Chapter 434: Zhu Shi's Cry of Grief

Inside Rong Qing Tang,

When Jia Jing finished speaking, it was as if a massive stone had been thrown into a calm lake, stirring up raging waves.

Everyone present showed a drastic change in expression, especially Zhu Shi, whose face turned ashen, heart trembling with fear, at a loss for words.

No Wang Family any more??

From where did this statement arise?

Lady Wang, Xue Yima, and Feng Jie all felt a huge shock in their hearts, bewildered, and as they looked at the stern youth seated high on the hall, cold sweat suddenly beaded on his forehead.

Yuan Chun listened nearby, a hint of bewilderment and astonishment flashing across her jade-like, snow‑white face.

Because the words came from Jia Jing, no one doubted their authenticity!

At that moment, everyone held their breath, directing their gaze toward the cool‑faced Jia Jing; Jia Mu's aged face also showed gravity as she hurriedly asked:

"Jing brother, what do you mean? What happened to the Wang Family?"

Although Jia Mu does not particularly like the Wang Family, the Jia, Shi, Wang, and Xue four great families have been intermarried for a hundred years, sharing the same roots; this is certainly not an empty statement!

She also would never wish to see the Wang Family suffer any major disaster!

"Indeed! Jing… brother, hasn't Pan'er's uncle already been stripped of his position? Could he have committed another offense?"

Xue Yima's fair face was full of panic, the shallow crow's feet at the corners of her eyes tightening, and she couldn't help but ask aloud.

"Could it be that our own brother also took part in today's attack on the secondary son of the main house? Perhaps, hearing that he and Bao Yu were bullied in the Jia Family, he harbored resentment and secretly carried out such a great deed?"

Lady Wang's complexion shifted, her heart both startled and fearful, filled with doubt, yet she clearly lacked the right to speak at this moment.

Baichai's pear‑like face also showed a lingering solemnity, and she let out a faint sigh.

In Tan Chun's charming eyes, thoughtfulness appeared; she pursed her lips and said:

"I heard father just now say that the Fang residence produced a ledger, and the Imperial City Office is arresting people throughout the city; could it be that the uncle is also listed in that ledger?"

Jia Jing's expression remained calm, his gaze sweeping over the fresh faces in the hall like blooming peach and plum blossoms, and he immediately began to speak:

"Third sister is correct! I retrieved a ledger from the Fang residence, which records all those who have dealings with the Fang household!"

"Wang Ziteng's name is on it; after his dismissal, he has been roaming, seeking reinstatement, and twice sent 25,000 taels of silver to Fang Congzhe. The evidence is solid; the amount, the handlers, the dates, and the testimonies all match!"

"Now Wang Ziteng has been sentenced to Zhao Yu by the Imperial City Office, ordered to explain the situation; the Wang Family is currently being inspected by the Imperial City Office, which, according to law, is investigating the source of the illicit silver and reclaiming the illegal gains."

"And the Wang Family… all members, young and old, have been placed under surveillance in the courtyard behind the residence, their movements restricted, awaiting further action!"

"If the final investigation finds only a simple bribery case, that's manageable, but if there is suspicion of 'colluding with factions, disrupting court affairs' and it is classified as 'traitorous faction', then instantly the punishment is execution, the wife and children enslaved, and the property confiscated for the state."

"Nevertheless, regardless of the outcome, after this incident the Wang Family is completely finished!"

Actually, in the Da Han Empire bureaucracy, sending a few silver pieces was merely a trivial matter.

But now, amid the concurrent faction case and murder case, the entire Shenjing City is under strict crackdown; Wang Ziteng's name appearing in Fang Congzhe's ledger at this moment is like being caught in the line of fire.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Shi felt as if struck by lightning, a chilling terror; tears welled up in her eyes, and she stared in frightened awe at the indifferent youth before her, her lips trembling unconsciously from fear.

Feng Jie and Xue Yima likewise had their faces dramatically change, their expressions panicked, and they stared blankly at Jia Jing.

Yuan Chun, Yingchun, Xiang Yun and others were also shocked into silence… this is too terrifying!

Lady Wang bowed her head deeply, her heart choked, the hatred in her eyes almost uncontainable; this matter also involved that secondary son of the main house!

It wasn't enough that they bullied her and Bao Yu at the residence; they even harmed her own natal family!

Sending a few silver pieces is no big deal; the Jia Family has long been making contributions to the palace, and we've never heard of being formally charged, let alone having our house seized and being executed!

Is there any sense of justice in this?

One could say it's the secondary son of the main house deliberately scheming in secret, framing and incriminating his own elder brother!

They already had a conflict, and this provided a perfect chance for revenge!

