Chapter 109: Interrogating Crimes (1)

Chapter 109: Interrogation of Crimes (1)

Qin Jiao: “…”

Had Luo Yue’s odd tone been picked up from Shen Fuqing?

“What did you say? This prince will kill you!” Shen Fuqing’s veiled accusation instantly enraged Xie Chengyi, who began shouting like a madman: “Where is His Majesty? I demand to see Xie Xuanran! You have no authority to arrest this prince!”

“His Majesty is currently hunting with the Mengqin envoy,” Xie Nai replied calmly, producing an imperial edict as he spoke.

“This is an imperial decree ordering Shen Fuqing of the Supreme Court of Justice to preside over the trial of the Second Prince for the crimes of persecuting the son of a court official and orchestrating the abduction at the Recruiting Embroidery Tower in South Prefecture.” Xie Nai paused briefly. “His Majesty wishes to preserve Your Highness’s dignity as an imperial uncle—after all, it would be unseemly for juniors to adjudicate matters concerning their elders.”

He added silently: *Now cooperate with the investigation, confess—and pray you retain some sense.*

Xie Nai did not voice that final sentence aloud, yet his sharp, oppressive gaze conveyed it unmistakably.

Xie Chengyi snatched the edict in disbelief. The clear jade imperial seal confirmed its authenticity—yet he still refused to accept it.

“Impossible! You’re lying! I know nothing about persecuting a court official’s son or the Recruiting Embroidery Tower abduction! You think you can frame this prince with nothing more than a bottle of love potion? Dream on!”

Shen Fuqing retrieved the edict and declared gravely, “Whether this is a frame-up will become clear once I conduct the trial.”

Seeing Shen Fuqing’s intent to proceed immediately—to force Xie Chengyi’s confession on the spot—Qin Jiao, having already “used himself as bait” to set this entire scene in motion, knew he could contribute nothing further to the interrogation itself. He simply dragged over a chair and sat down comfortably. Jiang Qingrong, observing his demeanor, promptly fetched a chair of her own and sat beside him.

No sooner had they settled than shouts erupted outside the villa.

“How dare you block me? Utter impudence!”

Qin Jiao craned his neck to look—and saw Noble Consort Dowager Ying, who had received word and rushed here at once.

Following her were several officials aligned with the Second Prince’s faction. Since Guozhang Li had not accompanied the emperor on this spring hunt, these officials were likely brought along temporarily to bolster her presence.

“Mother—you’ve finally arrived! They’re slandering your son!” The moment Xie Chengyi spotted Noble Consort Dowager Ying, he launched into complaints.

She fixed him with a look of profound disappointment. “You are a prince. Is this how a prince behaves—panicking, losing composure?”

As she spoke, she signaled her attendants to untie Xie Chengyi.

The Supreme Court of Justice officials dared not defy Noble Consort Dowager Ying; they released Xie Chengyi and stepped aside.

“Lord Shen, I shall take Chengyi back with me now.”

Noble Consort Dowager Ying made no mention of the prior matter—only announced her intention to remove Xie Chengyi. Naturally, Shen Fuqing refused: “Your Ladyship, please wait.”

“How dare you defy my mother’s command?”

With Noble Consort Dowager Ying’s arrival, Xie Chengyi believed he now had backing—and spoke far more boldly. Yet precisely *because* Shen Fuqing was known for his audacity and arrogance—his willingness to “offend superiors”—had Xie Xuanran appointed him to preside over this case.

Thus, everyone present witnessed Shen Fuqing first mocking the Second Prince as “useless,” then single-handedly wielding the imperial edict to silence Noble Consort Dowager Ying and the Second Prince’s factional officials.

Shen Fuqing: “Your Highness’s statement is incorrect. Under Heaven, the imperial decree reigns supreme. Your Ladyship is an inner-court consort; by law, you may not interfere in outer-court affairs. It is understandable that, residing within the palace, Your Ladyship may be unfamiliar with such statutes—but surely these officials standing beside you are not likewise ignorant?”

“Or perhaps they feign ignorance deliberately—failing to remind Your Ladyship, hoping instead to saddle you with the charge of ‘inner-court interference in state affairs,’ so that thousands will curse you for generations to come? Truly malicious—worse than beasts!”

