Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 455 Going in Circles

The inner hall of the official residence.

Qin Chang and Zhang Luan sat on each side, holding tea bowls in their hands, and Zhu Ji and several Jinyiwei stood beside them.

Wei Xing was then escorted up.

"Greetings to Eunuch Tan and to Mr. Zhang."

When Wei Xing arrived, he wanted to kowtow, but was pulled back by the Jinyiwei who were escorting him from behind, and he couldn't even kneel down.

Qin Chang said: "Although it is said that the more courtesy, the less blame, but now there is no need, after all, you are like this. I have to explain the situation here. Now my family is the chief writer of the Silijian and the director of the Dongchang. And this person is no longer Zhang Honglu, but Zhang Shilang of the Ministry of Rites, and Zhang Shilang is also the president of the Hanlin Academy."

After hearing this, Wei Xing couldn't help but feel frightened.

Of the two people he hated to the core, one still retained power, and even as the head of the factory guards had the power of life and death, while the other was also promoted to a high position and would soon become the father-in-law of the emperor.

Wei Xing hurriedly said, "Greetings to both of you."

"I told you not to be so polite." Qin Chang put down his tea bowl and said seriously, "I asked you to come here today because I have three questions for you. You must answer truthfully."

"I must tell you everything I know and say everything I know."

Wei Xing quickly expressed his opinion.

Qin Chang glanced at Zhang Luan and asked, "Mr. Zhang, let me ask first?"

"please."

Zhang Luan gestured with his hand.

Qin Chang then said, "Wei Xing, you also know that you were arrested and brought back to the capital to stand trial because you were convicted, right?"

"I understand. I understand everything." Wei Xing said.

"Okay, then we'll ask."

Qin Chang said, "First of all, you should know that Eunuch Huai En has returned to the court, right?"

Wei Xing was stunned and thought, is this the first question you want to ask me?

What effect does it have on you whether I know it or not?
"Know."

Wei Xing said, "I don't know exactly when he came back, and I don't know what position he holds now."

Qin Chang smiled and said, "You don't need to know anything else. Just understand one thing. If you don't answer well, then next time, Eunuch Huai may come to ask you in person. As for how he will interrogate you, I don't need to remind you specifically, right?"

Wei Xing couldn't help but shudder, seeming to be very afraid of Huai En.

Zhang Luan, who was standing nearby, saw this scene and thought to himself, it turns out that the East Factory Director's way of interrogating prisoners is unique. Does he like to beat around the bush so much right from the start?
Qin Chang said: "Okay, my first question is, about half a year ago, Eunuch Huai was assassinated by a villain, and his life was almost taken away at that time... Is this incident related to you? Or, do you know about it?"

"Not aware."

Wei Xing answered very straightforwardly, "I have no knowledge of this, let alone any involvement in planning this. I have great respect for Eunuch Huai, and I have always given him gifts during festivals. How could I have such evil intentions? Eunuch Qin, you must be more discerning."

Qin Chang shook his head and said, "Don't tell me this. You have to provide evidence when you speak. How can you prove that the matter has nothing to do with you?"

"I……"

Wei Xing really wanted to ask, how do you prove that the matter is related to me?

Now let me prove my innocence?

It seems a little difficult!

"Although I don't know who planned this, I think it must be related to Liang Fang. I would like to ask Eunuch Tan to check Liang Fang. He must know about this... and maybe he is the instigator."

At this point, Wei Xing betrayed Liang Fang without hesitation.

Qin Chang said, "Wei Xing, I have already said this before. If you know the truth but deliberately keep silent, you will be punished more severely after investigation. Don't blame the court for being harsh, saying that you have worked hard for the court for half your life, but in the end you can't even save your life."

Wei Xing said with a sad face: "I really don't know."

"it is good."

Qin Chang nodded, "Just assume you don't know. As for the second thing, you participated in the conspiracy to establish King Xing, which was to help Concubine Shao's son seize the position of crown prince. You know this, right?"

"This one……"

Wei Xing wanted to deny it, but then he thought that some things could not be concealed. As Liang Fang's top man, if he said that he didn't even know that Liang Fang was secretly pushing for the change of storage, wouldn't that be like lying to the devil?
If you refuse to admit it, you will most likely be tortured tonight.

