In the imperial prison, Xue Zhan had taken off his crimson official robe, leaving only his white inner garment. His hair was loose, but there was not a trace of embarrassment on him. He stared coldly at Prime Minister Zhang in front of him. "Your Excellency Prime Minister truly has great skills. You can even turn black into white!"
Prime Minister Zhang curled his lips into a smile. "It's just that you don't know how to appreciate favors! Xue Zhan, you can only blame your bad luck!"
This man had destroyed his Flower Tower and released those people, ruining his major plan. It was already a mercy on his part not to kill him with his own hands!
A faint smile also appeared on Xue Zhan's face. "Actually, I'm really curious. How on earth did you make Zhang Yan betray me, Prime Minister Zhang?"
Zhang Yan had followed him for many years. He had never thought that he would betray him! But now, reality had given him a resounding slap in the face.
Prime Minister Zhang laughed heartily. "Money makes the mare go. Everyone in this world is a mundane person. It's only because you couldn't give him what he wanted!"
Xue Zhan nodded and curled his lips into a smile at Prime Minister Zhang. "I'm enlightened!"
Hearing this, there was also a glint of amusement in Prime Minister Zhang's eyes. "I'm afraid I'll have to trouble Lord Xue today!"
Xue Zhan's expression turned slightly cold. He walked to the side, sat cross - legged, and looked at the sky outside the window. He couldn't help but sigh. He, Xue Zhan, had always prided himself on being smart, but he never thought that he would be outwitted by someone.
Xue Zhan, Xue Zhan, you're really going backwards as you live!
The next day.
Fine, dense rain fell from the sky, rising in a mist. The gentle breeze blew across his face, carrying a bit of chill.
Liu Rumei held an oil - paper umbrella and came to the yamen early.
At this moment, sitting in the courtroom was not the carefree Xue Zhan, but Prime Minister Zhang in his crimson official robe.
Beside Prime Minister Zhang, Mo Liandi sat leisurely. He hadn't returned all night yesterday, and today he came here. Had Zhang Yan and Lin Chunhua been found?
Sensing her gaze, Mo Liandi immediately looked up, curled his lips into a smile at her, and his eyes were full of tenderness.
Liu Rumei's face blushed involuntarily, and she quickly turned her face away. Sixi, who was following beside her, immediately covered her lips and snickered.
At this time, Xue Zhan was also brought in. In his white inner garment, he knelt in front of Prime Minister Zhang, still looking as carefree as ever!
Prime Minister Zhang slapped the gavel in his hand and said coldly, "Xue Zhan, you colluded with Lin Chunhua of the Flower Tower and the flower - stealing bandit Zhao San, committing adultery and abduction. Do you plead guilty?"
There was full of mockery in Xue Zhan's eyes. "If you want to frame someone, there's no lack of excuses!"
Although he said so, his eyes would occasionally glance at Mo Liandi beside him. Had this man brought the people back or not?
However, Mo Liandi didn't even give him a look. He held the teacup in his hand, took a sip, and his eyes were fixed on Liu Rumei. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
Xue Zhan was speechless. What time was this? He was still busy with his love affairs!
If he died, it must be because of this man! He would never let him go even in death!
Prime Minister Zhang seemed to have expected Xue Zhan to say such words. He said coldly again, "Summon the coroner Zhang Yan!"
Liu Rumei and Xiao Heyuan both looked towards the door, and they saw Zhang Yan in a simple cloth garment and looking haggard enter the courtroom.
"I, the commoner Zhang Yan, pay my respects to Your Excellency Prime Minister!"
Prime Minister Zhang nodded indifferently. "Yesterday, did you go to the prison on Xue Zhan's order to kill the convict Lin Chunhua and cover up your tracks?"
Zhang Yan glanced at Xue Zhan kneeling beside him. A look of guilt flashed across his eyes. Seeing this, Xiao Heyuan and the others felt a sinking feeling in their hearts.