Shen Fuqing’s ostensibly reasonable speech brimmed with biting sarcasm. Qin Jiao and Jiang Qingrong, listening from the side, struggled to suppress laughter.

“Shen Fuqing—you show grave disrespect!” an official in his fifties snapped angrily.

Another added, “This man is utterly mad!”

Shen Fuqing paid no heed to Noble Consort Dowager Ying’s or the officials’ expressions. “Very well—since Your Ladyship has arrived, you may remain as an observer.”

Invoking the imperial edict as sole authority, Shen Fuqing settled the matter decisively. With a wave of his hand, a Supreme Court of Justice official immediately brought a chair for Noble Consort Dowager Ying.

*If you wish to listen—listen. If not—the door lies there. You may leave.*

Shen Fuqing’s meaning was unmistakable in his gaze. Then he turned to Xie Chengyi: “Second Prince, we now proceed to your first charge: persecution of a court official’s son. You have just seen the evidence—‘Charming Spring.’ Now, witness Qin Jiao—step forward.”

Qin Jiao stepped forward as instructed. Xie Chengyi’s and Noble Consort Dowager Ying’s faces darkened instantly upon seeing him.

In truth, Qin Jiao need not utter a word—his mere presence served as a “conviction talisman” for Xie Chengyi. Still, he briefly recounted how he and Qin Chaole had been taken to Noble Consort Dowager Ying’s villa, where a confrontation broke out—resulting in Qin Chaole being shoved into the pond, while Qin Jiao himself was drugged and delivered to Xie Chengyi.

Once Qin Jiao concluded, Shen Fuqing offered Noble Consort Dowager Ying a faint, half-smile. Before she could protest, he called out sharply: “Witnesses Qin Chaole, Miao Mao, Fifth Prince Xie Jian, and Qin Yuanshan—step forward!”

At the mention of Qin Chaole and Qin Yuanshan, Qin Ji and Qin Han both jerked their heads up sharply. At the names Miao Mao and Xie Jian, Xie Chengyi suddenly clenched his fists.

“How dare you betray this prince?”

Miao Mao emerged from somewhere, stepping forward to stand beside Xie Jian.

“Your Highness, your servant has merely returned to the righteous path.” Miao Mao knelt and began confessing—detailing how the Second Prince had ordered him to manufacture “Charming Spring” and train male and female courtesans.

Xie Jian likewise gave a concise account of how Xie Chengyi had directed him to obstruct Xie Nai, enabling his sinister schemes. Finally, he looked squarely at Xie Chengyi: “Second Brother—I warned you repeatedly. Romantic entanglements breed disaster. Cease your stubbornness.”

At that moment, Xie Chengyi and Noble Consort Dowager Ying were pale as death—especially Xie Chengyi, whose eyes bulged with fury, his face twisted into something monstrous, green-hued and fanged—far removed from any princely bearing.

After Miao Mao and Xie Jian finished testifying, it was Qin Yuanshan’s and Qin Chaole’s turn.

Though Qin Yuanshan testified under duress, he understood the Second Prince’s power was crumbling. Without hesitation, he confessed everything: how the Second Prince had instructed him to first deliver Qin Jiao to Noble Consort Dowager Ying’s villa—and then retrieve the “fake Qin Jiao” who had fallen into the water.

Once Qin Yuanshan finished, Qin Han could no longer contain herself—she covered her face with a handkerchief and wept, overcome with shame.

Qin Jiao’s gaze remained locked on Qin Yuanshan. His emotions churned—complex, indescribable—a sensation like a lump of bloody, maggot-ridden meat lodged deep in his throat: rotten, raw, nauseating.

Yet he knew the true nausea was yet to come—in what Qin Chaole was about to reveal.

A month and a half ago, Qin Chaole had come to Qin Jiao at night, cloaked and secretive, to “discuss cooperation.” They’d shared a brief, heartfelt conversation—and it was that very night Qin Jiao learned just how profoundly disappointing his father, Qin Yuanshan, truly was.

Once Qin Yuanshan finished speaking, the room fell silent for a long moment—then Qin Chaole naturally took up the thread: “Father left certain things unsaid. I’ll continue from here.”

At Shen Fuqing’s curt command—“Begin”—Qin Chaole slowly began recounting his “story.”

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