TGP Chapter 26.1: Imprisoned

Content Warning: Implicit Torture.

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“It’s been a long time, Eldest Brother Pei.”

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Li Rong said nothing. She just quietly observed Su Rongqing.

Su Rongqing’s contemplative gaze was still on her. He had not said anything either.

After a while, Li Rong slowly spoke up: “I remember that the Su family has only ever been loyal to His Majesty.”

“Yes.” Su Rongqing calmly said, “And Rongqing is just Rongqing, not the Su family.”

Li Rong understood what Su Rongqing meant. She tapped her fingers on the small table. The clamoring voices on the streets outside occupied the silence. Su Rongqing quietly waited for Li Rong’s response.

“Why choose to side with the Crown Prince now?”

Li Rong spoke in an unhurried manner. Su Rongqing looked down and responded in a calm and steadfast voice: “His Majesty is aggressive now that he is in his prime, causing the people’s livelihood to be burdened with hardship in Great Xia. His Majesty currently favors powerful and influential ministers, adding to the people’s hardships. The Crown Prince is benevolent and advocates using morality to rule and stabilizing and restoring people’s livelihood after crises. Rongqing would like to see a world like this, so therefore, he wishes to follow Your Highness.”

“You can directly speak to the Crown Prince,” Li Rong held the cup of tea, “Why are you telling me these things?”

“The Crown Prince righteously wears his heart on his sleeve and cannot hide anything. At this time, it is not convenient for the Crown Prince to know where Rongqing stands.”

Li Rong fully understood.

Although Su Rongqing’s actions were his own, he was also a child of the Su family. If Li Ming knew that he had taken refuge under the Crown Prince’s wing, then Li Ming’s suspicions towards the Crown Prince would deepen.

He has now found an opportunity to make his stance clear to her. Later on, she would at least be able to use Su Rongqing when planning for Li Chuan’s future.

Li Rong did not say a word and only listened. Su Rongqing raised his head in confusion. He couldn’t help but call out, “Your Highness?”

“You don’t need to do this,” Li Rong recollected herself and flatly said, “The Su family has been righteous and loyal for generations. His Majesty trusts you all because of this unwavering loyalty. You don’t need to stand on any side and only need to do your duties well. If something happens to the Crown Prince one day, your safety can still be guaranteed. If the Crown Prince ascends the throne,” Li Rong looked at him and only said, “As long as you are managing your own affairs as you are now, and Bengong is still here, then the Su family will always be the Su family.”

Su Rongqing fell silent when he heard this and appeared to be thinking about something.

Li Rong saw that he seemed uneasy, so she placated him, “I don’t mean to refuse your goodwill with my words just now, but I think,” Li Rong hesitated for a moment before slowly saying, “Su gongzi is a refined gentleman and should not be tainted by these things.”

Although she and Su Rongqing only got to know each other after he had fallen into a desperate situation, the Su Rongqing she knew and had seen was a politically adept kind of person. However, she also recalled the gentle light lingering in his eyes when Su Rongqing talked to her about his youth.

She and Pei Wenxuan were already old when they came back. There was nothing that could be done about that, but looking at Su Rongqing in front of her, who was still in his youth, her heart could not hold back a kind of desire to protect him.

Su Rongqing had heard what she said and was somewhat in a daze. Li Rong waved the fan in her hand and changed the subject with a discreet cough: “Su daren, in the meantime, tell me about the situation regarding the Ministry of War’s account books.”

Su Rongqing returned to his senses upon hearing this and respectfully responded, going through the information that he had grasped from the account book entries from the Ministry of War one by one.

The two entered the Ministry of War one after the other. Su Rongqing had already bribed the officials. Li Rong finally arrived in the room were the account books were kept, took out all the accounts related to the Northwestern border and brought people to cross-check the account books.

There were many kinds of entries to go through, so Li Rong was in the Ministry of War for two days. Two days later, she finished checking the account entries, she promptly gathered all the people involved and had them brought in for questioning under orders issued by the Ministry of War.

At the same time, Li Rong also instructed Jing Lan to arrange for all the manpower in the Princess’s mansion to keep an eye on any unusual changes in Tuoba Yan’s villa and enquire about Li Chuan’s daily trips to Jiulu Mountain.

