Lu Yuanfeng sat by Zhong Li's bedside, his expression grave. "Linzhou has fallen, and its Prefect, Lord Tian, has also sacrificed himself."
Zhong Li lowered her gaze. She recalled the people she had seen in Linzhou during her previous visit. They were already so impoverished. After finally receiving support from the imperial court, they were now caught in the war. Where would those displaced souls go?
And Tian You. She remembered their brief time together. Though it was only for a month, she felt he was a rare loyal official, dedicated to both the people and the country. It was truly a pity and a sorrow that he was gone.
"However..." Lu Yuanfeng changed the subject. "Lord Ling managed to hold Qingxian County and surrounding areas. The Northern Di are still in negotiations with us."
"What about Jinzhou?" Zhong Li asked about Jinzhou. Recalling Lu Yuanfeng's earlier words, she already had a conclusion, but she still wanted to know.
"The Shen family army was defeated, and the Shu Rong Kingdom has been driven back to its own territory. The Hua family army is also rushing back, and most of the prisoners of war will return with them."
Zhong Li felt relieved. It was thanks to Lu Wuxie's foresight that the fate of Nanyue Kingdom was unknown.
"As for my father, the Emperor..." Lu Yuanfeng sighed. "Shen Nong knows her father's defeat and has surrendered. However, the Emperor's body is damaged."
"What do you mean?" Zhong Li asked.
Lu Yuanfeng gritted his teeth in anger. "Bian Yuncheng probably harbored resentment towards Father for a long time. Not only were his eyes gouged out, but they were also removed after his death. The body might not have been preserved properly, and there's also some degree of decay."
Zhong Li felt sorrow. She had long anticipated that the Emperor's body would be mistreated, but she hadn't expected it to be this bad.
"I can repair it!" she declared.
Lu Yuanfeng smiled. "Minister Zhong, I intended to ask you to repair Father's body from the start. I didn't expect you to say it first. Yuanfeng thanks you!"
He rose and bowed deeply to Zhong Li.
Zhong Li glanced at him. She remembered when she first met Lu Yuanfeng, he still had a bit of a rogueish air, much like Lu Wuxie. They were kindred spirits in their mischief. However, after a civil unrest and the Emperor Jing's incident, the current Lu Yuanfeng gave off a feeling of stability and reassurance, looking more and more like an emperor.
"Your Highness, you humble me too much."
"When Minister Zhong has recovered, it will be about time for Father's burial. I hope Minister Zhong can then trouble yourself."
Zhong Li shook her head, giving Lu Yuanfeng a reassuring smile.
"Right!" she suddenly remembered the culprits behind this upheaval and asked, "Where are Shen Nong and the others now?"
"They are at the Dali Temple. Lan Heng is handling their matters, which are many and complex, especially since the Shen residence is also under thorough investigation. However, in about five days, these individuals can be convicted." Lu Yuanfeng replied.
"Convicted!" Zhong Li murmured. She looked down at her injured area. By then, she should be able to walk around.
Five days later, Ministry of Justice, Death Row.
"Minister Zhong, please be careful. It's damp, cold, and humid here. If you feel uncomfortable, please call me anytime." Zeng Fan placed a chair for Zhong Li at the entrance of the prison cell and, after a few instructions, walked out.
Zhong Li nodded, watching Zeng Fan leave, then turned her attention to the woman opposite her. In the ten days since Shen Nong was captured, Zhong Li remembered her as once glorious, overbearing, arrogant, elegant, and charming. Now, she sat dishevelled on the ground littered with the corpses of insects, muttering to herself with a piece of straw, appearing somewhat deranged.
"Shen Nong," Zhong Li called out.
The person inside the cell showed no reaction.
Zhong Li pondered for a moment. "Lu Yuanhong has been captured. Your Shen family is accused of colluding with the enemy and treason. Do you know that such a crime carries the penalty of execution for the entire family?"
