Bai Yuyang was irritated by both Zhang Luo and Yang Lun’s attitudes.
“Are you two suggesting we skip the torture altogether?”
He shook the interrogation outline in his hand until it rattled, “Then what’s the point of questioning? Is this all we can report to His Majesty? In the vast Hangzhou grain administration, were all those cunning officials under his control? Assistant Minister Yang, Deputy Commander Zhang, you’re not first-year judicial officers – do you believe this?”
Yang Lun remained silent while Zhang Luo replied directly: “If Minister Bai doesn’t believe it, then continue investigating the Hangzhou grain officials. Questioning him was backward, to begin with. Minister, you’re the Minister of Justice – do I need to explain this to you?”
With that, he walked to Deng Ying’s side and told his subordinates: “Return the prisoner at noon. The investigating officials need to eat, and so does the prisoner. If you want to continue questioning later, come to me for written permission to collect him.”
Having said this, he strode out of the main hall.
Qi Huaiyang rose and whispered in Bai Yuyang’s ear: “Minister, perhaps we should end today’s questioning here.”
Bai Yuyang suppressed his irritation and found a way to step down, calling out: “Return him to custody.”
As Deng Ying was being escorted back to the imperial prison, he encountered Zhang Luo coming out of the interrogation room at the prison gate.
Zhang Luo stepped aside, gesturing for the guard to take Deng Ying in first.
As they passed each other, Deng Ying hesitated briefly.
The guard barked: “Why are you dawdling? Keep moving.”
Zhang Luo turned to look at Deng Ying and asked evenly: “Do you have something to say to me?”
Deng Ying shook his head, “I wouldn’t dare.”
Zhang Luo told the guard: “Release him.”
“Sir… this…”
“Release him. I’ll escort him in personally.”
“Yes, sir.”
After the guard stepped back, Zhang Luo reached out and grabbed Deng Ying’s chains. “Let’s go.”
As the two walked one behind the other down the prison corridor, Zhang Luo suddenly said: “You were right before.”
He laughed slightly, “I truly cannot discipline Yang Wan.”
Deng Ying raised his head, “You’ve seen her, sir?”
“Yes. However, there’s still one thing I don’t understand.”
He stopped walking and turned to face Deng Ying, “You’re merely a criminal who embezzled school lands. What makes you worthy of her emotions?”
Deng Ying coughed once and lowered his arms, “I didn’t want to embezzle the school lands, or even become the Supervisor of the Eastern Depot. If my father hadn’t committed his great crime, I would have preferred to follow my teacher, spending my life repairing the imperial city among mud and stones.”
He gave a wan smile, “But even so, I dare not say I’m worthy of Yang Wan. My love for her has always been a criminal’s love. She gave me a second life…”
As he spoke, he picked up the iron chains hanging at his knees and raised them toward Zhang Luo, “I’m willing to live like this because I haven’t had enough of Yang Wan yet. When the school lands case concludes, I may die. I foresaw this ending when I took the blame for the Ceremonial Office back then. I only thought I would die like the people of Tongjia Academy, but I never expected you would treat me differently.”
Zhang Luo said: “His Majesty ordered us to treat you as a criminal slave during questioning, but in my office, I treat you as an official who committed a crime.”
“Commander Zhang.”
Deng Ying called out to him, “Why such treatment?”
Zhang Luo turned around, “Because I promised Yang Wan I would preserve your dignity.”
After saying this, he continued walking with Deng Ying toward the cell, “Will you not change your confession about the school lands case?”
Deng Ying nodded, “No, I won’t.”
“Why protect the Ceremonial Office?”
Deng Ying said: “It’s not to protect the Ceremonial Office, but to protect the Cabinet, and His Majesty’s reputation.”
He paused briefly, “Commander Zhang, I also have a question for you.”
“Ask.”
“If I die, the Eastern Investigation Depot will return to the Ceremonial Office’s control. If there’s another case against the Prime Minister, no one will be able to save the Cabinet ministers. Commander Zhang, could I ask you…”
“So.”
Zhang Luo interrupted Deng Ying and turned back, “When you insisted on the position of Eastern Depot Supervisor back then, expanding the Depot’s guards, building its prison, dividing the power of criminal investigation – it was all to protect these people?”
“Yes.”
“Heh.”
Zhang Luo pointed and said: “Prime Minister Bai impeached you, Minister Bai wanted to torture you until not an inch of skin remained intact just to make you talk, and here at death’s door, you’re still trying to leave them a way out through me. Deng Ying, no one in this world acts like this!”
Deng Ying smiled slightly, “Am I even counted as a complete person?”
Zhang Luo was taken aback.
Deng Ying stepped closer to him, “There are many things I cannot do, I can only watch them do them. If they cannot live well, what meaning is there in my life?”
Zhang Luo looked up and said: “You’re questioning me with these words too, aren’t you?”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
Zhang Luo looked at Deng Ying without speaking further.
He raised his hand to order the jailer to open the cell door, then released Deng Ying to walk in by himself.