The cousin is beautiful but ruthless.

Chapter 210 Past Events

After interrogating the three men, Shen Hanyu went to see them.

When Zhou Yurong saw Shen Hanyu, he was naturally displeased. He had some past grievances with Shen Hanyu, and now that he was down on his luck, it was bound to be unpleasant for Shen Hanyu to come knocking on his door.

"You've come to see me make a fool of myself?"

"Didn't you bring this upon yourself?" Shen Hanyu retorted.

Even now, Zhou Yurong doesn't seem to think she did anything wrong.

Perhaps it was his own fault; Zhou Yurong had leaned against the wall, meticulously preparing for so long, but it all came to nothing.

Selling contraband salt and weapons is a capital offense; he, Xiao Ran, and Lu Lingyue will all die together.

Looking at the three of them in such a disheveled state, this was the fate of Shen Hanyu in her previous life.

Having witnessed it firsthand, a thorn in Shen Hanyu's heart was finally removed.

Seeing Shen Hanyu's expression, Zhou Yurong seemed to have thought of something.

"Did you have someone investigate?"

His goods couldn't have been intercepted for no reason. He'd never made a mistake in all these years. Shen Hanyu's sudden appearance might really be her doing.

Shen Hanyu neither denied nor admitted it.

"It's a dangerous job, it's hard to stay out of sight. But it's also thanks to those people in Luofeng City who found Lu Lingyue, otherwise those goods you hid would have been hard to find for a while."

Lu Lingyue, sitting opposite her, shrank back. She had thought that by confessing, she could save her life, but it turned out that all her efforts had been in vain.

Zhou Yurong looked at Lu Lingyue, feeling immense regret for having told her such important news.

"What about Luo San Niang?"

Lu Lingyue looked up and asked, "Why haven't I seen Luo Sanniang since she was arrested?"

Shen Hanyu smiled and said, "Luo Sanniang has made a meritorious report, so naturally she will be fine."

The three never expected that Luo San Niang would be the one to escape in the end.

Zhou Yurong took a deep breath: "Luo Sanniang is one of yours too, isn't she?"

Shen Hanyu turned to the side: "You should ask Lu Lingyue about that. Luo Sanniang was arranged for you by Lu Lingyue, otherwise how could something have happened at the tavern?"

When the tavern was mentioned, Lu Lingyue felt very guilty, as she had indeed arranged the whole thing.

Xiao Ran sneered, "So the guy you like so much would secretly plot against you. How ridiculous."

The three disliked each other. Shen Hanyu had achieved her goal and turned to leave the prison.

The three men are set in stone and there is no room for leniency.

When she went out, she saw Xiao Chengzhi approach Pei Du and whisper something to him.

Pei Du shook his head: "Seeing him one last time is fine, I can arrange that right now, but nothing else is possible."

Xiao Chengzhi knew that Pei Du couldn't make the decision, so he could only go and see Xiao Ran for the time being, as this would most likely be the last time he saw her.

When Xiao Ran saw Xiao Chengzhi enter, she couldn't help but shed tears.

"You fool! You'd even go so far as to sell smuggled salt!"

Xiao Ran's regret was useless now; she had already spent all that money and gained quite a bit from the deal. It was truly a case of reaping what she sowed.

“If you need anything, you can just send someone to tell me. Why did you have to get involved in this?”

Xiao Chengzhi was angry at his son's lack of ambition, but after saying those angry words, he felt very sorry for him.

"Father, I don't want to die."

Xiao Ran cried so hard she could barely breathe. She was willing to repent and return all the money; she would do anything to save her life.

Xiao Chengzhi lowered his head, wondering if sacrificing all his honors could earn him even a little leniency from the Emperor.

"Don't be afraid, I'll think of a way for you. The mastermind behind this is Zhou Yurong, so don't be afraid."

Xiao Ran felt even colder, and Xiao Chengzhi's words of comfort were of no use.

Shen Hanyu and Pei Du stood outside watching the father and daughter embrace and weep.

"The Emperor wouldn't agree to Xiao Chengzhi's idea, would he?"

Just now, Xiao Chengzhi revealed to Pei Du that he wanted to know if Xiao Ran could be spared, even if it meant being imprisoned for life, but not taken away.

“The death penalty is irreversible. Xiao Ran is arrogant and domineering, and there are other things she did in the past. Prince Ding’an cannot save her. This is all the sins she has committed herself.”

Then Shen Hanyu was relieved.

"In addition," Pei Du paused for a moment, "those people in Luofeng City also discovered some things that are related to the tragic death of 30,000 soldiers in Lizhou more than ten years ago."

Shen Hanyu was stunned, remembering the things Shen Yanzhi had obtained.

"Back then, the weapons supply for Luofeng City was handled by one of them. Zhou Yurong started doing this business back then, although the quantity wasn't as large as it is now. However, there was a batch of weapons that Zhou Yurong did sell. This was revealed by that person after being tortured, and it has already been handed over to the Emperor for disposal."

The people from the Dali Temple did not dare to get too involved. The case files in Lizhou had long been sealed up and would not be touched without Li Jiangui's approval.

Then Zhou Yurong will be re-examined to find out everything she knows.

Shen Hanyu never expected that Zhou Yurong could get involved in the Lizhou incident.

Has Princess Huaijiang received the news?

Pei Du nodded.

"But even if we knew, it would be difficult to ask the Emperor. If we acted impulsively at this point, everything would be ruined."

Shen Hanyu calmed down as well, and then she could only hope that Pei Du could get some information from Li Jiangui.

"I'm going to Princess Huaijiang's place."

"Then I'll go to the palace."

The two went their separate ways. Shen Hanyu went to find Li Huaijiang, who was staying at the princess's residence, lying on a recliner, seemingly unaware of what was happening outside.

"Your Highness."

"You've heard about it?"

Shen Hanyu said yes.

"Pei Du went to the palace; he should be able to bring back some news."

Li Huaijiang sat up. "I know we can't rush things. Let's wait and see what Father Emperor's attitude is after all this time."

Li Jiangui's attitude foreshadowed the degree of restraint Li Huaijiang would take later; she was no longer the reckless person she was ten years ago.

Seeing that Li Huaijiang could remain calm, Shen Hanyu was no longer worried.

"I will send any news from Pei Du to Your Highness as soon as possible."

Shen Hanyu got up and left.

Li Huaijiang lay back down and closed her eyes. This was the first time she had heard news about Lizhou since the incident, but she dared not ask.

Xiaochun.

The palace maid rushed over.

"Go and investigate why the weapons weren't found back then."

After Li Huaijiang finished speaking, he remembered that the weapons that existed on the battlefield at that time had been inspected, and no crudely made ones were found.

"Bring over all the previously checked forms if you can find them."

"Yes."

Xiaochun quickly left to investigate.

Pei Du rushed to the palace, and as soon as he reached the gate, he heard Li Jiangui throwing a huge tantrum inside.

The eunuch advised Pei Du, "General, the Emperor is in a bad mood right now. You'd better not go in."

"Are the people we just brought in inside?"

The eunuch shook his head.

Pei Du pushed open the door and walked straight in.

"He didn't even ask anyone to let him in. If it were anyone else, they would have lost their head by now."

Li Jiangui's tone wasn't pleasant, but he didn't seem to blame Pei Du.