Chapter 620: with translation of chapter title

Zhang Cheng saw the Prime Minister ordering all idle people out of the warm pavilion, clearly wanting to speak with him privately.

He and Gu Kang had no personal ties; if they were discussing official business there would be no need to avoid witnesses, so naturally they were talking about the Qi Sha Gu case.

Thinking of this, Zhang Cheng felt a wave of headache; this Sir Gu before him was no ordinary person.

Speaking of which, it's somewhat puzzling; logically he should be Prince Rui's brother-in-law and ought to speak for the Azure Dragon Army in the Qi Sha Gu case.

But earlier signs indicate that this Sir Gu seems not on good terms with his brother-in-law.

"Prime Minister, what are your orders?" Zhang Cheng bowed.

Anyway, the underlings are gone; only the two of them remain in the office, so they can speak frankly.

Gu Kang, however, lowered his eyes slightly, flipping through the Qi Sha Gu case file in his hand, without speaking.

Zhang Cheng felt uneasy being left hanging, and could only stand there waiting.

Who let a higher rank crush a lower one? He is merely a minor local official, and his current position is thanks to Prince Rui's favor.

If placed before, the gap between Gu Kang and him would not be a matter of one rank, but heaven and earth.

The atmosphere turned chilly and tense.

Finally, Gu Kang's hand turning the file paused there; he slowly drew out a few sheets and handed them to Zhang Cheng.

Zhang Cheng glanced at the characters, his pupils flickering slightly.

He had just examined this file closely a moment ago, and it also contained some legal documents.

This is no ordinary document; it was submitted by the proprietor of the famed People's Medical Clinic in Shang Jing, the most renowned medical official there.

He values this file so much because the clinic was founded by the Princess Consort of Rui, and the submitter, Zuo Feichen, the Left Divine Physician, is her chief confidant.

Moreover, Zuo Feichen even revealed his ancestry: he is not actually surnamed Zuo, but Shi.

Years ago his biological father was the commander of Yanbei Pass north of Qi Sha Gu; he was framed by treacherous men and shot dead by Bei Di cavalry.

After Yanbei Pass fell, Bei Di cavalry swept straight into Qi Sha Gu; Emperor Longqing lured the Azure Dragon Army there with false news, and the Azure Dragon Army prepared to ambush the Bei Di cavalry, engaging them in a bloody battle.

The result was a tragic outcome: the famed Azure Dragon Army was almost entirely burned to death here.

"How is the investigation into Zuo Feichen going?"

Zhang Cheng paused, then said: "Replying to the Prime Minister, I have discovered that nine years ago the provisions of the Azure Dragon Army and the Yanbei Pass garrison indeed had a serious problem."

"Oh?" Gu Kang raised his brows slightly, staring fixedly at Zhang Cheng.

Since the Prime Minister's inquiry into this case is natural, and it will eventually go to the Three Judicial Departments for joint trial, with Gu Kang as the presiding official, there is no need to conceal anything.

Moreover, the waters of officialdom in Shang Jing are too deep; he dare not act rashly.

Zhang Cheng drew a breath and said: "Someone mixed poison into the provisions; it is said that the transport was handled by the Du… Du family."

As Zhang Cheng spoke, he became visibly uneasy, truly wishing to drop the task and quit.

Naturally, Zhang Cheng took on this case with utmost caution.

The antecedents and consequences of this case, and the relationships among those involved, he had long known by heart.

The Du family had previously been the most famous merchant house of Southern Qi, greatly favored by the current emperor.

Later, Du's patriarch inexplicably went mad, insisted on selling off the family fortune and taking his whole clan away from Southern Qi, but on the way to Xirong they were annihilated by Bei Di cavalry—a fact now known to everyone.

Coincidentally, Du's patriarch was the maternal grandfather of the Prime Minister before them.

Ironically, the task of transporting the poisoned provisions fell to the Du family; this time it appears the Prime Minister is targeting the Du family.

Gu Kang smiled faintly: "Sir Zhang, there's no need to hide anything; Du's patriarch is my maternal grandfather—say what you have to say."

Zhang Cheng had been an honest and upright official; hearing Gu Kang's words, he now opened up.

Zhang Cheng, tapping the file, explained the case in clear order; Gu Kang kept his eyes slightly narrowed, not interrupting Zhang Cheng.

After speaking for nearly an hour, Zhang Cheng felt parched; Gu Kang thoughtfully poured him tea to moisten his throat.

