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Zhou Qing's features were resolute, with his black hair hanging loose, sitting there expressionless, he said, "Is this what you request?"
Gu Chen replied, "My uncle has been wrongly accused and is now imprisoned in the Mingjing Department dungeon. I implore Lord Zhou to lend a hand and save my uncle's life."
Zhou Qing remained unmoved, his tone indifferent, "On what grounds do you claim your uncle has been wrongly accused?"
"My uncle has served in Tiandu for many years; though he has accepted minor favors, he is still someone who can hold his own bottom line. He knows what should and should not be done. Engaging in corruption, like buying or selling official positions, are things my uncle absolutely cannot and would not dare to do," Gu Chen said solemnly.
"By rights, I shouldn't get involved in such matters. Each person has their own responsibility. If I were to act, it would disrupt the internal order of the Mingjing Department," Zhou Qing said while sitting there, his expression unchanged.
Gu Chen remained silent, just standing quietly there.
A moment later, Zhou Qing spoke again, "I've said before, I'm not someone who likes to owe favors. You've saved Ning City and my father's life. This time I can help you, but if I find out there is truth to the matter, you should know the consequences."
Immediately, Gu Chen bowed with his fists clasped and said, "With Lord Zhou's status, if he wishes to investigate, I'm sure it won't take long to have a result."
Zhou Qing didn't reply. Gu Chen wasn't mistaken. With his status, if he chose to investigate, it wouldn't take long to uncover the truth. Tiandu rarely had anything that could be hidden from him.
In fact, after Gu Chen left, Zhou Qing had indeed conducted an investigation into Gu Chen, learning in detail about him. The only thing that caught his eye was that Gu Chen had, in just two years' time, broken through from the Yunqi Stage to the Tongmai Stage.
Of course, this fact was just enough to make Zhou Qing take a second look. In Da Xia, talents abound, and Tiandu being the capital, was the place with the most gifted individuals and sacred land. Every year, countless geniuses emerged, many of whom could break through from the Yunqi Stage to the Tongmai Stage in just one year. To Zhou Qing, Gu Chen's achievement was not particularly significant.
To impress Zhou Qing and to earn his recognition of Gu Chen, he needed to, at least at this stage, breakthrough to the Tongmai Stage and open more than forty meridians. Only then would Zhou Qing take note and care a bit more.
But accomplishing this was incredibly difficult. Across the whole of Tiandu, not many among the younger generation could achieve this. For someone like Gu Chen, without any family background, Zhou Qing wasn't very optimistic.
At that moment, Zhou Qing said, "Tell me the details of this matter."
"Yes."
Gu Chen nodded, then recounted the entire story, leaving out no details or secrets.
In the presence of Zhou Qing, there was no need for any cunning thoughts. Should there be any concealment, once unearthed by Zhou Qing, the consequences would be unbearable not just for Gu Chen but for the entire Gu Family.
Of course, the very reason Gu Chen dared to seek Zhou Qing's help was because he knew of Zhou Qing's integrity and his hatred for evil; Liu Ningyuan's conduct would undoubtedly be abhorrent to Zhou Qing.
Furthermore, his uncle may have accepted some minor favors, but those alone did not constitute criminal wrongdoing. At worst, he would be fined a portion of his salary, a far better outcome than losing his life.
After hearing Gu Chen's account, Zhou Qing frowned slightly, and after a long pause, he said, "Do you wish for me to retrieve him immediately?"
Gu Chen replied gravely, "That would be best, Lord Zhou. You must be aware of the conditions in the Mingjing Department dungeon. If it's delayed, I fear my uncle may no longer be alive."
Zhou Qing didn't deny it. He nodded and said, "Alright, then I'll accompany you on this errand."
Then, he said to the jailer, "Take good 'care' of him tonight. When I come tomorrow, I don't want him to have the strength to speak."
"Yes."
The jailer bowed his head to take the order, sparing Gu Chengfeng a sympathetic glance from the corner of his eye.
Liu Ningyuan smiled slightly, straightened his official robe, and walked out, leaving Gu Chengfeng behind to continue his hoarse roaring.
In a grand hall inside the Mingjing Department, Zhou Qing sat in the seat of honor, with Gu Chen sitting below, waiting for Liu Ningyuan's arrival.
"I have seen Lord Zhou. May I ask why Lord Zhou has come at this time, is there an urgent matter?" Liu Ningyuan walked into the hall, bowing deeply with the utmost respect.
Zhou Qing sat tall and expressionless, saying, "I heard you've arrested someone?"
Liu Ningyuan felt a jolt in his heart, unsure why Zhou Qing would ask about this, but he still replied respectfully, "Reporting to Lord Zhou, it was a member of the Royal Sword Guard from the outer city. This person was corrupt and dared to engage in the buying and selling of official posts.
He has been apprehended on the spot by this subordinate, with both the criminal and evidence captured, currently awaiting disposition in the jail."
"Go bring the man up to me," Zhou Qing commanded, leaving no room for argument.
Liu Ningyuan felt his heart shake and quickly said, "It's but a trifling matter. There is no need to trouble Lord Zhou with this. I can handle such affairs myself."
But as he finished speaking, he saw Gu Chen sitting there, staring at him with a cold face.
This instant raised a foreboding feeling in Liu Ningyuan's heart.
"How can this little beast be sitting here? How could he possibly know Zhou Qing?" Liu Ningyuan was alarmed, sensing something was wrong, his mind filled with questions.
"Are you deaf to what I say? I said, bring the man up to me." Seeing Liu Ningyuan still standing there, Zhou Qing's expression turned even colder.
Liu Ningyuan, seeing this, tensed up, his heartbeat nearly stopping at that moment. His face changed as he said, "This..."
Zhou Qing, with a cold face, asked a clerk beside him, "Where is the man?"
The clerk bowed and respectfully said, "Reporting to Lord Zhou, in the interrogation room on the first floor."
"Take me there," Zhou Qing ordered.
"Yes."
The clerk hastened to obey, leading Zhou Qing and Gu Chen towards the interrogation room. Liu Ningyuan stood in place, his back soaked with cold sweat. It took him a long while to recover, and seeing that Zhou Qing and Gu Chen had already walked far away, he hurried to catch up with quick steps.
In the interrogation room of the Mingjing Department's jail on the first floor, a jailer was at that moment smiling fiercely, holding a red-hot iron, and slowly pressing it toward Gu Chengfeng's chest.
When the rushing Gu Chen saw this scene, it felt as if his chest were about to split open, a boundless rage surged in his heart, his eyes immediately reddening as he bellowed, "Stop it!"