Chapter 97: Interrogation at the Censorate

"Aunt Qing, will our lord be all right?" Xiangning was deeply worried that Long Chen would be killed by Jing Tianlie.

Zhang Qian said with a cold laugh, "Don't worry. Our lord is more devious than anyone. Who dies is still anyone's guess."

Long Chen, hearing the stir, slowly opened his drowsy eyes. Xuan Yi was holding his arm tightly, which was still quite normal.

Qing Yue's hand, however, was not so obedient and had wandered inside.

Long Chen chuckled to himself: there was nothing there at all. What was so interesting about it?

"Wake up, you two little sisters."

Xuan Yi and Qing Yue stirred sleepily, murmured in reply, then buried themselves against Long Chen's chest again.

Long Chen's pectorals were broad and strong; with each of them lying on one side, it was quite comfortable.

Fearing they would delay serious business, Zhang Qian came over and lifted the blanket, saying, "Get up. Someone from the censorate has come to deliver a message."

As the blanket was pulled away, a snow-white body clung to Long Chen, a single glimpse of spring radiance beyond measure.

Xiangning looked inside, and even she felt a twinge of envy.

Only then did Xuan Yi and Qing Yue climb up to dress themselves, asking, "People from the censorate are here? Is the case of Shui Han about to be heard?"

The two of them knew the truth. They were not worried about the case itself; even if the matter was exposed in the end, the one who would be in trouble was Jing Heng.

But how to use this case to suppress Jing Tianlie as much as possible depended on skill.

Besides, Jing Tianlie would not sit still and wait to be slaughtered. He would resist fiercely, even to the point of fighting like a cornered dog.

Zhang Qian did not answer them, but said to Long Chen, "My lord, should we have the princess go with us as well?"

Long Chen smiled. "No. I will go myself. The princess needs to avoid suspicion in this matter."

"Of course, the censorate will certainly question the princess as well."

As the most crucial person involved, Di Luoxi would definitely be among those questioned.

Most importantly, Jing Tianlie believed the empress was targeting him and systematically uprooting the Jing family's power, and that Di Luoxi acted under the empress's orders.

So Di Luoxi would certainly be summoned for questioning too.

"We'll go with my lord."

After Xuan Yi and Qing Yue dressed, Zhang Qian helped Long Chen get dressed. Xiangning brought water for washing up, and after breakfast they reached the outer courtyard, where they met the censorate's steward, a middle-aged woman with many wrinkles on her face.

"Greetings, Lord Minister, and greetings to the three generals."

The steward saluted respectfully.

"Thank you for leading the way, Steward."

Long Chen was polite in return. This steward knew proper manners.

"Please follow me, my lord."

The steward led the way, and the four of them walked to the censorate.

In the Eastern Zhou, the censorate and the Ministry of Justice served as the trial institutions. The Ministry of Justice handled arrests and sentencing, while the censorate was responsible for oversight and review.

This time, the censorate took the lead, with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of War hearing the case together, because the people involved were rather special.

The censorate was located just south of the imperial palace, where the Six Ministries and other capital offices were situated.

Once they left the palace area, they arrived at the censorate.

The constables at the gate wore black clothes and carried black-and-white staffs. When they saw Long Chen approaching, they all bent to salute.

Long Chen entered the censorate and stepped into the main hall, where he saw Censor Bai Anning seated in the center, with Minister of Justice Hu Chengfu and Minister of War Bai Qiulian beside him.

Below them stood several armed constables of the censorate in solemn ranks.

Zhang Qian and the others waited at the door. Long Chen walked into the main hall and looked around. There was not even a chair. Were they trying to make him stand for questioning?

"Who stands before this hall?"

Bai Qiulian barked the question.

Censor Bai Anning was startled. This was the censorate, and he was the chief examiner. He should have been the one asking the questions.

Besides, Long Chen's identity was special. This was merely an inquiry, not the interrogation of a criminal.

Long Chen knew Bai Qiulian was putting on airs and gave a cold laugh. "Who are you?"

Bai Qiulian had meant to establish dominance, but she had not expected Long Chen to show her no respect at all.

"Long Cheng'en, today the three ministries are acting under imperial order to interrogate you. How dare you refuse to cooperate!"

