Chapter 379
"I am an official of the imperial court. Even if I am responsible for the death of Prefect Zhang, it is the three judicial departments that will conduct the trial. By what right do you hand me over to the Imperial Dragon Guard!" A roar erupted. Pang Tongzhi, held by two constables, struggled, his face contorted with rage and ferocity, devoid of his usual calm composure.
The clanging of shackles and Pang Tongzhi's angry shouts mingled. The jailer and guards retreated to the sides, their faces pale. It was Lord Yao who gave the order, and no matter how unwilling Pang Tongzhi was, what could he do?
The officials from the Provincial Surveillance Department and the Commander's Office exchanged glances, their expressions grave. Was Lord Yao intending to break the law? Or was he planning to take a risky approach, using the tortures of the Imperial Dragon Guard to force Pang Xian'an to confess?
Zhan Feiyu, trailing behind, watched Pang Tongzhi, who was struggling wildly again after leaving the prison. She asked in a low voice, "Ah Sheng, have you made arrangements for people in the shadows?"
"Miss, rest assured. The Imperial Dragon Guard has always had people watching the prison. No one dares to silence him," He Sheng nodded. As early as back then, Lord Yao had submitted a secret memorial, and the Emperor was already aware of Pang Xian'an's connection to the palace.
However, the fish was too small, and the Emperor was too lazy to bother. Moreover, after dealing with Pang Xian'an, the palace would simply install new people. It was better to keep him around and monitor Pang Xian'an's every move.
But now that the pawn Pang Xian'an was useless, the Emperor had issued an order to the Imperial Dragon Guard, wanting to know which prince in the palace Pang Xian'an had pledged allegiance to. In this way, the Imperial Dragon Guard would naturally want Pang Xian'an to stay alive. If the other party dared to send assassins to silence him, it would be walking into a trap.
"Under the bright sun and in the vast daylight, you treacherous villains trample on human lives! Though I, Pang Xian'an, am destined to die, you shall not insult me!" Looking up at the clear blue sky, Prefect Pang's voice became sharp. He mustered a surge of strength, broke free from the constables' grasp, and lunged madly towards the nearby wall.
"Impossible!" A furious shout rang out simultaneously. It was Censor Chu, rushing over with his men, who happened to witness Pang Tongzhi about to smash into the wall.
In a flash, a figure darted from the shadows and grabbed Pang Tongzhi just before he hit the wall.
Zhan Feiyu focused her gaze and recognized Xiao Zibai, Lord Yao's attendant.
Footsteps echoed. Censor Chu looked at the disheveled Pang Tongzhi, then turned to Lord Yao and questioned him sarcastically, "My Lord, since it is a trial by the three judicial departments, why did you unilaterally take Pang Xian'an out of prison? If there had been any mishap just now, could you bear the responsibility for such a crime?"
Lord Zheng, who had also received the news, arrived with his men. However, he was habitually taciturn, and at this moment, he merely frowned.
Before Lord Yao could speak, Censor Chu's gaze swept over, and his target immediately shifted to Zhan Feiyu, his arrogance escalating. "My Lord, Zhan Feiyu is merely a scholar. What qualification does she have to enter the prison?"
With a sinister cold laugh, Censor Chu snorted, "This subordinate suspects that the death of Qian Shipeng was precisely at the hands of Zhan Feiyu. My Lord, instead of discerning the truth, you are shielding a criminal. This young girl must have also been released by you, right? By acting this way, are you disregarding the laws of Daqing?"
"Censor Chu, I am being wronged!" Pang Tongzhi, held by Xiao Zibai, fell to his knees with a thud, his gaze filled with grief and hatred, fixed on Zhan Feiyu.
"Although I cannot escape blame for the death of Prefect Zhang, it is still the three judicial departments and the Ministry of Justice that should try the case. Yet, a young girl presumes to stand above the law and punishment, demanding that I have no recourse but to die. I implore Censor Chu to seek justice for me, otherwise, I shall die with my eyes wide open!"
As his mournful words fell, Pang Tongzhi heavily kowtowed onto the cold ground.
Before Censor Chu could react, Lord Yao's gaunt face turned stern, and he commanded in a deep voice, "Guards, arrest Censor Chu!"
"Lord Yao!" Censor Chu roared, no longer able to use Pang Tongzhi as an excuse. He glared furiously at Lord Yao, who had given the order, and then at the constables obeying it, shouting in exasperation, "I am a Censor of the Commander's Office. Who dares to step forward!"
The Commander's Office was responsible for the security of a region, with subordinate thousand-household and hundred-household offices all taking orders from it. They also frequently assisted the local prefectural yamen in apprehending bandits and fugitives.
