Chapter 55
Inciting Defection
Cui Zhufeng was momentarily left speechless. After a brief pause, he leaped into the raging fire. In the blink of an eye, he emerged carrying two relatively intact corpses.
He placed the two bodies on the ground, his expression extremely grim. Truth be told, he was at a loss on how to proceed. While he often encountered minor misfortunes in daily life, facing such intense malice was rare for him. Now, he could only watch and see how Lord Ying would handle the situation.
Just then, Yi Shiyi, who had gone back to report, finally returned, bringing a large contingent of personnel. Seeing the thick smoke rising from afar as he approached with his men had nearly scared him to death; he thought something had happened to Lord Ying the moment she was left alone. A sigh of relief escaped him upon finding Lord Ying unharmed. However, his brow furrowed when his gaze fell upon the two corpses laid out on the ground. Each body had only a single fatal wound, either to the throat or the heart – a typical method of silencing witnesses. What trouble had Lord Ying encountered now?
Facing their concern, Ying Jiique paused. She wasn’t particularly skilled at examining corpses; such tasks were best left to professionals, like Chunyu Shuang.
“Shiyi, I have a task for you. Go to the Capital Prefecture and report the crime.”
Yi Shiyi scanned the surroundings, deemed them relatively safe, especially since their personnel had now fully arrived. He promptly used his qinggong to head for the Capital Prefecture to file the report. Of course, he also simultaneously relayed the information to his superior.
Consequently, among the officials who arrived, Ying Jiique was surprised to see Chunyu Shuang’s figure. Wasn’t Chunyu Shuang a Clerk in the Ministry of Justice? While she would have liked his assistance, these two agencies didn’t typically mix; this criminal case had to be reported first to the Capital Prefecture. Only if the Ministry of Justice’s involvement became necessary later would the two departments collaborate. So why was Chunyu Shuang here?
This wasn’t their first time interacting. Meeting Ying Jiique’s puzzled look, Chunyu Shuang simply nodded. It wasn’t appropriate for him to announce in public that the Emperor had sent him, especially since His Majesty had also instructed secrecy.
The difference when a professional took charge was immediately apparent. The two corpses were quickly and properly secured. Chunyu Shuang conducted a preliminary examination on the spot, then approached Ying Jiique.
“Both died from a single, fatal strike. One wound is in the throat, the sword tip piercing clear through the neck. The other is in the heart… All I can say is, at the very least, they didn’t suffer much when they died.”
Ying Jiique nodded quietly. Did dying without much suffering make it acceptable? Of course, this had nothing to do with Chunyu Shuang, so Jiique didn’t voice her thoughts. Instead, she led him to the eerily silent surrounding residences.
When Chunyu Shuang saw the commoners who had died in such miserable states, his face paled instantly. Coupled with the burning estate and the constant stench of charred flesh wafting from it, it was hard not to conclude one thing.
“Silencing witnesses?”
“Correct.”
Jiique explained the situation regarding Cui Zhufeng. Chunyu Shuang’s expression turned grim. Though somewhat troubled, he stated, “I understand that the senior expert likely isn’t the perpetrator, but as the last person to have contact with these women, she will inevitably be summoned for questioning. It’s even possible…”
It was possible she would be framed as the mastermind.
Jiique was well aware of this. Senior Cui seemed dazed now, but given her martial arts skills, no one should be able to detain her if she didn’t wish it.
“I must enter the palace to see His Majesty.”
This matter had now escalated beyond the purview of a mere sixth-rank Patrol Censor like herself. The ability to track them here in an instant, silence the witnesses so efficiently without leaking any information… she found it hard to believe the Wuyou Cave gang was capable of this.
Furthermore, with the city-wide manhunt for Wuyou Cave members netting several minor leaders, those people would be lying low, not striking out suddenly at such a time. Therefore, this could only be the work of the true mastermind behind it all, cutting loose ends to save themselves.
Before entering the palace to see the Emperor, she had one thing to do first.
“Lord Chunyu, I wish to see that ‘Master Yi’.”
Chunyu Shuang nodded.
Strictly speaking, Ying Jiique’s rank and position didn’t grant her the authority to interrogate prisoners at the Ministry of Justice. But before coming, the Emperor had specifically instructed that Ying Jiique should receive full support in whatever she wanted to do. So this was a minor matter. After a few words of explanation to Cui Zhufeng, the latter, though naturally free-spirited, was generally willing to follow rules. At least for now, she agreed to accompany Jiique to the Ministry of Justice.
Upon arriving at the Ministry of Justice, they received an unexpectedly warm reception. The Vice Minister of Justice personally accompanied them, and without even questioning Cui Zhufeng’s presence beside Ying Jiique, he led the group deep into the dungeons.
That Master Yi was the most valuable prisoner captured so far, and thus couldn’t be interrogated lightly. Otherwise, Chunyu Shuang suspected his superior might even have Master Yi cleaned up, brought to a clean, tidy room, and then let Ying Jiique meet him.
Although the Emperor had given specific instructions beforehand, his superior’s obsequious demeanor was truly hard to watch. Having been in the Ministry of Justice for so many years, this was the first time he’d seen this notoriously stern superior act so enthusiastically. He wondered what exactly the Emperor had said to him…
“County Lady, that ‘Master Yi’ is just ahead. But please be careful. Although he is restrained, he is quite unruly. For several days in a row, he has refused to speak. Be wary of him lashing out violently.”
Hearing this, Ying Jiique showed no reaction. Jia Ershisan stealthily moved a step closer, staying tight by Ying Jiique’s side, fearing any harm might come to Lord Ying under his watch.
In the dim, cold, damp dungeon, the man tightly chained to the torture rack seemed to hear the commotion and lifted his eyes slightly. He appeared to have undergone severe torture, his body covered in bloodstains, and even the simple act of raising his eyes seemed arduous.
However, upon clearly seeing Ying Jiique standing at the entrance, the man, who had been as still as stagnant water, suddenly began to struggle violently!
“You… It’s you!”
Master Yi would never forget—just when he could have escaped to safety, it was this seemingly frail woman who single-handedly crushed his chance of freedom, leaving him trapped here like a dog, clinging miserably to life! He had dreamed of meeting Ying Jiique, of killing her with his own hands!
He never expected her to appear now. Master Yi let out a few cold laughs.
“I know why you’re here. I can tell you everything you want to know. But I have one condition. You must come closer yourself, and only then will I speak. Otherwise, you’ll get nothing.”
“Absolutely not!”
Jia Ershisan immediately objected. That man clearly had ill intentions. He couldn’t be trusted. Surely Lord Ying wouldn’t jeopardize her own safety just to investigate the case?
Ying Jiique’s response was to utter two sentences in an aloof tone.
“I was the one who destroyed your gathering cave.”
“You have already been abandoned. You are the next one to be silenced.”
