Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot-Chapter 295 - 276: The Truth Comes to Light

Outside the prison cell, Steward Hu clasped his hands behind his back and paced underneath the corridor, his mind consumed with anxiety.

"Won’t let me inside, insists I wait out here."

Steward Hu halted his steps, his face furrowed in worry.

"Does he even know how to interrogate criminals? What if he messes up? Should I drug Hai Pig a little, make his mind less clear?"

"But if I do that, his confession becomes useless."

"Ah! What a headache!"

"I’ll go in and take a look!"

Unable to rest easy, Steward Hu stepped forward towards the room. But just as he reached the prison door, he recalled the man’s instructions, gritted his teeth, and retreated a few steps.

He repeated this back-and-forth hesitation.

Finally, Steward Hu steeled his nerves. He was going in to eavesdrop!

But at that moment, a wave of icy cold pierced the air as the man emerged from the cell.

The hallway, which Steward Hu had walked countless times and knew so well he could pinpoint the number of cracks on the walls, suddenly felt foreign to him. It was as though he were treading the ghastly path to the Yellow Springs.

The man looked like a fierce ghost that had broken out from the Underworld into the Mortal World. Steward Hu felt his hair stand on end.

"You may go see him now."

The man’s hoarse voice echoed like the sound of a tattered bellows shrieking in protest.

Steward Hu suddenly realized that the man’s throat might be damaged. No wonder his speech had sounded peculiar all along.

"So quickly?"

Steward Hu’s tone held a hint of surprise.

The man adjusted the brim of his cloak and strode into the boundless darkness of the night.

Steward Hu stared dazedly at his retreating figure, inexplicably losing focus.

When he snapped back to reality, he bolted forward in shock, shouting, "Hey—your payment—!"

By the time he had chased out of the Ministry of Justice, panting heavily, the street was void of any sign of man or horse.

Steward Hu’s body shook visibly, and he rubbed his arms with both hands. "Feels like I’ve seen a ghost. Where did the Chief of Staff find this guy? He’s too eerie!"

Steward Hu went to Hai Pig’s cell. freёwebnoѵel.com

Hai Pig stated that he wanted to see Chief of Staff Xing.

"In the dead of night—you sure know how to keep me busy!"

Steward Hu cursed as he made his way.

When Chief of Staff Xing heard that Hai Pig wanted to meet him, he boarded the Ministry of Justice wagon without hesitation.

"Where’s Qian Fugui?"

Chief of Staff Xing asked.

"Qian, Qian Fugui? Who’s that?"

Steward Hu looked a little confused.

Chief of Staff Xing pressed further, "You didn’t receive him?"

Steward Hu realized then, "Ah, you mean that fake Rooster. Yeah, I received him. He’s gone now."

Chief of Staff Xing questioned, "Gone?"

Steward Hu explained, "Yes, he went to see Hai Pig, and then left. Left in a hurry, even forgot his pay. Is he really just a wandering entertainer? Why do I feel there’s something creepy about him?"

Chief of Staff Xing seemed deep in thought.

While conversing, the wagon arrived at the Ministry of Justice.

Chief of Staff Xing went to meet Hai Pig.

Hai Pig confessed fully to his crimes—it was he who had poisoned Chu Grand Marshal, and he who forged Chu Grand Marshal’s orders to send away the remaining Twelve Guards of the Prince Chu Mansion.

Chief of Staff Xing: "Which guards?"

Hai Pig: "Aside from Rooster and Yin Hu who went to Beiliang, the rest, including me, make ten in total."

Steward Hu wrote furiously at a desk in the corner, recording the full transcript.

Chief of Staff Xing continued, "Was it also you who set fire to the Prince Mansion?"

Hai Pig replied, "No, I only did those things."

Chief of Staff Xing looked Hai Pig right in the eye: "So you’re saying, it wasn’t you who killed the members of the Chu Family either?"

