Chapter 207 Investigation
Wei Zikai felt a chill run down his spine, and a layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on his back, but he maintained his blank and submissive expression.
Pei Yan stared at him for a long time before finally letting out a cold snort from his nose, the meaning of which was unclear.
Did he believe Wei Zikai didn't hear it?
Nobody would believe that!
The whole city was in an uproar. Even the palace eunuchs were whispering among themselves, wondering how a fifth-rank official in the capital, who was also a general in charge of part of the city's defenses, could be completely unaware of the situation.
He's just a slippery guy!
Compared to Xie Zhenting's straightforwardness, Wei Zikai's slickness made him feel uneasy, and... it made him feel a sense of sorrow that there was no one he could rely on!
His close advisors were either sick or on leave, leaving only Desheng. Although he was useful, he was ultimately a eunuch. A few days ago, Desheng was not by his side, and he was not used to it. After a thorough examination by the imperial physician, he was brought back to serve the emperor.
The rest are just mediocre people who are utterly useless.
Although Wei Zikai was incompetent and had wicked intentions, at least he was obedient and did have some ability.
"snort!"
Pei Yan withdrew his gaze, waving his hand irritably, seemingly too lazy to expose Wei Zikai's clumsy pretense: "Ignorant commoner! Spreading rumors and misleading the public! How dare you speak ill of the emperor! Saying that... his virtue is not worthy of his position, causing heaven to send down a plague! Absurd! Utterly absurd!"
The phrase "unworthy of his position" struck like a thunderbolt!
Thump!
Wei Zikai reacted with lightning speed. The instant Pei Yan finished speaking, he knelt heavily on both knees and slammed his forehead against the floor tiles!
"Your Majesty, please calm down! Your Majesty, please calm down!"
He raised his head, his face displaying just the right amount of shock and anger. "Which damned bastard dares to be so rebellious?! His Majesty is diligent in governing and loves his people, working tirelessly day and night; he is a wise ruler for all ages! These rumors must have been maliciously spread by those with ulterior motives, intending to disrupt the capital and shake the foundations of the nation! Their intentions are despicable! Their crimes deserve the extermination of their entire clan, Your Majesty!"
His flattery was loud and urgent, full of theatrics, but it was like a refreshing rain to soothe Pei Yan's mind at that moment.
In particular, the phrase "a person with ulterior motives" precisely struck at Pei Yan's deepest fear—yes! There must be someone! Someone is plotting behind the scenes!
Is it Xie Sangning?
Or are those officials who were blocked harboring resentment?
Pei Yan's expression softened slightly; although it remained gloomy, the ferocity in his eyes lessened a bit.
What he needs is this kind of clear and unequivocal declaration of loyalty!
"Get up." Pei Yan's voice was still cold, but less murderous. "I summoned you here today to have you investigate!"
He stared at Wei Zikai. "Investigate thoroughly! Where did these treasonous rumors originate? Who is the source? Who is fanning the flames behind the scenes? Which treacherous officials are pushing this along? Don't let a single one of them get away with it!"
He slammed his fist on the imperial desk, making the pen holder tremble: "I don't care what methods you use! Arrest them! Arrest them for me! Better to arrest a thousand innocent people than let one guilty person go free! After they're caught, torture them severely! Pry their mouths open! I want to see who dares to stir up trouble and spread rumors right under my nose!"
"Find out! I will exterminate his entire family! I will have him torn to pieces! I will..."
Pei Yan's voice trembled slightly with extreme anger, "...Hang his head on the gate of Jinling! Let the whole world see what happens when someone slanders the emperor!"
A surge of ecstasy instantly rushed to Wei Zikai's head!
An opportunity! A tremendous opportunity!
He forcibly suppressed the grin that almost reached his ears, and kowtowed again heavily, his voice filled with a resolute determination to go through fire and water:
"Your Majesty, I obey! Rest assured, Your Majesty! I will do everything in my power, digging three feet into the ground, to find the source of this wicked talk! I will bring these villains who are causing chaos to the people to justice! To set an example and deter others! I will go and do it now!"
