Minister of Justice Xiong felt like he had definitely crossed paths with misfortune these past two days. Early in the morning, his household reported that the State Preceptor had gone to the imperial prison.
Twice in one day was the State Preceptor treating the imperial prison like a dining hall?
Before he could even complain, he hurriedly boarded his carriage and rushed to the prison, only to learn that last night, Junior Minister Wen had just been released by the State Preceptor, only to be arrested again by the General.
Two high-ranking officials who usually never interacted were now both gathered at this prison, and of all people, it was for Wen Ning! Minister Xiong gritted his teeth in frustration. “I must have offended the stars this year!”
“My Lord, keep your voice down. The State Preceptor has already gone inside,” his advisor quickly reminded him.
Minister Xiong nervously glanced around, afraid someone might overhear and report him to the State Preceptor for being disrespectful or neglecting his duties that would be disastrous.
The prison warden and guards stood solemnly outside, not daring to greet Minister Xiong loudly when he arrived, dusty from the road. Peering inside, he pointed wordlessly, mouth agape.
The warden nodded and whispered, “The State Preceptor is inside.”
Minister Xiong straightened his court robes and glanced at his advisor, who gave an approving nod at his tidy appearance. Taking a deep breath, Minister Xiong forced a relaxed demeanor and stepped inside.
The State Preceptor stood outside the cell, hands clasped behind his back, gazing coldly at Wen Ning, who sat cross-legged on a mat beneath the window, her cheeks propped on her hands as she dozed. He made no move to disturb her.
Minister Xiong was startled upon entering, the State Preceptor looked like nothing more than a guard waiting for his master to wake, standing motionless, not even blinking as he watched over her sleep.
Yet his imposing purple court robes, embroidered with the royal serpent motif reserved only for the imperial family, exuded an aura of nobility and authority that starkly contrasted with the scene before him.
Minister Xiong tiptoed forward. The State Preceptor snapped out of his thoughts, and Minister Xiong immediately moved to bow, but the State Preceptor raised a hand, his gaze flickering toward the cell.
Minister Xiong promptly shut his mouth and stood anxiously to the side, not daring to speak.
Wen Ning’s hands slipped from her cheeks, and she nearly toppled forward before jerking awake and steadying herself against the bed.
Minister Xiong’s lips twitched with the urge to laugh, but the sight of the State Preceptor’s stern back quickly stifled it.
Wen Ning wiped the drool from her mouth, only to freeze when she felt an icy gaze upon her. Looking up, she shuddered in fright.
Then, excitedly, she scrambled off the bed. “State Preceptor! You’ve come to save me!”
Clang!
Her legs, numb from sitting cross-legged all night, refused to cooperate, and she crashed to her knees. Clutching the bed, she knelt pitifully on one leg, looking up at the State Preceptor, whose expression remained utterly unmoved.
Minister Xiong was baffled, watching the State Preceptor nervously. The State Preceptor turned and walked out. “Bring her. I have questions for her.”
Minister Xiong blinked, then quickly snapped to attention and followed.
Wen Ning was confused. Questions? What questions?
Two guards very kindly helped her out, moving at her pace as if afraid she might fall. After all, this was someone the State Preceptor had rescued just the day before and had now come to see again. They wouldn’t dare offend her.
Her knees still ached, making it hard to stand. She grinned ingratiatingly at the State Preceptor, who sat in a chair nearby. “Can I have a seat too?”
The State Preceptor studied her sternly, his gaze lingering on the scabbed wound on her forehead. His heart softened slightly, and he raised a hand.
The jailer quickly brought a stool and helped her sit down. The two faced each other, while Minister Xiong stood uneasily beside the State Preceptor. Wen Ningwan cautiously stretched out her legs, bending over to gently rub her knees, wincing in pain.
She leaned slightly closer to the State Preceptor, who looked at the scabbed wound and parted his lips slightly.
The dungeon was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Wen Ningwan carefully rolled up her pant legs, pouting at the sight of her bruised and scraped knees, feeling the pain intensify.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked up at the State Preceptor. He glanced at her knees, swollen and purple like overripe grapes, then met her innocent gaze.
Her lashes, delicate as duck feathers, framed teary black eyes, the corners reddened as if she were about to burst into tears utterly pitiful.
The State Preceptor immediately averted his gaze. Beside him, Minister Xiong frowned at the bruised knees and the innocent face before him, unable to hold back: “State Preceptor, should we summon the imperial physician?”
