Chapter 277: Chapter 277: The Emperor’s Decree
Translator: 549690339
“Where do you think you’re going, you little brat!”
An official grabbed Wu’er and lifted her up, raising the hot iron in his hand, intending to brand her face.
If he pressed the scorching hot iron onto her face, Wu’er’s delicate features would be destroyed forever.
“No!” Madam Wenren screamed and rushed forward to take her back.
Li Hongyuan kicked open the door, slapped the official, and snatched Wu’er away at the same time.
Wu’er clung to him tightly in his arms, trembling in fear.
Li Hongyuan patted her back gently, his voice unusually soft, “It’s over, don’t cry anymore.”
He handed the little girl over to Madam Wenren.
Madam Wenren held her tight and knelt down, kowtowing to Li Hongyuan, “Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you, Your Highness.”
Li Hongyuan glanced at the official he slapped, his expression turning cold. He stepped on the man’s face, saying coldly, “So the officials of the Ministry of Justice are all like this – good-for-nothing, malicious and despicable scum? Third brother, the people under your command are all useless.”
The official lost consciousness under Li Hongyuan’s leather boot.
Prince of Huai chuckled, “Fifth brother, there is no need to take out your anger on a servant. In the heat of the moment, he was just afraid that the prisoner might escape.”
“Where could a four or five-year-old girl possibly run?”
“Fifth brother, calm down. Lord Mo just lost his head for a moment.” Prince of Huai looked as if nothing bothered him, even when his subordinate was trampled unconscious by his adversary. He laughed, “I was in the middle of an interrogation. What brings you here, Fifth Brother?”
“Release them immediately,” Li Hongyuan looked around the cell, his gaze falling on the people inside.
Besides the three women being hung up, the others had not yet been tortured.
But they were all terrified, their faces pale, and tears streaming down their cheeks.
Prince of Huai laughed, “Fifth brother, can you now interfere with the affairs of my Ministry of Justice? I have some advice for you – you should go back and pack your things and bring more money and food to avoid hunger and cold when you are guarding the Imperial Mausoleum. Whether to release these traitors or not, it’s not up to you to decide.”
“Actually, he indeed has the say,” Jiang Ning spoke up.
Prince of Huai looked at her.
Jiang Ning held up the Imperial Edict, “His Majesty’s decree.”
Everyone’s eyes widened at the sight of the dazzling Imperial Edict, especially Prince of Huai’s, who appeared in disbelief.
“What Imperial Edict? How come I was not informed? Could this be a false decree?” He questioned repeatedly.
Ignoring him, Jiang Ning directly unfolded the Imperial Edict and read its content aloud.
The content of the Imperial Edict indeed ordered the release of all female members of the Wenren Family. Of course, they would only be let go. All the land, houses, and belongings of the Wenren family had been confiscated.
They would be left with nothing except the ragged clothes on their bodies.
Compared to the treatment of other traitors’ female relatives in history, this was already quite lenient.
Usually, those women would either be forced into prostitution for the army or sold off, ending up scattered and lost in the world.
They would never have a good ending.
Madam Wenren couldn’t believe it, and knelt down, staring at Jiang Ning in a daze.
Jiang Ning smiled, “Madam, the decree is real. His Majesty has shown mercy and released you and your sisters.”
Madam Wenren, as if waking from a dream, knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face.
The other children knelt beside her, hugging each other and crying bitterly.
Jiang Ning turned to Prince of Huai, “Your Highness, can you let them down now?”
Prince of Huai looked at the Imperial Edict in her hand, his expression dark, and said, “Fifth brother, that’s quite impressive. Even in such a predicament, you can still get this edict for the Wenren family. It seems that Emperor Father still favors you, his favorite son, the most..”