Cold-faced Empress

Subtle anomalies that others could not observe were clearly seen by Mo Canglan.

The fear and shock that Madam Ji showed after hearing the word "take down" further confirmed his judgment.

After Madam Ji was taken down, Ji Xiangrong, who followed her, was even more vulnerable. She didn't even have the courage to stand in the hall to be identified. She was so frightened that her legs went weak and her body trembled violently.

Mo Canglan didn't even need to give orders; with just a glance, soldiers took the man down.

Seeing his wife and daughter being arrested, Master Ji was completely stunned.

"It's a misunderstanding, Prince Mu! This must be a misunderstanding, a huge misunderstanding!"

Madam Ji and Ji Xiangrong were still pitifully protesting their innocence. After all, they hadn't been identified by the bandits; they had been singled out by Prince Mu.

Even the gang of bandits were stunned, exchanging bewildered glances and daring not to utter a word. Even if they didn't know who the messenger was, they should have realized it couldn't possibly be a woman.

Faced with the veiled doubts in the eyes of the crowd, Mo Canglan said nothing and simply waved for Fang Zhi to take the two away for questioning.

Seeing Fang Zhi lead the people away, Master Ji knelt down again and kowtowed repeatedly: "Your Highness, I am an honest and law-abiding citizen, my wife is kind and honest, and although my daughter is a little willful, she is by no means a malicious person. I beg Your Highness to see the truth!"

Despite his desperate pleas, he couldn't even get a second glance from Prince Mu. Master Ji wanted to ask the Prefect of Pingcheng for help, but the Prefect, who was standing by the hall, avoided him and not only refused to pay attention to Master Ji, but also showed resentment.

The Ji family was the wealthiest family in Pingcheng, and they usually had deep ties with the city's officials. But at this time, all the officials wished they had absolutely no connection with the Ji family.

If it truly was the Ji family who did it, not only would Prince Mu not punish them, but the officials of Pingcheng would all be eager to rush forward and bite them. Because of the Ji family's evil deeds, they are all finished!

During the long wait, a woman's shrill scream suddenly came from outside the hall, startling everyone inside.

A woman's scream?

It was undoubtedly Madam Ji or Ji Xiangrong!

Mo Canglan remained expressionless, seemingly unfazed by the screams.

Master Ji was heartbroken and was about to rush out of the government office to save his wife and daughter, but before he could step out the threshold, he was kicked back by a guard.

Just then, Fang Zhi returned after finishing his interrogation. Old Master Ji, who had been kicked, didn't even bother to get up, and anxiously asked, "What have you done to my wife and daughter?!"

Fang Zhi's expression was icy: "Master Ji, you don't need to worry about your wife and daughters, because you can't escape either."

Master Ji was stunned, unable to comprehend the meaning of these words.

Fang Zhi reported to his master: "Madam Ji and Miss Ji have confessed that they harbored resentment and sent a message to the bandits outside the city to rob the Fu family's caravan and murder Miss Fu."

"Impossible! You used torture to extract a confession!" Master Ji shouted.

Fang Zhi ignored him and continued, "On the night before the Fu family left the city, the Ji family hosted a banquet. During the banquet, Miss Ji heard from the Fu family's daughter that the eldest daughter of the Fu family had broken off her engagement. She mistakenly thought that the eldest daughter of the Fu family and you, Master, had broken off their engagement. So she verbally insulted and provoked the eldest daughter of the Fu family, which angered the eldest daughter of the Fu family and caused her to leave the banquet. Therefore, Miss Ji held a grudge."

Master Ji was aware of the conflict that occurred at the banquet that night. But he never imagined it would lead to such consequences!

"That was just a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding! It was just a quarrel between two young women. Xiangrong would never dare to harm Miss Fu!"

Seeing that Master Ji still refused to believe it, Fang Zhi snorted coldly: "Miss Ji didn't have the guts to commit murder, so she told Madam Ji about it and begged her to help her get revenge. Madam Ji felt sorry for her daughter and was also worried that Miss Fu would get entangled with the Bai family's young master after she was no longer engaged, which would ruin Miss Ji's good fortune, so she agreed."

"That night, Ji's servant, A-Si, was sent out of the city to deliver a message to the bandits. The next morning, A-Si left Pingcheng and disappeared without a trace. Master Ji, your servants wouldn't just vanish without a reason, would they?"

Master Ji was taken aback and immediately fell silent. He remembered that Madam Ji had said that Ah Si had gone back to his hometown to visit relatives.

"No, no, no..." Master Ji got up from the ground. "I want to ask him myself."

Everyone watched as Master Ji rushed out of the hall, and not long after, heart-wrenching screams rang out.

"Madam! Xiangrong! No!"