The little maid had a very loud voice. In no time, Lu Yinqian got the news and rushed over in a hurry with her maids.
"Xi'er, you're finally awake! How do you feel? Is there anywhere you're uncomfortable?"
Before Lu Yinxi could figure out her situation, a young woman suddenly started fawning over her. Lu Yinxi's nerves instantly tightened, and she immediately retreated to the corner of the bed, looking at the woman warily.
"Where is this? Who are you? Why am I here?"
With these three questions thrown out, the young princess of the heir apparent then remembered that after thirteen years, this was the first time they met since her younger sister left home. Maybe she didn't remember her anymore.
Realizing this, Lu Yinqian didn't force herself to get closer. Instead, she patiently explained, "Xi'er, this is the Yongchang Marquis Mansion. I'm your second elder sister, Lu Yinqian."
"Lu Yinqian? Yongchang Marquis Mansion?"
Lu Yinxi had an impression of these two names. After she came back, Mrs. Lu had mentioned them to her many times.
Seeing a hint of familiarity in the woman's eyebrows and eyes, and with some blurry pictures flashing through her mind, the young girl then carefully let down her guard and raised the corners of her lips awkwardly.
"Sorry, second elder sister. I... Do you know why I'm in the Yongchang Marquis Mansion?"
If she remembered correctly, she should have been in the Prince Jing's Mansion before she fainted.
Hearing her sister ask about the reason, Lu Yinqian couldn't help but get a bit angry. She gently tapped her younger sister's head with her index finger, looking like she was恨铁不成钢.
"I should be asking you. Xi'er, why did you go to the Prince Jing's Mansion alone?"
"I wasn't alone. I took Hongrui with me."
The young girl argued weakly. But when she caught a glimpse of her second elder sister's expression out of the corner of her eye, her voice involuntarily dropped.
Lu Yinqian's voice continued.
"Xi'er, you're an unmarried young woman. There's only the Prince Jing in the Prince Jing's Mansion. It's really inappropriate for a young lady from a noble family to visit alone.
Although I'm reluctant to admit it, the world is really unfair to women."
Lu Yinxi was surprised. She didn't expect it to be so serious. She had heard before that women in the Great Qi Dynasty weren't so restricted, so she had been more casual in her behavior.
"Sorry, second elder sister. I won't do it again next time."
Seeing her sister's lowered eyes, Lu Yinqian couldn't bear to scold her anymore. Xi'er had grown up in the manor since childhood. It was normal for her not to know these things. There would be plenty of time to teach her in the future.
"It's good that you know you're wrong. Drink the medicine quickly."
When she handed the medicine bowl to her sister, the princess of the heir apparent suddenly frowned again.
"No, Xi'er. Why did you fall into the water in the Prince Jing's Mansion? And who saved you?"
A woman, falling into the water, and someone saving her. Just putting these three words together could arouse people's imagination.
The icy cold water, the continuous pain, and the gradually fading light. As her body sank continuously, for a moment, Lu Yinxi thought she was going to die like this.
But dimly, she heard a "plop" sound.
And then not long after, someone appeared beside her.
He grabbed her arm at once. At the same time, a hot big hand touched her waist, leading her back to the light little by little...
For some reason, Lu Yinxi suddenly felt her ears getting hot.
"Xi'er?"
"I, I don't remember. I just accidentally fell into the river."
Seeing that her sister didn't want to say more, Lu Yinqian didn't force her. She just叮嘱, "This must never happen again in the future."
At the same time, in the Prince Jing's Mansion.
Shang Luoshu hadn't slept for two consecutive days and nights, and he didn't fall asleep until after midnight last night. So, the next day, it was no surprise that he got up late and missed the morning court. But he didn't care.
Compared with these, he was more concerned about Lu Yinxi's situation.
"Chen Guang, has there been any news from the Yongchang Marquis Mansion?"
"Your Highness, just now the princess of the heir apparent of the Yongchang Marquis sent someone here. She said that the fourth young lady has woken up and is in good health. She thanked Your Highness for your concern."
