The prince is more stable

Chapter 591 Follow the clues
The Prince's Residence.

Zhao Xiaoqian sat opposite Li Qingchen, looking at Li Qingchen with a worried expression as Li Qingchen held a bowl in one hand and chopsticks in the other, eating with his mouth full of oil.

When this guy used to come over for a free meal, he would sometimes act a little embarrassed and coy, and occasionally he would bring a small gift to show that he didn't want to freeload.

Now this guy not only shows up empty-handed, but he doesn't even bother with any coy expressions anymore; he just comes in shouting that he wants to eat.

Does he really have no sense of decency at all? Or have I been giving him too much face lately?

Although I was busy with military affairs and dumped all the political affairs of Zhen Ding Prefecture on him, it wasn't easy for him to manage such a huge mess like a beast of burden, but... that can't be used as an excuse to shamelessly freeload!
"Old Li, are you an orphan? Don't you have a home?" Zhao Xiaoqian sighed helplessly.

Li Qingchen wiped his greasy mouth and said, "When I went to take up my post in Zhending Prefecture, my wife and children stayed in my hometown of Anyang to take care of my parents. I went to take up my post alone. In Zhending City, there is only one tile house to shelter me from the wind and rain, and only one old servant to serve me. It makes no difference whether I have a home or not."

Zhao Xiaoqian's cheek twitched slightly. He was already in such a sorry state. Wouldn't it be impolite to kick him out?

Fine, let him mooch off us if he likes it. Hardworking cattle and horses will be fed more hay by their owners. Judge Li's treatment can't be worse than that of an animal, can it?

Thinking of this, Zhao Xiaoqian felt completely relieved. He even offered Li Qingchen some food, saying gently, "Old Li, eat more. Look how thin you are. You've been so busy with official duties in Zhen Ding Prefecture that you've become unrecognizable. It breaks my heart to see you like this..."

Li Qingchen was extremely grateful and quickly expressed his thanks.

After eating almost all of his food, Li Qingchen wiped his mouth, took out a piece of paper covered in writing from his pocket, and handed it to Zhao Xiaoqian.

"Huh?" Zhao Xiaoqian took it blankly.

Upon unfolding it, Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes immediately lit up.

It turned out to be a gift list, containing neither too many nor too few items, but still amounting to several thousand strings of cash.

Zhao Xiaoqian had received countless gifts in his life, but this one was the least valuable. Yet, it was actually from Li Qingchen. Given Li Qingchen's stinginess, it would have been quite remarkable for him to give a gift worth several thousand strings of cash.

Zhao Xiaoqian was overjoyed and patted Li Qingchen on the shoulder, laughing loudly, "I never expected you to be like this, Old Li! You've finally become sensible! I'm an honest and upright man, penniless and I never engage in bribery or anything like that. But since this gift is from you, it's worth remembering."

"Hurry up and send the gift over, I'll store it in the warehouse as a keepsake."

Li Qingchen's face immediately flushed with embarrassment, feeling extremely ashamed. He said in a low voice, "Your Highness has misunderstood. This gift was not given by me; it was given to me by someone else."

Then Li Qingchen added, "Of course, I have long wished to offer my respects to Your Highness, but unfortunately I am short of funds and cannot provide anything. If Your Highness does not mind, I will send someone to deliver the items on this gift list as a way of offering them to Your Highness."

Zhao Xiaoqian's expression froze.

I thought he had matured, but he's still not mature enough...

"How could I possibly accept gifts from others?" Zhao Xiaoqian said righteously, and casually stuffed the gift list into his pocket.

"By the way, why did they give you this? Do they need your help with something?" Zhao Xiaoqian patted his shoulder.

"Law is no different from human sentiment. Given our relationship, if it's not a big deal, you might as well agree. I'll turn a blind eye and let it go. I can't let you lose face in front of others, right?"

Li Qingchen smiled and said, "I have no connection with the person who sent the gift; we only met today. Whether I agree to the request or not is entirely up to Your Highness."

Zhao Xiaoqian raised an eyebrow: "It seems to be a big deal. Tell me about it first."

Li Qingchen slowly said, "A few days ago, the Imperial City Guard, acting on Your Highness's orders, arrested more than ten Taoist priests from the Xuanqing Temple outside the city. Does Your Highness remember this?"

"Of course I remember, the Imperial City Guard is still interrogating them in prison right now."

Li Qingchen smiled and said, "Your Highness, the person who came to plead for mercy has arrived. He gave me this generous gift and asked me to do him a favor and release those dozen or so Taoist priests."

Zhao Xiaoqian was taken aback: "Give you such a large sum of money for a dozen or so Taoist priests? What was that person thinking?"

Li Qingchen shook his head and said, "This humble official does not know the background of that person, nor does he know why he would spend this money to bribe the government, just to rescue those dozen or so Taoist priests."

"But I am certain that the man is merely someone who has surfaced, and he is just doing someone else's bidding."

After pondering for a long time, Zhao Xiaoqian asked, "Old Li, what do you think?"

Li Qingchen said, "If it were just a trivial matter, it would be fine to turn a blind eye and let it go. However, I heard that Your Highness personally ordered the Imperial City Guard to handle this case. Although I do not know the details of this case, I know that Your Highness must have a reason. Whether to release those Taoist priests or not, I will listen to Your Highness."

Zhao Xiaoqian hummed in agreement and said, "Old Li, I won't lie to you. I have ordered a thorough investigation into the Xuanqing Temple matter. Under the jurisdiction of Zhen Ding Prefecture, such a heinous den will not be tolerated. It must be eradicated completely."