Lord Yao was responsible for the administrative affairs of a region. Although the two offices cooperated on a daily basis, they were fundamentally independent, much like civil and military officials in the imperial court.
Lord Zheng's Provincial Surveillance Department was in charge of criminal cases and lawsuits in a region, and it also served as a local branch of the Censorate, exercising supervisory power over local officials.
However, Lord Yao was a high-ranking official of the second rank, while Censor Chu was only of the fourth rank. A higher rank could suppress a lower one. If Lord Yao truly ordered Censor Chu's arrest, he would have no choice but to comply.
Completely ignoring the clamoring Censor Chu, Lord Yao cast a cold glance. Several constables immediately pounced. Censor Chu wanted to draw his sword to resist, but seeing Xiao Zibai beside Lord Yao, he restrained himself from acting. He feared that Lord Yao would seize the opportunity to kill him.
"Lord Zheng, are you just going to stand by and watch?" Censor Chu's hands were bound. He tried to provoke Lord Zheng, saying, "Lord Yao is unjustly attacking me today. Lord Zheng, aren't you afraid that you will also be targeted tomorrow?"
"Censor Chu, Deputy Prefect Zhao and the others are still recuperating, and the tung oil outside the prefectural yamen has just been cleaned up," Lord Yao's cold voice cut through. He indifferently looked at the struggling Censor Chu, thinking that even if he were more foolish, he would have died ten times over if not for his backing from the Chu family and the Second Prince over the years.
Censor Chu's heart skipped a beat. Even if he was stupid, he knew he had made a grave mistake. However, he still put on a brave front and defended himself, "I am investigating according to the law. The officials of Suzhou Prefecture are harboring Zhan Feiyu, this murderer. I ordered their arrest, and any casualties are within reason!"
To convict Zhan Feiyu without evidence was one thing if she were just a commoner. But Zhan Feiyu was a disciple of Scholar Gu and held an Imperial Dragon Guard token. For Censor Chu to dare arrest her was simply foolish.
Lord Yao and Lord Zheng were too lazy to waste more words. In the end, Censor Chu's actions were likely instigated by someone else, with the aim of using him to accuse Lord Yao of dereliction of duty, preferably to have Lord Yao transferred from Longyou Circuit. Then, their own people could be installed in the Provincial Administration Department.
Of course, they didn't have their sights set on the position of Provincial Governor. Even without Lord Yao, it would still be the Emperor's confidant. However, the officials in the Provincial Administration Department would certainly be reassigned. They were all subordinates of Lord Yao. With the new official's initiative, once these subordinates were moved, the Second Prince's people could take their place.
As for Censor Chu, he was merely a catalyst. Once his purpose was served, he would be discarded. Moreover, over the years, the Second Prince's faction had used Censor Chu to commit many illegal and disciplinary acts. When the time came, Censor Chu would be pushed forward, and all the blame would be placed on him, leaving others clean and innocent.
"Take him away!" Lord Yao commanded. Several constables immediately escorted the shouting Censor Chu away. However, due to his official position, he could not be directly imprisoned. But there were plenty of empty rooms behind the prefectural yamen, and he could simply be thrown into one.
With Censor Chu gone, the ears finally fell silent. Lord Zheng glanced at Zhan Feiyu and then at Pang Tongzhi, who was still kneeling on the ground. "My Lord intends to send him to the Imperial Dragon Guard?"
Lord Yao gave a plausible excuse, "To prevent anyone from killing to silence him. The prison is crowded and not safe enough."
The Imperial Dragon Guard only obeyed the Emperor. Pang Tongzhi was also involved with the palace, so this matter should indeed be handled by the Imperial Dragon Guard, as the princes, no matter how powerful, were still the Emperor's sons.
...
Of course, they didn't have their sights set on the position of Provincial Governor. Even without Lord Yao, it would still be the Emperor's confidant. However, the officials in the Provincial Administration Department would certainly be reassigned. They were all subordinates of Lord Yao. With the new official's initiative, once these subordinates were moved, the Second Prince's people could take their place.
As for Censor Chu, he was merely a catalyst. Once his purpose was served, he would be discarded. Moreover, over the years, the Second Prince's faction had used Censor Chu to commit many illegal and disciplinary acts. When the time came, Censor Chu would be pushed forward, and all the blame would be placed on him, leaving others clean and innocent.
"Take him away!" Lord Yao commanded. Several constables immediately escorted the shouting Censor Chu away. However, due to his official position, he could not be directly imprisoned. But there were plenty of empty rooms behind the prefectural yamen, and he could simply be thrown into one.
With Censor Chu gone, the ears finally fell silent. Lord Zheng glanced at Zhan Feiyu and then at Pang Tongzhi, who was still kneeling on the ground. "My Lord intends to send him to the Imperial Dragon Guard?"