Fragrance Returned

Ding Xiang sat in the middle, and Ding Zhao and his wife sat on both sides. Mrs. Zhang put the mattress on several people's legs, and placed the small copper stove at the feet of Ding Xiang's hanging feet.

Ding Zhao looked at his daughter, she didn't shed any tears, but her nose and eyes were red, trying to suppress her inner emotions.

My daughter has always been so sensible. I'm afraid, but I won't say it out loud.

He hugged Ding Xiang and said, Don't be afraid of Xiang Xiang, no one will hurt you. Dad won't allow it...

Mrs. Zhang hugged Lilac and cried again.

Ding Xiang cried so hard that her heart was broken.

She regretted it. Qiu Wangzhi should not have been given too clear a hint that this day should not come so soon.

More than half an hour later, I arrived at the Jinwuwei Yamen.

The wind and snow were getting worse, the dark clouds were low, and the sky was extremely gloomy.

Several people were taken to a wing by Qiu Wangzhi.

The lobby was brightly lit, with chandeliers and wall sconces all on.

Behind the big case directly in front, a man in his forties sat. If Ding Xiang's prediction was correct, it should be Mr. Xie, the commander of Jinwu Guard.

There are several officials sitting on the left, including a crane and two peacocks.

In this era, ministers of various ministries were of the first rank, and ministers of Dali Temple and Yin of Jingzhao Prefecture were of the third rank.

Lilac probably guessed who they were.

On the right are Princess Dongyang, Prince Consort Xun, and Fake Xunxiang.

Princess Dongyang's face was as dark as water, while Prince Consort Xun and Fake Xunxiang looked suspicious.

Ding Zhao is the life official, and Zhang is the life wife. There is no need to kowtow, but only a bow.

There is no seat for them here, standing off to the side.

Seeing them coming, Princess Dongyang said coldly, Why do we have to wait for them to come? I have not committed any crime, and I have no interaction with their family. What are you doing?

Tomorrow I will go to see the saint and accuse you, Mr. Xie, of abusing his private power and forcing me to come here.

Commander Xie ignored her, raised his hands and said to the officials on the left, My lords, please.

The three officials were Lord Lin, Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, Lord Li, Minister of Dali Temple, and Lord Yin Qi of Jingzhao Prefecture.

This is a shocking case. Yesterday, Jinwuwei invited them to come together to interrogate the case overnight.

They were all shocked.

The Xun family were arrested in the morning, and Xun Qiansong and Guo confessed everything before being severely punished. Only Mrs. Gu started to speak harshly, and after the execution, she blamed everything on Mrs. Su and Mrs. Su...

The three people all said humbly, Thank you for your invitation, sir.

This major case was handled by Jin Wuwei, and of course Mr. Xie presided over the trial.

Lord Xie looked at Ding Xiang and Xun Xiang and said, The two girls are still young, so they couldn't help but take them out to follow orders.

The main reason is that they are afraid that they will cry and make a fuss, which will affect the trial.

Fake Xunxiang didn't want to leave, so she stood up and leaned into Princess Dongyang's arms, Mom, I won't leave, I'm afraid.

Princess Dongyang hugged Xunxiang and said, Why must we send them away? My daughter will not leave, she must stay with me.

Mr. Xie had a sneer on his lips and said, Your Royal Highness, this is the Jinwu Guards Yamen, and this case is of great importance.

It means that the princess has to listen to greetings when she gets here.

Prince Consort Xun frowned and said, Xiangxiang, be obedient.

Even Mr. Lin and Mr. Li came in person, and Prince Consort Xun knew that this case was not trivial.

Most of the Xun family were arrested. Could it be that the Xun family was plotting rebellion? He felt that his grandfather and eldest brother would not be so confused...

Fake Xunxiang looked at the people in the room and had no choice but to go out with Dingxiang.

Princess Dongyang said impatiently, Master Xie, tell me if you have anything to do. I don't want to waste time here.

Master Xie asked loudly, Are these people in the hall Master Ding and Mrs. Ding?

