20: Chapter 20 Cai Wenjing spends the night at Zhao Zilong's house!

"So he really is the son of Imperial Uncle Cao."

Xu Wei spoke slowly.

Zhao Zilong said, "He is indeed the son of County Lord Cao, Banner Master Cao of the Fuzheng Division. I never expected that Banner Master Cao would make such a grave mistake as to join the Remnants of the Previous Dynasty. Commander Xu, how should we handle this Cao Yun? You decide. My official rank is insignificant, so I cannot make the call."

"Zhao Zilong, I'll f*** your mother! I am not a remnant of the previous dynasty! Stop your damn slandering!"

Cao Yun shouted in a furious rage.

His blood churned in his chest, and he felt as though he was about to spit blood.

If the charge of being a remnant of the previous dynasty were truly pinned on him, he would be finished; even his father wouldn't be able to protect him.

"Cao Yun, we'll know for sure whether you are a remnant of the previous dynasty after the interrogation. Men! Take these two back to the Princess's Residence and hand them over to the Princess."

Xu Wei shouted in a deep voice.

Guards stepped forward, seized Cao Yun and Jin Rong, and led them out of the ruined temple.

Zhao Zilong stood at the courtyard gate with Zhao Xiaotian, waiting for Xu Wei, who was instructing his guards on how to dispose of the corpses.

After a short while, Xu Wei walked over.

"Mr. Zhao, is something the matter?"

Xu Wei was a bit puzzled; moreover, Zhao Zilong's performance just now had been a bit too exaggerated, and he felt something was off.

Having spoken with Cao Yun for so long, how could he not have recognized him? He was clearly pretending not to know him on purpose.

As for the reason, Xu Wei didn't know, nor did he care to find out; it had nothing to do with him.

He was also thankful that his archery was poor and he hadn't shot Cao Yun dead; otherwise, he might have been in some trouble.

Shooting and killing Imperial Relatives, even if unintentional, was still a crime.

Zhao Zilong had nearly played him.

Zhao Zilong said, "Commander Xu, this Zhao admires your resourcefulness and bravery. Today, I owe you for saving my son, Xiaotian. This Zhao will remember this kindness and will surely repay it in the future."

Xu Wei said, "Mr. Zhao is too polite; this was merely this Xu's duty."

Zhao Zilong nodded slightly and said, "Commander Xu is both resourceful and brave, with exquisite archery skills. Having captured Cao Yun alive today, if you can truly extract some information, it will be a great achievement. This Zhao congratulates Commander Xu in advance."

Xu Wei smiled but did not respond, feeling somewhat awkward in his heart.

He had wanted to kill the man at the time, but who knew he would miss? Now, for the sake of his reputation, he certainly couldn't tell the truth. Although he could see that Zhao Zilong wanted Cao Yun dead, he didn't want to explain even though Zhao Zilong misunderstood that he had intentionally left Cao Yun alive, which might cause Zhao Zilong's dissatisfaction.

He, Xu Wei, was a real man! He valued his face!

---

The Great Hall of the Princess's Residence.

Cao Yun howled and wailed like a ghost, shouting that he was innocent and begging his Princess cousin to save him.

Jin Rong was terrified, and combined with her injuries, her face was now completely devoid of color.

This time, she didn't know if she would survive.

In the center of the hall, Princess Zhu Yunxi sat in the main seat, Xu Wei stood to the left, and Cai Wenjing was also present, standing to the right.

Zhao Zilong stood beside Cai Wenjing with Zhao Xiaotian.

Cao Yun and Jin Rong sat slumped on the floor of the hall.

Princess Zhu Yunxi did not know how to interrogate a case, so she gestured for Cai Wenjing to conduct the questioning.

Cai Wenjing walked to the center of the hall, her brows furrowed deeply as she looked at Cao Yun.

This time, she had finally found an opportunity to deal with Cao Yun.

This time, even if she didn't kill Cao Yun, she would certainly kick him out of the Fuzheng Division.

She wanted to support Zhao Zilong's rise to power.

"Cao Yun, I, the Deputy Director, ask you, why did you collude with the Remnants of the Previous Dynasty? When did it start?"

Cai Wenjing opened with such a question, immediately pinning a label on Cao Yun.

Princess Zhu Yunxi's brow furrowed slightly, but she did not stop her.

"What does Cai Wenjing mean?"

Zhao Zilong was puzzled; this was clearly a targeted interrogation of Cao Yun. Could it be that Cai Wenjing also wanted to brand Cao Yun as a remnant of the previous dynasty?

"Deputy Director Cai, I am innocent! I did not collude with the Remnants of the Previous Dynasty, I really didn't!"

Cao Yun spoke with a sob in his voice, then looked up at Zhao Zilong, pointing a finger and shouting angrily, "Deputy Director Cai, this was all a setup by Zhao Zilong! He is not a good person!"

"Cao Yun, even at this stage, you still want to harm an innocent person. You truly are dishonest."

Cai Wenjing's face was cold and severe.

"Deputy Director Cai, I'm not! Zhao Zilong really framed me, he's no good! I'm innocent! Princess cousin, save me!"

"Cao Yun, I, the Deputy Director, can tell you now that Clerk Zhao did not frame you. Long before Zhao Xiaotian was captured, Clerk Zhao had already approached the Princess and told her that the Remnants of the Previous Dynasty were threatening him and intended to kidnap Zhao Xiaotian. As a result, you immediately moved to kidnap him. Tell me, if you aren't Remnants of the Previous Dynasty, then what are you? Could it be that Zhao Zilong has prophetic foresight and used such a method to frame you?"

