Ink Burns

Chapter 235 The Censorate Arrests People

Under the intense pressure from the Censorate, articles and rumors suddenly appeared in the capital. The content no longer focused solely on the words of the Prefect of the Capital, but instead dug up all the dirty deeds that the Chang family had done over the past twenty years: embezzlement, collusion between officials, collusion between officials and merchants, money-power transactions, and disregard for human life. Each and every one of these acts almost constituted a chronicle of the Chang family's rise to power.

A few days later, the magic began.

Along with the "common occurrences" in officialdom, a number of rumors, some true and some false, some half true and some half false, also emerged. The family secrets of the Chang family, the love affairs between men and women, and many other shocking secrets of the wealthy family that met the expectations and speculations of the common people gradually surfaced through some small bookstores and storytelling teahouses in the capital.

For example, why is Young Master Rong, the newly promoted martial arts scholar of the Chang family, so favored by Marquis Chang Lin of Guanbei? Could it be that Young Master Rong is a hidden gem of the main branch that has been left out?

For example, why didn't Chang Yusu marry? Was it because he inherited his father's traits? It is said that Marquis Chang Lin of Guanbei had a close relationship with Marquis Cui Bainian of Wuding, and coincidentally, the eldest son of the Chang family and the heir of the Cui family were also well-known sworn brothers in the capital.
The true crimes of the Chang family, along with these mixed true and false secrets, were passed down by word of mouth and spread widely.

Among them, the story of a foreman from a mine in the southwest border region who went to the capital to beat the Dengwen Drum and roll a rake to petition the emperor on behalf of his son became the pinnacle of the war against the Chang family.

In the front courtyard of the Guanbei Marquis's residence, a sturdy wooden shed stood with stone blocks, targets, and stone locks placed beside it. Chang Lin, with his hands outstretched, was reading the "Record of the Conquest of Chang," the most talked-about piece in the capital city recently. His face turned ashen as he read it, and he almost crumpled the paper and threw it on the ground.

The Right Battalion Commandant of the Xishan Camp stood respectfully to the side, carefully observing Chang Lin's expression. He bowed and said, "...These are all baseless rumors. Don't be offended; they're just things the Censorate has come up with to annoy you."

"Investigate! Tell the Prefect of the Capital to investigate! Find out who wrote it! They did it! Make them pay!"

The Right Battalion Commandant shrank back and chuckled dryly, "These past few days, the Prefect of the Capital has dared not take our business."

Chang Lin's face hardened: Yes, the Prefect of the Capital was in trouble because of Chang Yusu's escape, and he didn't get to eat mutton. Now he is also overwhelmed by the Censorate and has no time to worry about anything else.

Chang Lin's broad jawline jutted out with anger, and his voice was deep: "Then let our own people investigate!"

The Right Battalion Commandant rubbed his hands and replied, "These past few days, there have been people watching the Western Mountain Camp and your residence. If we cross the line, wouldn't that give the Censorate a handle to arrest us? In my opinion, it would be safer for you to ask the Ministry of Personnel for a few more days off, citing your illness. We would be safer if we didn't leave the residence."

He paused for a moment, then continued, “According to the decree of the founding emperor, the Censorate only needs the chief official of the Censorate to review the case and the evidence before arresting someone. There is no need to report to the Cabinet or the Ministry of Justice. The Censorate has come with great force this time, and it seems that they will not stop until you are executed on the spot. Fortunately, Xiao Po is now in charge of the Censorate. He does not have the courage to storm the Marquis’s residence. As long as you stay at home, the imperial edict of the Marquis of Guanbei will be your greatest protection.”

