Chapter 85: First Volume, Chapter 85: Delay Time

First Volume, Chapter 85: Delay Time

The yamen runners surged forward, seizing all the "witnesses" gathered at the gate, without even interrogating them, and dragged them away immediately.

On the surface they were said to be awaiting trial, but in truth they were released right away, since they were all their own people.

Qi Cheng had served as Jingchao Yin Fu for so many years that he had never been so humiliated; now he only wanted to throw Qin Feng into the Prison, peel off a layer of his skin, and roared: "Those involved in the uprising have already been detained—what do you have to say, Qin Feng?!"

Gao Song and Zhao Zhangfu exchanged a knowing smile.

They thought: Qin Feng had been too clever by half—since all the witnesses were suspects in the uprising, it effectively proved Qin Feng's guilt by association.

Hearing the cold laughter from Gao Song and the others, Qin Feng remained unfazed, shrugging: "I have nothing to say."

Qi Cheng's eyes lit up—the formalities were done; now all he needed to do was imprison Qin Feng, and everything would be settled.

Just as Qi Cheng raised his gavel, Qin Feng suddenly raised both hands, assuming a posture of surrender: "Please, Your Excellency, send me to the City Patrol Bureau."

Qi Cheng's gavel froze mid-air; he first stared blankly, then realized what was happening, and flew into a rage: "Qin Feng! How dare you mock me?!"

Qin Feng looked utterly innocent: "Your Excellency is the esteemed Jingchao Yin Fu—even if I had a hundred times my courage, I would never dare mock you."

"Your Excellency is the Father Official of Jingdu; the Jingchao Yin Fu oversees civil affairs and people's livelihood. An offense as grave as rebellion exceeds the jurisdiction of the Jingchao Yin Fu—it must be transferred to the City Patrol Bureau. If Your Excellency oversteps your authority, are you disregarding the City Patrol Bureau… or do you have ulterior motives?"

"Unless…"

Qin Feng shifted tone, deliberately handing Qi Cheng the knife: "If Your Excellency sentences me for gathering to cause disturbance or committing violence in public, then the Jingchao Yin Fu would have jurisdiction."

Qi Cheng's face turned ashen—if he changed the charge to gathering to cause disturbance, he could no longer harm Qin Feng secretly; otherwise, punishing a minor offense with excessive severity would make him personally liable as Jingchao Yin Fu.

Just as Qi Cheng was caught between a rock and a hard place, Gao Song's cold voice rang out.

"Then it shall be gathering to cause disturbance!"

Gao Song's meaning was clear: lock Qin Feng in the Prison, and there would be plenty of ways to break him later.

With Gao Song's words, Qi Cheng no longer hesitated—he was about to sentence Qin Feng for gathering to cause disturbance when Qin Feng interrupted him again.

Qin Feng shook his head, grinning: "If I recall correctly, any offspring of a Third Rank official who commits an offense must be tried under the supervision of a Ministry of Personnel officer. Without a Ministry of Personnel officer present, Your Excellency cannot hastily conclude the case."

Qi Cheng nearly spat blood—he, the Jingchao Yin Fu, knew less about the Great Liang Lüli than this brat, and gritted his teeth: "You little brat Qin Feng! If I can't sentence you today, I… I… Someone! Go summon the Ministry of Personnel supervisor!"

The Jingchao Yin Fu office had a permanent Ministry of Personnel officer stationed there, precisely to oversee trials involving the children of officials.

In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, an old man with a goatee appeared in the DaTang.

Qi Cheng, beside himself with rage, ignored the Ministry of Personnel supervisor entirely, stood up, and growled low: "Qin Feng! Can I sentence you now?!"

Qin Feng's lip twitched—he wanted to yell: "Sentence your sister!"

But he couldn't afford to provoke him further.

He had already used every trick to delay time.

Now, besides praying silently to his father or the Emperor—anyone, just hurry and save him—he had no other options.

Gao Song forced back his laughter and bowed to Qi Cheng: "Your Excellency, what are you waiting for?!"

Seeing that they had finally broken this stubborn bone, Qi Cheng exhaled deeply, sat back down, and lifted his gavel—when a shrill voice rang out from the Fu Men.

"Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Gonggong Li arrives!"

Qi Cheng's cruel smile froze instantly; he felt a heavy pressure in his chest, as if fire were raging in his heart.

Gao Song clenched his teeth in fury—he had feared delay would bring change, and yet Qin Feng had actually held him off!

Qin Feng exhaled in relief, smirked at the flushed Qi Cheng, and gave a mock bow: "Thank you, Your Excellency."

"Th-thank… what?!" Qi Cheng ground out each word through clenched teeth.

Qin Feng beamed with gratitude: "Of course I thank Your Excellency for administering justice fairly, living up to the title 'Father Official.' Had you not intervened and changed the charge to gathering to cause disturbance, Gao Song and Zhao Zhangfu might have kept falsely accusing me of 'rising in rebellion.' 'Disturbance' and 'rebellion' differ by only one character—but they are worlds apart."

Qi Cheng's hands trembled violently—he had served as Jingchao Yin Fu for decades, yet today he had been fooled by a mere boy.

Gao Song was so furious he swayed on his feet—he had planned to crush Qin Feng once and for all, yet ended up helping him escape, losing both the battle and the war.

The only option now was to ignore "procedure," seize Qin Feng immediately, and report it later, accepting the blame for negligence.

Too bad… there was no longer any chance.

Amid the escort of Imperial Guards and Imperial Eunuchs, Li Zhan stepped into the DaTang.

Gao Song and the others could only grit their teeth and force out smiles worse than tears, bowing deeply: "We pay our respects to the Grand Eunuch."

Li Zhan gave a light hum, ignored Gao Song and the others, sized up Qin Feng, and upon seeing he was unharmed, let out a long breath.

"Qin Feng, you…"

Before Li Zhan could finish, Qin Feng cut him off irritably: "Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Gonggong, why did you take so long? One more step and I'd be dead!"

These words struck like a needle into Gao Song and the others' hearts.

At that moment, Gao Song realized: Qin Feng's calm, composed facade had all been an act—he had been terrified inside all along!

He had missed countless chances to kill Qin Feng—and had done so perfectly. Gao Song wanted to slap himself twice.

Li Zhan, an old man who had rushed here without rest to save him, was now scolded head-on by Qin Feng—he was both angry and amused.

But recalling the Emperor's words in the Imperial Study, Li Zhan felt no resentment at all; instead, he showed unusual patience, soothing Qin Feng in the tone of an elder: "You're fine now, aren't you? Don't worry—I'm here. No one can touch a single hair on your head."

At these words, Qi Cheng and Gao Song's hearts sank halfway to ice.

Qin Feng pulled a long face, still shaken: "No good! You have to compensate me for emotional damages."

Li Zhan knew Qin Feng's talent for extortion too well—he feared Qin Feng would demand the moon, and panicked: "How much do you want?!"

Qin Feng spread his hands, dead serious: "At least treat me to a meal, to calm my nerves?"

Li Zhan blinked, then burst into laughter: "Fine, fine, fine—I'll treat you. But before we eat, there's business—I've come bearing an Imperial Edict…"