Chapter 332: Whose Person

Knock, knock, knock.

Lin Chaoqing knocked on the iron door of the Imperial Prison. The Imperial Guards, their hands tied behind their backs with ropes, stood outside the iron door, escorted by the Xuanfan Guards.

A small window opened in the iron door. A jailer peered out from inside, ignoring Lin Chaoqing's python robe. "Your waist token," he demanded.

Lin Chaoqing took out his waist token from his robe and held it up to the small window. Only then did the jailer push open the iron door, and then knocked on the second iron door with varying rhythms.

Accompanied by a rumbling sound.

Lin Chaoqing walked down the dim stone steps, remarking casually, "It's rare for anyone else to come to this Imperial Prison even once in a lifetime, and when they do, it's for a lifetime! Young Officer Chen has only been back in the capital for a few days, and he's already here for the second time!" The long-unheard title, "Officer Chen," even made Chen Ji momentarily dazed.

A Xuanfan Guard behind him pushed him, "Keep up."

A chilling wind surged up from the passageway. Chen Ji followed Lin Chaoqing and said, "Lord Lin, I didn't want to come to this Imperial Prison either. I just happened to encounter these rebels and took them down. We were merely doing our duty. The Wang family is the primary culprit and should be executed!"

Lin Chaoqing didn't believe his nonsense. He expressionlessly instructed the jailers, "Keep them separated to prevent collusion! This involves treason. If you allow them a chance to collude, you will be guilty of the same crime! Furthermore, by Lord Wu Xiu's oral decree, no one is permitted to come to this Imperial Prison today except for my Xuanfan Guards, and no one is allowed to plead on their behalf!"

The jailers hastily and humbly replied, "As you command!"

Lin Chaoqing turned to look at the Imperial Guards and quipped, "These are all influential official and noble sons from the capital. Last time, they left the Imperial Prison with ease, but this time, it probably won't be so easy!"

Having said that, he raised a finger, pointing at Chen Ji and Wang Huan. "Take these two to the Pipa Hall. I will interrogate them personally!"

Seeing that Chen Ji was about to be taken for torture, Duo Bao, one of the Imperial Guards, angrily exclaimed, "We've already said that the rebellion has nothing to do with us! Why are you interrogating our people? The crossbow bolts aren't ours!"

Duo Bao twisted his body, trying to break free from the Xuanfan Guards' control, but it was futile.

Lin Chaoqing said with interest, "Then tell me whose crossbow bolts they are. If you can reveal whose crossbow bolts they are and provide concrete evidence, I can postpone your interrogation!"

The Imperial Guards exchanged glances; they didn't know whose crossbow bolts they were either. Lin Chaoqing waved his hand, "Take them away!"

The Xuanfan Guards pushed the struggling Imperial Guards one by one into the cells, then pushed Chen Ji and Wang Huan deeper into the Imperial Prison.

They walked all the way to the end, entering a spacious room. A strong smell of blood immediately assailed them, and even the cracks between the bricks on the floor were filled with dried bloodstains from years past.

As soon as they entered, they saw a wooden rack standing opposite, used for tying and securing prisoners.

Beside the rack was a brazier with several burning branding irons resting on it.

The walls of the Pipa Hall were covered with knives and torture instruments.

Lin Chaoqing pointed to the red-hot branding irons. "These are the famous 'Red Embroidered Shoes' of my Imperial Prison. We'll let the two of you try them out shortly!"

A Xuanfan Guard quietly asked, "Sir, whom shall we interrogate first?"

Lin Chaoqing's gaze lingered between Chen Ji and Wang Huan. Lowering his head, he noticed that the floor beneath Wang Huan's feet was already wet. "Interrogate this fat one first. Give him a pair of 'Red Embroidered Shoes'!"

Wang Huan instantly collapsed to the ground. "I'll tell you everything! Please, sirs, don't interrogate me. I'm just a small fry. I'll say whatever you ask!"

But Lin Chaoqing paid him no mind.

He walked to an octagonal table and sat down, gesturing to the chair opposite for Chen Ji. "Sit down!"

Chen Ji had his ropes untied. Rubbing his wrists, he sat down. "Lord Lin, the matter of treason has nothing to do with us. To be honest, we, the Imperial Guards, even have the merit of quelling the rebellion!"

