Li Qingxian noticed Zhou Chunfeng glance at him and was instantly jolted to his senses. ’Could the Night Guard and the Internal Factory be working together to make arrests?’ Such a major operation wasn’t about catching one or two big fish; it was more like casting a net to haul in an entire school.
They had already tipped their hand, making secret arrests impossible for many targets. They probably had to act as quickly as possible.
Li Qingxian resisted the urge to look at Ge Dynasty, glancing at Zhou Chunfeng instead.
Zhou Chunfeng’s expression was serene.
As the meeting drew to a close, Li Qingxian heard a familiar voice.
"My lords, I have already submitted my report on the matter concerning the Imperial Prison Department and Li Qingxian. The Imperial Prison is a vital state institution with strict laws. Yet now, Li Qingxian flouts these laws, releasing prisoners wantonly, buying up lives in large quantities, and interfering in the Imperial Prison Department’s internal affairs. Once such a precedent is set, the future trouble will be endless."
Li Qingxian found that nearly everyone was looking at him.
The Disciplinary Hall fell silent.
"Li Qingxian, do you have anything to say?" Yuu Xianhe asked.
Li Qingxian remained seated and said, "Since Lord Yuu asks, I will speak plainly. Ge Dynasty, you claim I flout the law. Then let me ask you: does Lord Zhou Chunfeng, in his capacity as a Director of the Imperial Prison Department, have the authority to transfer a person out of their cell? I’ll answer for you: yes, he does. As for the release documents, they bear the Official Seals of three Directors. They released the man, yet you blame me. Why don’t you question them? Why question me?"
"The three lord Directors only did so because they were pressured by your waist token. This matter has nothing to do with them," Ge Dynasty said.
Li Qingxian sneered. "If it has nothing to do with them, then it must have something to do with you and me. Are you implying that you were the one who imprisoned the innocent Shenn Goudan?"
"Shenn Goudan’s imprisonment has nothing to do with me."
"Then what does his release have to do with you?" Li Qingxian retorted.
The crowd was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter.
Ge Dynasty said with calm composure, "Shenn Goudan has nothing to do with me, but as a clerk of the Imperial Prison Department, your every word and deed has something to do with me."
"Lord Ge, you’re truly an expert at being an official. When the Imperial Prison Department is cursed and scorned day in and day out, you do nothing. When innocent people are arrested, you do nothing. But when I, for the sake of the Emperor, the Imperial Prison Department, and the common people, defy pressure to release an innocent man and help restore the Department’s reputation, you become unhappy. Don’t tell me that in your eyes, the life of a commoner isn’t even worth one Wen?"
"The various courts of the Imperial Prison Department each have their own duties," Ge Dynasty said.
"Oh. So you’re saying that as long as an official of the Imperial Prison Department breaks the rules and isn’t found out, it’s not your responsibility? Fine. In that case, I hereby report Left Commander and Disciplinary Officer of the Imperial Prison Department, Zhangg Fugui, for breaking the rules. Lord Ge, please conduct a thorough investigation. If you can’t get to the bottom of it, what right do you have to say that my every word and deed concerns you?"
"I am a minor Junior Seventh-Grade official. I do not interfere with my superiors," Ge Dynasty said.
"Lord Zhou, Ge Dynasty is saying that you, who also serve as a Director of the Imperial Prison Department, are not his superior," Li Qingxian said.
Zhou Chunfeng turned to look at Ge Dynasty. "Lord Ge, is that what you mean?"
Ge Dynasty bowed slightly. "Lord Zhou, please do not misunderstand. This matter is directed only at Li Qingxian and has nothing to do with you, my lord."
Zhou Chunfeng spoke slowly and softly. "He was carrying my waist token. Everything he did was on my orders. What, do you think I, a Director, am not your superior?"
"Lord Zhou, you misunderstand. Everyone knows that you are benevolent and kind-hearted. You have the authority to decide on releasing prisoners and swapping their cells, but humiliating a Seventh-Grade prisoner and forcing him to sell his life could not possibly have been on your orders. Guards, bring in the prisoner Pang Mingjing!"
Following Ge Dynasty’s shout, the CLANGING and scraping of shackles dragging across the floor came from outside the Disciplinary Hall.
Li Qingxian narrowed his eyes slightly, looking toward the entrance.
