The woman was startled by Xu Qing's shout and quickly waved her hands, "I... I... I didn't, I..."
"Didn't?" Xu Qing narrowed his eyes, his tone full of disbelief.
He picked up the plate in front of him, and while the woman wasn't paying attention, he yanked her hair and forced the plate into her mouth, saying, "If you didn't, then eat them all, eat them all!"
The woman trembled at Xu Qing's actions, trying to escape forcefully. She began to squirm restlessly, "I didn't, I really..."
With a "crash."
Xu Qing and the woman stopped moving.
Xu Qing looked down towards the source of the sound and saw a hand token lying on the dirty ground.
He released the woman and picked up the hand token to examine it.
"This is Ah Wu's," he murmured.
Seeing her chance, the woman quickly broke free and stood timidly as far away from Xu Qing as possible.
"Where did you come from?" Xu Qing asked again, holding the hand token.
This time, the woman no longer argued, merely shaking her head frantically.
Xu Qing's eyes darted around a few times before settling back on the woman. "You're actually Ah Wu's person, aren't you?"
The woman's body stiffened; she didn't know how to answer for a moment.
Xu Qing saw her reaction and drew some inferences. He angrily threw the hand token to the ground and said, "Good riddance, Ah Wu. Good riddance, Fan Ren. You want to push all the blame onto me, make me commit suicide out of guilt, and ensure there's no one to testify.
Then don't blame me for a dead fish and a broken net."
At the same time, within the Dali Temple.
Zhong Li sat at her desk, processing the previously unorganized case files. She still had bandages wrapped around her head from hitting it in the carriage; the wound was just beginning to heal.
"Lord Zhong, Lord Zhong!" a young constable ran in from outside.
Zhong Li looked up at him and asked, "How is it?"
"Lord Zhong is wise, Xu Qing is about to confess everything."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Li didn't bother with the unfinished work in her hands and followed the young constable towards the Disciplinary Office.
A moment later.
Zhong Li sat in her previous spot, holding a cup of clear tea and waiting for Xu Qing to speak.
Xu Qing seemed to have been dealt a blow; he was listless and occasionally showed a flicker of despair in his eyes when looking at her.
"I never imagined I would be the one discarded."
Zhong Li had heard him say this countless times. She looked up at him and said, "Xu Qing, you are merely a pawn in someone else's game. If a pawn is useful, it continues to be used. If not, it is naturally discarded."
Xu Qing smiled sadly.
How could he not understand Zhong Li's words? In the decade of the court's ups and downs, his heart was as clear as a mirror.
"It was Ah Wu," Xu Qing sighed, "After Gu Ling died, Ah Wu developed resentment towards you. You should know this."
Zhong Li nodded. She still remembered how hysterically Ah Wu had questioned her about Gu Ling when he had brought her into the Ministry of Justice.
"Later, Wu Xingyan of the Wu family bank found Ah Wu and said he wanted to cooperate with him for a great endeavor.
Gu Ling's death was partly because Ah Wu didn't have money. Her mother, Madam Tuo, needed a large amount of precious medicinal ingredients. Ah Wu remembered his regrets with Gu Ling, coupled with his resentment towards you, so he agreed to Wu Xingyan's proposal.
While you were away in Linzhou, he followed Wu Xingyan's instructions, found old case files from the Dali Temple, solved many cases, and was promoted step by step. When you returned, he began to implement his plan," Xu Qing said.
"So Ah Wu knew about the matter at the Bei Tian An, didn't he?" Zhong Li asked.
Xu Qing nodded and said, "Yes."
Zhong Li slowly closed her eyes. She had actually long suspected that Ah Wu knew everything behind it. However, after experiencing so much with Ah Wu, she held onto a sliver of hope. Now, hearing Xu Qing say this, she knew Ah Wu had completely changed.
"And the matter of Zhong Wuyou was planned by him from start to finish!" Xu Qing stated.
Zhong Li closed her eyes, her fingertips gripping the teacup turning pale.
"Oh, and I also know something else," Xu Qing, having already given up all pretense, decided to confess everything.
Zhong Li said, "Speak."
