At this moment, Prefect Lan is extremely relieved that his youngest son snatched back that girl from the Luo family on the street, and even more relieved that he acted swiftly to accomplish the task in advance.
As he knows, when imperial family members commit crimes, the House of the Imperial Clan will cooperate with the Ministry of Criminal Justice to investigate. Even if he is guilty now, even if the courtās Imperial Emissary arrives, they can do nothing to him; he would still need to be sent to the Capital City for investigation.
Once in the Capital City, he would have his youngest son plead for mercy from the Luo family, ask them to help smooth things over. Even if he canāt be exonerated, at least his life can be spared.
But these are just wishful thoughts!
"Imperial family member? Ha ha." Ye Ziāan held a ledger in one hand, his other hand behind his back, and said, "I feel embarrassed to claim myself as an imperial family member, but you have the nerve to do so."
"Tsk!" The Assistant General guarding the city also laughed, amused by the Prefectās shamelessness. "Prefect Lan, just give it up, do you know who this person in front of you is? This is Marquis Changning of our Great Zhou, the Emperorās first cousin, a genuine royal relative. He does not go around claiming to be a royal relative, yet you, miles removed, dare to make such a claim? Moreover, is your daughter-in-law really a girl from the Luo family? Fool someone else; everyone knows your younger daughter-in-law is a merchantās daughter. Would a noble lady marry into your family?"
"And your daughter-in-law, if she really is a noble lady from the Luo family, then itās perfect because this man here is the cousin of a noble lady from the Luo family. Bring her out and see if itās true."
At this moment, a servant from the Lan family came crying to the front yard, "Master, something terrible has happened, terribly!"
"The young master has been murdered!"
"What?" Prefect Lan was so shocked by the news that his legs gave way.
"Our second young master is dead, murdered!" the servant said again.
Prefect Lan stared at Ye Ziāan, suddenly kneeling in front of him, "Lord Ye, have mercy, please spare me."
"I beg you, considering that I have never troubled you before, spare me." Prefect Lan cried bitterly, "I never wanted to embezzle those taxes, but these people forced me. I didnāt want those silvers; they found ways to shove them onto me, and I had no choice."
"Ha ha, recognized me, did you? How interesting, your corruption, and itās someone elseās fault?" Ye Ziāan waved behind him and said, "Come, take them all into custody for interrogation at a later date."
Prefect Lan, not a bold man by nature, had already softened when he saw the circle of guards earlier; his shouting at Ye Ziāan had been nothing but a front.
Now, upon hearing his sonās death, he completely collapsed.
But the other Prefectural Magistrates and such were not about to admit to anything; these people had been here for seven or eight years, and it wasnāt as if nobody had come to investigate before, yet nothing was found.
One Prefectural Magistrate said, "Lord Marquis, Prefect Lanās crimes have nothing to do with us. Why keep us detained as well?"
The one in charge of the academic administration also said, "Exactly, precisely, this is all Prefect Lanās doing. Here in Zhejiang, Prefect Lan is like a local tyrant; we have to do what he tells us. I know nothing about reduced tax revenue, iron mines, or anything."
"Yes, yes, youāre the Lord Marquis; we dare not offend you, but shouldnāt you have evidence to act? Itās inappropriate to detain us for no reason, right?"
"..."
This group seemed intent on pushing all the blame onto Prefect Lan.
Ye Ziāan then opened the ledger in his hand and said, "Donāt be anxious, I am a man who follows protocol; if evidence cannot be found, I naturally wonāt trouble you."