Even women who travel through time can become prime ministers and nobles.

Chapter 443 Heinous Crimes

Inside the prefect's prison, it was cold and damp, filled with the smell of mildew and an atmosphere of despair.

However, from the deepest cell, a blatant and arrogant shouting that seemed completely out of place could be heard.

"Let me out! You blind bastards, do you even know who I am?"

"I am an official appointed by the imperial court! I am a member of the Yuan family of Runan! How dare you lowly clerks detain and humiliate me at will?"

"Are you all deaf? Open the door! Otherwise, once I get out, I'll have your entire family executed!"

Yuan Xiaomiao gripped the cold prison bars. Although his clothes were slightly disheveled, he showed no awareness of being a prisoner. His face only showed his usual arrogance and anger, as if he were not in prison, but visiting some ignorant rural government office.

Just then, steady footsteps came from the end of the prison corridor.

Choi Ji-ho was dressed in dark casual clothes, his face solemn and imposing without being angry.

Beside him was a young gentleman, who was his nephew, Cui Yu'an, the young master of the Cui family of Qinghe.

Cui Yu'an had a faint smile on his lips as he glanced at the clamoring Yuan Xiaomiao, as if watching a clumsy monkey show.

The arrival of the two men seemed to cleanse the foul air in the cell, bringing an invisible sense of oppression stemming from the accumulated influence of centuries-old powerful families.

Yuan Xiaomiao's cursing stopped abruptly.

He recognized Cui Zhihao, and he also recognized the inconspicuous pattern on the young man's robe that represented the Qinghe Cui family crest.

His arrogance deflated like a punctured balloon, but he still stubbornly maintained his official demeanor and the haughtiness of a scion of a prominent family.

"Cui...Master Cui?"

Yuan Xiaomiao softened her tone, but it still carried a hint of dissatisfaction.

"Lord Cui, what is the meaning of this? Why have I been detained here? This must be a huge misunderstanding! I am from the Yuan family of Runan..."

"Master Yuan."

Cui Zhihao spoke, his voice steady and deep, yet carrying an unquestionable authority, directly interrupting Yuan Xiaomiao.

"This is the prefect's prison. We are here to question people according to the law. How can you say we are detaining them? As for whether there is a misunderstanding, I will investigate it myself."

He didn't raise his voice, but his long-held authority and all-seeing eyes made Yuan Xiaomiao subconsciously avoid his gaze.

Cui Yu'an chuckled lightly, took half a step forward, and said in a gentle tone but with words as sharp as knives: "Lord Yuan, please calm down."

"My third uncle is investigating the case on the orders of His Highness the Crown Prince. Everything must be done according to rules and evidence."

"The innocent will clear themselves. If it is truly a misunderstanding, once it is clarified, we will naturally escort you back. However..."

He changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over the prison cell.

"Now that we're here, it's best to temper our temper for the time being. After all, this isn't the main hall of your Yuan family in Ruyang."

The phrase "Lord Yuan" highlights the difference in their status—he is a junior, but also the heir of the Cui family of Qinghe.

The phrase "This is not your Yuan family's hall in Ruyang" is a blatant reminder: This is not the place for your Yuan family to act recklessly.

Yuan Xiaomiao's face turned pale and then flushed.

He dared to order around the clerks because of his official position and family background, but when faced with the Qinghe Cui family, who also came from top-tier clans and were clearly more powerful and confident, his reliance seemed somewhat laughable.

Especially for Choi Ji-ho, although he has entered officialdom and is no longer involved in family affairs, the Cheonghae Choi clan behind him and the young master beside him are his greatest source of confidence.

He was momentarily overwhelmed by the imposing presence of the uncle and nephew and was unable to act rashly.

Cui Zhihao stopped looking at him and directly ordered the jailer behind him, "Open the door, I want to ask questions."

The cell door opened, and Choi Ji-ho and Choi Yu-an stepped inside.

In the confined space, the presence of the two Cui figures was so strong that Yuan Xiaomiao felt suffocated.

Cui Zhihao did not sit down, but stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at the slightly uneasy Yuan Xiaomiao: "Yuan Xiaomiao, I ask you, what does the series of more than ten missing girls cases that have occurred in Rongzhou over the past few months have to do with you?"

Yuan Xiaomiao's heart skipped a beat, but he forced himself to remain calm: "What do you mean by this, Lord Cui? I am the prefect of a prefecture, how could I be involved in such a case? This is utter nonsense!"

"Nonsense?"