Lin Chaoqing wasted no words. He picked up the white porcelain pot from the table and poured Chen Ji a cup of tea.

He slowly pushed the teacup towards Chen Ji. "Have some tea!"

Chen Ji picked up the teacup and turned his head to look, only to see Wang Huan stripped naked and hanging from the wooden rack.

The Xuanfan Guards asked nothing. They immediately applied two branding irons to the soles of his feet. So, that was the meaning of 'Red Embroidered Shoes'!

Wang Huan was screaming, "I confess! I'll confess everything..." Before he could finish, he fainted.

The Xuanfan Guard unhooked the long saber from his waist and hung it on the wall. He then turned, picked up a bucket of cold water, and splashed it onto Wang Huan's pale body.

Wang Huan woke up again, crying out, "I already said I'd confess!"

Lin Chaoqing ignored him, merely smiling as he asked, "Young Officer Chen, do you know why this place is called Pipa Hall?"

Chen Ji shook his head. "No idea!"

Lin Chaoqing pointed at Wang Huan and explained, "The prisoner is tied to the rack, exposing their ribs. Then, an iron hook is repeatedly scraped and plucked against the ribs. It's named because the action resembles playing a pipa. The tortured person's flesh and bones rot, and they can neither live nor die!"

Chen Ji calmly said, "It seems Wang Huan was already registered with the Directorate of Ceremonial, so you know his background without needing to interrogate him. Lord Lin, you've gone to great lengths to try and scare me, but do you really think I was involved in treason and want to pry information out of me?"

Lin Chaoqing poured himself a cup of tea. "I've dealt with you before; I know you're a difficult person who won't just surrender. So, it's only right to put in extra effort! No one who enters my Imperial Prison leaves unscathed. So, Young Officer Chen, you'd better give up hope early and just tell us everything!"

Chen Ji asked curiously, "The crossbow bolts?"

"Other matters!" Lin Chaoqing tapped his fingers on the table. "The archers might be from the Chen family, or the Wang family, or the Crown Prince, or Prince Fu, but they're dead, so there's no way to verify. We can only push the blame onto the Wang family and be done with it! So, let's talk about other things!"

Chen Ji calmly asked, "Since it's not about the crossbow bolts, then what do you want me to say, Lord Lin?"

Lin Chaoqing smiled faintly. "You previously risked your life for the Lunar Hare and Cloud Sheep, and last time, Golden Boar got you out. I imagine you know many secrets of the Twelve Zodiacs! Lord Wu Xiu has given an order: since your Imperial Guards have caused such an immense disaster this time, if you are willing to implicate one of the Zodiacs, he can step forward and guarantee your life!"

Chen Ji realized. No wonder the Xuanfan Guards were eager to handle this matter instead of the Five Cities' Military Command!

He asked doubtfully, "Only guarantee my life?"

At that moment, a Xuanfan Guard hurried in and handed over a folded sheet of official paper.

Lin Chaoqing glanced at it, then pushed it towards Chen Ji. "This was copied from the imperial presence. A court official has impeached the Imperial Guards overnight for armed brawling and unauthorized deployment of government troops. According to our Great Ning Law... get me the Great Ning Law!"

A Xuanfan Guard brought the Great Ning Law from the next room, found Volume 14, "Military Law," and the first article was "Unauthorized Deployment of Government Troops," punishable by one hundred strokes with a staff and three thousand li of exile!

Before he could speak, another Xuanfan Guard delivered a stack of Xuan paper. Lin Chaoqing unfolded one sheet and recited, "The Military Board's Langzhong has impeached the Imperial Guards for dereliction of duty and illegal possession of military weapons: one hundred strokes with a staff and three thousand li of exile!"

"The Ministry of Rites Vice-Minister has impeached the Imperial Guards for attempted rebellion – no need to consult the Great Ning Law for that, it's a death penalty..."

Lin Chaoqing hadn't finished reading the papers in his hand when more Xuan paper arrived from the Xuanfan Guards, all memorials copied from the imperial presence.

He slapped the thick stack of official papers against his hand. "Young Officer Chen, so many people have impeached you overnight. If it weren't past midnight, dozens of court officials would likely be waiting outside the Meridian Gate right now, ready to put you to death! Lord Wu Xiu guaranteeing your life is already very generous. Flogging and exile are unavoidable! But if you implicate any one of the Zodiacs, you can live!"

