Catching Monsters

Chapter 423 I'm troubling you, my dear brother.
When Zhao Ting, Lin Gengyu, and Wu Hanting saw that Jiang Yun had spoken, none of them dared to speak up.

Jiang Yun's gaze swept over the three of them before he slowly spoke, "The three of you are the most suspicious since Prince Fu died here."

"Of course, I know that you can't just admit it by talking."

"Killing Prince Fu is a serious matter that someone of your status would not dare to do."

“Anyone among you who killed Prince Fu can step forward. As long as you tell me who instigated it, I guarantee your life with my integrity.”

As Jiang Yun spoke, his gaze swept across the three men's faces, trying to find some clues in their eyes.

"What made me, Jiang Yun, able to sit in the position of Garrison Commander?"

"It is his unwavering and decisive nature that makes him highly valued by his superiors."

Hearing Jiang Yun's words, Zhao Ting, Lin Gengyu, and Wu Hanting remained silent, their eyes and faces showing no change.

Jiang Yun frowned deeply, and couldn't help but shake his head. "Guards, take them back to the imperial prison for interrogation."

"The other thirteen people were also taken back to the imperial prison for a thorough interrogation."

"Yes."

Soon, the Imperial Guards under his command escorted the three men outside.

Watching the three being taken away, Xu Xiaogang asked Jiang Yun, "Brother-in-law, I'm afraid none of these three will speak up easily."

Although Jiang Yun said nice things, like "leniency for those who confess and severity for those who resist,"

In reality, even if one wasn't the mastermind behind the assassination attempt on Prince Fu, it would have been a certain death sentence.

Jiang Yun turned to Qi Da beside him and asked, "Based on our usual experience with the Embroidered Uniform Guard, what should we do?"

After thinking for a moment, Qi Da whispered in Jiang Yun's ear, "With the methods of our Embroidered Uniform Guard, we usually start by using torture to extract a confession, to see if they will confess."

"If they don't confess, and His Majesty is still pressing them, then find someone to sign and put their fingerprint on the document, and make them a scapegoat."

Of course, given the special status of the deceased Prince Fu this time, using this method was inappropriate.

Jiang Yun stroked his chin, lost in thought.

……

In Consort Shu's palace, Xiao Yuzheng was lying on the bed, holding Consort Shu as they rested, but there was always a hint of worry between his brows.

Consort Shu slowly asked, "Your Majesty, what is it that worries you so much?"

“Prince Fu was assassinated and is dead.” Xiao Yuzheng frowned and said slowly, “His death is somewhat suspicious.”

Upon hearing this, Consort Shu's expression changed slightly. Although she did not participate in the power struggles within the palace, she knew that Prince Fu was His Majesty's uncle.

I heard that when His Majesty first ascended the throne, there were many voices of opposition against him throughout the court.

On the contrary, Prince Fu, as a member of the royal family, gave his full support.

Therefore, after Xiao Yuzheng ascended the throne, he also gave Prince Fu many benefits.

"What I'm worried about isn't just Prince Fu's death." Xiao Yuzheng lay on the bed looking at the ceiling and said slowly, "Prince Fu has always opposed the eldest prince's succession to the throne, and instead supported Jingfu."

"What I'm worried about is that my children are already impatient and are vying for the throne from one another."

It is understandable that Prince Fu supported the fourth prince.

After all, those who support the eldest prince are the civil officials in the court, who are more inclined to accept the right of succession.

Prince Fu, however, favored the fourth prince, who was supported by military generals. After all, Xiao Yuzheng had a precedent to follow, controlling military generals and the imperial guards. If all else failed, he could forcibly kill the eldest prince...

Prince Fu made this choice back then, and naturally he will do so again now.

As the head of the Imperial Clan Court, Prince Fu was about to be selected as the crown prince, and his words carried great weight.

Upon hearing this, Consort Shu said softly, "Your Majesty need not worry too much..."

"How can I not be worried?" Xiao Yuzheng sighed slowly. Although he had used the means of seizing the throne to successfully ascend to the throne.

But the thought of my own children killing each other always makes me worried.

Just then, a faint knock sounded at the door. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuzheng put on his coat and got up.

"Your Majesty, it is your servant, I."

Feng Yu's voice rang out from outside. Xiao Yuzheng pushed open the door and asked, "How is it? Is there any progress on the death of Prince Fu?"

Holding a lantern, Feng Yu stood respectfully outside the door and whispered, "Your Majesty, there has been no news from the Embroidered Uniform Guard yet."

"However, Your Majesty, you asked me to keep an eye on the eldest prince..."

Xiao Yuzheng narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice lowering as he asked in a deep voice, "How is it?"

"The eldest prince changed into civilian clothes and secretly went to the Eastern Garrison Command."

Hearing this, Xiao Yuzheng narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a deep voice, "What is he doing at the Eastern Garrison Command at this time?"

Xiao Yuzheng's voice was tinged with anger, and his eyes seemed to be blazing with fury.

