Chapter 15 Interrogation

Cen Yan left as soon as he finished speaking, without any hesitation.

Once the person was gone and they were no longer under the same roof, Zhuang Dongqing felt the air around her come alive again.

When Liu Fu came in, he saw Zhuang Dongqing patting his chest and taking a deep breath.

"Young Master, are you alright?"

Zhuang Dongqing brought Liufu in today. After thinking about it, he realized that some things couldn't be kept from him, so he simply told his servant everything. Liufu was stunned by what he heard and spent most of the day processing it before he returned to normal in the evening.

Upon seeing Cen Yan come looking for him, Liu Fu tensed up.

Zhuang Dongqing shook her head. "It's nothing. I just wanted to ask a few questions."

Before Cen Yan arrived, he was already sleepy. After the fright, his mind relaxed again, and he couldn't stop feeling sleepy. Zhuang Dongqing's eyelids started to droop. "Is your hair dry? I want to sleep..."

Liu Fu stepped forward, touched it to make sure it was dry, and helped Zhuang Dongqing onto the bed.

The rosewood canopy bed, a fine piece that was just moved out of the storeroom today, is made of solid materials and is heavy and sturdy. No matter how Zhuang Dongqing moves, it won't shake. The bed curtains are made of silk gauze, a thin layer that is both breathable and can block the view. The mattress is thick and soft as Zhuang Dongqing requested, made entirely of this year's new cotton. When Zhuang Dongqing lay down, he had a vague feeling of sinking into a Simmons mattress.

The entire bed sheet set is made of silk satin, smooth and soft...

With her head resting on the pillow, Zhuang Dongqing closed her eyes comfortably.

After Liu Fu tucked him in, Zhuang Dongqing, though still feeling the need to sort out the day's events, had already been corrupted by wealth and luxury. His mind cleared slightly, and by the time Liu Fu had drawn the curtains on both sides of the bed, his breathing had become even.

I slept soundly through the night without any dreams.

When Liu Fu called in the morning, Zhuang Dongqing was still dazed.

There was no other reason than that pregnancy had made Zhuang Dongqing a bit sleepy lately, but since she was confined to the mansion anyway, she could always arrange her own time. As for food, there was nothing she could do, but Zhuang Dongqing had slept enough.

But not today; he has to go to the Dali Temple with Cen Yan to handle the Zhuang family's case.

Not fully conscious, Zhuang Dongqing was dazed. Liu Fu told her to reach out her hand and open her mouth, but Liu Fu didn't dare keep Cen Yan waiting. She quickly tidied Zhuang Dongqing up, and when they met at the door, Zhuang Dongqing's eyes were still blank.

Cen Yan looked over, but Zhuang Dongqing didn't react at all, looking like she hadn't woken up yet.

Once inside the carriage, Zhuang Dongqing rode alongside Cen Yan. As the carriage wheels rolled, Zhuang Dongqing's head bobbed up and down.

Liu Fu didn't dare to breathe loudly. He braced himself and asked Liu Qi for a soft pillow, which he then placed behind Zhuang Dongqing's neck so that he could lean against the carriage.

With the pillow placed properly, before a cup of tea was brewed, Cen Yan watched as Zhuang Dongqing closed her eyes in front of him and fell into a deep sleep.

Cen Yan: "..."

Liu Qi: "..."

Liu Fu was afraid that Cen Yan would blame him, so he whispered, "My young master is pregnant, and he's been sleeping a lot lately."

Cen Yan looked at Liu Fu, who fell silent.

When the gaze shifted to Zhuang Dongqing's face, the young man was already half-lying against the carriage wall, his eyebrows relaxed. Now, no matter how much Cen Yan looked at him, he was no longer afraid.

After staring for a while, Liu Fu's heart pounded, and he wavered wildly between calling out to Zhuang Dongqing and not calling out. Just as he made up his mind to call out, he saw Cen Yan withdraw his gaze and close his eyes to rest.

Liu Fu doesn't know if this counts as another form of "out of sight, out of mind".

Fortunately, the journey was smooth, and we arrived at Dali Temple.

"Young Master, wake up, we've arrived." Liu Fu shook Zhuang Dongqing awake.

As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Cen Yan brush past her. Zhuang Dongqing's scalp tingled, and she woke up.

Oh, they got off the bus.

