Chapter 122

Chapter 122: You Could Get Out Soon

Madam Cui said, “Shu Xian, go find Sheng Zhi Wan. Make Sheng Zhi Wan go into the palace right now and beg the Empress Dowager!”

Madam Cui clutched Qi Shu Xian as if grabbing a lifeline. “Didn’t the Empress Dowager used to dote on Sheng Zhi Wan the most? If Sheng Zhi Wan pleads, the Empress Dowager won’t ignore it.”

Qi Shu Xian said nothing and avoided Madam Cui’s gaze.

Madam Cui demanded, “Why aren’t you saying anything?!”

Qi Shu Xian had no choice. “Mother, Sheng Zhi Wan definitely won’t go.”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s attitude toward Eldest Sister had already shown everything.

And Eldest Sister too. She had already come to apologize, yet she still had to put on airs and even lay hands on Sheng Zhi Wan.

Now that Qi Shu Xian’s relationship with Sheng Zhi Wan had become like this, it might not have been unrelated to Eldest Sister.

Qi Shu Xian had only just returned Sheng Zhi Wan’s dowry. What face did Qi Shu Xian have to beg Sheng Zhi Wan now?

Madam Cui gritted her teeth. “Why wouldn’t Sheng Zhi Wan go? Yan’er is your own Eldest Sister. Yan’er is your daughter-in-law too. It’s just one sentence from Sheng Zhi Wan. How can Sheng Zhi Wan refuse?”

Duke Qi suddenly shouted, “Enough!”

Duke Qi said, “Do you think this is just one sentence? At a time like this, one wrong step could drag the Duke Manor into it!”

Madam Cui refused to let go. “But what about Yan’er?”

Yan’er was also the child Madam Cui had carried for ten months. She was the eldest daughter, pampered from childhood, and that was how she grew up so willful.

Duke Qi looked at Madam Cui’s terrible expression and at how Madam Cui had grown even thinner lately. In the end, Duke Qi could not bear it and softened his voice.

Duke Qi said, “Alright. Don’t panic and confuse yourself.”

Duke Qi said, “His Majesty struck so many people this time. Even clan-backed imperial relatives and the Grand Commandant are among them. The people more anxious than you and me are everywhere.”

Duke Qi said, “When the imperial clan kinsmen and the Grand Commandant’s scholar faction pressure His Majesty, His Majesty probably won’t follow the old rule and punish the relatives of the salt smugglers. At most, His Majesty will punish the smugglers themselves…”

Duke Qi said, “When that happens, I’ll work my connections and think of a way to pull Yan’er out.”

Qi Fei Yan was also Duke Qi’s daughter. Duke Qi did not want to watch Qi Fei Yan die either.

Madam Cui finally forced herself to calm down. “Alright… alright.”

A night passed.

The next day, at morning court, old ministers did indeed come forward and beg Emperor Chong Sheng to handle the illegal salt case lightly.

Emperor Chong Sheng sat high on the Dragon Throne, face dark. “Illegal salt ruins the nation and harms the people. How could I spare it? Even more, these people held important positions, yet they ignored the law of the land!”

Emperor Chong Sheng’s voice grew colder. “If I do not punish them harshly, how will I uphold the law of the land? How will I calm the people’s hearts?!”

Duke Qi and Qi Shu Xian both changed expressions.

Someone hurried to speak again. “Your Majesty, please calm your anger!”

That person knelt and said, “Your Majesty, I believe strict punishment for the illegal salt offenders is necessary. But we can still judge by severity. Those most deeply involved should be punished without mercy, but those with lighter involvement, or even those who did not know at all, can be treated more leniently.”

The minister continued, “This will show the majesty of the law, and it will also stabilize the Imperial Court.”

Duke Qi and Qi Shu Xian finally breathed out. Qi Fei Yan clearly belonged to the group who did not know.

Emperor Chong Sheng frowned slightly and pondered for a moment, then said, “What you said makes some sense. But this matter must be investigated clearly. Anyone who personally took part in buying and selling illegal salt, no matter their status, will be beheaded!”

The court cried, “Your Majesty is wise!”

After court ended, Duke Qi and Qi Shu Xian immediately sent someone back to the manor to reassure Madam Cui.

Qi Shu Xian thought it over, then personally went to find Yu Lin Guard Left Commander Wei Du. Qi Shu Xian wanted to go in and see Qi Fei Yan.

Too many people came to Wei Du that day.

Imperial Forest Guard Commander Xie An and Right Commander Zhou Shou Gui were working with Da Li Court to investigate the illegal salt case, so only Wei Du remained here to guard the noble ladies in the prison.

