At this moment, the imperial envoy from the Imperial Censorate turned his gaze to Qi Nanfeng: "In that case, please come with us."
Qi Nanfeng's face turned ashen: "Don't act recklessly! This matter has nothing to do with me!"
"Men! Take him away for interrogation!" the messenger shouted loudly. Two strong men grabbed Qi Nanfeng from both sides, rendering him immobile.
And so, he was taken away.
After noon, Liu Family finally woke up, and upon inquiring, the maid told her.
"Madam, the young master has already gone to Chen Anbo Mansion. The Princely Heir of Uncle's Mansion and our master have always been on good terms, they will surely not stand by and watch. The urgent matter is to send the betrothal gift and properly receive Lady Xianfei."
Liu Family sighed, her heart felt blocked: "Nanfeng surely has a way, surely has a way."
But after the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, there was still no movement outside the mansion.
Until a young servant stumbled into the room, shouting loudly: "Madam, something bad happened! Our master has been... thrown into the Ministry of Justice's jail, awaiting trial!"
"What!"
Liu Family stood up abruptly, her vision went black, and she fainted again.
Meanwhile, Qi Nanfeng had already been sent to the dark and sunless jail of the Ministry of Justice.
With him was the disfigured Li Shen.
During interrogation, Li Shen stubbornly refused to cooperate. Even when evidence was presented, he strongly resisted, thus subjected to severe punishment.
With Li Shen as an example, Qi Nanfeng dared not act rashly and dumped all the blame on Li Shen, after all, the evidence the Prime Minister held only pointed to Li Shen.
So he refused to yield but was still thrown into jail awaiting another trial.
He ignored Li Shen's fierce glare, watching as Li Shen was thrown into the eastern jail.
While he was pushed to the western side, temporarily spared from the ordeal of torture.
But unexpectedly, Qi Nanfeng encountered Ruan Qingsong!
But before he could speak, Ruan Qingsong suddenly lunged at him, swinging his fist fiercely at him.
Qi Nanfeng was beaten to the point where he had no strength to fight back, especially with shackles on his limbs, leaving him utterly powerless.
He could only be pressed to the ground by Ruan Qingsong, beaten mercilessly.
"Bastard! My sister has been a widow for you for three years, managing the Qi Mansion for three years! You come back from the dead and treat her like this? If I don't beat you to death today, I will..."
"Someone, someone help! Save me!"
Qi Nanfeng shouted with all his might, but beyond the iron bars, there were only the cold, indifferent eyes of other inmates.
Government officers, accustomed to such scenes, merely echoed a few words and had no intention of stopping it, as long as no one dies, they don't care, especially since... Mr. Ruan was a person the people in power specifically looked after.
Until news reached of the Princess's arrival, the jailers became alert, saluting with full spirit!
"Princess!"
"Your Highness, this is the jail of the Ministry of Justice, without approval, you..."
The Fifth Princess, adorned in jewelry and finery, disregarded the jailers' obstruction and insisted on entering the jail.
Everyone knew this Princess was the most favored daughter of the Emperor, no one dared offend her, thus she was allowed to stride quickly to the outside of the iron bars.
Qi Nanfeng saw her as a savior!
Using all his strength, he pushed Ruan Qingsong away, despite his bruised and battered face, crawled to the Princess's side: "Wan'er, why are you here?"
"Are you here to save me? It was Li Shen who framed me, I have nothing to do with Tong Yao! And this Ruan Qingsong, he beat me to this state indiscriminately!"
The Princess, having feelings for him, anxiously and hurriedly came, surely to save him.
Qi Nanfeng's arrogance swelled, and he spoke aggressively to Ruan Qingsong: "Ruan Qingsong! It was your sister who was unvirtuous and unwilling to give way to the Princess that I made this decision, she brought it upon herself, you..."
But before he could finish, the Fifth Princess slapped him!
Qi Nanfeng was struck dumbfounded.
He looked incredulously at the Princess: "Wan'er?"
"This Princess does not need anyone to give way for me! You fool! I never thought you were such a worthless person!"
"Today I am here to tell you, I do not want you as my Prince Consort anymore!"
Qi Nanfeng couldn't believe it: "Wan'er, why? Why is this?!"
"You still have the nerve to ask me? Better make sure you save your own life first!!"
After leaving this remark, the Princess turned and left, without a trace of attachment.
She originally thought Qi Nanfeng was a smart person, didn't expect, at the critical moment, he was manipulated along with Li Shen, and even played himself into prison!
Moreover, she had already heard of Qi Mansion's encounter with major bandits, if Lady Xianfei saw the Qi Mansion in such a state, wouldn't it make her, the Princess, a laughingstock of the Imperial Family?!
A man who couldn't even handle a betrothal gift was not worthy to be her pawn!
However, behind her came Qi Nanfeng's heart-wrenching cries: "Wan'er, Wan'er..."
At this moment, the news of the Chen Anbo Mansion being ransacked spread throughout the Capital City, even Ruan Mian was stunned.
In the original book, only their Ruan Family was ransacked and exiled, Uncle's Mansion was a key character lasting until the end.
Could it be that her intervention changed the plot of the book?
Would the Ruan Family still be ransacked?
The answer was yes.
That afternoon, a vast crowd of government officers surrounded the Ruan Mansion.
At the moment, Ruan Mian was not fully prepared.
Originally planning to make some arrangements tonight,
unexpectedly, the exile was expedited!
After the eunuch in the palace finished reading the Imperial Decree, a tall, slender man stepped forward, rudely directing the servants.
"Thoroughly ransack the place! Leave no corner untouched, the Emperor has decreed, the Ruan Family has been in commerce for generations, all properties are to be confiscated! No one in the mansion is allowed to take any belongings, only the clothes on their back are left!"
At this moment, Mrs. Zhang was so frightened by the sudden Imperial Decree that her legs went weak, and Ruan's father, lying in bed, dragged himself out shakily.
But the man ruthlessly pushed Ruan's father aside!
Ruan Mian hurriedly stepped forward to support him: "Father!"
Facing the man's gaze again, the man angrily said: "Do you still want to stop us from ransacking the house?! You are already prisoners, don't see yourself as high and mighty.
Wasn't your elder brother Ruan Qingsong highly regarded back then? Even took the spot in the Hanlin Academy Editorial Department from me, forcing me to work bitterly in the Ministry of Justice! Haha, now it's divine retribution for him!"
Hearing this, Ruan Mian frowned, recalling that this person should be the one who didn't get along with Ruan Qingsong in the book.
But he only appeared once, she didn't have much impression of him.
But encountering the house ransacking under his watch, it might become more complicated.
Just as she was thinking, her sister Ruan Qing hurriedly ran to Mrs. Zhang, tears on her face, yet a defiant look in her eyes.
"My brother did not take your spot! Clearly, you weren't capable enough!"
These words pierced the man like a knife, he furiously grabbed Ruan Qing, shocking Mrs. Zhang.
Then he forcibly stripped her of her jewelry, red hairpin, and even tore off the jade pendant and waist accessories hanging on her dress.
Seeing the skirt was about to be pulled loose, Ruan Mian lowered her gaze, suddenly counter grabbed the man's wrist bone, shielding Ruan Qing behind her.
The man's eyes were bloodshot, seemingly wanting to devour her whole.
"Are you courting death?"
Ruan Mian coldly eyed him: "The official is only ordered to ransack, by targeting a weak woman, aren't you afraid of becoming a laughingstock! Disgracing the Emperor's face!"
"You..."
The man was suppressed by just one mention of the Emperor's face, unable to speak, just as Ruan Mian was about to apply more force, another powerful, well-dressed man strode in.