Chapter 58 – A Little More Love

Chapter 58 - A Little More Love

The Three Departments are divided into the Lesser and Greater Triad.

Wrongful cases from various regions are reviewed by the Lesser Triad, consisting of the Censorate's Censor, the Ministry of Justice's Attendant, and the Secretariat's Secretary.

When a case reaches a certain level of influence, with extensive implications, it is typically handled by the Greater Triad: the President of the Supreme Court, the Minister of Justice, and the Censorate's Vice-Censor.

Cases involving the imperial family are usually tried by the Royal Clan Temple. With the Crown Prince's mysterious death, the entire Royal Clan Temple was under scrutiny.

Now, the Three Departments were convening, and the Emperor's intentions were clear: to turn this case inside out and find the murderer of the Crown Prince.

Thus, the Greater Triad was in charge of the proceedings.

Shang Rongyu had been working tirelessly day and night, but being young and full of vigor, he managed to keep up.

Every day, he would rise before dawn to head to the Royal Clan Temple. Upon waking, he would always find ways to tease Ran Qinggu, leaving him limp and breathless before he was satisfied enough to get dressed and leave.

Before departing, he would feign concern, saying, "Lie down. Why wake up so early? You have nothing to do; sleep more. Don't let me disturb you."

Ran Qinggu, woken every morning, would then drift back into a deep slumber.

Once asleep again, he would easily lose himself in dreams, often sleeping until late morning. As a result, Ran Qinggu had arrived at the Empress Dowager's greetings several times around noon.

After a few days, Ran Qinggu could no longer bear it and, seeking a compromise, asked, "Heir, can you take care of things once at night and then quietly leave in the morning?"

Don't disturb his sleep.

Shang Rongyu replied, "Alright, who am I to deny you anything when I love you so much."

For the next few days, Shang Rongyu kept Ran Qinggu up until dawn, and Ran Qinggu wondered where Shang Rongyu found such boundless energy.

On the fifth day, after another round, Shang Rongyu prepared to leave as usual.

Unlike ordinary people, Ran Qinggu's body couldn't withstand such exertion. He was like a shattered vase pieced back together, and so Shang Rongyu always held back, maintaining control.

Before leaving, he licked the sweat off Ran Qinggu's neck, holding his wrist and gazing at the scar where the tendons had been severed, his heart aching.

He couldn't fathom how the twelve-year-old Ran Qinggu had survived such an ordeal.

The person responsible for that scar must die.

Arriving at the Royal Clan Temple, he summoned all the prisoners within.

Ignoring the records kept by the Ministry of Justice, he decided to start afresh.

Sitting in the courtroom of the Royal Clan Temple, he yawned and stretched lazily. "Bring Hai Changqing forward." The Undersecretary of the Royal Clan Temple, Hai Changqing, was brought before him.

Shang Rongyu glanced at Hai Changqing. "On the day the Crown Prince entered the Royal Clan Temple, the chamber was selected by you, Lord Hai, and it was also you who posted guards to protect him outside his door. Food left under the bed for three or four days would certainly emit a stench. Did your guards not want to smell it, or did they just fail to notice? Moreover, how is it that the Crown Prince could eat and drink well during the first two days but then suddenly stopped doing so afterward? Did someone speak to him about something? Hai Changqing, considering we are colleagues and you were classmates with my elder brother, Shang Rongque, if you confess truthfully, this Heir might show you some leniency."

Hai Changqing was a loyalist of the Second Prince and had committed many misdeeds on his behalf over the years.

During the trial for treason against the Qing family, Hai Changqing was merely a low-ranking scribe in the Ministry of Justice and had submitted numerous memorials against Qing Yi.

After the Qing family was exterminated, Hai Changqing, thanks to the Second Prince's patronage, rose through the ranks quickly, becoming the Undersecretary of the Royal Clan Temple.

With the Crown Prince's death, ministers with grudges against the Second Prince and remnants of the Crown Prince's faction vented their anger on Hai Changqing. Impeachment memorials piled up like snowflakes.

Hai Changqing snorted coldly through his nose. "Heir, how can I admit to something I didn't do? How am I supposed to confess?"

Shang Rongyu smiled. "It seems Hai大人 isn't planning to confess. Lu大人, apply torture."

Hai Changqing flushed with anger. "Heir, you dare! This is forcing a confession through torture. I will appeal to the Emperor."

Lu Yunshen, who had been diligently recording the proceedings, was taken aback by the sudden mention of torture. His face alternated between red and pale.

