On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Chapter 1112 I've heard that you want to abandon darkness and embrace the light.

The judgment and blessing on the high platform, like a violent storm, completely washed over the sky of Jiangnan.

The downfall of the royal family and the empress's benevolence were like two giant millstones, crushing the remaining illusions and hopes of those powerful clans to dust.

That afternoon, Zhang Dehai, the patriarch of the Zhang family in Hangzhou, could no longer sit still.

He practically crawled and stumbled to the inn where Lin Zhen and Murong Yan were staying. He knelt down at the door with a thud, crying and wailing, saying that he had been blinded by greed and deceived by that damned traitor Wang Kun. He begged His Majesty and the Prince to give him a chance to reform, considering his "loyalty."

Lin Zhen watched Zhang Dehai's disgraceful behavior through the window, but did not let him in immediately.

"Husband, should we just let him kneel outside?" Murong Yan felt a pang of pity.

"Kneel down." Lin Zhen's voice was completely calm. "The more pathetic he kneels now, the more afraid he will be. Only when he has completely lost face will he truly understand what the consequences of betraying us are. Only then will he become like the most obedient dog, never daring to harbor any disloyal thoughts again."

Murong Yan looked at Lin Zhen's cold profile and said nothing more.

She knew that being merciful to the enemy was being cruel to herself.

These powerful families are like vines clinging to the great tree of the Great Qian Dynasty, absorbing its nutrients daily. But if the tree becomes even slightly unstable, they will not hesitate to drag it into the abyss.

To allow a tree to grow strong and healthy, these harmful vines must be completely removed.

Zhang Dehai knelt at the entrance of the inn for a full two hours, from midday until sunset.

During the incident, countless onlookers pointed and commented, making his old face turn bright red with embarrassment, and he wished he could disappear into a crack in the ground.

Just when he was about to collapse and nearly faint, the inn door finally creaked open.

The ghost's cold mask appeared before him.

"His Highness summons you in."

Zhang Dehai felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He scrambled to his feet and staggered into the inn.

Inside the room, Lin Zhen and Murong Yan were leisurely enjoying their tea.

As soon as Zhang Dehai entered, he knelt down again and kowtowed desperately: "This sinful subject Zhang Dehai pays his respects to Your Majesty! Pays his respects to the Prince! This sinful subject is guilty! This sinful subject deserves to die ten thousand times!"

"Patriarch Zhang, please rise," Murong Yan said calmly, her voice revealing neither joy nor anger.

"This guilty subject dares not!"

"Get up when I tell you to," Lin Zhen said, his tone tinged with impatience.

Zhang Dehai shuddered in fright and quickly scrambled to his feet, bending over and barely daring to breathe.

"Patriarch Zhang," Lin Zhen put down his teacup, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing straight into Zhang Dehai's heart, "I've heard that you intend to abandon darkness and embrace the light?"

"Yes! Yes!" Zhang Dehai nodded vigorously. "This sinful subject...this sinful subject was misled by those two traitors, Kong Zhiqian and Li Xian, and acted rashly in a moment of confusion. This sinful subject is absolutely loyal to the Great Qian Dynasty and to Your Majesty, as clear as day!"

"Is that so?" Lin Zhen sneered. "Then tell me, how do you plan to prove your loyalty to us?"

Upon hearing this, a flicker of struggle and ruthlessness flashed in Zhang Dehai's eyes. He knew this was his last chance.

He gritted his teeth, took out a booklet from his pocket, and presented it with both hands.

"Your Highness, Your Majesty! This is...this is the list of all the powerful families in Jiangnan who participated in this conspiracy, as well as...their privately hidden military forces, wealth, and methods of communication! This sinful subject...this sinful subject is willing to atone for his sins and help Your Highness and Your Majesty to wipe out these traitors in one fell swoop!"

Lin Zhen took the booklet, flipped through it casually, and then handed it to Murong Yan.

Murong Yan glanced at it and then placed it on the table. They already knew all the contents of it through "Night Owl".

"That alone is not enough." Lin Zhen's voice remained icy.

