In my dream of returning to the Tang Dynasty, I snatched Wu Zetian from my lap.

Li Yuanchang smiled sarcastically, "It's better not to mention it than to bring it up."

He stomped on Lü Jie's hand, cracking sounds echoing...

"Ah!!" Lu Jie's heart-wrenching scream pierced through the small building, startling the servants in the Sixth Dormitory who hid in the corners, too afraid to show their faces.

"From now on, I will ask you a question, and you will answer it."

"Anyone who dares to lie will have their fingers chopped off one by one by me."

Lu Jie trembled and cried out, "I'll talk, I'll talk!"

"Do you know Wang Xiu?"

Lu Jie was stunned for a moment.

"Wang Xishan," Qin Keyu added.

Upon hearing this name, Lü Jie's expression changed drastically.

"I don't know him!"

"Your lies are obvious to all, and you know my methods best!" Li Yuanchang said, then decisively slashed the ground with his sword, sending sparks flying.

A splash of blood splattered on the wall.

"what!"

Lu Jie screamed in agony, his facial features contorted in extreme rage.

"My hand, my hand!"

"what!"

"Father, Father, come save me!"

"Even if you scream your lungs out today, no one can come to save you."

"Confess or not!" Li Yuanchang roared, raising his knife once more.

Guo Chao stepped forward and pinned the struggling Lü Jie to death.

Unable to break free, Lü Jie was filled with panic and pain. As the knife was about to fall again, how could a spoiled young master like him, who was used to being arrogant and domineering, withstand it?

"I'll talk, I'll talk!"

"I know him, I know him!"

"How did you embezzle the Wang family's assets?" Li Yuanchang asked bluntly.

"Waaaaah..." Lu Jie wailed, having already wet his pants.

"His son lost money gambling to me, so I took some people to ask for it back."

"Still won't tell the truth even now?" Li Yuanchang stepped on the wound on his severed finger.

"ah!!"

Lu Jie's heart-wrenching screams terrified the dozen or so henchmen kneeling below the stairs.

He couldn't take it anymore; it was utterly inhuman.

"I'll tell you the truth!"

"Please let me go! People will die! People will die!"

"At that time, the Wang family's business was too big. We asked him to cooperate and give us some benefits, but he refused. I originally thought I would bring some people to scare them."

"But who knew my father would say we should just seize control of the Wang family? It was all my father's idea, all my father's idea! It has nothing to do with me!"

Upon hearing this, the entire audience was stunned.

Filial piety breeds strength!

"How did he operate? Who were involved?" Li Yuanchang asked coldly.

"He made me cheat the descendants of the Wang family into gambling, incurring high-interest debts, and then sent people to set fires, creating fake IOUs. Finally, he used the power of the legal officer to exert pressure on them secretly."

"Through layers of bribery, the Wang family's cloth business was eventually divided up."

"But I'm just someone who took over the business; my dad does most of the work!"

"Kill him, don't kill me!"

Lu Jie's words were astonishing. He was willing to risk everything to survive. If Lu Ping were here, he might be so angry that he would die.

Li Yuanchang sneered. Over a thousand years, everything has changed, yet it seems that nothing has changed at all.

"Someone come here!"

"Your humble servant is here!"

"Immediately mobilize the guards, seal off the Lü residence, and arrest Lü Ping!"

"Furthermore, send a message to Commandant Cao, instructing him to take my imperial token and proceed to the Ministry of Justice to control all officials and prevent Lü Ping from resorting to desperate measures!"

"Anyone who dares to disobey orders will be treated as a rebel!"

"yes!!"

The person who felt the most relieved and happy at the scene was probably Qin Keyu. Upon hearing this, she almost jumped up and cheered for the drummer.

Soon after, the Prince of Han's personal guards were dispatched in two groups. One group went to the Legal Affairs Office to control the officials and cut off any possibility of Lü Ping's resistance.

On the other hand, they rushed straight to the Lü residence to restrict Lü Ping's movements and the influence of his family.

Along the way, it attracted a lot of onlookers and discussion.

In particular, every move the Prince of Han makes now will cause a stir in the entire Liangzhou officialdom.

The news spread quickly, causing an uproar.

At the same time, Li Yuanchang returned to the Prince of Han's residence.

To prevent any personnel from escaping, he even ordered all officers and soldiers of the Ministry of Justice to be mobilized to impose martial law at the city gates and to monitor several key figures.

Gao Shen, Li Zhi is the key person.

Next came the waiting—waiting for Lü Ping to be captured.

Time passed by, and about an hour later, it was afternoon.

"Report!!"

Guo Chao rushed into the Prince's mansion.

Li Yuanchang's eyes lit up, and he got up and walked out.

"Your Highness, something terrible has happened!"

"Lü Ping has escaped!"

"What did you say?!" Li Yuanchang frowned.

"What about the legal department?"

"Your Highness, there's no one at the Ministry of Justice either. Lü Ping must have run away from his own residence. According to his servants, he was at his residence before the incident."

"A search revealed that he had hastily taken some valuables and a dagger."

"It's possible that the news leaked when they arrested Lü Jie at Liuzhailou!" Guo Chao frowned.

Li Yuanchang frowned deeply, his expression turning grim.

Once Lü Ping fled, endless troubles ensued.

Moreover, his dirty deeds are definitely not limited to just one incident, not just the Wang family's case. It is very likely that many people are involved. With his escape, all the clues have been cut off.

"Immediately mobilize all available personnel from the Prince's Palace and government offices to conduct a city-wide search!"

"Furthermore, order the city gates to be strictly sealed off, and that there must be someone from the Prince's Palace present at each of the four city gates!"

"Yes!!" Guo Chao clasped his hands in a fist salute and quickly jogged away.

"Your Highness, what's wrong?" Situ Lan heard the voice and suddenly walked to the front yard.

Li Yuanchang turned around, his expression slightly relaxed: "It's nothing, a wanted criminal escaped."

"They ran away. Is this serious?"

Li Yuanchang shook his head: "It's nothing."

"He can't have gone far, we should be able to catch him. Don't go outside for the next couple of days, just stay in the backyard."

Situ Lan nodded: "Your Highness, rest assured, I will not run around."

"The food in the backyard is ready. When would you like to eat it?"

Li Yuanchang originally planned to go out and personally lead the search and arrest operation. He was worried about the escaped person and also wanted to clean up the officialdom in Liangzhou as soon as possible.

But it seems that Situ Lan cooked the meal herself, her tender eyes filled with anticipation.

"Now."

Upon hearing this, Situ Lan smiled broadly, like a peony in bloom.

"good!"

Li Yuanchang waved and gave Fang Weng a few instructions before returning to the backyard with Situ Lan.

Soon after, it got dark.

From the moment Lü Jie was lured out to the citywide manhunt, a full four hours had passed, which is equivalent to eight hours in later times.

Inside Liangzhou City, the night was dark, and soldiers carrying torches were checking everything, almost like a carpet search. The four city gates were heavily guarded, with guards from the Prince's Palace standing by.

Even if those officials and constables wanted to let someone go, it would be impossible.

The Prince of Han's residence was brightly lit.

"How's it going? Have those two old guys made any moves?" Li Yuanchang asked.

"Your Highness, according to the reports from those who were monitoring the situation, everything is normal. Gao Shen and Li Zhi did not even leave the house, and no servants came out either. It seems as if they are avoiding suspicion," Wang Hongzhi said.

The two stood under the long corridor; the night was chilly, and the treetops were bare.

"This is so unusual?"

Li Yuanchang's expression was strange. He had thought that once Lü Ping ran away, those two guys would make a move.