Chapter 607
The Prison Break
As the White Dragon stepped out of the threshold of the Censorate, the candlelight in the main hall flickered, brightening the room slightly. It was as if the first of the zodiac animals had just suffocated the candlelight.
After the spies filed out, only that lone chair remained in the empty main hall of the Censorate. It was an ordinary elm wood chair, yet it weighed down the hall like a mountain.
The Minister of Justice sat behind his desk, staring expressionlessly in the direction where the white dragon had disappeared, remaining motionless for a long time.
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review turned to look at him: "Lord Zheng, the eunuch faction has gone to such great lengths just to delay this one night. There may still be changes tomorrow... Are there any omissions in the witnesses and evidence?"
The Minister of Justice's gaze flickered slightly. He racked his brains to recall every detail from beginning to end, considering every possible loophole. Finally, he slowly shook his head: "There is no possibility of overturning the case."
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review asked in bewilderment, "What is the point of the eunuch faction dragging this out all night?"
The Minister of Justice did not answer the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review; instead, his gaze fell on Chen Ji.
Chen Ji stood ramrod straight, the iron shackles between his hands hanging on the ground. He turned his head to look at She Dengke not far away.
The Minister of Justice sneered, "Vice Viscount Wu Xiang, you have quite the grand display. Even the joint trial by the three judicial departments has attracted the help of the eunuch faction. However, I advise you not to be too happy. Tomorrow, it will just be another formality in the main hall of the Ministry of Justice. With all the witnesses present, let alone Bai Long, even if Xu Wenhe were still in the capital, he wouldn't be able to cause any trouble."
Chen Ji ignored him and continued to look at She Dengke.
She Dengke glanced up at Chen Ji, and seeing that Chen Ji was watching him, he hurriedly lowered his head again, repeating, "I don't want to betray you... I don't want to betray you..."
Chen Ji hummed in agreement: "I know."
He looked up at the candlelight in the main hall. The life that She Dengke and Chunhua owed him when they framed him for stealing Consort Jing's pearl had been repaid in the Luoyang prison. But now, the situation was unclear, and it had become a murky mess.
At this moment, the Minister of Justice stood up and whispered to the Vice Minister of Justice, "Separate the two of them and don't give them a chance to collude. If She Dengke recants his testimony, you will both lose your official hats."
The Vice Minister quickly agreed.
The Minister of Justice pondered for a moment: "Are the Five City Garrison still guarding outside the gate?"
The Vice Minister replied, "Your Excellency, they are still here. Are the two to be taken to the Ministry of Justice prison?"
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review suddenly intervened: "No, no, Lord Zheng, that Qi Zhenzhuo is incompetent, and the Five Cities Garrison is unreliable. If he acts rashly and lets Chen Ji go, it could ruin the Qi family's future!"
The Vice Minister thought for a moment: "Summoning the Imperial Guards to escort them? That won't work either."
"To relieve troubles? That's not a good idea either."
After thinking it over, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was astonished to discover that even the most formidable troops in the capital, used to escort Chen Ji, might be subject to embezzlement.
The Vice Minister asked in a low voice, "Please request the Ministry of War to transfer the Shenji Battalion from outside the city to the capital?"
The Minister of Justice rebuked in a low voice: "Nonsense! The three Imperial Guards are entering the capital in the dead of night. If anything goes wrong, it will be a matter of losing your head."
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and the Vice Minister dared not speak again.
The Minister of Justice remained silent for a moment before finally making the final decision: "Let the Five Cities Garrison escort them. No matter how incompetent Qi Zhenzhuo is, he is still a member of the Qi family. Only when Chen Ji dies can the Qi family live. He must understand this principle. Go quickly and send the two to the Ministry of Justice prison to await public trial tomorrow."
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review wanted to say something more, but Zheng Zhixian stopped him with a look: "Do as I say."
The constables lifted Chen Ji and She Dengke up and left, the iron chains between Chen Ji's hands dragging on the ground with a clanging sound.
As he passed by Chen Lizun, Chen Lizun whispered, "Don't be afraid, your uncle will think of another way."
Chen Ji glanced at the other person but did not respond. The iron chains dragged on the ground, their clanging sound echoing in the empty main hall and reaching outside the door.
……
……
Outside the gate of the Censorate, two prison carts were already prepared. Wooden cages were placed on the carts, with wooden bars as thick as a bowl on all four sides.
She Dengke was shoved into the prison van in front, where he huddled in a corner, hugging his knees.
Chen Ji climbed into the second prison cart. He sat down in the wooden cage, leaning his back against the bars and closing his eyes. The infantrymen of the Five Cities Garrison surrounded the two carts, their torches illuminating the area. The soldiers, their faces hidden in the shadows, were all tense.
