It was an overcast day outside, and there was no moon.
Dim light filtered through the narrow window, making the prison cell seem even colder.
Xiao Jingnan sat cross - legged on the ground, his expression calm.
When Zhang Qinhe and Wei Xun walked in this afternoon, he knew in his heart that something was amiss.
Zhu Mingxiu, the Minister of Revenue, was a protégé of Marquis Xuanping, Kang Wende... and Kang Wende was the father of Empress Dowager Kang.
The Ministry of Revenue was a department firmly in the hands of Empress Dowager Kang. To some extent, it could even be said to be the back garden of the Kang family.
So this afternoon, when Xiao Jingnan saw the people from the Ministry of Revenue coming, he felt a chill in his heart and knew that his room for maneuver was very limited.
No matter what this matter was about, it seemed that it was not something he could handle alone.
And when Wei Xun and Zhang Qinhe mentioned “conclusive evidence” and “someone reported”, he thought for a moment and had already guessed the truth.
However, he didn't expect her to be so ruthless... directly reporting the matter to the Ministry of Revenue.
“Has it become such a big deal...”
The sound of the night watchman came from outside the window. The wooden clapper and drum sounded. It was already past the Hai hour.
Xiao Jingnan's face was solemn as he let out a soft sigh.
This matter would not drag on until tomorrow.
Tonight, surely many people would not be able to sleep.
After a while, there was a commotion of footsteps in the corridor. It was the yamen runners from the Ministry of Revenue.
The yamen runners carried torches and asked coldly, “Cheng Liqing?”
Xiao Jingnan stretched and said indifferently, “It's this commoner.”
The tall yamen runner in the front glanced at him and then said to the jailer, “Open the door.”
“It's so late. Where is the lord taking the prisoner?” The jailer with a meaty face became extremely obedient. He hurriedly fumbled for the keys from his waist and started unlocking the door with a jingle.
“Interrogation,” the tall yamen runner said expressionlessly.
“Interrogation?” The jailer seemed incredulous and exclaimed, “Interrogate at this hour?”
The yamen runner looked at him coldly. “What? Does the minister need to report to you when he wants to interrogate a prisoner?”
“No, I wouldn't dare...” The jailer's legs went weak and he almost knelt down.
The minister?
Did this case need to be personally interrogated by the minister?
Good heavens...
What an earth - shattering case this must be!
The jailer didn't dare to delay any longer. He quickly opened the door and dragged Xiao Jingnan out.
...
Outside, it was brightly lit.
The bright firelight made Xiao Jingnan a little uncomfortable. He raised his hand to shield his eyes slightly.
The courtyard of the Ministry of Revenue was full of people.
The officials in tiger - headed armor with swords at their waists and torches in their hands stood solemnly on one side, facing off against the yamen runners in black robes from the Ministry of Revenue.
It was the people from the Ministry of Justice...
It seemed that Qinglan hadn't delayed. His father had already taken action.
However, the opponent in this battle was not an ordinary petty official. God knew how many people were involved behind this.
The other side came prepared. It would not be so easy for them to get out of this.
...
In the main hall of the Ministry of Revenue, the candles were brightly lit.
Under the plaque that read “Upright and Magnanimous”, two people were sitting side by side.
One was Xu Kai, the Minister of Justice, and the other was Zhu Mingxiu, the Minister of Revenue.
The two were of similar age, both in their fifties. However, Xu Kai's face was more solemn and he looked more imposing. Zhu Mingxiu's face was a bit dark, and he was slightly fatter.
Xu Kai didn't say a word. He just quietly blew on the tea in his hand.
Zhu Mingxiu's chest heaved slightly. He seemed a bit angry.
Finally, Zhu Mingxiu couldn't hold it in anymore. “Lord Xu, even if our Ministry of Revenue has no right to impose punishment and needs to hand the person over to your Ministry of Justice for trial, it would be the same to hand him over tomorrow. Why do you have to conduct a sudden interrogation overnight?”
He pointed at the fully - armed soldiers in the courtyard, his chest aching with anger. “You even brought so many people here overnight! What are you trying to do? Are you trying to surround my Ministry of Revenue? I will surely impeach you to the empress dowager when I go to court tomorrow!”
Xu Kai sipped his tea unhurriedly. “Impeach me as you like. If you don't impeach me, I will impeach you.”
“Impeach me for what?” Zhu Mingxiu was taken aback.
Xu Kai said, “You received a report, and after the investigation, you didn't hand the prisoner over to the Ministry of Justice. Instead, you locked the person in the small prison of your Ministry of Revenue... Do you want to practice favoritism and use torture?”
Zhu Mingxiu's expression changed. He leaned back slightly and looked at Xu Kai with an ambiguous look in his eyes.
It was indeed against the procedure for him to detain the person in the prison of the Ministry of Revenue, but... there was nothing wrong with it!
When handling matters in the yamen, the procedures were always slow. Coupled with all kinds of unspoken complications, it was common for a person to be locked up for months or even a year or two.
He had only locked up Cheng Liqing and Li Wanming here for half a day... and it actually made Xu Kai, the Minister of Justice, come here in person?
This was really strange.
Zhu Mingxiu gritted his teeth and lowered his voice. “Lord Xu, I don't care what your intention is, but I advise you not to interfere in this matter.”
“Oh? Why?” Xu Kai tilted his head slightly.
“This matter involves too many people. It's not something that you and I can interfere with.”
Xu Kai frowned. A trace of doubt welled up in his heart. He stared at Zhu Mingxiu and said in a deep voice, “When you say it involves too many people, do you mean...”
Zhu Mingxiu was promoted to the Minister of Revenue three years ago. By that time, the Prince of Ning had already withdrawn from politics. So he had never met the Prince of Ning, let alone Xiao Jingnan.
And in this period, needless to say, given General Feng's strict information blockade, Zhu Mingxiu probably didn't know that the Lady Cheng who had caused such a stir before would be the future heir's wife of the Prince of Ning's Mansion...
But Xu Kai didn't dare to be careless.
He was not afraid that Zhu Mingxiu didn't know, but afraid that he did.
If Zhu Mingxiu had already learned the truth from other sources and if he knew Xiao Jingnan's identity but still dared to arrest him, it meant that someone behind him wanted to target the Prince of Ning's Mansion.
If that was really the case, it would be a major event that would cause turmoil in the court. The Great Sheng would be in turmoil again...
Xu Kai stared intently at Zhu Mingxiu, not blinking.
Zhu Mingxiu leaned forward and lowered his voice even more. “Lord Xu, the person who reported this is not someone you or I can afford to offend. I advise you to...”
Oh, the person who reported.
It's okay then.
A sense of relief washed over Xu Kai, and his expression returned to its usual solemn and cold look.
“Lord Zhu, I also advise you: Don't be overly smart in everything. Don't think that only you know the most and treat others as fools. I must take these two prisoners away today.”
Zhu Mingxiu immediately said, “No!”
Xu Kai sneered. “It's natural for my Ministry of Justice to handle cases, which is in line with the laws of the Great Sheng. What right do you have to say no?”
Zhu Mingxiu's face darkened. “This case is still under investigation. Our Ministry of Revenue has the responsibility to assist in the investigation and trial!”
Xu Kai paused for a moment. His look at Zhu Mingxiu couldn't help but carry a trace of pity. “Lord Zhu, what you said sounds high - sounding. But don't regret it later.”