Old Madam Qin snorted, "Whether to teach or not is the Duke's business."
"No matter what, no matter what, Siya still called you grandmother," Gu Changwei managed to blurt out.
"Do I lack that trinket to call me grandmother?" Old Madam Qin rolled her eyes. "Don't I have my own beloved grandson enough?"
Gu Changwei wore his lips thin but couldn't persuade Old Madam Qin to let him see Qin Tingxue.
In front of Old Madam Qin, he didn't dare to be as boastful as he was in front of the servants.
"Old Madam, Lord Xie is here. He brought you peach blossom cakes," a servant reported.
Old Madam Qin's face immediately lit up with a smile. "Didn't I say? When Lord Xie comes, no need to announce. Where is he?"
"Your junior greets Old Madam," Xie Chen also smiled. "The peach blossom cakes are just out of the oven. Old Madam, eat them while they're hot. Oh, the Duke is here too? Why are you still standing? Sit, sit, sit."
Xie Chen's tone was quite warm, with the air of a host.
Gu Changwei's face darkened.
Xie Chen acted as if he hadn't seen it and continued, "I happened to meet the Duke, so give him a message. Young Master Gu can't stand staying in prison and is hoping the Duke will get him out."
"Did you torture Siya?" Gu Changwei's gaze sharpened.
"I am not a cruel official. Duke, you mustn't speak nonsense. Dali Temple trials are about evidence!" Xie Chen said, "Only when the evidence is conclusive will there be a verdict, and only then will torture be used. "
"However, for Young Master Gu's matter, the evidence has always been conclusive," Xie Chen added. "According to our Da Feng laws, it's only twenty strokes of the cane per day."
Twenty a day meant Siya had been beaten at least forty times.
Gu Changwei gritted his teeth, "Xie Chen, you're doing this on purpose!"
Xie Chen spread his hands, "I'm not that kind of person."
"Gu Siya colluded with Li An to kidnap the eldest daughter of the Qin family. The Qin family's petition has been submitted to Dali Temple, and Li An has confessed and detailed Young Master Gu's involvement in the entire case. Young Master Gu has also confessed without reservation."
"Witnesses and testimonies are all present."
"Isn't it you who resorted to torture and forced confession?"
"People from the宗人府 (Zongrenfu - Imperial Clan Court) have sent people. I am not the only one who decides. So, does the Duke mean that the people from the宗人府 are not acting according to the law?" Xie Chen narrowed his eyes and said unhurriedly.
Gu Changwei's eyes flickered, "I didn't say that."
"If the Duke has anything to ask about Young Master Gu's affairs, you can come to my residence," Xie Chen added.
The implication was, don't be an unwelcome guest at the Qin family's.
"The Duke has said all he needs to say. Whether it's the Qin family or Tingxue, they can't help. Duke, please leave," Old Madam Qin also issued the order to leave.
Xie Chen's gaze at Gu Changwei suddenly turned sharp. "Duke, it's best not to waste your efforts. With this time, you might as well think about how to save yourself."
How dare he disturb Tingxue.
Gu Changwei realized that seeing Qin Tingxue today was impossible.
He cupped his hands towards Old Madam Qin and took his leave.
At the same time, he didn't dismiss Xie Chen's words. Xie Chen told him to think about how to save himself. Had Siya said something?
Xie Chen said that deliberately.
Given that Gu Changwei had heard Gu Siya slander him before, saying this would surely make Gu Changwei wonder what Gu Siya had said now.
Yes, he was deliberately sowing discord, openly sowing discord.
None of them were good people. It would be best if they turned on each other.
"Aren't you on duty today?" Old Madam Qin asked Xie Chen.
"I took a leave. Dali Temple is being monitored by people from the宗人府," Xie Chen said. "With them there, His Majesty will be more at ease with whatever is done."