The Prefect said, "Sun Ci, are you going to tell me or not? How can just a few of you support such a large group of people?"
"Replying to Your Excellency, all those items were brought back by the late Zhang Si. We truly don't know their origin."
"By him, a sickly man with not long to live? Don't try to fool me, I know his condition perfectly well. You'd best tell the truth."
Sun Ci pursed his lips, refusing to say a word. Wei Qianrui was not only the last pure bloodline of the Wei Kingdom's royal family but also his own niece.
The other three were as tight-lipped as clams, claiming ignorance about any financial matters. At this, a man locked in a cage nervously lowered his head.
The Prefect immediately sensed something was amiss and ordered someone to drag him out.
"Do you know something?"
"This humble one... this humble one knows nothing."
His voice lacked any conviction, his whole body trembling as his eyes darted around.
The Prefect gave a signal to the person beside him, who promptly brought out the wooden clamp.
Two guards pinned down the struggling man, placing his hand into the clamp. Before the guards could apply any pressure, he cried out, confessing.
"Speak quickly."
Watching the menacing guards beside him, the man dared not cry out any longer. He quickly and clearly stated,
"The money was given by the Princess. Our Wei Kingdom's Princess. She is now... she is now the wife of the heir of the Marquis of Wu'an."
Everyone was shocked, and the Prefect questioned him repeatedly. Disregarding the murderous glares from Sun Ci and the other three, the man revealed everything he knew.
Sun Ci and the others had secretly discussed it, and this man had accidentally overheard them. The man spoke with such earnestness, almost detailing how many grains of rice he had eaten that day.
The Prefect, seeing the look in Sun Ci's eyes, knew the man was not lying. He immediately went to the palace to report to the Emperor.
After leaving the palace, he led his men directly to the Marquis of Wu'an's residence.
"Brother Li, what is the meaning of this?"
"This official is investigating a case on imperial decree. I request the Marquis of Wu'an's cooperation."
"We will naturally cooperate with what needs to be done. May I ask what the matter is?"
The Prefect looked at him with some pity. The Marquis of Wu'an was thrown into confusion by his gaze. After understanding the situation, the Marquis of Wu'an instantly seemed ten years older.
"Brother Li, is there perhaps some misunderstanding in this matter?"
"Marquis of Wu'an, rest assured, if your daughter-in-law is innocent, I will surely clear her name. If not..."
The Prefect shook his head as he spoke, and everyone understood his meaning.
The guards led out Wei Qianrui, who was resisting with all her might. She struggled continuously, showing utter disdain for the two guards.
Seeing the Marquis of Wu'an was like seeing a savior. "Father, Father, save your daughter-in-law!"
The Marquis of Wu'an shot her a glare. "Be quiet. What is this shouting and causing a scene? Cooperate fully with Lord Li's investigation. If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear."
His words caused Wei Qianrui's heart to sink. When the guards arrived, she had a general idea of why. Now that the Marquis of Wu'an wasn't protecting her, she was completely devastated.
"Father, you must save me! I am carrying a child, after all. Can't anything be said here in front of you? The yamen is so dark and gloomy, I'm so scared, woo woo woo~"
Zhao Guanjin rushed over after receiving the news. Seeing him, Wei Qianrui tried to run towards him, but the two guards immediately restrained her shoulders.
"Husband, husband, save me~"
Her weak and pitiful appearance instantly stirred Zhao Guanjin's protective instincts. Just as he was about to ask, his father stopped him.
No matter how much Wei Qianrui cried and begged for help, she was still taken back to the yamen by the Prefect.
Zhao Guanjin asked, "Father, what exactly is going on? What did Qianrui do wrong?"
The Marquis of Wu'an raised his hand and delivered a resounding slap. Zhao Guanjin, holding his face, was utterly bewildered.
"You imbecile, I... I..."
After stammering for a while without making sense, the Marquis of Wu'an fainted from anger, causing another commotion in the mansion.
Wei Qianrui, being a novice, could not deceive the Prefect. He took her to see the miserable state of Sun Ci and the others.
After another tour of the prison, he threw the jewelry at her feet. Wei Qianrui immediately panicked.
"Sir, sir, I was also deceived by them. I have lived in Liuzhou since I was a child. I am not a princess at all."
She knew that the matters involving these people were unavoidable and clung to the assertion that she was not of the Wei Kingdom's royal bloodline.
"Oh, so you're saying Sun Ci approached you directly, claimed you were the Wei Kingdom's princess, you believed his nonsense, and even gave him jewelry, is that right?"
"I was just momentarily confused at the time. I absolutely had no other intentions. Sir, please spare me, I truly know nothing."
The Prefect did not wish to waste more words with her. He had already confirmed everything he wanted to know.
Wei Qianrui was imprisoned. Because her identity had not yet been verified and she was carrying a child, she was given the best living conditions in the jail.
The Emperor sent people with her portrait to investigate among the remaining royal relatives of the Wei Kingdom. The Wei Kingdom's royal family did indeed have a princess who matched her description.
They also found the old wet nurse who had delivered her mother's child. The old wet nurse still remembered the birthmark and mole on her body.
The old wet nurse was brought to the capital, confirming Wei Qianrui's identity.
Wei Qianrui spent over a month in prison, losing a significant amount of weight. She lived in constant fear, and Zhao Guanjin had only visited her once.
Now, the old wet nurse's testimony had sent her into complete despair. She went mad.
"It's fake, all of it is fake! You must have been bribed! Why are you doing this? I finally managed to live a good life, why are you ruining me? Ahhhh..."
The others ignored her ravings and reported the truth to the Prefect. The next day, the Marquis of Wu'an's residence was raided. After all, his daughter-in-law was a former Wei Kingdom princess and had attempted to assassinate the Emperor.
With witnesses and evidence in hand, they had no chance to struggle or refute. The Emperor did not pursue them to the very end, instead exiling the entire family to the northwest.
Without any money for bribes, the pampered family suffered greatly on the road. It was questionable whether they would even survive the journey to the northwest.
"Damn it all, if only you had married the Eldest Princess. Look at us now, are you happy? Woo woo woo~"
Zhao Guanjin's mother's feet were blistered and bleeding. If she couldn't keep up, she would be whipped by the guards.
She was covered in dirt, her trousers torn with several large holes, and she looked utterly pathetic.