She turned her head to look at her cell, immediately taking in a sight full of rotten straw and rats. A short distance away, illuminated by a sad oil lamp, was a spread of torture instruments. Letting out a sigh, Feng Zhi Wei muttered: “All the dungeons in this world are all so dull.” 

“Our Ministry of Punishment also has a water dungeon with some leeches and water snakes.” Someone sneered, “Perhaps Official Wei would like to go try it out personally?”

The man stood on the stairs, with high cheekbones and a gigantic vivid black mole on his cheekbones. Under the light of the oil lamp, the mole glowed as he sneered menacingly. Behind him, close to the entrance of the door, there was another shadow, his face hidden, only the corner of his blue robe and black official boots could be seen. 

Feng Zhi Wei casually glanced at the man with the black mole. She knew that there are some low-grade wardens in the dungeons, who after spending long periods of time facing all kinds of criminals will gradually develop a vicious heart. She had heard previously that there is a dungeon officer named Gui Jianzhou, nicked named by people as “Ghost Would Even Fear”. It doesn’t matter what kind of thieves or elite fighters fall into his hands, but once they do, they will confess to whatever he wants and be left with one last breath to meet their fate. He is apparently the treasure of the Ministry of Punishment. She is guessing, this guy must be the one. 

Smiling good naturally at the treasure of the Ministry of Punishment, Feng Zhi Wei said: “This is Official Gui? I am afraid I won’t be able to withstand the Ministry of Punishment’s water dungeon, so I’d better go without it.” 

“You want to avoid it, then you can?” Gui Jianzhou let out a chilling smile.

“If I want to avoid it, then of course I would.” Feng Zhi Wei said lightly, “I don’t need you to treat me to your severe torture. Whatever you ask, I will confess. The big punishment is for people with stubborn mouths. I have soft bones and an even softer mouth. I won’t cause you any trouble at all.” As she spoke, she straightened the straw, found a cleaner spot, and laid down comfortably. 

“You….” Gui Jianzhou is used to seeing people curing loudly or begging pitifully in the dungeon, but he has never seen such a straightforward and apathetic person. As he pondered which torture instrument can leave no trace but cause the greatest amount of pain, the figure hidden in the shadow said a few words in a low voice. 

Gui Jianzhou turned halfway, listened respectfully then called over two dungeon guards after letting out a sinister laugh. Sitting down on a table in front of the cell, tapping his bald brush, he said: “Official Wei seems to be a forthright person. I really don’t have the right to interrogate you but this is the rule at our place,  no matter who comes in, they all have to go through an interrogation first. This allows the criminal to know exactly what their crimes are and not talk nonsense when he gets to the trial. That’s why we need to have a talk with Official Wei.”

“Oh?” Feng Zhi Wei smiled, “Talk about what?”

“Nothing much.” Gui Jianzhou smiled slyly, “You can’t come to a dungeon without committing a crime. Once you are here, then it’s best to confess your guilt honestly. This is your crime. Official Wei should sign it soon.” 

A confession was handed over to her. There was no need for Feng Zhi Wei to speak. Her “guilt” was clearly written: how she accepted bribes, how she agreed to sell the test questions, how she used the opportunity last night at the banquet to obtain the keys from the two officials who were in charge of safeguarding the tests, and how she instructed Gu Nan Yi to enter the Ministry of Rites last night to stell the test questions. The whole confession ended with how she handed the test questions to so-and-so, and how so-and-so, due to greed, made a few more copies, intending to sell them to wealthy scholars but was arrested by the Imperial guards on the spot. 

The confession was precise and clear, with many twists and turns, filled with more details than Feng Zhi Wei this “culprit” knew. 

Feng Zhi Wei would be stupid if she had not figured out by this point that this was a trap designed to take her down, The other side knew she was going to be at the feast and made sure to use various excuses to send all the officials from the six departments there. This way, they not only made sure to have plenty of witnesses but also made the appearance of the two officials (the two that are in charge of the keys) at the feast logical. With how many people came to toast Feng Zhi Wei and how chaotic it was, it is entirely believable if the two officials were then to say that someone must’ve used the opportunity to make rubbing copies of their keys. The other side then found a highly skilled martial artist to imitate Gu Nan Yi, purposefully kidnapping one of the officials but making sure to leave him alive to hear enough commotion as they used the copied keys to steal the test questions while leaving the safe seemingly untouched. What kind of person can steal the test question so stealthily, leaving almost no trace? Who would know the Ministry of Rites layout and the various guarding points? Naturally, it is the Minister of Rites himself. 

