Chapter 176: Lord Shen, this way

Zhao Yang had not a hint of hesitation and directly knelt before Shen Qing.

As an Assistant Vice Minister of the Censorate, he had heard of Shen Qing's reputation.

At the same time, he was clear about what he had done.

Shen Qing glanced at the document on the table, which was used to record Xu Kong's crimes; at first glance it really was quite lavish.

Corruption, murder, robbery, bullying subordinates—these charges were countless.

Shen Qing picked up the document and looked at Zhao Yang: "Are all the charges listed here true?"

Zhao Yang swallowed a mouthful of saliva: "Some are true, some are not."

"Then speak clearly, which ones are true."

Zhao Yang lowered his head, his voice growing softer: "Corruption—four hundred taels..."

After waiting a long time, Zhao Yang still did not continue speaking.

The scholar stepped forward, took a look, could no longer hold back, and directly started cursing.

"Damn it, out of over forty charges, is it really true that only the corruption of four hundred taels is true?"

"You guys added that extra charge."

Shen Qing snorted.

"Everyone says our Embroidered Uniform Guard is the fiercest in the Great Wu."

"But looking now, it seems your Censorate takes the cake—able to pile so many false charges onto a Vice Minister of the Temple of Rites."

Zhao Yang's face turned pale; many explanations flashed through his mind at that moment, yet none could be spoken.

In the past, they always bullied officials without background or strength.

But now, facing Shen Qing—who is stronger, holds a higher official rank, and has more background—he was momentarily at a loss.

Shen Qing rose and stepped before Zhao Yang: "However, I'm curious—what method did you use to make Xu Kong take the blame for these charges?"

Zhao Yang's face grew ever paler, the last trace of blood fading: "We tortured him; he couldn't endure it, so he confessed..."

"What poor acting—Shen Qing doesn't even need her innate sixth sense to know Zhao Yang is lying."

Shen Qing bent down, looking into Zhao Yang's eyes.

"Do you still remember what I just told you?"

"If you lie to me, your fate will be miserable."

In the next instant, a thread of blade aura appeared on Shen Qing's fingertip, but she did not strike immediately; instead, she held back a slight preparatory motion.

Of course, this preparatory motion was not meant for Zhao Yang, but for the scholar.

The scholar instantly understood Shen Qing's meaning, hurried over to embrace Xu Kong's daughter, turned his back to Shen Qing, and at the same time covered the girl's ears with his hand, using internal force to block the sound.

Zhao Yang seemed to sense something, and hastily called out: "Lord Shen, Lord Shen..."

In the next instant, a golden blade aura shot forth.

"Crack—crack."

The sound of bones shattering rang out continuously, Zhao Yang's right kneecap was directly sliced into fragments.

"Ah!!!"

The heart-rending screams echoed nonstop across the execution ground.

After a while, Shen Qing looked at Zhao Yang: "Can you speak the truth now?"

Zhao Yang trembled as he looked at Shen Qing, his eyes filled with fear.

"What method did you use to make Xu Kong confess?"

This time Zhao Yang dared not hesitate, nor dare to lie.

"We told Xu Kong that if he refused, we would send his wife and daughter to a brothel..."

The scholar glanced back at Zhao Yang, pressing harder on Xu Kong's daughter's ears, fearful that any sound might leak in.

Old Li was the eldest among the four scholars and the only one who was married and had a daughter.

He kicked Zhao Yang in the face: "Are you even human? Xu Kong's daughter is only seven!"

Shen Qing's face turned icy: "No wonder you had to lie before—the real reason is truly shameful."

Zhao Yang, enduring the pain, scrambled clumsily to Shen Qing's side.

"Lord Shen, hear me out—we were just trying to scare Xu Kong."

Shen Qing crouched, reached out, and slapped Zhao Yang's face hard.

"And what if Xu Kong refused to confess?"

"Why did Xu Kong confess? Isn't it because he knows what kind of people you are? He knows you'd really do it."

Zhao Yang's lips quivered; he could not speak.

"Next question: who ordered you to do this?"

Zhao Yang's voice trembled: "It was the Vice Minister of Revenue, Yang Wan'an."

"Why would he do that?"

Zhao Yang shook his head: "I don't know; I only know that Vice Minister Xu offended him, but I don't know why either."

"Senior Minister Yang spent a lot of money greasing palms, and I, too, take money to handle affairs..."

"Lord Shen, I've said it all—give me a way out."

Shen Qing had already obtained the answer she wanted; obviously, Zhao Yang also didn't know much more.

Shen Qing raised her finger and pointed, directly piercing Zhao Yang's Qi Sea; simultaneously, several blade auras severed the meridians of his limbs, completely depriving him of the ability to resist.

"Old Li, I recall you haven't administered punishment in a long time, right?"

"I'm handing Zhao Yang over to you—I don't want him to die too easily."

"Yes."

Old Li perked up at those words, took out the small pouch he carried, pulled out two iron hooks, and walked toward Zhao Yang with a cold smile.

Zhao Yang's face showed terror; he no longer wanted to live.

"Shen Qing! Shen Qing! Let me die quickly, Shen Qing..."

The wailing cry cut off abruptly; Old Li picked up a few stones, stuffed them into Zhao Yang's mouth, and dragged Zhao Yang toward the rear of the execution ground.

Shen Qing threw the commander's token from his waist to the scholar.

"Scholar, take the token to Lingyun City's Prefectural Office, bring people and surround the Censorate for me."

"Before I leave, not even a mosquito can fly out of the Censorate."

"Also, pay more attention—this Yang Wan'an has far-reaching influence; I feel Lingyun City's Prefectural Office is surely not clean either."

The scholar nodded: "Boss, I understand."

"But what about Xu Kong?"

Shen Qing waved his hand: "First take him back to the Prefectural Office, find a doctor to see him."

Originally I wanted to ask about the Frost Bell Temple, to see whether this matter had any connection to Yang Wan'an.

Now there's no need to ask.

Shen Qing lifted his foot and walked toward the man whose thigh bone Shen Qing had pierced at the beginning.

Shen Qing grabbed his neck and lifted him up.

"Speak, whose man are you?"

Before the man could speak, Shen Qing coldly said:

"You saw what happened to Zhao Yang for lying, right? You wouldn't want to try that yourself, would you?"

The man only felt a chill run down his spine, his head shaking uncontrollably.

"I say, I am a man of Vice Minister Yang."

"Good obedience—do you know where Yang Wan'an is now?"

The man hurriedly nodded.

"I know, I know."

"Lord Shen, this way."