Jin Wang Dotes on His Concubine

Chapter 216.2

Li-shi didn’t think there was anything wrong with giving out loans at high interest. The officials from Shuntian Prefecture had come to her door, so what? If they wanted to arrest her, they would have done so long ago. As long as Su Yaoniang was still the empress, those officials wouldn’t dare to touch her. Her son was the empress’s brother-in-law, and the Yao Family was now part of the imperial relatives.

It had to be said that Su Yaoniang was really lucky!

Every time Li-shi thought about it, she couldn’t help but sigh. At the same time, she couldn’t help but think of her own daughter, Yan Jie.

Although Li-shi didn’t know where Yan Jie was, in her heart, she had already considered her to be dead. While admiring Su Yaoniang’s good fortune, she naturally didn’t spare her criticism. If it weren’t for Su Yaoniang’s interference, she would be sitting in the position of the emperor’s mother-in-law today.

It was all the fault of the Su Family and Su Yaoniang for robbing her and her daughter of their good fortune!

Li-shi gritted her teeth at the thought. Fortunately, she was alone in the room now. Otherwise, it was unknown how those maidservants would react.

Li-shi was lost in thought when suddenly the sound of unlocking the door came from outside. She immediately stood up with her hands on her hips, intending to scold Su Huiniang the moment she entered.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t Su Huiniang who came in, but several maids.

“Old madam, the master requests your presence.”

“Is it because Su Huiniang intends to apologize and admit her mistake to this old lady?” Li-shi had already started to imagine in her mind how she would reprimand Su Huiniang when she arrived. She must make Huiniang humble herself and please her to be forgiven. Despite her fierce scolding earlier, it was all just talk. She knew very well whose face it was because of that the family could have such wealth now.

Including Yaoniang, whom Li-shi had always looked down upon, she could still act humble when facing her. During the New Year’s greetings at the palace, Li-shi wore a large smile the entire time she was facing Yaoniang. So, those who bullied the weak and feared the strong were like this, making one couldn’t help but feel cold inside.

After experiencing various aspects of the capital, Li-shi was no longer the same as the Li-shi who had no scruples in front of Jin Wang.

Li-shi specifically had Qiao bring her new clothes to change into and then she applied makeup on herself before leaving the room. At this moment, there was no trace of her previous appearance from her time in Jinzhou. She looked just like the wealthy ladies in the capital. She carried herself with poise and a haughty expression, completely unaware that the maids were leading her to the front courtyard.

Yao Cheng’s face showed a reluctant expression, and he didn’t look at Li-shi. Instead, he spoke to a high-ranking official in front of him, “This is my mother. I hope you can be lenient, Your Excellency. My mother comes from a humble background and has just arrived in the capital. She doesn’t understand the ways of the world. This matter was also concealed from her, leading to such a serious mistake.”

“Alright, alright. We are just following orders. If the old lady of your household truly didn’t know the details and was misled by someone, we will handle this impartially.”

After a brief exchange, the high-ranking official ordered his subordinates to take Li-shi away.

This group of stern-looking constables crowded around her. Although they didn’t handcuff Li-shi, it was enough to make her tremble with fear. It wasn’t until she was pushed out of the door that she realized what was happening, and she let out a desperate scream, “What are you doing, what are you… Cheng’er, what do they want… Cheng’er, you unfilial son…”

Yao Cheng bowed from a distance, saying, “Mother, it’s not that your child is unfilial, but you have committed a grave mistake, and your child is powerless…”

At this time, Li-shi didn’t look like a noble lady at all. Her hair was in a mess, and the golden ornaments on her head had fallen to the ground. She cried so much that her tears and mucus were all over her face: “Look for Su Yaoniang, look for Su Yaoniang, go quickly…”

“Shut up! Can someone like you casually call the empress by her name?”

Seeing the official’s angry eyes wide open, Li-shi was too frightened to say anything.

After Li-shi was taken away, she was imprisoned in the large prison of Shuntian Prefecture.

Shuntian Prefecture’s large prison was not an ordinary place. As an important prison in the capital, it held only major criminals, including notorious bandits and murderers. It was always devoid of light, the cells were cramped, and even though Li-shi had been given the best cell, it was still an unbearable hardship for her.

What was worse, there were strange sounds that frequently echoed in Shuntian Mansion’s prison. Sometimes it was the clanking of chains against the cell door, sometimes it was loud laughter, and other times it was mournful sobbing. It often left Li-shi cowering in fear, unable to sleep at night.

The food was also scarce, with only thin porridge and rock-hard flatbreads to eat for every meal. It was said that this was already considered good, as other inmates were served spoiled food, and they only ate once a day, just enough to keep them from starving to death.

Li-shi was tormented, and whenever she saw a jailer, she would either plead or threaten, but these jailers were like stone men, never paying her any attention. She eventually realized why she heard those strange sounds. It turned out that all these people had been driven insane by the torture.

At the same time, officials from Shuntian Prefecture did not forget to interrogate her. Li-shi, scared and desperate, revealed everything. She didn’t hide anything and poured out all the information she had. She wanted to clear her name and avoid further punishment.

She collaborated not only with the third madam of the Marquis’s family but also with two other wives from different households. However, as the Marquis’s third madam had mentioned, Li-shi was not involved in the actual operations and might not have known the details. She only knew they were doing business together, and she didn’t need to invest a lot of money. She only needed to wait and collect her share of the profits.

These confessions were written out in duplicate, one copy sent to the palace and the other sent to the Yao Family.

Yao Cheng finished reading his mother’s “confession” and fell into silence.

Huiniang’s attitude had changed from earlier, and she didn’t say anything, even avoiding him. But, as always, Yao Cheng didn’t disappoint her. After Li-shi was sent away, he began making arrangements for her return to their rural home in Jinzhou.

Li-shi was naturally unwilling. The only thing that kept her going in the prison was the hope that everything would go back to before once she survived this ordeal. Unfortunately, no matter how much she pleaded, cried, or cursed, she couldn’t stop Yao Cheng from deciding to send her back to the countryside.

After finally sending Li-shi away, Yao Cheng breathed a sigh of relief and said to Huiniang, “You were right; keeping her in the capital would have caused our family’s downfall.”

Huiniang comforted him, “Don’t say that. It was a necessary step. If we had stayed in the capital, she would have caused trouble one way or another. But here in the capital, under the emperor’s watchful eye, trouble could arise at any moment. I did consider going back home with you to take care of your mother until her old age, but first, my parents and older brother are all here, and I can’t bear to leave them. Second, Ming Ge’er and the others are staying in the capital, since their future will be better here with the education. This way, I’ll also be able to take care of the children.”

“You’re right.”