"Ah!"

Hearing Cai Wenjing say this, Cao Yun's body trembled violently. Was that really how it was?

Jin Rong's heart skipped several beats, and she nearly suffocated.

Cao Yun looked at Princess Zhu Yunxi as if to confirm the matter.

Princess Zhu Yunxi was very disappointed in Cao Yun. She had thought her cousin was just a profligate playboy, but she never expected him to commit such an act of kidnapping and attempted murder.

She spoke slowly, "Cao Yun, Mr. Zhao did indeed tell me about the Remnants of the Previous Dynasty long ago. Yet you chose this moment to kidnap Mr. Zhao's son. It is hard not to suspect that you are in league with the Remnants of the Previous Dynasty."

"Princess cousin, I really didn't! I'm truly innocent! I only kidnapped Zhao Xiaotian because I hate Zhao Zilong! I wanted to lure Zhao Zilong to a secluded place and then kill him! I did not collude with the Remnants of the Previous Dynasty! Princess cousin, you must restore my innocence!"

Cao Yun was now scared out of his wits. To prove he wasn't a remnant of the previous dynasty, he had no choice but to confess his plan to murder Zhao Zilong.

Princess Zhu Yunxi sighed helplessly, not wanting to speak further.

Cai Wenjing said, "Cao Yun, whether you are a remnant of the previous dynasty will continue to be investigated. However, even if you are not, kidnapping and plotting to harm the family of an official, and attempting to murder a Clerk of the Fuzheng Division—who is also a Martial Artist—are all capital crimes. According to the law, you should be dismissed and executed."

"Ah!"

Knowing he would be executed even if he wasn't a remnant, Cao Yun collapsed in terror, lying on the floor.

Jin Rong's entire body also went limp as a noodle.

They really weren't going to survive this.

A single slip-up had truly caused eternal regret.

Why did she give Cao Yun the idea to kidnap Zhao Xiaotian?

"Princess cousin, save me, save me! I didn't want to do this! It was all that shrew Jin Rong! She made me do it! And when I was with her, she was the one who seduced me! All of this was her idea! I'm just an accomplice, and an accomplice's crime doesn't warrant death! It doesn't warrant death!"

Cao Yun lay on the ground, crying loudly.

Jin Rong was nearly scared to death. Seeing that Cao Yun was pushing all the blame onto her to save himself, she also became enraged.

"I didn't! It was Cao Yun who wanted to kill Zhao Zilong and asked me to help him find a way! I'm just the accomplice! I'm the accomplice, not the mastermind! Not the mastermind!"

"Deputy Director Cai, I'll leave this matter for you to handle. Deal with everything impartially and without favoritism."

Although Princess Zhu Yunxi felt some pity, what Cao Yun had done truly angered her.

"Yes, Princess."

Cai Wenjing accepted the order and then commanded, "Men! Escort these two to the Fuzheng Division prison first."

Cao Yun and Jin Rong were dragged away, their cries only fading after a long time.

Princess Zhu Yunxi was clearly in a bad mood. Zhao Zilong left the Princess's Residence with Zhao Xiaotian and Cai Wenjing.

"Clerk Zhao, do you think Cao Yun really has ties to the Remnants of the Previous Dynasty?"

On the road, Cai Wenjing asked meaningfully.

Zhao Zilong heard the hidden meaning in Cai Wenjing's words and said, "This subordinate does not know. This subordinate only knows that Cao Yun kidnapped my son and wanted to murder us father and son. According to the law, that is a capital offense."

"This subordinate hopes the Deputy Director can provide me with justice."

Cai Wenjing nodded slightly but said, "Clerk Zhao, I admire your talent and I want to give you justice, but I must tell you that although Cao Yun committed a capital crime, he is an imperial relative after all. Cao Yuan will not stand by and watch him die, and even the Princess wouldn't want Cao Yun to die."

"Didn't the Princess say today that there should be no favoritism?"

Zhao Zilong was confused.

Cai Wenjing said, "The Princess said that, but she is kind-hearted and values her relationships above all else. I know her very well; she won't just watch Cao Yun die."

"Of course, Cao Yun committed such a serious crime; he still needs to be punished."

"What I want to tell you is that if Cao Yun isn't killed, don't make a fuss. Otherwise, you'll be in a lot of trouble."

"However, don't worry. This time, I will give you some compensation."

"Cao Yun's position as Junior Banner Master is yours."

"And if I'm not mistaken, Cao Yuan will definitely come to plead with you tomorrow. At that time, you can fleece Cao Yuan for a hefty sum. I believe Cao Yuan won't refuse."

Zhao Zilong said, "Wouldn't that also offend Cao Yuan?"

Cai Wenjing said, "At least it won't make Cao Yuan develop a murderous intent toward you. But if Cao Yun dies, Cao Yuan will definitely find a way to eliminate you."

"Alright, think it over tonight and give me your answer tomorrow. If you truly don't care about the consequences, I will kill Cao Yun to give you an explanation."

Cai Wenjing spoke with a serious expression.

Zhao Zilong nodded. After walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped.

He looked at Cai Wenjing and said, "Deputy Director Cai, you're going the wrong way. The way to your home is on the right."

Cai Wenjing said, "I'm spending the night at your house tonight."