National Division

Chapter 77 So... the Joker is just me?

Dali Temple, prison
Zhou Liang's face was ashen, and his gaze was solemn.

If he were merely a scholar of the Zhaowen Pavilion, he would have seen plenty of such cases. But he was a high-ranking official among the Nine Ministers, clad in purple robes and jade belts, and was also a favorite of the Empress. What was there to fear?
But how could a person who holds both civil and military positions have such a grand and generous family?

However, in a moment of reflection, Zhou Liang secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He did not use torture, but the random arrests were all Suo Yuanli's doing and had nothing to do with him!

It can be said that this Minister of Justice has already found a scapegoat.

Shen Xian received the imperial decree, sat down on the licorice cushion, looked earnestly at Gao Yanfu, and asked, "Eunuch Gao, do you have paper, pen, and blank memorials?"

Upon hearing this, Gao Yanfu was taken aback for a moment, then asked curiously, "Mr. Shen, what's this?"

Shen Xian said, "I want to submit a memorial to the Empress Dowager."

Gao Yanfu's heart stirred slightly. He turned to look at a member of the Imperial Guard and ordered, "Go quickly and prepare paper, pen, and a desk."

At this moment, Zhou Liang looked at the still calm young man and thought to himself, "Would this Scholar Shen be impeaching me by writing this memorial?"
Zhou Liang felt a sense of apprehension. His eyes flickered, and he gave an awkward smile: "Scholar Shen, it's like the flood washing away the Dragon King's temple. We're all family, yet we don't recognize each other. This is all a misunderstanding. I only wanted to ask you about the escape of the wanted criminal. I had no intention of disrespecting you. Why don't you come to the main hall to talk? I've prepared some Lushan Yunwu tea. Let's drink tea and talk."

It can be said that Zhou Liang adopted an extremely humble posture at this moment, but he was not without resentment in his heart.

Since you are a scholar of the Zhaowen Pavilion and a favorite minister of the Empress, why didn't you state your identity beforehand?
They clearly wanted to embarrass him!

Shen Xian sneered, “Lord Zhou is well-versed in criminal law and is in charge of the Court of Judicial Review. Since you say that I am hiding a criminal, if you do not clarify the matter clearly, how can the national law and the decrees be treated as child’s play?”

Arrogant at first and respectful at the end, it makes people laugh when they think about it.

Zhou Liang was speechless for a moment.

While the two were talking, several guards brought in a low table, along with writing brushes, ink, paper, and other items, and placed them in the cell.

Shen Xian placed the yellow silk imperial edict with the white marble scroll on a corner of the table and picked up the brush from the brush holder.

Gao Yanfu smiled and said, seemingly to join in the fun, "I'll grind the ink for Scholar Shen."

Zhou Liang: "..."

The head eunuch of the Inner Palace personally ground the ink; who did he offend?

Suo Yuanli was ashen-faced and nearly wet himself in fear.

The so-called petty person is most adept at observing people's words and expressions and changing his stance according to the wind. How could he not know Shen Xian's position in the heart of that noble lady in the palace?

Shen Xian put down his brush, feigning surprise and flattery: "How could I possibly trouble Eunuch Gao?"

This eunuch Gao really gave him face, or rather, he just loved watching the drama unfold.

Gao Yanfu smiled and said politely, "We are all serving the Empress Dowager. Grinding ink is just a small favor."

Shen Xian thanked him and, without further ado, picked up his brush, pondered for a moment, and began to write.

"Swipe..."

Shen Xian stood up and wrote three characters: "On Controlling Officials".

Gao Yanfu merely raised his eyelids and glanced at it, his fair face twitching slightly, and his heart trembled violently.

What a brilliant theory on governing officials!

This man is truly a talent fit to assist a king.

Meanwhile, Xue Zhihua, Si Di, and the Princess Zhenguo had already gone to the Dali Temple.

Because of the anti-flight formation above the capital city, Xue Zhihua, although at the third stage of the Immortal Path [Danxia], was still suppressed.

Although Si Di and Princess Zhenguo are both highly skilled in the Dao, they primarily channel their magical power into their legs.

Therefore, they arrived at Dali Temple at almost the same time.

The Princess Zhenguo looked at Xue Zhihua with a smile and teased, "Zhihua, look how anxious you are."

Xue Zhihua's tone was filled with worry: "Your Highness, the Dali Temple may torture Mr. Shen."

The Princess Zhenguo said quietly, "The Dali Temple has always liked to extract confessions through torture."

Si Di remained expressionless, her sharp brows concealing a calm and unwavering gaze. She said in a cold voice, "The torture has not yet begun in the Dali Temple prison."

The Princess Zhenguo turned to look at Si Di and asked, "What do you mean?"

The Humanistic Dragon Qi Net of the Dali Temple can block divine sense detection, but Si Di, as the Commander of the Vermilion Bird Division and a master of the seventh realm of immortality, the [Myriad Manifestations] realm, is clearly not subject to this limitation. "The eunuch Gao who delivered the decree has arrived." Si Di's lips parted slightly, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible surprise.

