Chapter 150: The Mantis Strikes
The Ji Ying bloody letter case is being handled by the Dali Temple.
Ji Ying’s family servants are also imprisoned here and being interrogated.
Because Ji Ying was out on inspection, and before leaving he said he wouldn’t return for the New Year, his family didn’t pay attention to his movement.
When there had been no letter for two months, his old mother worried and sent someone to ask, and only then did the family send a letter, discovering upon sending it that he had vanished without a trace.
“Our family master likes to travel incognito, and we didn’t dare search for him openly, afraid of delaying his affairs.”
“We only sent family servants to quietly inquire around.”
“No news had come back yet when this incident happened.”
The Ji Family people wailed and cried, and after questioning back and forth, nothing useful came out; they truly seemed to know nothing.
In addition, with the Marquis Yichun pleading guilty, the Emperor ordered a thorough investigation of White Horse Town officials involved in the case, so the interrogation of the Ji Family side became less important.
But that night, the Ji Family servants imprisoned together fought over the meal, and one servant who couldn’t grab any food and was beaten shouted, “Eating it won’t help anyway; we’re all going to die—first the master, then us—”; the jailers heard this and immediately dragged him out for interrogation.
After a night of interrogation until dawn, the servant couldn’t hold out and finally agreed to speak, but demanded to see the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
“What I have to say involves someone who reaches to the heavens; I trust no one but the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review—you all can’t handle it either.”
…….
……
“And then?”
Hearing this, Wei Jiao, leaning on the chair, finally found it somewhat interesting, removed the book covering his face, and asked.
“Did the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review come?”
Because it wasn’t a treason case and involved civilian safety, to avoid greater public outrage, the Emperor didn’t hand the case to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, only having them monitor speech.
Monitoring speech naturally included civilians and officials, so the Dali Temple’s movement was also being watched by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
But what they monitored was all useless talk, very boring.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard smiled: “How could it be? The Dali Temple official in charge of interrogation immediately gave him over a dozen lashes with the whip, and then the servant couldn’t hold out and spoke.”
Wei Jiao asked lazily: “What did he say?”
The Embroidered Uniform Guard put away his smile: “He said Ji Ying used a death row prisoner to stand in for the mountain bandit and hastily closed the case because that massacre was done by Ji Ying under someone’s orders.”
Wei Jiao raised an eyebrow and asked: “Under whose orders?”
This figure was indeed major; the Embroidered Uniform Guard slightly lowered his voice: “Marquis Yichun.”
Wei Jiao laughed heartily and clapped: “Good, good, good.”
Recognizing a father wasn’t really a big deal; making everyone live in chaos and irritation was the real business.
……
…….
“Since it involved Marquis Yichun, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was alarmed and took the man away.”
“But because he shouted it in the prison cell, the interrogating officials couldn’t stop the words from spreading in time.”
The person disguised as a shop assistant in the grocery store continued detailing it to the old man.
The old man looked back; the teacup on the desk still had some warmth, and the maidservant at the seat had already left.
When the shop assistant came in to report, the maidservant had risen to take leave, seemingly uninterested in the news the shop assistant brought, as if everything was already expected.
“Thanks for the earlier matters; we won’t trouble you further.” She said with a beaming smile.
The shop assistant’s voice continued: “…Now the street and alleys are all discussing it, full of doubts; this is too absurd…”
The old man chuckled.
“Absurd, that’s because they don’t know the inside story.” He said, withdrawing his gaze, standing at the windowside looking toward the street. “For those who know the inside story, it’s not so absurd.”
Like him and the Great General, who knew the inside story—upon hearing it, it all seemed perfectly reasonable.
Marquis Yichun being dragged in wasn’t important to him; he looked at the shop assistant.
“That servant from Ji Ying’s family—is he one of theirs?”
Censor Li Bu was a chess piece the Great General had operated for years; he was their arrangement.
This servant of Ji Ying’s wasn’t their arrangement.
The shop assistant nodded: “Probably; isn’t Ji Ying in their hands? Planting a servant in Ji Ying’s home isn’t a big deal.”
Not a big deal? The old man’s expression grew grave: “Leaving aside how much screening servants in a court official’s home go through, right now it’s in the Dali Temple prison cell—when to do what, what to say, isn’t something just one servant can accomplish.”
There must also be their people among the Dali Temple officials.
This little prince, wandering in exile outside, could still plant so many hands among court officials—truly not to be underestimated.
……
…….
“You really used me to frame Marquis Yichun.”
While Yang Luo sat in a restaurant waiting to pick up freshly made pastries for “Miss Yang,” Ji Ying’s voice came from behind.
She turned back and saw Ji Ying, pushed in by the shop assistant, pale-faced, his arms tortured and stiff though covered by his sleeves.