Having slept the whole way, he was still weak and shaky when he stood up. The carriage of the Prince's Mansion was tall, and Cen Yan and Liu Qi were already standing at the bottom. Zhuang Dongqing was afraid of making them wait, so he was anxious. He only realized halfway down that it was higher than he had imagined. He didn't put his foot down and his body tilted. Zhuang Dongqing reached out in the air but grabbed nothing. His heart sank.

Oh no, oh no, oh no!

I closed my eyes tightly, praying that I wouldn't twist my ankle or fall face-first.

"Young Master Zhuang!"

Liu Qi was halfway through her exclamation when Zhuang Dongqing caught her.

Cen Yan stretched out his hand.

With a foothold, Zhuang Dongqing gripped the arm he was using for leverage, his whole body tense. Cen Yan had only intended to help him up, but seeing that Zhuang Dongqing wasn't going to stand back up and was still falling, he simply reached out and pulled him down by the waist.

"Young Master, are you alright?!"

"Why aren't you watching where you're going!"

When Liu Fu came out and saw this scene, he was also shocked.

"I, I, I'm fine."

Her eyes were fixed straight ahead, and even though she was standing on the ground, she was still holding on tightly to Cen Yan, her knuckles turning white from the force.

Cen Yan frowned: "Won't you call for help if something happens?"

If he and Liu Qi hadn't been standing right next to the carriage, Zhuang Dongqing, being mute, could have fallen and rolled around twice without the coachman even noticing.

"Call, call who?" Zhuang Dongqing was still a little confused.

Cen Yan just stared at him without saying a word, her face expressionless.

A chill emanated from those light brown eyes.

"..."

Zhuang Dongqing shrank back and obediently said, "Oh, I'll be careful next time."

"...Are you steady on your feet?"

Zhuang Dongqing nodded.

Cen Yan: "Then can we let go?"

His hand was still gripping Cen Yan's clothes, and he seemed to be pressed against someone else.

Feeling the heat emanating from her body, Zhuang Dongqing dug her toes into the ground, released her hand, and quickly took several steps back, stammering, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

Cen Yan smoothed the area where he had been scratching, remaining calm. "When will the blood clots in your head clear up?"

"The doctor said, three to five years?"

Cen Yan let out a soft sigh, "I don't think so."

"?"

Cen Yan turned to Liu Qi and said, "Next time you go out, remember to arrange for someone else to accompany you."

Liu Qi agreed.

Cen Yan led the way into Dali Temple.

When Liu Fu came up, Zhuang Dongqing's eyes were still glued to Cen Yan's back. Was she implying something about him? This time it must be!

What a terrible demon! Why is he acting so strangely?

*

The imperial examination cheating case was handled by the three provincial departments, but all the people involved were detained in the Ministry of Justice.

Zhuang Dongqing went in to give a statement, and the process was completed. Cen Yan first mentioned Lord Zhuang.

It wasn't difficult. He claimed to know nothing when questioned. Zhuang Dongqing had met with Zhuang Xingchang privately, offered advice and warnings, and during the re-interrogation, he became extremely cooperative, saying less platitudes and evasive statements, but his previous and subsequent testimonies remained consistent.

As expected.

Since interrogating Zhuang was more troublesome, Cen Yan asked Liu Qi to take Zhuang Dongqing to his office to wait.

When Liu Qi returned, Master Zhao had already prepared the needle, and Zhuang Yue had also brought it over. They had been left in the interrogation room for a while.

Cen Yan led the way in, and when the door creaked open, Zhuang Yue could be seen trembling through the crack.

Sitting opposite Cen Yan, Liu Qi placed the dossier in front of him.

Cen Yan remained silent, slowly flipping through the pages. Zhuang Yue's heart pounded, and he tried his best to remain calm.

"I already reviewed it earlier, Lord Zhuang."

"Your second brother has also given a statement."

The torture chamber was dark, with small, low windows that let in only a sliver of sunlight, illuminating the torture instruments behind Cen Yan, revealing dark red, grimy marks of use.

Cen Yan: "Do you have anything to say about your private contact with the examiners, the use of coded language on the exam papers, and the cheating in the imperial examination?"

After questioning Zhuang Yue, he immediately cried out that he was wronged and claimed that he knew nothing.

After being imprisoned for so many days, and with the matter involving the Crown Prince, the Three Departments were actually watching the Emperor's intentions. Zhuang Yue also had the blood of the Empress's family flowing through his veins, so he was not tortured.

