Chapter 24

While Wei Luo was worrying about his knees, Xu Xuan and Deng Yan were also looking worried and uneasy in the Ministry of Justice's duty room.

The commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Wang Zhen, led his troops to search Liu Shen's residence and arrested the monk Daguan, the doctor Lin Yu, and the servant Mao Wen. All of them were tried on trumped-up charges.

Everyone knows the methods used by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Now that these people have entered the Imperial Prison, they have one foot in hell, and there is no one to help them.

"Can they withstand torture and forced confessions?" Deng Yan asked.

Xu Xuan sighed, full of worry, "One person might be able to handle it, but three people... someone will eventually have to give in."

People die for wealth, birds die for food. Physical torment is certainly hard to endure, but mental temptation is even harder to resist. Money, beautiful women, high positions and generous salaries—there's always one that can turn a person into a spineless coward and make them kneel down to their desires.

The three men arrested by the Embroidered Uniform Guard were all Liu Shen's confidants. If any of them couldn't withstand the pressure and uttered falsehoods, it would be a fatal blow to Liu Shen, drawing blood with every strike.

“The Liu residence is completely surrounded right now. We can’t get in, and the people inside can’t get out.” Deng Yan stamped his feet anxiously. “If only we could get in.”

Xu Xuan lowered his head slightly. He knew that the person besieging Liu's residence was Shen Yao's younger brother. Deng Yan's intention was for him to enter the residence through Shen Fan to meet Liu Shen and exchange information.

However, Xu Xuan is now officially part of Liu Zhengxin's faction, so he has no reason to meet with Liu Shen. If they meet in private, it will arouse Shen Fan's suspicion. Therefore, he is in a dilemma.

"Currently, this case is being handled by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and one side's opinion is unlikely to convince the public. Therefore, if the three judicial departments can conduct a joint trial, we can also enter the imperial prison, at which point they will be more restrained."

The joint trial by the three judicial departments (Ministry of Justice, Censorate, and Court of Judicial Review) was the highest judicial procedure in the country.

Minister of Justice Xiao Da'an is the Grand Secretary's man, Right Vice Censor-in-Chief Li Cai is Liu Shen's crony, and the officials of the Court of Judicial Review are currently neutral. Therefore, Xu Xuan's proposal only makes things more complicated.

Deng Yan asked, "The person was captured by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. If we propose a joint trial by the three judicial departments now, will Wang Zhen agree?"

"The matter of the seditious book involves many officials of the court. The more people involved in the investigation, the more transparent the case will become, and the more convincing it will be. Moreover, His Majesty knows very well who Wang Zhen is working for. If His Majesty wants to find out the mastermind behind the scenes as soon as possible, he will not allow the Grand Secretary's faction to act recklessly."

After discussing it for a while, the two felt that the best solution was for the three judicial departments to jointly try the case. So they decided to visit Guo Zheng, the Vice Minister of Rites, so that he could write a memorial to the emperor to save their teacher.

However, as soon as they stepped out of the Ministry of Justice's cell, they heard that Grand Secretary Liu Zhengxin had personally directed the Embroidered Uniform Guard to arrest more than a dozen members of Guo Zheng's family, along with Guo Zheng's friends and subordinates, and take them all to the imperial prison for interrogation.

The imperial prison became bustling. In just two days, wave after wave of people were brought there, like a revolving lantern, creating a chaotic scene.

In a rusty, dark room, a man was tied to a rack, his head bowed, his skin completely ravaged.

"Governor-General."

As a respectful greeting rang out, Wang Zhen, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, entered. His riding whip lifted the man's chin, and he slowly raised his eyes, his voice trembling: "I...I didn't write the denunciation notice. I'm innocent."

Wang Zhen chuckled, put away his whip, moved a stool, sat down in front of him, and said, "Mao Wen, I know you have followed Liu Shen for many years and are the most loyal. I have never admired anyone in my life, but I especially admire those who are loyal."