Without any concrete evidence, all that could be established was that Hai Changqing had arranged the Crown Prince's room and provided security. There was no proof that he had any involvement in the Crown Prince's murder.

There was no motive, no method, and even the process of the crime was unknown.

Even if all these elements were present, the Emperor had ordered a joint review by the Three Departments. Torture could only be applied after the Underminister of Justice and the Vice-Censor of the Censorate arrived. If torture was used openly now, Hai Changqing could accuse Shang Rongyu of forcing a confession, abusing power, and eliminating rivals before the Emperor.

Lu Yunshen hurriedly stepped in front of Shang Rongyu, whispering, "Rongyu, this isn't the Supreme Court."

Shang Rongyu raised an eyebrow. "Are you stupid, or am I? Of course, I know this isn't the Supreme Court."

Lu Yunshen whispered again, "We're still in the questioning phase. We don't have solid evidence to prove he's the culprit. Even if we did, we'd have to wait for the Three Departments to convene before applying torture."

Shang Rongyu nodded indifferently. "That makes sense."

Lu Yunshen patted Shang Rongyu's shoulder in consolation. "I know the Second Prince caused the miscarriage of the Heir Consort. You want to seek revenge using your position, but you need to be patient. Revenge doesn't have to happen right away."

Shang Rongyu smiled. "No problem. The Supreme Court has plenty of methods to torment someone without leaving a mark. Guards, apply the tickling torture."

Tickling torture involved binding the person to a chair, coating their feet with honey and sugar, and bringing in a dog to lick the soles clean. Once finished, another layer would be applied, and the dog would continue licking until the victim was writhing in unbearable ticklishness, laughing until they suffocated and died due to lack of oxygen.

While it didn't involve physical torture, it caused immense suffering to the prisoner, and even the most resilient individuals would often confess within half an hour.

Lu Yunshen finally understood.

Shang Rongyu intended to kill Hai Changqing.

At that moment, the Minister of Justice and the Vice-Censor of the Censorate rushed in, bowing respectfully upon seeing Shang Rongyu. "Heir."

Shang Rongyu nodded slightly. "Why have the two of you come here?"

The Minister of Justice and the Vice-Censor exchanged glances.

What else could they be doing here?

Of course, it's about investigating the case.

Shang Rongyu lifted his chin and pointed at Hai Changqing. "This man is obstinate and unyielding; this Heir was just about to use some force. Should the two of you step aside first?"

The Minister of Justice asked in confusion, "Has the Heir uncovered something?"

Shang Rongyu smiled mysteriously. "What? Trying to fish for information from me? Whatever I uncover is what my Ministry of Justice discovers. What does it have to do with you, Your Excellency? I, Shang Rongyu, have lived eighteen years, and no one has ever dared to snatch credit from my hands."

The Censorate laughed it off. "We're all colleagues, working on the same case. How can it be considered snatching credit? Besides, His Majesty ordered us three departments to conduct a joint trial. We must work together wholeheartedly for His Majesty, right?"

Shang Rongyu smiled. "Since we've come to this point, let me be frank. His Majesty ordered us three departments to conduct a joint trial, but our relationships aren't particularly warm on a daily basis. Working together, we'll inevitably fight over that little bit of credit, which could harm our camaraderie. If we separate our investigations, and when we're done, share our resources, deciding the size of our contributions based on the information gathered, what do the two of you think?"

Lu Yunshen was taken aback.

A joint trial by the three departments, yet they would investigate separately?

This was probably the first time in Da Su history that such a separation occurred during a joint trial.

Once these two nodded their agreement, they would be on board with Shang Rongyu's scheme.

Then Shang Rongyu could directly apply any form of punishment on Hai Changqing, for they were conducting separate trials. In doing so, he represented all three departments. Seeing the hesitation on their faces, Shang Rongyu sneered. "Are the two of you afraid of this inexperienced young whelp?"

The Minister of Justice's face darkened as he stroked his beard. "What do I have to fear?"

Shang Rongyu mocked him. "Afraid that this rogue is better at investigating than you, tarnishing your reputation."

The Minister of Justice was enraged. "You..."

The Deputy Minister of Justice, Yu Tiao, whispered into his ear. "Your Excellency, agreeing will not harm us. Let Shang Rongyu handle the investigation first. With the Ministry of Justice's methods, they will certainly use torture. When Hai Changqing confesses, in our hands, will he still hold back? He's already confessed once, why would he fear confessing again? Moreover, Hai Changqing has some influence in court. If he falls, and implicates others, those people should blame Shang Rongyu. It was Shang Rongyu who applied severe punishment to him, not us. At worst, we get less credit. Preserving ourselves is most important."

