Free Web NovelChapter 1338: Chapter 30: Dying Face Up
The Nine Soldier Commander, a member of the Military Affairs Hall, could certainly not be thrown into prison at the first sign of trouble.
But for such a high-profile figure to be confined to his residence, he is already a prisoner!
Jiang Wang quickly realized the seriousness of the issue.
Huang Yixing’s identity is sensitive!
How could he hold the position of the pacification commissioner of Hengyang Prefecture?
Nothing else but a flag!
He is a flag symbolizing the integration of Old Yang into Qi Country.
The best example to promote the notion that "the people of Yang are also people of Qi."
Cao Jie reprimanding Huang Yixing was partly due to a moment of anger and partly intentional warnings, as he could not stand to see Huang bringing the bureaucratic habits of Old Yang to Qi.
There was no problem with that.
But the sudden death of Huang Yixing has become a big problem!
Jiang Wang could fully imagine that some people would spread that it was Cao Jie who drove him to his death!
Consider Huang Yixing, who had become a citizen of Qi and eagerly welcomed the returning conquering hero; although somewhat flattering, his heartfelt patriotism could hardly be a crime, could it?
Is Cao Jie repeatedly mentioning the officialdom of Old Yang essentially a denial of the Yang people as subjects of Qi?
Qi Country now dominates the Eastern Region, having annexed how many countries? And how many people have naturalized from other countries into Qi?
Even the State Minister Jiang Rumo’s ancestry traces back to Rong Country!
Does it mean that these people, these ministers from those countries, have never been recognized by the so-called "true people of Qi"?
How are they supposed to live with that?
The biggest problem is—
Jiang Wang understood very well that such "prejudice," such a sense of superiority amongst the "old Qi people," truly existed!
When Jiang Wang had previously achieved military exploits on the Qi Yang battlefield and had been granted the title of Lord of Qingyang town, hadn’t Lei Zhanqian also seen him as nothing but a rustic? When he successfully emerged from the Heavenly Abode Secret Land, already an associate of the Heavy Mystery family, didn’t Prince Jiang Wuyong also scold him for being rootless?
Huang Yixing and Cao Jie, involved in this case, were both highly representative.
One was an official naturalized from Old Yang with control over a prefecture, a significant official. The other was a native "old Qi person," who had risen step by step to become an absolute high-level figure in Qi Country.
If this matter is not handled properly, it would become a huge political event!
Jiang Wang was silent for a moment, then said, "May I ask if the honorable lords have any other orders for this humble official?"
He had also realized by now that Beiyaduwei summoning him so formally could not just be for his testimony.
On that day, countless people in the returning Qi troop had witnessed the scene; what clues Jiang Wang could provide would not be more than anyone else.
Xie Huaian looked at him and said, "The Son of Heaven decrees: Appoint Fourth Grade Green Badge Jiang Wang to thoroughly investigate this case. You must seek justice for Qing Huang beyond the Nine Springs!"
Indeed, it’s a command directly from the Son of Heaven!
Jiang Wang had no possibility of refusal, and thus, with hands clasped, he bowed in the direction of the Qi Palace and said, "Your servant accepts the order!"
For him, a Fourth Grade Green Badge, being assigned to investigate a case was in line with his duties, although everyone knew that his ability to handle cases was still in question.
For such a major case, Jiang Wang would not be foolish enough to take on full responsibility; this was not the Yellow River Gathering where you just had to fight regardless of the odds.
Since the Son of Heaven has entrusted such an important case to him, if he did not handle it well, it would not be something that could be resolved by simply punishing himself with three cups of liquor.
Therefore, after completing the formal protocol, he said to Zheng Shi, "This humble official has very little experience with cases, and my ability to handle them is limited. I fear that my actions might be too rough and I worry about hindering the great plans of the Court."
Zheng Shi was his main support in the Beiyaduwei; he naturally wanted to cling tightly to him.
The Capital Commandant Zheng did not disappoint him, immediately responding, "Since the Emperor values you, you just do your best. Of course, the Mansion will also dispatch capable arrest officers to assist you."
This was almost a clear indication that he should just go; professionals would handle the specifics of the investigation.
Just at this moment, Yang Weitong, the silent deputy envoy of the Patrol Inspection Bureau, suddenly spoke up: "In this subordinate’s opinion, Qing brand catcher Lin Youxie is well suited to assist Chief Jiang in handling this case."