Hai Pig confessed directly, "I wasn’t involved in the latter actions. My task was only to poison Chu Grand Marshal and deploy the Twelve Guards."

Chief of Staff Xing asked, "How did you administer the poison?"

Hai Pig replied, "I poisoned the well water. If I tampered with the wine or food, it might have been detected, and it wouldn’t necessarily enter Chu Grand Marshal’s stomach. To ensure he was poisoned, I had to poison everyone."

Steward Hu’s pen nearly began emitting smoke from its frantic pace.

Chief of Staff Xing: "What kind of poison?"

Hai Pig: "A poison from the Western Regions. It is colorless and odorless. It has no effect on ordinary people, but it causes martial artists to lose their power overnight. The more they force themselves to channel their power, the deeper the poison penetrates, eventually leading to bleeding from all seven orifices and death."

Steward Hu’s pen raced on!

Damned! So much confession!

Chief of Staff Xing: "What do you think of the claim that Lady Chu is the culprit?"

Hai Pig replied, "She was poisoned too. She couldn’t possibly commit murder. She was framed. As to who framed her—I don’t know."

Chief of Staff Xing: "So the fire wasn’t her doing either?"

Hai Pig hesitated briefly, then shook his head. "Why would she set the fire?"

Chief of Staff Xing replied sternly, "Yet I also can’t figure out what motivation your accomplices would have to set the fire. You’re sure you don’t know them?"

Hai Pig answered, "I don’t know them. I only handled my assigned tasks—I’m unaware of anything else."

Chief of Staff Xing seized upon his phrasing: "Your assigned tasks—so you were directed by someone. Spill it—who ordered you?"

Hai Pig’s lips trembled.

Though reluctant to admit it, this Minister of Justice indeed had his methods.

"The late Crown Prince."

Hai Pig replied.

Chief of Staff Xing’s expression didn’t shift in the slightest. Hai Pig could not tell if this meant he had suspected it all along, or if his ability to suppress emotion was simply terrifyingly strong.

Hai Pig thought of Si Snake. Si Snake had this kind of composure too.

Chief of Staff Xing asked, "Why did the Crown Prince seek to harm the Chu Family?"

Hai Pig explained, "King Chu is the Supreme Emperor’s son. After the Crown Prince learned of his lineage, he feared King Chu would contest his claim to the throne. Thus, he bought my services as part of the plan to exterminate the Chu Mansion."

Steward Hu’s pen screeched audibly across the desk, leaving a deep gouge.

Good heavens, what a bombshell!

Chief of Staff Xing’s expression remained calm.

Hai Pig now fully believed he possessed an iron will of unmatched terror.

He had thought Chief of Staff Xing would logically continue by questioning him about the motives and details of his dealings with the late Crown Prince.

Unexpectedly, Chief of Staff Xing went against expectations, ceasing to ask about the case: "Hai Pig, you must understand your crimes are unforgivable. Even if you weren’t the mastermind, your deeds alone are enough to sentence you to death."

Hai Pig replied calmly, "From the moment I was bought by the Crown Prince, I knew my judgment day would come sooner or later."

Chief of Staff Xing said, "If I gave you a chance to redeem yourself, would you seize it?"

"Redemption?" Hai Pig laughed bitterly. "I’m just a worthless life. Do you think I fear death?"

Chief of Staff Xing leaned forward slightly: "I know you don’t fear death. I’m not offering you a path to survival. I’m giving you a choice—die as a condemned criminal kneeling before the executioner’s blade, or die as a hero."

Hai Pig froze.

...

"Once, the Crown Prince Mansion housed a seemingly insignificant guest named Luo San, nicknamed the Hunchback. He was the one who disclosed King Chu’s lineage to the Crown Prince. It was also he who incited the Crown Prince to target the Chu Family—he supplied strategies, hired killers... everything came from this man."

"Find him, and he’ll point to the true puppet master pulling the strings—the Prime Minister Xun."