Catching Monsters

Chapter 173 Happy Smile
Xiao Yuzheng sat in a chair, looking at the scene in front of him expressionlessly, without any emotion visible.

Jiang Yun's heart sank, and after taking a deep breath, he slowly said, "Who said that this money belongs to the East Pacification Office?"

Then, he looked at Master Baichen and said, "This money is the compensation given by Baiyun Temple for kidnapping my sister for no reason and frightening her. How could it be given to the East Pacification Office?"

When Master Bai Chen heard Jiang Yun say this, he quickly said, "That's nonsense, Jiang Yun, that's not what you said at the beginning."

"You said that you used the money as ransom to redeem the Taoist priests of our Baiyun Temple from the East Zhenfu Division, so this money should naturally be given to the East Zhenfu Division."

There was a hint of coldness in Master Bai Chen's eyes. As long as it was confirmed, the money should be given to the East Pacification Office.

Then Jiang Yun’s embezzlement of public funds can be proven.

But what she didn't expect was that Jiang Yun's eyes were filled with innocence, and he asked back: "Master Bai Chen, when did I say this?"

"Back then, you kidnapped my sister Jiang Qiaoqiao at Baiyun Temple for no reason. You knew you were in the wrong, but you insisted on giving me this money, saying it was compensation for my sister."

"Now that I've been caught by you, you can slander me, but you have to have evidence, right?"

"When I said this, Captain Yang Liunian was also beside me. How about asking Captain Yang Liunian to come over and testify?"

Master Bai Chen covered her chest with her hands. Jiang Yun's innocent look at this moment made her blood pressure surge.

As for asking Yang Liunian to come and testify.

Can Yang Liunian still speak for her?
Seeing Master Baichen's ugly face, Jiang Yun said in a deep voice: "Master Baichen, please don't talk nonsense if you don't have any evidence."

Master Bai Chen clenched his fist and pointed at Jiang Yun: "Jiang Yun, you are a cultivator, but you have no shame at all for lying?"

Jiang Yun smiled and said, "Master is also a cultivator. I'm afraid you have done many things that have killed people. Where is your sense of shame?"

"Don't you believe in the so-called Three Pure Ones? You swear to the Three Pure Ones that you never mentioned anything about ransom." Master Baichen said coldly.

Jiang Yun stared at Master Bai Chen with curiosity: "Who are you? I will swear if you ask me to do so?"

As he spoke, Jiang Yun looked at Xiao Yuzheng and said, "Your Majesty, when did the Censorate invite Master Bai Chen to come and be the Imperial Censor?"

"If not, the Censorate is investigating the case. Why is this Taoist priest from Baiyun Temple coming here to make comments and complain?"

"Or does it mean that the Censorate still has to listen to the opinion of Master Bai Chen when handling cases?"

Listening to Jiang Yun's words, Master Bai Chen's face looked extremely ugly. After all, Xiao Yuzheng was there, and the Emperor didn't like Taoists in the first place.

Jiang Yun's words must have had a different meaning to Xiao Yuzheng's ears.

Xiao Jingqi also secretly groaned in his heart...

After Jiang Yun was captured, he would of course be tortured and interrogated. Calling Master Bai Chen was also to let the master see Jiang Yun being tortured with his own eyes, so that the master could vent his anger.

But he never expected that his father would come in person.

It was actually a bit awkward for Master Bai Chen to stay here at this time.

The emperor is here, torture won't work...

Then we have to produce ironclad evidence of Jiang Yun's corruption and bribery...

At this time, Jiang Yun looked at Xiao Yuzheng and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, do you think this money should be considered as the East Pacification Division's, or my own?"

Xiao Yuzheng stared at Jiang Yun with some interest. He said slowly, "If it is true as you said, that Master Baichen kidnapped your sister for no reason, then this money should be regarded as compensation for your sister. There is nothing wrong with that."

Xiao Yuzheng's words put an end to the money, and Xiao Jingqi could no longer make a fuss about it.

Then, Xiao Yuzheng's eyes fell on Xiao Jingqi: "Jingqi, since you claim that Jiang Yun is corrupt and accepting bribes, why not send someone to check his residence? If there is gold and silver hidden, won't the truth be revealed?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingqi said respectfully: "Father, Jiang Yun lives in the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion after all..."

"To be fair, let my people investigate." Xiao Yuzheng turned his head and looked at the eunuch accompanying him: "Pass on my order, search Jiang Yun's residence to see how much gold and silver he has."

"go."

"Yes." The accompanying eunuch did not dare to delay and quickly left the dungeon.

