Chapter 960: Those with Backbone Are Arrogant

“You think you can scare me with the Embroidered Uniform Guard? I’m not some other convict in Tianlaomiao who’d piss his pants after two sentences of threats!”

Wang Huaimin rebuked sharply, accusing Sun Daoning of being despicable—trying to extract a confession without evidence, as if dreaming!

Sun Daoning sighed repeatedly, “Huaimin, do you truly not understand my intentions, or are you pretending not to? If I wait until I present evidence, we won’t be having this conversation here—we’ll be in the Ministry of Justice’s courtroom, before all eyes. At that point, what escape will you have? You won’t die, but you’ll lose a layer of skin!”

“If I can preserve my purity, even death is worth it!”

Wang Huaimin stood tall with righteous indignation, like a hero about to march to his death, making Sun Daoning look like a clown.

Sun Daoning was furious—he hated how Ministry of Rites officials acted as if they were profoundly learned, detached from the world, and morally superior. Who did they think they were? Weren’t all of us jinshi graduates? Do you think only you have learning?

Hmph!

If he were Minister of Rites, he’d write better essays than anyone else, quoting classics endlessly. He’s just stuck in the Ministry of Justice with no chance to shine.

“Huaimin, you’re ruining yourself!” Sun Daoning snapped. “You’re destroying your own future! If you reveal who’s behind this cheating scandal, I swear I’ll plead for you before His Majesty and restore you to your post.”

“Sun Daoning, do you take me for a three-year-old? You don’t even have the power to restore me to office. Look at you—how disgusting you look boasting like this!”

“Wang Huaimin, don’t make me force your hand!” Sun Daoning, enraged and humiliated, finally snapped.

This is too much!

Even Chen Guanlou, eavesdropping, thought Wang Huaimin was being unreasonable. What’s with the heroic act? We’re all officials—none of us have clean backsides. Why look down on Old Sun?

Even if Old Sun is flawed, at least he never ate the plaintiff and then the defendant, never twisted truth and falsehood, never handed out arbitrary verdicts.

He merely took bribes, downgraded serious crimes to minor ones, changed death sentences to exile.

He’s a rare official in the Ministry of Justice with conscience.

Wang Huaimin stubbornly clings to his innocence, pretending to be pure and upright—ha! The position of Vice Minister of Rites can’t be held by someone pure and upright. He’s just a good actor!

Chen Guanlou was furious on Old Sun’s behalf!

He stood firmly with Old Sun, fully supporting him.

As for Old Wang, he’d eventually slip up.

“Is Minister Sun finally dropping the act? Should I be taken to the Ministry of Justice right now? Let’s see what evidence you’ve gathered—can you truly pin me down? If you can’t, Minister Sun, I’ll pin you instead.”

“Don’t get too arrogant!” Sun Daoning, naturally inept with words, finally retorted.

Wang Huaimin not only ignored the warning—he laughed even louder, mocking his opponent as a clown. “If you have nothing else, I’ll return to my cell. When you have real evidence, you won’t need to threaten me—I’ll cooperate fully!”

With that, he pulled open the office door himself and walked out first, heading straight toward the Jia-class prison cells.

How arrogant!

Chen Guanlou appeared promptly and ordered the jailers to return Wang Huaimin to his cell.

They stood frozen, like fools. These jailers were cowed by official authority, too terrified to move—embarrassing! Tianlaomiao’s dignity was utterly shattered!

Chen Guanlou rushed into the office and whispered, “Old Sun, want some tea to calm down?”

Sun Daoning frowned slightly. “What are you doing here?”

“Old Sun, you’re hilarious. This is Tianlaomiao—this office is mine. If not here, where should I go? To the Ministry of Justice to take your job?”

“Absurd!”

Sun Daoning rubbed his temples, finally coming back to his senses.

“Why bother with Wang Huaimin? Just throw him into the interrogation chamber and let him experience the hundred-and-eight tortures—I bet he’ll confess!”

“No!” Sun Daoning waved his hand. “If I could use torture, I’d have done it long ago.”

“What’s the catch? Is there some secret I don’t know about? No other official gets this treatment—why is Wang the exception? Just because he’s Vice Minister of Rites?”

Hmph!

Sun Daoning snorted. “You’re an Chen, yet you don’t know Wang Huaimin had two marriages? His current wife is his second.”

“What does that have to do with the case?”

“Wang’s family is insignificant, but his first wife came from an extraordinary background—she was the beloved daughter of Princess Xiangyin. She died in childbirth from excessive bleeding. Wang’s second wife, though from an ordinary family, was matched to him by Princess Xiangyin herself. Understand now?”

Chen Guanlou nodded, then shook his head, half-understanding.

“Did he have children with his first wife?”

“Yes—a son. Princess Xiangyin’s own grandson. Wang Huaimin married his second wife on the princess’s orders, solely to care for the child. The moment Wang was arrested, Princess Xiangyin went straight to the palace. Do you think I can touch Wang?”

Now Chen Guanlou understood.

In this dynasty, princesses were tragic, yet also truly fortunate. Tragic, because they couldn’t choose their husbands. Fortunate, because the court imposed little restraint on them after marriage—many princesses lived wildly.

As long as they didn’t meddle in imperial power struggles or the succession of princes, and as long as they were strong-willed, their post-marriage lives were blissful!

Even the Censorate’s daily impeachments were useless!

Emperors of this dynasty always turned a blind eye to princesses’ private lives after marriage. Whether they amassed wealth, embezzled, or indulged—so long as they didn’t interfere in court politics or form factions, they could live peacefully for life.

Princess Xiangyin going to court to protect her daughter’s husband, Wang Huaimin, was entirely plausible.

Wang Huaimin had full confidence; Sun Daoning was restrained, afraid to use harsh methods against him, fearing Princess Xiangyin would later seek revenge by whispering poison into Emperor Jian Shi’s ear.

Women’s hearts are small—she’d absolutely do it.

For his own official cap and future, Sun Daoning could only appeal to reason and emotion, trying to persuade Wang. But Wang was unmoved, relying on Princess Xiangyin’s backing, refusing even to look at him.

This was outrageous.

Chen Guanlou silently mourned for Old Sun for one second.

Any case involving imperial relatives instantly grew complex. If the culprit was clever, resourceful, and full of schemes, it became hellish.

He advised Sun Daoning, “If Wang Huaimin won’t crack, look for an opening among the other convicts. Don’t hang yourself on one tree. What about Zhang Yulang? A playboy—how could he be involved in such a major examination scandal? Does he even have the ability?”

“Don’t underestimate the reckless arrogance and fearlessness of aristocratic sons! When they go mad, their destructive power far exceeds ordinary lunatics. Don’t be fooled by appearances.”

Chen Guanlou still didn’t believe it.

“Zhang Yulang? The guy who cries and calls for his mother when trouble comes?”

“Don’t underestimate him,” Sun Daoning snorted. “I’m going to interrogate him now. You step aside.”