Chen Ji asked curiously, "Those two crossbow bolts, they weren't shot by your Xuanfan Guards, were they?"

Lin Chaoqing laughed. "My Xuanfan Guards aren't that bold! Young Officer Chen, that's just how the capital is. Normally, everyone diligently performs their duties, avoiding mistakes! But once something happens to someone, everyone mobilizes, thinking about what they can gain from the incident!"

Chen Ji shook his head. "Lord Lin, I have no intention of getting involved in the internal power struggle of the Directorate of Ceremonial!"

Lin Chaoqing stood up and gestured for the Xuanfan Guards to take Wang Huan down, making room for Chen Ji. "Since talking nicely is no use, then we'll have to resort to torture!"

The Xuanfan Guards tossed the limp Wang Huan aside and escorted Chen Ji towards the wooden rack.

Lin Chaoqing said calmly, "Young Officer Chen, perhaps you've just returned to the capital, so you don't understand the gravity of the situation. To make such a colossal mistake and still have the leisure to eat wontons... that might be the last time you ever eat wontons in your life..."

At this point, Lin Chaoqing felt something was amiss.

He lowered his head and thought for a moment. "Strange, you're not someone who doesn't understand the gravity of a situation, so why were you sitting casually by the roadside eating wontons?"

Lin Chaoqing felt Chen Ji wouldn't answer.

Lin Chaoqing turned to the Xuanfan Guards. "How many Imperial Guards were brought back?"

A Xuanfan Guard reported, "Forty-nine people were captured, and more than ten Imperial Guards under Chen Wenren are also among them!"

Lin Chaoqing held out his hand. "Where's the list?"

A Xuanfan Guard pulled out a piece of paper. "It's all recorded here!"

Lin Chaoqing looked at it for a moment, then frowned. "Where are Li Xuan and Qi Zhenzhuo?"

He abruptly turned to Chen Ji. "You led so many people through the streets, flaunting yourselves, just to divert my Xuanfan Guards and buy time for Li Xuan and Qi Zhenzhuo. But you were mistaken. The Qi family won't get involved in this matter. Up until now, not a single person from the Qi family has stepped forward to inquire about this!"

Chen Ji still did not answer.

Lin Chaoqing calmly said, "Begin the torture!"

The Xuanfan Guards tied Chen Ji's hands to the rack, stripped off his upper garment, and removed his boots.

Lin Chaoqing turned and walked to the brazier, placing the branding iron he had just used on Wang Huan back into the flames, waiting for it to glow red.

***

Baishun Alley, White Jade Garden.

Duke Qi sat in the pavilion, with five burly men from the Sanshan Society standing menacingly behind him.

On the opposite side of the table, Robe Brother and Er Dao ate ravenously, as if no one else was present. The roasted chicken on the table was reduced to bones, and only the skeleton and bones of the fish remained.

After waiting for a long time, a Sanshan Society man standing behind Duke Qi angrily said, "Are you finished eating yet?"

Robe Brother nonchalantly took a thin spring pancake, wrapped a few slices of roast duck in it, and stuffed it into his mouth. As he chewed, he scanned the leftovers on the table, completely disregarding Duke Qi and the Sanshan Society men opposite him.

Duke Qi stroked his beard, a hint of impatience in his voice. "Are you two reincarnated starving ghosts?"

Robe Brother casually wiped his mouth. "We've been waiting here for you all night, Duke Qi. The Sanshan Society is a large organization; surely us having a meal won't be an issue?"

Duke Qi frowned. "What exactly are you two here for? You're the one who wants to establish power, so why aren't you in Li Shamao Alley? What are you doing at my Sanshan Society?"

Robe Brother extended his hand. Er Dao immediately put down his chopsticks, took a brass tobacco pipe from his shoulder pouch, carefully packed it with tobacco, lit it, and handed it to Robe Brother.

Robe Brother took a deep puff, then contentedly exhaled a plume of grayish-white smoke.

Duke Qi fanned away the smoke in front of him. "Now all your people have been taken away by the Xuanfan Guards. Do you still have the appetite to eat?"

"That's the master's business; it has nothing to do with us two."

