The prince is more stable

Chapter 619 Interrogation
Liu Dan had never disappointed Zhao Xiaoqian.

Despite his physical disability, he was meticulous in his work and was undoubtedly the number one talent in the Song Dynasty when it came to interrogating prisoners.

In theory, as long as the prisoner falls into Liu Dan's hands, he can obtain any confession, whether true or false, concealed or exaggerated.

To be honest, Zhao Xiaoqian really hoped that Liu Dan would open a training class so that his skill in interrogating prisoners could be passed down from generation to generation.

The stack of confessions in front of him was very thick, but Zhao Xiaoqian was too lazy to flip through them himself.

"Just tell me directly what you gained from the imperial physician."

Liu Dan smiled obsequiously, "The imperial physicians' prescriptions are correct. The use of medicine is a matter for the palace. Every time the imperial physicians prescribe a prescription, someone from the palace will come to the Imperial Medical Bureau to take the prescription and then go to the palace to get the medicine and prepare it."

"The problem lies with the person who took the prescription..."

Zhao Xiaoqian finally perked up: "Is there something wrong with the person who got the prescription?"

Liu Dan hesitated for a moment, then said, "The people who come to the Imperial Medical Bureau to get prescriptions are basically the same ones. They are eunuchs from the Imperial Pharmacy of the Palace Palace. The Imperial Medical Bureau and the Imperial Pharmacy each have their own duties. When nobles in the palace need medicine, the Imperial Medical Bureau prescribes the medicine, and the Imperial Pharmacy fills and prepares it."

"The same applies to the young prince's medication. The imperial physician prescribes the medicine, and the Imperial Pharmacy dispenses it. Every time he is treated and the medicine is dispensed, both the Imperial Physician Bureau and the Imperial Pharmacy keep records. The two must be consistent, otherwise there will be problems."

Zhao Xiaoqian asked, "The Imperial Medical Bureau is fine, the problem lies with the Imperial Pharmacy?"

"Not entirely. During the month or so that the young prince was being treated, the first few times the prescriptions were obtained by eunuchs from the Imperial Pharmacy, but on one occasion the eunuchs were replaced by one from Consort Liu's palace."

Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes widened, and he stood up abruptly: "What does this mean? The eunuchs from Consort Liu's palace bypassed the Imperial Pharmacy and came directly to the Imperial Medical Bureau to get the prescription?"

"Yes, this is completely against the rules. The Imperial Medical Bureau refused the eunuch at the time, but the eunuch insisted, saying that the little prince had a high fever and was very sick, crying incessantly. Consort Liu, as the birth mother, was heartbroken and couldn't wait for the Imperial Pharmacy to diagnose the prescription, so she simply took the prescription and brewed the medicine herself."

"The eunuch was very arrogant, and the imperial physicians could not afford to offend him, so they had no choice but to hand over the prescription to him. However, the imperial physicians still recorded the matter in case they could not explain it in the future."

Zhao Xiaoqian slowly asked, "Who is that eunuch?"

"The person in charge of the day's work at Consort Liu's palace was named Zhang Xiang."

Zhao Xiaoqian then asked, "Have you checked the records of the Imperial Medical Bureau regarding this matter? Did Zhang Xiang really take the young prince's prescription?"

“This servant has checked again, and the Imperial Medical Bureau does indeed have a record of it; it was indeed Zhang Xiang who took the prescription.”

Zhao Xiaoqian pursed his lips and said, "Zhang Xiang may not be the murderer, because a murderer wouldn't take the prescription so openly, but he is definitely a suspect, and the Imperial City Guard must investigate thoroughly."

Liu Dan smiled bitterly and said, "I dared not investigate any further after I got this far. After all, Zhang Xiang is a person close to Consort Liu. Consort Liu is grieving the loss of her prince and is in a time of great sorrow. I really dared not question the people around her."

Zhao Xiaoqian glanced at him and said, "We still need to investigate. What we're doing right now is avenging the little prince, isn't it?"

Liu Dan flattered, "It is the most brilliant decision His Majesty has ever made to have the Imperial City Guard under your command. With Your Highness here, who is the Imperial City Guard afraid of?"

