Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 502 The Crown Prince's Interrogation
The East Palace, the rear hall of Lizheng Hall.

Li Hong sat upright, with Li Xian and Li Lian sitting on his left and right respectively.

All three of them stared at Yuwen Kang below the steps, their expressions full of surprise.

Yuwen Kang was nearly thirty years old, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, with a full beard. His two round eyes glared, giving him a rather imposing presence.

Li Hong took a breath and said, "Yuwen Kang, repeat what you just said."

Yuwen Kang glared and said, "Your Highness, I have already confessed my guilt, what are you still babbling about? Quickly issue the decree to sentence me!"

"How dare you disrespect His Highness the Crown Prince!" Tang Ping shouted.

Yuwen Kang twisted his thick, red neck, glanced at Tang Ping, and sneered, "We're all going to die anyway, so why care about respect?"

Li Xian suddenly laughed and said, "Yuwen Kang, the crime of disrespect can implicate your clansmen."

Yuwen Kang's face turned pale, and he lowered his head.

Li Hong said in a deep voice, "Yuwen Kang, I'll ask you one more time, did you really send someone to kill Wei Shen?"

Yuwen Kang said in a low voice, "Not bad."

Li Hongdao asked, "Why did you send someone to kill him?"

Yuwen Kang raised his head, gritting his teeth, and said, "That bastard actually wanted me to join him in rebellion. I'm not stupid, why would I go to my death with him? So I resolutely refused. But he took... he took..."

Li Hongdao: "You're using the Jade Manor issue to threaten you, aren't you?"

Yuwen Kang was slightly startled and whispered, "You already know?"

Li Xian sneered, "If the whole thing hadn't been investigated thoroughly, do you think His Highness the Crown Prince would have had time to summon you? You'd better be honest. Any further concealment will do you and the Yuwen family no good whatsoever!"

Yuwen Kang responded in a low voice.

Li Hongdao: "Go on."

Yuwen Kang said hatefully, "He used my visit to Emerald Manor to threaten me into joining him in a rebellion, otherwise he would expose the matter and drag me down with him! I had no choice but to kill him."

Li Hongdao: "How did you kill him?"

Yuwen Kang said, "This matter is too complicated. I dare not tell my parents or the clan leader, nor do I dare to use the power of the Yuwen clan. I can only send a trusted confidant to ask the Gold Hunter. The Gold Hunter has a good reputation. Even if he is arrested, he will not reveal his employer!"

Li Hongdao: "And what's the story with your trusted confidant?"

Yuwen Kang's face twisted, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "I told him to use a fake official document to leave Chang'an temporarily and lay low for a while. I didn't expect that bastard to be so useless. He could get caught even with a fake document. I should have killed him back then!"

Li Hong was stunned and said, "You can just let him leave, why bother with a fake verification?"

Yuwen Kang muttered, "I think that now that Wei Shen is dead, the court will definitely investigate me. If they find out from the Tongguan Pass records that one of my attendants suddenly left Chang'an, they might suspect me."

Li Hong then understood.

This is called having a guilty conscience, which exposes one's true nature.

Li Hong waved for someone to take Yuwen Kang away, and then summoned the attendant. After questioning him, the two men's testimonies were completely consistent and there were no flaws.

"Fourth brother, sixth brother, what do you think of this matter?"

Li Xian chuckled and said excitedly, "The situation is quite obvious now, it was Yuwen Kang who did it! Fifth Brother, this case can be solved!"

Li Lian said, "I also feel that Yuwen Kang doesn't seem to be lying."

Li Hong hesitated for a moment and said, "What do you think? Should we ask Minister Di of the Court of Judicial Review to re-examine it?"

Li Xian said, "Hey, Fifth Brother, you're being too cautious. Father doesn't handle things like you, being so indecisive."

Li Hong blushed slightly and said, "Alright then, let's leave this case here. But what about Wei Yue, Li Jingye, and Xiao Zhiyan? What should we do with them?"

Li Xian glanced at Li Lian and said, "Since Wei Yue and Xiao Zhiyan both said that they sternly refused Wei Shen and did not participate in the rebellion, and now that Wei Shen is dead, there is no way to verify the facts, I think we should stop pursuing this matter."

Li Hong, not wanting to get too involved, nodded and said, "That's good. What about Li Jingye?"

Li Xian snorted, "This Li Jingye is crazy. He clearly didn't kill the person, but he insists on confessing, wasting a lot of our time. He really deserves to be taught a lesson!"

Li Hong hurriedly said, "That won't do. He is the eldest grandson of the Grand Tutor, and we must consider the Grand Tutor's reputation."

Li Xian snorted, "Wasn't he kicked out of the family?"

