Chapter 52: To Protect His Family, He Dies to Atone

Inside the room, Jiang Mingyu’s furrowed brow and narrowed eyes revealed the gravity of the situation.

He silently thought the matter had ultimately taken the worst possible turn.

Jiang Mingyu knew well that Ma De, though hating him, lacked the capability to set up such a complex trap alone.

And for Prince Qi, despite knowing the evidence was conclusive, to still seek Ma De’s death must have ulterior motives.

This case was inextricably tied to him.

Recalling past grievances between them and Prince Qi’s character, Jiang Mingyu was nearly certain the mastermind behind this case was Prince Qi.

If Ma De died now, the truth might never see the light of day.

At this moment, Ma De was already held at the tip of a blade, his life in peril.

Though Jiang Mingyu understood political maneuvering, he was powerless in this critical instant.

At that very moment, before Jiang Mingyu could speak, the agile Tukesiluo swiftly intercepted Prince Qi’s descending blade, rescuing Ma De from death’s grasp.

Jiang Mingyu exhaled slightly, quickly gathered his thoughts, and spoke in a low tone: “Your Highness, are you not acting too hastily? There must be hidden circumstances here.”

Prince Qi, suddenly halted by Tukesiluo, twitched his facial muscles, a flicker of panic crossing his eyes, but he quickly forced composure and stammered: “I—I sit upright and act justly; what is there to fear? This villain has slandered my reputation—I am merely upholding the law to eliminate evil and protect the good!”

Yet his nervous, uneasy gaze had already betrayed his weakness.

Jiang Mingyu nodded slightly and spoke calmly: “Your Highness, your reaction has already revealed the hidden truth.”

Prince Qi, exposed by Jiang Mingyu’s words, turned instantly pale.

He stammered, trying to find excuses to defend himself, but could not make his story coherent.

At this moment, Jiang Mingyu turned his gaze to Ma De, drenched in cold sweat, and spoke calmly: “Commandant Ma, will you continue to conceal the truth?”

Ma De immediately understood Jiang Mingyu’s implication—your master has saved himself; if you still refuse to see reason, you are only courting your own destruction.

Ma De’s furrowed brow betrayed his inner struggle.

At this moment, Prince Qi, having regained some composure, fixed Ma De with a venomous, serpent-like stare and whispered, in a voice only the two could hear: “Villain, will you not confess?”

Seeing Ma De still hesitate, Prince Qi added a further warning: “If you do not confess now, think of your eighty-year-old mother and your wife and children...” He paused meaningfully—the implication was clear: betray your master, and your entire family will pay the price.

Ma De understood Prince Qi’s threat; sweat poured from his brow, his lips turned white.

But from Prince Qi’s eyes, Ma De also read another implication—if he stepped forward to take the blame, his family would remain unharmed.

After a brief but fierce internal struggle, Ma De made his decision.

“Gentlemen, this matter was truly my doing... I hated Senior Jiang for cutting off my livelihood, so I framed him to seek revenge. I know I deserve death a thousand times over—I shall wash away Senior Jiang’s injustice with my own blood.”

Before his words had fully ended, Ma De violently drew a gleaming steel blade from his waist and, without hesitation, plunged it straight into his own throat!

This sudden turn of events happened too swiftly—even the agile Tukesiluo could not react in time.

In an instant, blood sprayed, Ma De’s throat severed, his head and body split apart, and he collapsed dead.

Jiang Mingyu keenly noticed that in the instant Ma De fell, Prince Qi’s face clearly showed a look of relief.

He spoke calmly: “Your Highness Prince Qi, your handling of this matter is truly masterful.” His tone carried a faint edge of sarcasm.

Prince Qi’s expression shifted slightly, but he forced calmness: “I do not understand what Senior Jiang means.”

Jiang Mingyu gave a light laugh and spoke meaningfully: “There is plenty of time ahead—there will come a day when Your Highness will understand.”

He glanced at Ma De’s corpse, drained of blood and lifeless, then instructed Tukesiluo: “Later, send Dog Egg with some silver to properly bury the body. Let’s go.”

Watching Jiang Mingyu’s retreating figure, Prince Qi finally exhaled, the dark clouds on his face clearing, his expression complex.

He felt he must eliminate Jiang Mingyu as soon as possible—this dire threat to his heart—if he wished to avoid certain doom in the future.

At this moment, the crowd gathered outside, seeing Jiang Mingyu released unharmed, regained their energy and began murmuring among themselves.

“I told you our Imperial Commissioner would never kill!”

“Exactly! The idea that he used coal to harm someone is utterly absurd!”

“Everyone, disperse quickly—don’t delay the Commissioner’s return to rest; we’ll still need this upright magistrate in the days ahead!”

“...”

Jiang Mingyu paid no heed to these fickle commoners; he merely smiled faintly, offering no harsh reprimand.

He understood these people were like grass on a wall, swaying with the wind. Though he felt a faint loneliness, Jiang Mingyu had long since accepted the coldness of the world.