Chарtеr 371: Тhе Вrоnze Spаrrоw оf Сhаng'an Sings 25
By саndlelight, Zhu Yan сarefullу ехаminеd thе casе files, finally pressing her indех finger firmlу on thе nаmе оf the Liаng fаmilу hеаd, Liang Jirеn.
The neхt dаy, thе Liang family wаs raided аnd their prореrtу соnfisсated. Shеn Du lеd the Саbinеt in cоmpiling а list оf the Liang fаmilу’s variоus crimes, including оld cases linkеd tо thе Buddhа Swallowing Sins incidеnt. Аmоng them wеrе thе еаrlу murder оf thе seсond brаnch’s legitimаte sоn, Liаng Мan, whiсh drоvе thе second brаnch’s original wife, Ladу Wei, to madnеss, causing hеr to саll the Driрping Guanyin “Man’er.” Later, the Dripping Guanyin was used to murder the first branch’s legitimate son, Liang Chenzhong, though he was ultimately killed by having his heart dug out by the then Madam Tang. In truth, these were all acts of Liang Jiren and his brother Liang Jifu, who sacrificed their two sons as offerings to the Fire Moth Party behind Lai Luozhi. Even a tiger does not devour its own cubs—how cruel such behavior was.
The Liang brothers were sentenced to immediate beheading and taken directly to the Meridian Gate for public execution, leaving Lai Luozhi no time to react.
With one of his useful and obedient dogs suddenly slaughtered by his opponents, Lai Luozhi was so enraged that he immediately ordered someone to set fire to the case files of the Liang family’s crimes. He then went straight to the palace to bring the matter before the Empress, lodging an impeachment against Shen Du.
The first accusation was that Shen Du had abused his authority, indiscriminately killing innocents, terrifying the people, and destabilizing the Great Zhou.
The second accusation was that Shen Du was suspected of shielding the Crown Prince, who had committed unforgivable crimes, while the Cabinet had taken no action—neither announcing the investigation results nor detailing the trial progress.
The Empress, still “ill,” pushed the matter to Princess Chaoyang, who was overseeing state affairs.
Princess Chaoyang listened to Lai Luozhi’s statement as per protocol but did not explicitly state her stance. Then, with Princess Yong’an at her side adding a remark, Princess Chaoyang handed the matter over to Lai Luozhi to handle.
This was exactly what Lai Luozhi had been waiting for. With permission granted, he immediately arrested Shen Du and sent him to the Judicial Affairs Bureau. Crown Prince Li Chong was also escorted to the Judicial Affairs Bureau. Jing Lin, as Shen Du’s trusted aide, should have been arrested as well but managed to escape and was now wanted throughout the city.
All members of the Cabinet were arrested. Those who resisted were directly executed. Unable to bear this, Shen Du angrily rebuked them, and only then did they comply and join him in prison.
Entering the Judicial Affairs Bureau meant a slim chance of survival. Their lives were of little consequence, and their compliance stemmed from a desire to accompany their Cabinet Leader on his final journey.
The entire capital sensed something unusual. The joy that should have ushered in the twelfth month was now shrouded in an ominous gloom. In just a few days, the Crown Prince had first entered the Cabinet and then the Judicial Affairs Bureau. Even the White King of Hell, Shen Du, the Cabinet Leader with immense power who dared to challenge Lai Luozhi, had also entered the Judicial Affairs Bureau.
This seemed to signal a change of dynasty, but who would ultimately ascend to the throne—Princess Chaoyang, who was overseeing state affairs, a member of the Zhou clan, or perhaps Princess Yong’an—remained unknown. Everything was uncertain.
However, there was one who slipped through the net this time: Zhu Yan, the newly appointed Director of the Capital Division under the Ministry of Justice. Lai Luozhi did not arrest her, but she could no longer stay at the Shen residence and had to return to the Zhu family.
With Shen Du imprisoned, she truly felt the treacherous nature of court politics—it was like walking on a knife’s edge with one’s head at stake. As for why Lai Luozhi had temporarily spared her, Zhu Yan soon formed a suspicion and had it confirmed.
Lai Luozhi demanded that Zhu Yan provide false testimony against Shen Du to secure his conviction and silence the people.
“Unless I die, I will never agree,” Zhu Yan refused on the spot.
Lai Luozhi sinisterly raised a silk handkerchief to cover his lips. “You will agree,” he said before striding away.
