Chapter 55: Chapter 55

After nightfall, Zhao Jiu stood beside a carriage and helped Lu Wenyu climb aboard.

Lu Wenyu sat on the carriage’s front rail. He had changed out of his crimson Flying Fish Robe and now wore ordinary clothes, making him resemble a wealthy old patriarch. Smiling, he patted Zhao Jiu’s shoulder. He offered no further instructions, merely straightening Zhao Jiu’s official robe before turning and entering the carriage compartment.

“Take care.” Zhao Jiu cupped his hands in farewell.

By the time Zhao Jiu straightened, the carriage had already traveled some distance. The night was as black as ink, and the only sound was the CLOP, CLOP, CLOP of hooves striking the stone-paved road.

Only after the carriage disappeared into the darkness did Zhao Jiu say, “Prepare a table of food and wine. I’m going to Bianzhou Prison. Afterward, all of you should rest early. We still have a case to interrogate tomorrow and cannot afford any delays.”

His blue-green Flying Fish Robe looked dark and somber beneath the night sky. Zhao Jiu stood with his hands clasped behind his back. The Embroidered Uniform Guards behind him acknowledged the order and left to make preparations.

A moment later, Zhao Jiu alone remained before the doors, with a thin mist rising through the darkness behind him.

Less than half an hour later, an Embroidered Uniform Guard in a green Flying Fish Robe bowed and presented him with a food box.

Zhao Jiu nodded, took more than twenty taels of silver from inside his robes, and stuffed it into the man’s arms. He then patted his shoulder and accepted the food box.

“Have the brothers eat something and get some rest. We still have interrogations tomorrow.”

Carrying the food box, Zhao Jiu turned a corner and headed to Bianzhou Prison.

At the entrance, two minor officials saw the blue-green Flying Fish Robe and the food box in his hand. They exchanged glances before stepping forward.

“My lord, what business brings you to Bianzhou Prison so late at night?”

“I’m here to interrogate the prisoners.”

Zhao Jiu was already in a poor mood from having to work so late. Encountering these tactless minor officials worsened it further, and he answered impatiently.

The two officials looked troubled and said cautiously, “My lord, Lord Xu gave orders that no one is permitted to see the prisoners.”

From Zhao Jiu’s appearance, the officials knew he must have come to interrogate the suspects in the Jiangnan corruption case. However, Xu Ren had personally visited moments earlier and ordered them to watch the prisoners carefully. No one was to interrogate them tonight. If anything went wrong, the minor officials would be held entirely responsible.

That was why they didn’t dare allow Zhao Jiu inside.

Naturally, Zhao Jiu wouldn’t make life difficult for minor functionaries merely trying to survive between more powerful figures. He took out his waist token and raised it before them in the light of the lantern.

When the officials saw the words “Northern Division” upon the token beneath the flickering firelight, cold sweat poured down their faces.

What kind of situation was this? Were people like them capable of offending someone from the Northern Division of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?

“Have you seen it clearly?” Zhao Jiu asked as he withdrew the token. “I oversee the Imperial Prison. Am I allowed inside?”

“Yes, yes! This lowly one was blind and didn’t recognize a lord from the Northern Division. Please understand, my lord, that stopping you had nothing to do with me. Those were Lord Xu’s orders…”

The minor official hurriedly signaled for the doors to be opened and personally walked ahead to lead the way.

Zhao Jiu smiled. “Don’t panic. If Magistrate Xu gives you trouble, feel free to use my name.”

The official’s expression finally improved upon hearing that. He bowed low and led the way.

They descended underground for some time before stopping outside a cell. The official took out a key, opened the door, and bowed.

“My lord, this is the place. Please proceed as you wish.”

He then turned sideways and retreated, leaving Zhao Jiu to enter the cell alone with the food box.

Many of the prisoners inside had already awakened when the door opened. They watched the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the blue-green Flying Fish Robe arrange dish after dish from the food box upon the table, confusion covering every face.

They exchanged glances but couldn’t discern the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s purpose. All they could do was remain still and wait to see what happened.

Bianzhou Prison had been built underground. It was currently spring, when a fine drizzle fell endlessly throughout Jiangnan. The prison rarely saw sunlight, sealed above and stifling below. So many people were crowded together, urinating and defecating among the straw covering the floor, while the stench had nowhere to disperse.

The resulting moldy, rotten odor was deeply unpleasant.

Zhao Jiu didn’t care about such trifles. He continued arranging the food and wine by himself. Once everything was on the table, he leisurely sat on a stool, picked up his chopsticks, and began drinking and eating.

The prisoners wore strange expressions as they watched him. They couldn’t understand why Zhao Jiu had come. Could food somehow taste better inside Bianzhou Prison?

Zhao Jiu didn’t notice their expressions. Even if he had, he wouldn’t have cared. He had come for them in the first place, so why would he concern himself with their bewildered stares?

Only after drinking several cups of wine and finishing a bowl of rice did Zhao Jiu slowly speak.

“My lords, you were all once important officials governing your respective regions. Why not come over and eat and drink with me?”

The prisoners became even more confused. They looked at one another, but no one dared move.

Seeing them remain frozen, Zhao Jiu paused with his chopsticks in hand.

“What’s wrong? Is my food not good enough for you? It seems the conditions in Bianzhou Prison are unsatisfactory. Would you prefer to spend a few days in my Imperial Prison?”

