Since there is space, it is naturally the best to buy it for 0 yuan

Chapter 645 Selling Smuggled Salt

After using some special methods on the advisor, Shadow 5 couldn't take it anymore and confessed honestly.

One thing he confessed to that no one expected was the sensational salt smuggling case that had occurred four years prior.

To say that the former Prefect Yang was innocent, and that his suicide out of fear of punishment was also a fabrication.

It was Prefect Liu who ordered him to personally hang the man, making it appear as if he had committed suicide.

That confession was naturally fake; it was forged by Mr. Shao, another advisor to Prefect Liu, who was an expert at forgery and replication.

Yang Tongzhi happened to be the only one here who wasn't involved in the salt smuggling case, so his presence was very obstructive.

Just then, their scheme to smuggle salt was somehow exposed, so they decided to use it against them.

They successfully pinned the blame on Yang Tongzhi, making him take the fall.

Yang Tongzhi considered seeking help and appealing to the emperor, but unfortunately, his writings never reached the emperor's desk and were completely stifled by Governor Dou.

Many people lost their heads because of this incident, including the entire Yang Tongzhi family; not a single person survived.

Prefect Liu oversaw the entire operation, and Vice Prefect Qin Huai was also involved, but the real mastermind was Governor Dou.

The year after this case broke out, Qin Huai was transferred to Jinzhou as the prefect.

Prefect Liu was merely a dog under Governor Dou, a pawn; the real player was Governor Dou.

I've heard that Governor Dou has connections with influential figures in the capital.

Shen Ruyi never expected that this matter would come to light.

Did he tell her whose person Xiaohui worked for?

"It has been revealed that Miss Xiaohui's original name was Yuedie, and she was a concubine given to Prefect Liu by Governor Dou."

She was previously Governor Dou's concubine, and was treated like a plaything on a daily basis.

Governor Dou often used her body to win over his subordinates, and she was frequently taken advantage of by them.

Later, seeing that Prefect Liu cared about him particularly, he casually bestowed the gift upon him.

She was favored for a period of time when she first started working for Prefect Liu.

Over time, Prefect Liu grew tired of her and began asking her to help him solve some troublesome problems.

To put it bluntly, they do the dirty work, like tonight's Chu, which was something they'd been planning for a long time.

I never expected to fail. This is the first time in a long time that Miss Moon Butterfly has suffered such a defeat.

Each previous attempt had gone very smoothly, allowing her to gather a lot of intelligence and pave the way for many others to be framed.

She was just testing you this time, but you wouldn't listen to reason, which led to this situation.

"I see. Is there any evidence for what the advisor said?"

"Yes, this advisor is quite shrewd. He secretly made a copy of everything he handled, just in case someone else would take the blame later. He's already sent people to look for him. He's also sent people to arrest Mr. Shao."

"Yeah, good job."

"As for the other things he confessed to, they are all minor compared to this matter, and have already been recorded and signed."

"Ah."

Mr. Shao was caught quickly and immediately entered the interrogation stage upon his return.

Having heard that the advisor has already confessed, whether Mr. Shao confesses or not is actually of little significance to Shen Ruyi.

But for him and his family, the difference is huge.

Because Shen Ruyi and Yingwu directly told Mr. Shao, "Whether your family lives or dies, and how they live or die, depends entirely on you alone."

Furthermore, upon seeing that it was the King of the East Sea who was judging the case, he realized that the situation was hopeless and there was no way to reverse it, so he honestly confessed.

In exchange for lenient treatment.

Mr. Shao confessed even more, because his skill in imitation and reproduction was first-rate, and he had done a lot of shady things for Prefect Liu.

After interrogating these two, they began interrogating Prefect Liu, this time personally conducted by Shen Ruyi.

It's like asking a question with the answer in hand, but the other person was clearly terrified and scared to death, yet they just wouldn't say a word.

Perhaps they were also afraid of retaliation from Governor Dou, so they simply refused to confess.

"What, you're not going to confess who you're protecting? Who do you think is capable of escaping from my grasp this time?"

Hmm? Since you're so oblivious, let's subject you to torture first.

Let's also bring over the prefect's sons, daughters, grandchildren, and other relatives to be tortured together.

"A family should be together all the time; that's what makes it meaningful."

Before long, the two legitimate sons, six illegitimate sons, three grandsons, and two granddaughters of Prefect Liu's family all arrived, weeping and wailing.

Two other young masters were not present; one was studying in another place, and the other was managing the household affairs and happened to be away.

