noffsinger Chapter 440 Interrogation
Chapter 440 Interrogation
The prison of Dali Temple was filled with a damp and decaying smell. The surrounding stone walls were covered with moss and water stains, exuding an eerie and cold atmosphere.
The light in the small cell was dim. Only a few rays of light came in from a small window high up, barely enough to make out the straw piled up in the corner. It was already dirty and emitted a pungent smell.
Walking in from the dark passage, you can still hear the sound of shackles colliding in the claustrophobic space.
Every inch of air here makes people feel depressed and fearful, and can trap people in endless despair.
"You just locked Prince Chen and Prime Minister Ruan in a place like this?" An angry voice suddenly sounded, causing waves of echoes in the cell.
Upon hearing this, Dali Temple Junior Official You Shaojun curled his lips into a mocking smile, "Prince Heng, they are criminals now. Do you really want us at the Dali Temple to prepare two guest rooms for them to stay in?"
"Mr. You, please don't be rude." Cheng Hongyan, the Minister of the Dali Temple, scolded.
"The Emperor has ordered Prince Heng to be the chief judge of this case. From now on, we will all follow his orders."
Prince Heng snorted coldly, "You don't need to play the villain and the good guy in front of me. Apart from that booklet, do you have any other evidence in the Dali Temple to prove that Prime Minister Ruan sold official positions and titles?"
You Shaojun's face darkened, "Your Majesty, we are still investigating."
"Since you are investigating, that means you don't have any evidence yet. Without evidence, you are treating a prince and a prime minister as prisoners. Look at where they live, is there any difference from that of death row prisoners?" Prince Heng asked angrily.
That's a big difference.
But under Cheng Hongyan's warning look, You Shaojun had to hold back his words.
Cheng Hongyan: "Your Majesty, we will leave Prime Minister Ruan and Prince Chen to change cells today. You are right, they are different from ordinary prisoners."
Only then did Prince Heng stop blaming him.
He is here to try cases, not to offend people.
He was originally a prince of the royal family who did not have much to do with his work. If the Queen Mother had not personally appointed him to preside over the case, he really would not have wanted to get involved.
"Your Highness, who do you plan to question first today?" Cheng Hongyan asked.
"Just... Prince Chen." It wasn't so easy for Ruan Xinglin to get the answer.
A hint of sarcasm flashed in You Shaojun's eyes.
In the past two days, they have asked Prince Chen many times and used many interrogation methods, but they have not been able to pry his mouth open.
In short, there is not a single useful word.
He even used torture at first, but it was useless.
It's really a tough nut to crack.
Originally, he wanted to order his superiors to depose Prince Chen, but was stopped by Cheng Hongyan.
Cheng Hongyan is a stubborn person and he doesn't even cherish such a good opportunity.
Once Prince Chen and Prime Minister Ruan are convicted, he will be the next in line to take the position of Chief Justice of the Dali Temple.
He came to the innermost cell.
In the small cell, the man sat cross-legged, his posture tall and straight, his clothes had a few darker spots, which were bloodstains left by the last whipping.
But he didn't seem to feel any pain, and remained calm and composed. The dirty environment didn't affect him at all.
It seems out of place here.
Oh, no matter how noble you are, if you fall into his hands, he will press you into the mud.
"Prince Chen, please." You Shaojun had a malicious sneer on his face.
Fu Jinyuan raised his eyelids slightly and gave You Shaojun a cold look.
You Shaojun only felt a slight chill on his back and an inexplicable fear.
Then he realized that he was actually afraid of a prisoner, and he felt even more angry and embarrassed.
"Prince Heng is presiding over the trial today. Prince Chen, I advise you not to be stubborn anymore. You will have to speak sooner or later." You Shaojun sneered.
Fu Jinyuan stood up slowly, his tall figure seemed even more imposing in this cramped cell.
"You talk too much." Fu Jinyuan said lightly.
“……” Anger flashed in You Shaojun’s eyes.
