The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

"Brother Quan, this place is really eerie!" a man said.

At this moment, another man replied, "Hurry up, stop dawdling, get this done so we can go back. I don't want to stay in this lousy place!"

"Don't worry, that woman has probably already been carried off by wolves. I don't know what the Marquis is worried about..."

The voices of the two men faded into the distance, and the light of the torches slowly disappeared.

Mu Ping and Ye Yifan, who were crouching in the grass, exchanged a glance and both understood that the Marquis of Xinyang's mansion had sent people to destroy the evidence. They dared not make a sound.

……

The Marquis of Xinyang's Residence.

Sure enough, just as the Fang father and son finished talking and came out, a servant rushed over to report: "My lord, Lord Yu from the Jingzhao Prefecture has arrived."

Fang Ling turned around and glared at Fang Xianda, then said in a deep voice, "Please wait in the main hall, Lord Yu. I will be there shortly."

"Yes, my lord." The servant responded and left.

"Remember what I told you."

"Yes, Father!" Fang Xianda replied in a low voice, knowing he was in the wrong.

Fang Family Hall.

After Yu Tonghai finished explaining the situation, Fang Ling had a complete understanding of the whole story, but he didn't think his son's mistake was that big.

"Lord Yu!" Fang Ling's voice was authoritative without being angry. After all, he was a first-rank marquis. Even a soft call from him put immense pressure on Yu Tonghai, who could only listen to him continue.

"My son is unruly, and it's my fault for not disciplining him properly. But I already let that woman leave the manor this afternoon. What? Hasn't she returned home yet?"

Fang Ling, being a seasoned veteran of officialdom, spoke in a relaxed tone, even taking a sip of tea afterward, as if it were no big deal.

Yu Tonghai knew in his heart that the old man would not hand over the person, but Li Cong already knew about this matter, and this case could not be left unresolved.

However, he dared not openly offend Fang Ling, so he could only force a smile and say, "That Ye Zhaoping is simply audacious, daring to deceive his superiors and cover up the truth. I will go back and thoroughly investigate this matter, but..." Yu Tonghai glanced at Fang Ling as he spoke, and continued, "Lord Li Cong also knows about this matter today..."

Although Yu Tonghai couldn't afford to offend Fang Ling, if he lost his official position, he would lose everything. At the very least, he couldn't go back empty-handed.

Li Cong? Fang Ling narrowed his eyes. He knew this man; he was upright and incorruptible, stubborn and unyielding, yet His Majesty favored him greatly.

"Lord Yu? Are you questioning me?"

"I wouldn't dare," Yu Tonghai quickly said, bowing respectfully. "I'm just worried that if this matter escalates, it will do the Marquis's mansion no good whatsoever!"

Fang Ling understood his meaning, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "Tomorrow, I will send my son to the Jingzhao Prefecture in person! Lord Yu, you must handle this matter carefully!" His tone was quite threatening.

Yu Tonghai finally felt relieved. At least this way he wouldn't be accused of protecting powerful figures, and if Li Congwan investigated, he would have an explanation. He cautiously replied, "This humble official understands."

Watching Yu Tonghai leave, Fang Xianda emerged from behind, his voice filled with disbelief, "Father, am I really going to the Jingzhao Prefecture?"

Fang Ling originally intended to handle the matter hastily, but Li Cong suddenly appeared out of nowhere. If he were impeached, the matter would become serious. Fang Ling looked at the gate and said, "Let's just go through the motions tomorrow." No matter what, he had to protect Fang Xianda.

The next day.

The Court of Judicial Review of the Capital Prefecture.

Ye Zhaoping, who was still kneeling to report the case, and the neighbors who were willing to testify for him were still kneeling below the stage, while Fang Xianda and his witnesses stood next to him with a disdainful look on his face.

Yu Tonghai glanced at both the plaintiff and the defendant, then at Li Cong sitting beside him and his attendants. His head was throbbing even more than yesterday. He thought to himself: Why is this old man here again? Luckily, he invited Fang Xianda.

Fang Xianda, perhaps feeling guilty, didn't dare look at Ye Zhaoping at all. Ye Zhaoping, on the other hand, was filled with hatred that seemed to spit fire. This scene was witnessed by Li Cong, who, having served as an official for many years, naturally knew what was going on.

"Ye Zhaoping, you say Fang Xianda stole your sister, but do you have any evidence?" Yu Tonghai slammed his gavel and questioned loudly.

"Sir, this is my written testimony, covered with the fingerprints of those who witnessed it firsthand. I've also brought witnesses Aunt Han and Uncle Wang with me," Ye Zhaoping said, taking the testimony from his pocket and handing it to his subordinate beside him.

Yu Tonghai opened the testimony, which indeed bore numerous red handprints of varying sizes. He coughed lightly and asked Aunt Han and Uncle Wang, "Did you two really see Fang Xianda kidnap his sister with your own eyes?"

Aunt Han and Uncle Wang exchanged a glance and quickly kowtowed, replying, "We dare not lie. It was indeed Young Master Fang who abducted Miss Ye on the street."

"Can you see if that young master Fang is in the courtroom?"

Aunt Han and Uncle Wang knelt on the ground, not daring to look around. Upon hearing the instruction, they immediately recognized Fang Xianda. The two pointed at Fang Xianda with trembling fingers and replied, "It is indeed this person."

"But when I returned yesterday, I saw Miss Ye come out of the Marquis's residence with my own eyes," Aunt Han added.

As soon as the words left his mouth, everyone except Fang Xianda and his men was shocked, especially Ye Zhaoping, who looked at Aunt Han in disbelief and asked, "Aunt Han, what do you mean by this?"

"Young Master Ye, you may not know this, but when I returned yesterday, I happened to see Miss Ye coming out of the Marquis's residence!" Aunt Han turned to Ye Zhaoping and said.

Ye Zhaoping never expected that Aunt Han would suddenly change her mind. He was extremely disappointed and said excitedly, "Impossible! My sister didn't even come home yesterday!"

"Miss Ye didn't go home?" Aunt Han also looked surprised and continued, "I was talking to her yesterday. She said that Young Master Fang didn't want to force her, so he let her go!"

At this moment, Fang Xianda spoke up: "Sir, did you hear that? I, Fang Xianda, take responsibility for my actions. It is true that I like Miss Ye, but after returning to the manor, she was unwilling, and I could not force her! So I let her go back!"

"Fang Xianda! You're lying!" Ye Zhaoping was about to pounce on Fang Xianda when he was pulled away by the constables.

"Silence! Silence!" Yu Tonghai ordered.

This was exactly what Yu Tonghai wanted. Now that there were witnesses to prove that Ye Yifan was not in the Marquis's residence, he no longer needed to worry about offending anyone.

"Fang Xianda! Where is your witness?"

Two women stood behind Fang Xianda, who looked like business vendors, and their stories were roughly the same as Han Gu's.

"Lord Li, what do you think?" Yu Tonghai looked at Li Cong ingratiatingly.

Li Cong said without changing his expression, "Lord Yu, you may decide the case yourself!"

Yu Tonghai assumed that Li Cong had tacitly approved, so he shouted, "You audacious Ye Zhaoping! Ye Yifan has clearly returned home, yet you are causing trouble here. I will spare you the beating because I think you are longing for your sister. Guards, drag him out!"

"This judge declares that Fang Xianda is without fault! He is hereby permitted to return home!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhaoping cried out in protest, "Your Honor, I'm telling the truth! My sister hasn't come home yet! Your Honor..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was dragged out, and no one noticed that Li Cong's face was getting darker and darker.