Chapter 36: Li Yuanwang's Despair!
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Chu Qiuer, upon seeing Su Ruowei’s unparalleled beauty and hearing her speak up for Xue Yuan, suddenly felt an inexplicable surge of jealousy.
It struck her as ridiculous!
“That fool only gained favor from Zhao Huaichun and Master Chu because he’s tall, strong, and handsome. Compared to Brother Xian...”
“Wait, maybe Brother Xian really can’t compare to him?”
The more Chu Qiuer thought about it, the more anxious she grew. Hastily she reined in her thoughts, then looked coldly at Su Ruowei and said, “Who exactly are you?”
“I am Su Ruowei, a humble subject!”
Upon hearing this, Chu Qiuer was furious. “You are Su Ruowei? A fugitive, and you dare to meddle in the affairs of this noble lady?
County Magistrate Li, is your office going to stand idly by and let a fugitive blatantly interfere in the Lord’s household matters?”
“Fugitive?” Li Yuanwang looked puzzled, but soon recalled.
In the case involving the wealthiest Su family, Su Ruowei had been hiding within the Lord’s mansion. To capture her, his head constable was even detained there!
Unexpectedly, she still dared to show herself? Hah, does she really think this county office is just for show?
At that moment, Su Ruowei also stared wide-eyed at Li Yuanwang, for it was the first time she had seen the corrupt official who had ruined her family.
Li Yuanwang said, “So you are the criminal Su Ruowei! Guards, seize her at once!”
Immediately, two bailiffs rushed in from outside, lunging toward Su Ruowei!
Xue Yuan quickly stepped in front of her, shouting, “Do not arrest her! She is innocent. Li Yuanwang is the corrupt one; he seeks to seize wealth and destroy lives!”
Su Ruowei hurriedly nodded and loudly declared, “Honorable officials, Li Yuanwang falsely accused my father of murder to seize the Su family fortune. He imprisoned all our people at the mountain’s base, intending to wipe out my entire clan!
I, Su Ruowei, was lucky to escape but found no justice anywhere. I have come to the Lord’s mansion seeking help—there is no plot to deceive the Lord! I implore all of you to see the truth clearly!”
Li Yuanwang sneered disdainfully.
He crossed his arms behind his back, stuck out his belly, and said coldly, “Su Ruowei, the evidence against the Su family in the murder case is overwhelming, and your father has confessed. How dare you slander this official with baseless accusations?”
Su Ruowei retorted sharply, “My father was beaten into a false confession. Do you dare to bring him forth and show whether he bears wounds?”
Li Yuanwang chuckled, “Your father does have injuries now, but do you know what ‘without beating, no confession’ means? It is customary for the authorities to use force on hardened criminals who refuse to confess!
Besides, this county has already shown mercy, considering his frail health! You show no gratitude, but bite the hand that feeds you—what is your intention?”
Looking at Li Yuanwang’s cold expression, Su Ruowei felt as if she were seeing her parents tortured in prison, and tears welled in her eyes.
“Very well, a ‘custom,’ is it?”
Taking a deep breath, she continued, “At the time of the crime, I was far away in another province. Why then did you arrest me? Are you afraid I would petition higher authorities and expose your scheme?”
“Haha, I have a clear conscience—what conspiracy?”
Li Yuanwang smiled and countered, “As for why you were arrested, you should ask yourself. If you are innocent, why not come to the office and explain? Why flee when you see the officers?”
“That’s an open trap! If I had gone to the office, I would never appear here today!”
“How do you know if you don’t go? Perhaps all this is your wild imagination?”
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“You!”
Su Ruowei had been clever since childhood and was no stranger to argument, but suddenly found herself at a loss for words.
She finally understood the meaning of the saying “the character for official has two mouths”—the truth, whether black or white, is decided by those in power!
She glanced at the officials present in Ningzhou, but found not a single one spoke in her favor!
