Chapter 98: Mutual Retaliation

"Since you were not present, how do you know how General Shuihan died?" Bai Qiulian interrupted.

Long Chen ignored her completely, as if she were invisible.

"I am asking you a question!" Bai Qiulian slammed the table and stood up.

Long Chen sat with his legs crossed, paying her no heed whatsoever.

Fearing that the two would start arguing again, Bai Anning asked, "Since Minister Long was not there, how can you conclude that General Shuihan was wounded by Shangguan Wei?"

Long Chen replied, "We examined her injuries; they were indeed to the heart. She herself stated that she was struck by Shangguan Wei’s great halberd, and her heart-protecting mirror was shattered."

The registrar from the Censorate recorded this, point by point.

Outside the door, Xuan Yi, Qing Yue, and Zhang Qian listened quietly to the questioning inside.

Suddenly, Bai Qiulian said to Bai Anning, "These three are also involved in this matter. It is inappropriate for them to be standing at the door!"

"They have heard everything. What if they collude on their testimonies later?"

Hu Chengfu, the Minister of Justice, chimed in, "Correct. Those three are involved and should not be standing at the door."

Just as Bai Anning was about to speak, Long Chen interjected, "What do you mean by collusion? Bai Qiulian, you are pinning labels on me again! Am I a criminal?"

Bai Qiulian glared at him, but Bai Anning quickly intervened to keep the peace: "Minister Long is cooperating with our inquiry, but those three really should not be here. I ask for your understanding, Minister Long."

Long Chen sneered, turned around, and gestured for Zhang Qian and the others to move outside.

The three women were naturally unwilling; they were worried that Long Chen might be in danger.

Bai Qiulian took the opportunity to mock him, "I had heard that Minister Long has many female confidantes in the inner palace. It seems it is true."

Bai Anning and Hu Chengfu bowed their heads to hide their smirks; this was a matter known to all the civil and military officials in the court.

Long Chen ignored Bai Qiulian and turned to look at the registrar from the Censorate who was taking notes.

"Registrar Li, Minister Bai says I have many female confidantes. What do you think?"

This registrar was none other than Li Junjun, Bai Qiulian’s husband.

Li Junjun looked up at Long Chen, unsure of what he meant.

"I... I do not know, sir."

Bai Qiulian scolded him coldly, "Are you deaf? You don't know about such things! You are useless!"

Publicly berated as useless by his wife, Li Junjun dared not retort. He simply lowered his head, his hand trembling slightly as he held his brush.

Long Chen chuckled, "Minister Bai is correct; I do have many female confidantes, but our relationships are purely platonic. I am a eunuch, after all; what could I possibly do?"

"I am not as devoted as Minister Bai, who, despite being a married woman with a grown daughter, still keeps her lover close to her heart."

He was, of course, referring to Jing Tianlie. Their illicit affair was an open secret.

Bai Qiulian flushed deep red, and Li Junjun’s expression turned icy. The brush suspended in his hand wavered, and a drop of ink fell onto the page. He didn't even bother to clean it, staring blankly at the ledger.

Bai Qiulian was furious. "How dare you speak of the Great General!"

Long Chen sneered, "When did I speak of the Great General? I spoke of your lover. Could it be that your lover is the Great General?"

Bai Qiulian was shaking with rage, but Bai Anning and Hu Chengfu dared not laugh anymore. Bai Qiulian was one thing, but they could not afford to provoke Jing Tianlie.

"Minister Long, let us conduct this inquiry properly and leave others out of it," Hu Chengfu said, attempting to mediate.

Long Chen sneered, "Minister Hu, you are playing favorites. This old witch is the one picking fights time and again. Why are you admonishing me? You should be admonishing this madwoman!"

Bai Qiulian looked ready to strike, but Hu Chengfu turned to her and said, "Minister Bai, stay focused on the case. Let's have no more of this."

Bai Anning continued, "Minister Long, please have the three generals wait outside to avoid any appearance of impropriety."

Long Chen waved his hand back. Zhang Qian shook her head; they refused to leave.

