I'll steal Gao Qiu's life and lead the Song Dynasty to prosperity.

indoor.

Shopkeeper Wang was forced to sit on a broken three-legged stool with his hands tied behind his back. The remaining leg was propped up by a few bricks, making it sway precariously.

His silk robe was covered in wall dust and stains from the struggle, his hair was disheveled, and his face still bore the bloodstains from when Gao Qiu slammed him against the wall.

At this moment, he had long lost his usual shrewdness and composure, leaving only a disheveled state and a forced fierceness.

Zhao Mingcheng stood a few steps away from him, his back to the brightest light shining through the crack in the door, his face mostly hidden in shadow and not clearly visible.

"Manager Wang, is that right?" He spoke first, his voice not loud, but it was eerily clear in the quiet, dimly lit room. "Your Baoshunhao business has come to an end."

Manager Wang suddenly raised his head, a twisted smile with sarcasm and ruthlessness tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Hmph! I had no idea who it was. You must be the recently famous Young Master Zhao from the Prince Duan's residence. My apologies!"

He deliberately emphasized the words "Prince Duan's Mansion" and "Young Master Zhao".

"Young Master Zhao, why bother with further words?" Manager Wang shook his bound wrists, the chains rattling.

"I, Wang, am not very talented, but I have been running this Baoshun shop in Bianjing for quite some time now. I know all sorts of people, both officials and commoners, and have cultivated some relationships with them. I wouldn't dare say I have any powerful connections, but I'm not some dough ball to be kneaded by others!"

He took a breath, staring at Zhao Mingcheng's face in the shadows, and continued, raising his voice slightly.

"Where this stolen goods came from, you know, I know, Heaven knows, Earth knows! Framing someone, such a despicable method, how could you even think of it! When we arrived at the Kaifeng Prefecture Hall, it was brightly lit, and everyone was watching."

Wang will certainly explain the situation to the Prefect, and to all the judges and magistrates, and get to the bottom of it! At that time, it will be clear who is framing the innocent and who is acting lawlessly!

He spoke with such passion that spittle flew from his mouth, and beneath the feigned composure on his face lay a blustering facade.

Zhao Mingcheng listened quietly, and only after he finished howling did he nod slightly, his tone still calm.

"Oh? So, Manager Wang means that in court you will recant your testimony and accuse me, along with the Prince Duan's mansion, of framing you?"

"I wouldn't dare!" Manager Wang retorted, sticking his neck out.

This doesn't just look like they don't dare; they've practically written "dare" on their faces.

"How dare I, Wang, falsely accuse a nobleman of the Wang family? I am merely stating the truth! I have never seen or even touched that jade ruyi! As for Yang San, he is a gambling addict, a filthy scoundrel who has lost everything. Can his words be trusted?"

Who knows if he himself was dishonest, stealing the master's treasure and having nowhere to sell it, so he made wild accusations after being caught, barking at everyone like a mad dog? Or perhaps...

He drawled out his words, glancing at Zhao Mingcheng with a sinister look in his eyes.

"Or perhaps he was instructed by someone, promised benefits, and deliberately framed me? The officials of Kaifeng Prefecture are all wise and discerning judges, capable of solving cases with unparalleled skill. A simple court hearing and thorough investigation will surely uncover the truth and distinguish right from wrong. Perhaps, not only will they fail to convict me, but they will also restore my innocence and justice!"

The more Manager Wang talked, the more convinced he became of his point, and he even straightened his back unconsciously.

His confidence stems from his powerful connections.

As long as he stubbornly denies it and claims it was a setup, muddying the waters, and with the help of those behind him, he might be able to escape unscathed.

After all, his backer is Cai Jing.

After listening to him finish speaking, Zhao Mingcheng gently shook his head. The gesture carried an almost pitying meaning, which made Manager Wang's heart tighten for no reason.

"Oh, Manager Wang,"

Zhao Mingcheng sighed softly and slowly shook his head.

