Two days later, the weather finally cleared; the incessant rain of several days had at last come to an end. The water on the road had receded, leaving only puddles of mud.
Consort Yun, who had been traveling for several days, returned in a wretched state.
Zhao Junyao sneered twice but said nothing. Women, afraid of death. Somewhat understandable, I suppose.
After the skies cleared, everything that had happened seemed to pass with the storm.
The Weishui River did breach its banks, but those sandbags were not just for show. Most of the floodwaters had been contained; only a small portion had escaped.
Six villages and more than fifty acres of crops were flooded, and over a dozen people died. At first glance, it appeared tragic, but in fact, this was the best possible outcome.
「Inside the Jiangning Prefecture Yamen’s prison.」
Prefect Hou and his entire household were there, men and women separated, totaling some forty or fifty people.
It had been several days, and Prefect Hou still could not understand. How could the Emperor come to Jiangnan, and how did he know that the Weishui River would breach its banks?
Hou Tianying, her face grimy, was locked in the cell opposite, furiously blaming her father.
"Father! That Third Master Huang was the Emperor! How could you be deceived for so long?"
"How was I supposed to know he was the Emperor!" retorted Prefect Hou in protest.
"Would you all stop arguing!"
Aunt Mei, not too far away, clutched her belly impatiently. Pregnant and forcibly imprisoned, she endured an anguish no one else could comprehend! She wouldn’t even spare a glance for Prefect Hou, who had always treated her gently.
As the argument escalated, Lady Hou jumped in. "Who do you think you are, daring to scold my daughter!"
Aunt Mei was so angry she gritted her teeth, wishing she could go over and start a fight.
Just then, another jailer called out, "The Emperor has arrived! The Inspector General is here!"
Zhao Junyao and Chen Juzheng walked in together. Chen Juzheng conducted the interrogation, while Zhao Junyao merely listened.
They had only one demand. "Reveal who is behind you, and you will be dealt with leniently. If not, your entire family will be put to the sword!"
Chen Juzheng snorted coldly and threw down a piece of paper. "Your crimes! This official remembers them clear as day!"
Prefect Hou scrambled to pick it up. He looked at it—heavens! Weren’t these all his own deeds? In vino veritas! He never thought he would be the one plotted against! At that moment, he was overwhelmed with regret, almost to the point of wishing for death!
But he could only prostrate himself on the ground, begging for mercy. "Emperor, your humble servant knows his wrongdoing! Your humble servant dares not transgress again, Emperor! Please, spare my family’s lives!"
Zhao Junyao gave a cold huff. "So you knew this day would come!"
Then, he commanded, "If you do not speak, I shall decree your whole family be put to death!"
Prefect Hou wanted to weep but no tears came, utterly devastated. If he spoke, his family wouldn’t survive anyway! It felt as if all his paths were blocked.
Hou Tianying, looking up at the lofty Emperor, suddenly had an idea. "Emperor! Your humble daughter has a request!"
Zhao Junyao narrowed his eyes, speaking coldly, "Speak!"
Hou Tianying, somewhat shy, lowered her head and spoke softly, "All that my father has done, he was compelled by others; it was truly against his will. Your humble daughter is willing to enter the palace with the Emperor, ready to serve the Emperor lifelong like an ox or a horse, all to atone for my father’s sins! Please, Emperor, spare my father’s life!"
Having said this, she kowtowed deeply, her cheeks already blooming with a shy blush.
Chen Juzheng, who was overseeing the interrogation, was completely taken aback as he listened to her. What... what kind of tactic is this? The Emperor’s charm... is truly extraordinary. Thankfully, he hasn’t revealed his identity. Otherwise, if all the young women in Jinling City were clamoring to serve the Emperor like oxen or horses, how could that be managed?
With that thought, he looked towards Zhao Junyao. His eyes were filled with a clear message: Emperor, you must not show favoritism! Emperor, you cannot agree! Emperor, Prefect Hou’s crimes are heinous; he deserves execution, Emperor!
After a moment where Zhao Junyao’s gaze flickered, he gave an inscrutable smile. "Oh? You wish to serve me like an ox or a horse?"
Hope lit up in Hou Tianying’s eyes, and she nodded shyly, her face flushed. "Yes! As long as you spare my father’s life, your humble daughter is willing to do anything!"
(Author: Really willing to do anything? *Wickedly chuckles!*)
Zhao Junyao then let out a sneer. "Prefect Hou’s crimes deserve death; they are unforgivable! I advise you to give up this foolish hope!"
Hou Tianying’s hopes were dashed, and she felt somewhat disappointed. In fact, saving her father was just a pretense; she wanted to be with the Emperor even more! The entire family executed? That wasn’t going to happen! She was determined to cling to the Emperor—that mighty tree—and soar to become a phoenix. As for whether her father lived or died, she couldn’t care less! Even her mother would have to curry favor with her then. She would show her mother that it wasn’t just her elder brother who was reliable! In critical moments, a daughter was the one to count on! Yes! That was the plan!
Having made up her mind, Hou Tianying bit her lip. "Then... Emperor, could you spare my mother? My mother is just a woman; she knows nothing of these affairs and doesn’t deserve to die!"