Su Cen stood facing a group of officials from the Ministry of Rites within the confines of the ministry’s halls. This standoff had even managed to draw the attention of He Zhongqing, the Vice Minister of Rites.
It is often said that those higher up have the power to oppress the lower ranks, and this was not even a situation of a great power oppressing a smaller one. Su Cen, a seventh-ranked official from the Dali Temple, had stormed into the Ministry of Rites, demanding the examination records from over a decade ago. Anyone witnessing this scene would likely think he had gone mad.
As the doors of the ministry closed, the two of them found themselves surrounded by ministry personnel. Xiao Sun, standing behind Su Cen, trembled uncontrollably. He couldn’t help but wonder if he had somehow chosen an inauspicious day to leave the house – how else could he have provoked this master? Yet, observing Su Cen’s fearless demeanor in the face of He Zhongqing, it was evident that Su Cen was resolved to stand his ground until the records were produced.
Finally, it was He Zhongqing who sighed first. “Master Su, logically speaking, when the Dali Temple investigates a case, we should provide assistance, especially when it’s backed by a royal decree. However, as one assesses others, you should also consider our situation. The Ministry of Rites is not idly occupied. The Double Ninth Festival is approaching, and His Majesty intends to bestow garments and go to the altar to pray blessings, which involves intricate rituals. The entire ministry is swamped, from top to bottom. Furthermore, this marks the fourth year of His Majesty’s reign, and both Prime Minister Liu and the Empress Dowager are attaching great importance to this. The Ministry of Rites is truly overwhelmed. If you can wait until after the ritual, we will certainly provide you with the records.”
Su Cen’s gaze turned icy. “I want it today.”
“Don’t push your luck!” A minor clerk behind He Zhongqing stepped forward.
He Zhongqing waved his hand to dismiss the clerk before continuing, “Putting aside the matter of the Double Ninth Festival, even as a newly acclaimed top scholar, you should be aware that the number of examinees over the years reaches tens of thousands. Not to mention, this individual you seek is not even among the successful candidates. It would take all of our efforts, even if we had a full day, to locate this specific record.”
Su Cen frowned. “Are you implying that there was no official documentation of his unusual death during the examination period?”
He Zhongqing responded, “He died of anxiety-induced sudden death due to being unable to answer the examination questions. What need is there for official records? Don’t even mention us; even the Ministry of Justice and the Jingzhao Yamen have no such records.”
“If there are no records, then investigate,” Su Cen’s voice grew stern. “Search among the candidates sent from various regions, examine the examination papers from that year. No matter what, I must see that person’s name today.”
He was curious to discover who dared to commit crimes under the guise of a vengeful spirit – just who was this “vengeful spirit”?
He Zhongqing sighed once more, his patience now fully expended. He waved his hand, “Escort him out.”
“Who dares to touch me!” Su Cen produced a jade and ink finger ring, gripping it tightly. “If I can’t close this case today, then I’ll take all the officials of the Ministry of Rites down with me! If Prince Ning’s token were to shatter on the floor of this ministry, can you imagine who the prince would hold accountable?!”
“You!” He Zhongqing was momentarily at a loss for words.
Just as the stalemate continued, the imposing doors of the Ministry of Rites were forcefully pushed open from outside. A figure emerged, walking in the sunlight. Towering at eight feet tall, an aura of solemnity radiated from him. His gaze, piercing and unfathomable, swept over the assembled officials, finally resting on He Zhongqing. “Do as he says.”
He Zhongqing fell silent immediately.
Though Qi Lin was merely a guard by Prince Ning’s side, everyone knew he hailed from the elite Tuo Duo San Wei, a Turkic warrior who killed without hesitation. He had wiped out the remnants of the Ashina clan, and once even frightened the young emperor to tears during a court session when he had accompanied Prince Ning to the capital. For that, he had been personally sentenced to fifty strokes of the cane by Prince Ning, only to rise unscathed and walk back to the Xingqing Palace. Since then, he had forsaken his Turkic appearance, exchanging his curved blade for a long sword. Yet, his fierce and dominant aura remained, evoking fear in those who beheld him.
This man was a blade without sentiment, knowing that more words would be in vain. He Zhongqing had no choice but to comply, “Understood.”
As he turned, a cold voice sounded from behind, “I want to see the list before the hour of Shen.”
He Zhongqing paused for a moment, sighed, then slowly walked away.
Having emerged from the Ministry of Rites, Su Cen breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a weight lifted.
Su Cen turned to Qi Lin and nodded in gratitude, “Thank you.”
Qi Lin nodded in return, his expression still cold, “Just following orders.”
Su Cen continued, “Has the person been brought here?”
Qi Lin replied, “As per your orders, he’s being held with Gao Miao.”
Su Cen nodded, “Let’s go, we should have a chat with that embroiderer.”
Dali Temple’s dungeons.
Within a cell, two figures were confined. One lay covered in blood stains, collapsed in a corner. Because of the summer heat, his wounds were already showing signs of infection. Even though his wounds had been hastily dressed, they still looked horrifying.
On the other side, a person with disheveled hair huddled, cautiously observing their surroundings.
After a while, Su Cen cleared his throat, and both figures looked up at him. One person’s gaze was filled with resentment, while the other person averted their eyes in nervousness.
