Chapter 23

As Uncle Six’s voice sounded.

Gu Jinnian couldn’t help but get up from the bed.

He pushed open the door.

Gu Ningya’s grinning face appeared before his eyes.

"Uncle Six?"

"How did you come here?"

Gu Jinnian was curious.

"Back home for a visit, and thought I’d drop by to see you."

"Jinnian, you’re really something, to actually crack the head of the Minister of Rites, you’re just like your uncle in your youth."

Gu Ningya walked into the room with a grin, lavishing praise without reservation.

"Uncle, let’s get one thing straight, the Minister of Rites being cracked has nothing to do with me, it was the Crown Prince who was fierce."

Gu Jinnian shook his head; he wouldn’t take the blame, it had nothing to do with him.

"Alright."

"Don’t pretend in front of your uncle."

"But the Crown Prince is really stupid to take the fall."

"Word from the palace, do you know what happened to the Crown Prince?"

Gu Ningya casually poured himself a cup of tea after entering the room and brought up the matter.

"What happened?"

Gu Jinnian was curious.

"He was hung from a tree and whipped until his skin split open. Then the Emperor came and continued for another half an hour."

"Word from the palace is that even the Empress, who has always doted on the Crown Prince, fainted this time."

"And it’s said that the Crown Prince’s cries could be heard outside the palace."

"Jinnian, in the future, don’t get too close to the Crown Prince, he’ll probably hold a grudge against you."

Gu Ningya said calmly.

"Beaten that badly?"

Gu Jinnian was taken aback. Honestly, it wasn’t a big deal, just a childish squabble.

Is it really that serious?

"That’s not the point."

"But the Emperor didn’t whip the Crown Prince because of the Minister of Rites. The palace maids say the Crown Prince is incredibly stupid, and he dared to do such a thing when provoked, which is why the Emperor took action himself."

Gu Ningya added, making Gu Jinnian feel somewhat awkward.

"Will I be in trouble?"

Gu Jinnian looked at Gu Ningya cautiously.

"No trouble."

"It’s not your fault. The Crown Prince is just stupid. In a bigger sense, you only incited him a bit. In a smaller sense, it was just a fight among children. Who knew the Crown Prince would take it seriously."

"Alright, don’t worry too much about it. With Grandfather around, nothing serious will happen. Uncle Six is here mainly to ask you something."

Gu Ningya was unconcerned.

Struggles among the young were beneath their notice, just as their own struggles were beneath Grandfather’s.

Who would take children’s squabbles seriously?

"What is it, Uncle Six?"

Gu Jinnian was somewhat curious.

"About your drowning incident."

"Jinnian, you need to think carefully about what happened before and after the drowning."

"But don’t delve too deep, or your head will hurt, and Uncle Six will get whipped again."

Gu Ningya added, showing a hint of fear.

"Drowning?"

Gu Jinnian frowned, fell silent for a moment, then spoke slowly.

"I have some memories, but not many. I only know that Yang Hanrou pushed me into the water."

"And I didn’t insult them."

Gu Jinnian spoke truthfully.

"I know that."

"But without evidence, Uncle Six couldn’t have arrested anyone."

Gu Ningya nodded, he knew this, as he had mentioned before, but without evidence, no one could be arrested.

"But fortunately, your mother has some skills. The Emperor sent someone to the Lantern Corps, and they will be arresting a batch of people soon, which will help quell the rumors."

"Jinnian, remember this. The tide will turn, and one day Uncle Six will settle the score for you."

Gu Ningya continued.

Gu Jinnian nodded, he was clear in his mind. Before he came to this world, his reputation was already damaged, and he had some memory loss. By the time he remembered, it was too late.

To clear his name, he needed other means; just talking wouldn’t work.

After all, they would insist he insulted them first. What could he do?

It made sense.

A daughter of the Minister of Rites, graceful and gentle.

A spoiled young man, idle and aimless.

The common people would naturally side with her.

The Gu family could certainly make a fuss, but what would be the result?

A fight?

Would that solve anything?

"Uncle Six, I’ll handle it myself, no need to worry."

"By the way, Grandfather came by and said someone would help me."

"Who?"

Gu Jinnian answered, curious about who Grandfather had in mind.

Mentioning this, Gu Ningya looked somewhat troubled.

He took a sip of tea and looked at Gu Jinnian.

"Don’t bring it up, your grandfather is whimsical."

Seeing Gu Ningya’s troubled look, Gu Jinnian became even more interested.

"Who is it? Why so mysterious?"

Gu Jinnian was increasingly curious.

"Once hailed as the greatest detective in Daxia."

"He solved the Huainan salt smuggling case."

"But he has a bit of a problem with his head."

Gu Ningya answered, seemingly disapproving of the person.

"Huainan salt smuggling case?"

"Greatest detective?"

Gu Jinnian pondered, recalling a major case.

"Isn’t that great? Why do you seem to have a grudge against him?"

Gu Jinnian was puzzled.

"No grudge, just don’t think he’s reliable. Do you know where he is now?"

