Chapter 54: Chapter 54

Chen Fuyi looked around the hall and saw that everyone wore a grave expression. Off to the side, the clerk’s brush went scratch, scratch across the page.

Chen Fuyi had things to say, but he couldn’t say them. Once certain words were committed to paper, they would become blades capable of killing!

Forced by the circumstances, he could only speak in a trembling, halting voice.

“Naturally, we first submitted a report, and only rebuilt the embankments after those above issued the order… As for whose hands the money passed through, how… how could we possibly know? We were responsible only for rebuilding the embankments.”

“So it was the Grand Secretariat and the Ministry of Revenue, then,” Xu Ren said coldly. “How much silver did the Imperial Court allocate? How much was spent repairing the embankments? Who inspected the work? Explain everything one by one. You are not permitted to conceal anything!”

“I… I… I don’t know!”

Chen Fuyi simply decided to play dead. Whether he stuck out his head or pulled it back, the blade would fall all the same. He might as well deny everything. Refusing to speak was clearly his best option.

Naturally, Xu Ren wouldn’t let him off so easily. Although nothing showed on his face, his gaze was as sharp as a blade as he stared at Chen Fuyi.

“Heh. You just said you acted on orders from above. Your testimony is recorded clearly and unambiguously on the deposition. What’s this? Do you intend to recant your testimony in court? Under the Laws of Great Qi, anyone who reverses his testimony in court shall receive twenty strokes of the staff! Lord Chen, think carefully before you speak.”

After hearing that, Chen Fuyi began trembling uncontrollably. Beads of cold sweat dripped from him one after another.

This time, he had truly driven himself into a dead end.

“Answer me!” Xu Ren shouted.

Chen Fuyi didn’t dare make a sound. He lay on the floor clutching the leg of the stool and forced himself to raise his head.

Wang Yantong’s face was dark as thunder in the seat of honor, while Xu Ren glared furiously from the side, radiating righteousness.

No path lay ahead, and no road led back. That was Chen Fuyi’s present predicament.

Seeing everyone else remain perfectly composed, he steeled himself and gritted his teeth.

“Lord Wang, my lords, if I name someone, will you investigate and arrest that person? Regardless of who he is or what position he holds?”

“Presumptuous! Stop dragging other matters into this!”

Lu Wenyu, who had been holding his teacup, suddenly roared. Everyone present trembled in fright. Even Eunuch He, who had been sipping tea across from him, froze.

Lu Wenyu’s crimson Flying Fish Robe billowed as his aura erupted outward. Inside the cramped hall, it was as though a volcano had erupted and the waters of heaven had come crashing down.

The sharp aura instantly knocked Chen Fuyi, who had no cultivation unconscious before surging toward the heavens. Within the pitch-black night, it seemed as though a vicious beast was roaring, its presence vast and overwhelming.

Aside from Eunuch He, everyone’s expression changed dramatically. Even Zhao Jiu had to circulate his True Qi to withstand that terrifying pressure, let alone the officials seated at the head of the hall.

The clerk had long since fainted beneath the force of Lu Wenyu’s aura. Wang Yantong, Xu Ren, and Wen Yun could only fall backward against their chairs, clutching the armrests tightly with both hands. They had no strength to resist whatsoever.

The might of a Great Grandmaster was truly terrifying beyond measure!

Lu Wenyu had released only a few wisps of his might. Once that pressure dissipated, he raised his teacup and said, “Take the prisoner away. He’s unconscious, so how are we supposed to interrogate him?”

He took a sip of tea and watched as two Embroidered Uniform Guards carried Chen Fuyi outside.

Although Xu Ren was unwilling to stop, he had no other choice. Just as he was about to continue the interrogation, Lu Wenyu’s mild voice sounded.

“Everyone is tired. We’ll end tonight’s interrogation here. Store the depositions securely and seal them with wax. I will personally present them to His Majesty.”

Without waiting for anyone to respond, Lu Wenyu rose first and walked out.

Zhao Jiu smiled, cupped his hands to Eunuch He in farewell, and followed Lu Wenyu outside.

“All right. We’ll simply do as Lord Lu says.” Eunuch He grinned as though trying to reassure the others.

However, the officials seated at the head of the hall detected a faint threat within his cold, emotionless words.

Xu Ren still wanted to persist, but Wang Yantong, the presiding judge, had already risen and saluted before accompanying Eunuch He outside.