Zhang Yan bowed respectfully to Prime Minister Zhang. "I beg Your Excellency Prime Minister to investigate clearly. I was ordered by Lord Xue to interrogate the convict! It was not to cover up my tracks!"
As soon as these words were said, Xiao Heyuan immediately let out a sigh of relief.
There was full of confusion in Liu Rumei's eyes. What on earth was going on?
"But the convict Lin Chunhua died at your hands. It was witnessed by Tao Yao of the Flower Tower! Moreover, does interrogating a convict need to be done outside the city? Zhang Yan, don't think this Prime Minister is a fool!"
Hearing this, Zhang Yan bowed to Prime Minister Zhang again and said, "It was indeed I who killed the convict Lin Chunhua. But it's not as Your Excellency Prime Minister said. The convict suddenly had evil intentions and said that she had evidence left outside the city. That's why I took her there. Who would have thought that this was the convict's scheme!"
There was full of hatred in Zhang Yan's eyes. "The convict snatched the knife from the yamen runner and even took Miss Tao Yao hostage. I was forced to do so and accidentally killed her. If Your Excellency Prime Minister doesn't believe me, you can summon the yamen runner who accompanied me yesterday and Miss Tao Yao of the Flower Tower!"
Xue Zhan was slightly stunned, and his eyes were full of confusion. What on earth was Zhang Yan up to?
Prime Minister Zhang said coldly again, "Summon Tao Yao and Wang Xu of the Flower Tower!"
"Yes."
After a while, Tao Yao in a red dress came gracefully. Behind her was Wang Xu and the others.
"I, the commoner girl, pay my respects to Your Excellency Prime Minister and Your Highness the Prince!"
"I, the commoner, pay my respects to Your Excellency Prime Minister and Your Highness the Prince!"
Mo Liandi nodded indifferently and didn't say much.
Prime Minister Zhang raised his hand, glanced at Xue Zhan kneeling on the ground, and said indifferently, "Tao Yao, this Prime Minister asks you, why were you outside the city yesterday?"
Tao Yao smiled charmingly. "I'm just a prostitute in a brothel. Now that the Flower Tower is gone, I naturally have to find a way out for myself. Yesterday, I was about to leave the capital when I accidentally bumped into Coroner Zhang and the madam."
"Did you witness the process of Zhang Yan killing someone with your own eyes?"
Tao Yao's beautiful eyes glanced at Zhang Yan and she sighed. "Yes. Yesterday, I happened to pass by and saw the madam. I wanted to go up and say hello, but unexpectedly, the madam suddenly attacked, snatched the knife from the yamen runner, and put it on my neck, ordering Coroner Zhang to let her go! Coroner Zhang accidentally killed the madam in order to protect my safety."
After she finished speaking, there was also a bit of sadness in her beautiful eyes.
Prime Minister Zhang frowned tightly and said to Wang Xu, "Wang Xu, is what Tao Yao said true?"
Wang Xu bowed respectfully. "There's not a single false word! It was all an accident! The knife that Lin Chunhua snatched was the one in my hand. It was Lin Chunhua who wanted to kill Coroner Zhang. Coroner Zhang was forced to do so and accidentally killed her!"
Hearing this, there was even more confusion in Liu Rumei's eyes. What on earth was going on?
Mo Liandi gave Liu Rumei a reassuring smile, then got up leisurely and said indifferently, "Since it was an accidental killing, it means that the matter of Lord Xue covering up his tracks by killing someone was also a misunderstanding!"
Prime Minister Zhang also nodded. "Your Highness the Prince is right. Last night, I've already found out that the more than twenty missing girls were sold by their parents and were willing to become slaves and enter the Flower Tower. Who would have thought that they were intercepted by the flower - stealing bandit Zhao San on the way! And this Lin Chunhua had long colluded with the flower - stealing bandit Zhao San. All they wanted was to embezzle this sum of money for selling themselves! These two deserve to die!"
Although Xiao Heyuan was a bit confused, he quickly bowed and said, "If so, then Your Excellency Prime Minister, is Lord Xue innocent?"