The Minister of Justice was skeptical. "Don't think I don't know about your good relationship with Shang Rongyu? Always calling each other brothers."

Yu Tiao pleaded repeatedly. "Your Excellency, you're wronging me. I'm a commoner, a poor scholar, how could I have the qualifications to call the exalted Heir my brother? It's just that we often hang out together, and I'm forced into it. He's the Heir, and I curry favor with him to ensure a smooth career. Moreover, today's joint trial involves my livelihood. How dare I take it lightly? I worked hard to achieve my current position. For the imperial examinations, I didn't even mourn my grandmother's death. Do you think I'd joke around with my future?"

The Minister was moved.

Yu Tiao was originally a child from a farming family in the mountains of the southwest, without parents, only a grandmother, with whom he shared a close bond.

Such a birth placed him among the lowest rungs, with no hope for an official career.

But through his own abilities, he earned the recommendation of a local gentry and entered school. Later, due to his outstanding literary talent, he was recommended by a talent-loving state official as a poor scholar to the Imperial Academy.

The Imperial Academy had two parts: one for the poor, and one for the children of officials. There, he met Lu Yunshen, Yao Wang, and Shang Rongyu.

He was more than ten years older than Shang Rongyu, due to his impoverished upbringing, late start in education, and several twists and turns.

When he took the imperial examinations, his only grandmother passed away. The news reached outside the examination hall, but he did not immediately return to mourn. Instead, he finished the exams before going back.

He should have been the top scholar of that year, but because he did not immediately return upon hearing of his loved one's death and continued with the examinations, he was deemed unfilial.

Unfilial conduct was a great sin, and the Ministry of Rites sentenced him to lifelong disqualification from entering officialdom through the imperial examinations.

It was only later that Shang Rongyu, Yao Wang, Lu Yunshen, and several other sons of officials led a group to block the Ministry of Rites, surrounding them until the matter reached the palace.

King Cheng doted on the Heir, and Lord Lu, upon hearing his beloved son Lu Yunshen's words, greatly valued talent. Together, they recommended him, and the Emperor agreed to personally examine this talented scholar. Yu Tiao did not disappoint expectations. After the palace examination, his literary talent stunned half the court, and the Emperor allowed him to enter officialdom.

His ability to become an official was indeed hard-won.

The Minister of Justice believed that everyone would dare to gamble with their careers, except Yu Tiao.

Yu Tiao looked at Shang Rongyu.

He didn't know what Shang Rongyu was planning, but this was all he could do to help him.

Seeing the Minister of Justice wavering, Shang Rongyu smiled persuasively. "Moreover, if we investigate together, we'll have to shuttle back and forth every day. Aren't you tired after these days? If we separate our investigations, when you're handling the trial, I can go back and rest for two days. By taking turns, each of us gets two days of rest. Why not?"

The Minister of Justice thought about it and found it true. He asked the Censor General, "What does the Censorate think?"

The Censor General was a rigid old man, showing difficulty.

There was no precedent for separating the joint trial by the three departments. To break this precedent required an imperial decree, but now that the Emperor was gravely ill, if he went, he would surely receive a scolding.

Moreover, if the Emperor wanted separate trials, he could simply find the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Justice to investigate and question the case. Why bother with a joint trial by the three departments?

Shang Rongyu understood and said, "Why not find a compromise? We separate for the first three days, then come together on the fourth day for questioning. Then, we each submit the results of our questioning. Following these results, we can go to Uncle Emperor to claim our rewards. Do the two of you have any objections?"

The Censor General glanced at Shang Rongyu and nodded. "That's acceptable."

In essence, Shang Rongyu was afraid of competing for credit with the Minister of Justice.

When he was young, he was similarly hot-headed and eager to win. Everyone has been young, and he understood.

The Minister of Justice nodded. "Let's do it that way."

Shang Rongyu bowed. "Since I arrived first today, I'll start the questioning. I'll hand it over to Your Excellency tomorrow morning. How about that?"

The Minister of Justice nodded. "Fine."

After seeing off the two adults, Shang Rongyu returned to the chair in the interrogation room, spread out his robe, and sat down. "Remove the tickling torture and prepare the harsh punishment for this Heir."

Now that they were conducting separate trials, he alone represented the three departments.

He could investigate however he pleased.

Shang Rongyu sneered. "Hai Changqing, I advise you to confess early to avoid suffering."

Hai Changqing angrily rebuked him. "What do you want me to confess to? I've done nothing. How can I confess?"

