Chapter 66: Interrogation — Rumors Can Be Useful Sometimes
The jailer stepped forward to grab her arm.
Yihuan remained calm and said evenly, “I’ll walk on my own.”
Following the jailer through the dark and damp corridors, Yihuan could hear the muffled cries and pleas for help from the other cells. The eerie echoes sent a chill down her spine, but she kept her composure.
Finally, they reached a more open area. The first thing that came into view was a table covered with various torture implements.
Across the room were two racks, and on one of them hung a bloodied figure.
Yihuan’s heart sank. Before she could get a closer look, the icy voice of the Chief Magistrate of the Capital rang out:
“Well? Have you thought it through?”
The bloodied figure was dressed in tattered white robes, their body covered in whip marks, skin torn and flesh exposed.
Despite the pain, the figure moved their head slightly and rasped, “I’ve already told you… I am the ringleader. This has nothing to do with anyone else.”
Yihuan froze in shock. Pei Yin!
This was Pei Yin, the prodigy praised as a child genius, whose talents had caught the attention of prominent factions even before taking the imperial exam. He had been a rising star in the capital, admired by all.
But now, to see him like this—tortured, broken, and alone—was unimaginable. His impulsive participation in the protest had caused those who once sought to recruit him to distance themselves, unwilling to be implicated by his actions.
The Chief Magistrate seemed dissatisfied with Pei Yin’s answer.
“A gathering of over a hundred people, all instigated by you alone? Do you expect anyone to believe that?”
The implication was clear—he needed more than just one scapegoat to present a convincing case.
Pei Yin clenched his teeth, anxiety flickering in his mind. He had instructed the others to deny their involvement, to place all the blame on him alone. In his view, sacrificing himself to save the lives of the scholars was a fair trade.
But the Chief Magistrate was not so easily satisfied.
The day before, when Liu Hexiao delivered the detainees to him, the magistrate had been as frantic as an ant on a hot pan.
“That Liu Hexiao! Why would he dump this matter on me? This is the Ministry of Justice’s jurisdiction!”
The magistrate’s advisor, thought for a moment before replying, “Perhaps Lord Liu is giving you an opportunity.”
The magistrate frowned. “An opportunity? What kind of opportunity?”
The advisor explained, “If these offenders were handed over to the Ministry of Justice, they would likely blame the Chief Magistrate for failing to maintain order, which allowed the incident to occur. By giving you the responsibility, Lord Liu is letting you handle this matter within your jurisdiction, sparing you from the Ministry’s criticism.”
The Chief Magistrate considered this and found it somewhat plausible. Determined to make the most of the situation, he immediately began interrogating the detainees, hoping to piece together a coherent account of the protest to present to the emperor.
Perhaps, if he handled the matter well, the emperor would even reward him for his efficiency.
But after interrogating several scholars, none of them confessed. Only Pei Yin took full responsibility, offering himself as the sole culprit.
One person, however, was not enough. Even the Chief Magistrate, a relatively minor official, knew the emperor would not be so easily appeased. He had spent the entire night using torture to extract more confessions, but Pei Yin’s lips remained sealed.
Frustrated, the magistrate turned his attention to the detained women. Surely, someone among them would crack. Even if the testimony wasn’t entirely true, as long as it appeared convincing, it would suffice.
With this plan in mind, the Chief Magistrate slowly turned his gaze toward Yihuan.
She was watching Pei Yin with visible concern on her face.
Mistaking her worry for fear, the magistrate chuckled coldly. “Bring her forward.”
Yihuan was shoved to the front, now standing face-to-face with the Chief Magistrate.
He studied her intently. This young woman, with her fair skin and striking beauty, was captivating. He couldn’t believe such a hidden gem had been living quietly on Changming Street.
“I will ask you some questions, and you will answer truthfully,” he commanded.
Yihuan nodded obediently. “Yes, sir.”
The magistrate began, “Do you know who led the scholars in yesterday’s disturbance?”
Feigning thoughtfulness, Yihuan replied, “This humble woman does not know.”
The Chief Magistrate’s sharp eyes bore into her. “You’d best think carefully. If you don’t tell the truth, don’t blame me for being merciless.”
He hesitated briefly. A beauty like her—would it not be a shame to damage such perfection?
Yihuan met his gaze with a steady expression. “Are you implying you intend to coerce a confession through torture?”
The magistrate smirked, intrigued by her fearlessness. “Would you like to find out?”
Yihuan’s tone remained composed. “I wouldn’t dare offend you, sir. However… may I ask if your interrogation has been authorized by the emperor?”
The magistrate’s face stiffened. “Why does it matters to you?”