When Wei Du heard Qi Shu Xian had come in person, Wei Du hesitated.

It was not for any other reason. Wei Du greatly admired Qi Shu Xian’s strategy in the Cang Nan war.

Besides, Qi Shu Xian only wanted to see Qi Fei Yan and calm her. A woman like Qi Fei Yan was probably on the roster to be released.

So letting Qi Shu Xian see her would be fine. It also counted as giving Heir Apparent Qi a favor. A military officer with this kind of strategy would surely rise to the top of the court one day.

With that thought, Wei Du decided to lead people in personally.

Inside the prison, Lian Wen Hui, who had been drunk all night, finally sobered up. When Lian Wen Hui realized he was in a cell, Lian Wen Hui did not even understand what was happening.

Then Assistant Minister Lian’s heavy kicks landed a few more times, and Lian Wen Hui finally became fully awake.

Lian Wen Hui shouted, “Illegal salt? Father! That’s a beheading crime! Even if you lent Son ten thousand times the courage, Son still wouldn’t dare!”

Assistant Minister Lian shouted back, “Bullshit! If it wasn’t you, then who was it? Me?”

As Assistant Minister Lian spoke, Assistant Minister Lian chased after him and lifted his foot again.

Lian Wen Hui panicked and hid behind Madam Lian. “I really didn’t do it! Father, why don’t you have His Majesty check again? Maybe they caught the wrong person. How would our family dare do something like that?”

Wei Du heard the shouting from far away and barked, “What are you arguing about?”

When Assistant Minister Lian saw Qi Shu Xian behind Wei Du, Assistant Minister Lian burst into tears.

Assistant Minister Lian cried, “Nephew-”

Qi Shu Xian did not even look at him. Qi Shu Xian only looked toward Qi Fei Yan inside the cell.

Qi Fei Yan’s face was pale.

Qi Fei Yan was Qi Shu Xian’s own elder sister. Qi Shu Xian hated that Qi Fei Yan had been greedy for Sheng Zhi Wan’s dowry, but seeing Qi Fei Yan like this still made Qi Shu Xian uneasy.

Qi Shu Xian called softly, “Eldest Sister…”

Qi Fei Yan stared over with bloodshot eyes. She had not slept at all last night and had forced herself through it.

Hearing a familiar voice, Qi Fei Yan staggered to her feet and tried to come closer.

Madam Lian hurried to support Qi Fei Yan. Qi Fei Yan was the Lian Family’s hope right now.

Qi Fei Yan gripped the iron bars tightly. “Shu Xian, how is it outside? His Majesty… what did His Majesty say about the punishment?”

Qi Shu Xian said, “Eldest Sister, don’t be afraid. You’ll be able to get out soon. His Majesty said he will only behead those involved in buying and selling illegal salt. Others should not be implicated…”

Qi Fei Yan’s voice shook badly. “…Behead?”

Qi Fei Yan’s hands shook so hard that even the iron bars rattled.

Qi Shu Xian answered, “Yes.”

Madam Lian immediately burst into tears. “Nephew! Can you go beg His Majesty? Exile is fine too, but how can it be beheading? How can it be beheading?”

Lian Wen Hui was useless, but he was still Madam Lian’s only son. If he was beheaded, what reason would she have to live?

Qi Shu Xian frowned and only gave Madam Lian a brief glance.

At that moment, Qi Fei Yan suddenly went limp and collapsed.

Qi Shu Xian called out, “Eldest Sister?”

Madam Lian screamed, “Yan’er! Yan’er, what’s wrong with you?!”

The Lian Family’s cell turned into chaos at once.

Qi Shu Xian wanted to check on Qi Fei Yan personally, but the iron bars blocked him, and he could not see clearly.

Madam Lian actually looked moved. “I didn’t expect Yan’er to care so much about Hui’er. Hearing that Hui’er will be beheaded must have been so painful that Yan’er fainted.”

Madam Lian dropped to her knees and begged Qi Shu Xian. “Nephew, even if it’s for Yan’er’s sake, you have to save Wen Hui!”

Qi Shu Xian had not expected Eldest Sister to care about Lian Wen Hui like that either.

But His Majesty had issued the decree personally. How could Qi Shu Xian possibly change it?

So Qi Shu Xian only nodded absentmindedly, looked at Qi Fei Yan a few more times, and left the prison.

With Emperor Chong Sheng’s personal instructions, Da Li Court moved quickly.

Qi Shu Xian had just walked out when Qi Shu Xian saw Xie An leading a troop of men into the prison.

Qi Shu Xian stepped forward. “Commander Xie, may I ask-has the roster of those involved in buying and selling illegal salt been confirmed?”