The First Criminal Judge of the Zhenguan Era

Chapter 8 Frame the King of Criminal Investigation? He's Met the Grandmaster! (Two-in-One)

At 4:45 PM, the night was already deep.

Chang'an, the magnificent and splendid capital of the Tang Dynasty, also fell into slumber.

The daytime hustle and bustle has turned into tranquility, and the spacious Zhuque Avenue is deserted.

Suddenly, dozens of figures appeared from a distance.

The leader was clad in armor, riding a tall horse, with a furrowed brow and an unpleasant expression.

His sharp gaze kept glancing at Liu Shuyi behind him, who was being closely watched by the Imperial Guards, his teeth clenched in anger.

He still compromised with Liu Shuyi...

The thought that he, a dignified fifth-rank Left General of the Golden Guard, was threatened by a mere minor official in the Ministry of Justice filled Zhou Mo with rage and utter humiliation.

He could imagine how he would be ridiculed if this got out.

If Du Gou and Cheng Chumo hadn't happened to be at Liu's residence, he wouldn't have cared what Liu Shuyi was saying at all.

What has been found out?
As long as Liu Shuyi is arrested and imprisoned, he can guarantee that Liu Shuyi will never see the sun rise again. Even if Liu Shuyi has a bellyful of so-called truths, he will not have the chance to speak.

However, coincidentally, Du Gou and his group arrived at that very time.

However, he was unable to take action against Du Gou and Cheng Chumo, and could not restrict their actions.

This would inevitably reach the ears of Du Ruhui and Wei Zheng immediately, and would also inevitably reach the Emperor's ears. Therefore, after much deliberation, Zhou Mo had no choice but to compromise.

Even so, it doesn't mean he truly believed Liu Shuyi wasn't the real culprit, or that believing Liu Shuyi meant he had uncovered the truth...

He was Pei Ji's confidant, and he knew very well what Pei Ji was in control of.

Therefore, he firmly believes that Liu Shuyi is still putting up a last-ditch resistance and is still deceiving and struggling...

But none of this worked!

Even if he is forced to bring Liu Shuyi to the Ministry of Revenue due to the current situation, Liu Shuyi will still be exposed when Pei Sikong and others arrive. At that time, Liu Shuyi will only die a more miserable death!
Seeing the composure on Liu Shuyi's face, he gritted his teeth and sneered, "Let's see how long you can remain arrogant!?"

Hearing the cold laughter coming from ahead, Liu Shuyi narrowed his eyes slightly.

He kept thinking about what Zhou Mo had said earlier. Zhou Mo had said that Zhao Zhuo's son had been arrested and had even implicated him...

Why would Zhou Mo say that?

Where did Zhao Zhuo's son come from?
Is it...

He stroked his chin, thoughtfully.

At this point, the line stopped.

Liu Shuyi looked up and saw that the two characters "Ministry of Revenue" on the plaque, illuminated by the red lanterns, seemed to be stained with a layer of blood.

Here he comes again.

…………

Half an hour later.

The Ministry of Revenue, which was usually quiet after the officials had finished their shifts, was now brightly lit and bustling with activity.

The officials from the Ministry of Revenue who had already returned home and gone to bed with their beautiful wives were all summoned back.

They yawned incessantly, watching the figures in the lobby with discontent, muttering under their breath but not daring to make a loud sound.

After all, there were few people in the lobby that they dared not offend.

boom!
Just then, a loud thud was heard as a table was slammed.

"Liu Shuyi, what other tricks are you going to pull?"

Dressed in a scarlet official robe, Pei Ji, with a stern face, shouted in a stern voice: "All your schemes and tricks have been investigated and uncovered by this official!"

"You are just like your father, insidious, vicious, cunning, and despicable! You are the real murderer, yet you pretend to be a good person, crying 'stop thief' like a thief in the thief's cry!"

"Do you think I'll be fooled by you any longer?"

Pei Ji sat high above, looking down at Liu Shuyi with disdain and contempt in his eyes: "I should have executed you and your father back then! Your father was a scourge, how could you be a good person? A scourge like you, and a bloodline like your Liu family, should not have been passed down, they should have been cut off long ago!"

The sound was powerful and resonant, echoing throughout the silent hall.

Wei Zheng, who stood ramrod straight and upright, frowned, feeling that Pei Ji's words were a bit too much.

Even when he cursed people in the imperial court, he wouldn't curse so excessively.

Du Ruhui, whose face was even paler than during the day, coughed a few times, breaking the dignified and imposing atmosphere that Pei Ji had created.

"Lord Pei, let's stick to the facts. Why bring up someone's father who has been dead for many years?"

As he spoke, he looked intently at the young man standing in the hall who, despite being humiliated by Pei Ji, had not lost his composure in anger. His voice remained as gentle as ever: "Pei Sikong said you are the murderer and has ample evidence. You also said you have uncovered the truth... Liu Shuyi, tell me, what should I do?"

"It's easy!"

Upon hearing Du Ruhui's words, Liu Shuyi slowly began to speak.

