The lunch was indeed quite lavish. Zhou Gui even tried to have a drink with Jing Zhe, but Jing Zhe declined.

Of course, Jing Zhe didn't say that he had work to do in the afternoon and was afraid that he couldn't handle the alcohol if he drank. Instead, he said that the wine in Ruzhou was not good and that he was not used to it.

He also promised Zhou Gui that in a few days, high-quality liquor would be available for sale in Ruzhou City, and he would send Zhou Gui a few jars of it, and then they would get drunk together.

Zhou Gui had no idea that strong liquor was commonplace in Jingzhou. He thought only royalty could afford it, so when he heard Jing Zhe's promise, he said it was good, but he didn't really believe it and just thought the young man was talking big.

After finishing his meal, Jing Zhe left the Zhou family's house.

Next, he went directly to the governor's residence.

Yu Li took the newly captured Prefect Liu and Manager Hu very seriously. He knew that Jing Zhe would definitely come, so after bringing them back, he locked them in a separate cell and did not allow outsiders to visit them. He stayed at the camp and waited for Jing Zhe to arrive.

Sure enough, Jing Zhe arrived just after noon.

"Governor Yu, has anyone been here?"

Seeing Yu Li shake his head, Jing Zhe became a little curious. He had thought that the Crown Prince of Yu would definitely lose his temper and come over.

"Then I'll go take a look!"

"Alright, President Jing, I'll lead the way!"

Since they had already entered the garrison area and were surrounded by officers and soldiers, Yu Li began to address Jing Zhe in a more official manner.

On the way, Yu Li couldn't help but ask curiously, "President Jing, in my experience, if we want to interrogate them, it's best to separate them. Firstly, it will prevent them from colluding, and secondly, it will put pressure on them and make them confess faster."

The burning of Juxianlou's account books indicates that they contained many shady dealings, which Manager Hu and Prefect Liu must have been well aware of. Now that they've been arrested, they'll naturally be interrogated.

Yu Li had been an official for many years and had interrogated many important criminals. He felt that it would be best to separate the two, but Jing Zhe insisted on telling him to lock them up together.

Because there were many people and distractions in Juxianlou, Jing Zhe had spoken, and Yu Li did not object. He followed the instructions when he returned. Now that there were no outsiders, he asked the question that had been on his mind.

"Indeed, it's better to interrogate two people separately."

Jing Zhe laughed after hearing this, but then he changed the subject: "But I never intended to interrogate them!"

"Didn't intend to...interrogate?"

Yu Li even began to doubt whether he was getting old, as he could no longer understand Jing Zhe's actions.

"Yes, I didn't intend to interrogate them. Because what they know, I also know, and there's no point in interrogating them."

"But only what's obtained through interrogation...can be considered evidence!"

Jing Zhe grinned when he heard this.

"Do we need evidence to arrest them?"

Yu Li was taken aback and quickly shook his head.

Arresting Manager Hu and Prefect Liu at Juxianlou was indeed done without much evidence; they were arrested on charges of framing government officials. Even the Crown Prince of Yu could not plead for them, which shows that what Jing Zhe said was true.

"However, arresting some people doesn't require evidence, but arresting others is impossible even with evidence."

"..."

Because Yu Li frequently corresponded with his brother Yu Sheng, he knew a little about certain things and was naturally aware of the close relationship between King Yu and King Jin. Therefore, it was obvious who Jing Zhe wanted to arrest.

"President Jing, please give me your instructions! I will do my utmost to cooperate, even at the cost of my life!"

This could be considered a show of loyalty. Upon hearing this, Jing Zhe patted him on the shoulder and whispered something in his ear. When Li heard this, his face was full of shock.

No wonder he was able to rise to the rank of second grade at such a young age; such a meticulous mind is rare among ordinary people!

...

Jing Zhe was imprisoned, while Yu Li guarded the outside.

Although it's called a heavenly prison, it's more appropriate to call it an underground prison, because most of the cells are built underground. Only the roof is higher than the ground. The windows near the ground don't let in much sunlight at all. Even during the day, it's dark inside and you have to turn on the lights.

At this moment, Prefect Liu and Manager Hu had already changed into prison clothes and were huddled in the corner. They had been arrested for less than half a day, but their disheveled appearance made it seem as if they had been imprisoned for half a year.

Upon hearing the door open, the two immediately looked up.

When she saw that it was Jing Zhe, she lowered her head again, her eyes filled with undisguised disappointment.

"What, you think anyone else will come to see you?"

"Stop dreaming. Once you were locked up here, it was destined that no one would ever save you!"

"Confess and you'll be treated leniently; resist and you'll be punished severely. What awaits you, besides beheading, is confession!"

"..."

Hearing this from outside the door, Yu Li was stunned: Didn't they just say they wouldn't interrogate me? Why are they making me confess again? This is getting more and more incomprehensible...

The two of them kept their heads down and remained silent.

At this moment, Jing Zhe said again, "You two are determined to die, aren't you? You're men, I admire you! But I pity your families, they have to be buried with you."

Upon hearing that their family members would be buried with them, the two who had been silent just moments before jumped up instantly.

"Why are you making my family members die with me?"

"Even if we committed a crime, it was our crime, what does it have to do with them?"

The two expressed their dissatisfaction.

Jing Zhe continued calmly, "Because I have a habit when interrogating prisoners: if they don't talk after being asked, I think their family members must also be accomplices, having done a lot of bad things with them. So it's better to kill them all!"

"..."

This method of interrogation is truly unheard of.

Prefect Liu and Manager Hu were completely dumbfounded.

When the two of them were captured, they weren't too afraid, because they thought that the Crown Prince of Yu would definitely save them. Although Jing Zhe's official rank of second grade was not small, it was no match for the Crown Prince!

However, half a day passed and the Crown Prince of Yu did not show up, which gave them a bad feeling. Although the two did not communicate, they had already made the worst plan—to be beheaded.

Of course, death is the end of everything, and they hoped that the Crown Prince of Yu would treat their family well; this was their last wish.

But Jing Zhe came up and threatened to kill their entire family, which completely broke them down.

Prefect Liu gritted his teeth and finally made up his mind. He couldn't let his family be buried with him!

So he said, "Didn't President Jing say that only those prisoners who refuse to talk when questioned will have their families buried with them?"

"Yes, that's exactly how you guys are."

Manager Hu was almost in tears: "But you haven't even asked yet!"

Jing Zhe was taken aback. "Didn't I ask?"

The two nodded hastily, thinking to themselves, "You've been threatening us ever since you came in. When did you ask me anything?"

"Anyway, you won't tell me even if I ask, so I won't ask anymore."

"..."

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