Chapter 72: The Jailer Is Dead (Happy New Year)

Seeing everyone looking at him, Yang Lian felt extremely uncomfortable.

Especially Zou Yuanbiao's gaze made Yang Lian feel very uneasy.

In Yang Lian's view, the whole affair had actually been pushed forward by Zou Yuanbiao. Now he was putting on an air of complete detachment, which made Yang Lian feel betrayed.

But with things having reached this point, Yang Lian had no way to openly accuse Zou Yuanbiao. He knew that the most important thing right now was to clear himself of Wei Zhongxian's slander.

Just at that moment, Wei Zhongxian's voice came over.

"Grand Secretary Yang, do you have anything to say? If not, I'll send someone to bring the jailer in for questioning."

Yang Lian gave Wei Zhongxian a cold look, knowing that Wei Zhongxian was humiliating him—this was his revenge.

But Yang Lian also knew that he had no way to refute him for now. If he started arguing with Wei Zhongxian here, the one who would end up suffering would definitely be himself.

Flinging his sleeve hard, Yang Lian said, "The innocent have nothing to fear. I have nothing to say."

Hearing Yang Lian's words, Wei Zhongxian immediately smiled and said to him, "In that case, I'll bring the jailer in for questioning."

After saying this, Wei Zhongxian instructed the yamen runner, "Go to the prison and summon that jailer."

At the same time, Wei Zhongxian turned to look at Yang Lian and said with a smile, "Grand Secretary Yang, since this matter involves you, shouldn't you recuse yourself?"

Yang Lian's face flushed bright red. He felt that Wei Zhongxian was humiliating him. But he also knew that he had no way to contend with Wei Zhongxian for now—at least not in this matter.

Just as Yang Lian was at a loss for words, Zou Yuanbiao finally spoke up.

He looked at Wei Zhongxian and said, "Eunuch Wei, the truth of the matter is not yet known. We cannot act on Li Ruzhen's word alone. Everything requires evidence. This matter should be discussed after the jailer has been interrogated. If Eunuch Wei feels that Grand Secretary Yang's presence here is inappropriate, then we may suspend the interrogation and continue only after petitioning Your Majesty."

Wei Zhongxian glanced at Zou Yuanbiao, his smile slowly fading. Zou Yuanbiao, Zou Yuanbiao—truly worthy of the name "old fox"!

Wei Zhongxian naturally knew what Zou Yuanbiao was trying to do—he simply didn't want Wei Zhongxian to continue the interrogation, so he deliberately tried to interrupt this session.

If the court session were adjourned and the prisoner held at the Court of Judicial Review, who knew what might happen. By that point, he would have no options left at all.

Wei Zhongxian naturally could not agree to such a request.

Glancing at Yang Lian, then at Zou Yuanbiao, Wei Zhongxian said with a smile, "Grand Secretary Zou misunderstands. I only wished to prevent others from gossiping about Grand Secretary Yang. I myself have great trust in Grand Secretary Yang—after all, his talent and character are evident to all."

Just as Yang Lian was about to say something, a yamen runner suddenly rushed in from outside, his face filled with terror and his expression extremely anxious.

After running into the hall, the runner hastily said, "Eunuch! Honored sirs! Terrible news—the jailer Zhang Laosan is dead!"

Hearing this, everyone was greatly shocked.

Wei Zhongxian stood up directly from his chair and said in disbelief, "What did you say? Say it again!"

The runner hastily said, "Eunuch, the jailer Zhang Laosan is dead!"

At this moment, Zou Yuanbiao and Yang Lian also came to their senses.

The two exchanged glances, both seeing the disbelief in the other's eyes.

Though it was only a jailer who had died, he was far too important.

The entire direction of this case hinged on the jailer. Now that the jailer was dead, who could possibly clarify anything?

The things Li Ruzhen had said about Yang Lian had now become a case of dead men tell no tales. The witness was dead—there was no way to prove Yang Lian had done those things, and no way to prove he hadn't.

So this matter had become "each side claims to be right," which actually turned out to be the most favorable situation for Wei Zhongxian.

Everyone knew that if this matter could not be investigated clearly, then in the end it would come down to which of them Your Majesty believed.

Everyone also knew of Your Majesty's trust in Wei Zhongxian.

The things Yang Lian had done before, the routine memorials he had submitted—Your Majesty had not been pleased with any of them. Now that something like this had happened, getting Your Majesty to trust Yang Lian would be extremely difficult.

Wei Zhongxian's mind raced, considering how he could use this matter.

As for the death of a mere jailer, Wei Zhongxian paid it no mind at all.

In a few brief moments, Wei Zhongxian suppressed the turmoil in his heart, looked at the runner who had come to report, and quickly pressed, "How did the jailer die?"

The runner dared not delay and hastily said, "He hanged himself. The body is still hanging in his duty room. I've already had people guard the scene—no one has dared touch the body."

At this moment, the one feeling the most aggrieved inside was Jiang Xu, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

The whole affair had nothing to do with the Court of Judicial Review. Whether the Censorate impeached Wei Zhongxian, or Wei Zhongxian took revenge on the Censorate, the Court of Judicial Review had no part in any of it. But now?

The jailer of the Court of Judicial Review was dead.

Li Ruzhen had said the jailer helped Yang Lian pass messages. If that were true, the Court of Judicial Review could not escape involvement. And now there was no way to know whether it had actually happened.

But the jailer was dead—whether by suicide or murder, the matter had become troublesome.

If it were murder, then who had killed him?

The jailer had died in the prison of the Court of Judicial Review. The most likely perpetrators would be people from the Court of Judicial Review itself. Once an investigation began, many people in the Court would be implicated.

If it were suicide, then the matter was even more troublesome.

Because that would indirectly prove there was something shady going on. If there weren't, why would he kill himself?

At this moment, Jiang Xu, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, truly felt wronged beyond measure. He also wanted to curse at someone, but didn't know where to begin, so he could only sit to the side feeling aggrieved.

Wei Zhongxian had no interest in concerning himself with the thoughts of Jiang Xu, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. All he thought about now was how to use this matter to trap Yang Lian and the others.

Turning to glance at Yang Lian, Wei Zhongxian said, "Grand Secretary Yang, now that a life has been lost, this case cannot be tried any further. I cannot trust the prison of the Court of Judicial Review. If a jailer can die in his own prison, then if this prisoner were returned to his cell, I fear he wouldn't live to see tomorrow!"

"Sun Yunhe." Wei Zhongxian called out toward the door.

A burly man walked in from outside.

This man was none other than Wei Zhongxian's trusted subordinate in the Eastern Depot, Sun Yunhe, who held the post of Chiliarch in charge of punishments.

In recent days, Sun Yunhe had had nothing much to do, essentially just staying by Wei Zhongxian's side, responsible for protecting his safety while also bringing Eastern Depot men along to bolster Wei Zhongxian's presence.

Now hearing Wei Zhongxian call for him, Sun Yunhe immediately grew excited.

Just outside, Sun Yunhe had also heard what had happened in the hall. He knew this was an opportunity for the Eastern Depot, and also an opportunity for himself.

Walking to the center of the hall, Sun Yunhe said in a loud voice, "Your subordinate Sun Yunhe awaits the Director's orders!"

Wei Zhongxian looked at Sun Yunhe and nodded with satisfaction.

This was his own man.