Chapter 7

Chapter 7

People surged in from all directions. As Luo Wanqing ran and shouted, the crowd merely paused briefly before turning away. Her eyes widened as she cried out urgently, "Supervisor Xie, Li Guiyu and Zheng Pingsheng framed my father!"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of those around her shifted drastically. A prison guard suddenly lunged forward, pinning Luo Wanqing to the ground and clamping a hand over her mouth, bellowing, "What nonsense are you spouting?!"

Many others rushed to join in, holding her down and muffling her cries. Luo Wanqing struggled relentlessly, trying to make herself heard. In a brief standoff, a youthful voice rang out above the chaos, "Step aside."

All movement ceased, and the warden at the forefront forced a ingratiating smile, "Ah, Phoenix Envoy, this is just a deranged woman..."

"Won't I know whether I'm mad or not myself?" the young man snapped coldly, barking, "Stand aside!"

Upon hearing this, the jailer hesitantly released his grip. Luo Wanqing promptly flipped over and knelt on the ground, respectfully bowing her head and saying, "Greetings, Your Excellency."

"Was it you who was lodging a complaint just now?"

"Yes," Luo Wanqing declared firmly, "This commoner woman accuses my former betrothed, Jiang Shaoyan, and the Minister of Justice, Zheng Pingsheng, of framing my father, Luo Qushu."

"Is there any evidence to support this?"

The question caught Luo Wanqing off guard. After a moment's hesitation, she gritted her teeth and replied, "This commoner doesn't have any, but my father does..."

"You wouldn't be here if you didn't have evidence, right?" the youth interrupted her.

Luo Wanqing looked up hastily. "But my father..."

"EV-idence!"

The youth emphasized, and Luo Wanqing froze. She lifted her head, staring blankly at the red-robed youth before her, realizing in an instant that he wasn't asking for proof.

He was asking her to drop the case.

"The Inspectorate doesn't want to take on this case, is that it?"

Luo Wanqing stared at him in disbelief. The youth's face betrayed a hint of guilt, which quickly vanished as he regained his arrogance, his tone laced with authority. "Each department has its own procedures. If you want to file a complaint, you either need solid evidence or follow the proper channels. Anything else, we can't and won't get involved. Do you understand?"

Finished speaking, the youth didn't dare look at her again, turning instead to the visibly relieved jail warden beside him. He said coolly, "How did this prisoner escape? How were you watching her? If something like this had happened in the Imperial Prison, I'd have skinned all of you alive! Take her away and give her a lesson. Act as if she never came." The youth glared at the jail warden as a warning. "Understood?!"

Upon hearing this, the jail warden pondered for a moment and understood the unspoken message. He hurriedly responded, "Understood, Your Excellency. I'll send her back immediately. Today's incident will not leave this place. Please rest assured."

The youth nodded in satisfaction upon hearing this.

Luo Wanqing knelt on the ground, listening to the sound of the young man's departing footsteps as his words echoed in her mind.

The Inspectorate had no intention of taking up the case.

Without evidence, they were unwilling to intervene at all.

This thought filled her mind, leaving her with a sense of fear and bewilderment.

As the warden respectfully saw the youth off, he promptly rushed over in three quick strides, grabbed her hair, and slapped her, seething, "Disgraceful wretch, do you think the Inspectorate will take care of your problems just because you came here?! Don't you realize who you've offended? Do you truly believe there's a fair judge in this world?!"

Luo Wanqing remained silent, staring coldly at the warden.

The warden glanced around and barked, "Drag her to the torture chamber, give her a few lashes to teach her a lesson, then send her back to the water dungeon. Figure out how she got out."

"Sir," a guard hesitated, "back to the water dungeon?"

"Haven't you understood what the Inspectorate meant? Act as if nothing happened, back to where she came from," the warden glared at the guard, "Scram!"

The jailer, hearing this, promptly acknowledged and dragged Luo Wanqing towards the torture chamber while grumbling under his breath. Upon entering, he bound her to the rack and then said to his colleague, "Third Brother, go take a break. I'll handle her."

The one addressed as "Third Brother," delighted at the prospect of less work, waved and replied, "Alright, I'm off to play leaf tiles. Call me when it's time to escort her."

"No need," the speaking jailer chuckled. "I can carry her back by myself."

As they spoke, Luo Wanqing watched "Third Brother" turn and leave. Surprisingly, the jailer who had just vowed to discipline her followed suit, exiting the torture chamber.

