Chapter 581: The Wude Office Prison

Unlike what most people imagine, the interior of the Wude Office prison was clean and tidy. Apart from being airtight, cold, and dimly lit, it was still fairly comfortable for criminals—at least compared to the Kaifeng prefectural jail. Of course, the rows of prison doors, the cells, and the instruments of torture were all arranged in neat, uniform order.

Ironically enough, the highest-ranking officer of the Wude Office was now locked up inside its own prison.

Inside the cramped cell, pitch black all around, Wang Jingchong had been restless and anxious ever since he was thrown in here. The situation seemed far more serious than he had imagined.

He had originally thought he would be scolded by the Emperor for incompetence, and he had prepared himself mentally for that. Moreover, he had even drafted a speech in his head to deal with the Son of Heaven. But it was all completely useless—Liu Chengyou had thrown him in prison without even seeing him.

The construction of the cell was extravagant in its materials—the bars were actually made of iron. Gripping the slender iron bars and feeling the chill that penetrated straight to his heart, Wang Jingchong had the sensation of having imprisoned himself.

He slapped the iron bars hard, his hands stinging with pain, but all he could produce was a dull clanging sound. Wang Jingchong shouted at the top of his lungs: "Someone! I want to see Your Majesty!"

The hoarse shouting traveled through the corridor, echoed, and faded until it disappeared. But even after his throat went raw, he received no response whatsoever.

"Stop shouting! These are the very rules you, Commissioner Wang, established—no one will answer!" A weak but mocking voice came from the cell across the way.

Wang Jingchong's brows furrowed. He cast his gaze over and noticed that in the dark corner of the shadows, a figure stirred, then walked out of the darkness like a rat hiding in a sewer ditch.

Under the dim light of the pine torches along the corridor wall, Wang Jingchong saw that it was a man of indeterminate age, thin and frail, with a face full of stubble and a pallid complexion. But at this moment, the man was actually smiling at Wang Jingchong, the movement tugging at the scars on his face, making it look rather eerie.

Wang Jingchong had seen much of the world. His brows slightly furrowed, he stared at the man and asked coldly: "Who are you?"

"Haha, in less than a year, Commissioner Wang has already forgotten this lowly clerk?" The man's eyes were dim, but as he looked at Wang Jingchong, they seemed especially spirited: "Let me remind you, Your Excellency Wang—back then, you sent men to seize me and wanted me to lodge accusations against the former State Finance Commissioner, His Excellency Wang..."

Hearing him bring this up, Wang Jingchong understood. This man was a former subordinate of Wang Zhang. Back then, because of the Yang Bin affair, Wang Zhang had shown Wang Jingchong great contempt, often embarrassing him in front of others. At that time, although Wang Zhang had shown signs of retiring, he still held the post of chief financial minister, with high position and great power—Wang Jingchong could not easily deal with him.

Later, when Wang Zhang fell gravely ill and completely withdrew from the court, Wang Jingchong sought out this man, wanting him to come forward and accuse Wang Zhang. Unexpectedly, this man had a stiff backbone—he refused without hesitation, unwilling to betray his master, and even cursed Wang Jingchong out. He was directly thrown into prison and tortured. But before Wang Jingchong's scheme could succeed, Wang Zhang passed away, and this man had remained in the Wude Office prison, neglected and unprocessed, all the way until now.

"So it's you, you base clerk. You haven't died yet—still clinging to life by a thread!" Wang Jingchong's gaze sharpened as he said disdainfully.

Hearing this, the man's smile grew even wider. He spread his hands and said: "I must thank Commissioner Wang for his care! I never knew what I was clinging to this wretched life for, keeping this broken body alive. Now I know—it's to see what becomes of you, you sinister, cruel official!

Now retribution has come. Heaven has eyes!"

Wang Jingchong's face twitched, his gaze growing even colder, radiating chill. But the man showed no fear; seeing his reaction, he only seemed more delighted, asking curiously, his tone still dripping with mockery: "I wonder what great merit Commissioner Wang has rendered, or what good minister he has framed, to end up here?"

Wang Jingchong slowly calmed himself and said coldly: "You base clerk, how dare you act so insolent before me! I am merely temporarily confined. There are still many places where His Majesty needs me."

A cruel glint flashed in his aged eyes. Wang Jingchong said: "Even dead ashes can burn again—how much more so a man like me! You'd best start thinking about how you want to die. Once I get out, I'll grant your wish!"

