For Zhang Chen, faking death was not entirely unacceptable. If his fake death could put an end to everything, gaining him enough time to excavate the grand tomb, then it would all be worth it.
Zhang Chen looked at the Fox Spirit: "Do you have any other ideas?"
"This is difficult!" The Fox Spirit scratched his head, feeling somewhat troubled: "At this point, we can only watch and wait."
Zhang Chen turned his eyes toward the Fox Spirit: "Isn’t it all because of the trouble you caused?"
Upon hearing this, the Fox Spirit was immediately displeased: "How is it my fault? I was merely going along with the flow! Even without me, the Prince Pingbian’s Mansion would not let you off."
"But rest assured, Prince Pingbian wouldn’t dare to openly kill you. First, you haven’t committed a crime. Zhang Xiaohua’s accusation is merely slander; you have an alibi. Second, if Prince Pingbian hastily kills you, it’ll only make the Inspection and Supervision Department suspect that Prince Pingbian’s Mansion is concealing the secret of the explosion, bringing more trouble upon himself. Know that Prince Pingbian is already struggling under the court’s pressure, and he would not cause himself more trouble over someone as insignificant as you," Fox Spirit comforted Zhang Chen.
"Do you think Prince Pingbian will deal with me like this?" Zhang Chen looked at the Fox Spirit.
"I don’t know! At worst, risk life and fight desperately at the critical moment," replied the Fox Spirit.
She didn’t want to die! More than anyone, she didn’t want Zhang Chen to die!
The carriage rattled along, while the jail of the county office resounded with constant screams.
Even in broad daylight, the jail of the county office remained dim, with only the flickering fire basin illuminating the place.
Beside Gou Chun, the Steward from the Prince Pingbian’s Mansion was leisurely eating roast chicken, his demeanor relaxed and natural. Since they were interrogating the secrets of the explosion, someone from Prince Pingbian’s Mansion had to be present, not allowing a single oversight in such matters.
The scorching iron branded Zhang Xiaohua, and as salt water was poured, piercing screams echoed in the cell: "Corrupt officials! You bunch of corrupt officials! Even if I become a ghost, I’ll never forgive you."
"Young man, why keep a stiff mouth? As long as you confess the secret of the explosion, you can reunite with your stepmother, little brother, and sister at home. We can finish work early for dinner, and you can suffer less!" The officer rubbed the red-hot iron back and forth on Zhang Xiaohua’s body, emitting puffs of blue smoke and the scent of roasted meat, making the Steward in Prince Pingbian’s Mansion eat with even greater relish.
"Corrupt officials, my teacher is the renowned Mr. Wuliu from the capital. Once he returns, he’ll surely exonerate me!" Zhang Xiaohua yelled through his excruciating pain, yet refused to relent. He still had hope; as long as Mr. Wuliu returned, he would clear his name. If he gave in now, solidifying the false charges, once Mr. Wuliu returned, it would truly be irreversibly doomed.
The Steward of the Prince’s Mansion, who was eating roast chicken nearby, was shocked to hear the name ’Mr. Wuliu’ and quickly shouted, "Hold the torture!"
"Sir, what are you doing?" County Magistrate Gou Chun stared at the Steward of the Prince’s Mansion, full of surprise.
The Steward swiftly rose, approached Zhang Xiaohua, and said: "Repeat what you just said."
"Why? Scared? What good will repeating it do? You corrupt officials are forcing confessions. Wait until my teacher, Mr. Wuliu, returns. You’re all doomed!" Zhang Xiaohua spat a mouthful of blood-red saliva, splattering the Steward’s face.
"Are you the scholar Zhang Chen or the hunter Zhang Chen?" The Steward didn’t wipe the blood off his face. He looked at Zhang Xiaohua, whose entire body was mangled, with no unscathed place, feeling his legs shaking.
As one who had been involved in these affairs within the Prince’s Mansion, he inevitably knew many of the critical details.
"I’m the plaintiff, the victim; are you saying I’m that one!" Zhang Xiaohua gnashed his teeth in rage: "I’m the plaintiff and victim subjected to brutal interrogation while you let the murderer escape. I will never forgive you!"
The Steward felt like he was struck by a thunderbolt, hurriedly saying to County Magistrate Gou Chun, "Bring a written statement of confession."
"Are we forging a statement directly? The scholar hasn’t confessed yet; if the Inspection and Supervision Department discovers a false statement, it’ll be big trouble. We should first pry open his mouth, then let him write the statement himself," Gou Chun advised nearby.
Surprisingly, Gou Chun was met with a slap across the face, seeing the Steward’s expression turning extremely grim: "Quickly bring the prepared statement."
Gou Chun was stunned by the slap, feeling a bubbling anger, but unable to retaliate against the Steward from Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, being just a seventh-ranked County Magistrate. So, he swallowed his anger and fetched a prepared statement.
The Steward snatched the statement and brought it to Zhang Xiaohua: "If you can read this statement, your crime will be pardoned."
Zhang Xiaohua glared at the Steward with fury, looking at the statement felt the man was insane, but was glad to endure less suffering, taking the chance to delay further.
Once Zhang Xiaohua finished reading the statement, the Steward felt his legs go limp, and his head buzzed: "It’s unimaginable! Something has gone terribly wrong!"
He shouted angrily at the guards nearby: "You bunch of fools, quickly untie the Crown Prince!"
"Crown Prince?" Gou Chun was taken aback, feeling as if struck by lightning, momentarily unable to think.
Half an hour later, inside the Prince Pingbian’s Mansion.