She knew that the news would reach the border within the next five days, so during these five days, she made preparations for everything.

These actions could not be considered significant. Checking the account books and interrogating officials would not deal a fatal blow to the Yang family. There could not be any problems with their public account books, so in Consort Ning’s eyes, everything Li Rong had done was nothing but blindly searching in the wrong direction. She was naturally happy to watch Li Rong circling back and forth like a headless fly.

Li Rong’s investigation of Tuoba Yan’s case was quietly conducted. Even Su Rongqing who followed her to check the account books every day was not aware that she had never given up on Tuoba Yan’s case.

After handling the case for four consecutive days, Li Rong almost figured out the entire process and military funds that the Ministry of War allocated to the Yang clan. It was midnight when she walked out of the Ministry of War with a verbal confession in hand, perfectly content. Just after she left through the gates, Jing Lan came forward and whispered: “Your Highness, Tuoba Yan has been found.”

Hearing this, Li Rong’s anticipation grew. She knew that Tuoba Yan would not die so easily. She restrained her emotions and led the way, whispering as she walked, “Where is he?”

“In the outskirts of the city, still being pursued.”

“I will head over immediately.”

Having said that, Li Rong arranged for a group of people to pretend to escort back to the Princess’s mansion while another group of people, light cavalry in plain clothing, followed her out of the city at once.

There was someone waiting there when Li Rong arrived in the outskirts of the city. Seeing Li Rong coming over, that person lowered their voice and said: “Your Highness, that person has been caught.”

Li Rong nodded, and her entourage followed her into the run-down house in single file. The shadow guards stood all around the room, and in the center was a large man tied to a chair. He was drenched from head to toe and had injuries all over his body. He looked utterly exhausted.

Li Rong walked up to that person and laughed as she said: “Ah, long time no see, Sixth Master.”

Tuoba Yan heard this voice and gasped for air as he lifted his head. His stare was fixated on Li Rong for a few moments before hoarsely saying, “It’s you.”

“It’s me.” Li Rong nodded and said, “Is the Sixth Master not doing well these days? I thought the Sixth Master would have left Huajing by now, why are you still strolling around Huajing?”

“Just who are you?”

Tuoba Yan stared at Li Rong and bluntly asked: “What do you want?”

“You probably already have a good idea of who I am,” Li Rong chuckled. “There is currently one thing I hope the Sixth Master can help with. Just a mere account book is hardly enough. Sixth Master, do you think you can testify as a witness?”

“This is a taboo.”

Tuoba Yan said in a low voice: “Since the Princess has found me, the Princess must know that people like us in the business can die, but we cannot violate these rules.”

“Sixth Master, they wanted to kill you in the first place.” Li Rong softly said, “They want you dead, and you retaliate. How could this be regarded as a taboo in business?”

Having said that, Li Rong crouched down and looked at Tuoba Yan with a radiant smile: “Sixth Master, I know these rules of yours. You cannot reveal half of the slightest information about your customers. But if you don’t even have the slightest thought of retaliation, then what are you hiding these account books for?”

“These are just threats,” Tuoba Yan calmly said, “Once a threat is made, it is no longer a threat.”

“You’re simply afraid that once you hand over the Yang family’s account books, the other families whose account books are in your possession will kill you. But Sixth Master, you must be alive in order to be killed.”

“Then you can just kill me.”

Tuoba Yan coldly said: “I have never thought about making it out alive after falling into your hands.”

“The Sixth Master is joking, how could I kill you?” Li Rong gently said, “You are only afraid of those methods in the trading business, so you think,” Li Rong lightly placed her hand on Tuoba Yan’s shoulder, “Bengong cannot do the same?”

“Let me tell you a little something about torture,” Li Rong leaned in close to Tuoba Yan, her voice soft, “Bengong has studied it more diligently than those in your merchant circle. Someone come here.”

Li Rong straightened up and calmly said: “Pull out all of his nails for me first!”

With that said, Li Rong walked over to the chair that had been wiped clean and picked up the cup of tea that had been prepared by a servant off to the side. She was full of smiles as she said, “It’s almost dawn now, Sixth Master. I’m afraid we will go through the thirty-nine punishments among merchants before tomorrow evening, so how about I add a few more punishments for you?”

