A putrid stench wafted from the water prison.
The jailer led the way, carrying an oil lamp.
The Ministry of Punishment’s Secretary Lu Chonglou walked beside Chen Yanyun and said, “He was just sent over last night. I immediately had him imprisoned. The water prison’s smell isn’t pleasant, sir. Please bear with it. I can have him brought out for questioning.”
Chen Yanyun said, “Bring some tea. Questioning requires much talking, and we must moisten our throats.”
Lu Chonglou smiled and agreed, instructing a clerk to prepare Hanyang Mist Tea.
Chen Yanyun followed the Chief Gate Officer to the interrogation hall.
The tea was quickly served. A desk had been set up in the interrogation hall, and Chen Yanyun sat beside it, casually leaning against the grand chair while drinking tea.
When Lu Chonglou entered and saw this, he couldn’t help feeling puzzled.
Guo Tianda had told him that interrogating Zhang Ling was a minor matter—a man sentenced to exile who had escaped and been recaptured, nothing complicated. Just give him a few dozen strokes of the paddle, then send him to the Military Affairs Bureau to join the convicts headed for Ningguta. Why would such a trivial matter require his oversight… But this person was Zhang Ling, former Deputy Chief of the Court of Judicature. And for such a simple interrogation, Grand Secretary Chen had said he wanted to attend.
This seemed rather unusual.
Yesterday, Lu Chonglou received another message from Guo Tianda, saying to downplay the matter and get it over with quickly. Don’t let Zhang Ling talk too much.
Lu Chonglou had pondered this all day and then had Zhang Ling confined in the water prison.
With no food or water, plagued by mosquitoes, and soaking in cold water overnight, Zhang Ling would certainly be weakened.
He collected himself and stepped forward to bow to Chen Yanyun with a smile, “This official wouldn’t dare overstep. Please take the seat of honor, Secretary Chen.”
Chen Yanyun smiled and said, “I’m not familiar with the procedures. You sit there, lest the guest usurp the host.”
Only then did Lu Chonglou sit behind the desk and order Zhang Ling to be brought in.
Two jailers dragged in a barely conscious man. He was soaking wet, his face as pale as paper, with black iron shackles on his feet. Zhang Ling, a two-time imperial examination graduate and a fourth-rank official of the court, had been reduced to such a wretched state. After being thrown to the ground, it took him a long while before he slowly curled into a ball. Soon the jailers yanked him up to kneel, forcing him to kowtow.
Lu Chonglou asked him some questions, and Zhang Ling answered in a faint voice: “…I fled with the refugees. There were no accomplices, no one escaped with me… I went to Yuqing because my father had an old friend there, and I wanted to visit him…”
Lu Chonglou further asked, “What old friend? What was his surname and given name?”
Zhang Ling sighed, “After reaching Yuqing… I discovered he had moved away long ago…” At this point, he coughed for a long time, his voice breaking, “I’ve told you everything you asked… There’s nothing more…”
Lu Chonglou, eager to finish the interrogation, heard Zhang Ling’s words and said, “You dared to flee while under sentence. I’m afraid exile won’t be sufficient punishment now. You’ll have to suffer some hardship…” He called the jailer’s name and ordered Zhang Ling to be taken away for beating with a heavy stick.
Chen Yanyun had just put down his teacup: “Why the rush, Secretary Lu? I still have a few questions.”
Lu Chonglou turned slightly and whispered with a smile, “Sir, he doesn’t seem to be in good condition. I fear we won’t get anything more out of him.”
“After you beat him with the paddle, we’ll get even less.” Chen Yanyun beckoned a prison guard, “Bring something for Master Zhang to drink, help him clear his mind.” The guard understood immediately and hurried off to fetch it. Chen Yanyun turned to the clerk and said, “Record everything I ask next. Have Zhang Ling sign it after, then submit it to the Minister.”
He stood up and walked over to Zhang Ling, asking, “Master Zhang, in Yuqing you secretly met with Salt Transport Commissioner Wu Xinhuai. What did you discuss with him?”
Lu Chonglou listened in confusion. What was Secretary Chen trying to uncover? What did this have to do with the Salt Transport Commissioner?
Zhang Ling’s face went pale as he looked up at Chen Yanyun: “Secretary Chen… what do you mean?”
Chen Yanyun smiled slightly and said, “Master Zhang, I’ve always preferred asking questions to answer them. I’ll ask you once more, what did you discuss with Wu Xinhuai?”
Chen Yanyun knew something! Zhang Ling’s heart pounded. How could he know about this? “I’ve never met Commissioner Wu… Secretary Chen must be mistaken…”
Chen Yanyun stopped speaking to him and instead told the jailer, “Then let’s proceed with the whipping. Use a whip soaked in strong liquor. Don’t let him lose consciousness.”
Lu Chonglou approached Chen Yanyun, “Secretary Chen… this…”
Chen Yanyun glanced at him, “Don’t worry, Secretary Lu. Since you couldn’t get anything out of him, I’ll help you with the questioning.”
Lu Chonglou’s forehead broke out in cold sweat. What was Grand Secretary Chen trying to do?
The jailer brought over the whip.
After one round of lashing, Zhang Ling confessed.
His body burning with pain, he spoke haltingly: “…I’ve been delivering messages for Commissioner Wu… about the salt trade. In Yuqing… the official salt was mined and then sold to private salt merchants, earning vast amounts of silver…”
Lu Chonglou listened in astonishment. Selling official salt illegally—these people had the courage of leopards!
