Chapter 625 - 400: Ge Hengtai (Part 3)

"This..." Zhu Cheng’s eyes showed some hesitation. He didn’t really want to disclose the specific details of the case.

Ge Hengtai could see Zhu Cheng’s thoughts at a glance and said in a deep voice, "I am an Adviser, overseeing the entire Qingzhou’s inspection authority. When it comes to matters of Qingzhou, there’s nothing that Ge can’t inquire about!"

"Yes!" Zhu Cheng respectfully bowed. What Ge Hengtai stated was the legal principle of officialdom, so he could only comply, saying, "In the past two days, we have been inspecting the ruins of Lord Zhu’s mansion and found two small, intricate mechanisms inside a piece of broken wood. We suspect that Lord Zhu’s death might be related to this."

Ge Hengtai’s eyes narrowed as he asked, "Inside the broken wood? Mechanisms?"

"Exactly!" Zhu Cheng said solemnly.

"Where is it? Bring it here and let me see!" Ge Hengtai demanded unceremoniously.

Zhu Cheng frowned slightly, but he still took the piece of broken wood from Duan Rong and stepped forward to hand it to Ge Hengtai.

Ge Hengtai scrutinized the blackened piece of broken wood in his hand. After a while, he said, "Just this little thing? Judging by its position, it should be something from the rooftop, right?"

Ge Hengtai’s own mansion was also constructing a cool room, and he had previously reviewed the design drawings and sample parts of key sections.

Zhu Cheng was momentarily at a loss. The place was indeed on the rooftop, and as for how it specifically related to Lord Zhu’s death, he couldn’t immediately answer.

Ge Hengtai said, "Lord Zhu’s death was caused by a lightning strike. Many people on Changle Street witnessed it firsthand. That night, when the lightning struck, the light was blinding, and many people nearby witnessed it. Now that you’re showing me this little thing, claiming it has something to do with Lord Zhu’s death, I suspect you’re trying to pervert justice!"

"This..."

Zhu Cheng and Zhu Peng were both taken aback by Ge Hengtai’s sudden aggression.

In his anxiety, Zhu Peng suddenly said, "That very thing drew down the lightning!"

"What?!" Ge Hengtai’s facial muscles twitched.

Zhu Cheng turned his head and glared at Zhu Peng.

Zhu Peng became even more flustered and looked at Duan Rong beside him, saying, "Lord Duan, is that so?"

Duan Rong remained expressionless and said, "Indeed it is!"

Ge Hengtai’s gaze passed over Zhu Cheng and Zhu Peng, landing on Duan Rong, and he asked, "Are you saying that the thing in my hand drew down the lightning from the nine heavens that killed Lord Zhu Shizhong?"

Duan Rong said, "That is indeed the case."

Ge Hengtai’s eyes flickered as he scrutinized Duan Rong and suddenly asked, "May I ask, who are you?"

Duan Rong replied, "My name is Duan Rong, an outer disciple of the sect. I was ordered by Lord Zhu He, the Chief of the Internal History Department, to participate in the investigation of this case."

Upon hearing this, Ge Hengtai gave a cold snort and said, "Alright! As long as you belong to a sect!"

With that, Ge Hengtai suddenly stood up and shouted, "Someone, come!"

A capable clerk, dressed as a scholar, immediately stepped into the hall, clasped his hands, and stood still.

Ge Hengtai instructed, "Go, take my visiting card and invite Mansion Master Lord Wang and Minister Chen of the Ministry of Justice to come over."

"Yes!" The clerk left with cupped fists.

Seeing that this matter was escalating, Zhu Cheng became more anxious and immediately said, "Lord Ge, why invite Mansion Master and Minister Chen?"

Ge Hengtai coldly replied, "I intend to accuse you of recklessly dragging this out and perverting justice! Since you belong to the Ministry of Justice, you’ll naturally be handed over to the Ministry for handling! As for how to deal with this Lord Duan, that will depend on the Mansion Master’s decision!"

"Ah?!"

Zhu Cheng angrily said, "Lord Ge, why use authority to oppress others like this? The so-called desire to impose a crime, no excuse is needed!"

"Am I using authority to oppress others?!" Ge Hengtai sneered and said, "Then let the three of you explain to me, how did this little thing draw down the lightning?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Cheng once again gave a sidelong, annoyed glance at Zhu Peng, obviously blaming him for speaking out of turn.

Duan Rong observed everyone in the hall but remained silent, knowing that this couldn’t be explained with mere words.

However, Zhu Cheng and Zhu Peng took Duan Rong’s silence as guilt, and both felt their hearts burning with anxiety.