He practically shouted it out, as if afraid the emperor wouldn't see his loyalty and drive.
When Wei Zikai came out of the Imperial Study, he was carrying something wrapped in gold cloth.
That was the imperial sword bestowed by the emperor!
Wei Zikai practically flew out of the palace.
Soon, Wei Zikai's spirited and imperious shouts could be heard:
"Prepare the horses! Gather the personal guards! Follow me to the Five Cities Garrison! Also, investigate for me! In the last three days, in every teahouse, tavern, brothel, storytelling and singing place in the capital, and every gathering place of beggars and vagrants! Arrest every single one of those who are gossiping! I will interrogate them personally!"
The sky over Nanjing was so gloomy it looked as if it had been soaked in ink, making it hard to breathe.
The lockdown is suffocating.
Wei Zikai's work was not going very smoothly.
He carried the emperor's decree and arrested and tortured people like a mad dog. In the imperial prison, he used every torture he could think of on those who were arrested as "gossips".
Whipping, clamping, branding irons, water torture...
The piercing screams echoed day and night in the imperial prison.
However, no matter how he tortured him, the answers he received were surprisingly consistent:
"Sir...please spare me! I only heard it from someone else..."
"Under the locust tree in the west of the city... listen to a peddler who travels the streets and alleys..."
"A peddler? Which peddler? What does he look like?"
"It's...it's too dark...I couldn't see clearly..."
"I heard it from a customer wearing a straw hat at the teahouse... He left a long time ago!"
"I don't know who said it first... it's being spread all over the streets..."
Clues are like slippery eels, always breaking at the most crucial point.
He always catches the lowest-level, most peripheral disseminators, and can never find the hand that initially stirred up that trend!
Those who were tortured to the point of near death had nothing but fear and confusion in their eyes; they truly knew nothing!
As time went by, Wei Zikai's irritability grew day by day.
The deadline given by the emperor was getting closer and closer, and he not only failed to find the so-called mastermind, but also couldn't find a decent source!
The mountain of testimonies was all worthless nonsense!
What made him even more anxious was the marriage he had been dreaming of!
If he could just complete this task, he could rightfully marry Xie Sangning and make her his strongest asset in the court!
The frustration nearly drove him crazy.
After returning to his residence, Wei Zikai went to Xie Wuyou's room again.
He kicked open the dilapidated door, letting in a chill that caused the candlelight inside to flicker wildly, stretching Wei Zikai's distorted shadow on the wall into a hideous demon.
Xie Wuyou remained curled up on the cold, hard bed. She was startled by the loud sound of the door being kicked open and struggled to open her heavy eyelids.
"You bitch!"
His hand slammed down hard!
Xie Wuyou's head was violently swayed from side to side as he was hit, his hair sticking to his rapidly swollen cheeks, and blood gushed from his mouth and nose.
The excruciating pain spread throughout her body like an electric shock, but she gritted her teeth and didn't utter a single cry.
Wei Zikai seemed to want to vent all his pent-up frustration, even though this matter had nothing to do with Xie Wuyou.
Xie Wuyou was already used to it. She lay quietly on the bed, without even moving, her eyes lifeless.
This deathly silence enraged him more than any cry or shout; he had not received the response he wanted.
"Playing dead?!" He grabbed Xie Wuyou by the collar, roughly lifting her upper body and forcing her to look at his contorted face. "You're quite pleased with yourself for seeing me like this, aren't you? Hmm? Are you all waiting to see me make a fool of myself?!"
Xie Wuyou was being strangled so badly that he had difficulty breathing and his vision was blurring.
She managed to tug at her cracked, bleeding lips:
"Ha... General Wei couldn't find anything... so he came here to vent his anger. What a coward..."
Upon hearing this, Wei Zikai thought he had misheard and subconsciously loosened his grip.
"I, Xie Wuyou, was truly blind to have fallen for a brute like you who only has strength and no brains!"
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