Zhao Xiaoqian sneered: "What, just because you put me on a high pedestal, I'm too embarrassed to come down? Liu Dan, take your men to Consort Liu's palace to arrest her, and say it was my order."

Liu Dan shuddered and her face turned pale: "Your Highness... I have always been loyal to you, please don't harm me."

Zhao Xiaoqian curled his lip: "Look at you, so incompetent! You'll spend your whole life in Bingjingwu, messing around with prisoners."

Liu Dan's worry turned to joy, and she laughed, "This servant is useless; this is all the meager skill I have. I have disappointed Your Highness."

Zhao Xiaoqian got up from the recliner in the courtyard, straightened his clothes, and said, "Fine, I'll go myself. This man named Zhang Xiang is the only clue we've found so far, we can't just ignore him."

As he spoke, Zhao Xiaoqian walked out of the Imperial City Guard, called Wei Jie and Liu Dan, and led more than twenty of his subordinates towards Yanfu Palace.

Yesterday, Zhao Xu made it very clear that in order to investigate this case, he would allow Zhao Xiaoqian to enter the inner palace directly.

But Zhao Xiaoqian wasn't that foolish. If a normal man entered the emperor's harem and something happened, it would be hard to explain. So, to avoid suspicion, Zhao Xiaoqian refused to agree.

Zhao Xu had no choice but to find him a side hall near the Xuanyou Gate of the front palace to carry out his duties.

When Zhao Xiaoqian led his men into the palace, they arrived at a side hall. They found the surrounding environment somewhat desolate, with weeds growing all over the ground. The roof and floor of the side hall were also riddled with holes and leaks, clearly indicating that it had not been repaired for many years.

Zhao Xiaoqian couldn't help but secretly purse his lips. Back then, when he created the snow salt, Zhao Xu had a share of the business. Logically speaking, Zhao Xu should not be poor now, but for some reason, the palace has not been repaired. Could it be that he is as greedy as he is, and like a Pixiu, only taking in and not giving out?

Upon entering the side hall, Wei Jie and his men made some simple arrangements, bringing in a few tables and chairs to serve as an office.

Zhao Xiaoqian did nothing but sit on the stone steps outside the hall with his legs crossed, squinting in the sun.

After a long while, when the arrangements were almost complete, Zhao Xiaoqian slowly said, "Wei Jie, go and convey my order to have the palace guards bring Zhang Xiang from Consort Liu's palace. I want to question him."

Wei Jie responded respectfully and turned to leave. Not long after, footsteps and noises came from outside the side hall. A group of people shoved and pushed their way in. Most of them were dressed in the robes of palace eunuchs and looked very arrogant. As they walked, they cursed and swore at Wei Jie beside them.

Wei Jie knew the palace was a dangerous place, and he dared not offend even the eunuchs. So he could only let the eunuchs curse him without saying a word.

Upon seeing this scene, Zhao Xiaoqian immediately frowned, but still watched coldly without showing any emotion.

The group walked into the side hall and saw Zhao Xiaoqian sitting in the center. The leading eunuch was taken aback and his arrogance finally subsided. He bowed respectfully to Zhao Xiaoqian.

Clearly, these eunuchs all recognized Zhao Xiaoqian. They knew the weight of this legendary figure of the Song Dynasty and dared not act presumptuously in his presence.

Eunuchs were actually the most snobbish but also the most perceptive group of people. They were best at praising the powerful and belittling the weak, and at speaking to people in a way that suited them.

Zhao Xiaoqian's status is evident; he is a national treasure whom even the current emperor relies on. How could a mere eunuch have the power to be arrogant in front of him?

Seeing that the eunuchs had all behaved themselves, Zhao Xiaoqian frowned and looked at Wei Jie: "I only asked you to bring Zhang Xiang to see me, why did you bring a whole group of people with you?"

Before Wei Jie could speak, a leading eunuch beside him interjected, "Your Highness, we all know that Your Highness is acting on imperial orders to investigate the case of the young prince. But Consort Liu is the young prince's biological mother. She would never harm her own son, would she?"