The person in the cell still did not react. In fact, the sound of her counting the straw grew louder.
Zhong Li had already guessed that she was feigning madness. Given Shen Nong's intelligence, Zhong Li was not surprised by her act of pretending to be insane to deceive the Ministry of Justice.
She contemplated for another moment and said, "Shen Nong, I have a secret that I believe you will find very interesting."
Shen Nong ignored her.
Zhong Li smiled and continued, "I don't know about your past with Bian Yuncheng, but I feel that you have schemed for so many years just to put your offspring in power. You even went so far as to drink miscarriage-preventing soup after each intimate session with the Emperor. It seems he is truly important to you."
"Hmph!" Finally, Shen Nong reacted, with a cold snort from her nostrils, barely audible, audible only to the two of them.
Zhong Li was very pleased with Shen Nong's response. She changed the subject. "But do you know? Bian Yuncheng, whom you hold dear, might not like you at all, or perhaps he views you as a stepping stone to becoming the hidden ruler of Nanyue Kingdom."
"Hmph!" Shen Nong snorted again, clearly believing Zhong Li was trying to sow discord.
Zhong Li glanced at Zeng Fan, who was walking towards them. She took something from his hand and casually tossed it in front of Shen Nong.
"Do you recognize this?"
Shen Nong furtively glanced at it and said, "This is Her Majesty's..."
"Your Highness, please look carefully before you speak," Zhong Li reminded her.
Shen Nong picked up a piece of white jade from the ground and examined the heart-shaped pattern within it under the sunlight. Then, she pulled down what she wore around her neck and observed them side-by-side.
"This heart is a bit small, and not as clear. This is not Her Majesty's... Where did you get this?" she asked, turning to Zhong Li.
Zhong Li's smile widened. "Your Highness is a prisoner. You wish to know about this white jade, and you are asking me for a favour. Should you not speak more courteously?"
"You..." Shen Nong recalled her past arrogance. Now, reduced to such a state, she was being oppressed by a fourth-rank official.
"Your Highness might be mistaken. Zhong Li never intended to insult Your Highness. I just believe that we are all human and should treat each other fairly. Your Highness shows no respect for others, yet wants to obtain information from them. It's no wonder you are in such a fallen state with no one to care for you. None of the people around you are loyal. Your Highness, shouldn't you reflect on yourself?"
Zhong Li's words pierced Shen Nong's heart like a needle. She was stunned for a long moment, then scoffed, "Yes, I've truly fallen to such a state."
Zhong Li sighed and said, "This jade was found on your personal maid, Zipei."
Hearing this, Shen Nong's body trembled. "Impossible. Zipei couldn't possibly..."
"What's impossible? Your Highness, I don't mind telling you, I guessed their relationship when I saw Zipei and Bian Yuncheng in Chengqian Hall. Zipei carried a faint scent, not from the palace, but from Bian Yuncheng's musk. I ask you, how could a palace maid who has never left the palace, not have the scent of the Phoenix Palace but the scent of an eunuch?" Zhong Li asked.
"You're lying to me! Lying to me!" Shen Nong realized, and rushed to the prison bars, gripping them tightly and shouting hysterically.
"Am I lying to you, or are you deceiving yourself? You have the evidence in your hands, why won't you believe it?" Zhong Li said, taking another ledger from Zeng Fan and tossing it at Shen Nong's feet. "The Fengluan Palace has been searched by the Sixth Prince. Several of your possessions were found there, including some of your dowry items. According to customs, all dowry items of consorts married into the imperial family should have a ledger. The Ministry of Revenue compared your ledger and found that several items were missing. Do you know where they were found?"
Shen Nong seemed to have already figured it out, her eyes staring blankly.
Zhong Li continued, "Part of it was in Zipei's side residence, and most of it was in the Crown Prince's mansion? Why do you think they appeared there? Did the Crown Prince lack money, or did someone else lack money?"