As soon as she finished her words, Tuoba Yan’s bloodcurdling scream rang out. Blood splattered onto Li Rong’s skirt. Eyes downcast, Li Rong drank tea with her usual expression.

Beside her, Jing Lan paled. Li Rong indifferently said: “Go out if you feel uncomfortable.”

Jing Lan heard these words, and she covered her mouth and left in a hurry. Li Rong held the cup of tea and serenely said: “Sixth Master, you cannot live by the rules all the time. You must learn to assess the situation. You will still die even if you can get out of here. You might as well stay by Bengong’s side because only then will you have a way out. You are relying on your strong bones today and may be able to endure the thirty-nine punishments, but do you think it will be over once you’re dead? Your wife works as an embroiderer in the town of Qingshui in Luzhou, and your son is almost of age to attend school. I heard that you arranged an identity for him to study at Fengshan Academy next year. There are many things out there. Don’t be too stubborn. Think about it.” Li Rong brought her eyes up and softly chuckled, “Carefully think again.”

After Li Rong finished her sentence, she turned her head and said, “Smear some honey on him.”

As soon as her words fell, Tuoba Yan’s voice rang out: “I agree!”

Everyone suddenly stopped. Li Rong looked up at him. This person stared at her with red bloodshot eyes, clenched his teeth and said: “I will give you a confession, but you have to promise me one thing.”

“Your wife will receive a letter and come with me, and your son will enter the even more prestigious Xiangshan Academy.” Li Rong knew what he was going to say, so she directly said, “You will enter the Princess’s mansion to work, and as long as you are honest,” Li Rong’s gaze was fixated on him. “Bengong will not mistreat her own people.”

Tuoba Yan was silent. He was panting and staring intently at Li Rong. A while later, Li Rong lifted her chin: “Give him pen and paper.”

The attendant beside her brought him pen and paper. The ropes on Tuoba Yan were undone, and he shakily set out to write his confession.

He wrote with extreme difficulty. Once he finished writing, he presented it to Li Rong. Li Rong read over it again and confirmed that there were no issues with the confession. After that, she instructed an attendant nearby to send Tuoba Yan to Li Chuan, then she climbed into the carriage and led everyone back to the Princess’s mansion.

She had stayed up all night. She sat in the carriage with her eyes closed to rest, reflecting on the current arrangements.

Evidence of the Yang family’s embezzlement of military funds is essentially complete on Huajing’s end. There were the account books from the Ministry of War, Tuoba Yan’s confession as well as his own private account books. She had also obtained the confessions of all relevant personnel involved. Afterwards, the only thing she needed to wait for is an opportunity to obtain the account books at the border station.

She was thinking about it when the sound of horse hooves suddenly came from outside. Then, her carriage came to an abrupt stop, and she heard someone ask: “Is Princess Ping Le in the carriage?”

Li Rong motioned to Jing Lan. Jing Lan lifted the curtain and poked her head out. When she saw the men and horses from the Ministry of Justice standing outside, Jing Lan frowned, “You are…?”

“This small official is Wang Qing from the Bureau of Arrests, here to pass on His Majesty’s verbal decree. In these past few days, Princess Ping Le has abused her authority to bend the law in favor of relatives and associates, suppressing honest officials in the name of investigating the case, colluding with the murder suspect Pei Wenxuan and is suspected of conspiring to murder others. Princess Ping Le is forbidden to step foot outside for a month and will be transferred to the Ministry of Justice to cooperate in the investigation of the murder of Tuoba Yan.”

Jing Lan was stunned when she heard this. She looked back and Li Rong who had lifted the curtain, unsure of how to respond.

Tuoba Yan was in their hands. As long as they handed him over, Li Rong would not be detained in the Ministry of Justice, and Pei Wenxuan would also be released.

However, when Li Rong did not speak up, Jing Lan did not dare to say more. Li Rong looked at the man in front of her. She smiled and gently asked, “Does Bengong need to be taken into custody?”

Wang Qing respectfully stood off to the side and hastily said: “This lowly officer can just follow Your Highness.”

Li Rong nodded, then she gave instructions to Jing Mei, who was sitting in the carriage: “Take a few people there first and clean the cell first.”

Jing Mei respectfully heeded the order and hurried out of the carriage and led a group of people ahead. Li Rong returned to her carriage, closed her eyes and said nothing more.

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