"The Grand Tutor had no choice but to expel him from the family. Perhaps he will be reinstated to the clan in the future and his family genealogy will be restored."

Li Xian curled his lip and said, "Since Fifth Brother says so, then let Li Jingye go and let that guy get away with it."

Seeing that the matter had come to a satisfactory conclusion, Li Lian breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Your Highness, Sixth Prince, the matter is settled, and I should go back now."

The two men saw Li Lian to the door.

Tang Ping also took his leave and went to Yongzhou Prefecture. He found Prince Wu, Li Ji, and told him everything that had just happened.

Upon hearing this, Li Ji asked in surprise, "You found out so easily?"

Tang Ping said, "Yes."

Li Ji asked, "Didn't His Highness the Crown Prince have Minister Di review it again?"

"His Highness the Crown Prince originally wanted Minister Di to conduct a second investigation, but after listening to Prince Yong's suggestion, he changed his mind."

Li Ji sighed, "Then there's nothing we can do. Commandant Tang has had a long and arduous journey. As for Minister Di, let me go and speak to him."

Before Li Zhi left, he gave Li Ji an imperial decree, instructing him to keep a close eye on the matter.

If the Crown Prince has instructed Di Renjie to investigate this matter, then nothing needs to be done. If the Crown Prince has already clarified the matter without consulting Di Renjie, then Di Renjie should be instructed to conduct a second investigation.

In the emperor's mind, he clearly only fully trusted the results of Di Renjie's investigation.

After arriving at the Dali Temple, Li Ji conveyed the emperor's decree to Di Renjie and also told him about the investigation conducted by Crown Prince Li Hong.

After listening, Di Renjie had a thoughtful expression on his face.

Li Ji hurriedly asked, "Minister Di, have you discovered anything suspicious?"

Di Renjie solemnly replied, "It's too early to say anything now; we need to verify the information."

Li Ji clasped his hands together and said with a smile, "Then can I investigate this matter with you and learn your crime-solving methods?"

He had always admired Di Renjie and longed to learn all of Di Renjie's skills.

Di Renjie said, "Since Your Highness the Prince of Wu has this intention, I naturally have no objection. You may go back first, and I will send someone to inform you if there are any important actions."

Li Jixi said, "That would be best."

Di Renjie's speed in investigating cases was astonishing. The next morning, he sent someone to summon Li Ji, saying that he had made a major discovery and asked Li Ji to join him.

When Li Ji arrived at the Dali Temple, Di Renjie had already changed into civilian clothes, and two of his subordinates, also dressed in civilian clothes, followed behind him.

According to Di Renjie, they were going to a secluded place, and official clothes were inconvenient, so he had Li Ji change into civilian clothes as well.

The four of them left the Dali Temple and rode south, passing through five or six neighborhoods before turning east and arriving at Guangxing Ward in the south of the city. Li Ji rarely came to the south of the city, and had never been to Guangxing Ward before. He was quite surprised to see so few pedestrians on the main street.

In particular, there were quite a few tattooed thugs squatting on the street, staring at us with hostile eyes, which made us feel uncomfortable.

"Minister Di, why are we here?" he asked in a low voice.

Di Renjie glanced at him and said, "Your Highness, you must have seen the glamorous side of Chang'an City, but there is also a side of Chang'an City that is unknown to most people."

Li Ji was stunned. "Unknown to others?"

As the Sima of Yongzhou Prefecture, responsible for the security of Chang'an, he believed he had a fairly good understanding of the city.

Di Renjie saw through his thoughts and said, "Although Yongzhou Prefecture is also responsible for the security of Chang'an, its main duty is supervision. Yongzhou Prefecture officials will not set foot in many remote corners."

Li Ji looked around and said, "Like here?"

Di Renjie nodded: "Yes, generally speaking, as long as a case involves Guangxingfang, it will be handed over to the Bad People of Chang'an County and Wannian County."

This neighborhood is called Guangxingfang, but it is a place where the sun never shines.

After turning into a small alley, Li Ji wrinkled his nose.

The alley was covered in sewage, and there were many yellow and white things in the corners of the walls. There were shacks on both sides, making it a gloomy and eerie place that seemed to stretch on forever.

A disheveled, one-legged man leaned against the corner of the wall, looking at them with strange eyes.

Li Ji felt uneasy under the man's gaze and asked, "Minister Di, what exactly is this place?"

Di Renjie said, "Your Highness, please rest assured. Although Guangxingfang is chaotic, it is not dangerous. This is a place where fake official documents are made."

Li Ji's heart stirred, and he remembered that Yuwen Kang's follower had been arrested for forging official documents. He finally understood that Di Renjie had come to investigate this matter.

A short while later, Di Renjie arrived at a shed and knocked on the door.