The youngest of my grandchildren is only 2 years old, and the oldest is only 9 years old.

They grew up spoiled and acted like local tyrants. When they were first arrested, they were extremely arrogant.

He kept saying that he wanted his grandfather to beat and kill Shen Ruyi and the others and sell them off.

Or they could say that his grandfather sold Shen Ruyi and the others to brothels.

Or they could say that his grandfather should exterminate Shen Ruyi and her entire family, including nine generations of relatives.

It's clear that they say these things a lot at home, which is why the children imitate them.

She had been quite arrogant, but only now did she realize what fear was, and she started to sob.

Seeing Prefect Liu, who was having his fingernails pulled out and was trembling with pain, he saw...

This frightened the children so much that they cried even louder, but the adults in their families quickly covered their mouths.

Finally, like a frightened little beast, he stifled his cries, his eyes fixed in terror on everything in the cell.

Shen Ruyi looked at these people and said, "Don't blame me for being ruthless."

It was your father and grandfather who refused to care about your life or death, and they covered it up for others.

I originally didn't intend to use torture on the elderly and children, but unfortunately, your fathers and grandfathers don't love you and don't care whether you live or die.

So, blame him for not confessing. Begin the execution.

Prefect Liu never opened his eyes to see anything from beginning to end.

Upon hearing this, Young Master Liu immediately knelt on the ground and pleaded, "Your Highness, please wait. Please give us some time. We will try to persuade my father and find a way to make him confess everything."

"Father, just confess. The house has already been ransacked. What's the point of you holding on now?"

"Do you really intend to wait until your sons are tortured half to death before giving your explanation?"

"That's right, Father. Our house has been ransacked, and everyone else has confessed. What are you still insisting on?"

Can't you think about your grandchildren? Hao'er and Xuan'er are so young, how can you bear to see them tortured?

"Father? Please speak to me, Father..."

"Grandfather, waaaah, I'm scared, Grandfather, Yue'er is scared."

"Woooooooo..."

"Father, it's just that Governor Dou is involved. Anyway, none of us will survive this time, so what are you afraid of?"

"That's right, Father! Tell me, Father, how long are you going to keep harming us?"

You've nearly killed our entire family, aren't you satisfied yet? Do you have to subject them to torture before they die?

"Grandfather, Hao'er doesn't want to die, Grandfather, I'm scared, Grandfather."

Amidst the calls of his father and grandfather, Prefect Liu opened his eyes with a cryptic expression, looked deeply at them, and then closed them again.

Shen Ruyi said again, "You're really putting on an act. I'm giving you too much credit. Now, put me under the torture of finger-crushing."

"Yes."

Soon everyone's fingers, regardless of age, were hooked into the wooden stick, and then they were pulled.

She started wailing and crying again.

"Waaaaah, no, no, save me, Grandfather, I'm scared."

"Father, save us! It hurts! No!"

"Father, are you really... so heartless? Don't you care whether we live or die?"

……

Prefect Liu's eyelids twitched, but he stubbornly refused to open his eyes.

Shen Ruyi sneered, "Go, pry open Prefect Liu's eyes and let him watch the execution with his own eyes."

"Yes," Ying Wu replied, then found a piece of firewood nearby and propped it up against Prefect Liu's eyelids, making sure he personally witnessed the execution.

Prefect Liu remained expressionless.

"It seems that Prefect Liu is involved in something quite serious, and the perpetrators are even more remarkable. It's truly rare to find someone who can keep you so loyal."

If that doesn't work, bring over a few death row inmates and tell them that the handsome young men here are theirs to play with as they please.

"Tsk tsk tsk, what pitiful children! Your grandfather and father abandoned you for others, and they don't care whether you live or die."

"Grandpa, save me, Grandpa, it hurts!" The children's hands were delicate, and by this time, marks had been left on their hands.

Even though Shadow Five and the others didn't use much force and were just trying to scare the other side, it was still enough to make these children suffer.

With bloodshot eyes, Prefect Liu roared hatefully, "How dare you!"

"I dare to do it. It's perfectly normal for a condemned prisoner to suffer some torture before death."

Go and arrest the women in Prefect Liu's household and bring them here to witness the execution.

Watching their sons and husbands being toyed with by other death row inmates.

You are the most stubborn person I have ever encountered. I hope you can remain steadfast to the end.

"King of the East Sea, you will die a horrible death."

"Hey, you're really stubborn. For that curse of yours, I'll make sure you're guilty."

When the group of women were brought over, the sons of Prefect Liu were already in so much pain from the torture that they could barely stand, and their bodies were soaked in sweat.