"Do you know the difference between cats and dogs? Cats seem docile, but they are actually tigers in disguise. When they get angry, they will bare their teeth and claws to hurt people. Dogs, on the other hand, wag their tails and beg for mercy. They are the most loyal, but if their owners fall on hard times, they will immediately abandon them. So loyal dogs end up begging on the streets."

He leaned his arm against the backrest and suddenly sighed, “Brother, you are just an ordinary person, born a servant, destined to be a servant. But now I’m giving you a chance, a chance to turn your life around and change your destiny.”

He clapped his hands, and soon a member of the Imperial Guard came over with three sheets of paper. He showed the contents of the papers to Mao Wen one by one.

Mao Wen's eyes were swollen and red from the beating, but the black words and red marks on the paper were clearly visible to him—the document for the imperial appointment was signed by Da Guan, Lin Yu, and Mao Wen.

"If you can report the thief, you will get him."

After Wang Zhen left, Mao Wen was put down. The Jinyiwei appointment document was placed on the table not far from him. The paper was as thin as a feather, but the temptation was greater than Mount Tai.

Wang Zhen prepared three documents, each enticing one of the three men to accuse the other. The accuser would receive a warrant from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, while the accused would be subjected to the death by a thousand cuts. However, if the three chose to cooperate and refused Wang Zhen's temptations, they would all die in the imperial prison.

To live or to die? To accuse others or to be accused? To be a cat or a dog?

These questions that were never even considered before, and these dreams that were once out of reach, all seem to be just a thought away.

Separated by a wall.

"Pah! You turtle, you bastard, a lackey of the imperial court! Who cares about your dog skin? You're not even worthy to carry my shoes."

A mouthful of blood sprayed all over Wang Zhen's face.

Doctor Lin Yu's eyes were bloodshot with rage. If he could eat people, he would probably devour the beast in front of him in one bite.

Despite being called worse than an animal, Wang Zhen was not angry. He calmly took out a handkerchief from his sleeve, wiped the blood off his face, threw the handkerchief on the ground, and laughed, "You look so gentle and weak, but I didn't expect you to be so tough. I like tough guys like you."

"Why is old chicken soup better? Because when it's simmered over low heat, the marrow from the bones slowly seeps out, making the chicken soup taste better."

He finished speaking and walked out. Soon, a new type of torture device was put on Lin Yu's body. As he screamed in agony, Wang Zhen hummed a lighthearted tune and walked towards the Da Guan area next door.

These rooms are where serious criminals are imprisoned. The stone walls are several meters thick, but the screams of people can penetrate the barriers like lightning, conveying the most terrifying and horrifying sounds.

"Come on, use whatever tricks you have up your sleeve, I'm not afraid."

The monk Daguan was bruised and swollen, and the whip marks on his back had scabbed over, but his face was still full of smiles, and his eyes were firm as if he were not suffering, but enjoying happiness.

Wang Zhen only glanced at him before not stepping inside again, because it was useless; this person wouldn't confess to anything.

Having served as the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard for several years, he had seen all sorts of people in prisons, from soft dogs to hard-hearted ones, but the man in front of him had a light in his eyes.

Although it was unknown whether his light was from the Buddha or Guanyin, the power of faith was immense, and the wise Wang Zhen would not challenge it.

Of the three, one has faith, one is a tough guy, and one is a soft dog. So the soft dog is the Achilles' heel, and he wants to turn the soft dog into a gluttonous cat!

It was already dark when he left the imperial prison; in winter, darkness always comes early. Wang Zhen changed into civilian clothes and rode off to the Grand Secretary's residence to report on the day's interrogation results.

As soon as Wang Zhen arrived, he was immediately invited to the study, where a small lamp burned quietly, and candle wax dripped continuously.

Liu Zhengxin asked first, "How did the interrogation go?"

Wang Zhen shook his head. "Two of the three are stubborn and refuse to make accusations. However, we can start with the servant. Today I gave him a formal official document, and judging from his expression, he seemed to be wavering."

