CHAPTER 242: CHAPTER 238: YOU SEE, I ALMOST BECAME A CAST-OFF WIFE

The maid outside hurriedly left the courtyard.

Over here, Yongping was already so furious her face turned ashen.

She had interacted with Mrs. Zhang for many years, how could she not know what kind of person Mrs. Zhang was? What did her actions mean this time?

She trembled and said, "What do you know?!"

Mrs. Zhang sneered, "Not too much, but enough for the Emperor to decree the three judicial departments to investigate you! Do you think as long as Lou Zhao doesn’t speak, you can escape? Believe it or not, as soon as I hand those things over to the palace, within a quarter of an hour, the Emperor will definitely order a thorough investigation of you?!

"Once the imperial decree is issued and you’re in the hands of the three judicial departments, not to mention a case involving Liu Yan, all your past deeds can be thoroughly examined!

"Do you think that woman with the surname Lou can withstand it?!"

Upon hearing this, even Fu Zhen couldn’t sit still!

She knew Mrs. Zhang had something on her, though this person would stoop to any length, dealing with her as her sister-in-law should still involve her, the sister-in-law!

She said, "Lou Zhao! If the Princely Heir’s wife sends the evidence to the palace, and the Emperor orders the three judicial departments to deal with the person who used you, you will become an accessory!

"Think about it; is it more important to offend the person behind you, or to cover for this person and bear the accusation of palace turmoil with her?

"Once the charge of palace turmoil is established, others will have plenty of people to plead for her, but you’re just a small fry, and by the precedent of historical cases, it’s very likely you’ll be the main culprit!

"Even if your entire family isn’t executed, your own family’s lives definitely won’t be spared!

"Are you really willing to risk your whole family’s lives to protect her?!"

Lou Zhao was sweating profusely.

Having served as an official for many years, there’s no way he didn’t understand the law!

Initially thinking that murder was serious, offending Yongping and the Xu family and Prince Rong’s Mansion was even more serious, but who could have expected such a serious charge was waiting for him?!

No matter how bold a minister is, how many dare to reach into the palace affairs? As a mere Commander of the Five-City Military Command, can he really manipulate palace affairs? Does he have the ability to withstand the Emperor’s accountability?

"Stop spreading lies to confuse everyone here!" Yongping rushed forward a few steps to Fu Zhen, raising her hand to hit her!

"Stop!"

Guo Song just managed to intercept her arm, as a voice of urgent anger was heard from outside the door.

Prince Rong and Princess Rong strode into the room, their expressions of shock and anger sweeping over everyone inside: "What are you all doing?!"

Fu Zhen followed everyone in saluting the couple, then said, "A better question would be, what’s the Commandery Princess doing? But you probably already saw, she wanted to hit me just now."

Prince Rong could still brush it off, but Princess Rong had wanted to devour Fu Zhen alive for a long time!

She angrily exclaimed, "You again!"

Fu Zhen smirked, "I’m sorry your Highness, I didn’t want to set foot here either, but what can I do when people bully me, nearly dragging my mother into prison, while the Ning Family is viewed as enemies by the Zhang Family.

"Moreover, after finally marrying into a noble family, I nearly ended up in prison due to my mother’s trouble of allegedly killing Mr. Liu, leaving my in-laws and husband to despise me, leading me to become an abandoned woman!

"Being from a merchant family, I climbed high to become a phoenix, only having been the General’s wife for a few days, it’s the blessing of ten lifetimes for me, you think I’d be willing to lose that suddenly?

"If I don’t thoroughly investigate this matter today, and bring the real culprit to account, how can I dispel the hatred in my heart?"

Princess Rong was nearly choked to death from anger, every one of her words countering what she had once used to scorn her!

This sharp-tongued woman!

She angrily said again, "If you want to find the culprit, go elsewhere, who told you the culprits are here?"

Fu Zhen laughed, "Highness, don’t ask me, I followed Mr. Li from the Shuntian Prefecture and General Zhang here, it was General Zhang who came to investigate the killer today, I’m just here for justice!"

Princess Rong nearly fainted from anger!

At almost fifty years, she was out-talked by a young girl!

She turned her gaze to Mrs. Zhang, then looked at Yongping, gritting her teeth saying, "You two come with me!"

Mrs. Zhang pursed her lips, glanced at her and Yongping, then followed.

Fu Zhen frowned. Princess Rong’s actions seemed a bit ominous.

Though there was deadly animosity between Mrs. Zhang and Yongping now, after all, they were all part of Prince Rong’s Mansion, Princess Rong was surely prepared, and things might change. Both sides were used to the game of wits, if Princess Rong promised Mrs. Zhang some benefits, Mrs. Zhang might well mediate the situation!

Looking at Prince Rong, the old man had already started a conversation with Zhang Feng and Li Yangsong.

Fu Zhen beckoned Guo Song over, "Go to the Imperial Censorate immediately to file a complaint with Censor Xie, saying that Lou Zhao has already admitted to the murder of the official’s son, this is a case involving court officials, the Imperial Censorate must take charge!"

The evidence of Yongping meddling in palace affairs was with Mrs. Zhang, although Fu Zhen couldn’t get an imperial decree to arrest Yongping immediately, dragging the three departments in to investigate this case was not difficult.

Fu Zhen would not let these people have a chance to make peace!

As soon as Guo Song went out, Fu Zhen glanced at the calligraphy and paintings on the wall, then called over Yang Tong: "Is Xu Yin back yet?"

Yang Tong shook his head, "I haven’t seen him. Earlier, I saw Lian Rong’s carriage arrive outside but it stopped at a distance, observed, then left."

Fu Zhen sneered, now understanding.

Ten to one it was certain, Xu Yin didn’t know about what Yongping did, and now Xu Yin didn’t want to meddle in this dirty water!

No return means no return, Fu Zhen was not anxious; once she thoroughly ripped open the relationship between the aunt-in-law and sister-in-law of Prince Rong’s Mansion, then she would act!

In the next room, as soon as Yongping entered, Princess Rong slapped her!

"Kneel to your sister-in-law!"

Yongping guessed Princess Rong had seen through it, she gritted her teeth and knelt.

Mrs. Zhang’s face was icy, she turned to the side, "What is your Highness doing? I can’t accept this!"

Princess Rong said, "Your father told you countless times, no matter how you two stir trouble in private, outwardly we are a family!

"For today’s matter, I will take charge, you both should reconcile privately!"

Mrs. Zhang angrily laughed shrilly, "Reconcile?! Today she wanted to use my cousin’s life, trying to make us fight with the Pei family, now that it’s uncovered, you tell me to reconcile? Why don’t you let her die once first before proposing reconciliation?!"

Princess Rong took a deep breath: "People are already dead, what more do you want?! Your uncle still has a son, doesn’t he? Even if he can’t have children, he can adopt from the collateral descendants!

"As compensation, Prince can arrange for your uncle to be transferred to the six departments as an official! And additionally, promote him two ranks!"

Mrs. Zhang clenched her teeth and said nothing.

Princess Rong continued, "If you’re not satisfied, we can also arrange your brother’s transfer to a clerical position in the Tongzhou Camp."

"What’s the use of a clerical position? There is no real power!"

"What exactly do you want then?!"

Mrs. Zhang bit her lip in thought, but before she finished thinking, the voice of a servant came from outside: "Reporting to the Commandery Princess! The palace has sent someone to supervise and investigate Lou Zhao’s murder case! And, someone unknown has also filed to the Imperial Censorate, a Censor from there has come along with the palace personnel..."