Zhang Dehai's heart jumped into his throat.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Your Highness! The Sun family of Yangzhou is one of the core members of this conspiracy! They not only hoard a large number of weapons, but also... they are responsible for contacting our inside agents in the court! As long as Your Highness gives this humble subject a force, this humble subject... this humble subject is willing to personally lead a team to raid the Sun family! Bring the head of the Sun family to you!"

To survive, he has no choice but to personally slaughter his former allies.

"Oh?" Lin Zhen finally showed a hint of interest upon hearing this. "An inside man in the court?"

"Yes!" Zhang Dehai replied hastily. "The Sun family has been exchanging secret letters with several high-ranking officials in the capital. The one in charge is... is none other than the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Lord Liu!"

Lin Zhen and Murong Yan exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of understanding in each other's eyes.

They had long suspected this Vice Minister Liu, but they had never had any solid evidence.

Unexpectedly, there is no place to be found even after wearing iron shoes, and it takes no effort to get it.

"Very good." Lin Zhen nodded. "Patriarch Zhang, I accept your 'pledge of allegiance'."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dehai was overjoyed and wept, kneeling down once more: "Thank you, Your Highness, for sparing my life! Thank you, Your Majesty, for sparing my life!"

"Don't rush to thank me." Lin Zhen's voice turned cold again.

"You may be spared the death penalty, but you will not escape punishment. Your Zhang family has been entrenched in Hangzhou for years, oppressing the people and committing all sorts of dirty deeds. Don't think we don't know. From this day forward, all of the Zhang family's land and shops will be confiscated! Your entire Zhang clan will be barred from holding office or engaging in commerce for ten years! You will remain by my side as a guide. Only when we have finished dealing with the affairs of Jiangnan will you regain your freedom."

This punishment is undeniably severe.

This almost completely severed the foundation of the Zhang family for the next few decades.

But after hearing this, Zhang Dehai not only didn't complain at all, but instead felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and kowtowed frantically: "Thank you, Your Highness, for your mercy! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your mercy! This sinful subject... this sinful subject will certainly do his best to serve Your Highness and Your Majesty!"

As long as I can save my life and preserve my family's bloodline, nothing else matters.

After dismissing Zhang Dehai, only Lin Zhen and Murong Yan remained in the room.

"Husband, is Zhang Dehai really trustworthy?" Murong Yan asked with some concern.

"Just a dog wagging its tail and begging for mercy, don't bother with it," Lin Zhen said dismissively. "However, he did remind me. Although Kong Zhiqian and Li Xian have been arrested, there might be some hidden tricks in their scheme that we haven't discovered yet."

He walked to Murong Yan's side and gently pulled her into his arms: "Yan'er, I'm going to interrogate Kong Zhiqian myself. That guy is full of bad intentions, and I won't feel at ease until I've completely drained him."

“I’ll go with you,” Murong Yan said immediately.

"No." Lin Zhen shook his head. "The interrogation won't be very pleasant. You just wait here for my news. Don't worry, it'll be over soon."

After saying that, he turned around and walked towards the underground secret room where Kong Zhiqian was imprisoned.

The room was dark and damp.

Kong Zhiqian was tied to a cross-shaped wooden frame, his hair disheveled and his appearance emaciated.

In the past two days, he hasn't eaten or drunk a drop of water, and he has long lost the composure he once had.

Hearing footsteps, he slowly raised his head and saw Lin Zhen. A complex emotion flashed in his eyes, including resentment, unwillingness, and a hint of...fear.

"Lin Zhen, you've come." His voice was hoarse, like a broken gong.

"I've arrived." Lin Zhen stopped in front of him, looking down at him. "Kong Zhiqian, I'm very curious. You've gone to so much trouble, spreading the plague and supporting the former crown prince. What is it all for? To revive that long-corrupted dynasty? Or for your Kong family's laughable 'descendant of saints' glory?"

"Hahaha...hahahaha!" Kong Zhiqian suddenly burst into manic laughter, the sound of which was particularly jarring in the empty, secluded room.