"I know Master Zhang said this for my own good, but...you should know how much the Third Prince hates me. The more day I am stuck here, the more danger I will be in.
If the final result is a dead end, I have finally given myself a chance to change the outcome. Even if I really die in the end, I will die with no regrets. "
Tao Yaoyao is not a person who likes to accept her fate, but now she really has no one else to rely on. From being imprisoned here yesterday to now, she has thought of countless ways. This is the last resort, but it is the best way for her to save herself.
Otherwise, she would not be reconciled if she was killed by Master Zhou or someone from the Third Prince when the five-day deadline expired.
In addition, she also blocked the people behind the scenes from guessing her intention. After all, this method was indeed too dangerous, and one could lose one's life if not careful.
You only have one life. Even the beggars on the street are not willing to die, let alone ordinary people.
And she also wanted to take advantage of this and seek a life for herself.
"You don't believe me?" Zhang Jing frowned, "Since I came to the Ministry of Punishments, I have solved a total of 120 unjust, false and wrong cases. I am the official with the highest rate of solving cases in the Ministry of Punishments in the past ten years."
She was naturally aware of Zhang Jing's rapid rise to prominence after entering the Criminal Department, and she also understood that he really did it for his own good, but she still said that he owed it to the original owner, not her, and she didn't want to take advantage of it.
"Even His Majesty has praised Mr. Zhang for his abilities, and I naturally believe him. But Mr. Zhang, judging from the current situation, can you really find the murderer within five days?"
Zhang Jing was silent. Seeing this, Tao Yaoyao continued, "In the past few days, can you guarantee that assassins from outside can't get in?"
Zhang Jing suddenly looked up. The woman in front of him had a pair of eyes that could see everything. This made him want to comfort him but didn't know where to start.
She was right. Since she was imprisoned here, in just one night, five or six waves of assassins came from the Ministry of Punishments. If the Chu family and King Dingbei hadn't sent people to protect her, I'm afraid that now She has...
But even so, he was still unwilling to let her take risks.
"What if you lose the bet?" Zhang Jing opened his mouth and said this after suppressing all the persuasion.
"I have always been very lucky." Seeing him relent, Tao Yaoyao raised a smile on her lips, "And I believe in you and Mr. Xiao."
Zhou family
Ever since Zhou Yu was killed, the sky of the Zhou family seemed to have suddenly collapsed. The concubines who were usually jealous began to behave with their tails between their legs, fearing that the master and his wife would take it out on them if they were not careful.
Even the servants in the mansion are in danger.
Of course, the most frightened of these people were the people in Zhou Yu's yard. When Zhou Yu's accident first happened, Mrs. Zhou called them over and scolded them for not protecting Zhou Yu.
And Liu Ruhua, who was with Zhou Yu on the day he was killed, became a thorn in Mrs. Zhou's side and a thorn in her flesh. In Mrs. Zhou's opinion, there is no concubine who can serve her servants with all their heart.
And she still stayed with Zhou Yu. Why did she come back fine but her son never came back?
Mrs. Zhou just scolded those servants and let them go after she calmed down. But for Liu Ruhua, she was tortured that day. Today, when the people who went to the Ministry of Punishment to inquire came back and learned that there was no progress in the case, Mrs. Zhou was in a bad mood and went to the woodshed again.
At this time, Liu Ruhua was already dying. The servants began to worry when they received orders from Madam Zhou to continue to torture her, "Madam, Aunt Liu has not woken up since last night. If she is beaten again now, in case …”
"What if? She only had a cheap life. My son was killed by her. Why does she still want to live well?" A murderous intention flashed across Mrs. Zhou's face, "Hit me, give me a hard time." Beat her hard. Don't let her go as long as she's still breathing."
Mrs. Zhou was worried that her servants would be lazy, so she had stools brought over and she watched them beat them in person.
"Madam, the eldest girl is back."
The maid came in to report.
Mrs. Zhou gave birth to two girls and one boy. Zhou Yu was the youngest, and because he was his son, he was also the most favored by her. However, she did not treat her daughters as human beings like those families that favor sons over daughters.
Their mother-daughter relationship is very good, and the two daughters are well married. The eldest son-in-law works in the Imperial College and is said to have a bright future. Although the younger son-in-law is a little worse, he is smart and will not be too bad in the future.
Yesterday, her two daughters came back after hearing about their son. They were not persuaded to leave until nightfall. Originally, she told them that if there was nothing to do today, they should not come over.
And it's getting dark now. What's the eldest daughter doing here at this time?
Mrs. Zhou was worried about something and hurriedly took people to her yard without caring. At this time, Zhou Ying, the eldest daughter of the Zhou family, was sitting in the house waiting for her. When she saw her coming, she hurried over to greet her.
"Mom, this is great news. The third prince has found evidence that Tao Yaoyao killed our Yu'er."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Zhou was stunned for a moment, and then said anxiously, "Please tell me about this matter quickly and carefully."
Obviously last night, the master said that it was most likely not Miss Tao who did this. How come the evidence is found now? She wanted to avenge her son, but she wanted the real murderer, not the person who was framed.