Lin Kui, who had met Zhao Jiu before, smiled helplessly. He walked over and sat across from him, then picked up his chopsticks with trembling hands and uneasily began eating.

The warm delicacies tasted like wax in his mouth.

Seeing this, the others finally relaxed. They came forward one after another and shared the food and wine on the table.

Zhao Jiu instead put down his chopsticks and walked to the cell door. Smiling as he watched them eat and drink, he waited until most of the food had disappeared before speaking.

“This humble one is Zhao Muzhi of the Northern Division.”

The prisoners instantly froze, their chopsticks suspended in midair. They stared at Zhao Jiu in terror.

Even Lin Kui, He Yichun, Ren Gongzhu, and Zhu Yugui, each of whom had spent years as the highest-ranking official in his region, no longer dared move his chopsticks.

Without turning around, Zhao Jiu held one hand behind his back and casually waved the other toward them.

“Keep eating. Even if I wanted to send you to the Imperial Prison, there would be no need to rush.”

Only after hearing the sounds of chopsticks moving behind him did Zhao Jiu continue.

“This Zhao has traveled throughout the realm for many years, relying on both literary and martial ability. Even alone, I’ve never feared the flash of blades and swords. I’m a man of unwavering righteousness and never make friends indiscriminately.”

Zhao Jiu turned and smiled at the prisoners.

“You gentlemen have spent many years in officialdom, so you should understand this principle even better than I do. Although you are now disgraced officials, you should know one thing: when a man is about to die, his words are kind.

“We all served as officials of the same Imperial Court, which means we’re passengers in the same boat. If someone starts ripping out the planks and boring holes through the hull… Heh.

“You still have wives, children, and elderly kin. You have clansmen and students, friends and colleagues. Don’t make things difficult for yourselves.”

When he finished, the others remained confused. Only Lin Kui took the lead and rose to his feet with a sneer.

“Death itself is no great matter. Did Lord Zhao come merely to lecture us? I began studying at five years old. By now, I’ve read more principles than you’ve ever heard.”

“At worst, we die. Do we have any other possible fate? Lord Zhao, is there any chance we won’t be sent to the Imperial Prison?”

Zhao Jiu merely smiled without answering.

He had to admit that anyone capable of rising to such a position possessed a keen sense of the situation. Lin Kui understood Zhao Jiu’s objective, while Lin Kui’s reaction was also entirely within Zhao Jiu’s expectations.

Since they were doomed anyway, they might as well drag down everyone they could. After all, who could guarantee that his own ass was perfectly clean?

Zhao Jiu didn’t care about that. Although he was the legitimately appointed Pacification Commissioner, he had no such concerns. At worst, he could use Complete Transformation and hide like a turtle in its shell.

“Lord Lin, you certainly are courageous. But don’t forget that all of you still have families. Whether you answer clearly or play dumb, you’re still going to die. This is merely about making things easier for everyone.

“Whether we kill one person or exterminate three generations of your clan depends on what we write. What we uncover while confiscating your estates depends on how we conduct the search.

“The Emperor is benevolent and doesn’t wish to cause unnecessary slaughter. But we have spent our lives rolling through blood. Adding or subtracting one person merely requires a little extra effort.”

Zhao Jiu smiled, his voice mild but laden with menace.

“Even the manner of death makes a difference. After enduring all Thirteen Techniques of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, perhaps you might still be alive.”

Lin Kui’s face grew even paler.

He could disregard everything else, but the safety of his wife, children, and elderly kin had always been his greatest concern.

At first, Zhao Jiu had merely threatened to investigate his family thoroughly, but Lin Kui hadn’t cared. Although he was corrupt, he had kept his family under strict control. They had never participated in any of his crimes.

But Zhao Jiu’s threat to exterminate three generations of his clan was truly terrifying. That meant collective punishment!

The survival of his wife, children, and elderly kin could no longer be guaranteed. Once someone entered the Imperial Prison and endured all Thirteen Techniques, could anyone possibly emerge alive?

Lin Kui couldn’t be certain.

Zhao Jiu noticed the changing expressions around him, particularly Lin Kui’s. Knowing that the matter was already mostly settled, he continued.

“If you stop here, so will we. This decision did not come from me.”

Lin Kui finally breathed a sigh of relief.

What was the greatest danger in a negotiation? It was discovering that the other party lacked the authority to make the final decision.

Zhao Jiu’s words meant that he was merely delivering a message. His intentions represented those above him.

And who stood above the Embroidered Uniform Guard?

The Emperor.

After receiving that assurance, Lin Kui no longer hesitated.

“My lord, this disgraced official is willing to cooperate.”

The others thought for a moment and gradually grasped the meaning behind Zhao Jiu’s words. Seeing Lin Kui agree, they echoed him one after another.

They had no choice. They weren’t alone in the world and didn’t possess the courage to face the flash of blades and swords by themselves.

Having achieved his objective, Zhao Jiu packed away the food box and raised an eyebrow.

“Remember now, the silver had better not be short. Otherwise, it won’t stop at three generations.”

“Money can make even a millstone push a ghost around. Who knows? Perhaps you’ll receive nothing worse than exile. Heh heh heh.”

P.S. I was sick and took a few days off. After all this buildup, the story will soon enter its climax. Thank you all for reading. Thank you.