Cao Yang's expression darkened. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
Chu Ruoyan replied coldly, "Has the Minister forgotten his own actions? The Six Illness Bureau and the Relief Bureau shirked responsibility, leaving three hundred soldiers' families homeless. Instead of aiding them, you ordered Constable Zhao from the Capital County Office to silence them permanently! If such deeds were to spread, do you think your position as Minister of Revenue would remain secure?"
"Outrageous!"
Cao Yang slammed the table. "Marquis Anning did inform me of the matter, but I had already arranged for their shelter. What talk of silencing them?"
Chu Ruoyan froze.
Could it really not have been him?
One of Cao Yang's aides whispered, "My Lord, Deputy Minister Yuan borrowed your official seal recently, claiming it was for internal Ministry affairs..."
Cao Yang stiffened. "Investigate this!"
Within moments, the aide returned and murmured something in his ear.
Cao Yang's face grew increasingly grim. After pacing the room several times, he finally admitted, "This was my oversight. I assumed Deputy Minister Yuan was loyal to the Second Prince, so I—" He caught himself too late.
Chu Ruoyan exhaled in relief. "So it was Imperial Son-in-law Cao after all."
She had worried that if Cao Yang truly had no involvement, she’d lose her leverage over him. But now, another vulnerability had fallen into her lap.
Cao Yang clenched his jaw, wrestling with his thoughts before conceding, "Very well, Lady Anning. What do you need from me?"
Chu Ruoyan steadied herself. "Minister Cao, my husband cannot remain in the Ministry of Justice any longer. Prince Yu is resorting to extreme measures to extract a confession. If this continues, I fear he won’t survive!"
Cao Yang understood. While Prince Yu couldn’t outright kill a prisoner, there were countless ways to make a man wish for death.
Third Yan had already lost the use of his legs. If his hands were crippled too, even survival would be meaningless...
"What do you propose? Make it clear—I’ll assist, but I won’t condone murder or jailbreaks!"
Seeing his wariness, Chu Ruoyan hurriedly reassured him, "Nothing of the sort! I merely ask that you arrange for physicians to examine him and declare him gravely ill."
"You mean... feign illness?"
Under the Great Xia Legal Code, prisoners suffering severe illness—unless convicted of unforgivable crimes—could be released into familial custody.
Cao Yang nodded slowly. "A clever plan. But this case is too significant. The Emperor won’t easily permit his return to the Yan Family."
Chu Ruoyan smiled faintly. "Who said anything about the Yan Family?"
Puzzled, Cao Yang watched as she tilted her head. "As Minister of Revenue and acting overseer of the Ministry of Justice, if you personally petitioned the Emperor to take charge of a single prisoner’s supervision... surely His Majesty would agree?"
Cao Yang gaped before erupting, "You’re dragging me into your feud?!"
Taking the man under his protection would be an open declaration of opposition to Prince Yu.
Yet Chu Ruoyan merely spread her hands. "Minister Cao, offending Prince Yu is far preferable to demotion, isn’t it?"
After all, if the scandal of the three hundred soldiers’ families came to light, the lightest punishment would be negligence—and demotion was inevitable...
Realizing he’d been cornered, Cao Yang gritted his teeth. "Fine. But first, swear to me—did Yan Zheng truly steal the city defense plans? If he’s guilty, I’d rather face demotion than aid a traitor!"
Chu Ruoyan arched a brow.
Who knew this corrupt official had principles?
She raised three fingers and declared solemnly, "I, Chu Ruoyan of the Chu family, swear to heaven that my husband Yan Zheng has never conspired with enemies, nor has he harmed any family members! If this oath is false, may I be struck by lightning and die without a whole corpse!"
"Good! You may return and await news."
With Cao Yang's assurance, Chu Ruoyan felt at ease. She curtsied gracefully and took her leave.
As expected, Cao Yang acted swiftly.
The next day, several imperial physicians entered the Ministry of Justice's prison. By the third day, his memorial had reached the emperor.
"...Shoulder bone shattered, internal organs severely injured, breath as faint as a thread, life hanging by a moment?" The emperor finished reading and flung the memorial at Prince Yu. "I tasked you with investigating this case, and this is how you handle it?"
Prince Yu dared not dodge, wincing as the papers struck his forehead.
Before he could defend himself, Chu Huaishan stepped forward. "Your Majesty! Prince Yu is settling personal grudges under the guise of duty!"
Prince Yu snapped, "Duke Chu! Yan Zheng is your son-in-law—you should recuse yourself!"
"Quite right, Your Majesty. This old minister has not seen him once these past few days! But Prince Yu? After days of interrogation, he’s extracted nothing but confessions through torture!"
"You lie!"
The imperial study erupted into chaos, resembling a marketplace quarrel.
The emperor slammed the table. "Silence!"
The officials bowed as he massaged his temples. "Duke Chu, I understand your concern for your son-in-law, but Prince Yu serves the court. Show some leniency. As for you, Prince Yu—days of interrogation yielding nothing is negligence. Very well, we shall follow Cao Yang’s suggestion. Move Yan Zheng to his residence under his supervision."
The crowd stirred, about to protest.
The emperor waved a hand. "My decision is final."
Yan Zheng was soon transferred from the Ministry of Justice to the Cao Family.
Old Madam Cao took one look at his unconscious state and scolded Cao Yang. "Is this how the Ministry of Justice treats prisoners?"
Cao Yang protested weakly, "Mother, I wasn’t the one interrogating him—Prince Yu—"
"I don’t care who did it! You oversee the Ministry, so this is your failure!" Old Madam Cao then ordered, "Send someone to the General’s Manor at once. Fetch Lady Chu—her husband is best tended by her."
Cao Yang nearly objected, fearing it would appear as though their families were colluding…
But then he realized—bringing Yan Zheng here had already tied their fates in the eyes of others.
Resigned, he agreed.
Before the messenger could leave, Chu Ruoyan arrived on her own—accompanied by the Yan Family’s sole heir, Yan Wenjing.
The child knelt immediately, his young voice firm. "Thank you, Lord Cao, for saving my Third Uncle. Wenjing will repay this kindness in the future!"
Cao Yang suddenly felt it wasn’t so bad—at least someone appreciated his efforts.
In the rear courtyard’s guest chamber, Old Madam Cao had prepared a room for Yan Zheng, fully furnished. As she left, she said, "If anything is lacking, tell my son. Treat this as your own home."
"Thank you, Old Madam."
Chu Ruoyan hurried to the bedside.
Yan Zheng lay pale and unconscious.
"My lord? My lord?"
No response.
Yan Wenjing fretted. "What’s wrong with Third Uncle?"
Chu Ruoyan soothed him, then pressed a hand to Yan Zheng’s forehead—it burned like fire.
"He has a fever... Meng Yang, inform Lord Cao to summon the imperial physicians! Yulu, fetch cold water and ice from the servants—quickly!"
The two of them set off to handle their tasks separately. Yan Wenjing asked, "Third Aunt, what can I do?"
Chu Ruoyan replied, "Go close the doors and windows so no draft gets in. I'll start by undressing him..."
Even as she spoke, her hands were already moving.
Cao Yang had at least been decent enough to summon physicians who had already applied medicine to his wounds. Though the injuries weren't bleeding, the numerous patches of swollen, festering flesh looked horrifying.
She took great care to avoid touching the wounds directly, but as her fingertips brushed past his knee...
His right foot jerked violently!
