The Marquis Mansion's Elite Class-Chapter 221

Tongya huddled close to Zong Wenxiu, silent and unmoving.

“Huh? Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you even more introverted than my brother?” the little troublemaker, Jin Cheng, asked in confusion.

Tongya shrank further into Zong Wenxiu’s side.

Zong Wenxiu gently comforted her, “Tongya, don’t be afraid. He’s Jin Cheng, my cousin—we share the same bloodline.”

Tongya finally spoke in a timid voice, as if she hadn’t spoken in a long time, her voice slightly hoarse: “Brother, I’ve missed you so much… and Mother too…”

Zong Wenxiu’s eyes reddened as he replied, “We’ve missed you too. Auntie… she’s fine. Don’t think too much. Once we get out of here, I’ll take you to see her.”

Tongya nodded, tears welling up in her eyes.

Just then, officers entered to take Tongya away for questioning.

Tongya was terrified and clung tightly to Zong Wenxiu, refusing to let go.

Zong Wenxiu reassured her, “Don’t be afraid. Just tell the truth. My aunt is outside watching over us. She won’t let anything happen to us.”

Tongya’s fear didn’t subside, but she managed to ask, “What position does your aunt hold?”

The question left the group of children momentarily stunned.

Jin Cheng was the first to react. Recalling how the dance hall staff had treated the Marquis Manor and the Ministry of Personnel with such deference, it was clear that someone powerful was behind them. If Tongya knew this, she might withhold the truth to protect Xu Wan.

Jin Cheng quickly leaned in and whispered something into Tongya’s ear. Her eyes widened in shock as she looked at him. “R-really?”

Jin Cheng nodded confidently, putting on a serious face. “Really. Do you think I’d dare cause so much trouble without a powerful backer?”

Tongya believed him.

She walked out with determination, ready to cooperate fully with the officers’ questioning.

Once they left, the other children crowded around Jin Cheng, curious. “Jin Cheng, what did you just say to Tongya? Why did she suddenly trust you?”

Jin Cheng sat down casually on the floor, exuding confidence. “I just told her I have a big backer, that’s all.”

Zong Wenxiu was baffled. “Huh? What big backer? Grandfather?”

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He Zheng countered, “No way. They’re not even afraid of the Marquis Manor. Jin Cheng, you didn’t mention the Crown Prince, did you?”

Rumors had been swirling in the capital for months that Jin Cheng was the Crown Prince’s illegitimate son.

Jin Cheng shrugged nonchalantly. “I’ve been carrying this rumor for months. Might as well make it official for a bit to give Tongya some courage.”

Zong Wenxiu: “…”

You really have no filter.

To tell Tongya that he’s the Crown Prince’s son…

But with that said, Tongya surely wouldn’t be afraid anymore. After all, what official could be more powerful than the Crown Prince? Not even the Prime Minister.

He Zheng worriedly asked, “But what if the Crown Prince doesn’t help us? Will we all be doomed?”

Though he had Minister He to rely on, Jin Cheng didn’t. He didn’t want to see his friend fall into misfortune.

Jin Cheng scoffed. “Nonsense! We’re in the right. The Crown Prince is the most just and benevolent ruler. How could he not help us?”

Besides…

Besides, I’m the one the Crown Prince personally teaches every month on how to conduct oneself as a high-ranking official.

I’m the Crown Prince’s disciple, understand?

Jin Cheng secretly held onto this little secret about his connection to the Crown Prince, not sharing it with anyone.

The officers interrogated Tongya for a long time. When they finally emerged, Xu Wan noticed that the officers looked pale and were stammering when they spoke to her.

The court was supposed to be impartial, but their reaction suggested something was seriously wrong.

The dance hall had a powerful backer, someone of high status.

Xu Wan began mentally mapping out her network of connections. Madam He had promised to owe her a favor, but this matter was too significant. Only Minister He’s direct intervention might suffice, but he likely wouldn’t want to get involved.

Then there was Madam Shen, the daughter-in-law of the Minister of Rites and a close friend of the Crown Princess. But even she might not be able to help…

Xu Wan paced back and forth before finally turning to Cuizhi. “Let’s go to the Eastern Palace and request an audience with the Crown Princess.”

The officers grew visibly more nervous upon hearing this.

As Xu Wan left, she noticed their faces had turned even paler.

What were they so afraid of?

“If the Crown Prince gets involved, this matter will blow up,” the officers whispered among themselves.

“But we can’t afford to offend any of these people.”

“Letting it slide would be unjust to the people. Maybe it’s better to let His Highness handle it. It’s time these corrupt practices came to an end.”

“May heaven protect His Highness and grant him success.”

Eastern Palace.

Xu Wan arrived as usual to request an audience with the Crown Princess, who had recently recovered from childbirth and now radiated maternal grace.

After hearing Xu Wan’s account, the Crown Princess also sensed something amiss and immediately sent a message to the Crown Prince.

Not long after, three figures appeared at the courthouse entrance.

“Greetings to the Crown Prince. May Your Highness live a thousand years!”

The Crown Prince strode in and commanded, “Bring me Tongya’s testimony.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The Crown Princess and Xu Wan waited outside while the Crown Prince handled the case.

Soon, officers rushed out, leading a group of people away with the Crown Prince’s edict in hand.

Before long, instead of the officers returning, three high-ranking officials arrived: the Left Censor-in-Chief, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the Minister of Justice.

When Minister Xu saw Xu Wan sitting there, his eyes nearly popped out of his head. “What are you doing here?”

With so many outsiders present, Xu Wan maintained decorum and bowed slightly. “Father, there’s been some trouble with the children at home. I’m here to wait for the investigation results.”

“It’s your children causing trouble…” Minister Xu’s heart sank, his anger rising but not daring to show it.

This matter was of grave importance, involving high-ranking officials committing serious crimes. The three heads of the judicial system had all arrived, indicating the wide-reaching implications. Minister Xu had come to assist in the investigation, but now he feared being implicated by Xu Wan’s presence.

He wanted to ask more, but the urgency from inside and the presence of the Crown Princess forced him to hurry in.

Xu Wan now realized something was wrong. “Your Highness, did the Crown Prince summon these officials so quickly just based on Tongya’s testimony?”

The Crown Princess also looked uneasy, forcing a strained smile. “I rarely involve myself in court affairs. Perhaps His Highness has other leads.”

A while later, the officers returned, escorting a young man dressed in fine robes.

It was… Zhai Li of the Weiyuan Earl Manor.

One of the capital’s four young scoundrels, Zhai Yao’s father.

The Crown Prince’s officers had come to arrest Zhai Li.

Xu Wan remembered that while the Earl Manor wasn’t as prestigious as the Marquis Manor, Zhai Li was the only son of Pingyang Princess, and Madam Zhai was the aunt of the Eighteenth Princess. The Eighteenth Princess had once visited Xu Wan to plead for Zhai Yao’s sake.

The high-ranking officials in the capital loved intermarrying, using marital ties to strengthen alliances, creating a tangled web of connections that was impossible to untangle.

If the Crown Prince acted rashly, it could lead to chaos.

But…

Xu Wan wondered, was it really just this?

Was it just the Weiyuan Earl Manor that had the officers trembling in fear, emboldening the dance hall to disregard the Marquis Manor, and prompting the Crown Prince to summon the heads of the three major judicial departments for a joint investigation?