Chapter 166: The Iron-Willed Wang Dehan

Dim and damp, with gusts of chilling wind.

Inside the Northern Suppressing Prison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Han San sat alone before a square table in the center, a spread of wine and food laid out upon it.

From the interrogation rooms on either side, cries of agony could be heard.

The stench of rot, mingled with the rank odor of blood, drifted into Han San's nostrils.

Han San paid no mind, picking up his chopsticks and proceeding to sweep through the wine and food on the table. In no time at all, the table that had been full to the brim was left in a state of disarray.

Patting his belly, Han San picked up the wine pot to pour himself a cup, then tilted his head back and downed it.

"Someone come!"

"Third Master!" A Small Banner Officer immediately came running over like a rolling gourd.

Seeing Han San, he stood respectfully in place, waiting for Han San to issue his orders. Han San glanced at him, turned his body slightly, and asked, "Has Wang Dehan confessed yet?"

"He has confessed to some things; this is the list of bribes he admitted to taking," the junior officer said, pulling a blood-stained confession paper from his bosom.

Han San took it and gave it a rough scan.

He discovered that the majority of names on it were officials from the Ministry of Revenue, with the rest being certain critical posts in the Ministry of Personnel. From Vice Ministers down to Department Directors, this Wang Dehan had greased the palms of almost everyone.

Now, he could use this list to make some trouble.

"Take me to see him."

"Yes."

Inside the interrogation room, Wang Dehan was trembling, curled up in the corner of the east wall. On the wall to his left were all sorts of torture implements, still stained with the residual blood of the previous prisoner.

A fishy wind gusted through.

He was a man who cherished his life and feared death; once caught by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he didn't even need to be tortured before he started spilling everything. He knew well the severity of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's punishments, and resisting was meaningless.

It would only bring more physical suffering upon himself.

Just as he was thinking this, the door to the interrogation room slowly opened, and a sliver of light was cast inside.

He covered his eyes and looked over.

Han San strode in with a bold, imposing air, and the Small Banner Officer behind him tactfully moved a grand tutor chair over for him.

Han San sat down, crossed his legs, shook the list in his hand, and teased, "Ambassador Wang, you truly are an incorruptible official."

"Thousand-Household..." Wang Dehan looked pitiful, standing up and leaning forward, but the Small Banner Officer at his side barked coldly, "Squat there! Who told you to get up?"

Wang Dehan shivered in fright, frozen in place with a look of nervous anxiety. At this, Han San smiled and beckoned for him to come forward and speak.

Taking a few steps forward, Wang Dehan plopped to his knees and begged for mercy: "Thousand-Household, this lowly one has said everything that should be said. I only hope the Thousand-Household will see that I am a sensible man and spare me this time."

"Once this lowly one returns, there will surely be a generous reward."

"Oh? What kind of generous reward?" Han San was in a great mood and was happy to toy with this fellow.

Wang Dehan stood up, leaned his mouth toward Han San's ear, and said, "This lowly one... this lowly one still has assets in Tongzhou, and I have also purchased three thousand mu of land in Jiangnan."

Han San's eyes lit up, and he cast a knowing look at Wang Dehan.

In any case, this man was a dead man walking; it would be a waste not to take the land.

Tonight's errand wasn't done in vain, tonight's errand wasn't done in vain! Knowing there were still benefits to be had, Han San perked up and asked Wang Dehan, "Where are the things?"

"They are hidden by this lowly one in the office of the official warehouse. I had intended to take them all away once my assessment period was over," Wang Dehan replied respectfully.

Han San made a note of it, then stared at Wang Dehan and asked, "I heard that you, this Ambassador, pulled strings with the current Senior Grand Secretary?"

"Ah, no... ah, yes." Wang Dehan was so scared he became incoherent.

"Is it, or is it not?"

"It is not." Wang Dehan insisted firmly.

Although he, as a Warehouse Attendant of the Ministry of Revenue, had some dealings with the Acting Senior Grand Secretary, he absolutely could not implicate him. Both men were from Shanxi, and relying on this hometown connection, he had hooked up with Zhang Siwei's steward, Zhang Quan.

The two hit it off immediately, and through Zhang Quan's maneuvering, he had finally obtained this lucrative, fat position as he had wished.

After getting this position, Wang Dehan busied himself currying favor with officials in the capital.

He didn't dare neglect Zhang Quan either; eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling, the two had played through every fun place in the capital.

After going back and forth, the two had almost become brothers who shared the same pair of trousers.

"You are not being honest," Han San shook his head.

He slowly stood up and turned to walk out of the interrogation room.

Wang Dehan panicked, grabbed the hem of Han San's robe, and wailed, "Oh, my Third Master, everything this lowly one has said is true, I would never dare to deceive you!"

Han San abruptly shook off Wang Dehan and strode toward the exit. As he stepped over the threshold, he looked back and said, "Think about why I am looking for you. Think hard, think it through clearly; I will give you one night to consider."

By the time Han San returned home, it was already the fifth watch.

He washed up briefly and, dragging his weary body, went to Miaolan's room to rest. Ever since he had obtained this beauty from Ai Neng, Han San found his original concubines to be flavorless.

Aside from his legal wife, only this woman could make him feel so at ease.

He stepped to the bedside, removed his clothes, lifted the quilt, and slid in. The first thing to enter his nostrils was a wave of heat, overflowing with the wonderful scent of a woman's fragrance.

Immediately after, a body as soft as cotton and as hot as fire pressed against him.

With a beauty throwing herself into his arms, how could Han San refuse? In the dead of night, dry wood met a raging fire.

After a bout of passion, Miaolan's face was flushed, her skin glistening with sweat, and she lay against Han San's chest, breathing out a fragrant orchid scent. Han San felt no fatigue; instead, the gloom in his heart was swept away.

"Miaolan." Patting the beauty's smooth, fair shoulder, Han San called out softly.

"Hmm?"

"Tell me, am I more capable, or is that dead fat man Hao Ren more capable?"

As soon as these words were out, Miaolan's face turned as red as a monkey's backside. Set against the night, it was even more startlingly red.

She bit her lip, looking puffed up with anger.

Men truly were all no good; it was one thing to abuse women, but they also loved to ask such shameless questions.

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Of course, you are the impressive one, Third Master."

Seeing the man press for an answer, Miaolan could only reply with a beaming smile.

At this, Han San felt immense satisfaction; he let out a hearty laugh and held the sodden, beautiful flesh in his arms tightly, wishing he could melt her into his own body.

After a long while, Han San finally spoke: "Miaolan, bear me a son. My wife injured her body when she gave birth to Yan'er, and the doctor said she would never be able to conceive again in this life."

Miaolan's eyes were seductive as silk; she waved her fair, lotus-root-like arms to hook them over Han San's shoulders, and breathing like an orchid, she said, "This humble woman is right here; whether or not I can bear a son depends on your ability, Third Master."

With just this provocation, a wicked fire surged up in Han San again.

After the two had finished their intimacy.

They held each other tightly and drifted into sleep.

By the time Han San woke up, the sky was already bright.

He slapped his forehead, cursed himself silently, pushed aside the sleeping Miaolan who was draped over him, and grabbed his clothes to head out.

Just then, a Small Banner Officer suddenly came to report that a Member of the Ministry from the Ministry of Justice was actually trying to take Wang Dehan away.

How could Han San possibly agree? He charged straight toward the government office.

(End of this chapter)