Ding Zhao bowed and said, Your Majesty, yes.

Did you live in Qikou Hutong in Beijing for a year eleven years ago?

yes.

Did Mrs. Tintin get pregnant and give birth to a girl that year?

Ding Zhao replied, No.

Master Xie looked at Mrs. Zhang, Say.

Mrs. Zhang said with a trembling voice, No.

Mr. Xie's voice became stern, If you don't get pregnant and give birth to a girl, where will their daughter Lilac come from? Recruit her from the truth and don't lie.

Ding Zhao glanced at Prince Consort Xun and Princess Dongyang, and said, Your Majesty, the lower official picked it up.

Princess Dongyang and Prince Consort Xun both looked at him in disbelief.

Ding Zhao continued, The official remembers it very clearly. It was August 20, the eighteenth year of Qingguan. The old Su died of illness the day before, and the whole country mourned.

At the beginning of noon, Xiaguan bought a box of things. When he was passing by Yinfeng Street home, he suddenly encountered a frightened horse. In a hurry, the box was squeezed out of his hand. After he picked it up, he followed the crowd and ran away.

Only when Xiaguan returned home, he discovered that the box did not belong to Xiaguan. There was actually a baby doll lying inside. The baby baby was so cute and smelled... Xiaguan and my wife liked it very much...

Thinking of that scene, Ding Zhao smiled and tears welled up in his eyes.

He also told how he encountered the situation when he went to Yinfeng Street again, and they did not dare to return the child. Later, some government officials came looking for the child, and some people were also looking for the child at the dock. How did they escape, and took the child back to Jiaodong to raise him.

Later, when I got to know the Dong family, I realized that the ancestors of the Dong family had their own fragrance. I guessed that Lilac was Dong Rulan's granddaughter and my cousin. Because Shen Yu's stepmother was vicious, they were even more unwilling to return the child.

When they arrived in the capital, they learned that Shen Yu's daughter had died when she was three months old, and they speculated that the child might be the illegitimate daughter of Prince Consort Xun's wife. Afraid that Ding Xiang would be offended if she went back, she was unwilling to return it.

It was not until last month that Ding Zhao was recognized by Zhang Laosan again, and because of fear, he confessed the matter to Dong Yihe. When Mrs. Dong told Xun Qiansong that a daughter had died on the 11th day of the month, and the date of death was the day she picked up the child, a few people began to have doubts.

They investigated secretly and already had some clues, but the evidence was not enough... Unexpectedly, Jin Wuwei found out first.

Ding Zhao took the package from Zhang and unwrapped it, This is the clothes and hat Xiangxiang was wearing when she picked it up. I didn't dare to keep the box, so it was burned at that time. There are also seven small south beads the size of mung beans, alas, A few years ago, something unexpected happened at Xiaguan's family and he sold it.

The clerk took the package to several officials for inspection, and then put it on the case.

Mr. Xie added, Xuan Zhang Laosan and his wife.

Zhang Laosan and his wife walked in shivering.

Mr. Xie pointed at Ding Zhao and his wife, Do you know them?

Zhang Laosan glanced at Ding Zhao and Mrs. Zhang and said tremblingly, We know him. His name is Ding Zhao. She is his wife. We have been neighbors for a year.

Ding Zhao readily admitted, Yes, what Brother Zhang said is true.

After these two people proved that Zhang was not pregnant and had a daughter that year, they withdrew.

Qiu Wangzhi reported again, Xiaoguan took Wu Zuo to see Xunfeng's tomb. The baby buried inside was actually three months old, which was inconsistent with a one-month-old dead baby.

Princess Dongyang said solemnly, The Ding family picked up a fragrant girl, and they want to blackmail the prince-in-law? I believe that the prince-son-in-law will not have an extramarital affair, let alone an illegitimate daughter. As for the dead baby in the grave Whose family does it belong to, and what does it have to do with me?

Thank you Miaomiao Honey Water and 20230911215940209 for the reward, and thank you for your monthly votes.