Chapter 171: Justice for Them
Song Shiwei's face darkened and she couldn't help but clench her hands.
That’s dozens of lives. So many innocent people have to be sacrificed just to preserve Wen Ruqing’s reputation.
Why?
Just because they are high and mighty, can they kill anyone at will?
She felt uncomfortable and turned around and walked out.
Xiao Jingheng chased out and said, "Don't worry, I will never let those people die in vain."
Song Shiwei said in a cold voice: "We can't let them die in vain.
Didn't the Duke of Zhenguo want to save his daughter's face? I'm determined to make them lose all their face!"
Xiao Jingheng asked her: "What do you want to do?"
Song Shiwei raised her eyebrows, a hint of anger flashed across her eyes: "I want to seek justice for the people who died unjustly in Xishan Villa!"
……
Not yet.
The busiest street in the capital was bustling with people, and suddenly there were cries of surprise from the crowd.
I saw a girl covered in blood, limping onto the street.
Some kind-hearted people went over to ask her, but the girl said nothing. Every step she took left a blood mark, which was shocking to see.
The people had never seen such a scene before, and they were curious about what was happening, so they followed the girl.
The girl came to the Dali Temple and used all her strength to beat the drum in front of the temple.
Then she knelt on the ground and shouted loudly: "Please, sir, give justice to the 32 people who died tragically in the Wen family's villa in Xishan."
When the people heard this, they immediately started talking.
"Where is this Wen Family Villa in Xishan?"
"From the name, you can tell which nobleman in the capital has the surname Wen. It must be the Wen family of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.
The Wen family has a separate courtyard in the West Hills. I heard that it was burned down by a fire early this morning, and all the servants in the courtyard were burned to death. "
"Could this girl have escaped from the West Hill Villa?"
Everyone was guessing.
At this moment, Han Qingyan, the Dali Temple Minister, walked out wearing a scarlet official robe.
He came to the temple gate, looked at the girl kneeling on the ground and asked, "Who are you and why are you beating the drum?"
The girl replied, "I am Xiaotao, a servant in the Wen family's other courtyard in Xishan. The fire in the other courtyard this morning was not an accident, but man-made."
As soon as these words were spoken, the people were in an uproar.
Han Qingyan said in a deep voice: "Can you tell me in detail what is going on?"
Xiao Tao said: "Two months ago, Miss Wen rescued a pair of siblings and placed them in the other courtyard.
After that, Miss Wen came to visit often and gradually developed an affair with the man.
Last night, Miss Wen had a secret meeting with that man and was caught by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. This incident alarmed the Duke Zhenguo.
I don’t know what the Duke of Zhenguo and the Crown Prince talked about, but after the Duke of Zhenguo took Miss Wen away, the Crown Prince ordered his guards to massacre the servants in the villa.
I was stabbed several times and passed out. When I woke up, there was a fire in the courtyard. I crawled out through a dog hole and saved my life.
However, except for this servant, all the servants in the Wen family's courtyard died, a total of 32 lives. Please seek justice for them, sir."
She banged her head heavily on the ground, and every word she spoke was audible and sad.
Xiao Tao's words were like a stone that caused a thousand ripples, because her accusations were so shocking that the people could not believe it.
Someone asked uncertainly, "Is Miss Wen the lady from the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion?"
"It's her, Miss Wen Ruqing from the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. She was having a secret meeting with a man in the West Hill Villa, and the prince caught her in adultery himself!"
Xiaotao answered their questions.
"Isn't Miss Wen engaged to the Crown Prince? Why is she so desperate that she would secretly meet another man?"
"I guess that man must be more attractive than His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"I don't know who it is that made a young lady from the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion give up her status as the Crown Princess?"
Everyone was very curious and wondered who this adulterer was.
Han Qingyan asked, "Do you know the name of the man Miss Wen saved?"
Xiao Tao said, "His last name is Shen, Shen Linchuan. When Miss Wen brought him back, he was covered in wounds. I heard that his injuries were caused by being beaten for cheating in the imperial examination."
"Shen Linchuan? Did I hear correctly? Isn't that the man divorced by Song Zhuangyuan? He is the one who has an affair with Miss Wen?"
"I'm a little confused. Shen Linchuan's reputation is so bad. What does Miss Wen want from him?"
"If you ask me, this man surnamed Shen is very clever."
The people had a heated discussion, but no one doubted that Xiaotao's words were false, because her injuries were the best evidence.
If his daughter had not done something shameful, how could the Wen family villa be burned down?
What do you mean it was an accidental fire? How could it be possible that no one could escape from an accidental fire?
What's more, the fire started in the morning, not at night, unless the people in the other courtyard had already died!
Seeing that the people believed her without a doubt, Xiao Tao said loudly, "Sir, everything I said is true.
If you don't believe it, you can ask someone to check whether Miss Wen is still a virgin.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince caught the adulterer himself, although it is not known what kind of cooperation he reached with the Duke of Zhenguo.
But the prince would never allow his princess to have a stain on her body, so this marriage must be called off.
Your Excellency can also send someone to check the bodies in the other courtyard to see whether they died in the fire or from a sharp weapon.
I am a lowly servant, and I have dragged my crippled life here just to expose their crimes to the world and to avenge my compatriots who died tragically.
Please find out the truth and give them justice. I will be grateful..."
Before she could finish her words, Xiao Tao suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and fell to the ground, staggering.
Han Qingyan hurried over to check. He helped Xiaotao up and felt her breath, then shouted, "Go get the doctor."
There happened to be a doctor among the crowd watching the fun. He stretched out his hand and said, "I am the doctor."
Han Qingyan said: "Come and show her."
The doctor hurried forward to feel Xiao Tao's pulse. His face changed and he quickly withdrew his hand and stepped back, saying, "Sir, this girl is too badly injured. She has... died!"
Han Qingyan's eyes darkened. He stood up and said to the guards behind him, "Take the man in and bury him properly."
"Yes."
The guards carried Xiaotao's body into the Dali Temple.
Han Qingyan said to the people: "I will investigate all the grievances Xiaotao has complained about, and I will definitely give her an explanation."
He bowed to the people, then walked into the Dali Temple with heavy steps.
The people gathered in front of the Dali Temple and did not leave. Someone sighed, "What a good girl, she died just like that."
"If she hadn't died to plead her case, the truth of the matter might have been covered up by the fire."
"We must not tolerate the murderer!"
"Yes, we want justice for the 33 lives that were wrongly lost."
The people raised their arms and shouted, as if their fighting spirit was ignited.