Chapter 384: For the Sake of Brotherhood_3

Bandits?

He did not believe they were bandits.

Ping Chuan’s temples throbbed, his mind racing through various possibilities.

He instinctively touched the sword at his waist, his knuckles turning white from the force.

“Mr. Ping,” the scar-faced man swallowed, his voice trembling slightly, “this is the noble Prince, do you think it might be…”

“Silence!” Ping Chuan interrupted sharply, his gaze as sharp as a knife, “Matters concerning the royal family are not for you and me to speculate upon lightly.”

He glanced around, the woods on either side of the official road rustling in the wind, shadows shifting as if hiding deadly intent.

“This place is not safe for long, mount up quickly! We must return and report to the Prince.”

The others dared not speak further, hastily mounting their horses.

Ping Chuan took one last look at King Liangzhou’s body, gritted his teeth, and clamped his legs tight around the horse.

“Hyah!”

A few swift horses sped towards the fork in the road leading to Canzhou, the sound of hooves gradually swallowed by the endless night…

The morning light was like blood, painting the eastern sky red.

The bloodstains on the official road had yet to dry, glinting with a hellish dark red under the newly risen sun. A few crows swooped down, pecking at remains left by the night’s slaughter.

Yet the gates of the Capital City slowly opened at this moment, with farmers selling vegetables and vendors for the morning market entering in a stream, as if the massacre on the official road was but a phantom in the morning mist.

“Did you hear? Several Vassal Kings returned to their lands early yesterday…”

“Hush!” The old man selling tofu hurriedly interrupted his companion, “You don’t understand, the coronation ceremony of the new Emperor is over, naturally the Vassal Kings must return to their lands. Otherwise, why stay here?”

In a teahouse, a storyteller was tapping his bench, recounting the feats and achievements of the new Emperor during his time as King of Xu State, managing Xuzhou.

In a private room on the second floor, several silk merchants exchanged meaningful glances, with one lowering his voice, “I heard that day, in the palace…”

“Your tea, guest.” The waiter suddenly pushed the door open, cutting off the conversation.

On the official road to Liangzhou, a Vassal King was killed, yet in the Capital City, it seemed as if nothing had happened.

The bustling city life did not care who became Emperor again, it merely offered more gossip in the teahouses, taverns, and alleyways.

On the stone-paved path of the Ministry of Justice’s government office, Sun Wenlin’s official boots stepped through the morning dew.

He glanced at the two imperial edicts in his hands, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.

The vermillion comment on the first edict was as bright as blood: “…caused by lightning, Wei Dabao is released without charge.”

“Sir…” The clerk holding the official seal was trembling slightly.

Sun Wenlin shook his head gently, untying the silver fish pouch at his waist.

It was time for him to leave office. The second edict stated very clearly.

“Sun Wenlin’s investigation was unsound, wronged the loyal and good, unfit to be Minister of the Ministry of Justice, demoted to rank seven County Magistrate of Ganluo County, Xuzhou, to assume his post immediately. His position will be taken over by Junior Minister Wei Dahai.”

Was it really caused by lightning, was his investigation really unsound?

“Heh heh!”

Sun Wenlin laughed self-deprecatingly, he knew this was the inevitable outcome.

The downfall of Emperor Qianjing, the Empress, and the Marquis of Champion’s residence meant the complete collapse of the Sun family’s support. Now the Wei family was powerful, the Sun family in decline.

Just then, a rapid sound of hooves came from outside the window.

Sun Wenlin turned to look and saw the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice, no, now the new Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Wei Dahai, barging into the yard with over ten guards, his new official robes dazzling in the sunlight.

“Mr. Sun, oh no…” Wei Dahai deliberately dragged his tone, “Now it’s County Magistrate Sun. His Majesty orders that I immediately take over, you see…”

“There is no need for Mr. Wei to say more.”

Sun Wenlin placed the official seal on the desk, silently taking off his official attire. In the end, he simply bowed deeply, “I take my leave.”

After Sun Wenlin left, Wei Dahai snorted, pinched his nose, and walked to the innermost cell of the Ministry of Justice, where the prison guard clattered open the chains, amid the overwhelming stench of mold and blood.

“Cousin! I didn’t do it.” Wei Dabao lunged at the bars, showing a bruise-rimmed eye and a gaunt face between his disheveled hair. “I knew the family wouldn’t abandon me.”

Wei Dahai signaled the guard to leave them, lowered his voice, “You can go now, although the new Emperor is our Wei family’s nephew, he’s just ascended the throne…”

“It wasn’t me, it was that bitch Han Lei…” Wei Dabao suddenly exploded, chains clanging.

But before he could finish, he abruptly fell silent, as Wei Dahai suddenly grabbed his wrist.

“Do not speak recklessly. Let’s go!” The new Minister of the Ministry of Justice Wei Dahai’s eyes flashed with a sharp glint, “This case is now ’caused by lightning’.”

Caused by lightning!

Wei Dabao understood.

Though he felt aggrieved, he still nodded firmly. Following Wei Dahai, he walked out of the Ministry of Justice’s prison that had almost claimed his life.