Qi Zhenzhuo glanced at Chen Ji from his horse, then quickly looked away: "Let's go."
The driver cracked his whip, and the oxcart slowly began to move. The wooden wheels rumbled over the bluestone slabs, the sound particularly clear in the quiet night.
The prison van traveled south along Chang'an Avenue.
A night breeze blew by, carrying the chill of autumn. Chen Ji closed his eyes, hearing only the rumble of wheels and the footsteps of soldiers. Occasionally, a torch crackled and popped, scattering a few sparks that landed on the bluestone slabs and were quickly extinguished.
After an unknown amount of time, the prison van drove through Fuyou Street.
Chen Ji suddenly opened his eyes.
He raised his head and looked towards the Zhengyangmen gate tower.
He saw from afar a figure in white standing on the towering walls of Zhengyangmen, silently overlooking the area.
White Dragon?
Beside the White Dragon, the Monkey King squatted on the wall, scribbling on the blue bricks with his fingertips. The Rabbit sat on the edge of the wall, its legs dangling over the edge, swinging playfully as if enjoying the cool air on its own doorstep. The Cloud Sheep stood quietly to the side, its hands tucked into its sleeves, like a stone statue.
The four figures appeared exceptionally small against the backdrop of the towering city wall, yet they seemed like four mountains pressing down on the moonlight.
Chen Ji suddenly felt something was strange. Bai Long should have been waiting here after leaving the Censorate. What was he waiting for?
The Five Cities Garrison escorted the prison cart slowly, and Chen Ji felt that Bai Long and the others' eyes followed the procession through the streets and alleys, their gazes seemingly never leaving it for a moment.
Just as the prison van was about to pass through Qipan Street, a sudden change occurred.
On the roof of the third floor of Liubiju, a burly figure stood. He wore a bamboo hat and a black cloth covering his face, and his eyes were hidden in the shadows under the hat and could not be seen clearly.
The dark figure formed the Great Wheel Vajra Dharani Mudra with both hands and chanted incantations.
On Chessboard Street, the faint sound of chanting scriptures reached everyone's ears: "...May all sentient beings be freed from their shackles and suffering, and may their karma be returned to the underworld officials. May all ghosts, spirits, and suffering beings in Avici Hell be liberated..."
The next moment, the shadow cast by the moonlight beneath the black figure's feet twisted and disintegrated, and the shadow of the head and the bamboo hat twisted and struggled, transforming into a gluttonous beast.
The shadow of his left arm transformed into a ferocious beast, resembling a red leopard with five tails and one horn.
The shadow of his right arm transformed into a Taotie, resembling a tiger with long fur, a human face, tiger feet, a pig's mouth and teeth, and a tail as long as a python.
The shadow of the upper body turned into Fei Yi, the shadow of the left leg turned into Xie Zhi, and the shadow of the right leg turned into Bi An.
Six ferocious beasts, all transformed from shadows, pounced down from the roof!
The Taotie opened its massive jaws and bit down on the tail of the escorting procession. The Zheng charged wildly on all fours, heading straight for the prison cart. The Taowu swung its long tail, sweeping across the foot soldiers. The Feiyi flapped its wings and swooped down, creating a gust of cold wind. The Xiezhi lowered its head and crashed into the crowd; wherever its single horn struck, men and horses fell. The Bi'an roared furiously, its voice like thunder.
Chaos erupted at the Five Cities Garrison: "Thieves are trying to break in!"
Some roared, some drew their swords.
But in an instant, another group of men emerged from the shadows of the chessboard-lined streets, and the infantry's originally tight formation was instantly broken. Flames flickered, figures swayed wildly, and screams and shouts mingled together.
Chen Ji stared intently at the figure on the roof.
Third Master Hu!
The soldiers of the Five Cities Garrison regrouped and firmly protected the two prison carts in the middle, leaving only Qi Zhenzhuo holding the reins, at a loss.
Chen Ji turned his head again to look at the Zhengyangmen city tower. The white dragon was still standing with his hands behind his back, the bright rabbit was still swinging its legs, the precious monkey was still writing and drawing on the blue bricks, and the cloud sheep was still standing quietly.
They watched the chaos unfold on this side, but made no move whatsoever, observing from the sidelines.
White Dragon and Lights have joined forces.
Bai Long had just gone to the Censorate to use the laws of Da Ning to control the three judicial departments, not for any other reason than to wait for them to transfer him to the Ministry of Justice prison, giving Deng Huo a chance to abduct him? (End of Chapter)