Xiao Yan was not at all surprised that the Fourth Prince came back. Upon hearing that he was willing to take over the Lu family's case, he personally went to investigate the person who had an affair with Prince Cheng.
Xiao Yan didn't make it too difficult for him. He just told Jinyun to stay in Hengting Pavilion and wait for the "appointment" person, and then he and Tang Ning took the fourth prince to the imperial prison.
The Fourth Prince seemed to be afraid that Xiao Yan would misunderstand him, and he explained on the way there: "I just don't want to disappoint my father."
Seeing Xiao Yan nod with a cold expression, the Fourth Prince felt a little embarrassed and could only turn his head to look at Tang Ning beside him.
"Princess Yi Yang is also going to the imperial prison?" asked the fourth prince.
Tang Ning hummed, "The Lu family's affairs are related to my aunt. She has been kept in the dark for many years and has raised someone else's son for more than ten years. I also want to know who is so capable of winning the true heart of King Chen and allowing him to trample on my aunt's deep affection like this."
The fourth prince heard this and said, "Prince Cheng is indeed abominable, and the person who committed adultery with him is also extremely shameless. They committed adultery without a matchmaker, deceived the world, and confused the royal bloodline. I will definitely find this despicable person and give justice to Princess Cheng."
The imperial edict of divorce and enthronement had not come out yet, and the Fourth Prince had no idea that Rong Yue had nothing to do with Prince Chen's Mansion. He just really despised the woman who had an affair with Prince Chen.
In his eyes, a woman should be gentle and humble, observe etiquette and have self-respect, and should care more about her innocence. What's more, she was a member of the Lu family, who had secretly been having an affair with Prince Chen for many years and even gave birth to the illegitimate child Xie Yin. The Fourth Prince did not hide his disgust at all.
Tang Ning couldn't help but look at him again: "What if Your Highness finds out who is who?"
The fourth prince said coldly, "Of course, I will leave it to my father to deal with. Such a shameless person should be paraded through the streets and cut into pieces to show everyone!"
After he finished speaking, he saw Tang Ning's strange silence and couldn't help but soften his voice: "Did you scare the county lady?"
Tang Ning raised her lips and smiled: "No, I just think Your Highness is fair."
People as shameless as Queen Lu should be cut into pieces and left without a burial place!
The Fourth Prince did not understand the hidden meaning at all, but was just amazed by the smile on Tang Ning's face.
The light in the carriage was not dim, and the eye-catching appearance of the little girl opposite was almost completely captured by his eyes. She had an extremely pretty little face, with fair and smooth skin, and the faint red marks on her face were invisible unless you looked closely.
At this moment, when she smiled with her head slightly tilted, her almond-shaped eyes were sparkling, and that floating smile spread out like ripples, with a faint charm that touched the heartstrings.
The Fourth Prince's heart skipped a beat, and as his throat rolled, a shadow suddenly appeared before his eyes.
When Xiao Yan raised his eyes, they were full of coldness: "We're here."
"Ah?" The Fourth Prince was stunned for a moment. He lifted the curtain and saw that they had arrived in front of the Imperial Prison.
Unexpectedly, he would be distracted by a girl. The fourth prince blushed for a rare moment: "The county lady, please go first."
Tang Ning didn't notice anything wrong and got off the carriage directly.
Seeing the Fourth Prince hurriedly following Tang Ning down, Xiao Yan had an indifferent expression, with murderous intent in his sword-like eyes. He flicked his fingers, and the Fourth Prince, who had just got off the carriage, stepped on something, and his body tilted and fell in front of Tang Ning with a bang.
"…"
Tang Ning was startled by his prostrating posture.
The Fourth Prince was quickly helped up by Cheng Ping. Seeing the strange expression on Tang Ning's face, he could only blush and say, "I slipped just now."
Xiao Yan lifted the curtain and got off the carriage, saying in a chilly voice, "The road to the Imperial Prison is bumpy, Your Highness, please pay attention to the road."
If he dared to stare at Xiao Haitang again, he would gouge out his eyes without waiting for the Queen to do anything.
…
Someone in the imperial prison had already informed them, so no one stopped Xiao Yan and his men when they entered. When they arrived at the place where King Cheng was imprisoned, Xiao Yan ordered his men to open the prison door, and a strong fishy smell wafted into their noses.
He pulled Tang Ning back half a step and stood in front of the prison door. He handed Tang Ning a handkerchief and asked her to cover her mouth and nose, then walked towards the Fourth Prince who was pushed in unexpectedly.
"Prince Cheng is here. Your Highness, please proceed with the trial. I will be waiting."
The Fourth Prince covered his mouth with his hands until his face turned blue. He knew that the prison would not be very clean, and he had long anticipated that Prince Chen would not be in good condition after being tortured. However, he never expected that when he came in, he would be surrounded by a stench that was almost enough to make people pass out.
The King of Cheng, who was huddled in the corner, no longer had his former glorious appearance. His long hair was dry and messy, with patches of white in it. His body was covered with dried blood. His legs were twisted and drooped on the ground as if they had no bones, and the hands that were wrapped around himself were bare with no visible fingers.
The Fourth Prince's eyelids twitched, and his eyes were full of fear. This Xiao Yan was indeed more cruel than the rumors said.
He couldn't help but glance at a mass of things not far from King Cheng. There were mosquitoes and flies on it, and half a piece of blood-stained clothing was hanging on it. It looked weird.
The fourth prince couldn't help but ask, "Master Xiao, that is..."
"Oh, that one, the son of King Cheng."
"…"
son???
son!!!!
The fourth prince's eyes widened in horror, and he suddenly remembered that he had heard someone say that before the incident in Prince Cheng's mansion, Princess Cheng had just been pregnant for a short time, and later she got shocked and had a miscarriage after learning the truth of the past. Could this ball be...
He suddenly turned his head, covered his mouth and started vomiting.
Tang Ning: "…"
Brother, are you in a bad mood? Why are you scaring the Fourth Prince like this?
Seeing the Fourth Prince supporting the servant beside him and vomiting violently, Xiao Yan raised his eyelids and said, "His Majesty is still waiting for a reply on the Lu family's matter. If you have anything to say, please ask immediately. It is not advisable to stay in the imperial prison for long."
The Fourth Prince: "..." Can he stop asking? !
At this moment, he hated himself for being so mean.
Why did you ask so many questions just now?
And Xiao Yan...
Why would he throw something like this in jail?
The Fourth Prince's face turned pale from vomiting. He was simply nauseated. He finally calmed down a little after smelling the sachet that Cheng Ping handed over. However, when he glanced at the mass of stuff out of the corner of his eye, his stomach suddenly started to sour again.
He held his chest for a long time before suppressing the nausea that almost made him vomit. He turned his head away and tried his best not to look at King Cheng's "son". After taking a few steps closer to King Cheng, he shouted to King Cheng, who was huddled in the corner and motionless, "Uncle King Cheng."
King Cheng didn't move at all, he just curled up there with his head down, as if he was dead.
The Fourth Prince called out twice but received no response, so he moved closer and tried to push his shoulder. However, as soon as his fingertips touched his clothes, Prince Chen shuddered violently as if stimulated and screamed.
"Uncle Cheng, I am..."
Just as the Fourth Prince was about to say who he was, he saw King Chen waving his hand and attacking him.
He was so frightened that he tried to step back immediately, but before he could push away, Prince Chen's fingerless, tumor-like hand slammed down on the Fourth Prince's chin, causing him to scream in pain.