Seeing everyone else watching him with amused gazes, Cao Jie was so furious he almost coughed up blood. He angrily retorted, "Who took silver? Don't make baseless accusations!"
He was extremely grateful now that he truly hadn't done those things; otherwise, this kid would have ruined him!
Meng Shuping didn't believe a word of it. *"That's not necessarily true! With someone like Cao holding an official position, taking a little under-the-table money is just standard practice! After all, with just a slight lift of his hand, he could turn a death sentence into exile, three years into two, or at the very least make someone suffer less. He earns silver without affecting himself, so why wouldn't he? Don't tell me he's never done such a thing!"*
*"Tsk, tsk, tsk, I could never do such an unconscionable thing! Ah! Oh no, I'm worried that if I stay in government service too long, I'll be corrupted by them! No, no, maybe I should resign early!"*
Cao Jie's eyebrows shot up, furious. *Does this kid have to be so imaginative? Although I sometimes do small favors that don't hurt anyone, this time I really didn't do it! Can't this damned kid stop falsely accusing people?*
At this moment, Cao Jie felt even more wronged than some criminals. After all, those criminals still had a chance to plead their case, but with Meng Shuping, he didn't even get that opportunity!
*Could it be that I have to argue with someone just because they're thinking something in their heart? I'm not that stupid!*
Censor Li looked at Cao Jie with disbelief. "If Lord Cao didn't intend to shield him, why would he say such a thing?"
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, never one to miss a chance to stir the pot, chimed in, "Exactly, exactly! If Lord Cao had no shady dealings with him, why would he specifically defend you?"
Jiang Cihe secretly smiled. Although he might know that Lord Cao was being wronged, he wasn't kind enough to explain on his behalf.
Cao Jie felt both aggrieved and furious. "How would I know? I never met him alone!"
Meng Shuping interjected inwardly, *"You don't need to meet alone; Prince Cheng just had to give an order. Does he think all of us here are fools?"*
Cao Jie was extremely frustrated. *Aren't they just fools? No matter how I explain, they don't listen and instead believe a criminal's words. Is there a single honest word in Lu Sheng's mouth?*
At that moment, the two officers restraining Lu Sheng asked again, "Sir, are we still proceeding with the flogging or not?"
Cao Jie said angrily, "Whip him! Slandering an official deserves extra punishment! Don't stop until he starts telling the truth!"
Upon hearing this, the officers hesitated no longer. The whip in their hands whistled through the air.
Lu Sheng, whose injuries from Meng Shuping's previous beating hadn't yet healed, screamed in agony as the whip landed on him again, his face contorted in pain.
Watching Lu Sheng being beaten, Meng Shuping felt immensely satisfied. *"Whoa! He's getting frantic, he's getting frantic! He's losing his temper now!"*
*"Beat him! Beat him! Beat this son of a bitch to death! Let him bully others relying on his power! Let him treat human life as worthless! Let him suffer a bit!"*
But halfway through his cheers, he suddenly realized, *"Eh? Could it be that Lord Cao still wants to shut him up? Lu Sheng's mouth is so loose; what if he reveals more of Lord Cao's crimes? Would Lord Cao be able to keep his official position then?"*
*"Yikes... Should I stop him?"*
*"Ah, forget it, it's better if he dies. What if the trial continues and he isn't sentenced to death? Wouldn't that leave this menace alive? He might even live comfortably again in a few years!"*
*"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Lord Cao is truly ruthless! When the Emperor questions it later, he can just say the prisoner was too weak to withstand the beating, or that the officers struck too hard and accidentally killed him. He can plausibly deny any responsibility! Ruthless! So ruthless!"*
Hearing Meng Shuping's speculation, Lu Sheng shuddered. *This Cao actually wants to shut me up directly? I get it! It must be because I spilled his secrets, so he holds a grudge!*
He thought indignantly, *No wonder, no wonder Cao is torturing me! So Cao had already been bought off by Yu Lianhong and the others!*
*If you wanted money, you should have said so earlier! My family could have offered more than Yu Lianhong and those guys!*
The thought that Cao had not only reneged but also ordered him beaten made Lu Sheng seethe with rage. Snarling, he shouted, "Cao! Even if I revealed your under-the-table dealings, you didn't have to shut me up! Aren't you afraid I'll reveal more of your secrets?"
