All Heavens and Worlds Starting from the Night Watchman
Chapter 22 - Beating Someone in the Ministry of Justice

Chapter 022: Beating Someone in the Ministry of Justice

A group of people arrived at the courtyard of the Ministry of Justice.

The Minister of Justice furiously berated Huang Langzhong for acting on his own in such a major incident and disgracing the Ministry of Justice.

Zhang Shen and Li Mubai from Yunlu Academy stepped forward and asked, “Are you Lin Qiye and Xu Qi’an?”

“Yes, we are,” the two responded, clasping their fists in greeting.

“The past is gone, and the future awaits!”

“Fear not the journey ahead, for the world shall know your name!”

This famous poem about the Golden Terrace was well known, and it had spread widely within Yunlu Academy.

The line Xu Qi’an recited—Fear not the journey ahead, for the world shall know your name—was first heard at Mianyang Pavilion during a farewell gathering. Xu Xinnian had recited it then.

The two scholars had been astounded, and through Xu Xinnian’s introduction, they learned that Lin Qiye and Xu Qi’an were close friends who even lived together.

Two literary talents of such caliber living under the same roof naturally piqued their curiosity. If they could recruit them as disciples, it would be a great honor.

However, upon arriving, they discovered that Lin Qiye and Xu Qi’an had been arrested. After learning the full story, they were enraged.

Demanding their release from the Ministry of Justice was bold, but since when was standing up for justice a crime?

“You flatter us. These poems aren’t ours; we are merely messengers of verse.”

“That’s right!”

Lin Qiye and Xu Qi’an dared not claim the works as their own. They truly were just messengers.

Li Mubai assumed they were being humble and admired them even more. “You’re too modest. If these poems belonged to someone else, that person would have long published them to gain fame.”

Zhang Shen nodded in agreement. Who would willingly hand over such masterpieces without claiming the credit?

Everyone desires fame and legacy, to be remembered for generations and spoken of with admiration.

Xu Qi’an and Lin Qiye merely smiled. They knew no one would believe the truth.

Zhou Li, seeing so many influential figures—officials from the Directorate of Celestial Observers, Yunlu Academy scholars, and the Minister of Justice—felt his mind buzzing in panic.

He realized the situation was dire and avoided making eye contact with Lin Qiye and Xu Qi’an.

Xu Qi’an glanced at Zhou Li and said coldly, “You should be grateful we came out unharmed. Otherwise, not even your father could save you.”

Lin Qiye turned to the gathered officials before looking at Zhou Li. “Young Master Zhou, back in the Ministry of Justice’s dungeon, you acted like it was your own home, trying to force a confession out of us.”

“You pinned false charges on us, claiming we tried to kill you. Now, with so many witnesses here, including Yunlu Academy’s great scholars, I hear they possess a truth-seeking technique. Shall we use it to see who is lying?”

The elders of Yunlu Academy, eager to recruit the two men, naturally stepped forward to support them. Li Mubai took the lead.

“Huang Langzhong has already confessed. While our truth-seeking technique cannot be used on officials of the fourth rank or higher, Zhou Li is not even an official. Using one more talisman is of no consequence.”

Zhou Li panicked and instinctively stepped back, moving closer to the Minister of Justice.

Xu Qi’an strode toward him and delivered a slap. “Zhou Li, is it?”

Smack!

Zhou Li clutched his face and forced a smile. “Brother, I was wrong! I failed to recognize your status. Please forgive me.”

Huang Langzhong hurried over and scolded, “Xu Qi’an, how dare you hit Young Master Zhou? His father is the Vice Minister of Revenue!”

Ignoring him, Xu Qi’an raised his hand and slapped Huang Langzhong as well.

Then he turned back and landed another slap on Zhou Li. They had suffered under Zhou Li’s torture, and they were not the type to let grievances go unaddressed.

Zhou Li’s face bore red palm prints as he turned to the Minister of Justice. “My lord, in broad daylight, someone dares to commit violence in the Ministry of Justice! You must uphold justice for me!”

The Minister of Justice stepped forward, intending to mediate. “This is the Ministry of Justice. Beating people here is inappropriate—”

Before he could finish, Lin Qiye pulled out a confession document Zhou Li had forced them to sign and handed it over with a calm smile.

“My lord, someone used the Ministry of Justice’s name to arrest us and tortured us to force a confession.”

“They framed us for a crime we didn’t commit. We were merely acting righteously, yet they twisted the truth and made us out to be criminals.”

As he spoke, Lin Qiye took another step forward and, without hesitation, kicked Zhou Li, sending him flying.

The Minister of Justice’s expression darkened as he accepted the document, feeling as though it was burning his hands.

Lin Qiye continued, “If you doubt our words, the great scholars of Yunlu Academy are here. We can request their truth-seeking technique to determine who is lying.”

“I have always heard that the Minister of Justice upholds the law with integrity. I trust you will investigate this matter thoroughly.”

Xu Qi’an, watching Zhou Li sprawled on the ground, picked up a wooden staff and walked toward him. “Zhou Li, even a common man has his wrath.”

“And when a common man is enraged—damn you!”

With that, he swung the staff at Zhou Li’s head, leaving him dazed and concussed. The spectators fell silent.

The Minister of Justice knew that if the truth-seeking technique was used, he would have no choice but to act on the findings.

Thus, he turned away, pretending not to see anything, unwilling to intervene.

Zhou Li had tortured others in the Ministry of Justice as well, making it a fair retaliation.

Everyone knew Zhou Li was not someone who could withstand scrutiny. If this scandal blew up, even the Ministry of Justice would suffer consequences.

Having dealt with Zhou Li, Xu Qi’an and Lin Qiye turned to Yunlu Academy’s scholars and the officials from the Directorate of Celestial Observers, expressing their gratitude. “Thank you, teachers and senior brothers, for stepping in to help.”

The two scholars from Yunlu Academy were Xu Xinnian’s mentors, making them senior figures to Xu Qi’an as well. Calling them ‘teachers’ was a way to build rapport.

“You were wronged unjustly. There’s no need to thank us.”

“…”

With that, everyone departed from the Ministry of Justice. The Minister of Justice remained silent, unwilling to speak with the great scholars present. If they used the truth-seeking technique, should he punish Zhou Li or not?

Meanwhile, Zhou Li harbored deep resentment toward Xu Qi’an and Lin Qiye.

These two had disrupted their plans. The counterfeit silver case had been exposed, and Zhou Li’s cousin had been arrested.

The Zhou family’s schemes had crumbled due to these two men, and Zhou Li was furious. He ordered his men to keep an eye on them.

Harassing Xu Lingyue had been a mere provocation. The real goal was to force them into action and pin a crime on them.

The tax silver theft case’s mastermind was Lu Chang, a Qianhu in the Imperial Guards, along with Zheng Xin, a senior official in the Ministry of Revenue.

Backing them was Vice Minister of Revenue Zhou Xianping—Zhou Li’s father.

By uncovering the tax silver case, they had offended Zhou Xianping and were drawn into a larger conspiracy. Any excuse would do to have them executed.

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