The Rise of a General's Daughter-in-Law Doctor

"Father, don't you know who we've captured this time?"

"Oh, who is it?" the Emperor asked. He rarely saw his third son concern himself with such trivial matters. What had happened today that made his usually carefree third son so fixated on it?

Dongfang Jincheng: "That man is named Huang Duoduo. He is the nephew of Grand Secretary Huang and also the cousin of Consort De."

The Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, remained silent, and gestured for Dongfang Jincheng to continue.

Dongfang Jincheng: "If this were an ordinary person, it would be fine, but Huang Duoduo, as Consort De's cousin, always brings up the Grand Secretary and Consort De whenever he gets into trouble, making the people angry but not daring to speak out."

“Father, you are a wise and benevolent ruler who loves his people like his own children. However, when those wicked servants bully others, they do so in your name, which is gradually destroying your image in the hearts of the people.”

Before Dongfang Jincheng could finish speaking, the Emperor interrupted, "Wait, Third Prince, you're wrong. How could those wicked servants be acting on my behalf?"

Dongfang Jincheng: "Father, think about it, whose power are those wicked servants relying on?"

The Emperor replied, "Of course they are their masters."

Dongfang Jincheng: "Exactly, but whose power do their masters rely on?"

The Emperor blurted out, "That is naturally..."

Having said that, he didn't say anything else.

Dongfang Jincheng spoke without hesitation: "That is naturally due to your power, Father Emperor."

After speaking, he paused for a moment and continued, "So, although the people resent those who bully them, they also resent you. However, because of your status, they can only swallow their anger and suffer in silence. If such things continue to happen, what will become of Father Emperor's standing in the hearts of the people over time?"

Actually, he wanted to say that it would lose the support of the people, but after thinking about it, he changed his wording.

However, he didn't say it aloud, but the emperor understood. Thinking about it, he realized that the emperor's image in the eyes of the people would indeed decline. If he didn't let things develop, wouldn't that be a form of silent support?

The Emperor grew increasingly alarmed by the matter and finally ordered a thorough investigation. He also instructed court officials to conduct self-examinations and give those with such relatives, friends, or servants a chance to get rid of them themselves. If they were caught later, the Emperor would not blame them for bearing joint responsibility.

Huang Duoduo, still in prison, had not yet realized the seriousness of the situation and was arguing with the prison warden who had come to deliver her food.

"What is this thing? Even pigs wouldn't eat it. How dare you bring it in front of me? Do you know who I am?"

After saying that, he kicked over the rice bowl on the ground.

He said, "Your uncle is Grand Secretary Huang, and Consort De in the palace is your cousin. Do you hear that? If you do, send over some top-quality wine and dishes from Xiankelai."

When the jailer heard about Huang Duoduo's background, he was also unsure of what to do and thought about asking his superiors for instructions. However, as soon as he turned around, he saw Zuo Junhao, the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, walking in.

He bowed in slight surprise.

When Huang Duoduo saw Zuo Junhao, she assumed that her uncle and Consort De had put pressure on the Jingzhao Prefecture and that this man had come to invite her out. Immediately, she looked at Zuo Junhao with a haughty air and said, "Why did Lord Zuo come in person? You could have just given the order."

Zuo Junhao overheard Huang Duoduo's conversation with the jailer from outside. He sneered inwardly and said, "Since the Emperor has personally issued the decree, how could I not come in person?"

Huang Duoduo failed to catch the sarcasm in Zuo Junhao's words, assuming that Consort De was favored by the Emperor and that her whispering in his ear had led the Prefect of the Capital to personally invite him out. She instantly felt very important.

He smiled and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Lord Zuo."

After saying that, he stood at the prison door, waiting for the jailer to open it for him.

Lord Zuo looked at Huang Duoduo, who had a smug look on his face, and said, "It's no trouble at all. I should thank you for making my already busy government office even busier."

Huang Duoduo understood the meaning behind Zuo Junhao's words and said, "What do you mean, Lord Zuo? Aren't you here to let me out?"

Zuo Junhao snorted coldly: "Get out. You'll probably never get out of here in this lifetime."

Huang Duoduo then realized the seriousness of the situation and anxiously asked while gripping the iron gate, "Lord Zuo, there must be some misunderstanding. Lord Huang, I need to see Lord Huang."

Zuo Junhao: "You think you can just see whoever you want? What do you think this place is?"

After saying that, he ignored Huang Duoduo's wailing and ordered the jailer to keep a close watch on Huang Duoduo and not to let anyone visit him before leaving.

Having received Lord Zuo's order, the jailers in the cell no longer gave Huang Duoduo a friendly look. Huang Duoduo still couldn't believe that Lord Huang and Consort De didn't care about her, so she tried to coerce and bribe the jailer to pass on a message for her. However, with Lord Zuo's order in place, no one was willing to do anything for Huang Duoduo.

However, Huang Duoduo soon found a note from Master Huang in the steamed buns at dinner.

After reading it, Huang Duoduo felt like his world was collapsing. Neither Lord Huang nor Consort De cared about him anymore. They even made him confess all the things he had done over the years. Finally, they added, "Say what you should say and keep what you shouldn't say to yourself." After threatening him, they also gave him some sweet words. They said that if Huang Duoduo couldn't protect himself in the end, they could still protect his wife and children. They told him to think twice before he acted.

After receiving the note from Lord Huang, Huang Duoduo became obedient and cooperated quite well during the trial. However, he claimed that he did all the things he confessed to, and that Lord Huang and Consort De were completely unaware of them. Although Lord Zuo did not believe him, he had no evidence to prove that these things were related to Lord Huang and Consort De. In the end, only Huang Duoduo was punished.

Because Huang Duoduo committed many crimes, including abducting women, seizing land, and even hiring someone to commit murder, he was ultimately sentenced to death.

Originally, the execution was to take place after the autumn imperial examination, but the emperor, upon seeing the presented evidence, was so angry that he decreed that the execution be carried out immediately at noon the next day.

On the day of the execution, many people gathered at the execution ground, but Li Muxia, the person involved, was not among them. At that time, Li Muxia was traveling on the way to Mount Hua.

"Sister, look! Isn't that Lan Zhi's carriage up ahead?" Li Anran asked, craning her neck to look at the carriage.

Upon hearing this, Li Muxia lifted her side of the carriage curtain to look ahead and said, "It seems so."

Li Anran: "What's wrong with them? Why did they stop?"

Li Muxia was also a little surprised to see the carriage in front of her. They hadn't even arrived at their destination yet, so why had all the women in the carriage gotten off?

There were four carriages in total for Li Muxia and his group this time. The first one belonged to the old general, the second to Shangguan Wanyun and Li Anran, the third to Li Muxia, and the fourth to Li Anjin. General Li did not want to ride in a carriage, so he rode his horse and followed beside the old general's carriage.