Foreword:
Ive not posted Hai Yans preambles, but the ones she posted for Chapters 130 & 132 resonated with , so I have decided to translate them here.
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Im sorry for making everyone misunderstand. Hai jiejie is not unwell and just has an old illness that must be checked up every year. The results are not out yet but the doctor said my complexion is good, hehe.
As for being worried that I would suffer from a ntal disorder, that is unlikely because writing about a lunatic doesnt make one a lunatic. Besides, Hai jiejie has not written about a lunatic yet. I make great efforts to make the words and deeds of the characters conform to their personalities and logic.so dont worry about my state of mind. It is still normal for the mont..
This is a healthy dividing line
As Xia Jiang observed Prince Jings expression closely, Prince Yu also fixed his eyes on his younger brother. In a flash, this prince knew that Xia Jiang was an old ginger with a really spicy kick*. With just one move, he had hit Prince Jings weak spot, suddenly balancing out their unfavourable position.
*I know this sounds awkward but I couldnt resist retaining this. Essentially, it ans that Xia Jiang was a veteran who still had all his moves.Its also a play on his na, because the Chinese word for ginger is jiang
But it was a pity that the Liang Emperor did not see the violently shaken expression that flashed across Prince Jings face, because at that mont, his eyes were squinted, apparently trying to rember who Su zhe was.
The person youre referring tois he the supposedly famous talent, Su zhe, whom Princess Nihuang recomnded to be my chief examiner for the written examination? It didnt take this wise Liang Emperor long to recall this. He also defeated that Northern Yan that.that person before.with three young boys. I really like that Su zhe. How is he also involved in this matter?
Is Your Majesty aware of this Su zhes other identity?
Oh? What is that?
Although Your Majesty is in the court, has Your Majesty heard of the Lang Ya Rankings?
Naturally.
Looking at the new list this year, Jiangzuo Alliance ranks as the largest secret society on earth for the fifth ti in a row. This Su zhe is actually Jiangzuo Alliances current chief, i Changsu. Is Your Majesty aware of this?
I am aware.
Er. Xia Jiang did not expect this. Your Majesty is aware?
I have had a chat with Su zhe before, during a tea tasting session. He had inford who he was at the ti. The Liang Emperor fixed his eyes on Xia Jiang. Su zhe is certainly exceptional, and has the heart to serve the country. If it wasnt for his poor health, I would have employed him. Why, do you an to say he got close to Jingyan while recuperating in the capital?
This minister has not been back in the capital for very long and dare not speak carelessly, but everyone knows who i Changsu serves.
Prince Jing t Xia Jiangs gaze without flinching. I dont know how you ca to that conclusion. After Su zhe was recognized by Your Majesty, nine out of ten in the capital strove to befriend him. Princess Nihuang is well-known for holding him in the greatest esteem. Xuanjing Bureaus Xia Dong and Xia Chun have also been to the Su Residence as guests. The Su Residence compound was also recomnded by Commander ng. The number of tis Prince Yu xiong had paid a visit to i Changsu far exceeds mine. The person leading the many processions to present gifts to the Su Residence was also Prince Yu xiong. If I manage even to get a seat (at his table), no matter how inferior a seat, I would consider myself lucky. In spite of all this, how does one finally conclude that i Changsu is serving ?
The most frustrating thing for Prince Yu was that no matter how much he investigated, he couldnt figure out how i Changsu and Prince Jing kept in touch when they so rarely had contact. He was going to defend himself at this point, but Xia Jiang was already a step ahead. Very well. Since i Changsu does not serve Your Highness Prince Jing, it makes this easier to handle. Your Highness shouldnt mind if I wanted to interrogate this person, right?
Prince Jings heart sank, and just as he was wondering how he should respond, the Liang Emperor said, Since he and Jingyan are not particularly close, why interrogate him for no reason?
Your Majesty, every one of the rebels who attacked Xuanjing Bureau possesses the skills of a martial arts master. In the capital today, who else other than Jiangzuo Alliances chief is capable of organizing such a large group of martial arts masters? This minister believes that interrogating i Changsu will yield so results.
