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The next day, taking advantage of the opportunity to deliver meals, Lu Songli received a message from her father, saying that he had secretly spread the rumors. He also said that the Fourth Prince should talk to her in the next two days, so she should be prepared.
After reading it, she stuffed the note back into the steamed bun and handed it to Qin Sheng who was standing beside her.
Qin Sheng glanced at the “stuffed” bun, then looked at her.
Lu Songli slightly raised her chin at him.
Qin Sheng reached out and took the half-eaten steamed bun from her, took a big bite, and ate half of the bun in his hand before chewing it expressionlessly. His previous glance was out of curiosity about how she had found the “spy” among the pile of steamed buns, not a refusal.
Lu Songli contentedly picked up another steamed bun and started eating. If Qin Sheng wasn’t here, she would have swallowed the “stuffed” bun without changing her expression. But with him, why bother?
This interaction between the young couple was seen by the Qin family’s elders, who couldn’t help but smile. With hope in their hearts, they felt a sense of lightness that they hadn’t expected. They were still worried and concerned about Qin Yan and the others in the north, but the atmosphere was less heavy.
This was mainly due to Lu’s family’s support. Their prison life wasn’t as harsh as they had imagined. At least their food and drink were clean. They knew that Lu’s family had spent a lot of money, and they were very grateful.
Qin Heng looked around and whispered, “Sixth Sister-in-law, is everything going smoothly?”
Lu Songli made a gesture of success.
“If you need more manpower, just say it. Our Qin family still has some manpower that can be mobilized.”
“Big Brother, Third Brother, don’t worry, everything is fine. I believe we’ll be out of here in a few days.” Three days, Lu Songli thought. The ones who are in a hurry definitely aren’t us. Isn’t the Fourth Prince in a hurry?
Just then, Wu Chunyu and Meng Xinliang, the Da Li Temple Head, walked side by side, followed by several officials in official robes, heading straight towards the Qin family’s prison. They completely ignored the cries of injustice from the prisoners on both sides. It was clear that they were here with bad intentions.
Mrs. Qin gathered her two older granddaughters around her, and Nie Yunniang nervously held her daughter in her arms.
Among the Qin family’s men, Qin Heng stepped forward. Qin Zhao, Qin Heng’s third brother, was about to follow, but Qin Sheng pushed his two nephews towards him and followed after Qin Heng.
Lu Songli’s brows furrowed slightly. Meng Xinliang, the Da Li Temple Minister, was a member of Xie’s faction. Currently, the Dali Temple Minister was Yao Wensong, but after Xie’s faction lost the position of Dali Temple Minister, they pushed Meng Xinliang into the position of Dali Temple Minister. Looking at the current situation, was Yao Wensong, the Dali Temple Minister, absent?
Wu Chunyu was the first to speak, “Qin Heng, this official has already investigated and confirmed that your Qin family used Qin Sheng’s wedding as an opportunity to hide a large amount of wealth. I advise you to confess honestly and don’t make any more mistakes.”
Zhao Wenkuan was right, the Qin family likely had a large sum of money hidden away. The amount was definitely more than the missing five percent of the total accounts.
They had to consider the war spoils captured by the Qin family. It was difficult to estimate the value of these assets. However, he only confiscated a small amount of gold and silver jewelry, and the quality was mediocre.
If he could force the Qin family to reveal their hidden wealth, when the new emperor officially ascended the throne and rewarded their merits, how could he not be promoted? Moreover, the timing was perfect. If he waited too long, the rewards would be distributed, and even if he forced the Qin family to open their mouths, it would be useless.
Qin Heng said calmly, “Since Lord Wu has already investigated and confirmed, just take it. Why ask us?” Trying to trick him? Haha.
No matter what the other party asked, Qin Heng insisted that all of the Qin family’s money was in their mansion.
Seeing that the Qin family was unyielding, Wu Chunyu and Meng Xinliang decided to torture them to see if they could force them to reveal the truth.
For this purpose, they specially had the neighboring cell emptied and installed various torture instruments.
“Qin Heng, Qin Zhao, Qin Sheng, this time we are prepared. Don’t resist.”
Lu Songli couldn’t help but say, “Lord Wu, Lord Meng, your so-called preparedness, is it to force a confession? Worse, is it to sacrifice lives?”
“As long as you confess quickly, where exactly did you hide the money? It’s better to avoid physical suffering.”
The three Qin brothers from the Qin family looked grim. It seemed like they were very likely to endure some physical suffering.
