Chapter 158: Outer Officials Press the Throne

Wang Wenyan came from a rough-and-tumble background with a wealth of experience behind him—how could he be intimidated by Tian Ergeng? Even in his dazed state, he let out a furious snort.

Tian Ergeng's eye twitched violently. He ground his teeth and said, "Keep applying the torture!"

"Ahhh..."

Tian Ergeng had just stepped out of that torture chamber when he heard Wang Wenyan's agonized screams torn from the depths of his bones. Only then did his expression ease somewhat with satisfaction.

Zuo Guangdou, Gu Dazhang, and the others were locked in the same cell, all sitting cross-legged, upright and solemn, their expressions stern and unyielding.

They were all men of scholarly integrity, upright and unyielding. Even in this dreaded Imperial Prison, not a trace of fear crossed their faces—they remained perfectly composed.

Tian Ergeng walked over, his face twisted in a sinister grin, and eyed them with cold menace as he laughed: "Gentlemen, Wang Wenyan has already confessed. Will you make me use torture, or will you admit it yourselves?"

All five men snorted coldly and burst into furious curses.

"Lackeys of the eunuch faction! You forge imperial edicts and frame the innocent—so vile, you are not fit to be called men!"

"Do you truly think you can cover the sky with one hand?"

"When we get out of here, we will surely rally and strike back with all our might!"

"Eunuch dogs, your day of destruction is not far off!"

Tian Ergeng's eyes twitched involuntarily, his chest heaving. He clenched his teeth and stared at them with a string of cold laughs: "Very well. Men, torture them one by one—until someone is willing to talk, then stop!"

Zuo Guangdou wore a white long robe, his features soft, his gaze calm yet resolute—a quintessential Confucian scholar. Hearing Tian Ergeng's words, he merely rose serenely and straightened his clothes.

The five men were escorted to a torture chamber and arranged in a circle, where they could clearly see one another.

One by one, instruments of torture were laid out behind them. Each jailer looked on with cold, cruel smiles, scrutinizing those they were about to torment.

Tian Ergeng stood not far away, his eyes gleaming with bloodlust as he bared his gleaming white teeth and said, "Go through them one by one—an hour for each man!"

The Embroidered Uniform Guard possessed over eighteen kinds of torture instruments. Excluding those that killed outright, every one of them filled the cell, and merely looking at them was enough to send chills down one's spine.

But all five men remained composed, showing not a trace of fear.

Gu Dazhang, with his thick beard, gave a contemptuous snort and closed his eyes, as if dozing off.

Wei Dazhong's expression was cold, his eyes blazing with fury, yet without a hint of hesitation.

Zhou Chaorui appeared thin and frail, but he was the most composed of all, his face as calm as if he were listening to some great Confucian master expounding the classics.

……

The five men showed neither the fervor of martyrs nor the slightest fear—they simply let the instruments of torture be applied to their bodies.

Soon, the torture chamber echoed with their various screams, muffled groans, and furious curses.

Tian Ergeng's already hideous face grew even more twisted, his eyes bloodshot and excited: "That's right, take it slow, no rush—every one of you gets a turn..."

Inside the Provost's prison, Tian Ergeng tortured numerous high-ranking court officials and leaders of the censorial ranks without restraint, so naturally those outside were not willing to remain idle.

Yang Lian burned with righteous fury. Seeing that his memorials drew no response, he rallied more than thirty colleagues and charged straight into the palace, only to be blocked outside Jingyang Palace.

Zhu Youxiao's nature was, of course, to hide first and give outside matters the cold shoulder, pretending not to know.

Yang Lian might skip his lessons, but Zhu Xu could not afford to be lazy. Yang Lian was a scholar with an exceedingly foul temper—if Zhu Xu slacked off, he might well have his palms struck.

He read the Twenty-Four Histories over and over, memorizing them again and again.

"Your Highness, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has begun using torture. Are we truly not going to intervene?" Cao Wenzhao stood before Zhu Xu and spoke in a low voice. Cao Wenzhao naturally could not fathom what was in his mind, nor the subtle moves he was making.

Zhu Xu kept his eyes on his book without lifting his head: "It's fine. Wei Zhongxian knows what he's doing."

A flicker of worry crossed Cao Wenzhao's face. Zuo Guangdou and the others had deep ties with Yang Lian. If they were not dealt with proactively now, once Yang Lian came knocking, it would likely be impossible to resolve the matter quietly.