"You're an expert at running gambling dens and scheming against people, but your understanding of the intricacies of the imperial court, law enforcement, and prisons is rather... naive."

Zhao Mingcheng took half a step forward, still standing at the edge of the shadows, and began to argue with Manager Wang point by point.

"First, Yang San has personally signed and confessed, in black and white, that he coerced and bribed you, Manager Wang, to steal the jade ruyi bestowed by the Prince's Mansion, and agreed to sell it at your Baoshun Store. The witnesses are there, and the evidence is irrefutable."

Manager Wang's lips moved, as if he wanted to refute Yang San's forced confession, but Zhao Mingcheng did not give him the chance.

"Secondly," Zhao Mingcheng continued, his gaze sweeping over Manager Wang's pale face, "that jade ruyi was personally seized by Judge Wang of Kaifeng Prefecture, who led a team, from the pile of miscellaneous items in the back room of your gambling den. It was done in full view of everyone, with dozens of eyes watching, from the search to the examination, without a single oversight. The evidence is irrefutable."

"Third," Zhao Mingcheng's tone turned slightly cold.

"Your Baoshun Company's secret accounts, which have been operating for many years, have been seized by the officials and are on their way back to the yamen."

It records countless shady financial transactions, illegal activities, and exploitation of gamblers and collusion with smugglers. The veteran officials of the Kaifeng Prefecture's Household Department will meticulously account for it, page by page, for you.

"At that point, Manager Wang, your crimes will likely go far beyond simply 'instigating theft' and 'accepting stolen goods.' With multiple offenses punished concurrently, according to the law… what crime should you be charged with?"

Manager Wang's forehead began to bead with cold sweat.

Witnesses, physical evidence, account books... the other side was very well prepared.

But he was still unwilling to give up and gritted his teeth.

"So what? There may be omissions in the accounts, or improper management, and Wang will accept the punishment! He should be punished if he deserves it! But don't even think about pinning such heinous crimes as instigating theft and attempting murder on Wang!"

Mr. Wang has been traveling around the capital for many years and knows several influential figures in official circles. He will naturally...”

"What will happen then?" Zhao Mingcheng interrupted him, his gaze suddenly sharp as a cone, piercing through Manager Wang's forced bluster.

"Will those people you know be in the main hall of Kaifeng Prefecture right now, speaking up for you and trying to get you out of trouble, or will they be eager to sever all ties with you and your Baoshun Company, wishing they'd never known you?"

Zhao Mingcheng leaned down slightly, lowering his voice even further, yet making it even clearer into Manager Wang's ears.

"Manager Wang, you are a smart man. You should know how to weigh the pros and cons. When Baoshun is a money-making machine, everyone will naturally want to benefit from it and share the profits, and protect you."

But now, it has become a notorious den of thieves and a haven for stolen goods, with irrefutable evidence, and it's even involved in the theft at the Prince's Mansion. Tell me, those people who used to drink and laugh with you, who called you brothers, are they now thinking of helping you out, or are they thinking of... how to shut you up and not talk nonsense and implicate too many people?

Every word Zhao Mingcheng spoke was like an ice nail, piercing deeply into Manager Wang's heart.

He wanted to refute it, but found that he couldn't.

What Zhao Mingcheng was talking about was the possibility he feared most and was least willing to face.

As the saying goes, when a tree falls, the monkeys scatter; when a wall collapses, everyone pushes it down.

With the gambling den gone, Wang became a hot potato. Those who relied on his favors were probably more concerned with protecting themselves than protecting him.

If that really happens, who knows what kind of suffering he'll endure.

"You...you mustn't be alarmist!" Manager Wang was breathing heavily, his chest heaving violently, his eyes bloodshot, but he was still making a last-ditch effort, his voice hoarse.

"Wang... Wang knows nothing! He won't say anything! He won't make baseless accusations! You can't get anything from me!"

"Climbing and biting?" Zhao Mingcheng suddenly smiled, the smile appearing somewhat blurry in the dim light, yet inexplicably sending a chill down Manager Wang's spine.