Yihuan now knew for certain that he was conducting these interrogations without imperial orders. She straightened her posture and said earnestly, “I only worry for you, sir. You could end up implicated unjustly.”
Suspicious, the magistrate snapped, “What do you mean? Don’t try to confuse me!”
Yihuan replied calmly, “You are wise, sir. How could a woman like me deceive you? But consider this—if the emperor hasn’t yet issued a decree and later decides he wants to question these people himself, what will you do if you’ve already beaten them to death? How will you answer to the emperor?”
The Chief Magistrate hesitated, uncertainty flickering across his face. “Why would the emperor want to question them?”
Yihuan’s heart pounded, but she maintained a confident facade. “If the emperor didn’t care, why would he send Lord Liu to capture them?”
The magistrate mulled this over. Liu Hexiao’s involvement as the emperor’s trusted aide did indeed suggest the matter held significance. If the emperor was paying close attention, it was possible he would want to personally address the offenders.
The magistrate didn’t believe the emperor would show mercy to the scholars. However, if he killed them prematurely and the emperor decided to use more extreme methods of punishment as a public warning, the blame could very well fall on him.
A chill ran down the Chief Magistrate’s spine.
The advisor, overhearing the conversation, whispered, “Sir, since we’re not getting any confessions at the moment, perhaps it’s best to keep them alive for now.”
Reluctantly, the magistrate nodded.
Turning back to Yihuan, his eyes lingered on her. This woman, unshaken by fear, was not only stunning but also clever… A dangerous combination.
He signaled for Pei Yin to be dragged away and then stepped closer to Yihuan.
“You truly are a beauty…” the magistrate muttered, his gaze sliding over her fair, porcelain-like skin with undisguised greed.
A shiver ran down Yihuan’s spine as she instinctively stepped back.
The magistrate smirked darkly and moved closer. “What’s wrong, little lady? Where did all your courage go?”
He leaned in, his voice low and oily. “Don’t be afraid…”
“This official is someone who cherishes beauty and knows how to treat it well,” the Chief Magistrate said, his voice dripping with mockery.
Yihuan’s face stiffened, her entire body tense.
Several jailers around them chuckled lecherously, their gazes filled with ill intentions.
The magistrate reached out to lift Yihuan’s chin, but she recoiled as though struck by lightning, stepping back quickly. Before she could escape, two jailers grabbed her and pinned her in place.
“Little beauty,” the Chief Magistrate sneered, his fleshy face oily and grotesque. “If you’re obedient, you might just suffer a little less. Hmm?”
Yihuan steadied her breath and retorted, her tone cold and sharp, “Do you know who I am? If you dare lay a hand on me, you may very well lose your position and your life!”
The Chief Magistrate froze for a moment before laughing boisterously. “Oh? And who might you be? Tell me then.”
Yihuan, forcing herself to remain calm, replied, “I am the owner of Shengjing Dessert Shop and the woman of the Prince Qi’s heir.”
The magistrate’s laughter halted abruptly, disbelief flickering in his eyes.
Even the advisor beside him frowned in confusion. However, one of the jailers stepped forward hesitantly. “Sir… I’ve heard that Shengjing Dessert Shop does belong to the Prince Qi’s heir. After his fallout with the Prince Qi, he stayed there for a while.”
The Chief Magistrate’s expression faltered slightly. For the first time, Yihuan felt grateful for the power of rumors—they did, at times, serve a purpose.
Seeing his hesitation, Yihuan pressed on. “If you doubt me, I can show you the token he gave me. Would you like to see it?”
The magistrate signaled for the jailers to release her. Yihuan pulled the jade whistle from her sleeve and held it out. “This is the token the heir gave me to symbolize our relationship. If you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to present it to him yourself for confirmation.”
The magistrate’s lips twitched. While Liu Hexiao’s official rank wasn’t particularly high, he was still the Prince Qi’s heir, now favored by the emperor. Within a month, he had been promoted twice.
Meanwhile, the magistrate himself had been stuck in his position for over a decade, with no prospects for advancement.
If he offended such a rising star, the consequences could be dire.
Unwillingly, the Chief Magistrate waved his hand and begrudgingly ordered Yihuan to be sent back to her cell.
However, her beauty lingered in his mind. Even her defiance, paired with her frightened resolve, made her all the more enticing.
Feeling indignant and unwilling to let the matter go, he called for his advisor. “Send someone to investigate. Find out if Liu Hexiao has truly taken her as his woman. If she’s lying…”
His eyes flashed dangerously, a predatory gleam in them. She won’t get away with it.