His gaze swept over Pei Ji, and his voice was colder than usual: "Pei Sikong says I am the murderer. Please produce evidence, and I can confront you in court!"

"If I really am the murderer, then I have no right to refute anything Pei Sikong says."

"But if the evidence Pei Sikong presents is insufficient to prove that I am the murderer, and the truth I tell is unanimously accepted by everyone, then it proves... that I am not wrong, and that Pei Sikong is wrong!"

"At that time..."

He stared intently at Pei Ji's cold face and said in a deep voice, "I hope that Minister Pei will apologize for the insulting words he just uttered!"

"Apologize to you? Dream on!"

Without a second thought, Pei Ji said, "What right do you, a murderer, have to negotiate with me?"

"Does Minister Pei dare not?"

Liu Shuyi glanced at Pei Ji and said indifferently, "So, does Minister Pei know that I have been wronged, which is why he dares not agree to this promise?"

"Nonsense! How could I possibly wrong you? Don't make baseless accusations!"

"So, even though Pei Sikong knows he's wrong, he refuses to admit it? So this is the code of conduct for the renowned Pei Sikong!"

"you--"

Pei Ji glared angrily, and the veins on his forehead throbbed.

He never expected that Liu Shuyi, who was usually so timid, would be so eloquent.

Before I knew it, I was being lifted up.

Unfortunately, he couldn't refute it!
"Humph!"

Pei Ji hesitated for a moment, and seeing that Wei Zheng and Du Ruhui were both looking at him in silence, he finally snorted coldly: "Since I am going to arrest you, I naturally have sufficient evidence. Why would I be afraid of you?"

"it is good!"

Liu Shuyi was waiting for Pei Ji's words.

Arguing with Pei Ji is pointless. Only by making Pei Ji swallow back what he said can he truly lose face!

"Then please have Minister Du and Physician Wei serve as witnesses, lest the truth come out later and Minister Pei forgets about this and doesn't want to apologize."

Pei Ji's expression grew even uglier. "Don't push your luck!"

He didn't give Liu Shuyi a chance to speak, and said directly, "You want evidence? Fine! I'll give you the evidence!"

As he spoke, he looked outside the room and said, "Bring him up!"

Soon, a man dressed in coarse linen clothes, with many marks on his face, and a thin, skeletal frame, was pushed into the hall by Zhou Mo.

Zhou Mo kicked his knee, sending him crashing to his knees.

Zhou Mo's cold gaze swept over Liu Shuyi, then he cupped his hands to Du Ruhui and the others and said, "Zhao Zhuo's son, Zhao Feng, has been brought here."

"Zhao Feng?"

"Zhao Zhuo's son?"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Chumo and Du Gou, who had been standing to the side without having a chance to speak, exchanged a glance.

Earlier, on their way to the Zhao residence, they had suggested to Liu Shuyi that they send someone to check if anyone from the Zhao family was missing.

However, Liu Shuyi declined at the time, citing insufficient time.

Unexpectedly, the person they hadn't had time to check was now here.

Considering the Zhao family members are the only ones with a motive, and Pei Ji's confident demeanor...

Cheng Chumo and Du Gou couldn't help but feel a bad premonition...

And things happened just as they feared...

"Based on Liu Shuyi's previous assessment, the murderer's target was Zhao Ci and the other three people who reported Zhao Zhuo's embezzlement case. So it's very clear that the murderer was seeking revenge for Zhao Zhuo!"

"Then who will avenge Zhao Zhuo? Without a doubt, only his family!"

Pei Ji spoke calmly, his tone filled with an air of complete control.

He looked at Zhao Feng kneeling and said calmly, "I know Liu Wenjing too well. I know very well how difficult Liu Wenjing is, so I am also more careful about his son."

“After we left, I specifically ordered someone to secretly keep an eye on Liu Shuyi and his residence, to find out if he was doing anything behind our backs.”

"As a result... my men spotted Zhao Feng sneaking around right at the back gate of the Liu residence!"

"They immediately arrested Zhao Feng and subjected him to severe interrogation, and the result was..."

Pei Ji shifted his gaze to the handsome figure he disliked and said coldly, "Zhao Feng confessed everything! He said that in order to avenge his father, he bribed you with the Zhao family heirloom and colluded with you. The two of you joined forces to kill Zhao Ci and the other three!"

"The reason he went to the back gate of your Liu residence today was because he heard about your investigation. He was worried that you would betray him, so he wanted to ask you for details. He never expected that he would be caught in this mess!"

"Liu Shuyi!"

Pei Ji's tone suddenly rose: "The witnesses are here, and there's the jade pendant you left at the Zhao residence... With both witnesses and physical evidence, what else do you have to say for yourself?!"

Upon hearing Pei Ji's words, the expressions of everyone in the room changed.

Zhou Mo grinned, his expression towards Liu Shuyi filled with pleasure and mockery, clearly saying: See what I said? Even if you come to the Ministry of Revenue, you will still die!
"It's over! Liu Shuyi is really finished! He really is the murderer?" Cheng Chumo stared wide-eyed, his face filled with disbelief.