She didn't care about Tao Yaoyao's life or death, but she didn't want to let the real murderer of her son go unpunished. In this way, she would feel that she was sorry for her son and had not avenged her.
"People outside say that the second girl of the Tao family and the third prince searched the eldest lady's house, and finally found the red morning dew poison that killed the younger brother in the eldest lady's house."
Zhou Ying also heard about this matter from her servants. After learning about it, she came to the Zhou family as soon as possible. She thought that her family was very concerned about her brother's case and they should have known about it for a long time, but she didn't know what her mother meant at all.
"Your father said that the Tao family might not be the real culprits, so he removed the people guarding the door of the Tao family."
Mrs. Zhou explained.
Zhou Ying frowned, "Mom, how can you make a decision based on speculation on something that is inconclusive? Fortunately, the third prince is good to our Zhou family and thinks of us in everything, otherwise..."
"What else?" A low voice came. When Zhou Ying and Mrs. Zhou knew that the master was back, they quickly got up and went to the door.
"Dad, have you heard about the Tao family?" Zhou Ying asked obediently.
Zhou Ping already knew about this matter and had gone to the Ministry of Punishment, but he found this matter strange, but he did not tell anyone. Who knew that as soon as he came back, he heard his eldest daughter orchestrating the matter.
"You are from a girl's family, don't discuss these things. Okay, it's getting late, go back quickly."
Zhou Ping ordered the guests to be kicked out in just a few words. Zhou Ying was a little unhappy, but she didn't dare to confront her father at this time. Mrs. Zhou wanted to say something, but she thought of her daughter who died tragically...
After the servant sent Zhou Ying away, Mrs. Zhou looked at Zhou Ping, "Have you guessed who the murderer is?"
"Not yet." But it was definitely not Tao Yaoyao.
At this time, Tao Shi'an also knew about the incident. He was drinking tea with his friends. After learning about the incident, he went home in anger.
Tao Yanyan had just sent away the third prince and was now dreaming about the third prince's concubine. When he saw his father coming over in a hurry, he was about to call someone but was slapped in the face.
"Are you crazy?" Tao Shi'an doesn't care whether his children are smart, but as long as they are useful and obedient, he is willing to indulge them. His second daughter was raised by her.
But how could a child who was so well-behaved and smart in the past do such a stupid thing today?
He did make it clear that he didn't like Tao Yaoyao, but after all, she was from the Tao family. At this time, anyone could stab him, but not the Tao family.
Otherwise, the Tao family will become a joke in the city of Kyoto.
But he never expected that this daughter, who had always been well-behaved, would be bold enough to take the third prince to the eldest daughter's yard and have her house searched.
Tao Yanyan did this to please the third prince, but she didn't care about her identity?
In the end, the Tao family will be embarrassed.
"Dad, are you crazy?" Tao Yanyan looked at him with an aggrieved father, "Dad said that the eldest sister is the scourge of the family. If she is gone, can our family live in peace?
My daughter did this entirely for her father. "
Tao Yanyan looked at Tao Shi'an pitifully, unknowingly thinking that she had been wronged a lot, but she knew that the daughter Mo Ruofu, and the greed in her eyes that had no time to restrain, Tao Shi'an couldn't find a reason even if he wanted to lie to himself.
"That's enough. You are not allowed to go anywhere without my permission during this period."
Tao Yanyan quit, "Dad, it took a lot of effort for the third prince to come out, and I helped him such a big favor today. I have to seize the opportunity, otherwise..."
"Stop your petty thoughts, the third prince will not marry you. At most, he will be a concubine."
Tao Shi'an turned around and left. Tao Yanyan stood there unwillingly. Don't think that she didn't know what her father meant. Didn't she just think that she was a concubine and not worthy of the third prince?
But what if she becomes a legitimate daughter?
A plan flashed in her mind, and she instantly became happy again.
After nightfall, the prison became noticeably quieter. The prisoners who had been crying and shouting during the day were probably tired, so they either leaned on or lay down and fell asleep.
Tao Yaoyao sat on the straw and leaned against the wall, her eyes closed but moving from time to time.
That's right, she didn't sleep, and couldn't sleep, because Zhang Jing told her that the plan was tonight, and the success or failure of this matter was related to her life. Regardless of the righteous words she said during the day, at this moment, she still Somewhat cowardly.
"Miss Tao, don't worry, we have already hidden Miss Qiu Gui."
At dusk, Tao Yaoyao asked Qiu Gui to dress up as a jailer and leave the prison quietly. The girl naturally refused to leave, but after learning that not only would she not be able to help if she stayed, but she might also harm her own lady, she left in tears.
Thinking of Qiu Gui's sad look when she left, Tao Yaoyao's tense mood finally relaxed a little.
"Thank you." Tao Yaoyao opened her eyes and smiled slightly at the jailer.
"Miss Tao, you're too polite. It's just a small matter."
Ever since these people saw her guarding the third prince today, their attitude towards him had obviously changed. Because Tao Yaoyao understands their thoughts, he will naturally not implicate them.
"You guys should leave quickly."