Shang Rongyu raised his eyebrows. "Tsk tsk tsk, you look so smart, with barely any hair left on your head. How could you ask such a foolish question."

Hai Changqing said angrily, "What do you mean?"

Shang Rongyu stood up and walked down as he spoke, "Am I asking you to confess to plotting against the Crown Prince? Am I asking you to confess who instigated you to plot against the Crown Prince?"

After Lu Yunshen heard this, his heart was startled.

Shang Rongyu was directly targeting the Second Prince.

It seemed that the loss of the Heir's child had dealt a huge blow to him.

Hai Changqing was terrified in his heart. Shang Rongyu not only framed him but also forced him to falsely accuse others.

Shang Rongyu squatted down and looked into his eyes, "You're a smart man, say something smart. Don't be foolish; I hate dealing with fools the most. I usually just kill fools."

Hai Changqing replied, "You're forcing a confession out of me, trying to make me falsely accuse the innocent. Shang Rongyu, you scoundrel want to use this to eliminate your rivals. You can forget about it."

Shang Rongyu whispered, "How so? Angry? Afraid? Want to hit me? Wasn't it the same when you reviewed the case of Marquis Dingbei?"

Hai Changqing's face froze as he looked at Shang Rongyu in disbelief, "You..."

Those who participated in the case of Marquis Dingbei and those involved in the massacre of his entire family died unnatural deaths one after another, their corpses in unspeakable conditions. The Second Prince could never catch the murderer, which made everyone uneasy, thinking it was a ghost...

What was Shang Rongyu's relationship with Marquis Dingbei? Why did he say such things? Was it intentional or an unintentional taunt?

Could it be that he was the one who killed them? But why would he do that? King Cheng had no connection with Marquis Dingbei.

Seeing Hai Changqing's pale face from fear, Shang Rongyu chuckled, "Don't mind, I'm just talking nonsense. I advise you to confess early. What does it matter if you confess or not? Once you fall, even if you don't reveal who it is, how can the Emperor think that this has nothing to do with the Second Prince?"

Hai Changqing spat, "Shang Rongyu, don't try to trick me. I didn't do anything, I've been wronged. I want to see the Emperor!"

Shang Rongyu quickly dodged, avoiding the saliva.

He shook his head and looked at Hai Changqing with a look of disdain, "Rude, spitting on the ground. Since you won't talk nonsense with me, I won't bother either. Guards, Lord Hai loves dogs the most, so let Lord Hai learn how dogs crawl. Break one bone for every step he crawls, and two bones if he doesn't crawl."

Hai Changqing was shocked.

These words sounded familiar.

When the Qing family was exterminated, he proposed that the Qing family's descendants crawl, breaking one bone for every step, and two bones if they didn't crawl.

Was this person really unrelated to Marquis Dingbei?

Lu Yunshen held Shang Rongyu back, "Are you reviewing the case? You're trying to take his life."

Shang Rongyu laughed, "Isn't that what a tyrant does? Skin people alive and break their bones, that fits my style. I dare to be myself."

He then shouted at the guards, "What are you waiting for? Do you want this Heir to do it himself?"

The guards looked at each other and bowed, "Yes."

In no time, screams filled the interrogation room, blood splattering everywhere. Hai Changqing crawled in the blood, like maggots leaving a dung heap.

When Lu Yunshen saw Hai Changqing faint, he said, "Rongyu, why not interrogate him again next time? You can't beat him to death, can you?"

Shang Rongyu threw a document to Lu Yunshen, "Pour water on him, make him sign and put his thumbprint on it. If he doesn't put his thumbprint, continue breaking his bones. When the bones are all broken, flay his flesh inch by inch."

Lu Yunshen unfolded the document, "You're not implicating the Second Prince?"

The document stated that Hai Changqing had been demoted by the Crown Prince and harbored resentment, luring the mad Crown Prince to starve to death by refusing food and drink.

Shang Rongyu smiled without speaking.

Now that the Crown Prince was dead, the Emperor's only hope was the Second Prince. He wouldn't let anything happen to the Second Prince, so why go through the trouble.

Moreover, if he desperately implicated the Second Prince now, it would only make the Emperor think that someone was deliberately targeting the Second Prince.

But if he made Hai Changqing implicate himself, how would the Emperor view it?

Whether the Second Prince killed the Crown Prince or not didn't matter. What he wanted was for the Emperor to suspect whether the Second Prince had killed him.

Accumulated suspicion over time would only turn father and son into ruler and minister, and ruler and minister into enemies.

This was common in the imperial family.

