books44 Chapter 196: Trial Begins
Chapter 196: Trial Begins
Chapter 196: Trial Begins
The courtyard wasn't large, but it was filled with people. As soon as she returned, everyone in the courtyard stared at her, and Ji Meiqing was taken aback, not understanding what was going on.
"Is everything ready?" she asked the person in charge, though she didn't quite remember his name.
"Everything is ready."
She nodded slightly, then walked into the hall and ordered people to set up the shelves and find the iron pots that had been used for firewood in the warehouse.
It was clean and still usable. Firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea were all prepared. She was distracted for a moment as she looked at the lively scene.
"Madam, Miss Rouge has arrived." Someone walked over at the door and whispered a few words in her ear, but Ji Meiqing was distracted and didn't hear what he said.
"Madam?" Seeing that she didn't move, the man tugged at her clothes again. Ji Meiqing then came to her senses and looked at the person beside her with a blank look in her eyes.
"what happened?"
"Miss Rouge has arrived." He repeated what he had said before.
"Please let her in." She remained expressionless, still looking indifferent. When Rouge arrived, they stood side by side under the eaves, looking at the people in the courtyard.
The two stood quietly for a while, when suddenly a person even more striking than Ji Meiqing appeared in the courtyard, naturally attracting the attention of many people.
One was elegant and refined, the other alluring and fiery. Standing together, they resembled flowers vying for attention.
Rouge curiously looked at everyone present before asking, "Your methods are getting more and more sophisticated. You've won over those savages in the mountains and even made acquaintances with Prince Shangguan."
"You're so envious?" Ji Meiqing glanced at her, then turned and walked into the house. Yanzhi glanced at her and followed her inside. There wasn't anything particularly special inside, except for a single character for "loyalty" hanging in the central hall. Yanzhi scoffed twice.
"You're planning to venture into the world?"
"Pretty much. You'll always encounter some minor setbacks in life. It's always good to have a backup plan."
After saying that, she looked at Rouge beside her and asked, "And you?"
"It's just like that." She lowered her head and smiled. "Ji Tianzhuo has started to be wary of me. He brought another person back from the building. She's very beautiful, even prettier than me."
Ji Meiqing was taken aback, then smiled helplessly, "I thought you wouldn't fall for him."
"Feeling emotional?" she said noncommittally. "That's just how men are, just like the question you asked me when you brought me out."
Ji Meiqing paused for a moment before asking her again in a very heavy tone, "The Ji family has fallen, what about you?"
“I…” she looked at the people outside, “Tonight is the last night.”
Ji Meiqing couldn't understand what she meant, but fireworks suddenly went off outside, and the instantaneous explosion immediately drew their attention away from each other.
"Let's go take a look." A long sigh was drowned out by the loud noise. She stood up and went outside to see what was happening. Rouge was quite outgoing; in no time, she was among them.
Ji Meiqing looked up for a while, then had everyone prepare everything. The scalding soup was boiling under the scorching firewood.
The fiery red chilies, bathed in the broth, perfectly released their original aroma. The broth looked remarkably like human blood, and Ji Meiqing suddenly felt a shiver run down her spine at the thought.
They ate hotpot while grilling meat skewers over the fire. The enticing aroma rose from below, but she found it unappetizing and quietly left.
The next day, she finally understood what Rouge meant.
In the early morning, before anything had awakened, there was a knock on the yard door. The banging was irritating, and unable to sleep, she had no choice but to open the door.
Rouge was dressed as a peasant woman, with a rosy blush on her cheeks and a sallow complexion. She looked like a woman who had been working hard for a long time, and there was no trace of her usual vibrancy on her.
"What are you doing so early in the morning?" She was a little surprised. It was too cold outside, so she let him in.
As they walked into the house, they hunched their shoulders and breathed out warm air.
"I've left the Ji family, and they won't last much longer either." As soon as she entered the room, she forcefully took over Ji Meiqing's bed, then wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, saying in a trembling voice as she covered herself, "So cold, so cold."
She didn't answer Ji Meiqing's question. After warming herself up, she looked at Ji Meiqing and said, "Come up too."
"What on earth are you going to do?"
"Nothing much." She smiled, then patted the spot next to the bed, gesturing for him to get on. Clearly, she didn't want to discuss the matter further.
Ji Meiqing stared coldly at her, and Yan Zhi, unable to bear the gaze any longer, finally became impatient. "The Ji family has long since abandoned me. Shouldn't I be allowed to return?"
"So what are you going to do?"
"I'm not going to do anything for you. I plan to rest for two days and then go to the capital."
"Today is the day Lu Yu opens his court session, aren't you going to go and take a look?" Rouge reminded her.
Ji Meiqing looked at him suspiciously, "Why today? I haven't heard anything from you."
"They made the decision these past few days because of that prince."
"When..." She immediately tensed up, hurriedly went to the closet to get her clothes, and then changed in front of her without any hesitation.
"That should be enough. You should still make it if you go now."
She smiled smugly, looked at Ji Meiqing who was pale-faced, and said with a childlike laugh, "Go quickly."
Ji Meiqing had no time to joke with her anymore, nor did she have time to think about whether the matter was true or false. As long as Lu Yu was convicted, the criminal record would be sent to the Ministry of Justice, and it would be difficult to overturn the case later.
She ran all the way to the prince's temporary residence, and without caring whether the door was open or not, she pounded on the door. Finally, a gatekeeper came out.
"You are..." He rubbed his eyes, looking at the girl in front of him in a daze. He was still half asleep, so his vision was naturally blurry.
"Please, please inform the Prince immediately that I, Ji, have another urgent matter to discuss." Her voice was still hoarse, and her face was pleading.
The gatekeeper stared blankly at Ji Meiqing. Seeing her on the verge of tears, he panicked, quickly agreed, and went back to call for help.
After a while, Shangguan Yuzhe let her in. He only waited a little while before coming out from the side hall, yawning as he walked forward, showing no demeanor of a prince.
"what's up?"
"Today is the day my husband will be in court. I beg Your Highness to save my husband's life."
She half-squatted down and bowed to him.
Shangguan Yuzhe didn't seem to care. He slightly raised his eyelids and glanced at her. "No rush, it shouldn't be now..."
“It’s right now, the sentencing should be imminent…” she choked up, “If you don’t go soon, this case will be closed.”