Suddenly, the room was eerily empty, leaving Luo Wanqing stunned. Looking up, she noticed a screen in the distance. It was then that she realized someone seemed to be seated behind it.

"Ambassador from the Inspectorate here, ordered by the Chief Inspector to preside over this case," came the voice from behind the screen, clearly processed to be unidentifiable, yet each word was distinct and earnest. "Miss, please be candid and share all you know."

Upon hearing this, Luo Wanqing's eyes widened. Her heart raced as she stammered, "You're willing to take on the case?"

The man ignored her response and calmly asked, "Miss, could you explain what you meant earlier about your father?"

"The accused is a prince and the Minister of Justice," Luo Wanqing replied cautiously, her voice quivering slightly. "You're still willing to take on the case?"

There was a moment of silence from the other side.

After a long while, he continued softly, "Your father, Luo Quanshu, was indeed guilty of salt smuggling. He should have been examined by the Censorate yesterday, but he took his own life in fear of punishment the day before in prison. The pottery shard he used to slit his throat was from a prison bowl. Judging from the wound, it was self-inflicted; there was no external force involved."

"He was forced to die!"

Luo Wanqing immediately spoke up, "Jiang Shaoyan told me himself that he gave that shard to my father. He watched my father take his own life. My father didn't commit suicide; he was coerced!"

"Why would Jiang Shaoyan do such a thing?"

"I don't know. But with solid evidence, even if your Censorate were to review the case, it shouldn't make a difference. Why did my father choose to take his own life instead of waiting for the autumn execution? Why did Jiang Shaoyan feel the need to hasten my father's death? Whatever my father might have revealed during the examination is now your Censorate's responsibility to investigate!"

"Do you have any other leads?"

"No," Luo Wanqing said with difficulty, then defended, "But my father wasn't that kind of person. He was once a wandering hero, a guest counselor of a prominent clan, and fought alongside the Cui family for our country. He would never engage in private salt trading for money!"

The man didn't respond, lost in thought. After a while, he spoke solemnly, "With the Cui family's betrayal, there's no need to mention your father's loyalty to them in the future."

"But..."

"Today, pretend you haven't seen me. Keep your father's death to yourself. The murders you committed today have already been taken care of by the Chief. Forget about everything else, and obediently serve your exile in Lingnan. The Censorate will secretly investigate your father's case. If there's ever a retrial, we'll recall you back to the Eastern Capital."

Upon hearing this, Luo Wanqing furrowed her brow. "Why the secret investigation?"

"Do you know that if our Master had lingered for just a moment longer today, you wouldn't have lived to see tomorrow?"

"Why?" Luo Wanqing was already aware but still seethed with anger as she demanded, "Can't even the Inspectorate protect an ordinary citizen?"

"The Inspectorate isn't divine," the voice was indifferent. "The person you killed today is one of Li Guiyu's. Since they left you alive, they had no intention of killing you. Going to Lingnan is your best chance at survival."

"And then what?" Hearing 'Lingnan,' Luo Wanqing's tone turned agitated. "Am I just supposed to wait there?"

"Yes."

"What if I die on the road to Lingnan?"

"I'll give you some life-saving medicines later," the voice remained calm and unwavering. "You and your mother are both doctors. I'll ensure someone keeps an eye on the procedures. As long as the soldiers follow them, you two will be safe."

"When will that day come?" Realizing that the speaker had no intention of changing their stance, Luo Wanqing couldn't help but scoff and laugh sarcastically.

"One day, it will."

"One day…" Luo Wanqing chuckled, lifting her gaze to the dark ceiling rafters. "My lord, some outcomes arrive too late to carry any meaning."

Just like in her dream from her previous life, perhaps Jiang Shaoyan had perished not long after her death. But for the Luo Wanqing in that dream, it made no difference anymore.

"I apologize," the young man replied unperturbed. "But in today's Great Xia, the death of a commoner wouldn't rattle a minister or even an imperial prince."

"What about Prince Guangjiang?!" Luo Wanqing bellowed. "Didn't your Censorate investigate when he was seizing lands?!"

"That was because he stood in our way," the young man said calmly. "The land seizure case was just a pretense. The struggle for power is the real reason these nobles and high officials fall."

Luo Wanqing's eyes widened at his words.

The young man didn't shy away from the truth. "The Censorate of today cannot offer you justice."

"Then what about Great Xia?" Luo Wanqing clenched her fists. "Will there be justice here?"

"Perhaps." The young man sounded regretful as he let out a soft sigh. "Miss, please wait for that day."

Luo Wanqing remained silent, staring at the screen with tears brimming in her eyes. Her body trembled slightly.