Fu Jinyuan was taken to the Dali Temple's special interrogation room, which was different from the cell where he was tortured yesterday.
There was only a table and two chairs, but no torture instruments were seen.
There's even a tea stove on the tabletop.
There was a middle-aged man sitting inside.
Fu Jinyi had met him before, but they had no interaction.
"Prince Chen, please take a seat." Prince Heng smiled gently when he saw her.
"Uncle Prince Heng." Prince Chen bowed.
The two sat down opposite each other.
Prince Heng took the initiative to pour a cup of hot tea for Prince Chen.
"Did they torture you?" King Heng frowned as he looked at the injuries on Fu Jinyi's body, then turned around and glared at Cheng Hongyan.
Cheng Hongyan's stern face also showed displeasure. He lowered his head and said, "I will ask a doctor to heal the prince."
You Shaojun looked unhappy because the whip wounds on Prince Chen's body were inflicted by him personally.
"I happened to bring some top-grade wound ointment. Prince Chen, let someone apply the ointment on you first." Prince Heng said.
Fu Jinyuan took the medicine bottle and said, "It's just a minor injury, not worth mentioning."
"Uncle Heng, why don't you do your business first."
I believe that the purpose of questioning him today is not specifically to heal his injuries.
Prince Heng sighed, "Hey, Prince Chen, you should know how serious this matter is. There are too many officials in the court involved. In order to prevent someone from interfering, they let this useless prince come out to be the chief judge."
"Lord Chen, let's make a quick decision and get this case closed sooner so I can continue traveling around the world."
Fu Jinyuan curled his lips slightly, "This prince also hopes that this will end soon. What does Uncle Heng want to know?"
"Regarding Prime Minister Ruan's acceptance of bribes and selling of official positions and titles..." Prince Heng smiled.
"In fact, I think this matter has little to do with you. After all, you have only been back for a short time. It is impossible for selling official positions and accepting bribes to be accomplished in a few days or months."
"The most you've done is been implicated."
"It's just..." Prince Heng sighed again, "The Dali Temple has already found several officials, all of whom said that you used the convenience of the Zhenfu Division to monitor all officials, threatened and bribed them, and worked with Prime Minister Ruan to cover up what the Queen did in Jiangnan and Jiangbei."
"What did the Queen do in Jiangnan and Jiangbei?" Fu Jinyuan asked with a raised eyebrow.
You Shaojun sneered, "Prince Chen has covered up for the Queen, how could he not know what the Queen did."
"Since you, the Dali Temple, have determined that I am guilty, why bother investigating or trying me? Just sentence me to death directly." Fu Jinyuan said coldly.
Cheng Hongyan immediately explained, "It was my subordinate who made an inappropriate comment. Your Majesty, please forgive me. There is not enough evidence now, so I cannot sentence him lightly."
You Shaojun's face turned pale and blue.
King Heng snorted coldly, "Am I the presiding judge, or are you?"
"I know I was wrong." You Shaojun gritted his teeth.
Fu Jinyuan played with the teacup in his hand, his face still looking calm.
"Your Highness, please have a cup of tea first." Prince Heng said in a gentle voice.
Fu Jinyi held the teacup to his lips.
Prince Heng's eyes narrowed slightly.
"The queen privately forged weapons in Jiangbei. The Jiangbei prefect has already arrested him and brought him to justice. He confessed everything." He lowered his voice, with an air of mystery as if to say, "I'm telling you this in secret."
Fu Jinyuan frowned, "Impossible."
Prince Heng said, "Don't mention you. No one dares to believe this. But in addition to the prefect of Jiangbei, several people from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War were also arrested. They were all bribed to secretly make weapons for the queen."
"Prince Chen, you are still young and not deeply involved in this matter. The emperor is also aware of it. Selling official positions and titles will at most result in being sent back to the fiefdom, but privately forging weapons is different. This is a capital crime."
Fu Jinyuan had a sullen face and said nothing.