96: First cut

"Imperial Son-in-Law, the Minister has sent someone over, requesting you to go and investigate the case concerning the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region Provincial Administration Commissioner, Zhang Jiawen."

Mo Yingqi, who was eating noodles, only glanced towards the door when he heard the maid's report from outside. He then lowered his head and drank the noodle broth in his bowl in one gulp. "Understood, I will go over right away."

Setting down his chopsticks, Mo Yingqi stood up and wiped his mouth. He then retrieved his saber from the sleeping quarters, along with the token Fang Wenbo had given him before he left the capital.

"Take this. You are going to the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region to handle official business. Although the official document hasn't been issued yet, your promotion to Centurion is set in stone." When Fang Wenbo gave him the Centurion's token, he also carefully exhorted him. "Even though you have been conferred a marquis title, in terms of official rank, you are still a Captain in the Pacification Bureau, which doesn't sound very impressive. Actually, normally speaking, with your current marquis title and your abilities, it would be only right for you to serve as a Chiliarch just like me. But since The Emperor hasn't spoken on the matter yet, it is better to leave it as is for now."

"However, since you are going out of the province to handle business, I cannot give you my Chiliarch token, but you were already acting as a Centurion when you handled business before. Our Pacification Bureau may look like a minor office, but to those officials, this token is just like the life-reaping talisman of Black and White Impermanence."

After packing everything, Mo Yingqi stretched his limbs and then followed the maid out of the sleeping quarters. Outside the Temporary Palace, a troop of soldiers sent by Shen Xian had long been waiting. Upon seeing Mo Yingqi, the officer in the lead quickly dismounted and knelt. "Greetings, Marquis."

"No need for formalities. Where is the Minister now?"

"Reporting to the Marquis, the Minister has already apprehended Provincial Governor Zhang and is currently at the Governor-General's office."

Upon hearing this, Mo Yingqi nodded slightly; a horse had already been prepared for him. Mo Yingqi grabbed his saber, vaulted onto the horse with one hand on the saddle, and then said to the officer, "Have you gone to his residence to keep watch over his family?"

"Reporting to the Marquis, the Minister has already given the order. Provincial Governor Zhang's residence has long since been guarded by our subordinates!"

It was not that Mo Yingqi intended to target them; reasonably and logically, if an official like Zhang Jiawen committed a crime, keeping an eye on his family was inevitable. Not to mention the Pacification Bureau, even if local government offices were handling the case, they would follow this procedure.

"Has Yingqi left?"

Luo Yongan, still in the main hall, nodded upon hearing the report from Ying Hong. "Send a few people over to keep an eye on things. Granduncle is naturally meticulous in his work, but one must still worry about complications arising. Oh, that's right, has Miss Su been sent back?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, she has been sent back," Ying Hong replied truthfully. "But Your Highness, that Su Wensheng has indeed done many things while following Zhang Jiawen over these years. Even if the Minister favors you two greatly, he will not..."

"Rest assured, his crimes do not warrant such a punishment," Luo Yongan said, taking a small sip from her wine cup. "This Su Wensheng is someone who forgets righteousness for petty gains and cherishes his own skin when it comes to major matters; he doesn't have the guts to get involved in the filthy, rotten business of Zhang Jiawen and his lot. Granduncle not dealing with him immediately has never been because he is important; he is just a minor pawn."

"Is it because I mentioned a word to my sister that Granduncle let their family off the hook?" Luo Yongning said, while cracking open a crab claw. "Su Yan is still of some use to me and my sister; if we can hold leverage over her, naturally it is better to keep that leverage."

Ying Hong suddenly felt extremely sympathetic towards Su Yan. It seemed she hadn't really done anything; although the Su family had truly lost face regarding the engagement, when one thought about it carefully, it seemed normal.

No matter how poor his health was, Zhang Yingcheng was the eldest son of the Zhang family. No matter what, Mo Yingqi was at odds with the Zhang family and had no relation to them. It was no secret that Zhang Jiawen favored his eldest son. Even though Zhang Yingcheng's health was poor, from their perspective, Mo Yingqi truly had no value for their official career.

Well, at least setting aside Luo Yongan and Luo Yongning's influence, that line of thinking wasn't wrong.

Perhaps it could only be explained by Luo Yongan's words: who told you to set your heart on their man when you shouldn't have? To them, that was truly a capital sin just to even think about!

"By the way, sister, can Granduncle arrange everything in one night?" Luo Yongning was still uneasy. "Yingqi won't mind that we helped him deal with Zhang Yingcheng, but if he finds out how we dealt with him..."

"Rest assured, you can trust Granduncle's way of doing things." Luo Yongan appeared completely indifferent. "Zhang Jiawen hasn't gone mad; it's just that he is still hoping that since he is now at the mercy of you and me, he might still be able to preserve his only remaining bloodline."

"By the way, Yongning, do you know why Yingqi has become so renowned in the Pacification Bureau over the past year? Guess what it's based on?"

Hearing this abrupt statement from Luo Yongan, Luo Yongning was confused for a moment, but she soon realized what she meant, and a smile appeared on her face. "I understand, sister."

"Yes, that's it. Yingqi is indeed ruthless, his martial arts are high, and his abilities are outstanding, but what he is most skilled at is interrogation." Luo Yongan's smile gradually became somewhat chilling. "This is the first blade sent to Zhang Jiawen: being forced step by step to a dead end by the son he once abandoned, constantly guarded against, and even thought would never amount to anything in this life!"

"Actually, I don't think there is a need to ask, Minister."

Mo Yingqi roughly flipped through the dossier in his hand and placed it casually on the table, not even glancing at the ashen-faced Zhang Jiawen below the hall. "Just sentencing him directly will do; there is no need for an interrogation."

"Ah, Imperial Son-in-Law, it must still be interrogated."

Although Shen Xian did not understand what medicine Mo Yingqi was selling in his gourd, he knew that this man, who could be so obsessed over by Luo Yongan and Luo Yongning, would definitely not be an incompetent fool. Furthermore, the two had conversed happily yesterday, and Shen Xian was amazed that despite Mo Yingqi's young age, his speech was proper, neither humble nor arrogant, and his views on many matters were quite unique.

Therefore, his sudden statement was definitely not him intentionally shirking responsibility, nor was it that he didn't want to interrogate; it was very likely he had his own ideas.

"The records in the dossier regarding Provincial Governor Zhang condoning his subordinates, the officials of the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region, in corruption and bribery, along with the attached testimonies signed by numerous officials, are actually already sufficient." Mo Yingqi said, while flipping through the dossiers with his right hand in a bored manner. "The evidence is conclusive, and furthermore, it is detailed in the records that Provincial Governor Zhang also accepted these bribes and truly provided conveniences to others."

"According to our dynasty's laws, we only need to go to Provincial Governor Zhang's residence and confiscate his assets. Of course, all properties under his name, including Estates, farmland, shops, and so on, must all be carefully inspected."

As he spoke, Mo Yingqi looked at Zhang Jiawen. At this moment, his expression was vacant; he looked completely like someone who had resigned himself to his fate. But Mo Yingqi did not care at all about why he was in this state now. Whether he was truly regretful or his father had died, it had nothing to do with Mo Yingqi.

"Provincial Governor Zhang, what I am truly concerned about is, are the bribes you accepted really in your residence? Or perhaps... were they sent to the capital, into the pockets of Grand Chancellor Zhou?"