Meng Shuping grew excited. *"Ha! This Lu Sheng isn't stupid either, figuring out so quickly that Cao wants to shut him up!"*
*"Hey! Tell us, tell us! I want to hear what other secrets Cao has!"*
Noticing others were once again looking at him with suspicion, Cao Jie was so furious he felt steam coming out of his ears. He roared, "Speak! I'd like to hear what kind of nonsense you can come up with!"
Imperial Censor Li tugged at Cao Jie's sleeve and whispered, "Lord Cao, enough is enough. Prince Zhao is still here!"
The Minister of Dali Temple also advised quietly, "That's right, Lord Cao. Why gamble your official career over this insignificant fellow? It's not too late to turn back. If you sincerely kowtow and admit your fault to His Majesty, he won't dismiss you—at most, you'll be demoted."
Cao Jie's face darkened with frustration. He protested indignantly, "I keep telling you, I truly did not act out of favoritism!"
Imperial Censor Li grew somewhat displeased. "Hey, Lord Cao, why are you being so ungrateful? Can't you tell good advice from bad?"
The Minister of Dali Temple added, "Lord Cao, stop denying it. Everyone knows the Ministry of Justice has more 'perks' than our Dali Temple. We can turn a blind eye to minor matters, but how could you be so foolish when it comes to something major?"
Meng Shuping chimed in repeatedly, *"Exactly, exactly! Lord Cao, you're not thinking clearly! As the Minister of Justice, perverting justice for personal gain will only ruin you!"*
*"Still, I suggest you just have him beaten to death—after all, dead men tell no tales!"*
Jiang Cihe couldn't suppress the smile at the corner of his mouth. He could attest that Cao Jie truly hadn't shown favoritism in this matter. Ah, Little Bold was something else—single-handedly derailing the entire court session.
Cao Jie's face flushed crimson with rage. He glared fiercely at Lu Sheng and said, "Boy, this is a courtroom. You can't just make wild accusations! Do you know the penalty for slandering an imperial official?"
Meng Shuping mentally translated for him: *"Oho, he's telling Lu Sheng, 'Boy! Don't forget where you are! This is my turf—dare to act up and believe me, I have a hundred ways to make you suffer!'"*
*"Hahaha, what a pity, what a pity. This isn't Lord Cao's personal domain after all. Does he think the rest of us don't exist?"*
*"Speak! Speak freely! Even if Lord Cao wants to harm you, Imperial Censor Li and the Minister of Dali Temple will protect you!"*
Cao Jie shot an angry glare at Meng Shuping. By now, he realized that with Meng Shuping around, this interrogation was going nowhere. His mind raced, and he said coldly, "Vice Director Meng, I see you have nothing to do here. Why don't you go back and handle other official business?"
Meng Shuping was utterly surprised. "Huh?"
*"But I haven't heard Lord Cao's secrets yet! Oh, oh, I get it—is he afraid I'll report him? How infuriating! Then I'll definitely go tattle on him!"*
*"If I can't listen here, can't I just go make wild claims to the Emperor?"*
Cao Jie choked up. *Kid, do you have to go this far?*
At this point, Jiang Cihe intervened, "Lord Cao, I don't think that's necessary. Vice Director Meng accompanied me to the local area to understand the situation. How can we proceed with this case without him? Rather, Lord Cao, since the prisoner accused you of favoritism, shouldn't you recuse yourself?"
Cao Jie was stunned. Recuse himself? That kid was just spouting nonsense—why should he have to step aside?
To his surprise, as soon as Jiang Cihe finished speaking, Imperial Censor Li and the Minister of Dali Temple voiced their agreement. Imperial Censor Li said, "Absolutely, absolutely. Since Lord Cao is involved in this case, whether or not he showed favoritism, he should recuse himself."
The Minister of Dali Temple declared righteously, "Lord Cao, rest assured, we will conduct a thorough interrogation and clear your name!"
Cao Jie's face turned livid. *Clear my name? After all these years of scheming against each other, now you tell me you'll help me? What nonsense! If you don't trip me up, that'll be blessing enough!*
No matter how indignant he felt, he could only seethe in silence and sit to the side. What else could he do? Dig in his heels and refuse to leave? Who knows how Meng Shuping would twist that later!
Seeing Cao Jie being pushed aside by the others, Lu Sheng breathed a huge sigh of relief—his life was finally spared!
Once Cao Jie had moved to another spot, the Minister of Dali Temple eagerly invited Jiang Cihe, "Since Lord Cao is no longer presiding, why don't you take charge, Your Highness?"
Jiang Cihe declined, "That won't be necessary. I'm not skilled in such matters. It's better for the two of you to handle it."