Wen Yun grabbed Xu Ren before he could follow. He shook his head and patted Xu Ren’s hand, signaling him not to persist. Lu Wenyu’s position was already perfectly clear.

They would not be permitted to implicate anyone higher up.

Lu Wenyu walked quickly, while Zhao Jiu followed behind with his hands clasped behind his back. He remained unhurried, his steps relaxed.

Zhao Jiu understood that Lu Wenyu merely wanted to make his position clear. He wasn’t rushing to end the interrogation so that he could leave as quickly as possible.

Sure enough, after walking some distance, Lu Wenyu abruptly turned and beckoned to Zhao Jiu.

Zhao Jiu quickened his pace and came within a step of him. The two slowed down and continued walking leisurely.

After a few steps, Lu Wenyu glanced back at him.

“Pockface, what do you make of this?”

“Those men certainly know what they’re doing” better conveys Zhao Jiu’s dry response..”

“I’m returning to the Capital tomorrow. You must keep an eye on this matter. I’ll speak with Eunuch He. They cannot continue interrogating people like this.”

“Wasn’t the interrogation going quite well? You don’t need me here,” Zhao Jiu said indifferently.

“Heh. If we allow them to keep implicating others, sooner or later they’ll drag in the Grand Secretariat, then the palace, and then heads will start rolling!”

“Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Once the corrupt officials lose their heads, the realm will enjoy clear seas and tranquil rivers, sound government, and harmony among the people.”

Lu Wenyu sneered repeatedly. “How much of what a few corrupt officials say can be trusted? If they implicate the Emperor, should we investigate him too?”

“Uh… That still doesn’t mean we should investigate nothing.”

“Nor does it mean we should investigate everything!” Lu Wenyu retorted. “When something goes wrong, who will clean up the mess? Whose head will be chopped off?”

After taking another two steps, Lu Wenyu still seemed uneasy and added another warning.

“I’m setting the boundaries for this case. First, no further attempts to implicate anyone above them. Second, the scope of the case must not be expanded. Third, no old cases may be reopened. Ideally, we’ll settle on corruption as the charge, establish the facts, and sort out the detailed accounts.”

“Then what the fuck is left to investigate?” Zhao Jiu protested. “Just convict them of murdering the Imperial Envoy and execute them after autumn.”

“What about the silver? Whose estate should we confiscate—yours or mine? The Emperor only wants their silver. Whether they live or die is merely a matter of a single word from him!”

Zhao Jiu fell silent.

That was true. The most important matter—the money—had yet to be settled, so the prisoners couldn’t die yet.

Their survival was a minor matter. But if they implicated other people, should those people live or die? Zhao Jiu understood the concerns involved.

He didn’t want to bother with these vexing matters any longer, so he changed the subject.

“Fifth Master, the case isn’t over yet. Why are you in such a hurry to return to the Capital?”

Lu Wenyu didn’t conceal anything and answered frankly, “More than a dozen Jade-Carving Gentlemen and Golden-Thread Ladies died on the Ningzhou border. I suspect that someone has infiltrated the Capital. The Jiangnan case is a minor matter. If something happens inside the palace, that will be a major one!”

Seeing Lu Wenyu’s grave expression, Zhao Jiu realized the situation was serious. He stopped speaking and quietly listened to Lu Wenyu’s instructions.

“Go to Bianzhou Prison late tonight and speak with those people. You must ensure that the Jiangnan affair is concluded as quickly as possible. They cannot be allowed to implicate anyone else, or this will become impossible to wrap up.”

After speaking, Lu Wenyu took a packet of silver from inside his robes.

“Once the Jiangnan case is over, Eunuch He will present the depositions. You must enter the Capital as soon as possible. Stop at Mount Tai along the way. According to my intelligence, the youngest son of the Master of Sword-Washing Manor is currently there. Four hundred taels. Don’t let him descend Mount Tai alive.”

Only after Zhao Jiu accepted the silver did Lu Wenyu turn back and add, “It would be best to leave a few people alive.”

Zhao Jiu looked thoughtful but still agreed. He had to provide good service to his paymaster.

As for why Lu Wenyu wanted survivors, it could only be to frame someone else or serve as a warning. Such minor requests were no trouble. As long as Zhao Jiu was being paid, he didn’t care!

“I’ll leave tonight and take the depositions back to the Capital. Wait until I’m gone before visiting Bianzhou Prison.” Once Zhao Jiu agreed, Lu Wenyu’s tone became much calmer. “Remember, ask Eunuch He whenever you encounter a problem. Conclude the case as quickly as possible!”