Xiao Jingqi also smiled and stared at Jiang Yun.

Xiao Jingqi is not a reckless person. During this period, he used his connections in the capital to conduct a detailed investigation on Jiang Yun.

This guy loves money very much. He doesn't believe that Jiang Yun's residence doesn't have much silver.

The salary of the Jinyiwei was only about thirty taels a month.

Jiang Yun had been in the capital for two months, and his salary, at most, was only sixty to seventy taels.

He didn't believe that there was no large amount of gold and silver in Jiang Yun's residence.

After Xiao Yuzheng finished speaking, he closed his eyes slightly. Everyone in the room waited quietly.

After a full hour, the young eunuch hurriedly ran back from the dungeon.

He came to Xiao Yuzheng's side and whispered, "Your Majesty, I have searched the house where Jiang Yun lives. It is clean and there is not even a tael of silver."

"The furnishings inside are simple and there is no extravagance."

"Instead, there are a few words hanging on the wall."

"What's the word hanging on the wall? Say it out loud." Xiao Yuzheng opened his eyes and looked at the tied Jiang Yun curiously.

The young eunuch took a deep breath and said, "I will die loyally for my country without regrets."

"Loyalty and dedication to the country."

"Be honest and abide by the bottom line."

Hearing this, Jiang Yun was slightly stunned. Then he remembered that there were indeed quite a few calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall.

However, that room was Xu Xiaogang's residence, and those words were all written by Xu Xiaogang himself to motivate himself.

These words were indeed well written by Xu Xiaogang!

But now it's yours!

Jiang Yun took a deep breath, his eyes firm as he said to Xiao Yuzheng, "Your Majesty, I come from Nanzhou Prefecture. My parents died when I was young, but in the prosperous era created by Your Majesty, I can have enough food and clothing. I feel the grace of Your Majesty every day."

"Since joining the Royal Guards, I have been strict with myself."

"To accuse me of corruption and bribery is a great insult to my humble position!"

After hearing what Jiang Yun said, Xiao Yuzheng looked at Jiang Yun with even more appreciation, considering that Jiang Yun didn't even have a silver coin to live in.

Sure enough, what Feng Yu said was true. Jiang Yun was not only young, but also had noble morals and was honest and incorruptible. He also had a spirit of devoting himself to his country.

Such young talents are rare indeed.

Xiao Jingqi's face also looked a little ugly. When he saw Xiao Yuzheng's expression, he understood that his father had already made up his mind. It would be impossible for him to use this as an excuse to punish Jiang Yun.

Xiao Jingqi took a deep breath and forced a smile on his face: "Father, it seems that I was negligent in this matter. I will release Jiang Yun now..." "Wait!"

Jiang Yun, who was tied to the iron pillar, said to Xiao Yuzheng: "Your Majesty, I have long heard that the Sixth Prince is wise and brave, smart and decisive. This matter cannot be blamed on the Sixth Prince."

"There must be a traitor who has misled the Sixth Prince."

Upon hearing this, Master Bai Chen frowned and said in a cold voice: "Jiang Yun, don't be so sarcastic. You are being bewitched by a treacherous person. If you have something to say, just say it directly."

Jiang Yun saw that there were not many requests like this, so he said bluntly: "Okay, then I won't be sarcastic, and I'll just say it directly."

"Didn't you bewitched the Sixth Prince?"

"You must be holding a grudge, otherwise, with so many departments in the capital, why would the Sixth Prince be the first to investigate the East Pacification Department?"

"You arrested so many people from the East Pacification Office without knowing right or wrong?"

"You opened a Taoist temple, but instead of preaching the Dao, you interfered in the government affairs of the imperial court. What? Do you want to do it again like you did forty years ago?"

Listening to Jiang Yun's last words, and in front of Xiao Yuzheng.

Master Bai Chen was so frightened that his whole body trembled slightly and he looked at Xiao Yuzheng in horror.

Xiao Yuzheng's expression remained unchanged, but there was a slight frown between his brows.

"You, you!" Master Bai Chen pointed at Jiang Yun with trembling fingers.

Jiang Yun continued, "What do you mean? You can't even speak clearly? Or did I expose your secrets?"

"If it weren't for you guys messing around, would the Dao Sect have gotten to this point?"

Jiang Yun's words were very insightful. The key point was that this matter could be considered a major taboo in the Taoist sect in the capital.

Even though many people in the upper echelons are aware of the situation, they still have to save face among themselves and no one will bring it up on their own initiative.

Jiang Yun was not afraid of those who wore shoes even though he was barefoot, so he just put these things on the table.

