Chapter 1310 - 4: Testifying_2
Both people and objects were brought to the Ministry of Justice.
Only at this hour did Yun Chu realize that in order to see her mother and brothers, she had been implicated as an accomplice of Lord Qian by the Ministry of Justice.
She only considered using the opportunity of visiting prisoners provided by Lord Qian, but didn’t consider the downside.
Kneeling on the cold floor of the main hall of the Ministry of Justice, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice sat in the chair, looking at the items placed on the table, his brows furrowed.
The government officials reported in detail about whom Yun Chu sought to visit, all of which consisted of bribes that weren’t delivered.
With a slam of the gavel, the Minister startled Yun Chu, his solemn voice demanding, "What is your relationship with Lord Qian?!"
Yun Chu was internally lamenting.
Today was her first time meeting Lord Qian.
She didn’t even know who he was, let alone any relationship.
However, Yun Chu was clever and had already thought of an excuse, she said, "I merely took money from someone to do a favor; I have no relationship with Lord Qian."
"No relationship?" The Minister laughed.
"If there’s no relationship, why would you deliver meals to him?"
Yun Chu remained composed, "Someone entrusted me to give them to Lord Qian."
"Who was it that entrusted you?" the Minister asked again.
"I don’t know. He only gave me a portrait of Lord Qian, asking me to deliver meals a few times, out of old friendship."
Yun Chu said this while looking the Minister in the eye; though she was lying, she didn’t feel guilty.
Because she truly didn’t know Lord Qian.
The reason for delivering meals was merely because his cell was opposite her mother’s, nothing more.
The Minister had truly never met someone daring enough to look him in the eye while talking, either someone incredibly daring or speaking the truth.
"Do you have the portrait?" the Minister inquired.
Yun Chu nodded, "The portrait is at the inn."
Yun Chu believed she could get away with it, only she hadn’t expected that she’d be brought in, along with everything she left at the inn being brought to the Ministry of Justice.
The bag didn’t contain the portrait she mentioned.
Seeing her lie about to be exposed, Yun Chu looked incredulous, "Isn’t the portrait in the bag?"
She got up to rummage through her bag but didn’t find it.
Yun Chu felt lucky that there was only a men’s outfit in the bag, no women’s clothing; otherwise, she’d be suspected of having peculiar preferences or her female identity would be exposed.
Hiding her female identity while cross-dressing to deliver meals to Lord Qian brought more severe issues.
Yun Chu searched twice, saying, "Impossible, I checked the portrait when I went out today."
She looked towards the government officials.
The officials seemed displeased, "All the things are here."
"It might have been left at the inn; I’ll go retrieve it," Yun Chu said.
The Minister sent government officials to search the inn, while Yun Chu said, "There are more things hidden there, and if the room is given to other guests, my things may get lost..."
The Minister frowned but also sent government officials to escort her back.
It was just Yun Chu who went back; the bag and other items remained at the Ministry of Justice.
The bag contained eight thousand silver taels, and with the government officials, there was no fear of her running away.
Poor inn, the officials had just left, not an hour had passed, and they returned.
This time, it was four officials.
Yun Chu had the officials wait outside, "I need a moment, brothers, please wait outside for a little while."
The government officials warily watched her.
Suspecting her need for privacy was feigned, with escape as the true intention.
Yun Chu said helplessly, "I won’t flee."
"I haven’t committed any wrongdoing, why would I escape?"
One official waved his hand and instructed the other two, "You two go guard the backyard, and all the inn staff need to keep their eyes wide open."
He then turned to Yun Chu, "If you dare to run, you’ll be convicted like Lord Qian."
Yun Chu nodded to indicate understanding.
She had no intention to flee.
Inside, Yun Chu closed the door.
Quickly, she took out the ink and brushes from the cabinet, relieved to have booked a high-grade room equipped with ink supplies, avoiding needing to ask for them from the staff.
Otherwise, the lie wouldn’t hold up.
Having seen Lord Qian’s appearance in prison, Yun Chu quickly drew a simple portrait of him with ink.
She returned the ink slab to its original place, taking the portrait behind the screen, letting it dry, then neatly folded and placed it under the bed.
Yun Chu moved fluidly, and once finished, she opened the door.
Yun Chu searched, then found the portrait under the bedding.
When the officials saw it, indeed it was a portrait of Lord Qian.
The innkeeper and staff were all in the room.
Seeing this, the staff’s eyes were wide open, looking towards the innkeeper, ready to speak, but the innkeeper shook his head, signaling him not to speak, avoiding trouble for the inn.
Having no dealings with government offices is best.
It’s better to avoid trouble than to invite more.
The words were swallowed by the young staff.
After the guest left, he had changed all the bedding without finding the portrait under it, which now appeared, clearly problematic.
But with the innkeeper forbidding speech, even with three tiger gallbladders given to him, he wouldn’t dare make a peep.
The officials didn’t suspect anything and took the portrait and Yun Chu back to the government office.
Before leaving, Yun Chu spoke to the innkeeper, "Keep a room for me."
She had stayed three days, only paid a deposit, and hadn’t settled the room bill.
Since she was taken away by officials, the innkeeper didn’t dare ask for the room payment.
For Yun Chu to return staying, the innkeeper was rather glad.
Being released indicated no issues with Yun Chu.
A guest with no issues would be very welcome to the inn.
Back at the Ministry of Justice, the officials submitted the portrait to the Minister for review.
The Minister couldn’t discern anything amiss from the portrait; without the officials remarking, he wouldn’t suspect this portrait was hastily drawn by Yun Chu.
Without superior artistry, how could she draw the portrait so swiftly?
The Minister looked at Yun Chu, and Yun Chu said, "Lord Minister, don’t look at me this way. I truly have no connection with Lord Qian; while delivering meals to him, I even mistook him for Lord Li..."
The prison guards could attest to this.
Previously said off-hand, but this could now serve as a testimonial for Yun Chu.
Yun Chu merely received payment to deliver meals, and the Minister of Justice didn’t have solid evidence to suspect her of wrongdoing, so he could only release her.
Yun Chu dared to ask as she left, "Can I continue delivering meals?"
Even the Ministry of Justice officials felt Yun Chu deserved a beating.
Having caused trouble, she still wanted to continue; her courage was truly substantial.
However, this also showed her reliability in getting things done.
The Minister waved his hand, saying, "You may leave."