by Ning er
Su Yuan's speech seemed to be insisting on Qu Zhang Qing's faults and guilt, even adding to whatever offense he might originally have been perceived to have. Qin daren frowned. After Su Yuan had finished talking, Zheng daren followed up, “Qu Zhang Qing, you say that 'a man intent on beating his dog will never lack a stick,' but is it not true that we found, in the front piece of your jacket, a letter and keepsake given to you by the people of the Northern Qi dynasty? What do you have to say for yourself regarding this?”
Qu Zhang Qing gave Zheng daren a look. Though his words were clear and in order, it was obvious that he was siding with Su Yuan in pushing all those crimes on his head. He instead fixed his gaze on Qin daren, speaking slowly word for word, “How do I explain to daren the actions that I have not committed? Is it just to declare me guilty of a crime based on a letter and keepsake alone? Letters and keepsakes can be fabricated, crimes can be misattributed. But what I haven't done, even facing death itself, I will never admit to!”
Qin daren felt the truth radiating from Qu Zhang Qing's every word. He recalled Su Yuan's relationship with xiang fu and understood now the words that had just been spoken. He said, “If that is so, then I would like to ask Su daren to present the evidence.”
Su Yuan, seeing that the Left Imperial Censor was unmoved by his and the Chief Executive's words, felt a burning rage within. His gaze flickered towards Qu Zhang Qing, but saw that the kneeling man only had eyes for Qin daren. His temper flared up even more, a killing intent flashing in his gaze. However, he maintained a calm expression as he ordered, “Come! Bring forth the evidence!”
The jailers complied, hurriedly leaving the hall and returning with two items of evidence to present to the three judges.
“My fellow daren, please look. These are Qu Zhang Qing's items that prove he's in covert communication with the Northern Qi dynasty. This letter envelope bengong has examined himself carefully for ten or so times. Every word, every line inside, everything points towards a complaint against my dynasty's son of heaven! The letter fawns and flatters the Northern Qi dynasty's Emperor and discusses the city of my dynasty, even putting some important information on it. This truly causes one to have suspicions! Furthermore, this jade waist medallion has a word engraved on it: Qi! I'm afraid that this was given to him for Qu Zhang Qing's easy comings and goings within the Northern Qi Palace!”
Su Yuan, seeing that Qin daren and Zheng daren had risen from their own examination tables to have a closer inspection of the evidence, immediately gave them an explanation, while raising the emerald green medallion at the same time, for everyone in the room to see clearly the character engraved on the stone.
The other two people, after having examined the two items thoroughly, slowly changed their expressions.
It was possible that the letter was fabricated, but the waist medallion, as well as the engraved character, was a specialty of the Northern Qi. It had been attempted, but never was another country able to manufacture a similar piece of stone. Furthermore, only the Royal Family of Northern Qi had the privilege to possess this type of waist medallion. And yet, it was found to be among Qu Zhang Qing's possessions! With this type of solid evidence, even someone who really wanted to help Qu Zhang Qing would be fighting an uphill battle.
Qu Zhang Qing was startled upon seeing this jade medallion and why such a precious thing would be found from his personal belongings. However, his expression remained level and open.
“It looks like Qu gongzi is unable to deny these charges and planning to keep his silence forever.” Su Yuan had meant to let Qu Zhang Qing see the jade medallion, which was why he raised it so high up awhile ago, in the hopes of seeing a helpless and panicked expression that would allow him to pin the crime on the man.
However, Su Yuan did not anticipate that Qu Zhang Qing would be able to keep his composure so well. His face remained expressionless. Su Yuan began to fear that if they continued down this path, the situation would change and the advantage would go from his court to Qu Zhang Qing's. He ordered, “Come! Use torture on this man.”
At the moment, with evidence pointing to Qu Zhang Qing's guilt and his staunch silence, there was nothing the other two daren could do to prevent Su Yuan from using torture.
Several jailers came into the hall hoisting the torture weapons that had long been well prepared: a four sided metal-barbed bed and a vat of scalding hot water. A jailer walked up to Qu Zhang Qing and began roughly tearing away his clothing.