Zheng Shi frowned slightly: "There’s no doubt about Chief Lin’s case-handling abilities, but her strength..."
Yang Weitong smiled and said: "When handling cases within our Qi Country, how critical is cultivation level? Besides, don’t we have the number one Inner Mansion in the world?"
This statement left little room for anyone to refute. Zheng Shi himself didn’t mind either, he only turned to Xie Huaian and asked, "What does the Imperial Court Adviser think? Is it feasible?"
Xie Huaian sat upright and said deliberately: "Overseeing the entire nation is the primary duty of the Beiyaduwei, I’m merely an outsider. The Capital Commandant can make his own decision regarding this matter."
It was like Zheng Shidao, a grand Imperial Court Adviser, who also sat aside at this moment; after all, this place is ultimately under the Beiyar Commander’s jurisdiction, and specific cases should be primarily handled by him.
Zheng Shi thus addressed Jiang Wang: "Chief Lin Youxie will assist you in investigating this case. Chief Jiang, the Emperor places great expectations on you; you must not fail."
Jiang Wang had initially hoped to seek the support of another influential figure, the divine catcher Yue Leng.
With Yue Leng accompanying, all he needed was to follow along and make a show of it, wouldn’t that be relaxed?
But with just a thought, he knew this wasn’t possible. Yue Leng wouldn’t play second fiddle to him, and even if Yue Leng agreed, others wouldn’t recognize the case as being investigated by Jiang Wang with Yue Leng in tow.
Lin Youxie, however, was different. Because of her lower cultivation level and status, she couldn’t overshadow Jiang Wang.
And her case-handling abilities were something Jiang Wang was very clear about!
The reason he always maintained a distance from Lin Youxie was precisely because her eyes were too sharp.
Jiang Wang politely responded: "I will do my utmost!"
Zheng Shi had already made a decision, and Jiang Wang had no room to maneuver; he couldn’t possibly ask to change personnel at this point. Besides, he didn’t know anyone else who was both capable of being his assistant and more competent than Lin Youxie.
But he also had a realization in his heart.
It turns out Yang Weitong...was also within Lin Youxie’s network in the Imperial City Inspection Mansion.
Involving Lin Youxie in such a significant case was in itself a way to accumulate experience.
At that moment, Yang Weitong took out a scroll from his sleeve, stood up, and handed it to Jiang Wang: "To mitigate the impact of the incident as quickly as possible, the scene couldn’t be preserved. This is the representation of the scene at the time of Huang Yixing’s death; we have had a painter record it. Huang Yixing’s corpse is also sealed nearby, waiting for your examination."
Given that the death scene couldn’t be blocked off, this was indeed the best possible handling. It preserved the clues to the greatest extent.
Jiang Wang received the scroll, unrolled it, and looked.
The entire picture was composed from an aerial perspective. freёwebnoѵel.com
At that time, the dawn light was faint, in front of the grand gates of Zhao Heng City, an elderly man with a face covered in blood lay on the ground, surrounded by scattered pedestrians—probably because it was too early, there weren’t many people around at the time.
It was evident that Huang Yixing had fallen backwards from the city tower.
The painter’s craftsmanship was exceptional; the blood on the person’s face was depicted very clearly, the detail could be said to be vivid.
It was almost like being there at the scene in person.
Unfortunately, the painting was of Huang Yixing’s state after falling from the city, not the process of the fall itself.
Of course, the painter arrived at the scene later and definitely didn’t witness the fall himself. All the painter could do was to restore what he saw at the scene to the scroll as much as possible, to make it seem as if one were witnessing it firsthand.
One point in particular struck Jiang Wang—
In this picture, Huang Yixing’s expression was very odd, although half-obscured by the blood, one could still sense that the man did not die in great pain.
His eyes were open, staring upward, as if across the scroll... looking at the person viewing the painting!
Jiang Wang rolled up the scroll, breaking off that gaze.
He carefully stored the scroll again, and then asked, "Do the distinguished officials have any other instructions?"
"Handle the case well, do not tarnish the reputation of our Beiyaduwei." Having said that, Zheng Shi stood up and walked out: "Let Imperial Court Adviser Xie speak a couple of words to you."
Yang Weitong also left, saying: "I’ll go and call Lin Youxie over."
In an instant, the Council Hall was left with only Jiang Wang and Xie Huaian.
For some reason, Jiang Wang felt a sudden twitch in his eyelid.