Hearing Wang Jingchong's threatening words, the man looked unconcerned, sneered for a moment, then his gaze dimmed again. He slowly shrank back into the corner, and in the dark recess, chuckled coldly...

Wang Jingchong's composure was not actually that good. Especially when his very life and interests hung in the balance, it was hard to remain truly calm. Before long, he began pacing back and forth in his cell.

"Someone! Bring me paper and brush—I wish to submit a memorial to Your Majesty!"

Unfortunately, no one answered.

Just outside the corridor, prison guards were on duty, but they turned a deaf ear to his shouting.

In the guard room, two prison clerks were drinking wine to ward off the chill of the prison.

"Warden, he is after all a commissioner. If we ignore him, once he gets out, he will surely hold a grudge. When that time comes, I'm afraid..." One of them glanced toward the inner area and said with concern.

The warden's expression was indifferent. Seeing his subordinate's anxiety, he said flatly: "Are you afraid of Wang Jingchong?"

"Who in the entire Wude Office isn't afraid?"

Wang Jingchong still carried considerable authority within the Wude Office. Even now that he had fallen from grace, most people did not dare to underestimate him.

The warden spat disdainfully and said: "He's nothing but a convict, a prisoner now. What's there to fear? You and I are prison clerks in charge of this place—he should be the one fearing us! Have you ever seen anyone walk into this prison and walk out unscathed? Others can't, and Wang Jingchong can't either!"

This warden's eyes carried a deep gloom, with flashes of ruthlessness, and his tone toward Wang Jingchong was utterly without courtesy. Of course, there was a reason for this.

He had originally been the Capital Provost Marshal, a trusted man promoted by Li Shaoyou. After Li Shaoyou left his post, he had frankly advised him to resign and avoid Wang Jingchong's edge. But he had been unwilling—reluctant to give up his position as Capital Provost Marshal—and hadn't listened. Naturally, things had not ended well for him afterward.

After Wang Jingchong took control of the Wude Office, he set about eliminating Li Shaoyou's influence and consolidating his own position. Naturally, he suppressed those who were his opponents. This man had also taken the lead in rallying people to oppose Wang Jingchong, inevitably giving him a pretext.

How could he possibly be a match for Wang Jingchong? Wang Jingchong found his opportunity, charged him with dereliction of duty, stripped him of his position as Capital Provost Marshal, and demoted him all the way down to the prison to serve as a lowly clerk. One can well imagine the hatred he harbored for Wang Jingchong in his heart.

"But the Son of Heaven has thrown the commissioner into prison—the outcome is still uncertain!" His deputy beside him said, eyes flickering, expression hesitant.

"Heh heh, why worry about that? You keep watch here. I'll go pay our Commissioner Wang a visit!" The warden let out two cold laughs, rose to his feet, picked up a half-empty jug of wine, and limped toward the cells.

That leg of his had also been crippled by Wang Jingchong.

"It's you!" Inside the cell, Wang Jingchong stared at the warden who had appeared, his expression shifting slightly.

"Well, well—still in one piece!" the warden said flatly.

"What do you want?" Wang Jingchong's brows knitted tightly as he said in a low voice.

"I'm just a lowly prison clerk—what can I do?" The warden took a swig of wine, sized up Wang Jingchong twice, and said: "I've only come to pay a visit. The commissioner has suffered misfortune; as a subordinate, I naturally should look after you. Besides, since the commissioner is in prison, and I am the warden, how could I fail to fulfill my duties as host!"

Wang Jingchong stared at the warden for a while, finding him somewhat unreadable. Steadying his mind and thinking for a moment, he said: "I wish to submit a memorial to Your Majesty! If you help me this time, once I am released, I will let bygones be bygones and reward you handsomely—I'll transfer you out of this place and restore you to your former post!"

"Haha..." Hearing this, the warden couldn't help but laugh twice, then clasped his hands in a bow: "Then I suppose I should thank the commissioner in advance!"

"The commissioner truly has a generous heart! And such authority!" The warden kept talking, a mocking smile gradually spreading across his face. He slapped his crippled leg and said: "Here in this prison, I have thought of the commissioner's kindness every single moment!"

Hearing this, Wang Jingchong's face turned cold as well. He said: "You're just a lowly prison clerk—don't get too cocky. I am only passing through this hardship temporarily. This is me giving you a chance. If you don't cherish it, don't come crying with regret!"