There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 176 Throwing into the Mass Grave

Zhu Haose took a step back in fright upon hearing this. How did he know about this place? He clearly hadn't told anyone.

Seeing Zhu Haose's actions, the prefect became even more convinced that he was up to something. He had thought Zhu Haose was a fine young man; he had been so wrong, almost ruining his precious daughter's happiness.

Fortunately, his beloved daughter arrived in time to stop him, and there was also Miss Li. Considering Miss Li's various actions, wasn't she trying to buy time for the yamen runners?

Regardless, he wanted to thank Miss Li properly.

At this moment, the Prefect was not in a good mood and mocked General Xuanwei.

"General Xuanwei, your son doesn't look well."

Upon hearing this, General Xuanwei turned around and saw that Se'er's face was pale. He asked with concern...

"What's wrong with Se'er? Is she feeling unwell?"

Zhu Haose grabbed his father's wrist and said urgently.

"Father, let's go."

"Where are you going? Your marriage to Shuxue isn't settled yet. Don't you really want to get engaged to Shuxue?"

Zhu Haose spoke to General Xuanwei almost pleadingly.

"Father, let's go."

General Xuanwei flung Zhu Haose's hand away angrily.

"Nonsense! Marriage is a serious matter, not something to be taken lightly. How can it be so uncertain? Where do you place your father and the Prefect?"

Zhu Haose pleaded desperately.

"I beg you, Father, let's go."

Upon hearing this, the prefect snorted coldly, thinking that leaving wouldn't be so easy.

"Guards, seize Zhu Haose!"

Several yamen runners restrained Zhu Haose, and upon seeing this, General Xuanwei suddenly straightened up.

"Brother Murong, what do you mean by this?"

"General Xuanwei, please do not be anxious. If this matter has nothing to do with your son, I will release him myself."

Upon hearing this, General Xuanwei sat back down. He knew his son well; he was diligent and studious, studying poetry and books every day, truly a virtuous gentleman, and would never do such a despicable thing.

Before long, the constables returned.

"Reporting to your Excellency, there is a woman named Ru'er in the backyard of the gambling den on East Street. In addition, there are more than ten other girls being imprisoned here. According to the gambling den owner, the owner behind this gambling den is Young Master Zhu."

Li Shuchen nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. "They really are soldiers under the Prefect's command; they get things done quickly!"

The crowd outside was engaged in a heated discussion, chattering away.

"I never imagined that Young Master Zhu, who always acted so respectable, would be such a beast behind the scenes."

"Isn't that right? He pretends to be a perfect gentleman every day; doesn't he get tired of it?"

"He imprisoned so many girls, why didn't he die in bed with them?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen quickly covered Shuxue's ears. Those words were too crude; the young girl couldn't bear to hear them.

General Xuanwei was annoyed by the gossip outside; without evidence, he wouldn't believe his son was responsible.

The prefect slammed his gavel.

"quiet"

"Wow~~~"

"Martial arts~~~"

The crowd outside fell silent.

Prefect: "Bring the gambling den owner up."

A man who was trembling as he walked entered the hall. He was startled when he saw General Xuanwei, and his face turned bitter when he saw Zhu Haose being held down. He then quickly knelt down before the Prefect and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Your Excellency, spare me! Your Excellency, spare me! This was all done by Young Master Zhu alone; it has nothing to do with me! Please, Your Excellency, see the truth!"

The Prefect asked

"You're saying this gambling den belongs to Zhu Haose?"

"Yes, my lord"

The gambling den owner trembled as he pulled a piece of paper from his pocket.

"My lord, please look, this is the gambling house contract. Young Master Zhu is afraid of General Xuanwei, so he dared not take it home and asked me to keep it for him."

"Bring it here."

The contract was suddenly snatched away by General Xuanwei, who quickly read it, then slumped back into his chair, trembling.

"You unfilial son! How dare you open a gambling den behind my back? How have I raised you at home?"

Zhu Haose, realizing he had been exposed, was filled with resentment and was about to attack the gambling den owner.

"Traitor! You traitor! How dare you betray me! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"

The gambling den owner was so frightened that he hurriedly shouted...

"Your Excellency, save me! Your Excellency, save me!"

"Men, seize Zhu Haose!"

The constable kicked Zhu Haose in the back of the knee, causing Zhu Haose to kneel down abruptly. He then looked up at the prefect with a defiant expression. He still had his father, the Xuanwei General, who only had him as his son. His father would definitely find a way to save him; he wasn't afraid.

The prefect found Zhu Haose's unrepentant attitude amusing; he thought, "You'll be crying later."

"Bring Miss Ru'er up here."

A slender and beautiful woman gracefully entered the hall.

As Ru'er entered the hall, she saw her older brother and ran to him crying.

"Brother, brother, waaaaah!"

"Hey girl, hey girl, I've finally found you! It's all my fault, I should have found you sooner. Let me see if you're alright."

"I'm fine, bro."

The Prefect spoke.

"Miss Ru'er, has Zhu Haose imprisoned you?"

"I, Liu Ru, pay my respects to Your Excellency the Prefect. Half a year ago, I went to the market to buy groceries, but I was forcibly abducted by Young Master Zhu. For the past six months, I have been humiliated and tortured, and my life has been worse than death. I have tried to escape several times, but I have failed each time."

After speaking, Liu Ru lifted the sleeve of her arm, revealing wounds. The wounds were a mixture of bruises and purple welts, crisscrossed with red welts, some still oozing blood—a gruesome sight.

Everyone present gasped in shock.

Liu San was so heartbroken that he burst into tears.

Liu Ru also spoke in a hoarse voice

"My lord, please see, if I do not please Zhu Haose, I will be severely beaten by him. If I fail to escape, I will also be severely beaten."

Upon hearing this, Liu San burst into tears.

"Girl, you've suffered."

Liu Ru comforted Liu San

"It's okay, brother, I'm out now."

At this moment, a person ran out from the crowd of onlookers, entered the hall, and knelt down, saying...

"Your Excellency, my daughter Meng'er has been missing for a long time. Please, Your Excellency, do us a favor and find her."

Then another person ran into the hall.

"My lord, my daughter Juan'er has been missing for a year. Please, sir, do me a favor and find her."

Many more people went in one after another.

"Please, Your Excellency, make this decision."

"Please, Your Excellency, make this decision."

"Please, Your Excellency, make this decision."

Those kneeling were all ordinary people, dressed in coarse cloth and simple clothes, their faces haggard.

Upon seeing this scene, the prefect felt a lump in his throat and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Please invite the girls up here properly."

Then came the family reunion, filled with weeping and wailing.

An elderly woman searched for a long time but couldn't find her daughter, so she knelt down and kowtowed to the prefect.

"My lord, where is my Cui'er? Please, my lord, do me a favor and help me find my Cui'er!"

Liu Ru spoke up upon hearing this.

"Cui'er was tortured to death by Zhu Haose three months ago, and her body was thrown into a mass grave."

"What did you say?"

The woman suddenly collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

The prefect quickly gave a signal to the attending physician.

The doctor stepped forward and revived the person who had fainted.

The auntie opened her eyes, still groggy, and kept muttering...

"My Cui'er, my Cui'er"

The prefect slammed his gavel down.

"Zhu Haose, do you plead guilty?"

Zhu Haose smiled stubbornly and said, word by word.

I plead not guilty.