silent.
Di Ying's analysis was insightful and enlightening, giving him a sudden understanding.
"That……"
Ling Haoran raised his head, his eyes full of expectation: "Prime Minister Di, is there any way to make them give up this idea?"
Di Ying smiled slightly, beckoned, and gestured for Ling Haoran to come closer.
Ling Haoran quickly stepped forward.
Ying lowered his voice and whispered something in his ear.