Prince Jing responded through gritted teeth. This is a case of giving a dog a bad na before hanging him. Doesnt the Lang Ya Rankings include many unusually skilled and esteed n? Just because you say its him, does that make him the only one? Arent you afraid that others would ridicule* Xuanjing Bureau for using intuition as evidence to handle this case?
*Hai Yan describes this as laugh until their teeth drop
But its just an interrogation. Why is Your Highness Prince Jing so anxious? Whether Mister Su is good or evil, he is after all His Majestys visiting guest. What can I do to him? Its just a conversation to clear things up. It really has nothing to do with his affairs. I will make sure he leaves Xuanjing Bureau intact, without a single injury. Thats the sum of it.
As he said these words, he deliberately set his eyebrows in a ruthless expression to make Prince Jing even more anxious. Xuanjing Bureaus thods of interrogation had been passed on from one generation to the next. They did not leave a scar, yet left a person feeling as good as dead. i Changsus greatest weakness was his health. Imagining that weak and pale body entering Xuanjing Bureau, Prince Jing felt his heart twist involuntarily.
Father Emperor, Mister Su is in poor health, of this you are aware. He is also soone with a great reputation. The court should value such talent, and treat him with the appropriate courtesy and respect. What kind of reputation would we have if we engaged in such bullying and humiliation as we please without any basis? Whats more, Xuanjing Bureau reports directly to Your Majesty and acts according to Your Majestys orders. In the event of any mishap, its not Director Xia who will receive the peoples criticism, but you, Father Emperor!
Jingyan arent you over-exaggerating? Prince Yu said, According to what you said just now, I have a better relationship with i Changsu, and I dont think its a big issue. He might be a reputable scholar, but he is also after all, a royal subject, so why should he be untouchable? Father Emperor trusts Director Xias behavior. How can you not? In the end, its rely for the sake of asking i Changsu a few questions. Why do you behave like soone with a guilty conscience? At this mont, lets not ntion Father Emperor, even I am beginning to be a little suspicious of you.
What he said wasnt wrong. Prince Jings earnest attempts to defend i Changsu aroused the Liang Emperors suspicions. Moreover, the Liang Emperor believed in his bones that Prince Jing certainly had sufficient courage and motivation to pursue this matter of the prisoner rescue. He also believed that with Xia Jiangs wealth of experience and keen judgnt, he wouldnt direct an attack at Prince Jing without any basis. Of course, he also understood in his heart that Prince Yu was taking advantage of the situation. In his view, however, it was acceptable for royal princes to fight because he believed in his ability to control and suppress them. But his greatest fear lay in the possibility of Prince Jing really employing force to break a prisoner out of jail without care or consideration, and succeeding unexpectedly.
Therefore, having to choose between suppressing Prince Yu or Prince Jing, he preferred first to suppress Prince Jing and investigate the matter thoroughly in order to set his own mind at ease.
Minister Xia, I grant you permission to investigate according to what you have ntioned. Investigate it thoroughly. Make sure it is unequivocal and not sothing that is fabricated. Dont go from pillar to post with !
Father Emperor, your son thinks..
Keep quiet! Do you not realize that you are yourself a suspect? Have you no fear of the law of your lord and father in your heart? Prince Jings persistently stubborn expression reminded the Liang Emperor of a ti before when another son was similarly unwilling to lower his head, and his face imdiately turned ugly. Regardless, your Capital Patrol has been implicated. If we dont investigate, how would you be absolved? Deliver an imperial order. The Capital Patrol will be temporarily taken over by the Ministry of War. Prince Jing is to return to his residence to contemplate in silence and he is not allowed to enter the palace without an imperial decree.
Gao Zhan stole a glance at the expressions of everyone in the hall and quietly responded with just a simple Yes.
This ti the imperial debate was forcibly suspended by the Liang Emperor. The facade had been ripped apart. He had already observed that both Xia Jiang and Prince Yu had colluded to attack Prince Jing. But whether these two n were only attacking or framing he was unclear, which is why it was very necessary to allow this matter to cool off for a ti and for more evidence to erge.
After Xia Jiang left the court, he imdiately summoned his n and headed straight for the Su Residence. He was worried that i Changsu had absconded, but he also harboured so hope that i Changsu would abscond because running away indicated a guilty conscience and fear of punishnt for a cri committed. But if he really ran away and was unable to be captured, that would be a case of loss outweighing gains.