"Why are you hesitating when I ask you a question?"

Qin Chang said, "You only have one chance to answer. Minister Zhang is watching...Your Majesty has ordered us to come here to ask you questions. You must answer truthfully."

Wei Xing said: "I did know about this matter... It was all instructed by Liang Fang, the eunuch. At that time, I was blinded by greed and was bewitched by Liang Fang. In fact, I did not do anything. Even if something happened, it was Liang Fang who planned and promoted it behind the scenes."

"Ah."

Qin Chang was very satisfied with this answer, and he even looked at the clerk beside him, meaning, "Have you all recorded it?"
After a while, Tan Chang said, "The third thing is, when you were planning to establish King Xing, who in the court were connected with you, or formed a clique? In particular, which officials knew about this?"

This time, Wei Xing would not dare to bite anyone casually, and said solemnly: "Everything was instructed by Eunuch Liang. As for who he told, and whether the court officials knew or cooperated, I don't know. Eunuch Qin, you should know that I have always followed orders and never dared to disobey the will of the emperor. After all, there is someone behind this."

Qin Chang was very angry, but he didn't say anything further, deliberately leaving the opportunity to Zhang Luan.

Zhang Luan was very annoyed when he heard this, and asked angrily: "Eunuch Wei, you don't mean to say that everything you did was instructed by the late emperor, right?"

"I dare not act rashly."

Wei Xing hurriedly explained, "Liang Fang told me everything, and she was very sure about it... I really didn't know anything about it."

Qin Chang said, "I asked you to explain which court officials were connected with you, but you insisted on bringing it up with the late emperor... Even now, you still want to get away with it? Wei Xing, I advise you that keeping your life is more important than anything else. As long as you answer the questions carefully, it won't be difficult for you to stay alive based on your past contributions."

"I really don't know."

Wei Xing almost cried out, "Liang Fang is a vicious and cunning man. He has long controlled the government and done whatever he wants. He also embezzled military pay and food, causing the soldiers in the army to suffer... I have tried to persuade him many times, but he just wouldn't listen."

Qin Chang asked sternly: "Then you have to name a few people... At least tell us who was involved besides you two. If you know about it but don't report it, it's a serious crime!" "This..."

Wei Xing said in embarrassment, "Why doesn't Eunuch Tan ask Liang Fang? He knows everything very well, and I am just a chess piece that he can use and then discard."

Qin Chang shook his head and said, "I can't prove anything with just one person. If I ask you a question, you should answer it truthfully... Tell me, who in the court knows about this?"

Wei Xing thought for a long time, and finally gritted his teeth and shook his head repeatedly.

"Mr. Zhang, I think what we said was right, didn't I? This kind of person won't cry until he sees the coffin." Qin Chang said fiercely, "In my opinion, we should release him for the time being and then interrogate Liang Fang... What do you think?"

"It's all up to Eunuch Tan."

Zhang Luan seems very easy-going.

Anyway, I don't know anything about interrogation techniques, so I'll do whatever you say.

……

……

Wei Xing was escorted back without getting any results.

Then Liang Fang was brought to the back hall.

Unlike Wei Xing who was servile from the beginning, Liang Fang appeared very proud in front of Tan Chang and Zhang Luan, holding his head high and chest puffed out, giving an air of being too powerful to bend.

"We meet again, Eunuch Liang?"

When Qin Chang saw Liang Fang standing below and being interrogated by him, he felt an indescribable psychological satisfaction at seeing his former mortal enemy fall into such a state, and a smile was almost overflowing from his face.

Liang Fang turned her head away and said angrily: "Liang has fallen into such a situation today. You can kill me or chop me up as you wish. No matter what you do, my family will have a clear conscience."

Qin Chang said with a smile: "Mr. Zhang, you see, he still refuses to repent and admit his mistakes. It seems that he has to be sentenced to death!"

Zhang Luan said: "It's not appropriate to sentence them to death directly. We have to ask a few questions to understand the situation. Otherwise, if we don't know anything, people will think we are just going through the motions..."

"Since Mr. Zhang has said so, he must die with a clear conscience."