Yang Luo had told Ji Ying everything that happened these past few days, so though imprisoned, he knew all the outside matters.
Yang Luo smiled but didn’t answer.
Ji Ying looked at this maidservant; his expression no longer calm and indifferent as before, but somewhat dazed and lost.
That day, this woman had harshly tormented his wound and also told him her identity…
The maidservant of Yang Tong’s daughter from White Horse Town…
“My family’s young lady escaped, didn’t die, and personally saw how you muddled through, covering up the deaths of my family’s madam, young lady, and the local neighbors, turning major events minor and minor events nothing.”
So that’s how it was; it was indeed perfectly reasonable for her to treat him that way…
But…
“But that’s not the truth; he didn’t make me do such a thing.” Ji Ying continued, “I covered up the White Horse Town matter out of selfish reasons. I’m willing to go with the young lady to the government to confess guilt and request a strict investigation. As for other matters, you can’t…”
Yang Luo smiled: “Marquis Yichun pleaded guilty for you and deducted his own salary—truly worthwhile. Even now, you’re still protecting your recommender benefactor.”
Ji Ying’s face stiffened slightly: “I’m not protecting him; I’m just stating the facts. I admit what he ordered me to do, but what he didn’t order, even if you use me to frame him, there’s insufficient evidence. It will only disrupt the investigation and let the real culprit escape. Miss, I’m also thinking for your family’s young lady…”
Yang Luo laughed heartily and stood up looking at Ji Ying.
“Lord Ji, you actually think for my family’s young lady?” She said, slightly raising an eyebrow. “You also know my family’s young lady’s true identity, right?”
Ji Ying’s face stiffened; he indeed knew.
“Since you knew my family’s madam and young lady’s true identities, what were you thinking when facing those two embracing corpses that died miserably?” Yang Luo said coldly.
At this point, from outside came the shop assistant’s loud voice: “Miss Asheng, the pastries are ready; your family came to find you—”
Family—servants from Duke Ding’an’s Mansion? Hmm, Duke Ding’an and his wife wouldn’t let “Miss Yang” out, but this maidservant made a fuss about buying brush, ink, paper, inkstone, food, and drink for the young lady, so they let her out but sent people to watch. Now with street news involving White Horse Town spreading, Duke Ding’an and his wife must be terrified and immediately want to bring her back…
Having done what needed doing today, Yang Luo called out in response and walked outside.
“The culprits are no ordinary people.” Ji Ying said gravely from behind. “I investigated back then; these people came and went in order, moved deftly, horses sturdy, weapons excellent—clearly from the military…”
“I know.” Yang Luo said without turning back. “After all, our madam and young lady were no ordinary identities; ordinary people wouldn’t kill them.”
Walking out the door, she turned back with a faint smile.
“Lord Ji, just wait and see. This time, we’re not the ones being hunted.”
……
…….
“Young lady—”
Though outwardly composed and leisurely, upon entering the indoor where Mo Zheng was, Yang Luo supported the table, barely able to stand.
“They really appeared.”
“There really is mantis stalking cicada!”
Censor Li Bu was arranged by those people, but the Ji Ying servant who suddenly appeared today, she didn’t know whose he was.
In this life, they preemptively used Ji Ying to test the waters.
They got the same result as last life: Marquis Yichun punished.
But Mo Zheng said things wouldn’t end there, because in that life someone really killed Ji Ying.
They did what the person who killed Ji Ying in that life was going to do, so those people in this life would surely do something else.
Indeed, throwing out Ji Ying drew out the cicada Marquis Yichun; the mantis hiding behind finally made a move.
What were these people doing this for?
To settle the White Horse Town matter on Marquis Yichun’s head?
Was Marquis Yichun really not the real culprit of White Horse Town?
Actually, when Ji Ying said it, Yang Luo already believed him.
So, was it arranged by the Emperor? Ji Ying said those mountain bandit villains were soldiers.
But, the Emperor wants to deal with Marquis Yichun? Isn’t that his current wife’s father? He could get rid of the former wife; now also the current one?
Yang Luo started letting her thoughts run wild.
“Don’t worry, don’t worry.” Mo Zheng soothed softly. “Since they want to testify and shift the blame to Marquis Yichun, they must produce sufficient evidence.”
No matter the purpose of this act, the truth of the White Horse Town incident will surely be revealed to the world.
Moreover, these people can no longer hide.
“Marquis Yichun will root them out; those targeting me will investigate them, my people will watch, and additionally…” Mo Zheng said, raising an eyebrow here. “I’ll ask my senior brother, the Embroidered Uniform Guard Captain, for help.”
Even if it really is the Emperor, this time he can’t fight four hands with one fist.
“See, this time we have many people helping—that’s what ‘the just get much assistance’ means.”
Yang Luo burst out laughing.
Is that how you use that phrase? Asheng really knows how to amuse herself.