"Manager Wang is indeed loyal and follows the rules. It's just a pity that things in this world are often not resolved simply by refusing to speak up or admit anything."

Zhao Mingcheng paused, as if suddenly remembering something unimportant, and asked in a casual tone.

"By the way, Manager Wang, do you know if there's a courtier named Liang in the Prince Duan's residence?"

Manager Wang was taken aback, not understanding why Liang Shicheng was suddenly mentioned. He knew Liang Shicheng; he was the chief eunuch of the Prince Duan's mansion.

"Liang has served the prince for many years. He is meticulous and has some abilities that are not known to outsiders."

Zhao Mingcheng said slowly.

"One of his most remarkable abilities is his skill in imitating other people's handwriting. Whether it's account books, correspondence, or private notes, he only needs to glance at them once or twice to be able to imitate them so perfectly that they are indistinguishable from the real thing. The form and spirit are so accurate, the ink is just right, and the transitions and connections are so precise that even the person in question would probably have difficulty distinguishing the real from the fake."

"When we were searching the gambling den just now, my men found several letters and notes you wrote. Your handwriting is not much more difficult for Liang Gongfeng than imitating a child's calligraphy."

Historically, Liang Shicheng was famous for his skill in imitating handwriting.

After Zhao Ji ascended the throne, Liang Shicheng gained Zhao Ji's full trust, and some of the memorials in the court were even approved by Liang Shicheng on his behalf.

Liang Shicheng frequently imitated Zhao Ji's handwriting, making it a routine practice. He even instructed minor officials skilled in calligraphy to forge his work, making it difficult for the court to distinguish the genuine from the fake.

Liang Shicheng could imitate Zhao Ji's distinctive "Slender Gold" calligraphy style, let alone the handwriting of a gambling den owner.

Manager Wang didn't realize at first why Zhao Mingcheng was talking about this.

After he finished digesting the meaning of those words, his pupils suddenly shrank to the size of pinpoints.

A bone-chilling cold suddenly shot up from his tailbone, causing him to shiver uncontrollably, and his bound hands began to tremble.

"What...what do you mean?!" He suddenly looked up, staring intently at Zhao Mingcheng, his voice distorted by extreme fear, sharp and piercing.

"What do you want to do?! Zhao Mingcheng! What exactly do you want to do?!"

The smile on Zhao Mingcheng's face vanished, and he met Manager Wang's horrified gaze with a calm tone.

"It's nothing, I just suddenly thought that if we carefully examine those few secret ledgers that were confiscated from your residence, we might accidentally discover a few new pages of correspondence that we hadn't noticed before..."

Alternatively, find a few more secret letters between the parties involved, which correspond to other important figures in the court, their subordinates, or even more secretive individuals.

The contents of the letter, naturally, were some shady requests and profit-sharing arrangements, and the handwriting on it was exactly the same as the handwriting you, Manager Wang, used when you privately affixed your seal and signature—not a single difference.”

Zhao Mingcheng paused slightly, allowing the terrifying image to fully form in Manager Wang's mind, before gently adding the last sentence.

"When that time comes, Manager Wang, tell me, what kind of earth-shattering case will this originally small gambling den receiving stolen goods case turn into?"

The person behind you, seeing the fire growing ever brighter, will they be grateful for your silence, or will they think... it's better if you keep your mouth shut forever?

"boom--!"

Shopkeeper Wang felt as if something had exploded in his head, his vision went black, and his ears were ringing.

It wasn't enough to fabricate evidence and frame others; they also had to resort to this vicious scheme that could implicate even more people and cause a major upheaval in officialdom!

This is an attempt to drag him and everyone behind him down with him, pushing them to the brink of despair.

What will those people do to him in order to protect themselves?

Then it won't just be him who gets killed; his family will also be doomed.

Fear instantly transformed into raging anger and despair.

Manager Wang could no longer hold back. He could only twist his body desperately, veins bulging on his neck, eyes bloodshot, as he roared at Zhao Mingcheng, spitting everywhere.