Qin daren had long heard of the punishments and torture methods of the Ministry of Justice, and now, seeing that Su Yuan was actually about to use the comb-and-wash method on Qu Zhang Qing, he immediately called out, “Wait! Su daren seems to be unnecessarily cruel! Even if this is a criminal, he shouldn't be subject to this. Do you want to force Qu Zhang Qing to speak, or do you want to kill him? If Qu Zhang Qing turns out to be innocent, how will Su daren explain himself to the Emperor?”
The comb-and-wash torture technique subjected the victim to gut-wrenching pain worse than death. The mere fact that they had to tear off his clothing before being subjected to it… letting a convict be punished in the nude, among these civilized and educated people, was the most humiliating experience one could be subjected to.
The previously cool-headed Qu Zhang Qing, after seeing his own top torn off, now had a steely fury in his eyes. He looked at Su Yuan with an expression of unbounded hatred.
“Qin daren has misunderstood! This Qu Zhang Qing is so obstinate and hard-headed. If I don't use a bit of heavy torture on him, I'm afraid he will never admit the truth. Furthermore, the Emperor is waiting for the result of our trial on this day, I fear we have not much time to squander on this man.” Su Yuan smiled superficially at Qin daren, before turning to the jailers who had halted mid-action. “What are you all doing just standing there?”
The group of jailers, hearing their higher-up speak, picked themselves up immediately for fear of being accused of slacking off. They returned to the tasks at hand. The great hall had been filled with steam from the vat of boiling water, increasing the temperature inside the room to an uncomfortable degree. Everybody present started to sweat, but Su Yuan complained that the water was not hot enough, and had someone else prop up the frame to put the iron vat above for an even more heated temperature.
Qin daren, seeing Su Yuan's obstinate willfulness and Qu Zhang Qing without a shirt, he already felt like he couldn't bear to let this go on.
When Qin daren finished contemplating and was once again about to open his mouth, a jailer ran inside from the main door and knelt in front of the three officials. “Daren, Chu xiang is here.”
“What is he doing here?” Su Yuan, seeing that his good opportunity was about to be disturbed, furrowed his brows, his eyes gleaming with killing intent.
“Hurry and invite Chu xiang inside,” Qin daren said, before Su Yuan had a chance to even open his mouth to deny entry. The aide-de-camp from his side ran out to invite Chu Fei Yang, who was already at the door, inside.
“Such a hot day, but Su daren doesn't even seem to feel the heat, even setting up a boiler inside the hall! I wonder what Su daren is up to.”
As Chu Fei Yang walked in, his clear voice, with traces of smouldering anger, reverberated throughout the hall, entering the ears of all those present.
The three officials immediately stood up to welcome Chu Fei Yang, and bowed with their hands in front to greet him respectfully, “Xiaguan greets Chu xiang.”
Chu Fei Yang didn't respond, sweeping his magnanimous gaze across Qu Zhang Qing, who looked no better than a beggar at the moment. Seeing the wound that had festered and expanded across his back, Chu Fei Yang's eyes turned hard. As he looked over to Su Yuan, his expression turned even colder. “Su daren's management of the Minitry of Justice is overwhelming! Braving the heat and even personally trying the prisoner.”
Su Yuan had already been dissatisfied by Chu Fei Yang's arrival, but what could he do? Chu Fei Yang was not only Xi Chu's left minister, Chu wang himself
had military authority. Even though Su Yuan had attachments to Chen wang, he understood clearly that at this moment, if he were to openly go against him, it would be like trying to break a stone with an egg. And so Su Yuan said reverentially, “Xiangye's compliments are misattributed! Weichen is merely sticking to one's duty as a royal subject and help lessen the pressures of the Emperor!”
“But why does benxiang feel like Su daren is creating obstacles for the Emperor? The Emperor ordered the three legal officers to hold a trial, which means that he doesn't want a mistrial and false accusation. This is also the Emperor's solicitude towards the Empress Dowager and Fu Guo Gong Fu, and he wishes for the daren before me to be able to wash away the injustice thrown upon Qu Zhang Qing. How unexpected that Su daren would want to obtain confessions under torture, and go against the Emperor's intentions.” Seeing Su Yuan furious to the point of speechlessness, Chu Fei Yang raised an eyebrow and admired his work, each word growing sharper and sharper towards the end of his speech.
“Chu xiang is extremely right. Xiaguan will handle the matter justly and will not allow confession under torture to happen. Put away all the torture tools!” Qin daren immediately grabbed the chance Chu Fei Yang's words granted him, since he was originally unwilling to watch Su Yuan's cruelty in the first place. He waved a hand to let the jailers lift and remove the tools from the hall.