As for Feng Zhi Wei’s key, how the other side was able to open the three locks– The Emperor still has the other copy of the keys, most people wouldn’t be able to get close to it…but some people can. (Sounds like the safe has three locks and Zhi Wei has one of the keys but the people who planned all this must’ve been able to get their hand on the emperor’s key to copy it.) 

Feng Zhi Wei read the confession with a few quick glances and nodded with a smile, “Impressive, impressive.”

“I am also impressed with Official Wei.” Gui Jianzhou pointed to the end of the confession and said, “If there is nothing wrong with it, then please go ahead and sign it. This is the best way to avoid bodily suffering. Otherwise, according to the rules, certain means would be used to help Official Wei to think more clearly.” 

Two guards brought over an ink pad, waiting for Feng Zhi Wei to press her thumb to it. 

“It’s wrong.” Feng Zhi Wei flicks the confession and answered solemnly. 

Not surprised, Gui Jianzhou let out a chilling smile, his dark mole trembling with excitement, “Oh?” 

He knew Feng Zhi Wei would definitely deny it…that’s great… 

“How can it be so simple!” Feng Zhi Wei angrily tossed the case file, furious, “What?! Selling test questions? What bribes? I really don’t want to lecture you guys, but you all are too nice and innocent! Your detective department is too useless! You all are looking down on me, Wei Zhi who is filled with glorious ambitions! This is obviously a treacherous case with ulterior motives, sinister intentions, and far-reaching implications with the ultimate aim of destroying the Tiansheng Empire!” 

“Ah?” His mouth falling open, Gui Jianzhou couldn’t even get proper words to come out other than small hizzing sounds. 

The corner of the blue robe on the steps, shifted nervously, seemingly also shocked by a certain someone’s stunning “self-confession.”

Not sparing a look at the statue-like figures in front of her, Feng Zhi Wei points at the case file and continues her grand lecture, “It’s mostly logical, with a solid plot, and good arrangements of all the characters but the motives are far from perfect!”

She stood up, waved the case file, then slapped it on the cell fence, “A general will inevitably die on the battlefield. I knew since the day I accepted the mission that there will come a day for me to sacrifice my life. However, to accomplish a great cause, why be afraid of sacrifice? Now that I am already in the dungeon, I might as well tell you the truth. I am a spy from Da Yue, a small captain belonging to the fourth team of the third unit under Da Yue Prince An’s command. My code name is “Climb higher and higher.” The whole thing of my escaping after much trial from the City of Pucheng was all a setup with the purpose of obtaining Tiansheng Emperor’s trust so as to be put into an important court position. With that accomplished then we could disrupt Tiansheng’s national exam, using the leaked test questions to incite student riots that would then lead to attacks on local patrols. The mass riots would cause your empire to be thrown into chaos. Once your Tiansheng emperor is forced to send out the army to suppress the riots then we could join with Tiansheng generals at the border to head straight for the capital with the proclamation that we are here to help get rid of villainous advisors by the emperor. At that point, us Da Yue would send millions of troops in…the great mission accomplished, all the world in His Royal Highness Prince An’s hand!” (To the commoners, the emperor should never be wrong but that the emperor was “misled” by villainous advisors…so that’s why that’s a good excuse.)

With clenched fists and tears in her eyes, Feng Zhi Wei looked north as she slammed her fist on the prison door, “But all that was dashed at the last moment. Your Highness! The great cause wasn’t accomplished, Wei Zhi’s heart full of loyalty, I only hope you know!” 

So sorry, Prince Jin, I am borrowing you again…

Jin Siyu who was far away in Da Yue suddenly sneezed again and again….

“That’s it.” Feng Zhi Wei threw the case file on Gui Jianzhou, seemingly calmed down from the extremely heightened emotion she was enthralled with just now. With a few claps of her hand, Feng Zhi Wei said lightly, “Hurry up and record it.” 

“…….” 

Gui Jianzhou was utterly stunned by Feng Zhi Wei’s “confession.” He has seen hundreds of ways people try to get out of their crimes but he has never seen someone pave their own path to death. A simple case of leaking test questions ended up becoming a full-blown treasonous espionage case that was aimed to shake the very foundation of this empire. This…this…this…Wei Zhi, what the hell is he trying to do?

  All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

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