"Zhao Mingcheng! I curse your ancestors for eight generations! You despicable scoundrel! You son of a bitch! You filthy scoundrel! May your entire Zhao family die a horrible death! You are unworthy of being a scholar!!"

He cursed and struggled at the top of his lungs, as if he had gone mad.

Zhao Mingcheng stood there quietly, coldly watching Manager Wang roar, struggle, and break down.

Until Manager Wang ran out of energy cursing, his throat became hoarse, and he could only gasp for breath, his eyes staring blankly and desperately at the ground.

After a long silence, Zhao Mingcheng spoke again, his voice returning to its previous calm.

"Finished cursing? Take a break. I'm telling you all this today not because I really want to kill you, but to make you understand what it means to be powerless and what it means to weigh the pros and cons."

Zhao Mingcheng took a step forward, squatted down, and looked almost at eye level with the slumped-down Manager Wang, his voice kept very low.

"Your life at this moment is inextricably linked to the future and well-being of those behind you. Originally, it would be a lose-lose situation for both of you, but it is also possible... for only you to suffer."

He stared into Manager Wang's vacant eyes and spoke slowly.

"Please admit to the crimes of instigating theft and accepting stolen goods, and turn this case into an ironclad one."

At that time, the Kaifeng Prefecture will judge according to the law whether you are exiled three thousand miles away or be executed in the autumn, depending on the depth of your past sins, your fate, and the intentions of the people behind you.

But this case will end here, with no further involvement. The person behind you, seeing that you're sensible and have taken all the blame, will naturally be happy to have some peace and quiet. Not only will they not harm your family, but they might even spare your life out of consideration for your actions.

"But if you remain obstinate and try to pull tricks in court, recanting your testimony and making false accusations in an attempt to overturn the verdict..." Zhao Mingcheng's eyes instantly turned icy cold.

"What new things you might find in those account books is not up to you."

By then, no one can predict who this fire will burn, or how fiercely it will rage. And you should know better than me what those behind you will do first to protect themselves.

The death knell tolled in Manager Wang's completely blank mind, and he thought of the mistress he kept in Bianjing.

Yulin Lane... youngest son... concubine...

Shopkeeper Wang was afraid of death, but he was even more afraid that his wife and children would die with him.

He knew that the person behind him definitely had the courage to do so.

All the anger, resentment, and wishful thinking crumbled and turned to dust in the face of this most vulnerable weakness.

He himself may not escape death, but his family is absolutely innocent.

"No...no...don't...don't let the harm extend to your wife and children..."

Upon mentioning his wife and children, Manager Wang abruptly raised his head, tears streaming down his face, his voice hoarse and broken, trembling with sobs.

"Please... Young Master Zhao... have mercy... this has nothing to do with them... they are innocent... I beg you..."

He struggled to kneel down and kowtow, but he was bound and could only twist his body in vain.

Zhao Mingcheng stood up and looked down at him.

"I am not a bloodthirsty person, nor do I intend to implicate the innocent. I am here today only to seek the truth, the 'truth' of Yang San's confession. You have confessed to the crimes of instigating theft and receiving stolen goods. With the evidence and the perpetrator caught red-handed, the case is clear. The Kaifeng Prefecture will judge according to the law. I can promise you that this case ends with you."

After saying that, he stopped looking at the limp and sobbing shopkeeper Wang, turned around, and walked towards the shop door through the crack in the door.

Just before Zhao Mingcheng's fingers touched the door panel.

Behind him came the voice of Manager Wang, as if he had used his last bit of strength to squeeze it out from the depths of his heart.

"I...I confess...I confess to everything...I instigated Yang San...to steal the jade ruyi from the Prince's mansion...to sell it to me...I sign this...I sign everything...I only beg you, sir...to keep your word...and not implicate any more people in the court..."

After hearing the answer he wanted, Zhao Mingcheng paused for a moment on the door, then, without turning back, simply murmured "Mm" and walked out.