Su Yuan's face had slowly turned hostile while he was being ignored. He sneered. “Chu xiang might not know this yet, but Qu Zhang Qing's betrayal of our country has already been proven. The evidence is on hand, and not a word he says can counter cold, hard proof.”
“If this is truly so, then I must invite the three daren to report to the Emperor and tell him of the result of the trial… and not to secretly use torture. If this matter were to spread, Xi Chu civilians might become terribly disappointed with the Emperor because of Su daren's behavior! If the Emperor's reputation should receive injury, can Su daren shoulder this crime?” Every word of Chu Fei Yang's speedy retort struck admiration in Qin daren's heart.
Su Yuan made no reply, he was so angry that he turned his back, picking up the two pieces of evidence from the table and then smiling said, "Chu xiang, why not examine the evidence first before we speak further?”
One corner of Chu Fei Yang's lips turned up in a smile, but he did not reach over to receive the evidence in Su Yuan's grasp. “These items of evidence can all be fabricated. Furthermore, the Emperor has already given them for benxiang's inspection. Su daren has been administrator of the Ministry of Justice for so many years now, but I never thought he'd be muddled by something like this! Qu Zhang Qing stayed at the border station for so many days, if he truly had the Northern Qi Royal Palace's medallion, then hypothetically, he could freely come and go as he pleased, why would he even need to write a letter to Northern Qi to tell them of our Xi Chu's situation? Wouldn't that be unnecessary? Or could it be that Qu Zhang Qing felt like it was all a good game, and wanted himself to be caught and called a traitor to his nation? If Su daren is trying this case and cannot even get past this obvious point, then I'm afraid he can't very well call himself worthy of the position of Minister of Justice now, can he?”
Chu Fei Yang's concise analysis evoked a sigh of revering admiration from Qin daren. Su Yuan's face was pale white, and Zheng daren sat quietly in his corner, observing the changing situation.
Chapter 83: Part 1: Chu and Meng Team Up to Defeat Their Enemies! | Chu Wang Fei
Su Yuan, hearing Chu Fei Yang's analysis, could only tremble his lips in reply. His steely gaze fixed on Chu Fei Yang, feeling that his timely arrival was too much of a coincidence!
However, Qu Zhang Qing's case was personally handed over to the three legal officials present for the trial. Despite Chu Fei Yang's position as the head of a hundred officials, he himself did not have the authority to meddle in this matter.
Thinking so, Su Yuan felt like he regained some of his footing. He realized that Chu Fei Yang was trying to bully him and evoke fear. If he really was able to drag Su Yuan down from the seat of Minister of Justice, he would be holding a royal decree from Emperor Yu Qian, and not standing in the great hall of the Ministry of Justice opposing him with words.
Su Yuan began to calm down, and with a level voice, he said, “Xiaguan knows in his heart that Chu xiang dedicates his mind and heart to the court, and loves and protects all officials! However, this case was personally handed to xiaguan by the Emperor himself. Without yet reaching a conclusion, Chu xiang, although being the head of a hundred officials, does not have the right to get involved with this trial. I have to kindly invite Chu xiang to take his leave of the Ministry of Justice, so as not to waste time of xiaguan in questioning the criminal.”
Su Yuan had thought that this would be enough to repel Chu Fei Yang, but Chu Fei Yang was no ordinary man. Beyond his unpredictability, he was also careful in his consideration. That today, he was standing in the Ministry of Justice's great hall, it was quite obvious that he had left a back route for himself. Chu Fei Yang merely spared a cold glance at Su Yuan, before saying, “Qu Zhang Qing is benxiang's former Division General. If he is truly without the mind and heart of a loyal subject, then benxiang himself will shoulder the crime of being an incompetent supervisor. My arrival here today has obviously been approved by the Emperor first. Qu Zhang Qing's body has been seriously injured, to try him at this moment seems to be somewhat unjust. Secondly, I would like to ask for the compassion of the daren to delay the trial for a few more days. Benxiang will talk with Qu Zhang Qing, to find out the mistake that has occurred within this matter.”
Saying so, Chu Fei Yang looked at Jiao Da, who was following closely behind. Jiao Da extracted a saber and broke open the iron chains on Qu Zhang Qing's arms, legs, and neck.
