The Marquis Mansion's Elite Class-Chapter 222

Zong Jincheng sat idly in the detention room, bored to the point of picking at the walls.

He wondered how the interrogation outside was going. Had Tongya told the truth? How much did she know? If high-ranking officials were involved, would the officers dare to continue investigating?

"If only I could see the trial..." the little troublemaker sighed. "We’re witnesses, after all. Why aren’t they questioning us?"

Zong Wenxiu shook his head. "They’re probably still interrogating Tongya. The officials are thorough. Let’s wait a bit longer."

He Zheng, sitting in the corner, muttered a prayer: "I hope they finish soon and let us go. Otherwise, I’m afraid my father will come and break my legs when he finds out."

The Zong brothers exchanged glances.

Honestly, that was a real possibility.

The little troublemaker decisively stood up and called out, "Someone, come here!"

The guard quickly approached. "What’s the matter?"

The troublemaker pointed at He Zheng. "He’s not feeling well. Can you let him go first? We were all involved in the fight together. If there’s anything to clarify, I’ll answer the questions."

He Zheng was immediately moved to tears. "Brother, you’re too kind... I won’t leave. If my legs get broken, so be it. It won’t stop me from studying."

Zong Wenxiu: "..."

Another day of feeling inferior to his relentless dedication to learning.

The officer glanced at He Zheng and flatly refused. "He looks fine. Stay put and wait for the Crown Prince’s summons."

"The Crown Prince?!" Zong Jincheng exclaimed in surprise. "His Highness is here?!"

He Zheng blinked. "The Crown Prince really came... Is it because of you? Brother, you’re not really his... son, are you?"

Zong Jincheng coughed, cutting off his wild speculation. "Don’t make things up. It’s nothing like that."

"Oh, good." He Zheng breathed a sigh of relief.

If Zong Jincheng really were the Crown Prince’s son, he wouldn’t dare to call him "brother." He’d be scared out of his wits.

Not long after, an officer came to deliver a message. "Zong Jincheng, the Crown Prince summons you for questioning."

All three boys stood up at once.

The officer added, "Not you two. Stay where you are."

He Zheng: "..."

The Crown Prince clearly favors Big Brother.

But... are they really not related?

The little troublemaker quickly followed the officer out, his mind racing as he reviewed the entire incident, ready to explain everything to the Crown Prince.

However, when he arrived, he found the hall filled with high-ranking officials in purple robes. Zong Jincheng was about to kneel next to Tongya to answer questions when the Crown Prince gestured for him to stand by his side.

"Your Highness?" the little troublemaker asked, puzzled.

The Crown Prince whispered, "Stand beside me and listen."

Zong Jincheng: "!!!"

His dream had come true! The Crown Prince was really letting him listen to the trial!

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He nodded eagerly, barely containing his excitement.

The officials below exchanged uneasy glances, but none dared to look up, fearing the Crown Prince’s wrath. Their minds raced with the rumors that had been circulating in the capital for months.

Tongya, meanwhile, widened her eyes in realization.

Zong Wenxiu’s cousin hadn’t lied to her. He really was the Crown Prince’s son, under the Crown Prince’s protection.

This made Tongya even more determined to tell the whole truth!

The Crown Prince spoke. "Since Minister Zhai has arrived, let’s hear the witness’s testimony. Tongya, repeat what you know."

Tongya nodded solemnly and began her account:

"My name is Tongya. Four years ago, I was taken from the slums and raised in the backyard of Yan Qingwu Dance Hall. There, they built a massive underground facility, housing over a thousand girls like me—girls with no family or background, ranging from three to fourteen years old."

"These girls were taught to sing, dance, and serve others. Those who disobeyed were punished—dunked in water, starved, or locked up. Our fate was to wait to be chosen. Once chosen, we had to serve. The customers had terrible tastes. Sometimes, they even chose the youngest girls. I knew a girl who started serving men at the age of nine. Last month, she was gone..."

"Before she died, she told me she had served many high-ranking officials. Many of them promised to free her once she came of age, but none kept their word. She realized that they felt safe telling her their identities because they believed she would never escape that dark place."

At this point, Tongya clenched her fists. She glanced at Zong Jincheng and finally revealed what the Crown Prince had been pressing her to say but she had hesitated to disclose:

"I know who those high-ranking officials are."

The heads of the three judicial departments trembled with fear.

No wonder the Crown Prince had summoned them. This was a scandal of monumental proportions. Both the mastermind behind the operation and the officials who visited the underground facility were guilty.

The Crown Prince urged her to continue.

Tongya began listing names: "General Qi, Qi Wenyuan; Grand Scholar of the Hanlin Academy, Wen Wang; Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Li Ji; Young Marquis of Wen Chang Marquisate, Zheng Yuzhou; Second Son of the Duke’s Mansion, Feng Xiao..."

Tongya named over a dozen individuals, each with a prominent title and status. The officials present broke into a cold sweat, terrified that their own departments might be implicated.

Tongya added, "Your Highness, these men were frequent visitors to the underground facility. Not only did my friend see them, but many other girls did as well. If you don’t believe me, you can question the others. They’ll confirm the truth of my testimony."

With over a thousand girls and at least a hundred who had served customers, a thorough investigation would likely uncover even more shocking names.

The Left Censor-in-Chief of the Court of Censors hesitantly suggested, "Your Highness, this matter is of great importance. Should we not report it to His Majesty before proceeding further?"

He wasn’t afraid for himself—he had never been to such a place and had a clear conscience.

But who could guarantee that none of his subordinates had? If any of them were implicated, he, as their superior, would be dragged down as well.

Those who had served in office for years understood the importance of self-preservation.

The Crown Prince replied, "I will inform His Majesty. In the meantime, dispatch men to search the underground facility and bring everyone back for questioning. Do your jobs well, or you will be punished as accomplices."

"Yes, yes, Your Highness. We will act at once."

The Crown Prince then turned to Tongya. "Have you seen this man?"

Tongya followed his gaze to Zhai Li.

She shook her head. "Your Highness, I haven’t. He never visited the underground facility."

The Crown Prince said, "He built the underground city."

Tongya was stunned.

The mastermind? Had the Crown Prince already captured the mastermind?

Zhai Li knelt with his head bowed. "Your Highness, you’ve wronged me. I merely purchased a dance hall. I had no idea they built an underground city behind my back. I’ve been deceived by my subordinates. I am deeply grieved and angered by this. Please punish me for failing to oversee them properly."