Chapter 605
Parading Through the Streets
What was parked outside Shaojiu Hutong was not a horse-drawn carriage, but a prison cart.
Chen Ji approached the prison van and examined it. The van, enclosed by rough wooden fences, was stained with blood of unknown origin. He recognized this van; it had previously been used to transport the Siamese royal family, and now it was being used to transport him.
Qi Zhenzhuo rode over, glaring angrily at the Vice Censor-in-Chief: "He holds a noble title, how can he ride in such a prison cart? The Censorate clearly has carriages prepared."
The Vice Censor-in-Chief bowed and said, "Young Master, Chen Ji committed a major prison break and deserves to be in prison."
Qi Zhenzhuo's voice grew even deeper: "The three judicial departments have not yet interrogated him, how can they be so certain that he is a criminal?"
Seeing that Qi Zhenzhuo was still arguing, the Vice Censor-in-Chief's voice suddenly turned cold: "Commander Qi, the Censorate's carriages are broken, and only prison carts are left."
Qi Zhenzhuo gritted his teeth: "What happened? Why did it have to happen today of all times?"
The Vice Censor-in-Chief didn't speak, but merely raised the corner of his mouth slightly.
Qi Zhenzhuo stepped forward, his voice even deeper: "The three judicial departments have not yet interrogated him, and the charges have not yet been determined. On what grounds are you treating him as a criminal prisoner?"
The Vice Censor-in-Chief's smile vanished: "Commander Qi, you are here today to assist in the escort on the orders of the Censorate, not to conduct an interrogation. I decide which route to take and what vehicle to use."
Before Qi Zhenzhuo could say anything more, Chen Ji had already climbed into the prison cart and said calmly, "Prison cart it is, let's go."
The wooden door closed behind him with a crisp click of the lock.
Qi Zhenzhuo stood beside the prison cart, looking at the locked door, his Adam's apple bobbing.
He hesitated for a long time before finally stepping forward and whispering, "Master, I will go home later to discuss the joint trial by the three judicial departments with my grandfather. The Minister of Justice and the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review are his prized students, so they should be able to make an exception."
Chen Ji turned to look at Qi Zhenzhuo, but didn't say anything, leaving Qi Zhenzhuo's next words stuck in his throat.
The joint trial by the three judicial departments involved the Ministry of Justice as the presiding judge, the Censorate as the supervisor, and the Court of Judicial Review as the reviewing judge.
The Minister of Justice and the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review are now Qi Ge Lao's prized students, and the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate is Chen Lizun, who has just arrived. No wonder the Qi family handed this matter over to the three judicial departments for joint trial. This is the sharpest knife in the hands of civil officials, and also a place where the eunuch faction cannot interfere.
The Vice Censor-in-Chief admired the traces of time in the prison cart: "When Viscount Wu Xiang was so arrogant a few days ago, he probably didn't expect that the tables would turn. It's understandable that you're not used to riding in a prison cart for the first time, but it's alright, you'll get used to it after one ride. Next time, we'll take you to the execution ground. Let's go."
Just as the coachman raised his whip, a troop of people came galloping towards them.
Chen Ji turned his head and saw Jin Zhu leading more than ten secret agents blocking his way. He said urgently, "Wu Xiang Viscount is Hai Dongqing of our secret service. The Jing Prince's treason case has also been investigated by our secret service. Hand him over. He is not yet in the hands of your three judicial departments for joint trial."
The Vice Censor-in-Chief gave a forced smile: "The Secret Service is investigating Prince Jing's treason case, but a traitor who broke out of prison has been discovered. Doesn't this prove that there are shady dealings within the Secret Service from top to bottom?"
Jin Zhu narrowed his eyes slightly, looking down at the Vice Censor-in-Chief: "You're just throwing mud at people without any evidence? I think your time as Vice Censor-in-Chief is over."
The Vice Censor-in-Chief looked up at him, his face showing no fear: "Do you think my Censorate is as unruly as your eunuch faction? If there were no evidence, we wouldn't have been able to obtain the imperial warrant. Now the witnesses are in the hands of my Censorate, and the confessions have been presented to His Majesty... What, you also intend to rebel?"
Jin Zhu's expression changed several times. He looked at the remains in front of the prison cart and said, "I'm going to find the person. When we get to the Censorate, don't say anything!"
Having said that, he turned his horse around and galloped away.
Chen Ji stood in the prison cart, head down in thought. It seemed that She Dengke had indeed fallen into the hands of the Qi family, otherwise the Censorate wouldn't have been able to obtain the driver's pass... How much had She Dengke said? What leverage did the Qi family still hold? He didn't know.
This time, the Qi family's attack came swiftly, urgently, ruthlessly, and accurately.
At this moment, the Vice Censor-in-Chief mounted his horse, gripped the reins, and said slowly, "Viscount Wu Xiang, rest assured, no one can save you this time. Let's go."
The driver cracked his whip, and the wooden wheels of the prison cart rolled slowly southward along the cobblestone road.
A caravan of mule carts approached, and the convoy of lanterns arrived as scheduled, but it was still a step too late.
Wearing a straw hat, Uncle Hu sat on the first mule cart. When he saw Chen Ji in the prison cart, he was immediately stunned. He seemed to never have expected that Chen Ji, who had been perfectly fine that morning, would now be a prisoner.