The man who opened the door was a lean, pockmarked man. He squinted at Di Renjie and asked, "What do you want?"

Di Renjie said, "I want to see your Kuai Alang."

The man's expression changed drastically, and he instinctively tried to close the door.

Suddenly, a man rushed forward, stretched out his arm to block the door frame, and said in a deep voice, "Wang Mazi, do you recognize me?" He was one of the two attendants that Di Renjie had brought with him.

The pockmarked man trembled and exclaimed, "Wei, County Magistrate Wei!" His legs went weak, and he stumbled back several steps.

As soon as he stepped aside, County Magistrate Wei strode inside, followed by Di Renjie and Li Ji.

The room was dimly lit and filled with wooden crates. A group of people were gathered around the crates, seemingly playing a game of cards. When they saw these uninvited guests suddenly barge in, they all stood up and looked over.

The group of men had fierce eyes, and several of them were brandishing daggers.

However, when they saw County Commandant Wei, they all showed fear on their faces, because this County Commandant Wei was originally a notorious bandit leader.

The pockmarked man rushed into the inner room, and a moment later, a man wearing a cloak came out from the inner room.

This man was short and thin, with an unremarkable appearance. He was about forty years old, with brown skin, triangular eyes, and two large, sunken eyeballs. He didn't look much like a Tang Dynasty person.

Upon seeing County Magistrate Wei, the man waved his hand, ordering all his men to step back. He then stepped forward and said with a fawning smile, "County Magistrate Wei, what brings you here?"

County Magistrate Wei did not answer, but silently walked behind Di Renjie.

Kuai Alang was slightly startled, looked Di Renjie up and down, and said, "May I ask who you are...?"

"I am Di Renjie." Di Renjie stood with his hands behind his back.

A person's name casts a shadow on a tree. In the dark world of Chang'an, Di Renjie was like a giant Buddha, pressing down on everyone until they could hardly breathe.

Kuai Alang's face was pale, and his body trembled slightly. He smiled bitterly and said, "I never thought that someone as lowly as me would be arrested by Minister Di himself. I am truly fortunate."

Di Renjie stared at him and said, "Kuai Alang, I'm not here to arrest you, but to ask you something."

Kuai Alang's eyes lit up, and he smiled broadly, saying, "Oh, that would be my honor! Please ask whatever you wish."

Di Renjie slowly said, "Three days ago, did someone ask you to prepare a fake official document, with the name Zheng Qi on the document?"

Kuai Alang said with a forced smile, "According to the rules, we are not supposed to tell customers their secrets."

Di Renjie stared at him without saying a word.

Kuai Alang changed the subject, saying, "But since you asked personally, I can only tell you the truth. Yes, there is indeed such a person."

Di Renjie said, "Do you think your fake official certificate can fool the guards at Tongguan Pass?"

"Of course you can! Otherwise, your reputation would have been smashed long ago!"

Di Renjie took out a document from his pocket and handed it to him.

"Is this the forged document you gave him?"

Kuai Alang took a look and said decisively, "No, this is not the work of a villain. The forger must be a novice with poor skills, full of flaws!"

The questioning ended there.

After Di Renjie led Li Ji away from Guangxingfang, Li Ji felt as if he had returned to the familiar city of Chang'an.

Li Ji then realized that the attendant's fake official document had been switched, which led to his arrest.

Upon closer reflection, if Yuwen Kang were to undertake such a momentous undertaking, even the most foolish attendant would not have resorted to a crude, staged verification, which would have led to his own arrest.

Di Renjie must have discovered this flaw, which is why he came to investigate.

However, even if Gong Yan was replaced, it only means that someone was secretly targeting Yuwen Kang and exposing his crimes, but it does not prove that the case was not committed by Yuwen Kang.

"Minister Di, should this case be investigated further?"

Di Renjie said, "Of course we need to investigate."

"Even if we find out who switched the inspectors, it won't do any good; it won't affect the outcome of the case."

Di Renjie glanced at him and said, "Your Highness, do you really believe that Wei Shen was killed by Yuwen Kang's men?"

"Didn't Yuwen Kang already admit it? He can't be taking the blame for someone else, can he?" Li Ji was stunned.

Di Renjie shook his head and said, "He was just being used."

Li Jidao: "Utilize?"

Di Renjie said slowly, "This case is still missing one last step, which needs to be verified. Your Highness, I am going to a rather dangerous place next, so I will not be taking you with me."

Having experienced it firsthand, Li Ji realized that this kind of investigation wasn't as interesting as he had imagined, so he agreed.

The two parted ways on the street. Di Renjie led his men to continue the investigation, while Li Ji returned to the Dali Temple to wait.

(End of this chapter)