All were dressed impeccably, yet none cared for her plight!
Even Master Chu the scholar stood silently to the side.
She suddenly laughed.
“Heh... truly officials protect one another—I was so naive!”
Chen Zaiduo immediately shouted angrily, “How dare you speak nonsense here?”
Prefect Wang Huai coldly said, “Su Ruowei, you must choose your words carefully. If you have grievances, as the prefect I can help you seek justice. But if you slander baselessly, that alone is enough to warrant thirty strokes!”
County Captain Zhou Shen added, “Everyone knows Magistrate Li is upright. How dare you defame him?”
Li Yuanwang sneered at the sight.
Just you? You want to fight the officials?
Xue Yuan looked at their cold expressions and felt a chill in his heart.
Damn, these are all beasts who devour people!
At that moment, Su Ruowei turned to look at Xue Yuan, the only fool who wanted to help her.
A last flicker of warmth shone in her bright eyes as she said, “Thank you, Your Highness. Your grace... I will repay in the next life!”
She felt that the foolish prince had done all he could for her, reaching the limits of his ability.
After all, he held no real power. Apart from giving her this chance to plead her case, what else could he do?
As she spoke, she reached into her sleeve with one hand!
Xue Yuan immediately realized she intended to harm herself and quickly grabbed her hand.
“Sister Su, don’t do this!”
He gently embraced her and whispered in her ear, “Don’t rush. Watch carefully!”
Startled by his soft voice, Su Ruowei looked at him blankly.
Suddenly Xue Yuan charged forward, grabbed Li Yuanwang by the collar, and shook him fiercely.
“Corrupt official! Villain! Don’t you dare seize Sister Su!” he shouted.
Li Yuanwang was delighted, thinking the fool had finally fallen into his trap.
He quickly signaled to Jin Shanye to act!
But just then, something suddenly fell from Li Yuanwang’s bosom!
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Everyone looked on curiously and saw it was a letter.
On the envelope was written in bold: “Student Li Yuanwang, to His Royal Highness the Honored Prince—For Your Eyes Only.”
Their faces all changed!
Good heavens, a local official corresponding with a vassal prince—this was a capital offense punishable by extermination of nine clans!
The letter had originally been hidden in Xue Yuan’s sleeve but was slipped into Li Yuanwang’s bosom in the chaos to create the illusion it had dropped from him.
Otherwise, how could a fool like him have obtained such a letter?
Li Yuanwang was still unaware of what had happened, busy signaling Jin Shanye to arrest Xian Qi!
Yet he noticed Jin Shanye was looking up at the sky, pretending not to know him!
Only when Chen Qiluo picked up the letter and waved it before him did she say, “Magistrate Li, perhaps you should explain this letter first?”
At once, Li Yuanwang’s face paled, his whole body chilled, and his knees buckled as he collapsed to the ground!
Of course, he recognized this letter as his own handwriting!
But it had already been delivered to the Honored Prince—how had it returned here?
At this moment, he seemed to understand something and stared fiercely at Xue Yuan!
Could it be that all of this was carefully orchestrated by him from the start?
Otherwise, how else could the letter have mysteriously returned to him?
But he was a fool—a simpleton!
“No, no, no, this is fake! This must be fake!” he shouted frantically and fruitlessly.
“Whether the handwriting is genuine, Master Chu will know at a glance!”
Chen Qiluo immediately handed the letter to Chu Yanxiu.
Chu Yanxiu had remained silent earlier because he was unaware of the case details and would not speak without full knowledge.
But as a great scholar, authenticating handwriting was effortless.
With just one glance, he said, “I have seen official documents written by Li Yuanwang. This handwriting is undoubtedly his!”
The verdict was final!
Chen Qiluo immediately ordered, “Guards, arrest Li Yuanwang!”
She never dreamed that a simple trip to Ningzhou would lead her to uncover a treasonous conspiracy between the county magistrate and the vassal prince!