Meanwhile, the court remained embroiled in heated debate over the protests and the case of Grand Scholar Shi. With every detail tied together, the ministers couldn’t agree on how to proceed.
After the court session, Emperor Li Ze sat in his study, his expression dark and brooding.
Eunuch Yan stood nearby, clutching his duster with unease.
Ever since the emperor had promoted Liu Hexiao, the heir had taken great pains to curry favor. By presenting delicacies from across the empire and agreeing with the emperor’s every whim, Liu Hexiao had skillfully kept the emperor in high spirits.
But Eunuch Yan couldn’t help wondering—why had Liu Hexiao, once a carefree playboy, suddenly transformed into such a sycophantic courtier? Whatever the reason, he no longer bore the proud dignity of the Prince Qi’s lineage.
The one truly worthy of that legacy had perished long ago, defending the people when Binzhou fell to ruin.
Eunuch Yan sighed softly to himself.
“Why isn’t Liu Hexiao here yet?” Emperor Li Ze growled, impatience flashing across his face.
Eunuch Yan forced a smile. “Your Majesty, I’ve already sent someone to summon him. He should be arriving any moment now.”
Just then, a young eunuch entered, bowing low.
The eunuch glanced briefly at Eunuch Yan, shaking his head ever so slightly.
Lowering his voice, he reported, “Your Majesty… this servant went to Lord Liu’s new estate and even to the Prince Qi’s residence, but he was nowhere to be found…”
The emperor’s face darkened, his anger bubbling over. “You spent an entire hour searching and came back empty-handed? What use are you to me?”
The young eunuch trembled in terror, falling to his knees. “Your Majesty, forgive me! This servant truly does not know where Lord Liu is! I’ve scoured half of Shengjing and still couldn’t find him…”
Frustrated by the protests earlier in the day, the emperor had intended to consult Liu Hexiao about the matter. Hearing that he couldn’t be found only exacerbated his fury.
His gaze turned cold, a chill running through the room as he said lightly, “Since you can’t find him, there’s no need for you to have legs.”
The young eunuch’s blood ran cold. Before he could beg further, Eunuch Yan stepped forward. “Your Majesty, perhaps we should send someone else to continue searching…”
But the emperor ignored him. “Take him away. Break his legs.”
Eunuch Yan stiffened, his face paling.
The young eunuch wailed in terror. “Mercy, Your Majesty! Mercy!”
Eunuch Yan could only watch helplessly as his young apprentice was dragged out by the imperial guards. Moments later, a bloodcurdling scream echoed from the courtyard.
Eunuch Yan remained rooted in place, his eyes reddening as he fought back his emotions.
The emperor, however, appeared invigorated by the sound, his mood seemingly improved as he picked up a memorial to read with interest.
By evening, a messenger arrived urgently. “Your Majesty, there is an emergency report from outside the city!”
The emperor looked up from the memorial with irritation. “What is it?”
Eunuch Yan turned his gaze to the messenger, who appeared visibly shaken.
“Your Majesty,” the messenger began, his voice trembling, “our sentries have reported the appearance of a military camp just outside Shengjing. Upon investigation, it was found to consist of over fifty thousand soldiers!”
The emperor’s expression darkened, his voice sharp. “Whose army is this?”
The messenger hesitated before answering, “It appears to be… the forces of Qiannan’s Yang family.”
The Yang family from Qiannan.
The emperor’s worst fear had come to fruition. For years, he had suppressed the Yang family, fearing that they would join forces with sympathizers in the capital to overthrow him. He had severed the engagement between Yang Zhao and Liu Hening, then forced the Yang family back to their southern territories, allowing them to visit the capital only once a year for their official reports.
Now, they had brought an army to Shengjing without imperial permission.
The emperor slammed his hand on the table, his anger erupting. “Have they rebelled?!”
Furious, he continued, “How could an army of this size approach the capital unnoticed?”
The messenger stammered, “The report… it had already reached the Secretariat. Lord Liu… Lord Liu said the matter was grave and instructed everyone to remain silent while he reported it to Your Majesty personally…”
Each word seemed to deepen the emperor’s rage. By the time the messenger finished, the emperor hurled his teacup across the room, shouting, “Get out!”
The terrified messenger fled.
“Liu Hexiao!” the emperor spat through clenched teeth.
His fury reached its peak, and suddenly his vision went black. He swayed, then collapsed to the ground.
“Your Majesty!” Eunuch Yan cried out in alarm.
Rushing forward, Eunuch Yan checked for signs of breath. The emperor’s breathing was faint, his face pale, and blood trickled from the back of his head where it had struck the ground.
Pulling back his hand, Eunuch Yan’s expression turned grim.