Zhu Xu kept his door shut and buried himself in study, yet inside and outside the palace, it was as if heaven and earth were being turned upside down.

Yang Lian went three consecutive days without seeing Zhu Youxiao. Knowing he could not force the Emperor out by himself, he sought out Chief Grand Secretary Ye Xianggao, Second Grand Secretary Han Huoguang, the Minister of Personnel ** Xing, the Left Chief Censor Gao Panlong, and others, mobilizing nearly half the court. They blocked the front and rear gates of Jingyang Palace, kneeling in a vast, dark sea of people.

Inside Jingyang Palace's imperial study, Zhu Youxiao's face was grim beyond measure.

He sat on his chair, surrounded by piles of memorials—all of them impeaching Wei Zhongxian and defending Zuo Guangdou and the others. Among them was a memorial left unfinished by Zuo Guangdou, completed by Yang Lian, impeaching Wei Zhongxian on thirty-two counts of high crimes!

Wei Zhongxian knelt not far before him, trembling with fear, his whole body shaking.

Zhu Youxiao ignored the memorials, fixing his blade-like gaze on Wei Zhongxian and nearly grinding his teeth as he said: "So this is how you handle matters for me? Go out and take a look—the entire court has come. What do you expect me to do?"

Wei Zhongxian pressed his head to the ground, his voice trembling as he said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Wang Wenyan bribed the inner court—the Grand Secretariat has conclusive evidence. The silver he used for bribes came from Zuo Guangdou and the others, and there is evidence of that as well. If—if the outer officials press too hard, Your Majesty may hand this servant over."

Zhu Youxiao's face grew even darker: "You say the evidence is all in hand?"

Wei Zhongxian lay prostrate without moving, his body trembling uncontrollably, as if terrified: "Yes. The one who accepted the bribes was Jiang Yanshan, and there is Wang Wenyan's handwritten note as proof."

Zhu Youxiao's grim expression had just begun to ease when a close attendant rushed in carrying a tray piled with memorials.

"Your Majesty, these are memorials from Grand Secretary Ye and the other gentlemen." The attendant set the tray beside Zhu Xu and spoke softly.

Zhu Youxiao suppressed the urge to hurl them all away, picked up Ye Xianggao's memorial, and opened it.

After reading the whole thing, Zhu Youxiao remembered only one sentence: 'If outer officials have erred, there must be proper evidence and procedure. We hope Your Majesty and the relevant offices will act to quell public opinion.'

Zhu Youxiao drew a deep breath, then looked down at Wei Zhongxian still kneeling prostrate below and said in a frigid voice: "Go. Investigate for me. When you have verified the facts, make them public. If anyone dares to bend the law for personal gain or take bribes and pervert justice, I will show no mercy!"

Wei Zhongxian, kneeling and trembling below, heard this and a vicious glint flashed across his face. Zhu Youxiao's 'show no mercy' was naturally not aimed at Wang Wenyan, whose case was already verified—but at the court officials who were now ceaselessly making trouble and pressing the throne!

"This servant obeys the edict!" Wei Zhongxian's voice still carried a tremor, but his expression was positively elated. Now he had an imperial decree—whether Wang Wenyan or Zuo Guangdou and the others lived or died was all in his hands!

Wei Zhongxian backed out of the imperial study with due deference, but after only a few steps he raised his head and glanced toward Jinghuan Palace, a dark, sinister look flashing in his eyes before he hurried away.

Soon, word spread from the Imperial Prison that Wang Wenyan's bribery evidence had been confirmed, and that Zuo Guangdou and the others had 'supposedly' been involved—which left the court officials still blockading Jingyang Palace deeply embarrassed. Yet they still did not leave. Utterly distrusting the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot, they demanded that Zhu Youxiao immediately transfer the prisoners to the Ministry of Justice and other judicial bodies for handling.

Zhu Youxiao trusted them not at all and refused to see them. A single edict of reprimand came down, leaving the crowd stuck between advancing and retreating, even more embarrassed.

But no matter how embarrassed they were, they still had to eat and drink. It was a very poor pretext, but they had to take it. Now that the evidence was conclusive, they already appeared to be 'making a scene without reason.' If they continued, they might truly anger the Emperor and be driven out of the palace.

Yang Lian and the others left the palace. After a brief discussion, those belonging to their 'circle' all followed Yang Lian back to the Yang residence.