The State Preceptor glanced at Wen Ningwan but didn’t answer. Instead, his voice was cold as he asked, “Assistant Minister Wen, the Grand General has accused you of harassing his daughter. Is this true?”
“Absolutely not!” Wen Ningwan shook her head urgently, explaining in a fluster, “I happened upon her carriage by the roadside. She invited me aboard, saying she could give me a ride, so I got in. Then I saw how beautiful she was!”
She nodded emphatically at the State Preceptor, as if to stress her point: “Truly stunning! So I complimented her and asked her not to call me ‘Assistant Minister Wen’ but ‘Wanwan’ instead. I called her ‘Ranran’, it felt more intimate.”
Completely oblivious to the State Preceptor’s increasingly frosty expression, she continued with a resentful pout, “I really liked her. Seeing her shy demeanor was so adorable, I just wanted to admire her properly. But then she knocked me out, and…”
She spread her hands, glancing around. “And then I ended up here.”
“Outrageous!” Minister Xiong bellowed in fury.
“Exactly! I only looked at her a little! And she was the one who invited me into the carriage, yet—”
“I meant you!” Minister Xiong pointed angrily at Wen Ningwan, forgetting for a moment that the State Preceptor was seated beside him. “On your first meeting, you asked her to call you and even told her to address you like that! If that’s not harassment, what is?!”
“Huh?” Wen Ningwan looked genuinely surprised. She had only thought the girl was exceptionally pretty and sweet, wanting to befriend her nothing more.
The State Preceptor suddenly stood, dusting off his sleeves impatiently. Minister Xiong froze, then quickly stepped back and bowed. “My apologies, State Preceptor. This official spoke out of turn in the heat of the moment.”
“You are not at fault. Such behavior, coupled with a refusal to admit guilt, is utterly repulsive.” The State Preceptor’s icy gaze fell on the stunned Wen Ningwan.
“The evidence is irrefutable, yet you persist in denial with a deplorable attitude. Take her away, forty strikes of the rod before further judgment.”
“No!” Wen Ningwan shook her head frantically, like a rattle drum, but the State Preceptor turned his back, ignoring her.
The jailers roughly pinned her onto a long bench, while two others brought down the paddles without mercy.
“Ow!”
Caught completely off guard, Wen Ningwan shrieked in pain. Minister Xiong was startled, he hadn’t expected her to be so sensitive to punishment.
“Ow!” She yelped with every strike, her face already pale after just two hits.
Trembling, she hastily begged for mercy: “State Preceptor, State Preceptor! I admit my fault, ow! I was wrong! Ow!”
“Stop!” The State Preceptor immediately turned around, her brows slightly furrowed as her cool gaze fixed on the two executioners. “Didn’t you hear that she’s admitted her mistake?”
Minister Xiong, intimidated by the displeased State Preceptor, stood frozen, unsure whether he should plead for mercy on their behalf.
“F-Forgive us, State Preceptor!” The two jailers, terrified, immediately dropped their paddles and knelt down.
Wen Ningwan’s forehead was drenched in cold sweat, her face pale as she lay sprawled on the bench. She looked up pitifully at the State Preceptor and whimpered, “I know I was wrong. I won’t ever look at pretty girls again, won’t compliment them, and won’t try to befriend them. I’ll only look at you, State Preceptor.”
“What nonsense are you spouting now?” The State Preceptor’s tone softened considerably, though it wasn’t exactly scolding.
Wen Ningwan immediately clamped her mouth shut. The more she spoke now, the more mistakes she’d make. She watched the State Preceptor nervously, struggling awkwardly to get up.
Minister Xiong glanced at the State Preceptor and quickly stepped forward to help Wen Ningwan to her feet. Wen Ningwan winced as she rubbed her sore backside.
“Now, the Grand General intends to punish you. If you prove useless, you’ll have no choice but to accept your sentence.”
Wen Ningwan froze for a moment before nodding hastily. “I have crucial information about the Prince of Yan.”
The State Preceptor’s expression eased slightly, her thin lips pressing together as she nodded and turned away. “Summon the imperial physician to treat Magistrate Wen’s injuries. Ensure no scars remain.”
Minister Xiong was momentarily stunned but quickly bowed in response. “Understood.”
Then, with a probing gaze, he watched as Wen Ningwan gingerly sat down, holding her thighs. Minister Xiong was certain, this person’s identity was anything but simple!