Xiao Yuzheng had already ordered the Eastern Garrison to investigate the assassination of Prince Fu, but at this critical juncture, his eldest prince secretly went to the Eastern Garrison.

No matter how you look at it, his eldest son is probably inextricably linked to the death of Prince Fu.

"Your Majesty, should I personally go to the Eastern Garrison Command?" Feng Yu said in a low voice. "What for?"

Xiao Yuzheng glared at him and said in a deep voice, "I want to see what he's up to!"

……

Inside the Eastern Garrison Command, Jiang Yun was sitting in his study, reviewing detailed information on the people he had just captured.

Even from a considerable distance, the screams of agony could be heard coming from the prison.

The screams rose and fell, one after another.

There's nothing we can do; there are no cameras like those from the past life in this world, so many cases can only be solved by relying on testimonies.

If the person being interrogated refuses to speak, the case cannot proceed.

Jiang Yun glanced at the time; it was almost midnight. He yawned and prepared to sit down and rest for a while, waiting for the interrogation to produce a result.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

Jiang Yun immediately perked up, opened the door, and there stood Zhu Zanyu.

"What, is there news from the imperial prison?"

Zhu Zanyu shook his head and whispered to Jiang Yun, "Sir, there is someone who wants to see you."

"See me?" Jiang Yun frowned. There were quite a few people arrested tonight, and many of them were officials from various departments in the capital. It was quite normal for someone to come and ask for their release.

Seeing that Jiang Yun was about to refuse, Zhu Zanyu quickly said, "My lord, the person who came is the eldest prince, Xiao Jingzhi."

Xiao Jingzhi?
"The Crown Prince?" Jiang Yun's heart stirred slightly, then he said, "Go, invite him over."

Soon, a fat man dressed in casual clothes arrived at the door of Jiang Yun's study.

Jiang Yun looked at him and saw that he was about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, with a fat body, but with a big smile on his face.

"Commander Jiang, I have long admired your name. I knew that our capital had produced such a young talent as you, but I did not expect that seeing you in person would be even better. You are indeed a man of great talent."

Jiang Yun also looked flattered and quickly stood up, saying respectfully, "This humble servant greets Your Highness. If I had known Your Highness was coming, I should have gone to the main gate to welcome you."

Xiao Jingzhi waved his hand, grasped Jiang Yun's hand, and said with a smile, "I am a few years older than you, so it's not too much for me to call Governor Jiang my worthy brother."

"It is my honor."

"Please sit down, my dear brother." Xiao Jingzhi warmly took Jiang Yun's hand.

After sitting down, instead of getting straight to the point, we chatted about all sorts of random things.

For example, some time ago, he went fishing in the Tongqu River outside the city and caught a big, fat fish weighing twenty pounds. His guards were so frightened that they thought he had caught a fish demon.

"Haha, my dear brother, tell me, where did I end up sending such a long, fat fish?" Xiao Jingzhi asked, gesturing dramatically with his arms outstretched.

Jiang Yun shook his head: "This subordinate does not know."

“I killed it, chopped it into mincemeat, and fed it to the fish. Don’t you feel it’s a pity that I didn’t eat this fish?” Xiao Jingzhi paused and said, “Back then, there was a bastard in the capital who spread a rumor that eating fish could make you lose weight.”

"As a result, I ate fish every meal, and this is how I ended up. Tell me, brother, where can I complain to them?"

“That fellow who deceived His Highness the Prince deserves to die,” Jiang Yun replied.

“Brother, you also think this guy deserves to die, right?” Xiao Jingzhi said, then turned to the main topic: “According to the investigation I had done, the person who spread those rumors is imprisoned in your prison.”

"Brother, what do you think we should do?"

Jiang Yun chuckled and said, "I killed him for His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingzhi said calmly, "Wouldn't that be putting my brother in a difficult position? After all, I've heard about what happened tonight. Prince Fu is dead, and those arrested this time are all highly suspicious."

"Brother, don't make things difficult for your younger brother."

Jiang Yun waved his hand, still smiling, and said, "When we Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) conduct trials, the torture is quite severe. Your Highness, you can hear the screams from the prison right here, like the wailing of ghosts."

"It's perfectly normal for someone to die from being tortured."

"I wonder who His Highness the Crown Prince intends to kill?"

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Jingzhi said in a low voice, "Wu Hanting."

"The owner of the cloth shop?" Jiang Yun asked, confirming.

“That’s right.” Xiao Jingzhi nodded slightly, then took Jiang Yun’s hand and said warmly, “Brother, you and I have only known each other for a short time, so you don’t know me well.”

"I never mistreat my own people."

"Moreover, I've also heard that you and my fourth brother have quite a few conflicts."

"My fourth brother is a petty and vindictive man."

"You should know what to do, my dear brother."

Jiang Yun's smile remained unchanged, with an expression that said, "I understand."

“In that case, I will trouble you, my brother.” Xiao Jingzhi breathed a heavy sigh of relief. “Also, the reason I am here is a top secret, and I hope you will not tell anyone.”

(End of this chapter)