"The Imperial City Guard is still investigating who's behind Xuanqing Temple. I never expected someone would actually step forward to offer you a gift. Heh, they really delivered themselves to your doorstep." Li Qingchen cautiously asked, "What evil deeds has Xuanqing Temple committed? I'm completely clueless about this matter. Could Your Highness please enlighten me?"

Zhao Xiaoqian then recounted what he had seen and heard a few days earlier during the Dragon King worship ceremony outside the city.

Upon hearing this, Li Qingchen flew into a rage, slamming his fist on the table and exclaiming, "They are utterly depraved and deserve to die! Your Highness, I believe this matter should indeed be thoroughly investigated. Otherwise, who knows how many more innocent children will lose their lives and how many innocent villagers will be swindled out of their money under the jurisdiction of Zhen Ding Prefecture?"

Zhao Xiaoqian said calmly, "Judging from the current signs, the evil Xuanqing Temple may just be a pawn..."

"The real mastermind has not yet surfaced. Moreover, this mastermind's pawns are not limited to Xuanqing Temple, nor to Zhengding Prefecture. He should have a huge organization that specializes in swindling money and amassing wealth in various places."

Li Qingchen said, "Your Highness, the person who delivered the gift today is a scholar named Tian Jing. He said that he took the imperial examination twice but failed both times. In my opinion, this Tian Jing should also be a pawn."

After a pause, Li Qingchen tentatively suggested, "Your Highness, should we use this person as bait to secretly set up surveillance and follow the clues to find out who is behind him?"

Zhao Xiaoqian laughed: "Whether they are pawns or not, let's take them first. On my turf, I'm too lazy to play mind games with these people. With absolute strength, no schemes or tricks will work."

"First, let the Imperial City Guard arrest the person, interrogate them, and then interrogate them. We'll arrest each person we can get out of their mouth. I just want to see what other hidden talents are out there in Zhen Ding Prefecture that I dare not touch."

…………

The Imperial City Guard was dispatched as ordered. Less than half an hour after Li Qingchen left the Prince's Mansion, the Imperial City Guard found Tian Jing in an inn in Zhen Ding City and then locked him up and imprisoned him.

The incident happened suddenly. Tian Jing was still waiting for news from Li Qingchen at the inn. He was even a little relaxed and smug.

For him, today's trip to Zhen Ding City was just a small matter of completing a task assigned by his master. The money was delivered, and Judge Li got the job done. Everyone was happy. If Li Qingchen really didn't give him face, Tian Jing could bring out the person behind the scenes, and then he would have no choice but to give him face.

But to his utter surprise, less than half an hour later, Li Qingchen, who had agreed so readily, suddenly changed his mind.

Not only did they not do anything for him, they also arrested and imprisoned him.

When the Imperial City Guards rushed into the inn, Tian Jing was still completely bewildered. When he was pinned to the ground and his arms were twisted behind his back at an odd angle, screaming in pain, Tian Jing finally realized that his trip to Zhen Ding City was probably doomed.

The officialdom in Zhen Ding City has truly abandoned all rules. They take money but do nothing, yet they actually get things done for the person who paid them.

That's outrageous! Are they planning to make money standing up?
As Tian Jing screamed and cursed, the Imperial City Guards ignored his reaction, tied him up, and left. An hour later, Tian Jing was thrown into the Zhen Ding City Prison.

The prison was dark and damp, filled with a nauseating stench. After entering the prison, Tian Jing was tied to a bloodstained wooden frame, like Jesus being tortured.

No one was going to play mind games with him. Zhao Xiaoqian's orders were urgent, and the Imperial City Guard couldn't afford to waste any time.

Just as Tian Jing was tied up, people entered the signing room.

Zhao Xin, an official in the Imperial City Guard, has already achieved a certain rank, but his position remains unchanged. Zhao Xin always has a strong desire to improve himself, but he has too few opportunities to make meritorious contributions. Hopefully, this time he will not be disappointed.

Zhao Xin entered the signing room, found a comfortable chair, sat down, crossed his legs, and leisurely looked at Tian Jing.

"Let's not beat around the bush, Tian Jing, right? You've committed a crime. Will you confess voluntarily, or will I torture you and then make you confess?"

Tian Jing gritted her teeth and stared at him fiercely.

Zhao Xin smiled and said, "Many heroes who come here think that if they just stay silent and refuse to say a word, the government can't do anything to them. They also think that they are heroes and that they will never utter a single word under any torture."

As he spoke, Zhao Xin sighed and laughed, "Unfortunately, many people underestimate the government's methods and overestimate their own backbone. No matter how stubborn they are, once they are tortured a few times, they will cry and shout that they are willing to confess. Some heroes can't even withstand one instrument of torture."

Zhao Xin stood up, looked Tian Jing up and down and laughed, "I see you have fair skin and tender flesh, you must be a scholar. You scholars always talk about integrity and backbone, hehe, all talk and no action. Let's have a test. If you can withstand two instruments of torture, I will respect you as a real man."

Tian Jing's face had turned pale, and large beads of cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

Since entering prison, he has not been subjected to any torture instruments, but the psychological trauma and pressure caused by Zhao Xin's gentle and eloquent speech were no less than that caused by torture instruments.

Zhao Xin glanced at Tian Jing's reaction and couldn't help but smile, though his smile was tinged with disappointment.

Well, this guy is probably not some kind of hero.

"Men, bring out all our instruments of torture so this hero can see them for himself," Zhao Xin ordered.

(End of this chapter)