The people's accusations were overwhelming, almost to the point of collapsing the county yamen's roof.
Faced with such a situation, even Xie Jingzhou could no longer intervene.
When the sole obstruction disappeared, Xie Jinglan found it much easier to proceed with the investigation.
For years, the villagers had been so oppressed that they were terrified. Now that they had finally mustered the courage, their complaints surged like a flood, unstoppable.
Soon, all the evidence of the county magistrate's corruption, malfeasance, and abuse of power was brought to light.
That afternoon, Xie Jinglan sealed the county yamen and had the magistrate, along with all his secretaries and bailiffs, taken to the temporary palace's dungeon.
Upon hearing the news, Emperor Xiaochang was so furious that he smashed the teacup in his hand to pieces.
Local officials, relying on the distance from the capital, often harbored their own little ambitions. It was only natural. Not to mention these local officials, how many officials standing in the imperial court daily were not afraid of being investigated?
But Emperor Xiaochang never expected that a mere county magistrate in a small town could be so lawless!
Thinking that he visited the temporary palace for hunting several times a year, and such a brazen individual was exploiting the people and engaging in corruption right under his nose, Emperor Xiaochang felt a burning shame.
This was not merely disrespecting him as an emperor; it was as if he were treating the emperor as if he were already dead!
Emperor Xiaochang summoned Bai Tu to his side. "Tell Consort Xi everything, detail by detail. Let her hear for herself what a wicked and shameless wretch her Liang family has produced!"
Bai Tu was also intimidated by the Emperor's wrath and dared not offer any comfort. "Yes, Your Majesty."
Consort Xi...
It was no exaggeration to call it a bolt from the blue!
Even without seeing the Emperor's face, just hearing Bai Tu's relayed message, Consort Xi could feel the Emperor's fury.
Seated on the soft couch, Consort Xi was filled with both anger and indignation. However, she knew that mere anger was useless. The most important thing now was to protect herself and her son. "Granny Zhang, quickly send someone back to the Imperial City. Tell my mother everything. I believe my mother will know how to make the right decision."
Granny Zhang's heart skipped a beat. "This county magistrate seems insignificant, but he is someone who enjoys the thrill of money. The Fifth Prince is currently paving his way. Does your Ladyship truly intend to..."
Consort Xi gritted her teeth. She didn't want to either. She didn't want to part with money, but if she didn't make a ruthless decision now, she feared she would lose much more. "Go, do as I said. And be quick!"
Granny Zhang was Consort Xi's dowry maid and had long been familiar with Consort Xi's family. Coupled with Granny Zhang's own cunning and resourcefulness, that very night, the Liang family sent someone to secretly deliver something to Granny Zhang, who then passed it on to Consort Xi.
Consort Xi made a decisive move. Accompanied by Granny Zhang, she went to meet the Emperor.
Soon, news spread through the temporary palace that Consort Xi had upheld righteousness over kinship. Upon learning that the county magistrate was embezzling funds under the Liang family's banner, she directly presented a letter of severance to the Emperor and swore an oath, guaranteeing that she would henceforth sever all ties with any member of the Liang family.
By the time Empress Zhong received the news, Consort Xi had already finished her dramatic performance before the Emperor.
Granny Dai, fearing the Empress might be upset, quickly tried to comfort her. "Your Ladyship, please do not distress yourself over this matter."
Distress?
Empress Zhong certainly would not. "Am I only now getting to know Consort Xi? I am more aware of her methods than anyone. She is worried that the Emperor might vent his anger on the Liang family, so she has directly cut ties with them."
With the constant undercurrent of strife among the princes, did the Emperor truly have no inkling?
How could that be?
If the Emperor were truly a fool, he wouldn't have fought his way to the throne.
Consort Xi's decision to break with the Liang family at this juncture, while seemingly crippling the Fifth Prince by losing an arm, was in fact a timely damage control measure. More than that, it was intended to inform the Emperor that she never had any intention of helping the Fifth Prince vie for power, otherwise she wouldn't have voluntarily severed ties with the Liang family.
Without the Liang family's secret support, it was indeed a significant loss for the Fifth Prince.
However, by gaining the Emperor's trust and sympathy, this loss could be transformed into a gain.
Empress Zhong let out a cold laugh. "Consort Xi is a woman of means. Fortunately, I am not one to sit idly by."
Granny Dai was somewhat flustered. "Your Ladyship, please do not act impulsively..."
"How could I be impulsive? But there are things that must be done, and I will not hesitate. Since this matter cannot cost Consort Xi dearly, I must help Ji Zizhao seek justice. Otherwise, wouldn't Xin Yi's beating have been in vain?" Although she couldn't take a piece out of Consort Xi this time, it was precisely the commotion caused by Consort Xi that gave Empress Zhong a plan.
In the temporary palace, while everyone was still secretly discussing Consort Xi's tactics, news suddenly broke that the Empress had fallen ill from anger.
Emperor Xiaochang, upon hearing this, looked at the weeping Consort Xi before him and remained silent for a long time.
He had initially planned to entrust the investigation to the Fourth Prince and the Fifth Prince working together. After all, the Fifth Prince's maternal grandfather was from the Liang family. Even after a public break, there would still be private favoritism. This way, the extent of the magistrate's wrongdoings could be somewhat contained, and the matter could be quickly settled.
Indeed, the more things unearthed, the more it would highlight the court's incompetence.
He, the emperor, also had his reputation to consider.
However, the Empress's sudden illness forced Emperor Xiaochang to abandon his previous plan. The incident of the Empress's niece being beaten had already spread like wildfire. Now that the Empress was ill because of it, if he were to gloss over the matter, wouldn't it make him appear as though he favored his concubine over his wife?
"Send the Fifth Prince back to recuperate. Entrust the entire investigation to the Fourth Prince."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Consort Xi, kneeling on the ground, watched Bai Tu hastily depart. In her heart, she cursed the Empress a hundred times. Yet, no matter how much hatred she felt, Consort Xi dared not push her luck further and could only grit her teeth and endure.
Upon receiving the news, Xie Jinglan led his men into the dungeon for interrogation that very night.
With the Fifth Prince no longer monitoring them, everything became much smoother.
After a severe beating, the secretaries and bailiffs confessed to most of the crimes. However, none of them mentioned the matter of the young woman from the town being abducted.
It was clear that this incident had been handled with extreme secrecy and caution by the county yamen, to the point that even their subordinates were not informed. Su Dan Novel Network.
Soon, Huo Nian Gong brought the county magistrate out of his cell and placed him on the dungeon's rack.
However, before any torture could be administered, the county magistrate voluntarily agreed to reveal everything he knew, but on one condition: he must tell Miss Ji herself.
Since this matter concerned the Ji family, Xie Jinglan immediately sent Tang Di to find Ji Zizhao.