Liu Zhengxin said, "A servant is still a servant. He will betray you if you give him a taste of sweetness. Go and persuade him again tomorrow. Make sure he accuses his accomplices. As long as it is confirmed that the seditious book came from the Liu residence, then Liu Shen will be hard to escape blame."

After he finished speaking, he took a book from the table and handed it to Wang Zhen, saying, "Take a look."

Wang Zhen opened the document and saw that it was a memorial submitted by Li Cai, the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate. The memorial stated that he had heard that the Embroidered Uniform Guard had arrested suspects involved in the seditious book case. In order to solve the case as soon as possible, he hoped that the three judicial departments could jointly try the suspects, clear the names of the officials involved, and punish the mastermind behind the case.

Closing the book, Wang Zhen frowned and said, "They're quite quick. The prisoner hasn't even confessed yet, but they're already trying to force me to hand him over."

"A cornered dog will jump over the wall. Now that he's in the hands of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, they're naturally anxious. Liu Shen has many cronies, and this is just the first one. I'm afraid the cabinet's desk will be piled high with memorials from the Censorate tomorrow."

"Would the Emperor allow a joint trial by the three judicial departments?"

"Yes," Liu Zhengxin affirmed. "His Majesty is interested in this case and is also afraid that we might fabricate evidence, so a joint trial by the three judicial departments is inevitable. Tomorrow I will continue to interrogate Guo Zheng's family to confuse the issue and buy you time. You should focus on doing your job well."

Seeing that Wang Zhen's face was pale, Liu Zhengxin patted him on the shoulder to comfort him, "Don't be afraid. As long as we prove the charges, a joint trial by the three judicial departments may not be a bad thing. I promoted you myself, so you can't back down at this critical moment."

Stepping out of the Liu residence, Wang Zhen pulled his cloak tighter around himself, mounted his tall horse, and his figure gradually disappeared into the wind and snow.

As the snow fell heavily, the winter plum blossoms were still in bud. Shen Yao stepped out of her room and picked a few plum blossoms from the courtyard.

All day long, Wei Luo either read books or stared blankly at the plum blossoms, so Shen Yao simply cut off the branches and took them back to the house so that Wei Luo could look at them carefully.

"Your Highness, do you like it?" Shen Yao asked with a smile as she fiddled with the plum blossoms.

Wei Luo was so angry that she almost had a heart attack after her beloved plum blossoms were broken. "Who told you to break the flowers?"

"Don't you like it? I saw you looking at it all the time, so I simply broke it off and put it in a vase. You can still smell the plum blossoms."

"So you did this to please me?" Wei Luo almost laughed out of anger.

Shen Yao suddenly hummed in agreement, though her breath was a little weak. Wei Luo seemed angry; a few plum blossoms could make him angry. Shen Yao frowned slightly, somewhat incredulous.

Wei Luo slammed the book down and got out of bed.

Shen Yao was startled and quickly turned around to look at him. She saw him frowning and slowly approaching her. Suddenly, her heart started beating faster and her usually calm face showed signs of nervousness.

"Is he going to hit me?" Shen Yao released the plum blossom and was stunned for a moment.

"Weren't we going to put it in a vase? Why aren't you doing it?" He picked up a plum blossom, put it to his nose to smell it, and then carefully examined it.

Shen Yao stammered, staring at him, unable to say a word.

"Come here, I'll teach you flower arranging."

Shen Yao: "..."

"Just put it in."

"When arranging plum blossoms, you need to pay attention to the shape. Do you think it looks good if you just put it in like this?"

"It's alright!" she continued stubbornly.

"Come here, I don't want to say it a second time."

Shen Yao slowly moved over.

Wei Luo picked up the scissors, cut off a small section of the bent branch, and said, "Look at the whole plum blossom. After cutting off the excess parts, doesn't it look particularly harmonious now?"

He picked up another branch and continued to demonstrate to Shen Yao how to prune the branches. After all the plum blossom branches had been pruned, he slowly placed them into the vase and adjusted their orientation.

"It looks so good!" Shen Yao praised sincerely.

Looking up, she saw Wei Luo staring intently at her, and he asked softly, "So it's really just to please me?"