At this, Cao Jie sneered, "Isn't Vice Director Meng quite familiar with the case? Why not let him join the adjudication?"
Immediately, everyone turned to look at Meng Shuping. Imperial Censor Li and the Minister of Dali Temple were full of disdain—let a young upstart preside over a case? Does he even know how? Lord Cao is becoming more and more frivolous!
Meng Shuping panicked and waved his hands hurriedly. "No, no, I hardly have any experience interrogating people. I really can't do it!"
"Why is Vice Director Meng being so modest?" Cao Jie said with a fake smile. "Even the emperor praised Vice Director Meng for being adaptable and quick-thinking and highly capable. Besides, who was it that said it before? It's not that you're too capable—it's that the people in the Dali Temple and the Censorate are utterly incompetent, so they can only handle review and supervision duties."
Seeing Imperial Censor Li and the Minister of Dali Temple glared at him irritably, Meng Shuping's eyes widened in astonishment. "I didn't say that! Don't make things up!"
*"Ahhh! What's gotten into this wretched old man now? I didn't provoke him today! Why is he targeting me for no reason? Is he taking out his anger because he didn't manage to silence the person?"*
*"Does he still want to use my hands to kill someone?"*
The Minister of Dali Temple snorted. "Then please take the lead in the interrogation, Vice Director Meng. I'd like to see what skills you have!"
Meng Shuping grew even more anxious. "I really don't have any skills!"
Imperial Censor Li mocked, "Is Vice Director Meng perhaps afraid?"
Jiang Cihe chuckled. "Vice Director Meng, since both ministers agree to let you preside, why don't you give it a try? You must want to deliver justice for them, right?"
Meng Shuping had originally been determined to refuse, but with Jiang Cihe's words, he couldn't bring himself to decline. *"Damn it! That son of a bitch! He knows exactly how to use this to manipulate me! Why doesn't he preside over it himself?"*
*"Ah, whatever! Interrogate, then! Let's see if I don't sentence him to death by a thousand cuts!"*
Lu Sheng's heart immediately sank. *Seriously? Just as one person who wanted to beat him to death left, another someone who flouts the law was taking over? Was he being toyed with?* He kept reassuring himself inwardly that there were others present, so Meng Shuping probably wouldn't act recklessly again, right?
Once he made up his mind, Meng Shuping nodded and said, "Alright."
*"Hahaha, bet you didn't expect this, Lu Sheng! After all this back and forth, you've fallen into my hands again! Meeting me is the worst luck imaginable!"*
He stood up, walked behind the desk, and sat down. Then, slamming the gavel, he mustered his courage and said, "Speak! What dirt do you have on Lord Cao?"
"Pfft!" Imperial Censor Li and the Minister of Dali Temple couldn't help but laugh simultaneously. They truly hadn't expected Meng Shuping to ask so bluntly. Minister Cao was his superior—wasn't he afraid of future retaliation? Couldn't he see Minister Cao's face had turned completely dark with anger? Was he just a reckless fool?
Cao Jie fumed silently. *I asked you to preside over the case, not to interrogate me!*
Lu Sheng felt bitter. Having Meng Shuping, this reckless fool, interrogate him was bad enough, but he had only heard those words from Meng Shuping earlier—what could he possibly know?
Outwardly, he could only pretend to be uncooperative. "I don't know!"
Meng Shuping was extremely displeased. *"Well, well, when that Cao guy was here, he wasn't this arrogant. Does he think I'm an easy target?"*
*"Fine, fine! Not confessing, huh? Let me think of a torture method to make him talk!"*
*"Which torture should I use? Let me think… I've got it! Strip him naked, stuff him into a burlap sack, leave his head exposed, and then fill the sack with a bunch of rats! Hahaha!"*
*"Or maggots would work too, but that's just disgusting!"*
"Ugh!" Lu Sheng was so disgusted he nearly vomited. As soon as he saw Meng Shuping about to speak, he hurriedly said, "Ugh—I confess! Ugh—I was the one who set their house on fire!"
"Huh?" Meng Shuping was very surprised. *"How did he confess so easily?"*
He asked Lu Sheng, "So you admit to killing someone too?"
Seeing Lu Sheng hesitate, Meng Shuping grew eager to try out his torture method. *"Maybe we should still test my torture? Even though I don't know why he confessed to arson, one good lesson is all it takes to make him behave!"*
Lu Sheng panicked and quickly said, "Yes! I killed him too! But I didn't mean to! How was I to know he would actually die from my beating?"
This time, he really wasn't lying!