Su Cen spoke, “Open the door.”
The jailer complied, and Su Cen walked straight to the embroiderer’s side, squatting down. He asked, “Do you remember me?”
The embroiderer cast a tremulous glance at him and then grinned, “Brother Top Scholar, I’m the Top Scholar’s wife.”
Su Cen smiled back and took a seat on the ground, saying, “No need to pretend. I know you’re not insane.”
The embroiderer blinked for a moment, then quickly picked up some grass from the ground and put it on her head, “Brother Top Scholar, please help me with my hair.”
Su Cen accepted the grass, playing with it in his hand, “You’re quite clever, but you made a poor choice entrusting yourself to the wrong person. You came back expecting a round of beatings and continuing your previous flesh trade. It’s better to feign madness and foolishness, wait until people let their guard down, and then plan your next move.”
“But you didn’t anticipate that Lu Liang would turn out to be such a petty person. Before leaving the capital, he was afraid you’d tarnish his reputation, so he thought about silencing you to eliminate any future problems. Fortunately, someone helped you kill him.”
After hearing this, the embroiderer recoiled, hugged her knees, and screamed in distress, “It was the vengeful spirit, the vengeful spirit killed him! It wasn’t me, it was the vengeful spirit!”
“I know you didn’t kill him,” Su Cen grabbed her arm, “but you’re the only one who has seen the killer!”
“Lu Liang intended to harm you, and he suddenly appeared, killing Lu Liang and saving you. You felt grateful to him. In order to not reveal him, you claimed it was the vengeful spirit who killed him!”
“I don’t know, it was the vengeful spirit who killed him…” The embroiderer covered her head with her arms, “I don’t know anything…”
Su Cen pulled her up and dragged her to Gao Miao’s side, “Look at him! He was just an aspiring scholar coming to the capital to take the imperial exams. His family has been butchers for generations. After years of hard studying, he only wished to pass the examination and become an official. But he was framed and beaten into a confession! Now you’re protecting the person responsible, and this innocent person is suffering in his place! If he dies, haunted by nightmares every night, will you be able to sleep peacefully?!”
The embroiderer raised her head and glanced at Gao Miao, his once round face now swollen and unrecognizable due to the beating. Then she lowered her head, silent.
Su Cen squatted down, gathering the embroidered strands of hair around her ears, revealing her still youthful face. He looked directly into her eyes and said, “I’m running out of time. After sunset, he will be taken to the Ministry of Justice’s dungeon. People in the capital are already in turmoil. Once he’s sent there, he’ll never come out alive. He’s in this situation today because of me. If he dies, I will join him. Together with the three other innocent scholars who’ve already died, that will make five lives lost. You are the only one who can save him now. I know you didn’t kill anyone. I have no right to keep you here. Tomorrow, after I’m relieved from my duty, someone will release you. I just want you to see that if he’s taken away by the Ministry of Justice’s officials, it’s you who have pushed him to the brink.” This chapter is updated first at novelping.com.
The embroiderer bit her lip, burying her head between her knees.
“Think it over,” Su Cen got up and left.
Back in the main hall, Wu Deshui’s colleagues and neighbors were still being interrogated, kneeling and trembling before the officials. None of them knew, or at least claimed not to know.
As noon approached, there was no progress to report.
The person being interrogated was none other than Hou Ping from that day. Seeing Su Cen approach, he couldn’t help but pause, then leaned in and said, “Sir, it’s me.”
Su Cen nodded. “I remember you.”
“Please release us, sir. We know nothing. Wu Deshui used to act like he’s above us and never associated with us. We really weren’t familiar with him.”
Su Cen took a seat in the hall and asked, “Do you remember any unusual behavior from Wu Deshui on April 8th?”
Hou Ping thought for a moment and replied, “There was nothing unusual, just like usual. He took the keys to the northwest gate after grabbing two barrels of wine.”
Su Cen stood up abruptly. “Wine? What wine?”
“Huh?” Hou Ping was taken aback. “Two big yellow jars, tightly sealed. I remember someone joking with him, ‘Old Wu, why not share this much wine with everyone?’ He even cursed, ‘A bunch of riffraff, go drink urine,’ and walked away with the wine.”
Su Cen recalled that Wu Deshui did have a few large wine jars at his house, but at the time, he was in a hurry and didn’t have time to observe them closely.
“Has Wu Deshui’s body been examined?” Su Cen asked.
One of the coroners on the side replied, “Yes, it has. His body was full of alcohol, and his organs were soaking in it.”
“He died from drinking?”
“Not exactly,” the coroner explained. “He died from choking. The alcohol rushed into his mouth and nose, blocking his airway. He was suffocated alive.”
“Are there any other injuries on the body?”
“There are finger marks on both sides of the lower jaw, two on the left and one on the right, but they weren’t fatal.”
Su Cen lowered his head in thought. Someone must have held down Wu Deshui’s jaw and forced him to drink that alcohol, causing him to choke and die.
Hou Ping smiled nervously, trying to appease, “Sir, I’ve told you everything I know. Could you possibly let me go now…”
“Continue the interrogation,” Su Cen instructed her subordinates. “Qi Lin, come with me to Guiyi Lane.”