“If you use such severe torture and end up killing someone, can you bear the responsibility?”
Wu Chunyu retorted, “The Qin family took things that didn’t belong to them and refused to confess. Why can’t we use torture? Even if someone dies, they are just a criminal.”
“You are truly adding fuel to the fire, what’s to prevent you from finding an excuse!” Lu Songli sarcastically said. She didn’t believe that Qin Heng would leave such obvious evidence behind. The current situation was most likely a scheme by the Xie family to trouble the Qin family!
Her words completely embarrassed Wu Chunyu, Meng Xinliang, and others, making them lose face.
“Why waste time with her, take action!” Meng Xinliang ordered the jailer to open the cell door and prepare to take someone away.
Qin Sheng stepped forward, shielding Qin Heng behind him.
Several burly bailiffs entered the male cell at once. Qin Sheng went from protecting Qin Heng to protecting his two young nephews at the back.
These bailiffs were ruthless. After realizing that the three Qin brothers were tough nuts to crack, they targeted the two children.
Due to some reason, the three Qin brothers were bound and unable to fight back against the bailiffs.
Meng Xinliang and Wu Chunyu were furious when they saw the scene before them. “Qin Heng, dare you resist? Are you planning a rebellion?”
Lu Songli was so angry when she heard this. If they were planning a rebellion, the first ones to be killed would be the two of them!
Later, Meng Xinliang arranged for a bailiff to bring in a hot iron.
Qin Sheng saw this and quickly stepped forward. He was the most skilled among the three brothers. If his elder and second brothers fought against the bailiffs, they might get hurt.
As soon as she saw this situation, Lu Songli hurriedly shouted, “Stop!”
But no one paid attention to her.
Lu Songli was frustrated. She took something out of her pocket and confronted Meng Xinliang, who was closest to her. “Meng Xinliang, Wu Chunyu, dare you touch him and see what this is?!”
A token of immunity from death?!
But wasn’t this in Lu Desheng’s hands?
Meng Xinliang and Wu Chunyu looked at each other.
“Why don’t you stop them immediately?!” Lu Songli shouted.
“Stop!” Following their command, the bailiffs with injuries gradually left the cell. They also breathed a sigh of relief. The three Qin brothers were really tough, and fighting against them was too difficult.
Lu Songli breathed a sigh of relief. She was holding the token of immunity from death just for this moment.
Appropriate hardship can make a person grow, but extreme hardship can twist a person’s mind and character, commonly known as “blackening.” Take Zhao Bin, for example, because the hardships he endured were layered upon each other, eventually becoming an unbearable burden. No one could help him or pull him back, so he finally broke down and became a complete wreck.
Qin Sheng recently endured the death of his fourth brother, feeling very guilty. Later, his father died, followed by the confiscation of his family’s property, imprisonment, and exile. Each event weighed heavily on him. Just looking at him dressing, with that empty look, you could tell the inner turmoil he was experiencing. If he were to witness his elder brother’s punishment, she couldn’t say if he could bear it.
Clap, clap, clap—
Three claps echoed, and before anyone could react, a figure emerged from the corner. It was none other than the Fourth Prince, Song Mo. He was followed by a group of people, including Yao Wensong, who Lu Songli thought wasn’t in the Dali Temple.
“This prison is quite lively,” Song Mo said with a smile.
Qin Sheng pursed his lips. He had sensed someone there earlier.
Lu Songli smiled back, “It might be a little lacking compared to the Imperial Palace.”
“Audacious! Don’t you dare not pay your respects to the Fourth Prince?!” Yao Wensong shouted.
Everyone seemed to realize it at the same time and knelt down, “Greetings to the Fourth Prince.”
“Don’t you want to see this Prince? Come, let’s go.” Song Mo didn’t waste any words, and after saying that, he turned and walked out.
“Wait.” Lu Songli quickly went back and retrieved a stack of documents from the old mattress before following.
Qin Sheng and the others wanted to follow, but they were stopped.
Lu Songli gave them a reassuring look before leaving.
Yao Wensong was speechless. His prison was too lax. And how much stuff did the Lu family sneak in for her?
He knew that the Lu family sent them food and supplies every day. Out of gratitude for Lu Desheng’s recommendation, he turned a blind eye. Plus, Sheng Huaixing seemed to have spoken to Wang Yuan, allowing the Qin family to enjoy a comfortable prison stay. Tsk.