Zhen Guan Shi was a big fish in his territory in the Northwest, but in Wusel City, he was just a minor official. This place was now filled with nobles and dignitaries; if you randomly threw a brick, at least three out of ten people hit would be officials. Yu Gengqing certainly couldn’t do as he pleased here. After recovering from his grief, he petitioned the Queen, begging her to uphold justice for Yu Linlang!
After four days of fermentation, news of the assassination attempt on Yu Linlang had spread throughout Wusel’s upper class and was beginning to circulate among commoners. At this point, every move made by the Yu household and Yu Gengqing was the focus of countless watchful eyes.
He entered the palace to lodge his complaint at the beginning of the You hour, and by the Hai hour that evening, those with good information channels had already heard about it.
This was like a thunderbolt from the sky—everyone who heard it was shocked.
Fu Lingchuan was naturally the first to receive the news and rush to Huaying Hall, the audience chamber where the sovereign received officials. Yu Gengqing had already been making accusations for over two-quarters of an hour. When he saw Fu enter, his eyes immediately shot daggers of deep-seated hatred.
Local powerful families probably all had a bad impression of Fu Lingchuan. Everyone knew that the orders to cut military forces and reduce powers were issued by Fu Lingchuan, merely published through the Queen’s hands.
Now, beyond their public grudge, Yu Gengqing had another personal grievance against him.
Feng Miaojun put down the petition document on the table and nodded to Fu Lingchuan: “The State Preceptor has arrived.” She briefly explained the content of Yu Gengqing’s complaint in a few sentences, neither embellishing nor downplaying it and only asked Fu Lingchuan, “What do you think?”
The sovereign was asking this suspect “What do you think”! When Yu Gengqing heard this question, his heart, which had been boiling with rage, suddenly went cold. Looking at the Queen’s expression, it was extremely calm, showing neither anger nor dissatisfaction. Wasn’t it rumored that she was quite fond of Linlang, and had even personally visited the Yu residence to check on him the day he was attacked?
In just these few days, had the favor and preference disappeared?
So, Fu Lingchuan truly held overwhelming power in court, and the Queen was merely a puppet. Could he expect such a royal court to get justice for him? It was likely that Fu Lingchuan could even get hold of his petition afterward, which contained over four thousand words of accusations against Fu Lingchuan.
If that happened, what good outcome could he, as Zhen Guan Shi, expect?
Fu Lingchuan was also slightly surprised by Feng Miaojun’s unusually gentle attitude and then said: “I had already reassigned Yu Linlang away from the capital that day to assist Historian Yu. Shi Zhangqing has no personal grudge against him and no reason to attempt to assassinate him.”
He spoke very clearly—he was already planning to send Yu Linlang far away that day, so why would he harm him? If he had no intention to kill, why would Shi Zhangqing act?
Yu Gengqing sneered: “Reassign? Perhaps you issued a transfer order first and then had him killed, so others wouldn’t be suspicious.”
Fu Lingchuan didn’t even glance at him, only addressing Feng Miaojun: “However, with Shi Zhangqing as the only suspect, I won’t shield him. I will certainly hand him over for investigation.”
“I presume the State Preceptor has already interrogated him,” Feng Miaojun lightly tapped her fingers on the table twice. “Where is he now?”
“His powers are sealed, and he’s been sent to the Ministry of Justice.”
“Have Yu Linlang’s servant boy brought in as well.” Feng Miaojun stood up and said slowly, “I want to conduct the interrogation personally.”
The interrogation room at the Ministry of Justice was not a pleasant place. The four walls always had suspicious stains, and even the smell made one’s hair stand on end.
With the sovereign’s visit, the place should have been cleaned first, but Feng Miaojun didn’t have the patience and directly ordered Yu Linlang’s servant boy to be carried in.
This fifteen-year-old youth had his lung pierced and was still bedridden with a ghastly pale face. But the imperial physicians always had ways to keep him mentally alert enough to answer the sovereign’s questions for an hour or two.
“Bring them in,” she commanded.
At her word, the small door opened, and seven prisoners were dragged in, each with shackles on their hands and feet.
Feng Miaojun ordered all seven to face her, brush their hair back, lift their heads, and stand still. Then she asked the boy who was barely sitting up: “Identify which one is the assailant.”
The tung oil lamps in the interrogation room burned very brightly, making the faces of these prisoners visible.
The servant’s gaze swept across their faces one by one, then suddenly he shuddered and pointed at the fifth man, shouting: “It’s him! It’s this man! I would recognize him even if he were reduced to ashes!”
Feng Miaojun waved her hand, and the other six prisoners were led away, leaving only the man identified by the servant.
This man had three bloody scratches on his left cheek, which looked somewhat frightening. He stared intensely at the servant boy as if he wanted to tear him apart.
She said lazily: “Your name?”
“Shi…” His throat was dry, and he swallowed before continuing, “Shi Zhangqing!”
“So he has identified you,” Feng Miaojun raised the clear tea on the table and took a sip. “What do you have to say?”
“Complete fabrication!” Shi Zhangqing shouted, “I have already explained to the State Preceptor, that I’ve never seen this person before! That night—that night was strange!” Although his powers were sealed, his voice was loud, and the interrogation room had bare walls, making the table vibrate with his voice.
“‘I’?” Feng Miaojun stroked her fingertips thoughtfully.
Fu Lingchuan, standing to the side, frowned: “How dare you be so insolent before the sovereign?” This fellow truly lacked awareness, adding trouble at such a critical moment.
Only then did Shi Zhangqing look up at Feng Miaojun, saying in a deep voice: “This humble one remembers sleeping at home that night and never going out. Unless I—unless this humble one could sleepwalk out to kill someone, I have no connection with this master and servant!”
He was a cultivator, and though the Queen before him held a high position, she was undeniably a mortal controlled by State Preceptor Fu. He couldn’t generate genuine respect for her in his heart. Feng Miaojun naturally heard this and replied without courtesy: “You spent the night at home, who can verify that?”
“The maidservants in my home…”
Feng Miaojun raised her hand: “Your household servants will be questioned separately. Is there anyone else who can testify for you? Perhaps a friend who was drinking or chatting at your home that night?”
Shi Zhangqing was stunned: “No one else.”
Feng Miaojun examined him carefully: “Then the bloody scratches on your face—did you get those while sleeping?”
Shi Zhangqing instinctively touched his face: “That’s exactly what’s strange. They weren’t there before I slept, but when I woke up, there were three bloody cuts. They hurt when I touched them, but I felt nothing while sleeping.” He raised his voice, “This humble one believes someone is deliberately framing me!”
Yu Gengqing at the side was about to speak with a cold smile, but Feng Miaojun waved him off, then sighed: “So you’re saying that on the day Yu Linlang and his servant were attacked, you just slept at home for the night, woke up with three mysterious scratches on your face, and don’t know where they came from. Is that right?”
“Yes…”
Before he could finish, Feng Miaojun had already taken out Yu Gengqing’s petition and flashed it before him: “According to Yu Linlang’s description, during the struggle, he managed to tear off the assailant’s face covering and left scratch marks on that person’s face—hmm, the left side of the face.” She continued methodically, under Shi Zhangqing’s furious gaze, “Coincidentally, there are three scratches.”