Chapter 577: Chapter 561: Third Grade Errand Official

To the Prefect of the Court of Judicial Review, he was tasked with watching and acting according to the Fourth Prince’s expressions, and at the same time, had to please Lin Yi, the Acting Minister of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, otherwise, his official hat would not be secure.

Of course, the Prefect didn’t have any regard for Judge Zhong’s diligence and hard work, he was rather envious that Judge Zhong could freely investigate the cases.

Unlike himself, who was always fearful of making a mistake before and after, like someone afraid of wolves ahead and tigers behind.

To ensure not making mistakes, the best method was simply not to act. In that way, he would never make mistakes.

“Minister Lin has arrived!”

A guard shouted at the entrance, and the Prefect of the Court of Judicial Review was so startled that he sprang up from the Taishi Chair, and with a careless move, fell backwards.

“Minister… Minister Lin, good day.”

The Prefect scrambled up from the ground, appearing extremely disheveled.

Lin Yi had long before noticed that the Prefect was idling about on the Taishi Chair. Such an idle person, what use could he be?

“Minister Lin.” Judge Zhong approached with a grave expression and obvious bloody handprints on both hands.

Lin Yi stared at Judge Zhong’s hands with astonishment. How had this happened out of the blue?

“What happened here?”

When it came to the hand injury, Judge Zhong’s face showed a touch of embarrassment, sheepishly saying,

“Reporting to Minister Lin, it’s not just me who’s injured. Everyone who entered to inspect the scene has been harmed by hidden weapons.”

Indeed, in a corner of the Qiankun Palace, two Imperial Physicians were busily bandaging the wounds of the injured guards.

Only the hands of the Prefect of the Court of Judicial Review remained completely unscathed, standing out conspicuously.

Lin Yi had a sinking feeling in his heart that there were probably too many hidden weapons in the Qiankun Palace.

‘Could it be that every single piece of equipment in the Qiankun Palace has to be replaced?’

‘Those are all memories of the Queen, her one and only keepsake in this world if they were all replaced.’

‘No, these furnishings have been tampered with, keeping them would only be a disaster.’

With this thought, Lin Yi sent someone to fetch a camera from the General Mansion to photograph the entire scene here, so that once the case was solved, he would custom order all the same furniture and equipment in the market.

But who would be an appropriate messenger to run this errand?

Looking at the so comfortable Prefect of the Court of Judicial Review, with his corpulence, it was time for him to move about.

“Prefect of the Court of Judicial Review, I have a task for you,” Lin Yi said.

The Prefect could not fathom Lin Yi’s intention, but feeling the inscrutable demeanor of Lin Yi, he was under tremendous pressure.

He almost bowed as he approached Lin Yi for the mission.

“Please tell me, Minister Lin, your servant is willing to serve.”

Not knowing whether it was good or bad fortune, the Prefect was on tenterhooks, with his legs trembling with fear.

Lin Yi couldn’t help but sneer coldly at this scene.

“Don’t panic, Prefect. The matter I’m entrusting to you is very simple. Go to my General Mansion and fetch me something.”

“That thing? This?”

The Prefect was quite puzzled. He looked at the robust and powerful guards outside, then at his own portly figure, which was simply not suitable for the task.

“No need to look further, you’re the most suitable to go. That treasure of mine is too precious, I can’t trust just anyone to fetch it.”

“This?”

The Prefect was indignant but dared not express it. It was clear to anyone with eyes that Lin Yi was specifically targeting him.

As everyone knows, even such important documents as those dispatched over eight hundred li are escorted by messengers, who are nothing more than ordinary soldiers of the court.

Sending such a high-ranking Third Grade Dali Temple Minister to fetch an item is indeed a waste of talents.

But Lin Yi is not someone to be trifled with. Even if the Dali Temple Minister is utterly unwilling, he has to comply, given that Lin Yi is currently the Acting Minister of the court.

Lin Yi instantly noticed the Minister’s reluctance.

Pointing at Judge Zhong and the others’ hands, he spoke with profound meaning.

“My precious Fourth Prince has seen it with his own eyes, and so have you when you visited my home last time to drink the Holy Spring Water, and then I took your picture.”

“Following that, your souls left your bodies, and it was with that treasure that I captured your souls.”

Upon hearing this, the Dali Temple Minister suddenly slapped his thigh in excitement, exclaiming loudly, “I remember now, that is an artifact that can communicate with gods.”

Seeing the Minister had taken the bait, a smile crept across Lin Yi’s face as he continued.

“Indeed, it’s an artifact that can communicate with gods. Look at others present here, whose hands are not cut and scarred?”

“This scent of blood is the utmost blasphemy to the gods.”

Lin Yi’s intention was clearly conveyed by now, which meant that, among those present, only the Dali Temple Minister qualified to handle that artifact.

“Minister Lin, this subordinate understands. I will go and retrieve it right away.”

The previously disgruntled Dali Temple Minister suddenly cheered up, looking at his unharmed, uninjured hands and felt on cloud nine.

Seeing his aim achieved, Lin Yi did not beat about the bush and added.

“Retrieving the artifact is not something just anyone can do. To show sincerity, you cannot ride a horse, nor sit in a sedan chair; you can only walk or run.”

“Especially on the return trip, you cannot run. The artifact cannot be shaken; if it is, it may lose its effect.”

“If the gods blame us for this, it might bring calamity upon three generations.”

Lin Yi purposely exaggerated the severity of the situation, and the Dali Temple Minister’s face turned solemn, taking every word of Lin Yi’s to heart.

“Minister Lin, rest assured, I will bring the artifact to you as per your instructions.”

The Dali Temple Minister promised earnestly, and Lin Yi calculated the time.

If he sets off now, a quick trot to the General Mansion would take half an hour, and walking back more than an hour—if he doesn’t rest or slack off on the way, two hours should be more than sufficient.

“Ahem, then I will trouble the Dali Temple Minister for this. The sun will set in an hour, and you must obtain it from Qiankun Palace for me within that time.”

“An hour?”

For the Dali Temple Minister, the timing was quite tight.

But Lin Yi’s explanation left him with no room to argue.

As Lin Yi put it, an artifact that communicates with gods should not be exposed under moonlight; it can only maintain its spirituality under the sun.

Pressed for time, the Dali Temple Minister set off briskly toward the gate of the Qiankun Palace, his round belly leading the way.

Watching the Minister bobbing away like a bouncing winter melon, Lin Yi could not help but laugh.

He could imagine the Minister sweating profusely outside the Imperial Palace from exhaustion, with no horse to ride, the picture of helplessness.

‘Hehe, does it matter if you’re a Third Grade official? Dare to slack off in front of me, I’ll turn you into a running errand official of the Third Grade.’

After dealing with the Dali Temple Minister, Lin Yi then turned to Judge Zhong.

“Come, little Zhong, come sit here. You’ve investigated the scene as well, let’s discuss the case.”

This case was no trifling matter, even more serious than the one at the Imperial City Ruins. An old eunuch dared to meddle within the Imperial Palace. How many eyes in the palace are fixated on the head of the young Emperor.

The thought was terrifying, beyond guard.

However, there weren’t many Lin Yi could trust and use at the moment, and Judge Zhong was one he intended to cultivate as a confidant.

He had deliberately sent the Dali Temple Minister away just now; someone like him, a weathercock who had been in officialdom for many years, would naturally not always be loyal to any one side.

…End of chapter…