The old official was so angry that his face turned deathly pale. "You! You! You're simply insolent! I'm, after all, ..."
Before he could finish, the emperor waved his hand to interrupt him. "Alright, Minister Yuan. What Prince Ruixian means is that there might be someone secretly stealing our military funds and rations, and that person could be anyone."
Gu Ruobai nodded. "That's exactly what I meant, Minister Yuan. You're being too nervous."
"I have something to say," a clear male voice rang out just as the court was starting to get chaotic.
Su Mingyu turned and, as expected, saw Xu Wencang.
"Minister Xu, what do you want to say?" The emperor looked at him, his weather - beaten eyes glinting with shrewdness.
"I'd like to ask Prince Ruixian. It's right for you to arrest those who harmed your leg, and it's also right for you to arrest those who embezzled the court's military funds. But, Prince Ruixian, why did you arrest my younger sister?"
Xu Wencang looked at Gu Ruobai haughtily, showing not the slightest sign of guilt. "My younger sister is just an ordinary woman, and she has a baby in swaddling clothes. Prince Ruixian has locked her up for several days. My nephew cries at home every day. As his uncle, I can only secretly feel heart - broken but am completely helpless."
Seeing Xu Wencang like this, Su Mingyu couldn't help but secretly spit in her heart. This man's face was really thick. No wonder he could hold such a high position.
Gu Ruobai raised an eyebrow and glanced at him. "We just invited Mrs. Zhang to Prince Ruixian's Mansion for questioning. We've been treating Mrs. Zhang well. Since the matter has been handed over to the Imperial Household Department, we're also willing to send Mrs. Zhang back to your mansion."
"Then I'll trouble Prince Ruixian," Xu Wencang nodded, looking completely confident of victory.
He looked extremely irritating. Su Mingyu clenched her fists tightly to control herself from going up and punching him.
"Since that's the case, let's settle this matter like this. First, hand it over to the Imperial Household Department to thoroughly investigate how much silver has been embezzled. We also need to arrest those behind it!"
The emperor waved his hand and gave the order. Gu Ruobai and the others all nodded in agreement.
After leaving the court, Su Mingyu wheeled Gu Ruobai for a short distance when Xu Wencang caught up. "Prince Ruixian."
Gu Ruobai looked back at Xu Wencang. "Minister Xu is really brave. He actually dared to bring this matter directly to Father Emperor."
Xu Wencang curled his lips and smiled faintly. "I've always behaved uprightly. Even if I bring this matter before His Majesty, I'm not the least bit guilty."
Su Mingyu couldn't stand his arrogant look. She let out a sneer and stepped forward. "Minister Xu, let's wait and see. Some things shouldn't be said too early."
As she said that, Su Mingyu had someone help Gu Ruobai into the carriage. Then she curled her lips at Xu Wencang and smiled. "Minister Xu, see you later."
Giving Xu Wencang a provocative look, Su Mingyu then got into the carriage.
Watching the direction in which Su Mingyu left, Xu Wencang tightly clenched his fist, his face turning terribly gloomy.
Back at Prince Ruixian's Mansion, the first thing Su Mingyu did was to go and see Zhang Wencai.
Seeing Su Mingyu's bad complexion, Zhang Wencai knew that the matter was a foregone conclusion. He looked extremely dejected. "Do I... really have to go to the Imperial Household Department?"
Su Mingyu nodded. "Yes, His Majesty has already given the order. If you don't go, you can imagine how angry His Majesty will be, right?"
"If I die in there... you must help me bring down Xu Wencang!" Zhang Wencai's tone was full of dissatisfaction.
Su Mingyu nodded. "Don't worry. Gu Ruobai said you didn't confess anything. You just have to insist that you don't know anything and let them show the evidence."
Zhang Wencai was still a bit panicked. "But you should know that there are Xu Wencang's people in the Imperial Household Department."
Su Mingyu raised an eyebrow. "But there are also our people. What are you afraid of? Alright, hurry up and go. The people to pick you up are here."
Zhang Wencai seemed very reluctant. He dawdled but was finally taken away.
Watching Zhang Wencai's reluctant back, Su Mingyu sighed helplessly. "Can he withstand the punishments in the Imperial Household Department?"
"I think he can," Gu Ruobai squinted his shrewd eyes. "Although Zhang Wencai seems like a good - for - nothing, he knows better than anyone what he wants. He just wants to live, so he will do his best not to die under the hands of the Imperial Household Department. After all, there's still the Ministry of Justice waiting for him."
Hearing what Gu Ruobai said, Su Mingyu also felt less nervous. "Then it depends on his own fortune."
After seeing Zhang Wencai off, Su Mingyu turned around and saw Tang Yan's cold eyes.
"This is the man who killed my father. You just let him go like that?" Tang Yan's voice was cold, filled with indelible hatred.
Seeing this, Su Mingyu could only step forward to comfort him. "This matter was ordered by His Majesty. Even Gu Ruobai and I can't change this fact."
As she said that, Su Mingyu looked up into Tang Yan's black eyes and said word by word, "Don't worry. We will definitely get back what Zhang Wencai owes you. It's just that the timing isn't right yet."
"Don't tell me these useless things!" Tang Yan's face was ashen. "I want him now!"
"Actually, if I were to rob the prison cart now, it would be an insult to His Majesty. Do you think His Majesty would easily forgive you? At that time, not only won't you be able to avenge your father, but even Tang Ziming will be implicated. Then there will really be no one left in the Tang family!"
After saying that, Su Mingyu clearly saw Tang Yan's face look a bit better before she continued. "We sent the man out, so I will definitely get him back for you. I just hope that you can stay in the mansion properly during this period. Whether Zhang Wencai can be alive and back in your hands depends on these few days."
"Are you threatening me?" Tang Yan's already not - so - good face immediately turned pitch - black. "Su Mingyu, you should know that there's still the poison I gave you in your body."
Su Mingyu nodded. "Of course you know. I'm just saying these things out of a friend's kindness. I hope you won't let hatred blind your eyes."
Tang Yan glared at Su Mingyu fiercely, then finally turned around and went back into Prince Ruixian's Mansion.
Watching Tang Yan's angry back, Su Mingyu let out a long sigh. "Tang Yan is really angry this time."
"But we can't entirely blame him for this," Gu Ruobai could understand the pain of losing a loved one.
Su Mingyu nodded. "It's already pretty good that he's still willing to listen to me now."
"By the way," Su Mingyu suddenly turned back to look at Gu Ruobai. "How's the situation in the Imperial Household Department?"
"I've already told our people that they don't need to interfere with the usual torture of Zhang Wencai, but they should step in only when his life is in danger," Gu Ruobai said, raising an eyebrow at Su Mingyu and then squinting his deep eyes. "I've noticed that you've been a bit too concerned about Tang Yan recently, haven't you?"