It's good that she's awake. The stone in his heart finally fell to the ground. The worry in his heart gradually faded away, and a feeling called regret seemed to take over again.
To be honest, when he speculated that Lu Yinxi might have the magical ability of word spirit, the man's thought about her was just to make her work for him.
Of course, it was true that he had found the young girl interesting before. But in front of the great cause he wanted to accomplish, this kind of interest was as light as a goose feather. Otherwise, Shang Luoshu wouldn't have called her over at Zhou Kou's critical moment, forced her to make a choice, and even didn't consider her future reputation.
But now he regretted it. He had been too hasty in this matter!
"Chen Guang, if I want to apologize to a woman, what should I do?"
Lin Zihan had already got Zhou Kou's testimony. He didn't dare to delay and started to try the case of Fang Qinhu as soon as the morning court was over.
Zhu Chengjie didn't go to the morning court either today. After the failure to arrest Zhou Kou, the Regent Prince had told him to stay at home and not go anywhere.
For the sake of his own life, Zhu Chengjie was really obedient and didn't dare to take a single step out of the door. He just didn't expect that what he was waiting for was the people from the Supreme Court.
"General Zhu, I'm ordered by the emperor to investigate the case of Fang Qinhu. As an important person involved in the case, please come with me to the Supreme Court."
Regardless of whether he agreed or not, Lin Zihan directly motioned for the guards behind him to arrest him.
Zhu Chengjie didn't expect that what he had been waiting for nervously at home would be such a result. Immediately, he started to struggle.
"Lin Zihan, think it over clearly. I'm the Regent Prince's man. How dare you arrest me?"
Facing his threat, Lin Zihan showed no fear at all. "Why not? The Great Qi is the emperor's Great Qi. I'm acting on the emperor's order!"
With just one sentence, all his arrogance was suppressed.
"Take him away!"
The gavel was slapped down, and the water and fire rods vibrated in unison. On the stage was Lin Zihan, stern and fierce. Outside the court were the common people who came to watch the excitement. Zhu Chengjie felt a chill in his heart, but he didn't dare to show it on his face.
Lin Zihan: "Bring Fang Qinhu!"
The yamen runners who had been waiting on one side of the court immediately brought up Fang Qinhu, whose hands and feet were chained. Although he was a prisoner, it could be seen from his appearance that he hadn't suffered much in prison.
Lin Zihan: "Fang Qinhu, I'm ordered by the emperor to try the case of your desertion during the battle in Zongyang three years ago. Do you admit it?"
"I don't admit it!"
Glancing at Zhu Chengjie beside him, before Lin Zihan could ask another question, Fang Qinhu told everything that had happened three years ago.
"Nonsense," Zhu Chengjie was even more panicked. He quickly interrupted him and didn't let him continue. "Your Honor Lin, at that time, His Highness the Prince Jing and the army hadn't arrived at the front line yet. How could I have given such an order?"
"Silence!" The gavel was slapped down again. Lin Zihan's gaze passed over Zhu Chengjie and continued, "Fang Qinhu, this is just your one - sided statement. Do you have any witnesses?"
Fang Qinhu: "Yes, Zhou Kou, who was a captain with me at that time, can testify."
"Bring the witness!"
In Zhu Chengjie's nervous and uneasy gaze, a figure gradually appeared in his field of vision. The moment he saw the person's face clearly, he completely lost all hope.
It was Zhou Kou!
The Zhou Kou who knew everything!
Different from Fang Qinhu, who was a bit excited, Zhou Kou knelt quietly under the court. He answered every question Lin Zihan asked. The whole person was like a marionette, lifeless.
After answering the questions, his answers were consistent with what Fang Qinhu had just said. Zhu Chengjie's crime had been determined.
Lin Zihan finally turned his gaze to the General Mingwei, who had lost his mind. "General Zhu, do you have anything else to say?"
There was silence under the court, and no response.
"Pa!"
The gavel was slapped down for the third time. Lin Zihan let out a sigh of relief and was about to announce the end of the case. However, before he could say the first word, a voice suddenly came from outside the court.
"General Zhu has nothing to say, but I do!"