Lord Lu was having an affair with his young aunt, and the four or five-year-old cousin was actually their child. Though not the main interrogator this time, he would know what to do after seeing the letter.
The Xiaoyun Guard nodded and noted it down, then asked, “What about the others?”
“Just touch on it,” Meng Chi said calmly. “Let them remember what the Xiaoyun Guard does.”
The Xiaoyun Guard’s jobs included discreet dealings of royal families and secret matters that concubines and royal relatives needed to handle. They naturally knew more dirty secrets and anyone who dared to move against them would pay a price.
On the fourth day, Niu Da’s only son from his love life was found by Xiao Yun Wei’s subordinates.
Niu Da recanted, admitting that Sun Jiagong had coerced him with threats against his son to report Meng Chi, and that Meng Chi and his sister were innocent. Everything he had said before was fabricated by Sun Jiagong.
Lu Shilang, observing the situation, sighed, “Sun Jiagong’s actions are truly unforgivable. Poor Commander Meng has suffered an undeserved disaster.”
The yamen sent several groups to the Sun family, but Sun Jiagong, recovering from an injury, had vanished.
Although Lin Zhou was close to the capital, it took time to transmit messages. As Meng Chi’s case was determined to be a false accusation, the Zheng family learned of the love letter from Meng Yao revealed in court.
Old Master Zheng shook his head, saying, “With this letter, Meng Chi’s crime is sealed. I doubt he can escape punishment. Has the nun’s money been found?”
“No,” Mrs. Wu replied angrily, “Your son has been acting strange, crying and shouting that he wants to marry her. I want to rid ourselves of that demon. Keeping her will only bring disaster. She’s ruined my son! He should become a top scholar and imperial son-in-law. I’ll never allow him to marry the sister of a prisoner!”
“A human life is at stake,” Old Master Zheng said, “I’m soft-hearted. I can’t do this. Would you? But I keep thinking Meng Chi must have given her more money. We should find a way to extract it before killing her.”
Suddenly, a servant knocked and reported, “Young Master has run away with the nun!”