Qin Chang nodded, and then said loudly, "Liang Fang, now dozens of people in the court have impeached and reported you, saying that when you were the eunuch of the Imperial Horse Administration, you had exploited court officials many times, accepted huge bribes, enriched yourself, and even withheld military supplies and wages. Your crimes are unforgivable. Is this true?"

"No, these are all trumped-up charges. Our family is innocent."

Liang Fang denied it sternly.

"Haha, are you still innocent?"

Qin Chang said with a smile, "Don't think that we don't have any evidence just because you just returned to the court. The bad things you instructed the censors to do secretly are known to His Majesty and the court. You also intended to harm Mr. Zhang and a group of East Palace lecturers. These are also solid evidence.

"Do you think that if there were no witnesses or physical evidence, the late emperor would have exiled you from the capital and not allowed you to return to the capital to attend the court before his death?"

Liang Fang was so angry that she was shaking all over.

It was precisely because he was in custody and knew that the crime he had committed was serious enough to have his property confiscated and his family exterminated, but he still wanted to maintain his demeanor and manners in front of others.

This is his last bit of dignity.

Liang Fang finally chose to remain silent, neither admitting nor denying.

Qin Chang shouted, "Liang Fang, you intend to promote the change of crown prince, violating the rule that eunuchs are not allowed to interfere in government affairs. At the same time, you colluded with treacherous officials and profiteers in and outside the court to create conveniences for the construction of the imperial palace, and even took this opportunity to embezzle the treasury money. There are only two options before you now. Either you confess everything in exchange for a reduction in your guilt. The other option..."

"I choose the second option."

Liang Fang raised his head and said, "I have died many times before, so I don't mind dying one more time. But let me put it this way, even if I die, it doesn't matter, but there will always be someone to take my place, and there will never be peace in the court."

Qin Chang said sinisterly, "Are you planning to resist to the end? Come, take the man back. Eunuch Huai En may come to interrogate him tomorrow. Let's adjourn."

……

……

Nothing was revealed during this temporary court session, and it seemed that Wei Xing and Liang Fang had gotten away with it smoothly.

Zhang Luan asked in surprise: "Eunuch Qin, we have questioned the criminals separately, but found nothing... Is this the end of the matter today?"

"Yes."

Qin Chang smiled and said, "We were in such a rush. I just came to ask them a few questions."

Zhang Luan frowned slightly and shook his head, "Is it just a matter of a few words? I was thinking that except for the two of us and the Jinyiwei, no one knew what they said. Those people in the court who were connected with them must be having trouble sleeping and eating now, right?"

"Yes."

Qin Chang echoed, "This is called stirring up trouble... But we have to find someone to spread the news tomorrow, so that people in the court will soon know that Liang Fang and Li Xing, two powerful officials who once did all kinds of evil, have now completely fallen."

Zhang Luan frowned and asked, "Liang Fang is so confident. Doesn't he think that everything he did was instructed by the late emperor and that he is innocent?"

“And don’t speculate blindly.”

Qin Chang said, "No matter what the late emperor did, we cannot accuse them. As slaves, they will be held accountable if they do something that is not their duty. Now, killing or keeping them is just a matter of a word from your majesty... But if you say a few good words for them..."

Zhang Luan sighed, "I have to say nice things. Otherwise, their remaining followers in the court might become desperate and start a bloody storm that will be difficult to resolve."

"That's true."

Qin Chang echoed, "For example, the current seal holder of the Imperial Stables, Eunuch Luo Xiang, and many others, such as Chen Xi from the Imperial Household Department, are also very close to Liang Fang and Wei Xing. If we kill them all with one blow, no one will work for the court. Mr. Zhang, you see, it was you who uncovered their conspiracy. Now, are you..."

Zhang Luan said, "I'm afraid it's not appropriate for me to write the memorial. You have to personally organize the interrogation process and submit it to His Majesty."

"it is good."

Qin Chang thought to himself, this gift is really worth it!
It's rare to see Zhang Luan being so sensible. I was worried that he would do something wrong.

Now it can be confirmed that if we spend a little time on him, we can make him friendly. This powerful official is not as domineering and difficult to deal with as Li Zisheng.

(End of this chapter)