Cui Yu'an took out a file from his sleeve and slowly opened it.

"On the seventh day of the third month of the sixteenth year of Yongfeng, Liu Xiaoya, a farmer's daughter from outside the city, went missing. She was last seen near your villa."

"On April 12th, the embroiderer Chunxing delivered her embroidery to your residence and never returned."

"Late May..."

With each incident Cui Yu'an mentioned, Yuan Xiaomiao's face paled a little more.

He thought he had done these things discreetly...

"These...these are all just coincidences! Where's the evidence? Lord Cui, investigations require evidence!"

Cold sweat beaded on Yuan Xiaomiao's forehead, yet he stubbornly continued to argue.

"evidence?"

Cui Zhihao's gaze sharpened, and he suddenly stared intently at him.

"Then, what about the dozen or so female corpses in the dry well in your backyard? Wouldn't that be considered evidence? And what about the women's undergarments found in the secret room of your villa?!"

Yuan Xiaomiao was struck dumb, staggering and collapsing onto the cold stone bed: "You...you all..."

“That’s not all!” Choi Ji-ho’s voice suddenly turned stern.

"Wang Wan'er! Do you still remember this name!"

Yuan Xiaomiao suddenly looked up, her eyes flashing with extreme fear.

"Wang Qinian's younger sister, the prefectural judge of Chuzhou!"

Cui Zhihao spoke each word slowly and deliberately, his voice as cold as iron.

"You abducted her by force, defiling her purity and causing her unbearable humiliation. Then, to facilitate your contact with the rebels, you gave her to Zhou Lin! Yuan Xiaomiao, you are an official of the court, educated in the classics, yet you have committed such a beastly act. What is your punishment?"

"No...no...it was her own choice..."

Yuan Xiaomiao was rambling incoherently.

"Volunteer?"

Cui Yu'an sneered, "You forced an innocent family to their death. The evidence is irrefutable. How dare you try to deny it! Do you really think that just because of the name of the Yuan family of Runan, you can control everything and that even His Highness the Crown Prince can't touch you?"

Mentioning the Crown Prince, Yuan Xiaomiao seemed to grasp at a last straw, suddenly becoming agitated: "I am a member of the Yuan family of Runan! The Crown Prince... His Highness the Crown Prince wouldn't harm me for the sake of a few lowly commoners! You can't kill me! My Yuan family..."

"Yuan family?"

Cui Zhihao interrupted him, his tone laced with a cold sarcasm, "Do you and Wang Qinian really think the imperial court is blind?"

These words were like ice water poured over Yuan Xiaomiao's head, instantly freezing her in place.

Cui Zhihao leaned down, lowering his voice, which sounded even more terrifying: "Is Wang Qinian really just a minor prefect? ​​You secretly colluded with him, transferring money and grain, and plotting these things. Do you really think you can hide it from everyone?"

"The Yuan family of Runan...how dare they! They actually collude with the remnants of the Prince of Rongyang, plotting a rebellion!"

With a loud "boom," Yuan Xiaomiao felt the world spinning around him. Treason! This was a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!

"No! No! I didn't rebel! That's a frame-up! Wang Qinian forced me! He threatened me!"

Yuan Xiaomiao completely broke down, tears streaming down her face as she tried to rush over and hug Cui Zhihao's leg, but was held down firmly by the jailer.

“The sons of the Yuan family actually joined forces with traitors, harmed the people, and disrupted the court.”

Choi Ji-ho straightened up, his eyes devoid of any warmth, only displaying a cold resolve.

“Yuan Xiaomiao, your crimes are not just as simple as death. Even the Yuan family of Runan cannot protect you.”

He turned away, no longer looking at the limp figure, and said calmly to Cui Yu'an, "Record it and have him sign it."

Cui Yu'an respectfully replied, "Yes, Third Uncle."

The cell door slammed shut again, locking Yuan Xiaomiao's desperate cries and curses inside.

In the passageway, the Cui uncle and nephew walked side by side, their steps steady.

"Third Uncle, what about Runan..." Cui Yu'an asked softly.

"The evidence is conclusive. If Yuan is sensible, he will cut off his arm to save his life."

Cui Zhihao's gaze was profound. "Otherwise... it's time to make some changes to these century-old powerful clans."

Moonlight streamed through the high window, illuminating Cui Yu'an's young yet composed face. He nodded slightly, his eyes gleaming with a wisdom and coldness beyond his years.

The Cui family of Qinghe never easily reveals their sharpness, but once they do, bloodshed is inevitable.