This unsettled court atmosphere beca calm when it reached the Su Residence. i Changsu remained peacefully in his residence. He did not abscond, even though this Jiangzuo Alliance chief had obviously already anticipated that Xia Jiang would co.
Previously, when he had said the words And also.. to Prince Jing, i Changsu was actually referring to himself. Though he was on the verge of saying what was on his mind, he held back because he knew that there would be no benefit in saying it. Prince Jing wouldnt be persuaded by the words Dont argue with Xia Jiang when he wants to deal with to really look on and not speak, and would still be recklessly disobedient when the ti ca.
Li Gang had already brought Fei Liu out beforehand. The Must Not Resist order had already been sternly communicated to all his subordinates, so even though Zhen Ping had to grit his teeth until he nearly ground them to pieces while they waited, i Changsu calmly followed Xia Jiang, undeterred, to Xuanjing Bureau.
Actually, Xuanjing Bureau was not a place that was unfamiliar to him. He used to regularly tag along with Nie Feng to walk about its vicinity, but considering todays circumstances, its as if it were a lifeti ago.
Xia Jiang did not interrogate him that evening, rely pushed him into a narrow black room, locking him for the night. It had just enough space to turn ones body around, but to prevent him from freezing to death, sufficient bedding was provided.
The next day, i Changsu was dragged out of his quilt and brought to a pavilion facing the water. Xia Jiang was there waiting, dressed fully in black, standing with his hands clasped behind his back. When they t, he smiled genially.
Mister Su, you have learnt a lot about the world, and have a lot of knowledge and experience. Do you know what kind of place this is?
Hell. i Changsu looked at him, returning a faint smile, Ghosts and malevolent spirits from the netherworld, nothing living, only demons and monsters.
Mister Su, you flatter. Im just skilled at removing soones skin and flesh to reveal their real lungs and intestines, thats all. Xia Jiang gestured with his hand. Please sit, Mister Su.
Many thanks.
I dont normally invite anyone here for no reason. Once I do, unless I let him go, he wouldnt be able to fly out of here even if he had wings. Xia Jiang pushed a cup of tea towards him. Prince Jing knows that Mister Su is here as a guest, but he cant even defend himself now, much less you.
I think so too. i Changsu nodded his head serenely. He picked up the cup of tea with both hands, carefully looked at the color of the tea before taking a sip. Suddenly he frowned and said, Isnt this tea just terrible? The person in charge must be embezzling the tea money. Director Xia, why dont you look into it?
Xia Jiang did not pay attention to his words and continued.I know Mister Su is a rare talent, with an extraordinary strength of will that is incomparable. But I have seen many such hard-boned* people. Do you recall a military embezzlent case I had handled before? The general who was involved had a mouth that was unyielding as anything, but after two days here, he surrendered a complete na list of his accomplices.
*dauntless & unyielding
He confessed? I heard he went mad.
He went mad after he had confessed. I didnt allow him to go mad before that. I have always known how far to go and when to stop. Xia Jiang said dispassionately, I wonder what Mister Su thinks. Would you like to confess obediently or stay here for two days like that general?
i Changsu held his forehead in his hands, seriously pondering for a good while, before finally saying, Then I will confess.
Xia Jiang had just entered a state (of being)*, but he was jolted out of it when he unexpectedly heard these words
*This is a literal translation which I struggled with. I presu it either ans that MCS was pondering for VERY LONG or he was already preparing to extract a forced confession from MCS
What would Director Xia like to confess? That I colluded with Prince Jing? i Changsu replied rapidly, Thats right. I have been colluding with Prince Jing since early on. Wei Zhengs rescue was instigated by Prince Jing and I orchestrated it. After we stord Xuanjing Bureau and realized that the guards were too few, we knew it was a trap and withdrew. Oh yes, when we withdrew, the Capital Patrol helped us, which was why we managed to escape. Director Xia, you ca back after that. My inforr who was at the main gates of Xuanjing Bureau noticed that your actions were a little odd, and secretly followed behind you. When you led him to the Imperial Court of Justice, he was pleasantly surprised to learn that Wei Zheng was there. As a result, we were besides ourselves and imdiately beat you up, before seizing the traitor. Thats how everything happened. Is there anything else you are unclear about?
