As Yang Wan had anticipated, the Ministry of Justice’s interrogation of Deng Ying had reached a stalemate.
Bai Yuyang sat in the rear hall of the Ministry of Justice, listening to the court official recite yesterday’s testimony. Seated with him were Qi Huaiyang, the Right Vice Minister of Justice, and two Investigating Censors from the Censorate. The table in the hall was clean, with white porcelain cups holding weak tea that had been steeped three times and had long since lost its flavor.
Bai Yuyang waved for the court official to stop, pressed his forehead, and asked Qi Huaiyang, “Is Official Yang coming today?”
Qi Huaiyang glanced at the sky outside and replied, “Minister, there’s a Grand Secretariat meeting today. Yang Lun has a reputation in the Six Offices, so he naturally went there with Grand Secretary Bai.”
Bai Yuyang let out a laugh, “I think he’s avoiding that servant. Yesterday was the fourth court hearing, even with Vice Minister Zhang present, yet he claimed illness.”
Qi Huaiyang took a sip of the cold tea and set down the case files, saying indifferently, “That’s human nature. However, this questioning has indeed become troublesome.”
Bai Yuyang nodded. “Yes, the Imperial Household Department is asking questions, I know.”
“Indeed. After all, Deng Ying is the Assistant Director of the Imperial Household Department. Minister, as you can see, we can’t imprison him. These past few days, we’ve had to have the Prison Office find temporary holding places. Wang Changshun bit his tongue and died in the imperial prison, and the Imperial Household Department immediately sent Hu Xiang personally to investigate. When the Liuli Factory starts operating again, that pile of tiles and wood at the Hall of Supreme Harmony still needs his oversight.”
“Alright… say no more.” Bai Yuyang gestured for him to stop. “I know all of this, but look here.” He shook the testimony papers with a rustling sound. “It’s flawless, isn’t it? What kind of craftsmanship is this? It seems Deng Ying has been cultivating this scheme since ten years ago. The accounts are so well-covered, that I want to applaud the Imperial Household Department. How are we supposed to continue this investigation?”
Qi Huaiyang said, “It depends on whether we want to move against this person.”
“What do you mean?”
“Torture.”
The two Censors present exchanged glances but remained silent.
Bai Yuyang fingered the edge of the testimony papers. “I’ve considered it, but once we use torture, we must make him reveal something. If he doesn’t…”
He looked up and scanned the people in the hall. “Then we’ll be in trouble.”
Everyone present fell into silence.
Soon after, footsteps were heard outside, and as the door opened, a tall shadow stretched across the floor.
Yang Lun strode in.
He hadn’t changed out of his official robes, his shoulders were damp, and he carried the scent of rain.
Bai Yuyang put away the testimony and looked outside, “Vice Minister Yang, is it raining?”
Yang Lun patted the water off himself, “Just started.”
After speaking, he bowed to Bai Yuyang and continued, “My household was slow in delivering the message, keeping the officials waiting.”
Bai Yuyang said, “Now that you’re here, take a seat. Someone bring a chair for Official Yang.”
Yang Lun adjusted his robe and sat down. “I heard His Majesty ordered me to attend the hearing because of Minister Bai’s memorial.”
“Yes.” Bai Yuyang turned to look at him. “Since this involves the Ministry of Revenue, having you here will help us question more thoroughly.”
Yang Lun looked outside where dark clouds churned like ink, and rain hammered against the courtyard trees with crackling sounds.
“Which round is this today?”
“The fifth round. Everything we’ve learned is here, take a look.”
Yang Lun had just opened the first page when Bai Yuyang said, “Bring in the person. We won’t move to the main hall. Official Qi, please record the case. Official Yang and I will conduct the questioning together.”
The sound of rain hitting broad leaves was soon broken by the sound of shoes splashing through water.
Yang Lun looked up from the testimony.
Through the dim rain, Deng Ying held his umbrella, walking behind several yamen runners.
Wearing a gray cross-collared robe, he appeared even thinner than during their social gatherings last year.
He lowered his umbrella at the door, lifted his robe, and entered the hall with a bow.
This was Yang Lun’s first time seeing Deng Ying since Deng Yi’s downfall.
If not for Yang Wan’s words at the palace gate today, he might have come even later.
Deng Ying didn’t look at Yang Lun.
He stood quietly before Bai Yuyang, hands lowered, waiting to be questioned.
Bai Yuyang glanced at Yang Lun, “Official Yang, regarding the silver for the fine bricks from Shandong, please question him again.”
Yang Lun looked at Deng Ying.
He had turned sideways to face him, but kept his eyes downcast, as if deliberately maintaining an air of humility before him.
Yang Lun suddenly understood what Yang Wan had said to him: “Watching them torment Deng Ying, doesn’t it pain your heart?”
“There’s nothing to ask.”
He averted his gaze from Deng Ying. “He’s already answered very clearly here.”
“You believe it?”
Yang Lun looked back at the testimony in his hands, and after a long moment, forced out a “Yes” through clenched teeth.
Bai Yuyang said, “If we conclude the investigation like this, it won’t pass the Censorate’s scrutiny.”
He took the testimony from Yang Lun’s hands. “Such clean testimony, such pristine accounts, you dare endorse this for the Ministry of Revenue? So where did the embezzled funds from these decades go? All to Deng Yi’s hometown? I see that even after confiscating everything from his family, it barely covered the military expenses for the northern border. Where did the rest of the silver go? Which river did it flow into?”
Yang Lun lowered his head and coughed once, “What is Minister Bai’s opinion?”
Bai Yuyang said coldly, “Today I want to hear Official Yang’s opinion.”