The young man, upon seeing her silence, waited for a moment before rising respectfully and saying, "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. I hope to meet Miss again in the Eastern Capital in the future."

"Very well," Luo Wanqing looked at the departing figure of the young man and smiled, gritting her teeth as she spoke, "In some future year or month, I will meet Lord again in the Eastern Capital."

The young man didn't say more. It seemed that the person behind the screen bowed before opening the torture chamber door and stepping out into the moonlight.

Moments later, the same jailer returned. Apologizing with a "please forgive me," he took a whip from the side and lashed it towards Luo Wanqing.

The searing pain made Luo Wanqing cry out instantly, yet amidst the agony, she felt more lucid than ever before.

It was her mistake.

From the very beginning, she had been utterly wrong.

In her dream, Luo Wanqing waited endlessly for Jiang Shaoyan to save her, then hoped for someone to avenge her by eliminating Jiang Shaoyan in the name of justice.

Despite having lived through that dream and waited a lifetime, she now placed her hope anew in others.

She pinned her hopes on Xie Heng to clear her injustice, and on the Censorate to grant her a semblance of fairness.

And yet, how was this any different from hoping for Jiang Shaoyan to save her or for someone else to kill Jiang Shaoyan?!

Indeed, the speaker was right. Right and wrong, fairness — none of these have ever determined the fates of kings and high officials. Only power, sheer power, rules all.

Begging others, gods, or Buddha might prove less fruitful than relying on oneself. If she didn't take it upon herself to eliminate Jiang Shaoyan, who would come to her aid if she didn't first attempt to save herself?

Now, the Chief of the Supervision Division's efforts to placate her were akin to how the Luo family's case, much like the one involving the land-grab in Qingzhou, would serve as a pawn for the Supervision Division should they ever seek to topple Jiang Shaoyan.

But if they wished otherwise, then she would spend her entire life in Lingnan, just as she had in her dream.

Yet, Xie Heng and Jiang Shaoyan were destined to be allies in the future. Could one rely on them for this?

Luo Wanqing's lips curled into a mocking smile.

By now, she was already covered in whip marks, each one blossoming with blood.

The jailer lifted her down from the rack and, surreptitiously, placed a vial on her person. In a whisper, he said, "This is a medicine from the Lord. It may save your life."

Upon hearing this, Luo Wanqing lifted her head and bestowed a dazzling smile upon the person, panting as she said, "Thank you, Your Excellency."

The jailer was taken aback, struck by the mesmerizing beauty of this woman before him. Even though she was female, he dared not meet her gaze directly and quickly averted his eyes, allowing the men to carry Luo Wanqing into the water prison.

Lying on the stretcher, Luo Wanqing felt blood dripping from her fingertips. She gazed up at the dark sky and the solitary moon, mentally calculating her next steps.

She didn't rely on others; she would obtain everything she desired herself.

She vowed to protect her family and ascend to the heart of power, becoming someone who could point a sword at nobles.

In her current situation in prison, the most feasible path she could think of was to pass the inspection bureau's examination, gain their pardon, and join the bureau.

Each year, the inspection bureau recruited talented individuals from the prisons to participate in the exams. Those who passed could receive amnesty, join the bureau, and, by rendering meritorious service, clear their names and become official officers.

Since the bureau's examinations were often life-threatening, for ordinary prisoners, it was akin to choosing death. Besides, there were other amnesty channels available, such as exile. Exiled convicts could become law-abiding citizens after serving three years in their assigned locations, but they could never return to the Central Plains. Hence, the bureau's exams were exclusively for death row inmates; non-death row prisoners were not eligible.

In her previous life, Qin Jue had climbed all the way to the position of bureau chief through this method.

If Qin Jue could do it, so could she. If she managed to secure a position in the inspection bureau like Qin Jue did, she would undoubtedly eliminate Jiang Shaoyan.

But Jiang Shaoyan wouldn't give her any opportunity to rise. She had to break free from his control.

This was the only solution...

Luo Wanqing's mind suddenly flashed with the image of Liu Xiniang.

She recalled from her past life the prisoners' discussions about Liu Xiniang's fate.

"They say she was wanted by both the imperial court and the Wind and Rain Pavilion. After escaping from Yangzhou Prison, she never returned to that place. Who could leave the Wind and Rain Pavilion alive unless they were dead?"

"The pavilion sent numerous people to kill her. Even the most powerful would struggle to withstand their pursuit."

"In the end, she died in the northwest, beneath a poplar tree, as I heard."