The dignified Director of the Palace Attendants' Office actually personally served him with writing materials.

The eldest princess said, "Then let's go in and take a look together."

As she spoke, she gently took Xue Zhihua's slender hand and softly comforted her, "Don't worry too much."

Xue Zhihua hummed in agreement and quickly walked a few steps with the Princess Zhenguo, ascending the steps.

Meanwhile, in the prison cell of the Dali Temple, Shen Xian sat cross-legged behind his desk, holding a sheep-hair brush, and began to write on the memorial with a "swish, swish" sound. Zhou Liang's face grew increasingly grim, feeling that the rustling sound was like a death knell.

Suo Yuanli's face darkened. He stepped forward and said in a trembling voice, "Lord Zhou, what should we do?"

Zhou Liang glanced at Suo Yuanli but ignored him, already intending to sacrifice a pawn to save the king.

"My lord, my lord." Just as Zhou Liang's anxiety was growing, a clerk entered the prison and reported, "My lord, the Princess has arrived."

Zhou Liang's expression changed slightly, and he quickly said, "This... I'll go greet him."

As she spoke, she looked at Gao Yanfu and said with a mournful face, "Eunuch Gao, please excuse me, I must go and greet Her Highness the Princess."

Gao Yanfu said with a forced smile, "Please do as you please, Lord Zhou. Please give my regards to Her Highness the Princess."

His gaze immediately fell upon the memorial, his heart already churning with turmoil.

I'm afraid that once this memorial is released, the political landscape of the court will change dramatically.

In the main hall of the Dali Temple government office—

The Princess Zhenguo sat down in a rosewood chair with a backrest, while Si Di sat not far away. Beneath her sharp, slanted eyebrows, her clear, cold eyes surveyed both sides.

Now that Xue Zhihua knew that Shen Xian was safe and sound and had not been tortured, she was relieved.

A short while later, Zhou Liang and Suo Yuanli entered the hall and bowed to the elegant and beautiful woman, saying, "Your humble servants greet Your Highness."

Princess Zhenguo raised her eyes and looked at Zhou Liang and Suo Yuanli, saying indifferently, "Lord Zhou, you may dispense with the formalities."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Zhou Liang thanked her, but wondered what the Princess Zhenguo was doing at the Dali Temple.
At this moment, I haven't connected it to Shen Xian yet.

"I heard you arrested Scholar Shen from the Zhaowen Academy?" The Princess Zhenguo's voice was clear and cold, her beautiful eyes revealing a chilling light, instantly shattering Zhou Liang's fantasy.

Zhou Liang: "..."

Are you here to ask about this again?
Zhou Liang felt like he had stirred up a hornet's nest.

There's a general feeling that after beating the younger sibling, the older one comes along—"I'm the protagonist."

Zhou Liang felt a pang of bitterness in his heart and explained, "Your Highness has misunderstood. I only sought out Scholar Shen to inquire about the Yu family's treason case."

The Princess Zhenguo stared at Zhou Liang with her long, narrow, and clear phoenix eyes and asked, "You didn't use torture, did you?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Liang quickly composed himself and said, "Your Highness, how could I dare? Mr. Shen is well-versed in the law. When I spoke with him, I was impressed by his demeanor. Even though my subordinate, Suo Yuanli, the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, suggested to torture him, I refused."

Suo Yuanli: "???"

Was he swayed by her magnanimity? Or did he forcefully refuse her offer?
So... the Joker is all alone?

Si Difeng raised an eyebrow, his indifferent eyes glancing at Zhou Liang, and inwardly scoffed, "A petty person!"
The Princess Zhenguo's jade-like face was shrouded in frost, and her tone was indifferent yet dignified: "That's good. Mr. Shen is a national hero whom even the Empress Dowager treats with respect. You must not humiliate him!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Liang's face turned bitter, and he secretly regretted his actions.

I almost got screwed over by that damned Suo Yuanli!
There is still a way to remedy this situation: if he shifts all the blame onto Suo Yuanli, he can clear himself of all responsibility.

The beautiful Princess Zhenguo showed concern on her face and asked, "Where is Mr. Shen?"

Zhou Liang quickly replied, "Your Highness, we are currently in prison. Eunuch Gao has already read out the imperial edict, and Scholar Shen is writing a memorial."

"A memorial to the throne?" Princess Cui Li's beautiful eyes, framed by her willow-leaf eyebrows, flickered slightly, a sense of curiosity rising within her.

Just then, a jailer from the Court of Judicial Review entered the hall and said, "Your Honor, Lord Shen Lin, the Junior Supervisor of the Secretariat, and Shen Zhai, the Imperial Censor, have arrived."

Shen Lin was still somewhat uneasy, so he came with Shen Zheng, Shen Qian, Shen Zhai and others. At this moment, the carriages and attendants had arrived at the Dali Temple.

(End of this chapter)