After listening for a couple of sentences, Cen Yan knew that Zhuang Yue had prepared his defense in prison these past few days, denying all allegations of cheating and only claiming it was a coincidence and crying foul.

Therefore, there's not much more to say.

Cen Yan waved.

Someone stepped forward and covered Zhuang Yue's mouth. Cen Yan stood up with his hands behind his back and looked out the window for a while. One silver needle after another fell. In less than half an incense stick's time, accompanied by an uncontrollable groan of pain, half a set of acupuncture was completed. Zhuang Yue's back was soaked with cold sweat.

Even after the gag was removed, Zhuang Yue still insisted on his innocence. After another half-set of needles, he was able to speak again. In a daze, Zhuang Yue began to curse Cen Yan for being unable to distinguish between good and evil, harming the loyal and good, and eliminating dissidents.

Liu Qi was alarmed.

Cen Yan finally turned his face from the window and slowly walked up to Zhuang Yue. Their eyes met, and Zhuang Yue was also scared, but since he had already cursed, he raised his voice to avoid losing face.

The officers attempted to step forward and gag Zhuang Yue again, but Cen Yan raised his hand to stop them.

Cen Yan stared quietly at Zhuang Yue, her gaze making him uneasy. Suddenly, she curled her lips slightly, her expression turning extremely cold. Zhuang Yue's heart skipped a beat. Cen Yan then gestured for Master Zhao to continue administering the acupuncture.

Almost every curse was followed by a needle insertion. Master Zhao would insert the needles first, and Cen Yan would follow behind, his long fingers gently pushing the needles in an inch further. The pain would increase exponentially, and Zhuang Yue would howl in pain, cursing loudly as he shouted. After five or six such shouts, he was in so much pain that he cried out for his parents and could no longer utter a single word.

Cen Yan: "Continue."

After half of the procedure, Zhuang Yue fainted from the pain.

He was woken up by being splashed with cold water, and the acupuncture was administered again. Before he could even endure ten needles, Zhuang Yue wailed and begged for mercy.

Cen Yan's expression remained unchanged: "Continue."

After a few more needle pricks, Zhuang Yue couldn't take it anymore and cried out that he wanted to confess.

Master Zhao held the needle and looked at Cen Yan. Cen Yan remained silent. Master Zhao understood and continued.

This time, after Zhuang Yue had confessed almost everything amidst his cries, Cen Yan finally called for a halt.

Liu Qi immediately stepped forward to ask questions and took notes. Zhuang Yue answered all the questions honestly, showing that he was very forthcoming.

After the officials carried the exhausted Zhuang Yue away, only Liu Qi and Cen Yan remained in the room. Liu Qi said, "Lord Zhuang is fine; it's obvious someone is trying to frame him. But Young Master Zhuang..."

The Emperor is now dealing with the Crown Prince. If... then all those involved in the case from the Empress's clan will not be given lenient sentences.

Zhuang Yue is Zhuang Xingchang's son; their fates are intertwined, so this situation is quite complicated.

Cen Yan laughed, "What are you worried about regarding the Zhuang family's affairs?"

Liu Qi was stunned.

"Master, you mean..."

"Hmm, they come to our door and say such nice things, but let's see what their style is like in practice."

As two indictments were laid out in front of Zhuang Dongqing, Cen Yan laughed and said, "Your elder brother accused me of being unable to distinguish between good and evil, harming the loyal and good, and eliminating dissidents."

Cen Yan's laughter sent a chill down Zhuang Dongqing's spine as he slowly said, "Is this how your Zhuang family usually sees me?"

Stared at by those light-colored eyes, Zhuang Dongqing choked for a moment, then shook her head fiercely.

"My older brother and I weren't very close before."

He managed to offer a difficult explanation, but it sounded more like a sophistry.

Cen Yan didn't mind. "It's alright. I'm the kind of person who always settles scores on the spot."

"The acupuncture administered by Master Zhao, though not enough to cause any lasting illness, was so intense that it would be an unforgettable experience."

Zhuang Dongqing: "..."

Zhuang Dongqing: "...Then, on behalf of my brother, I thank Your Highness for your leniency?"

Cen Yan actually laughed this time.

"I can tell from your voice, you're definitely not familiar with each other."