The Right Battalion Commandant swallowed the rest of his sentence: If the Censorate were still under the control of Xue the Mad Dog, no matter if you were hiding in your mansion or the Grand Princess's residence, as long as he had the testimony to accuse the Emperor, where wouldn't he dare to break in?
But the Right Battalion Commandant dared not speak out. If he did, Chang Lin would feel that he was boosting the morale of others and "looking down on him." Chang Lin was a military man by birth, simple-minded, and even simpler in his dealings. In the Xishan Camp, whoever drank and fought with him was his trusted confidant, still adhering to the old Jianghu rules of "those who obey me prosper, those who defy me perish." Some spoiled rich kids from the capital, having nowhere else to go, were dumped into the Xishan Camp. They could get an official position through their ancestors' influence, gain a title so they could start a family and be listed in the family genealogy. With so many people and such management, the Xishan Camp inevitably became lax and negligent.
Before the Right Battalion Commandant could finish speaking, Chang Lin understood and waved his hand with a stern face, signaling him to step back.

As soon as the Right Battalion Commandant stepped down, Zhou Fangniang came forward in the front courtyard corridor, timidly carrying a tray. She knelt on one knee and respectfully offered a bowl of medicinal pigeon soup with both hands.

The broth is dark brown with a few specks of oil floating on the surface, and it smells like a blend of meat and medicinal aromas.

Chang Lin was irritable and annoyed. He glanced at the soup and was about to raise his hand to knock it over.

Zhou Fangniang spoke up at the right moment. She was not young, but her voice was still very good, clear and crisp: "You should eat some of this. It's hot and dry. I specially selected five-finger peach, astragalus, and polygonatum to stew the pigeon. It's good for reducing internal heat and replenishing qi. I'm just trying to prevent you from getting heatstroke when you go to court tomorrow."

What I said before was all nonsense; there's nothing good about it.

The second half of the sentence made Chang Lin raise an eyebrow.

"You also think I shouldn't plead illness tomorrow and should go to court?" Chang Lin asked. Zhou Fangniang smiled gently, her demeanor docile: "The Chang family has never been afraid of losing. Asking you to plead illness would be asking you to surrender to the Censorate. Can you endure that?"

Chang Lin glanced down at his wife, who was humble and submissive, and smiled crookedly: "After all these years, this is the first time you, you wretched woman, have spoken like a human being."

He paused, then asked, "What does Your Highness mean?"

Zhou Fangniang lowered her head even further: "Your Highness also means the same thing. There's no need to endure any longer. So what if the Sun family comes rolling rakes to lodge a complaint with the Emperor? Does the Emperor really dare to kill you? No matter how fierce the Censorate's attack is, they're just the Emperor's dog. The Emperor still has to be mindful of our feelings, not to mention that watchdog—the Censorate wouldn't dare to do anything to you!"

Chang Lin laughed heartily: "That's exactly right!"

Zhou Fangniang buried her head and served the soup bowl again.

Chang Lin tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, feeling quite pleased with himself.

A bit bitter.

But good medicine is always bitter.

Moreover, it is also used to relieve dryness and reduce internal heat.

Only then did Zhou Fangniang dare to cautiously lift her eyelids, her gaze complex as she looked at the empty medicine bowl on the table, then stealing a cryptic glance at Chang Lin.

Chang Linzhi was smug and arrogant.

A surge of uncontrollable joy welled up inside Zhou Fangniang. She looked at Chang Lin as if he were a lamb that had been locked up for a month, its eyes, mouth, and ears shut, waiting to be slaughtered.

It's so ridiculous.

Zhou Fangniang gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, the smile on her lips a cruel mockery.

Chang Lin is absolutely ridiculous!

Even as death looms, he remains blindly arrogant! He is completely unaware of the repeated power struggles between Jing'an and the Cui family because of him, and even less aware of the murderous intent secretly harbored by his bedmate over the past month!
The next morning, Chang Lin tidied his clothes and rode out of the mansion to court.

The tall horse had just turned the dimly lit street corner when someone rushed up to it and used brute force to restrain the reins.

Before Chang Lin could react, the newcomer lifted the black cloak and mask, and with a wave of his hand, revealed a crimson issuing order.

"The case of the Sun family in Xingyi, Southwest China, was transferred to the Censorate yesterday—Lord Chang, come with us."