At this point, Zhang Ling hesitated and looked toward Chen Yanyun.
Chen Yanyun took another sip of tea without even raising his eyelids: “Don’t harbor false hopes. If I know about you and Wu Xinhuai, I know about your other affairs.” His tea lid brushed the water’s surface, his voice calm, “With activities like yours, how did the county magistrate, prefecture governor, and provincial governor all fail to discover anything? What connections do you have? Tell us everything in detail to avoid further physical suffering.”
Even the dull-witted Lu Chonglou now understood that Secretary Chen’s true purpose lay elsewhere—he must have had everything planned from the beginning.
…Wasn’t the Third Master Chen supposed to be the most refined and gentle of the Grand Secretaries? How did he know the torture implements of the Ministry of Punishment so well, extracting confessions with such ease?
Zhang Ling sighed deeply: “…I don’t know much. The county office took silver from the salt merchants. The Yuqing Prefect is a close friend of Commissioner Wu. As for the Provincial Governor, I’ve never met him… I was merely a messenger. If you want answers… you should find Wu Xinhuai.”
Chen Yanyun chuckled softly: “Master Zhang thinks I’m easily fooled? Very well.” He called out, “Chen Yi, bring in a brazier. Master Zhang is soaking wet and needs to warm up.”
Zhang Ling, being an official of the Court of Judicature, knew interrogation methods all too well. Hearing this, he understood what torture Chen Yanyun intended to use. His hands clenched involuntarily as he said quietly, “I’ll tell you what you want to know… Yes, Master Wang was also involved. The Provincial Governor of Southern Zhili is beyond our reach… My trip to Yuqing was also Master Wang’s suggestion…”
Lu Chonglou couldn’t help asking, “Which… Master Wang?”
“Naturally, the current Grand Secretary… Master Wang Xuanfan.”
Lu Chonglou was too shocked to speak.
Chen Yanyun continued, “Secretary Lu… exposing such a major case is enough to build your credentials. When Guo Tianda retires, you could even aspire to the Vice Minister position.” He looked up, “Secretary Lu, do you understand my meaning?”
Secretary Chen wanted him to take credit for this… why? Should he agree? As Secretary Chen said, exposing such a major case would certainly secure his promotion to Vice Minister.
After a long deliberation, Lu Chonglou hesitantly nodded. Chen Yanyun smiled, “Very good. Remember, you extracted this confession. I was merely observing. You can continue questioning him for details.”
He stood up, and Chen Yi draped a cloak over his shoulders. The group then left the interrogation hall.
…
Zhou Yixuan arrived in Wanping that afternoon. Lady Chen had sent a steward to meet her on the official road and bring her back. She also had a maid inform her daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law.
Gu Jinchao selected a pair of gold bracelets with white jade openwork floral patterns and placed them in a box as a welcoming gift for Zhou Yixuan. After some thought, she took another brocade box and added a bottle of rose extract. She remembered that Zhou Yixuan was fond of rose extract and similar items—her sachet pouches were filled with dried rose petals. Previously, to curry favor with Gu Jinchao, she had even given her two rose-scented sachets.
Upon arriving at Lady Chen’s quarters, Lady Chen first invited Gu Jinchao to have tea and discussed the Buddhist scriptures she had recently heard.
Lady Chen attended a Dharma assembly at Jingmiao Nunnery yesterday.
Just as their conversation grew interesting, Madam Qin arrived with Madam Shen, Madam Zhuang, and Madam Sun. Madam Sun walked slowly, supported by her maid. Madam Shen and Madam Zhuang carried young masters Xian and Zheng, while Chen Zhao followed behind Madam Sun. A moment later, Madam Wang arrived with Chen Rong and several others. The room was suddenly lively with children chattering away.
Lady Chen smiled and said, “Put them all on the couch and let them play. Bring over some pastries, but no spun sugar—the scraps will get everywhere. Bring over some pine nut candy, rose candy, and amber candy.” Governess Zheng acknowledged and went to fetch them.
Madam Sun sat down beside Gu Jinchao and took her hand with a smile: “The eight-compartment box of delicacies Third Aunt sent me last time was delicious especially the sour jujube cake. The sourness stimulates the appetite—I’ve been eating much more lately… People say sour for boys and spicy for girls, so this child might be a boy. Does Third Aunt have any more of those boxes? I’d like another.”
Beside her, Madam Shen and Madam Zhuang wore bland expressions, as if they hadn’t heard her words.
Not even knowing what was in her womb, yet so presumptuous—naturally, they disdained her.
Gu Jinchao didn’t wish to be too familiar with Madam Sun, so she just smiled slightly: “The sour jujube cake boxes are gone. I don’t particularly enjoy pastries, so I didn’t bring many.”
Madam Qin sat across from Jinchao and asked, “I didn’t get a chance to visit young Miss Xi yesterday. Has she fully recovered from her illness?”
Gu Jinchao nodded: “She’s even kicking shuttlecocks now, pestering Qingpu to teach her every day. Soon she’ll be able to play with young Miss Zhao.”
Just as she finished speaking, a servant announced from outside that the young miss from their maternal relatives had arrived.
Before they saw her, they heard laughter. A maid lifted the curtain, and a young woman entered wearing a rose-purple jacket with white-bordered edges and a blue skirt. Her hair was styled in a center-parted bun, adorned with a gold hairpin set with red garnets. She had bright eyes, and white teeth, and was strikingly beautiful.
Seeing Lady Chen, she brightened with a smile and walked toward her: “Grandmother, how I’ve missed you!”