Outside the door, illuminated by the morning light, Pang Mingjing walked to the threshold, fell to his knees with a THUD, and wailed, "I beg my former colleagues to seek justice for me, Pang Mingjing! This Li Qingxian is too much of a bully! Far too much! Waaaaah..."
With that, he wept openly before the assembly.
Many of the officials were moved. For a dignified Seventh-Grade Official to weep so openly in the hall, just how far had he been pushed?
Ge Dynasty said, "Take your time and tell us everything."
Pang Mingjing wiped his tears, raised a hand to point at Li Qingxian, and said hatefully, "I want to accuse Li Qingxian! First crime: bribing jailers, coercing prisoners, and buying up lives on a massive scale. He signed Life Contracts with seven people at once! How absurd is that? Second crime: using Fate Skills to bring disaster upon the Imperial Prison. Everyone knows how difficult it is to buy a life; even a Middle-Grade Fate Master can fail. How could he, by himself, buy the lives of seven people? He must harbor malicious intentions and be using these innocent prisoners for the Cultivation of some evil Fate Skill. Third crime: insubordination and using his public office for personal revenge. Even if I am under investigation, as long as the Imperial Court has not issued a final verdict, I am still an official appointed by the court. How dare Li Qingxian interrogate me day after day, forcing me to sell my life?"
All eyes turned to Li Qingxian. If he could use Zhou Chunfeng as a shield for the previous matter, it would be much harder this time.
Wei Yong’s faint smile vanished as quickly as it appeared. Ye Han’s eyes flickered.
Zhou Chunfeng said serenely, "I ordered Li Qingxian to investigate Pang Mingjing under the pretext of buying lives. Is there a problem?"
Hearing this, the officials from the Divine Capital Bureau lowered their heads to hide their smiles.
The rest of the assembly was dumbfounded.
’Pang Mingjing was convicted for trying to harm Li Qingxian, and then you, Zhou Chunfeng, send Li Qingxian to investigate Pang Mingjing? Is that something a human being would do?’
Kneeling outside, Pang Mingjing was caught in a dilemma, not knowing whether to cry or not.
Ge Dynasty had never imagined Zhou Chunfeng would protect his subordinate to such an extent. He took a deep breath and said, "Lord Zhou, I know you are kind-hearted and well-spoken, and that you are defending Li Qingxian so forcefully for Mr. Gangfeng’s sake. But this matter concerns the rules of the entire Imperial Prison Department. If the rules are broken and public anger is stoked, even you, my lord, will not be able to escape blame."
"You can report me, then." Zhou Chunfeng’s slightly hoarse, soft Jiangnan accent made his words sound even more nonchalant.
Ge Dynasty was speechless.
A sufficiently high rank can crush a man to death.
The officials from the Divine Capital Bureau bowed their heads even lower, afraid they would burst out laughing.
Most of the officials remained silent. Ge Dynasty had been utterly crushed by Li Qingxian and Zhou Chunfeng from start to finish.
Pang Mingjing shouted, "Is there no justice in the Daqi Night Guard? Are we just going to let Li Qingxian blot out the sky with one hand and ignore the law of the land! I beg you, my lords, to uphold justice! I beg you to uphold justice!"
Wei Yong turned his head, refusing to look at Pang Mingjing.
Ye Han clenched his fists, filled with righteous indignation.
Ge Dynasty let out a long sigh, swept his gaze across the hall, and said, "Everyone, you have all seen it. No one can witness what Li Qingxian has done and remain indifferent. I originally thought his tyranny was confined to the Imperial Prison Department, but I never expected he could blot out the sky with one hand even here, in the Disciplinary Hall, within the Night Guard! For this matter, I, Ge Dynasty, will see it through to the end, even if it costs me my Official Uniform! I refuse to believe that in this realm of Daqi, under the very eyes of the Emperor, there is no law!"
Wei Yong glanced at Li Qingxian, his lips moved, but after a moment of thought, he remained seated and still.
Ye Han’s blood boiled. He couldn’t help but cry out, "Well said, Lord Ge! In this day and age, is there truly no law?"
Many officials looked toward Ye Han. Some frowned, some nodded slightly, and others revealed faint smiles.
Li Qingxian was stunned for a moment before it dawned on him. ’Ge Dynasty is putting on quite the righteous act. On the surface, he came to condemn a crime, but in reality, he’s just slinging mud. No matter what happens, it looks like I’ve lost.’
Someone looked at Li Qingxian and shook their head slightly.