"Just now, the Imperial City Guards came to the palace. The already heartbroken Consort Xian was even more overwhelmed. She said that the little prince's body was barely cold before someone came to bully her. Consort Xian was furious and ordered us servants to come and demand an explanation from His Highness."

Zhao Xiaoqian remained expressionless and didn't bother to pay any attention to the eunuch.

Turning to look at Wei Jie, Zhao Xiaoqian said, "Follow the rules. Who is Zhang Xiang? Step forward. All other irrelevant people, leave the hall."

From the crowd, a young eunuch stepped forward tremblingly, his head bowed in fear and silence.

The leading eunuch shouted in a shrill voice, "Your Highness, we dare not leave the palace! Consort Xian is still waiting for an explanation from Your Highness. Instead of investigating the murderer who killed the young prince, the Imperial City Guards are coming to the young prince's mother's palace to arrest her. How can this be reasonable!"

Zhao Xiaoqian finally lost his temper.

I'm already giving you a serious warning by ignoring you, so why is this guy so eager to come and get himself killed?
Zhao Xiaoqian narrowed his eyes, staring at the leading eunuch, and asked, "Who are you?"

The leading eunuch puffed out his chest and said proudly, "This servant is the one who serves Consort Xian in her personal care. I am an official titled Chief Eunuch, and my name is Gong Jing."

Zhao Xiaoqian coldly said, "I am acting on imperial orders. All concubines, eunuchs, and palace women in the harem must cooperate unconditionally. Have you heard of this imperial edict?"

Gong Jing was taken aback, and said, "Of course I've heard of it, but..."

Before he could finish saying "but," a chill had already risen in Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes: "Since you've heard about it, then I'm here to hear the case, yet you keep interrupting and disrupting it, making trouble and interfering with the proceedings. What are your true intentions?"

Gong Jing saw the coldness in Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes and immediately broke out in a cold sweat, his face turning pale.

Zhao Xiaoqian had no patience for wasting words with him. He waved his hand and said, "Drag this man out of the palace and give him twenty strokes of the cane. After he's done, hand him over to Liu Dan of Bingjingwu for strict interrogation. Find out whether this man was involved in the plot to murder the young prince. Otherwise, why would he obstruct my investigation without cause?"

Gong Jing stood there dumbfounded for a long time. When he saw his subordinates from the Imperial City Guards step forward, tie his arms behind his back, and press his head down heavily, Gong Jing panicked and cried out in a shrill voice, "Your Highness, I am a servant of Consort Xian. I came here on her orders. How can Your Highness take me away!"

Zhao Xiaoqian waved his hand dismissively: "Take him away."

Gong Jing was taken away, and soon muffled thuds came from outside the hall. After each thud, Gong Jing screamed like a pig being slaughtered, and the screams gradually weakened.

Inside the side hall, Zhao Xiaoqian coldly surveyed the remaining eunuchs.

Several eunuchs were terrified by his gaze, breaking out in a cold sweat. At that moment, they finally understood why Zhao Xiaoqian was a legendary figure in the Song Dynasty.

He was decisive and ruthless, showing no mercy and was a pillar of the government.

Zhao Xiaoqian glanced at the remaining trembling eunuchs in the hall and said indifferently, "These people came along for no reason, they must be itching for a beating. Wei Jie, don't disappoint them, loosen their muscles, give each of them ten strokes of the cane."

Wei Jie waved his hand forcefully and said in a deep voice, "Take him away and give him ten strokes of the cane!"

After the eunuchs, crying and wailing, were dragged away, and the bystanders were finally dealt with, Zhao Xiaoqian looked at the only eunuch still standing in the hall.

"Your name is Zhang Xiang?" Zhao Xiaoqian asked.

"……Yes."

Zhao Xiaoqian lazily picked at his ear with his little finger and said indifferently, "Let's start with courtesy before resorting to force. Will you confess voluntarily, or will we wait for you to ask?"

"Just a heads up, it's good to proactively convey that everyone is at peace, but if we have to ask questions, the process might not be so pleasant."

(End of this chapter)