The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 430

"Mind your own business. How would I, a mere servant, know what's going on?"

The person in charge of prison meals had a short temper. When asked about the amount of over 10,000 yuan, he retorted without hesitation, "Based on my experience, you probably won't live long after eating this meal."

"Sir, please don't scare me." Wan Yuanduo was about to serve the meal when he heard this and his hand trembled, almost spilling it.

"Hehe, figure it out yourself." The person in charge of the meals didn't want to say more, and left after piquing Wan Yu's curiosity.

How many of the people in charge of the prison are good people? And how many of them aren't ruthless?

If they were soft-hearted, they would be the ones dying here. They've seen it all before – brutal criminals and superiors poisoning their subordinates. They've become desensitized to it.

Wan Yu returned to his seat trembling, his heart still pounding. Clearly, what the prisoner had said to him had left a significant psychological scar.

"The Minister of Works still needs me to take the blame for him, so he shouldn't have someone poison him, right?" At this point, Wan Yuanduo could no longer find a reason to convince himself, and could only repeat the words "the Minister of Works wouldn't poison me" over and over in his heart to comfort himself.

"More than 10,000 yuan, someone is looking for you!"

Suddenly, the prison guard called out and came to him with two familiar faces.

"Lord Xu Tian?"

Upon seeing Xu Tian and Qin Xian, Wan Yuan's heart sank to the ground with a thud.

"Sir, what brings you here?" Wan Duoyuan's expression was stiff. He put down the chopsticks he was about to eat, stood up, and bowed.

"The Minister of Works will no longer concern himself with your affairs; I will take over this entirely," Xu Tian said.

"I know." Wan Yuan's heart trembled at his words, because he knew what kind of consequences he would face after Xu Tian took responsibility for him. At best, he would be sentenced to life imprisonment, and at worst, he would be beheaded.

"Wan Yuanyuan, I'm giving you one last chance. As long as you reveal who's behind this, I'll guarantee your safety." Xu Tian glanced at Wan Yuanyuan's prison environment and couldn't help but mentally complain about how comfortable his living conditions were.

Compared to the prison where the Minister of Works had previously lived, it was like heaven and earth. The prison was a single cell, clean and tidy, with quilts on the floor. It was clearly a high-level luxury. However, this also gave Xu Tian the opportunity to catch the Minister of Works in the act.

If the whole thing really only involved a little over ten thousand yuan, then his fate would be worse than that of a death row inmate.

After all, the Minister of Works, whom he investigated, was extremely averse to anyone touching his scapegoats.

"Sir, please don't make things difficult for me. I really did the whole thing; it has nothing to do with anyone else." Wan Duoyuan shook his head helplessly. What use was Xu Tianbao anyway? He never cared about himself, but about his wife and children.

"You're still being stubborn even with over ten thousand yuan? Do you really think I don't know everything?" Xu Tian sneered, his face extremely ugly.

"He's about to die, and he's still being stubborn. In my opinion, sir, let him take the blame for the whole crime." Qin Xian was also furious. He rolled his eyes and played the good cop.

"Outrageous! We would never dare to commit such a crime as deceiving the emperor!" Xu Tian rebuked. "A country has its laws, and a family has its rules. If Wan Yuanyu is truly guilty, I will investigate thoroughly and never let the person behind it go unpunished."

"My lord!" Qin Xian roared angrily, his pent-up frustration finding nowhere to go.

Faced with the two's clumsy acting, Wan Yuan had no idea what to say and could only silently sit back down and prepare to eat.