"I can tell you, but before that, I want to make a deal with you, just like Fan Ren. I guarantee you won't lose out on this deal, and I'll even give you something," Xu Qing suddenly smiled.
Zhong Li looked at him, pondering for a moment, "You want to live?"
Xu Qing sighed deeply, "Who doesn't want to live? I've just passed thirty, and a wonderful life awaits me."
"I can spare your life, on the condition that what you have to say is worth your life," Zhong Li nodded in agreement.
"Naturally," Xu Qing exhaled, a look of relief on his face. "On the surface, the Wu family bank belongs to Wu Xingyan alone, but in reality, it has a bigger backer."
"Fu Chong, Lord Fu, right?" Zhong Li finished Xu Qing's sentence.
Xu Qing's eyebrows slightly arched, giving her a "you're very clever" expression.
Zhong Li smiled and said, "This matter of yours holds no novelty. From the moment I began thoroughly investigating the Qia Te grass case, I already knew that Fu Chong was inextricably linked to it."
After speaking, she casually placed the teacup on the table and prepared to leave.
Xu Qing hadn't expected this. He was anxious and quickly stood up, rushing to the bars and shouting after Zhong Li's retreating back, "Wait, wait, I still have... still have..."
Zhong Li stopped and turned to look at Xu Qing, "Xu Qing, I know everything in your head. You have no value to me, understand?"
"Wait!" Seeing Zhong Li about to leave, Xu Qing roared, "Zhong Wuyou, Zhong Wuyou, I have something for you, it's Zhong Wuyou's."
Upon hearing this name, Zhong Li felt an inexplicable pang of sadness.
She turned back and watched as Xu Qing, as if it were a treasure, took it out from his embrace.
It was a small golden lock, inscribed with four characters, "May you live a hundred years." She had bought it for Zhong Wuyou when he was one hundred days old.
Zhong Li took a few steps forward, about to take it, when Xu Qing quickly pulled the small lock back into his embrace.
"Where did you get this?" she demanded.
Xu Qing said, "At that time, Zhong Wuyou was brought to the Buddhist hall of Bei Tian An by Ah Wu. I saw the thing hanging around his neck was valuable, and I knew that once Zhong Wuyou was sent in, this item would fall into Miao Yun's hands. So, I took advantage of Ah Wu's carelessness and ripped it off Zhong Wuyou."
"Give it to me!" Zhong Li stepped forward and held out her hand.
Xu Qing knew that the longevity lock in his hand was his only bargaining chip with Zhong Li.
He clutched it tightly and said, "I can give it to you, but... I don't want to die!"
Zhong Li remained silent, just looking at Xu Qing.
Xu Qing swallowed a few times under her gaze. This was the first time he felt Zhong Li's gaze so sharp, as if it could see through everything.
After a long while, Zhong Li said, "Fine!"
Xu Qing's face lit up with joy.
Zhong Li took a piece of paper from a young constable beside her and handed it to Xu Qing, "This is the confession you just made. As long as you sign it, I will take you out."
Xu Qing took it, not even looking at its contents, fearing Zhong Li might change her mind. He bit his finger and imprinted his handprint on it.
Zhong Li took it and glanced at it. "Good, then I shall also keep my promise and spare Lord Xu."
"Guards!" she called out. Two Dali Temple constables quickly entered. "Xu Qing is deeply involved with the Qia Te grass case. Take him to the water prison."
"Yes!" the two constables said, walking over to Xu Qing and beginning to drag him outside.
"Zhong Li, what do you mean? Are you going back on your word?" Xu Qing hadn't expected Zhong Li to send him to the water prison. He twisted his body, trying to break free.
Zhong Li looked at Xu Qing with a cold expression. "Lord Xu, you once targeted me and constantly put obstacles in my way. I could overlook these things. But no matter what, you are still from the Dali Temple. You went against your conscience, treated human lives as if they were dirt, and fanned the flames behind villains. You should have foreseen this outcome.
Your death sentence is commuted, but your crimes cannot escape punishment. I ask that you spend the rest of your life reflecting and repenting in the water prison!"
"Zhong Li, may you die a horrible death! A horrible death!" Hearing this, Xu Qing's eyes turned red with anger. He was forcefully dragged away, his voice hoarse with agonizing curses.