Robe Brother looked up at Duke Qi. "Duke Qi, we've driven away the Heji. Will all the protection money from the Eight Great Alleys now come to us?"

Duke Qi sneered, "Dream on! According to the agreement, you take Li Shamao Alley; the rest doesn't belong to you! Besides, even if the Sanshan Society agreed to give them to you, could you take them? The Heji's leader was only injured, not killed, and their backer is still there!"

Robe Brother raised an eyebrow.

Duke Qi looked at the leftovers on the table. "At this very moment, who knows how many factions are mixed in, all wanting to put the group behind you to death! If they were wiped out, the Wang family overthrown, and Furui Xiang forced out, then all the businesses that Heji and Furui Xiang have controlled for years would fall into other hands, bringing in tens of thousands of taels of silver annually!"

Duke Qi continued, "But the most important thing isn't the business; it's the plotting behind these people. Without a few deaths, it absolutely cannot be appeased! Young man, I advise you, while they haven't traced it back to you, to quickly flee for your life!"

Robe Brother took another deep drag from his pipe and said with a smile, "The Sanshan Society is incredibly resourceful. Can't you help my master?"

Duke Qi lowered his eyelids. "My Sanshan Society is no different from Heji or Furui Xiang. In this Jianghu, merely being able to protect oneself is good enough. We don't have the foundation to protect others. Don't think about saving your master, because no one will save you either!"

At this point, Duke Qi waved his hand behind him, and a Sanshan Society man handed him a string of Buddhist coins.

Duke Qi tossed it to Robe Brother. "This contains five hundred taels of silver. Go, take a boat with the Caobang. It's still not too late to leave now! This is the friendship of my Sanshan Society, our utmost benevolence!"

Robe Brother shook his head. "I can't leave!"

Duke Qi sighed lightly. "Once your master sells you out in the Imperial Prison, it'll be too late for you to leave even if you want to!"

Robe Brother casually put the string of Buddhist coins on his wrist. "He won't sell me out!"

Duke Qi looked up at him. "As far as I know... you two just met recently, didn't you?"

Robe Brother grinned. "That's why they say the Sanshan Society is incredibly resourceful; your old self even knows that! But this time, you guessed wrong. We've known each other for a long time!"

Duke Qi was startled. "What exactly are you doing here tonight?"

Robe Brother tapped his pipe against the sole of his shoe. "My master sent me to stay at the Sanshan Society to tell Duke Qi something: if he can emerge unscathed today, and Heji is uprooted, then the Eight Great Alleys and Liulichang, which Heji controls, will all belong to him from now on!"

Duke Qi asked suspiciously, "Where does your confidence come from?"

Robe Brother thought for a moment. "Before my master sent me, he said something. He said someone taught him that in this capital, rules don't matter, business doesn't matter; who you belong to is what matters most!"

Duke Qi narrowed his eyes. "Those crossbow bolts weren't shot by you, were they? If you really did it, you'd be trying to utterly destroy the Wang family!"

Robe Brother burst out laughing. "Duke Qi, don't wrongly accuse us. Who would dare bear the burden of a capital crime? Those two crossbow bolts have nothing to do with us!"

Duke Qi pondered for a moment. "Then I'll wait here with you and see if he can emerge unscathed!"

***

Inside the Pipa Hall, the bluish-black branding iron was slowly turning red.

Lin Chaoqing rolled up his right sleeve, personally picked up the branding iron, and slowly walked over to Chen Ji. "Young Officer Chen, have you made up your mind? Even if Golden Boar helped you, surely you can hand over Cloud Sheep and Lunar Hare?"

Chen Ji calmly said, "Handing over Lunar Hare and Cloud Sheep isn't difficult. The hard part is how to face the Grand Minister's retaliation!"

Lin Chaoqing grunted. "Then we'll have to use extreme measures! I know you're not someone who gives up easily, but it seems you've bet on the wrong horse this time. The person you're counting on won't be able to save you!"

With that, he raised his hand, intending to press the branding iron.

Just then, an urgent voice came from outside Pipa Hall: "Imperial decree!"

Lin Chaoqing's heart skipped a beat. He abruptly turned to look outside Pipa Hall.

In the dim passageway, a young eunuch rushed over, loudly repeating, "Hear the Emperor's oral decree! Imperial Guard Junior Flag Officer Chen Ji is summoned for an audience!"