This time, it seemed even Zhou Chunfeng would be implicated.
"The law? We are here to enforce the law!"
A shrill voice pierced the air from outside the hall, followed by the sound of dense footsteps.
A Eunuch entered, clad in a Fourth-Grade brocade robe of bright red embroidered with leopards. He wore black Official Boots with white soles and gold patterns, and a black cape trailed behind him, embroidered with a pattern of white pythons.
The man’s face was dusted with a light layer of white powder. His almond-shaped eyes were wide, his gaze murderous, and he strode in through the main entrance with the eyes of a hawk and the gait of a tiger.
Li Qingxian stared, dumbfounded. ’Isn’t this Yan Shixiao, the one who calls Zhou Chunfeng "Brother Chunfeng" the moment he sees him? He seemed like such a cute, burly guy before. When did he suddenly become so manly?’
Trailing behind Yan Shixiao to his left and right were two squads of men.
One squad consisted of Eunuchs in red brocade robes, the other of Night Guards in blue brocade robes. All of them wore black capes.
Both squads advanced swiftly down the central aisle, hands on their sword hilts, their cold gazes sweeping across the hall as they moved to surround everyone present.
A cold wind blew through the Disciplinary Hall.
Everyone, whether sitting or standing, was frozen in place.
Some of the Low-Grade officials were so frightened their legs trembled and cold sweat beaded on their foreheads.
Yan Shixiao strode forward as if he hadn’t seen Li Qingxian or Zhou Chunfeng, his eyes scanning the officials on both sides.
Except for the High-Grade Officials, no one dared to meet his gaze, all of them lowering their heads in submission.
Yan Shixiao’s eyes glittered with a chilling light as he walked, seemingly glancing over everyone at random.
An unspeakable panic began to spread through the Disciplinary Hall.
The Internal Factory. They monitored all officials and were the Emperor’s trusted confidants.
The Night Guard handled cases both big and small, but when the Internal Factory mobilized, it was always for a major case.
When the Internal Factory handled a case, no one could interfere except the Emperor and the Cabinet—not even the Three Judicial Departments or the Night Guard.
The Disciplinary Hall was utterly silent, save for the sound of Yan Shixiao’s footsteps.
Yan Shixiao walked slowly. As he reached a blind spot behind Ge Dynasty, he suddenly flicked his hand, and twelve silver needles flew out silently, embedding themselves in Ge Dynasty’s body.
He vanished from his spot, reappearing behind Ge Dynasty in a flash, and struck several major acupoints on his body, completely immobilizing him.
"Take him away!"
Two Factory Guards rushed forward and hoisted Ge Dynasty onto their shoulders like a log.
Ge Dynasty’s face was slack with shock, unable to move a muscle because his acupoints had been sealed.
The officials in the Disciplinary Hall were flabbergasted. ’The imposing Ge Dynasty from just a moment ago... how was he suddenly arrested?’
Li Qingxian understood that his earlier guess had been correct. The sounds he’d heard must have been resistance during an arrest. The Internal Factory, fearing Ge Dynasty would get word and flee, had no choice but to come and arrest him directly.
Yan Shixiao scanned the Disciplinary Hall, snorted coldly, swished his cape, and turned to leave.
Li Qingxian watched Yan Shixiao’s departing figure, and in his peripheral vision, he saw Pang Mingjing kneeling at the entrance, trembling uncontrollably.
Seeing Yan Shixiao about to walk out the door, Li Qingxian cleared his throat and said, "Reporting to you, my lord. I wish to report the man kneeling at the entrance, Pang Mingjing, for colluding with Ge Dynasty."
"Oh?" Yan Shixiao stopped. He didn’t turn to look at Li Qingxian but paused on the threshold. The light from outside illuminated him, casting a long shadow behind him.
He glanced at Pang Mingjing and said, "Take him too."
The Factory Guards pounced, grabbing Pang Mingjing’s arms.
Pang Mingjing was stunned for a second, then whipped his head around to look at Li Qingxian and shrieked, his voice tearing, "Li Qingxian, you’re not human! I’ll never forgive you, not even if I become a ghost! I’ll..."
A Eunuch struck out, hitting Pang Mingjing’s muting acupoint.
Pang Mingjing was dragged away by the Factory Guards, his mouth open and his eyes wide in a silent scream.
Outside the door, the sun was bright. Inside the hall, the sunlight was intense.