His cloudy eyes, hidden beneath his bamboo hat, lingered between the prison cart and the Five Cities Garrison, as if calculating his chances of successfully hijacking the prison cart.
Chen Ji shook his head at him, glancing at Xiao Man and the others not far away: Take them away.
Master Hu calmed down, and the two groups of people passed each other, one heading north and the other south.
……
……
Strangely, the prison cart did not go directly to the Censorate in the northwest corner of the inner city. Instead, it escorted Chen Ji through Chongwen Gate and headed towards the outer city.
At noon, Chongwenmen Street was at its busiest. Food stalls steamed, vendors hawked their wares along the street, and several children chased a stray cat, nearly running into a horse's leg. As the prison cart passed by, everyone turned to look.
The Vice Censor-in-Chief, riding a tall horse and wearing a blue robe of the fourth rank with a badge embroidered with clouds and geese on his chest, announced in a loud voice: "The criminal Chen Ji is involved in the case of Prince Jing's rebellion. According to his confession, he was the mastermind behind the prison break in Luoyang. He is hereby arrested by imperial decree."
The onlookers were in an uproar.
"Traces? Which traces?"
"Who else could it be? The one being criticized in the newspapers."
"A prison break in Los Angeles? Is that true?"
Just a few days ago, the capital was still talking about the story of Chen Ji bringing down Qi Xianzhun, the Left Censor-in-Chief, but today Chen Ji has suddenly become a prisoner.
A man carrying a shoulder pole squeezed to the front of the crowd, craning his neck to peek into the prison van. When he saw Chen Ji's face, he turned around and shouted to the people behind him, "It really is him! It seems the newspapers' reports of him being unfilial, heartless, and unjust are true!"
A woman nearby whispered, "Those eunuchs really are no good. The Qi family was framed by them, wasn't they?"
"Needless to say? Qi Xianzhun was removed from the family register and returned to Jizhou, and the Qi family handed over all their assets..."
"No wonder Princess Baili abandoned him!"
Upon hearing this, Qi Zhenzhuo looked at Chen Ji with an unpleasant expression.
Chen Ji stood in the prison cart with his head down, his face expressionless, as if the people were not talking about him.
Qi Zhenzhuo looked at the Vice Censor-in-Chief, gritted his teeth, and said in a snarling voice, "Why don't you go straight to the Censorate?"
The Vice Censor-in-Chief ignored him and continued walking forward.
Qi Zhenzhuo spurred his horse forward and grabbed the whip from the driver's hand: "Stop!"
The infantrymen of the Five Cities Garrison were stunned, looking at each other, unsure of whose advice to take.
Qi Zhenzhuo turned around and yelled at them, "What are you standing there for? Take Chen Ji to the Censorate, and don't go around in circles anymore!"
Several foot soldiers hesitated before stepping forward, when suddenly the Vice Censor-in-Chief spurred his horse and rode across, blocking Qi Zhenzhuo's path. He lowered his voice and scolded, "Qi Zhenzhuo, are you crazy?"
Qi Zhenzhuo glared at him.
The Vice Censor-in-Chief leaned forward and said, "Chen Ji has made a grave mistake and deserves it. Parading him through the streets is a good opportunity to win back the hearts of the Qi family. How can you side with outsiders?"
Qi Zhenzhu gripped the driver's whip so tightly that his fingers turned white.
The Vice Censor-in-Chief's voice was even lower and heavier: "Do you know that the Qi family's mansion is about to collapse, and how many people are eyeing this piece of fat meat? Today you pity him, but tomorrow when those people rush to devour the Qi family, who will pity you? You are the eldest son of the Qi family, don't forget what your surname is!"
Qi Zhenzhu stood there stunned, slowly loosening his grip on the whip.
The Vice Censor-in-Chief softened his tone: "Only by proving that he is a treacherous official can the Qi family and the Censorate salvage some reputation. Otherwise, how can the Qi family and the censors and officials face each other? We, the disciples and former subordinates of Grand Secretary Qi, are all working hard for the Qi family, and also for you... Don't be foolish. Think of the Qi family first in everything."
While Qi Zhenzhuo was still in a daze, the Vice Censor-in-Chief gave a wink to the infantrymen of the Five Cities Garrison, and the prison cart continued to move forward.
The escorting procession walked along Chongwenmen Street, turned onto Zhengyangmen Street, and headed south and then west, circling around for the entire afternoon. At every street and intersection, crowds gathered to watch, and the discussions grew louder and more unpleasant.
Qi Zhenzhuo rode alongside the prison cart, utterly dejected, too afraid to look at the traces of the past.
It wasn't until late afternoon that the prison cart finally returned to the inner city from Xuanwu Gate and stopped in front of the dark gate of the Censorate.
Qi Zhenzhuo reined in his horse, looking at the jailers pouring out of the gate, and said hoarsely, "Master..."
Chen Ji said softly, "Go back. This is not something you can interfere with."
The jailer from the Censorate opened the door of the prison cart, and Chen Ji walked out on his own.
The Vice Censor-in-Chief waved his hand: "Viscount Wu Xiang is an official in charge. Put him in shackles so he doesn't run away."
Two jailers carried over a heavy pair of shackles and fastened them to Chen Ji's wrists. The long iron chains dragged on the ground, making a clanging sound.
The Vice Censor-in-Chief stood on the steps, smiling at Chen Ji: "Viscount Wu Xiang, please come in." (End of Chapter)