For a moment, the silence in Rong Qing Tang was so palpable one could hear a pin drop, descending into an eerie stillness, dead quiet.

Even Jia Mu and Jia Zheng, upon suddenly learning that the Wang Family—one of the four great families—met such a fate, turned ashen, their bodies icy, unable to utter a single word!

Earlier, when they heard of arrests and confiscations, they weren't deeply affected, because it hadn't touched them personally; they could maintain a certain detached composure as observers.

But now that the Wang Family is in trouble, Wang Ziteng sentenced to Zhao Yu, familiar relatives may face beheading, house seizure, or being sent as slaves; this evokes a degree of empathy, making them understand the harsh external situation.

Zhu Shi flopped onto the ground, slapping her thigh, crying and shouting:

"I kept saying don't send, don't send, but the master insisted on sending; searching for connections everywhere almost drained the family fortune, and he even took silver from my dowry."

"Now look, the officials didn't even reap any gain but still implicated the whole family! How cruel my destiny, marrying into their Wang Family…"

Everyone: "…"

Inside the hall, everyone stared at each other; though their hearts were terrified, they now felt a strangely grim absurdity.

After a while, Jia Mu's complexion shifted, suppressing her inner alarm, and she carefully phrased her question:

"Jing brother, the palace has assigned you to handle this; what do you think will happen to Bao Yu's uncle… how will the court deal with it?"

Feng Jie and Xue Yima also fixed their gazes on Jia Jing, their lips moving, eyes filled with concern, wishing to implore Jia Jing for help yet daring not to speak openly.

Jia Jing said expressionlessly:

"At present, it's hard to say. First, we must see whether other crimes are uncovered; second, it depends on the emperor's will in the palace!"

With the Imperial City Office present, for implicated relatives like Wang Ziteng, Jia Jing can stay hands‑off, not wanting to meddle.

Jia Mu thought for a moment, then hesitantly asked:

"Will the matter of the Wang Family's uncle affect Bao Yu… the senior maid and third maid's future marriages and prospects?"

Compared to the fate of the Wang Family, Jia Mu's first thought was the impact on Bao Yu and others.

Jia Jing said:

"If it's only a bribery offense, there's little effect. If it's deemed a traitorous faction, as a relative of the offender, the reputation is somewhat tarnished, but beyond that there's little further involvement!"

"Of course, with me in the Jia Family, I can't hinder the elder sister and third sister."

He said that, but in Jia Jing's eyes, Wang Ziteng's matter is unlikely to rise to 'colluding with factions'.

After all, Wang Ziteng is already without office or position; sending a little silver wouldn't result in a 'Ten Evils' severe crime.

The final result is estimated to be a conviction for bribery.

Besides the punishment of one hundred strokes and three years of exile, Wang Ziteng himself will be stripped of rank and expelled, never to be employed again.

His son's hereditary office was removed, his career obstructed, his property confiscated, and he cannot buy his way out of punishment.

At this moment, Zhu Shi, who had been wailing in the hall, suddenly turned to Jia Mu and Jia Jing and pleaded:

Old lady, Duke of Jingguo, the Jia and Wang families have been related by marriage for generations, a hundred-year friendship, closely connected; you must think of a way to help, cannot let the Wang family just end like this!

Mother of Pan Ge'er, Feng Jie, you girls quickly speak up! The Wang family is nevertheless your natal family...

Zhu Shi, rare moment of cleverness, did not turn to Lady Wang!

Upon hearing this, Xue Yima and Feng Jie's pale faces flashed with worry, their expressions shifted slightly, they gazed eagerly at Jia Jing, lips moving.

However, before they could speak, Jia Zheng sighed and spoke first:

Although Jing'er says he now manages all affairs big and small in Shenjing City, the entire civil and military officials of Shenjing City are watching him; his responsibilities are great, the matter of Baoyu's maternal uncle cannot be arbitrarily interfered with!

Hearing this, Tan Chun, with her willow-leaf brows and bright eyes thoughtful, spoke softly:

Tonight over two hundred officials were arrested; if we alone show leniency to the maternal uncle, it would be hard to convince the crowd!

Moreover, this matter involves the Imperial City Office; the emperor in the palace surely knows; if Third Brother acts out of self-interest and perverts the law, it would be hard to explain to the emperor, and might even implicate himself!

Meanwhile, Lady Wang saw Jia Jing still silent; her household's foolish old master and ungrateful concubine-born daughter, in unison, expressed opposition, and a gloom inevitably settled over her heart.

Is this concubine son of the eldest branch so to their liking? They will consider for him, speak for him, and twist their elbows outward!