Seeing this, Shen Junming immediately took out several silver ingots and stuffed them into the hands of the two yamen runners. "Go and have some tea!"
After receiving the silver, the two yamen runners couldn't very well refuse to do their part. They released Shen Zhang and stepped back a couple of paces. "Hurry up!"
"Zhang'er!" Aunt Su's hands trembled as she stroked Shen Zhang's face. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. She covered her mouth and couldn't say a word.
"Auntie, I'm fine!" Even at this moment, Shen Zhang comforted Aunt Su first.
"Brother!" Shen Zhen stood beside Aunt Su, supporting her, but her own face was also covered with tears.
"Father, Auntie, I didn't kill anyone! I won't admit it!" Shen Junming wanted to pat Shen Zhang on the shoulder, but seeing his current state, he didn't move.
"Zhang'er, don't worry. Father will find a way when he gets back. I'll definitely get you out! Stay inside for a couple of days first. I will surely rescue you!"
Shen Zhang nodded but didn't say a word. Instead, he turned his gaze to Aunt Su. "Auntie and Sister, don't worry! After a couple of days, when they find out I'm not the murderer, they'll let me go home! You can rest assured!"
Aunt Su wiped the tears from her face with a handkerchief and then said with a sob, "Okay, we'll be waiting for you at home!"
"Sir Shen, it's getting late!" The two yamen runners walked over to remind him.
Shen Junming nodded, and the two yamen runners immediately stepped forward, grabbed Shen Zhang again, and took him into the prison.
...
Shen Zhang's matter didn't stir up much of a wave in the vast capital city, but it was of crucial importance to Aunt Su and Shen Zhen.
After returning from the Capital Magistrate's Office, Shen Junming had some food at home, changed his clothes, and then went out again.
Aunt Su and Shen Zhen waited for news at home, but they were extremely restless. They never expected that in just a few days, they would get involved with a scumbag like Qin An!
Now Shen Zhang was even saddled with a murder charge because of him. He was currently locked up in the cold and damp prison. And from what Lord Liang meant today, as long as Shen Zhang didn't admit to the murder, Lord Liang wouldn't let the matter rest.
It was getting dark when Shen Junming finally returned home.
"Sir! Any good news? Have you found someone who can save our Zhang'er?" As soon as Aunt Su saw Shen Junming's figure, she immediately walked over.
Shen Junming looked rather disheveled, and there was weariness on his face. He waved his hand and said to Aunt Su, "Let's talk inside the room!"
Seeing Shen Junming's current expression, Aunt Su's heart sank by half, but she still followed him into the room with hope.
Shen Junming sat on the chair, leaned back, and placed his hands on the armrests. "Alas! I went to see Lord Liang. I gave him quite a bit of silver, but he refused to accept it. He even made it clear that he would handle the case impartially! No matter how many conditions I offered, he wouldn't budge!"
"What shall we do then, sir!" Aunt Su was completely panicked. "Zhang'er's body can't withstand so many blows from the cane every day! If this goes on, even if Zhang'er is innocent, he'll..."
"Of course I understand what you're saying, but Lord Liang is directly in charge of this case! Now that he refuses to budge, I have no other way!" Shen Junming closed his eyes, rubbed his temples, and said helplessly.
Aunt Su's tears welled up again. She knelt in front of Shen Junming and said, "Sir, think of another way. Save Zhang'er! He's your son! If you don't save him, no one else can!"
"Alas! How could I not think of a way! I've gone to see five or six people in total. I've said all the nice words I could, asking them to intercede and put pressure on Lord Liang on my behalf, but Lord Liang just flatly refuses. In the end, they all said they had no other way!"
Aunt Su panicked. She couldn't even maintain her kneeling position and slumped to the ground. "Sir, are we just going to watch Zhang'er die like this? He's the apple of my eye! If Zhang'er dies, I won't live either!"
Facing the current situation, Shen Junming could only tilt his head back and pat his forehead with his hand to relieve the headache.
At this moment, Aunt Su suddenly had an idea. She immediately turned her face towards Shen Junming. "Sir, do you think we could ask the Fourth Prince for help? He's a prince highly regarded by the emperor. If he speaks up, Lord Liang will surely give him face!"
Shen Junming was also stunned for a moment. He thought about it in his mind and felt that what Aunt Su said was quite feasible, but after careful consideration, he still shook his head.
"The Fourth Prince is a very busy man. How could we trouble him? Besides, Miao'er hasn't married into his family yet. It's not appropriate for us to ask the Fourth Prince for help at this time!"
"Sir, this matter concerns Zhang'er's life and death. We can't just watch him suffer in that prison! Please, sir! Go and ask the Fourth Prince for help!"
"Enough! Stop talking! I'll find someone else and think of another way. Let's not trouble the Fourth Prince!"
After saying that, Shen Junming immediately stood up from the chair and walked towards the door. He bumped into Shen Zhen who was standing outside.
"Father!" Shen Zhen lowered her head and bowed to Shen Junming.
Without even looking at Shen Zhen, Shen Junming nodded and walked away without stopping.
Shen Zhen glanced at Shen Junming's retreating back, then looked at Aunt Su who was slumped on the ground and crying bitterly in the room. She silently bit her lips.
...
"Knock, knock, knock! Second Miss! It's Zhen'er!" Shen Zhen stood outside Shen Miao's room and knocked on the door.
Chunnuan came out of the room and opened the door. "Third Miss, please come in!"
Inside the room, Shen Miao was just wearing a goose - yellow silk dress for daily wear. She was sitting in front of the dressing table, combing her hair one stroke at a time.
"It's so late. Why aren't you sleeping? What are you doing here?"
Shen Zhen clasped her hands in front of her and tightened her grip on the handkerchief in her hand. She glanced at Shen Miao, stepped forward, and took the comb from her hand. "Second Miss, let me comb your hair for you!"
Shen Miao didn't decline and handed the comb to Shen Zhen. Shen Zhen took the comb, lowered her head, and carefully combed Shen Miao's hair one by one.
"Second Miss, there's something I'd like to ask you for help with!" Shen Zhen looked at the top of Shen Miao's head and hesitated for a while before finally speaking.
Since Shen Miao never liked the idea of having illegitimate children in the Shen Mansion and didn't like Shen Zhen calling her sister, Shen Zhen always addressed Shen Miao as Second Miss.