After thanking him, Zhang Cheng took the cup, tilted his head back and drank half the tea, then wiped his mouth and relaxed.

Having said all he needed to say, even if the Du family participated in the Qi Sha Gu case, there would be no way to punish them later, since Du's patriarch had fled with his family in haste and was later wiped out at the border between Bei Di and Xirong.

That atrocity, even discussed today, still inspires dread.

If one now speaks of the Du family's bloodline, it amounts essentially to Sir Gu and the Princess Consort of Rui.

Gu Kang proved a good listener; after Zhang Cheng finished, he added lightly: "Sir Zhang, you've investigated so much—why would the Du family do such things?"

Gu Kang's light remark left Zhang Cheng speechless.

Zhang Cheng looked at Gu Kang, whose eyes were slightly downcast, and his heart gave a faint jump.

This is also the bottleneck he has encountered in investigating this case.

He believes that ordinary people commit crimes only with motive; otherwise why kill so many?

Back then the Du family was merely a merchant house; its patriarch had always been mild-mannered.

Merchants value harmony for profit; how could they transport poisoned provisions to kill tens of thousands, unless the patriarch truly had gone mad?

Moreover, the Du family sought only wealth; yet now causing the deaths of so many Azure Dragon Army soldiers runs directly contrary to a merchant's pursuit of profit.

These days Zhang Cheng has pondered long and still found no clue.

He simply feels that the patriarch's actions are utterly unfathomable.

Seeing Zhang Cheng furrow his brows tightly, Gu Kang sitting opposite slowly produced a ledger from his bosom.

That ledger looks aged; its cover is yellowed, and even the hemp thread binding it has frayed.

Zhang Cheng did not know why Gu Kang had produced this puzzling ledger for him.

"Sir, what is this?"

Gu Kang said slowly: "I believe there is no causeless cause and effect; since the Du family is involved in the Qi Sha Gu case, what exactly is the matter?"

"You know that back then my maternal grandfather was already rich enough to rival a nation; there was no need for him to plunge into such iniquitous conduct for money, nor would it benefit him, so this must have some origin."

Had Gu Kang not spoken those words, it would have been better; but as soon as he uttered them, Zhang Cheng sucked in a cold breath.

He knows the reason, Gu Kang knows it too, yet he dares not speak it aloud.

Gu Kang slowly said: "Old Master, if you insist on finding a reason for doing this, it's probably related to that person in the palace; otherwise, do you think Old Master Du has gone mad?"

Zhang Cheng's forehead sweat instantly seeped out; he raised his hand and carefully wiped his sweat.

He didn't expect Gu Kang to have such gall, daring to say that?

Gu Kang slowly said: "That's the current emperor; even if his crime were established, what could be done to him? It's impossible to convict him, after all he is His Majesty."

Zhang Cheng's body trembled slightly; he felt taking on this case was seeking death, no wonder so many people avoid it at all costs.

Also no wonder so many officials in Shang Jing are unwilling to take the post of Vice Minister of Punishments; after all, even if they investigate and get a result, what then? This is a dead end.

Gu Kang looked at the ashen-faced Zhang Cheng and gave a light chuckle: "Actually, we can break the deadlock!"

Zhang Cheng fell to his knees with a thud before Gu Kang: "Sir, please save this humble official!"

Gu Kang pushed the booklet toward Zhang Cheng: "Back then, those people secretly wanted to eliminate Xiao Yin; the likely reason was that Prince Rui advocated investigating the nation's farmlands, touching the interests of the eight great clans, so behind this there must be the shadow of the eight great clans."

Gu Kang slowly rose, leaned in to look at Zhang Cheng and whispered: "The evidence in this booklet is enough to plunge the eight great clans into eternal ruin."

"The emperor can't arrest them, so the eight great clans must be dragged out to give Prince Rui an explanation; I think you know what to do."

Zhang Cheng suddenly understood, raising his head to stare fixedly at Gu Kang.

Gu Kang smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes, and he said word by word: "Use the eight great clans to sacrifice to the spirits of Qi Sha Gu!"

"Yes... yes," Zhang Cheng drew a deep breath, raised his hand and took the booklet.

But Gu Kang grabbed the booklet and refused to let go.

"Shangshu?" Zhang Cheng startled.

Gu Kang stared at him: "My maternal grandfather's Du family... hopes you will stop pursuing this, huh?"