Long Chen laughed heartily. "Interrogate me? Of what crime am I guilty?"

Bai Qiulian sneered. "You caused the death of General Shui Han of Linjiang City."

Long Chen pointed to the chief clerk sitting nearby, recording the course of the questioning, and said coldly, "Write this down clearly: Minister of War Bai Qiulian falsely accuses Minister of Works, Minister of Revenue, and Chief Eunuch Long Cheng'en of murdering General Shui Han."

The chief clerk froze and looked up at Bai Anning.

Bai Anning hurried to smooth things over. "Minister Long is overstating it. This is only a routine inquiry."

But Long Chen did not give him face and said with a cold smile, "A routine inquiry? What did Bai Qiulian just say? Did you not hear her? The emperor ordered you to preside, so you should record everything truthfully. Whatever she says, write it down!"

"Bai Qiulian, you have falsely accused a court minister of murder. I will report this matter to His Majesty and demand a thorough investigation!"

Long Chen paid Bai Anning no heed at all and seized on Bai Qiulian's words without letting go.

Against such a vile old bitch, one must never be polite. Give her an inch, and she would take a mile.

Bai Qiulian was furious at being rebuked by Long Chen, but she no longer dared to speak.

"Minister Long, today we invited you here only for questioning. No one said you killed General Shui Han."

Minister of Justice Hu Chengfu also stepped in to calm the situation.

Long Chen sneered. "She's not human?"

Bai Qiulian flew into a rage. "You dead eunuch, who are you calling not human!"

Long Chen was enraged as well. "I'm talking about you, you old hag!"

Bai Qiulian slammed the table and stood up, but Long Chen only sneered and ignored her completely.

Bai Qiulian was at the peak of the king realm, but if they really fought, who would die was not certain.

Censor Bai Anning tried to placate both sides. "Minister Bai, this is the censorate. We are only asking questions here."

"Minister Long, we summoned you for an inquiry out of necessity. There is no need for this."

Bai Qiulian's show of force had failed, and she sat down again in a huff.

Long Chen said coldly, "Censor Bai, if this is only a routine inquiry and I am not a criminal, then you sit while I stand?"

A seat had originally been arranged for Long Chen, but Bai Qiulian had deliberately had it removed.

"Someone, bring a chair for Minister Long."

Bai Anning arranged it at once. Two constables carried over a chair and invited Long Chen to sit.

Seated in the armchair, Long Chen leaned back slightly and looked coldly at the three ministers.

In court rank, Long Chen, as minister of two departments and chief eunuch, stood above them.

In this investigation, the censorate was the chief examiner, so Bai Anning spoke first. "Minister Long, by imperial decree we are conducting a thorough investigation into General Shui Han's death. We have already examined some matters in recent days, and now we need to question you, since you were in Linjiang City at the time."

Long Chen nodded. "This matter was settled by His Majesty in the imperial court. I will cooperate."

Bai Anning secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

If Long Chen refused to cooperate, Bai Anning would have no solution. Bai Qiulian looked fierce, but she was all bark and no bite. The three of them were on the same level as Long Chen and had no authority to compel him.

Moreover, everyone knew about the relationship between Long Chen and Di Luoxi, and the empress also favored Long Chen.

"Very well, then I will begin."

Bai Anning glanced at the chief clerk, signaling him to start recording.

"General Shui Han died because she was grievously injured by Shangguan Wei. Is that correct?"

Long Chen said, "Yes. The day after the battle in Linjiang City, I returned to the city. The Fourth Princess had just appointed Shui Han as the main commander of Linjiang City when her injuries suddenly flared up, and she died despite treatment."

Bai Anning asked again, "How was General Shui Han injured? Where was the wound?"

Long Chen said, "I do not know. On that day, when the princess fought Shangguan Wei, I led troops to raid Caishi City, so I was not present."

"Only when General Shui Han's injuries broke out was I present to see it. The wound was in her heart meridian."

Bai Anning asked once more, "So that means that when General Shui Han fought Shangguan Wei, Minister Long was not present."

Long Chen nodded. "Correct. The ones fighting Shangguan Wei at the time were the Fourth Princess, General Li Xiannan, Xuan Yi, and Qing Yue. Later, Deputy Secretary of the Central Secretariat Ying Feng also joined in."