Chapter 63 The endless night (2)
Only now did Xiao Lianzi realize the seriousness of the matter. If Zhao Zimu’s identity is exposed, even their Lord Qiansui would be implicated because everyone knows that she is one of Lin Qing’s people.
When he looked up at Jia Yi and Jia Er, he saw that their faces had long turned ashen because Zhao Zimu was one of their people to the public. Therefore, they understood the seriousness of this earlier than him.
The few people exchanged glance and waited silently for Lin Qing’s decision. The goodness of Qiansui’s wife was obvious to all. They believed that Lord Qiansui would definitely save madam. Having followed Lord Qiansui for so long, they knew that although Lord Qiansui was a bit cruel, but there was nothing he couldn’t do.
Lin Qing faintly stared at the ink on the note before he put it in his sleeve. His eyes flashed with a dim and unknown light.
Soon, Jia Yi and Jia Er left Qiansui’s residence and very quickly a few officials of the Ministry of Justice received something on the desk in their home. All of their faces turned pale.
The next day at the morning court, the supervising imperial censor submitted a request for emperor Jinghui to investigate this matter strictly. The rank of the supervising imperial censor was not high, but this was a very important position. Wearing the hat of a member of the imperial censor, he dared to investigate everything. The imperial censor used the pretext of speaking up for the justice of the commoners. Usually, they liked to grab onto the pigtail (fault/crime) of a king and wouldn’t let go. If they were right, their reputation would be even better. If they were wrong, they did it because they were worried about the state of the country. Who would have the nerve to blame them?
Today, they created a matter using the princess’s wedding day as an excuse. After all, it was only investigating strictly and wouldn’t touch the extremely sensitive nerve called the face of emperor Jinghui. So, they weren’t too concerned.
This matter was originally handed to the crown prince and the Ministry of Justice. It was also appropriate to give emperor Jinghui a detailed result. So, emperor Jinghui agreed.
This day, Situ Yaohua went to the prison of the Ministry of Justice to interrogate Zhao Zimu. As for what to interrogate was naturally up to him. For example, whether a certain Qiansui has any thoughts he shouldn’t have…
Although, the environment of the prison of the Ministry of Justice was very gloomy, but it was much cleaner and tidier than other prisons because most of the people imprisoned here were court officials. Even though these people had done things that had angered the emperor and the people, they were people with identity and background. Although, they had fallen in hard times, it was difficult to guarantee that some of them wouldn’t have the opportunity to go out again and return to office after living as a hermit on Mount Dongshan. Therefore, the prison guards didn’t dare to make things difficult for the people detained here because they might escape and ascend to heaven. By then, if they remembered this matter and come back to give them (the guards) a stab, they wouldn’t have a place to go cry to.
The cell where Zhao Zimu was detained was also tidy. There was a straw mat, a table, a chair, a cup and a kettle with water. Aside from these, there was nothing else.
Situ Yaohua and several officials of the Ministry of Justice stood outside of the cell door and looked at the person sitting quietly on the straw mat. She was leaning against the dark wall behind her. The expression on her face was very calm. There were no fluctuations on it. There wasn’t even a trace of wrinkle on her clothes. It looked as if she hasn’t moved ever since she came here.
He ordered someone to move a chair, sat down and then coughed to get the attention of the person inside the cell.
Zhao Zimu slowly opened her eyes. Then, she calmly stood up from the straw mat. After curtsying to Situ Yaohua, she moved a chair and sat opposite of Situ Yaohua. She watched him quietly with her dark eyes.
“You are not afraid?” Situ Yaohua asked with interest.
“If I say that I am very afraid, would you let me go?” Zhao Zimu asked.
Situ Yaohua paused for a moment and then smiled, “Of course not.”
Zhao Zimu nodded in understanding and said, “You talk a lot.”
Situ Yaohua choked and then looked carefully at the expression of the person in front of him. Although, his (ZZ) face was expressionless, but it could be seen that there was indeed a trace of impatience in his eyes. This made Situ Yaohua a bit dejected. Who didn’t want to speak a few more words with him and eager to get in his favor? However, the person in front of him dismissed him. He wondered whether he was pretending.
Situ Yaohua said, “Do you know who I am?”
Zhao Zimu shook her head decisively. Although, the expression on her face was very affirmative, but Situ Yaohua would be a fool if he believed that. This person was really not cooperative at all.
Situ Yaohua simply said, “I am this dynasty’s crown prince. Emperor father ordered me to be responsible for your hearing. Own up to the facts. When did you became acquainted with Ningan? What is your purpose for approaching her? What is your relationship with her? Why did she say those things to you that day? You have to own up to the facts and is not allowed to tell lies!”
Zhao Zimu frowned slightly and said, “Your Highness the crown prince, counting yesterday, I and her met three times in total. The first time was at Fengya Pavilion. She broke into my room by mistake and cried bafflingly in front of me. So, I who had something to do, had to painstakingly console this baffling little girl and had wasted a lot of my time. The second time, she was almost humiliated by people. I was kind and saved her. In the end, I was almost chopped by her big brother. Fortunately, I was able to escape, but he still obsessively sent someone to follow me for a long time. The third time was that I was very unfortunate to be brought here by her actions, arrested by her father and have such a secret and unfriendly meeting with you. In fact, I am just an unlucky person.”
Zhao Zimu watched him and spoke all of that in one breath. Then, she didn’t spoke more. She poured a cup of water on the table at a side, frowned and drank it. Then, she said, “Your Highness the crown prince, I have told you everything you want to know. What I don’t know, you won’t be able to ask. If you are interested, you might as well catch up with the Xiongnu envoys and ask the princess in person and while you are at it, also ask for this subject whether she wants me dead.”
Zhao Zimu’s current identity is a member of the Prefecture of Arrest, so, she must use this subject to address herself. Also, there was fury in her heart. This person still came to interrogate her in the middle of the night. If she didn’t use him as a pastime, she would feel very apologetic to herself. She was truly very lonely and bored in this endless night!
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👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 666 so straightforward. I approve.