Xia Jiang had interrogated many people behind Xuanjing Bureaus closed doors, but had never encountered such a prisoner and it took great effort to maintain his composure. Observing i Changsu, he kept his tone grim as he said, Do you know what you have just confessed?
I know. i Changsu said lightly, You can write a statent according to what I had just confessed. When you have written it, bring it to and I will put my signature on it. Once I have signed it, you can bring this statent to His Majesty then this case will be settled and everyone can relax.
Xia Jiang suddenly understood i Changsus aning. The implications of this case were too great, and as it happens, sorely lacking in evidence. The Liang Emperor would be unlikely to arrive at a final conclusion so easily based on such a statent. When the ti arrived, he would definitely summon i Changsu in to personally interrogate him. Suppose this Qilin talent withdrew his confession then and charged Xia Jiang with extorting this confession through torture and forcing him to incriminate Prince Jing, he would really be unsure of the Liang Emperors reaction.
i Changsu, dont be too pleased with yourself. Things have reached such a stage and you are still so stubborn. Could it be that you desire to experience my Xuanjing Bureau thods?
Thats strange, i Changsu put on an innocent expression. I have already confessed and yet you still say that I am stubborn. Do you think my statent would sound a little better after you hit ? That as long as I have experienced your thods, His Majesty would not summon for an inquiry? I have already confessed that I was instigated by Prince Jing. Is it possible that you have soone else whom you want to confess about?
If you want to confess, you should confess thoroughly, Xia Jiang ca closer, saying, Tell , where is Wei Zheng now?
He has already left the capital.
Impossible! Xia Jiang sneered. Before I entered the palace yesterday, I had ordered n to keep guard at the Western Gate and examine all passersby. Even if the Capital Patrol wanted to leave, they wouldnt be able to. Now that Prince Jing has his hands tied, this capital is even more like an iron bucket*. Unless Wei Zheng has a ans of escape, he would never be able to get out.
*tightly encircled
These words are too boastful. If there is a way into the iron bucket, there is a way out. As long as people can leave the capital, there is also an opportunity for Wei Zheng to get away.
Mr Su certainly knows how to joke. I know that Wei Zheng has multiple injuries and cannot even stand and walk. These two days, nothing placed horizontally has gone out without being scrutinized by my n, not one carriage, travelling box, nothing that can carry a person. I have even ordered them to pry open and examine coffins closely. Co, tell how Wei Zheng was smuggled out.
i Changsu revealed a slight smile, Do you really want to tell you?
Of course.
If I dont, will you resort to your thods?
Im glad youre aware.
Then I have no choice. i Changsu swirled his teacup, toying with it. Your soldiers were very thorough, but.they still missed examining sothing..
Impossible!
They did. For example, one of your people from Xuanjing Bureau.
Xia Jiangs pupils suddenly contracted. I have already ordered n to keep watch on Xia Dong. She couldnt possibly have.
Not Xia Dong. Xia Chun.
Nonsense. Xia JIang imdiately gave a snort of contempt., obviously trusting Xia Chun completely.
Hear out. It was Xia Chuns wife..didnt she receive news that her father was seriously ill yesterday, leaving the capital urgently to return to her family?
Xia Jiangs expression stiffened imdiately. This was Xia Chuns dostic affair so he didnt pay any attention though he was aware of it. If it was Xia Chuns wife leaving town, the Xuanjing Bureau soldiers would definitely not have scrutinized it too closely but how could i Changsu possibly have devised a way to smuggle Wei Zheng out as part of Xia Chuns wifes retinue?
Xia Chuns wife is from Wudang, right? She has a nephew called Li Xiao, right? As chance would have it, I had once done Li Xiao a favour, and in his gratitude, he would frequently visit to pay his respects. Li Xiao accompanied Xia Chuns wife this ti so I asked him to help relay a box of local goods to Langzhou. Do you think he would have refused? Once this box leaves the capital as part of Xia Chuns wifes retinue, arrives in a secluded place and gets seized by robbers, that wouldnt be entirely impossible, would it? i Changsu looked on leisurely as Xia Jiangs expression increasingly contorted in anger. Director Xia, Wei Zheng is no longer in the capital. You can no longer capture him. Its ti to give up.
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