Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 453 - 289: A Lesson Through Death

She entered the main room, counted the silver notes in the box, and saw there were only over ten thousand taels, her heart in a panic. Previously thinking the family didn’t need so much silver, she invested all the silver into the embroidery workshop.

Now the family only has over ten thousand taels, how would that be enough? She set down the silver notes, pulled open the drawer of the dressing table. She took out the jewelry box inside, opened it and found it was more than half full. Inside was gold and silver, some even adorned with gemstones.

She also took out several sets of headpieces from the lower drawer, found a wrapping cloth, thought to wrap them all up, and hurriedly left the main room holding the bundle.

"Brother Xian, there isn’t much silver left at home, I’ve brought all the jewelry, you take it to the pawnshop. Check if it’s not enough, I still have some dowry, I’ll go open the trunk."

As she spoke, she took down the hairpin and earrings from her head, crammed them all into Sun Xian’s hands.

Ye Zhiqiu thought Gu Wan was too anxious, even if wanting to make arrangements, she needed to find the right person!

"Second Sister Gu, don’t be hasty! We should first go to Chengyu’s residence to inquire about the situation. Chengyu has always been thoughtful, he must have foreseen this. Perhaps he has already prepared a backup plan, let’s go talk to Ming Mo and the others first."

Upon hearing this, Sun Xian also found it reasonable.

"Then let’s first go to Chengyu’s residence to have a look!" Gu Wan listened, took the bundle from Sun Xian, and slung it on her back.

"Let’s go!" Holding Xiao Baozi by the hand, she hurriedly proceeded to Gu Chengyu’s residence, not caring that Xiao Baozi was still unsteady on his feet, walking swiftly.

Seeing this, Sun Xian hurriedly went forward to pick up Xiao Baozi. Ye Zhiqiu walked at the end, closed the courtyard door, and went to Gu Chengyu’s residence with them.

Kuang Zhao Ying planned to enter the prison, bring out a couple of these examinees for a warning.

Just upon arriving at the Heavenly Prison of the Dali Temple, a prison guard rushed forward, "My lord! Terrible news, Lord Wan has committed suicide!"

Kuang Zhao Ying was briefly stunned, then pushed past the guard and dashed into the Heavenly Prison. Panting, he ran into the cell and found Wan Xue Nian collapsed in a pool of blood. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

The body hadn’t been touched, there was a spot of blood on the wall, Wan Xue Nian must have committed suicide by crashing into it. Kuang Zhao Ying checked Wan Xue Nian’s nose, found no breath, then felt the body, still warm, presumably dead not long ago.

He looked to the side and found a blood letter beside the corpse. He opened the blood letter and found Wan Xue Nian’s last words, mostly about being wronged, expressing loyalty in death.

Kuang Zhao Ying immediately thought of Song Shuqing, went to check Song Shuqing’s cell, found Song Shuqing still alive.

"Did anyone come to the cell this morning?" Kuang Zhao Ying felt Wan Xue Nian couldn’t have committed suicide unless someone came and conveyed some message.

"Reporting to my lord! Only you and a few other lords came by, afterward it was only my humble self guarding. Unexpectedly, just when I went to check another cell, he committed suicide."

Kuang Zhao Ying recalled who came to the Heavenly Prison with him in the morning, among them were the Left Minister of the Ministry of Justice Peng Fang and Right Junior Minister Tao Junyan. He personally summoned them today, who exactly said something to Wan Xue Nian?

How was the message delivered to Wan Xue Nian? Whose people were they?

He felt both were highly suspicious, still unable to conclude. He needed to report this matter to the Emperor, along with the blood letter in hand.

Was Wan Xue Nian truly wronged, or did he commit suicide fearing the crime? Seems investigation needs to focus on those examinees and evidence. Fortunately, there’s still Song Shuqing.

Kuang Zhao Ying ordered someone to drag away the prison guard without needing an explanation. Clearly, the consequence would be death. Letting such an important prisoner die in prison, not flaying him alive is considered merciful.

"Assign more people to guard Song Shuqing, do not under any circumstances let him die. Otherwise, you know the consequences." Kuang Zhao Ying could already imagine the Emperor’s fury.

The people sent to verify haven’t reported back yet. Up to now, neither the fraud case nor the bandit case had any progress, unexpectedly Wan Xue Nian died today.

Hu Maoshen looked at the paper in front of him, detailing the confession from an informant in the Wan Mansion. He already had witnesses and confessions in hand, along with the previously gathered physical evidence, ready to report to the Emperor for a thorough investigation of the bandit case, he was about to enter the palace to present to the Emperor.

"Hui An! Prepare the carriage, I need to go to the palace." Hu Maoshen, holding these confessions and physical evidence, prepared to go to the palace.

Gu Chengyu had given him a two-day deadline, his actions were quite swift, capturing the informant and interrogating overnight. Yet, still no clues on other silver taels, only found evidence implicating the Eldest Prince’s subordinates actively participating in the bandit case, along with a token.

Kuang Zhao Ying was already at the palace, feeling very uneasy at this moment.

"Eunuch Chen!" Kuang Zhao Ying, led by the little eunuch, arrived outside the Imperial Study Room, and saw the chief steward De An standing guard outside.

De An is a title only the Emperor can call; his surname is Chen, frequently addressed as Eunuch Chen by ministers. Eunuch Chen is favored by the Emperor, requiring officials to smile flatteringly upon meeting, often needing to bribe him with silver coins for favors.

"Lord Kuang, the Emperor is currently busy! Let this old slave announce your presence."

Kuang Zhao Ying expressed his gratitude repeatedly, slipping over a couple of silver notes.

Seeing Kuang Zhao Ying’s distressed appearance, De An hesitated, unsure whether to accept the silver. Kuang Zhao Ying had just been here in the morning, came again now, judging by his expression, it wasn’t good news.

Kuang Zhao Ying typically looks down on eunuchs, even manages a smiling facade yet probably curses them behind their backs! Moreover, Kuang Zhao Ying is known for being stingy, looking at the silver notes, noticed they were more than one, considered today’s silver notes can’t be accepted, not knowing what task awaits.

De An gently pushed away, "My lord, wait a moment, this old slave will report now!"

Saying so, he entered the Imperial Study Room.

Seeing De An refusing to accept the silver notes, Kuang Zhao Ying cursed him inwardly as a cunning old fox.

"My lord, please enter!"

Hu Maoshen, sitting in a carriage, entered through the palace gates, and De An saw him arriving from afar. Puzzled, he wondered what day it was that everyone came?

He heard the shouts and noises coming from inside the room, secretly relieved he hadn’t accepted the silver notes earlier. Otherwise, he’d be in an endless fix.

"Eunuch Chen!"

Hu Maoshen hadn’t reached the front of the Imperial Study Room yet heard sounds inside. He tried signaling to De An, who shook his head; now wasn’t the time to tempt fate.

"Wait, my lord!"

The Emperor paced within the Imperial Study Room, Wan Xue Nian was a veteran minister, back when he was the Crown Prince, Wan Xue Nian had joined his faction. Now, having died to prove innocence shook him with slight regret upon seeing the blood letter.

"Who’s outside?" He suddenly heard someone talking with De An outside, the voice sounded like Hu Maoshen.

"Is it Hu Aiqing? Let him in."