“Chu xiang, what are you doing? Qu Zhang Qing is the court's criminal. This is not something that you can just happen to interfere with as you please! Could it be that Qu Zhang Qing's betrayal of the country has something to do with Chu xiang? Then xiaguan will bear the risk of losing his official post and ask the Emperor to consider this possibility!” Su Yuan, seeing that Chu Fei Yang was about to bring Qu Zhang Qing away, quickly shouted, simultaneously ordering his men to surround Chu Fei Yang and the other two men. Let's see how they plan to walk out of the Ministry of Justice!
And yet, Su Yuan's mind was clear in its thoughts. Chu Fei Yang's martial arts skills were almost unparallelled. Jiao Da was the most capable person Chu wang kept by his side at all times. Even though the men under his command had the advantage of the many, if they truly began fighting, he knew that the opponent would win.
But this was exactly what Su Yuan wanted. He wanted his own people to stop Chu Fei Yang from taking away the convict, but because they were too weak, they would allow Chu Fei Yang to walk free but with the title of someone who broke into prison to break a convict free. Should the other officials know about this, Chu Fei Yang's Prime Minister position would be gone in a flash, and not even Chu wang would be able to help his grandson.
And even though defending a suspect was of great importance, he had, after all, tried his best to stop them. When it was time for the Emperor to look for someone to blame, he would not be too harshly punished. And if he could remove Chu Fei Yang in the process, he would have accomplished a great goal in the eyes of Chen wang, who would defend him in front of Emperor Yu Qian.
Su Yuan's threats fell on deaf ears. For Chu Fei Yang, Su Yuan was a mere dancing clown, someone not even worth his attention. This type of clown was not one who jumped out to perform for a bit before retreating, it was one of those persistent clowns who were determined to give other people headaches. Chu Fei Yang smiled coldly, reversing the question back to him in a flat voice, “I wonder who Su daren is suspecting of lying? Benxiang, or Chu wangfu? There are some words Su daren needs to carefully mull over before blurting out. Or if calamities rise because of his careless mouth, then I'm afraid Su daren will not be able to bear responsibility for it.”
“Actual
ly, Benwang wants to know what is wrong with Su daren prohibiting Chu Xiang from stealing away a convict of the court. Does his position as Minister of Justice not give him the authority to manage his convicts? Or is it that Chu xiang enjoys meddling in other people's business that he has no authority in?” A disdainful voice rang out from the main door. Everyone turned to look in time to see Chen wang being followed by bodyguards as he walked into the hall.
Chu Fei Yang, upon seeing Jiang Mu Chen walk in, had a cool smile on his lips. He raised his eyebrow slightly, his two eyes almost squinting at Jiang Mu Chen, before saying with a voice that contained unspeakable relief and joy, “Wangye is so idle today to have the time to come over. It seems like wangye is also very interested in Qu Zhang Qing!”
Chu Fei Yang had a way of speaking that seemed friendly on the surface, but his words had an effect of igniting people's tempers in the blink of an eye. Jiang Mu Chen's previously calm expression suddenly turned ugly, upon hearing the phrase “also very interested in Qu Zhang Qing”.
“Isn't Chu xiang's little visit also because of him?” Jiang Mu Chen was not Su Yuan, even though he was slightly afraid of Chu Fei Yang's military authority and his backer in Chu wangfu, Jiang Mu Chen was still someone with a good background, a prince of the previous Emperor. Now he was Chen wang, someone with a position above many and below little. He was not any less powerful in terms of status when compared alongside Chu Fei Yang.
And so, when facing Chu Fei Yang, Jiang Mu Chen did not have Su Yuan's over-cautious manner of speaking. He had the right to be haughty, and was not afraid of Chu Fei Yang's intimidating speeches either.
“Wangye is right, of course. Qu Zhang Qing is one of benxiang's former subordinates, and is also a loyal and dedicated servant of the nation. Today, he's being accused of a false crime, how can benxiang just sit idly by? What I wish to know is, with what authority and what position wangye assumes to come forth today in this scene?” Chu Fei Yang's words had the added benefit of removing Qu Zhang Qing's crime of being a traitor to the nation, which caused Su Yuan to furrow his brows in annoyance. But taking his status into consideration, he could only silently listen in on Chu Fei Yang' and Chen wang's conversation.