Du Gou frowned deeply, his scholarly face showing a solemn expression.

Judging from what Liu Shuyi asked him to investigate, he knew that the case was not so simple at all. But now, with witnesses and physical evidence, he didn't know how to help Liu Shuyi refute the allegations.

Pei Ji never even considered giving Liu Shuyi a chance to overturn his case!
Wei Zheng's brows were deep, and his expression as he looked at Liu Shuyi was increasingly dignified.

Only Du Ruhui's expression remained unchanged from beginning to end, as if he had known all along that this would happen.

Seeing that Pei Ji had finished speaking, he then asked, "Liu Shuyi, what do you want to say about what Pei Sikong said?"

Upon hearing Pei Ji's words, everyone immediately turned their gaze to Liu Shuyi.

At this moment, they were surprised to find that even when Pei Ji presented irrefutable evidence, Liu Shuyi did not show any panic... Putting aside everything else, this composure alone was something that ordinary people could not possess.

However, remaining calm couldn't save him!

“I understand what Pei Sikong said. In the end, the main reason why Pei Sikong thinks I am the murderer is Zhao Feng’s confession.”

Liu Shuyi spoke slowly and deliberately, glancing at the young man kneeling on the ground, who was so thin he was just a skeleton.

He slowly said, "Zhao Feng, am I really your accomplice? Was all of this really done by you and me?"

"Hmph! What's the use of asking again?" Pei Ji said coldly, "You don't think you can threaten Zhao Feng in front of us and prevent him from telling the truth, do you?"

Liu Shuyi ignored Pei Ji and simply looked calmly at the man covered in wounds.

Zhao Feng lowered his head, his lips pressed tightly together. After a while, he nodded very slightly: "Yes, these cases were all done by you and me."

"Oh?"

Liu Shuyi narrowed his eyes and said, "Then I have two questions I want to ask you."

"what?"

"First, you said you bribed me with the Zhao family's heirloom. I wonder what heirloom it is, and where it is?"

"It's a golden crown passed down from an ancestor, priceless... As for where it is now, I've already given it to you, how would I know where you've hidden it?"

"So you don't know where I'm hiding!" Liu Shuyi sneered. With just this one sentence, Zhao Feng's confession could not be verified. After all, in everyone's eyes, he was the murderer who had taken bribes. As long as he didn't hand it over, it was normal for them not to find it.

By insisting that he hadn't received it, he appeared to outsiders as unrepentant and determined to keep the truth hidden.

But does this mean I, who has investigated countless cases, am stumped?
Liu Shuyi looked at Zhao Feng, who was still bowing his head: "I remember, your Zhao family's property was confiscated before you were exiled, right? All your Zhao family's assets were confiscated... and when you left, you only had a thin shirt on you, so I'm very curious..."

He squinted, a half-smile on his face, and said, "How did your so-called family heirloom escape the confiscation of your property? And how did you manage to take it with you?"

“I…” Zhao Feng suddenly raised his head. He opened his mouth for a long time before explaining, “Before the house was raided, I… I hid it in advance. I only took it out after I secretly returned to Chang’an this time.”

"Oh? You hid it?"

Liu Shuyi nodded, saying with a sigh, "The Zhao Zhuo embezzlement case was personally overseen by His Majesty. You're really something..."

"Under the very noses of His Majesty and the entire court, under the noses of the three judicial departments—the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate—as well as the Prefect of the Capital, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Imperial Guard, you managed to hide your Zhao family's most valuable heirloom without anyone noticing! Not a single member of your Zhao family uttered a word; servants and children alike gritted their teeth and helped you conceal it, refusing to speak even at the cost of their lives! To be honest, I have to admire you!"

As soon as these sarcastic words were uttered, even the straightforward Cheng Chumo sensed that something was amiss.

When His Majesty was trying to find the 50,000 strings of cash for disaster relief, not only was Zhao Zhuo interrogated, but the Zhao family members were also subjected to rigorous interrogation. Under such circumstances, the Zhao family really didn't leave behind a single coin; they were all found out... So, if the family heirloom really exists, how could no one have revealed information about it?

Even if Zhao Feng could withstand the torture and interrogation, the servants who had nothing to do with the Zhao family, and the children of the Zhao family, would not be able to withstand it!

But from beginning to end, no one mentioned anything about family heirlooms, which just didn't seem right.

If even Cheng Chumo thought of these things, how could others not?

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room changed.

Even Zhou Mo, who had been wearing a cold smile, had a slight change in expression.

He couldn't help but look at Pei Ji, and saw Pei Ji's eyelids twitch violently. At that moment, Pei Ji's refined and confident expression clearly softened.

Upon seeing this scene, a smile flashed in Du Ruhui's deep, ocean-like eyes. He leaned back slightly and completely relaxed.

Looking at Liu Shuyi, his smile deepened.

Liu Shuyi, however, didn't give everyone much time to react; his voice continued to ring out.

"Next is the second question."

(End of this chapter)