Gu Ningya asked.

"Where?"

Gu Jinnian was curious.

"In the Ministry of Justice prison, and he’s a serious criminal."

Gu Ningya’s answer stunned Gu Jinnian.

A man who solved such a major case is imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice prison? This isn’t a joke, is it?

Seeing Gu Jinnian’s disbelief, Gu Ningya took another sip of tea.

"I’m not lying."

"This guy has a problem with his head. His investigative skills are indeed strong."

"But his methods are extremely bizarre. After the Huainan salt smuggling case, he was rewarded by the Emperor. Logically, he should have become a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Justice."

"But this guy started investigating the Jiande remnants case. Do you know what he did?"

Gu Ningya was clearly irritated.

"What did he do?"

Gu Jinnian asked curiously.

"He released the Jiande remnants that the Ministry of Justice had caught."

Gu Ningya’s expression darkened.

"Released?"

"Is he crazy?"

Gu Jinnian was taken aback. If there’s one thing the current Emperor is most concerned about, it’s the Jiande Emperor.

No one knows if the Jiande Emperor is dead or alive.

But for the imperial power, as long as there’s no body, he’s not dead.

As long as the Jiande Emperor is alive, his uncle will never be at peace.

Capturing the Jiande remnants should be followed by a thorough interrogation to find the others.

Releasing them is no small matter, punishable by beheading or even the extermination of the entire family.

This guy is really crazy.

"Not just crazy."

"He released the Jiande remnants, and when the Ministry of Justice caught him, do you know what he said?"

"He said the Jiande remnants were too stubborn, and forcing them to reveal the others was unrealistic. Instead, he should appeal to their emotions and reason, release them, and they might be moved by the Emperor’s grace and report voluntarily."

"Or, by releasing them, he could track them and catch them all."

"That’s what he said."

Gu Ningya’s words left Gu Jinnian speechless.

Good.

Good.

Who would have thought that in this small Daxia capital, there would be a recluse.

How smart must one be to come up with such a method?

Redefining "the Emperor’s grace."

"So what happened?"

Gu Jinnian asked.

"What happened? He was beaten eighty times and imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice prison."

"If it weren’t for a thorough investigation proving he had no connection to the Jiande remnants and his contributions in the Huainan salt smuggling case, his entire family would have been exterminated."

"That’s why I think Grandfather is whimsical. This guy is not right in the head. Why pick him? The Lantern Corps has plenty of talent, and the Ministry of Justice has a few capable people. Why go through this trouble?"

Gu Ningya became more troubled as he spoke.

Gu Jinnian also fell silent.

Initially curious about this person, but after Uncle Six’s explanation, Gu Jinnian felt a strange feeling.

"Never mind, don’t worry about it."

"Grandfather will make his own arrangements. Jinnian, remember what Uncle Six says. Your grandfather is not an ordinary person. Our entire Gu family combined is not as smart as him."

"But in the future, always be in the right. When you are in the right, you can step back and watch the show."

Gu Ningya said seriously.

After saying this, he patted Gu Jinnian’s shoulder.

"Alright, Uncle Six is leaving. Rest well. When you go to Daxia Academy, study hard. Our Gu family may not produce scholars, but passing the scholar examination is not a problem."

"Don’t embarrass us. Uncle Six almost passed the scholar examination."

"Alright, if you have nothing to do, come to the Lantern Corps. Uncle Six is quite idle these days."

Gu Ningya rambled on for a bit, then left.

Looking at the moonlit sky.

Gu Jinnian smiled bitterly.

He lay down again, deciding to ignore everything for now and sleep for a few hours.

About half an hour later.

Daxia capital.

Ministry of Justice prison.

Dark, damp, and filled with a foul odor, making one feel uncomfortable.

"Su Huaiyu."

"You can come out now."

With the sound of chains.

Deep in the prison.

A man slowly opened his eyes.

Wearing prison clothes, disheveled, with a foul odor and some wounds.

But under the candlelight, his dirty face was somewhat handsome.

Then a voice sounded.

"These days, there are indeed many good people. Did he turn himself in?"

The voice echoed.

But there was no response, only a figure appeared before him.

"Investigate my nephew’s drowning incident."

"Once it’s clear, you’ll be free."

"Otherwise, even if the Jiande remnants turn themselves in, I have a thousand ways to keep you here forever."

It was Gu Ningya’s figure, standing before Su Huaiyu, his face cold.

Feeling Gu Ningya’s coldness.

Disappointment appeared on Su Huaiyu’s handsome face.

After a moment.

He sighed and spoke slowly.

"Alright."

"But I have my own methods. As long as it doesn’t harm my nephew, don’t restrict me."

This was his condition.

Gu Ningya didn’t refuse but threw a token to Su Huaiyu.

Taking the token.

Su Huaiyu pondered for a moment, then asked a crucial question.

"This job."

"Does it include food?"

Su Huaiyu asked, his expression serious.

Gu Ningya outside the door was momentarily stunned.