"It is fine. This is the Censorate; who would dare attempt an assassination here?"

Only then did the three women step outside to wait.

Bai Anning continued, "According to your account, General Shuihan was wounded by Shangguan Wei's halberd in the heart, and then suddenly died the following day."

Long Chen nodded. "That is correct."

Minister of Justice Hu Chengfu added, "However, we questioned some soldiers from Linjiang City. They claimed that General Shuihan’s jaw was shattered and that there were signs of torture. How do you explain that?"

Bai Qiulian and Bai Anning waited quietly for his answer. During this time, the Censorate and the Ministry of Justice had not been idle; they had gone to Linjiang City and questioned the soldiers.

Long Chen remained silent.

Feeling she had found the crux of the matter, Bai Qiulian pressed him, "Where did the injuries on the General's head come from? I heard the wounds were fresh and severe."

"Do not tell me those were also caused by Shangguan Wei."

Long Chen said coolly, "That is correct. They were caused by Shangguan Wei."

Bai Qiulian paused, then burst into loud laughter. "Good! Well said! Hurry up and write that down!"

Li Junjun, scolded by his wife, did not dare look up and silently recorded the statement.

Bai Anning asked again, "Minister Long, do you remember what kind of wounds the General sustained?"

Long Chen scratched his head and said, "The halberd pierced through the heart-protecting mirror, causing severe injuries."

Bai Qiulian asked, "So, they were blunt force injuries?"

Long Chen ignored her. Bai Anning asked again, "If they were caused by a halberd, the wounds should resemble those from a blunt object. Is that so?"

Long Chen nodded. "Yes, that is exactly it."

Minister of Justice Hu Chengfu pressed, "Are you certain?"

Long Chen nodded. "That should be how it was."

Bai Qiulian was overjoyed. She pointed at Li Junjun and barked, "Did you write that down!"

Li Junjun lowered his head and said nothing, silently recording the progress of the inquiry.

"Very well, we are done for now. Please have Generals Xuan Yi and Qing Yue come in," Bai Anning said to Long Chen. Since the three women listened only to Long Chen, and Xuan Yi and Qing Yue were the Princess's people, they dared not be too heavy-handed.

Bai Qiulian, however, said, "No, do not let him go get them. Who knows if he will whisper instructions to them."

Long Chen sneered, "Then go get them yourself, Minister Bai, so there is no gossip about me whispering."

With that, Long Chen stood up and exited the Censorate through a side door.

...

In the Phoenix Palace, Ying Feng entered the bedchamber while the Empress was reviewing memorials.

"Your Majesty, the Censorate has summoned Long Chengen, along with Xuan Yi, Qing Yue, and Zhang Qian, for questioning."

"The Fourth Princess just arrived as well; the interrogation should be underway now."

The Empress kept a close watch on every move the Censorate made.

The Empress nodded. "Spread the word. Let the details of today's questioning circulate; let them talk."

Ying Feng bowed. "As you command, Your Majesty."

...

Di Luoxi walked out of the Censorate to find Xuan Yi and Qing Yue waiting at the entrance.

"Your Highness, did they act improperly toward you?" Xuan Yi asked with a look of indignation.

Di Luoxi sneered, "Improperly? Who would dare? Bai Qiulian?"

During the earlier questioning, Bai Qiulian had been particularly rude to Xuan Yi, Qing Yue, and Zhang Qian, which is why they asked if she had been disrespectful to the Princess as well.

Although Bai Qiulian relied on Jing Tianlie's support to act rudely toward others, she remained respectful toward Di Luoxi—a princess was, after all, a princess.

Qing Yue said unhappily, "Bai Qiulian was very fierce with us, and she even scolded Long Chengen."

Di Luoxi frowned. "She scolded Long Chengen?"

Xuan Yi replied, "No, Long Chengen scolded her right back."

Di Luoxi looked pleased. "Good. That is exactly what he should have done."

As the three walked back, they noticed a carriage parked by the roadside, decorated with great luxury.

"Whose carriage is that? So extravagant?"

Qing Yue muttered to herself before following Di Luoxi back to the Western Palace.