Turning around, Zhu Yan navigated through streets and alleys, using the methods taught by Xu Xiangren to shake off her pursuers and rendezvous with the Unrighteous Agents.Unexpectedly, it was Yun Que who came to make contact. Without saying much, Zhu Yan followed closely behind Yun Que to meet Xu Xiangren.
——
In the dungeons of the Judicial Affairs Bureau, one moment he was the lofty leader of the Grand Cabinet, and the next, he was imprisoned as a major criminal.
Lai Luozhi was even more cautious, sending his deputy to deal with Crown Prince Li Chong while he personally came to interrogate Shen Du.
The dungeon was dark and damp, surrounded by brick and stone walls where every sound echoed. Beyond that, there was no other noise, nor any glimpse of daylight. Even the most stubborn prisoners eventually broke down and confessed.
Lai Luozhi got straight to the point, speaking arrogantly, "Shen Du, never thought you'd have a day like this, did you? Now, there's no Mo Qianzhi to plead for you."
With Lai Luozhi's tacit approval, the deputies of the Judicial Affairs Bureau subjected Shen Du to every torture device available. Now, Shen Du bore no trace of his former elegance—his hair was disheveled, his clothes tattered, and his body covered in whip marks. The whips had been coated with poison, preventing the wounds from healing. His chest, back, arms, and face were crisscrossed with lash marks, flesh torn open to the bone, yet unable to scab over. Blood flowed like a small stream, unstoppable.
Excessive blood loss and severe torture had left even the iron-willed Shen Du on the brink of death. Amid the ringing in his ears, he heard Lai Luozhi's questioning. Struggling, Shen Du lifted his head, half-opening his blood-caked dark eyes. With a ferocious, blood-stained smile, he spat a mouthful of blood at the approaching Lai Luozhi.
"Hmph, still provoking me even at death's door. Shen Du, you truly aren't clever," Lai Luozhi said, wiping the blood from his face with a silk handkerchief. His gray eyes flickered darkly as he curiously brought a drop of Shen Du's blood to his lips, savoring it with a look of obsession.
"Truly delicious."
Shen Du gasped for breath, unable to dodge, but his disgust was unmistakable.
"Bang!" A heavy fist suddenly struck Shen Du's abdomen, causing the wound there to bleed even faster. Shen Du let out a muffled groan, trembling all over as if his internal organs were being twisted with iron tongs.
Shen Du was a man of extraordinary willpower, which only highlighted the full force Lai Luozhi had used in that strike—intended solely to make Shen Du suffer.
Seeing Shen Du show no sign of begging for mercy, Lai Luozhi grew impatient. He walked over and sat down, leisurely crossing his legs.
"If you had simply sided with me, I wouldn't have had to do all this. We could have worked together seamlessly for mutual benefit. It's all because you were so uncooperative, daring to touch my people."
Before he could finish, Lai Luozhi noticed Shen Du had passed out from the pain. He personally picked up a basin of ice water mixed with special drugs and splashed it over Shen Du.
Shen Du slowly regained consciousness, feeling an oppressive mix of icy cold and scorching heat assaulting his body. If not for his clenched teeth and sheer willpower, he might have succumbed to mental collapse, just as Lai Luozhi intended.
He sneered, "The Judicial Affairs Bureau truly lives up to its reputation. I, Shen Du, have now experienced it—no regrets in this life."
"Heh heh, you want to die? I won't let you. Only when I decide you can die will you die." Lai Luozhi spoke arrogantly, yet everyone believed he had the power to make it so.
He reached out a finger to gently stroke Shen Du's face, his gaze complex. "You know, you're so beautiful. If I had really let you die back then, wouldn't that have been a pity?"
As he spoke, a fanatical gleam appeared in his eyes. He leaned close to Shen Du's ear and exhaled softly.
"Why not follow me? From now on, with you by my side, who in this world could stand against us?"This action was truly enough to give one goosebumps. Shen Du was in excruciating pain, yet he forced himself to turn his head and glance between Lai Luozhi’s legs, curling the corner of his mouth:
“This office sent someone to Tongguan County to investigate Lord Lai’s background. Originally, it was to gather evidence that Lai Luofu had long been dead, but instead, this office uncovered some unusual events from the past. Would Lord Lai be interested in hearing them?”
Lai Luozhi glanced at him with his gray eyes: “What matter has the Chief of the Eastern Depot so concerned?” His tone was dismissive, not believing that Shen Du could have obtained any substantial evidence. Otherwise, he would surely have already used it to bring him down—why wait until today?
Then there was no harm in listening.
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