"The Heir, the Heir's wife is here," a guard reported hurriedly, his face showing joy, "She's brought chicken soup for you. She said that the manor got some excellent black chickens today, and she stewed soup especially for you."

Several officials of the Ministry of Justice looked at each other.

It seemed that the Heir hadn't been bragging these days; the Heir's wife really couldn't live without the Heir.

Just don't ask the Heir to coax her to sleep later. This Royal Clan Temple wasn't the Ministry of Justice; there was no place to coax her here.

As they spoke, Ran Qingshu had already walked in, carrying a lunch box.

Yao Wang hurriedly stopped her, "Heir's wife, don't come in. There's blood all over the floor inside. We just used torture, I'm afraid it will scare you."

Ran Qingshu had already reached the door. He saw Hai Changqing lying on the ground covered in blood, his fingers bent at odd angles, his body mangled, and the floor covered with bloody drag marks.

He stepped inside, "It's fine. The Crown Prince suddenly went crazy in the Buddha Hall and killed many beggars. I barely escaped with my life. Now there's nothing to be afraid of."

Shang Rongyu quickly stood up and held Ran Qingshu's hand gently, "Why are you dressed so thinly? Was it cold on the way here?"

Ran Qingshu shook his head.

Lu Yunshen suggested, "Rongyu, you're not going to drink the delicious chicken soup here, are you?"

With the thick smell of blood in the room, could he still drink it?

Shang Rongyu looked at Ran Qingshu gently, "Wait for me to finish the interrogation before we go out to drink the chicken soup?"

Ran Qinggu nodded. "Then I'll accompany you."

Shang Rongyu put his arm around Ran Qinggu's shoulders. "Good."

Lu Yunshen instructed, "Bring a chair over for the Heir's Consort."

Just as the guard was about to leave, Shang Rongyu said, "No need, chairs are too hard."

Without finishing his sentence, he pulled Ran Qinggu into his embrace and had him sit on his lap.

Everyone was speechless; people were truly different from one another.

Some, when busy, couldn't even have a meal, while others, no matter how busy, could always find their gentle havens.

Ran Qinggu looked at Hai Changqing on the ground and asked softly but coldly, "Is the Heir interrogating a criminal?"

Shang Rongyu replied, "Yes, someone, splash water on him to wake him up."

Ran Qinggu leaned against Shang Rongyu and suggested, "I've heard that chili water can cause unbearable pain for criminals. Why not try chili water?"

Seeing this person, he suddenly recalled the times when he lay in bed, uncertain if he would get his next bowl of medicine.

He caressed the broken tendons on his wrist, remaining unusually calm.

He once thought he would hate, yet after killing so many, he remained like an emotionless log.

So he wouldn't hate, nor would he experience joy.

The only emotions he felt were those brought upon by Shang Rongyu.

Thus, the man on the ground was merely one of the five hundred ants he intended to eliminate, whom he would kill solely to avenge the Qings' children tortured and killed on Beipogang.

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked.

Such cruel methods were usually reserved for enemy spies, when had they ever been used on common criminals?

The Heir's Consort seemed gentle and kind, how could such cruel words come from her mouth?

Everyone waited for Shang Rongyu to refuse, but unexpectedly, he agreed, "Good, bring a basin of chili water."

Ran Qinggu smiled. "Why not use boiling water?"

Everyone was speechless.

The Heir's Consort's smile was beautiful; with such a beautiful exterior, who would think she could devise such vicious methods?

This couple indeed couldn't be provoked, perfectly matched, one ruthless, the other venomous.

Shang Rongyu held Ran Qinggu close, tender and gentle. "It's fine, do whatever you want, as long as it makes you happy."

There was no hatred in Ran Qinggu's eyes, only the innate ruthlessness embedded in his bones.

When this person became ruthless, his methods were cruel and terrifying.

Yet, he was so heartbroken for him.

Ran Qinggu once said that he envied him, that if he were to be human, he wanted to be like him.

He didn't want Ran Qinggu to be anyone else, he only wanted Ran Qinggu to be himself.

At least learn to love oneself.

He didn't know how to make Ran Qinggu accept this world and learn to love himself, so he loved him more.

Everyone was astonished.

Fortunately, the Heir wasn't the emperor, otherwise, Da Su might have perished.

Author's note:

P.S.: The structure of the Three Ministries is based on the Tang Dynasty.

The laughing punishment is sourced from Baidu.

Thank you to the little angels who cast their overlord tickets or watered nutrient fluids for me from September 7, 2020, 01:30:25 AM to September 8, 2020, 01:48:41 AM.

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Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!