Master Bai Chen looked at Xiao Yuzheng anxiously, took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty, I came here because of my personal grudge with Jiang Yun, and I have no other intentions."

Xiao Yuzheng remained calm, slowly stood up, glanced at the people detained in the East Pacification Office, and said calmly: "This matter ends here, all the people in the East Pacification Office are released."

After saying that, Xiao Yuzheng waved his hand and walked directly out of the dungeon without saying another word.

Xiao Jingqi's expression was also extremely ugly.

He glared at Jiang Yun fiercely, then hurried forward: "Father, I'll see you off."

Xiao Yuzheng did not look back, but said, "No need, think carefully about how to handle the case."

After Xiao Yuzheng's figure completely disappeared, Xiao Jingqi looked at Jiang Yun angrily and clenched his fists: "Jiang Yun, do you know what you just said?"

"The reputation that our Dao Sect has worked so hard to build up in front of our father over the years may be ruined by your words!"

Jiang Yun had no expression on his face and said calmly, "Sixth Prince, if I were you, I would have to be careful with what I say."

"You said 'our Dao Sect', but what this group of Dao Sect wanted to overthrow was the throne of the Xiao Family."

"If this gets to His Majesty's ears, we don't know what His Majesty will think."

Xiao Jingqi clenched his fists and looked at Jiang Yun with gritted teeth. In the end, he could only take a deep breath and said, "Let him go!"

Tong Jianhui, who had not interrupted, reminded Xiao Jingqi in a low voice: "Sixth Prince, the other Jinyiwei have irrefutable evidence to prove their guilt."

Xiao Jingqi whispered, "Father has ordered us to release them, can we not do that?"

Xiao Jingqi couldn't help feeling bitter.

Thoroughly investigating official corruption, this was the first major case he had taken over. If he handled it well, it would be a huge plus in the eyes of his father.

But now it seems that everything has been messed up.

The other Jinyiwei in the prison looked at Jiang Yun with some gratitude in their eyes.

Soon, Jiang Yun and other Jinyiwei from the Dongzhenfusi were released one after another.

Xiao Jingqi clenched her fists and her eyes were filled with anger, but when she looked at Master Bai Chen beside her, she had recovered her composure.

"Master is indeed Master. He is able to control his emotions freely. I, your disciple, still have a lot to learn." Xiao Jingqi said with a sense of inferiority.

Master Bai Chen said calmly, "I was angry just now, but think about it carefully. Is it necessary to be angry with a dying person?"

"A dying person?" Xiao Jingqi looked at her.

Master Baichen whispered in a voice that only he could hear: "I have already found the top killer of Chunxiang Garden, and he has five thousand taels of silver."

When talking about five thousand taels of silver, Master Bai Chen's tone was filled with some heartache.

Xiao Jingqi's eyes suddenly lit up: "Master should have told me earlier. If I had known, I would not have bothered to catch him. Why would I bother with a dying man?"

After saying this, the master and the disciple looked at each other and both smiled happily.

……

On the carriage back to Beijing, Feng Yu was sitting inside, massaging Xiao Yuzheng's thigh.

Because he had some relationship with Jiang Yun, he waited outside to avoid suspicion.

Xiao Yuzheng sighed slightly and said, "Although Jingqi has been traveling for three years, he has brought many masters with him, but his character has not improved much."

Feng Yu said respectfully beside him: "Your Highness the Sixth Prince must grow up slowly."

"Too kind and soft-hearted." Xiao Yuzheng slowly opened his eyes and said, "When I was his age, if I wanted to deal with Jiang Yun."

"When he was arrested and brought to the Censorate, Jiang Yun had already been eliminated. Why would they slowly interrogate him for evidence and add variables?"

"As long as the person is dead, no crime can be added to him."

"This child is still too simple and honest."

"He is a prince. Even if I really kill Jiang Yun, can I still punish him?"

Feng Yu was standing nearby, and said with a smile, "His Highness the Sixth Prince probably wants to deal with Jiang Yun within the rules. He is afraid that breaking the rules will make Your Majesty unhappy."

"So he is not someone who can accomplish great things." Xiao Yuzheng commented indifferently.

Feng Yu smiled and said nothing more. The rules were set by His Majesty. In His Majesty's eyes, in order to deal with the enemy, it is natural to break the rules at some special times.

But as a prince, or anyone else, how dare Xiao Jingqi not strictly abide by it.

Xiao Yuzheng looked out the window and said slowly: "Besides, he is getting more and more deeply tied to Baiyun Temple."

(End of this chapter)