The child kept screaming and howling, and the look in his eyes when he looked at Prefect Liu, his biological father, had long since lost any affection for him, leaving only resentment.

"Stop! Stop it now! If you have a problem, come at me. Don't hurt my son."

"Find a doctor, quickly find a doctor."

"Release my son, and you can ask me anything you want. I'll tell you everything."

When the prefect's wife arrived, her eyes were bloodshot, and she began slapping Prefect Liu across the face repeatedly.

"It's all because of you, you worthless thing. You ruined my life, and now you're going to ruin my son's and grandson's lives too."

They're so young, why should they have to pay for the crimes you committed, you piece of trash?

It's all your fault, you old bastard! Why did you make my son and grandson suffer like this? I'll beat you to death, you old bastard!

When will you finally stop harming our son and grandson? Isn't it enough to be buried with you? You old bastard!

I'll beat you to death, you bastard! I knew you were planning to raise those two bastard kids for that slut you've been eyeing.

No matter how much you plan and scheme for them, they are not your children.

Upon hearing this, Prefect Liu's other concubines immediately came forward to help the Prefect's wife scratch Prefect Liu's face.

"Sister is talking about that bitch Lü Wushuang, isn't she?"

"Could it be that the master's current situation is entirely due to that bitch?"

The prefect's wife was filled with hatred; slaps were no longer enough for her, so she started punching and kicking.

"Otherwise, if it weren't for that old slut, would he have willingly become Governor Dou's dog?"

"Having shamelessly served that viper, Governor Dou, for so many years, committing countless evil deeds?"

Shen Ruyi perked up immediately upon hearing this; this was some big news! "You can hit people, but don't kill them!"

He waved to signal the end of the torture, since the purpose of the torture was to get people to confess, not to suffer.

After everyone had finished their commotion, Shen Ruyi slowly spoke up: "Anyone who knows anything, hurry up and tell me, or I'll have to proceed with the next form of punishment."

"I have no patience to waste any more time with you. Look, those death row inmates are still waiting over there."

Upon hearing Shen Ruyi's words, everyone's faces turned pale instantly, and some even swayed as if about to collapse.

"No, Your Highness, please ask. We will answer your questions. We promise to tell you everything we know, Your Highness."

The prefect's wife straightened her sleeves and gave Shen Ruyi a deep bow, saying, "Let me tell you, you might find what you're looking for at No. 26 Wencui Street and No. 3 Changqing Street. You can send someone to look for it."

Prefect Liu glared at his wife with gritted teeth and roared, "How dare you!"

With a wave of her hand, Shen Ruyi arranged for someone to go.

"Anyway, we're all going to die, so what's there to be afraid of? I just hate myself for not killing you, you bastard, before, letting you ruin us all like this."

After rebuking Prefect Liu, the Prefect's wife turned to Shen Ruyi and asked, "Your Highness, do you dare to touch the concubines in the palace?"

Shen Ruyi thought for a moment and replied, "Princes are subject to the same laws as commoners, and even the emperor's concubines are no exception."

The prerequisite is that there is evidence, and the evidence is conclusive; without evidence, nothing can be done.

"You dare to touch any concubine? Even His Majesty's favorite concubine?"

Shen Ruyi nodded. If someone commits a crime, they should confess. "Yes, as long as the evidence is conclusive."

"Speaking of which, who are the favored concubines in the palace?" She hadn't really paid attention to that in the last two years.

The imperial court and the harem have always been closely intertwined. The imperial court has undergone tremendous changes in recent years, which has led to rapid ups and downs for the women in the harem.

Shadow Five whispered something in Shen Ruyi's ear, feeling helpless.

After listening, he suddenly realized and asked the prefect's wife, "Which favored concubine are you talking about?"

"The newly conferred imperial concubine, Consort Shu, is the daughter of Governor Dou's beloved concubine, who in turn is the daughter of a disgraced official."

She should have been demoted to the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment institution), but that old dog Liu Changning spent a lot of money to get her out.

Later, she used this old dog to climb up the social ladder and became Governor Dou's concubine.

Shen Ruyi: "Being the descendant of a disgraced official is not enough to convict anyone of any crime." The crime can be serious or minor, depending entirely on the Emperor's mood.

The prefect's wife stared at Shen Ruyi without blinking and asked, "What if I said that Consort Shu had secretly pledged her life to someone else and was pregnant before she entered the palace?"

Prefect Liu roared, "Shut up! Shut the hell up!" as if he wanted to devour his wife.