Outside Shaojiu Alley, there was not a horse-drawn carriage, but a prison cart.

Chen Ji approached the prison cart to examine it. The rough wooden bars of the cart were stained with someone’s blood. He had seen this prison cart before; it was initially used to transport the Siamese Royal Family, and now it was used to transport him.

Qi Zhenzhuo rode over on horseback, glaring angrily at the Inspector General: "He holds a noble title; how can he be placed in this kind of prison cart? The Imperial Inspection Office clearly has a carriage prepared."

The Inspector General cupped his hands and said, "Young Master, this villain Chen Ji committed the major crime of aiding in a prison break, so he rightfully belongs in a prison cart."

Qi Zhenzhuo’s voice deepened: "The Three Judicial Departments have yet to interrogate him; how can you be so sure he’s a criminal?"

Seeing Qi Zhenzhuo relentlessly argue, the Inspector General’s voice turned cold: "Commander Qi, the carriage of the Imperial Inspection Office is broken; only the prison cart is left."

Qi Zhenzhuo gritted his teeth: "Broken? It could have broken earlier or later, but it had to break today?"

The Inspector General didn’t respond, just curled his lips slightly.

Qi Zhenzhuo took a step forward, with an even deeper voice: "The Three Judicial Departments have not yet interrogated, the charges are not determined, how dare you treat him as a criminal?"

The Inspector General retracted the smile on his face: "Commander Qi, today you are cooperating with the Imperial Inspection Office for the transport, not to investigate the case. What route and what vehicle to use, I decide."

Qi Zhenzhuo wanted to say more, but Chen Ji had already stepped onto the cart, getting into the prison cart calmly: "A prison cart is a prison cart, let’s go."

The wooden door closed behind him, the sound of the lock was crisp.

Qi Zhenzhuo stood by the prison cart, looking at the locked door, his throat moved.

He hesitated for a long time, finally stepping forward to say in a low voice: "Master, I will go home in a moment to discuss with Grandpa about the joint trial by the Three Judicial Departments. The Minister of the Ministry of Justice and the Minister of the Ministry of Dali Temple are both his prized students; perhaps they can mediate."

Chen Ji turned his head to look at Qi Zhenzhuo, but didn’t speak, leaving all of Qi Zhenzhuo’s following words stuck in his throat.

The joint trial by the Three Judicial Departments involves the Ministry of Justice as the main trial, the Imperial Inspection Office supervising, and the Ministry of Dali Temple reviewing.

Now, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice and the Minister of Dali Temple are both prized students of Mr. Qi, while the Left Imperial Censor, Chen Lizun, of the Imperial Inspection Office is new to the position. No wonder the Qi family handed over this matter to the joint trial by the Three Judicial Departments, the sharpest blade in the hands of the civil servants, and a place where the Eunuch Party cannot intervene.

The Inspector General admired Chen Ji in the prison cart: "The Marquis Wu Xiang probably did not expect his fortunes to turn; it’s the first time riding a prison cart, it may feel uncomfortable, but no worries, you’ll get used to it. Next time, it might be on your way to the execution grounds. Let’s go."

Just as the driver raised the whip, a troop came rushing forward.

Chen Ji turned to look, only to see Jin Zhu leading more than a dozen spies, blocking the way, urgently shouting: "The Marquis Wu Xiang is our Spy Department’s Hai Dongqing, and the Prince Jing’s rebellion case has been continuously investigated by our Spy Department. Hand him over; he’s not for your Three Judicial Departments to interrogate."

The Inspector General sneered: "The Spy Department investigating Prince Jing’s rebellion case had a traitor aiding in a jailbreak; doesn’t this prove that there’s something fishy throughout the entire Spy Department?"

Jin Zhu squinted slightly, looking down at the Inspector General: "Without evidence, you splash dirty water on others? It seems you’ve reached the end of your term as Inspector General."

The Inspector General looked up at him, indifferent: "Do you think our Imperial Inspection Office, like your Eunuch Party, lacks rules? Without evidence, do you think we could get a Driving Letter? Now, the witnesses and confessions are in the hands of the Imperial Inspection Office, presented to Your Majesty... what, do you also want to rebel?"

Jin Zhu’s face changed several times; he looked towards the prison cart with Chen Ji: "I’ll go find someone; say nothing when you get to the Imperial Inspection Office!"

With that, he turned his horse and galloped away.

Chen Ji stood in the prison cart, deep in thought. It seemed She Dengke indeed fell into the hands of the Qi family, or else the Imperial Inspection Office couldn’t have obtained the Driving Letter... How much did She Dengke say? What other leverage did the Qi family hold? He was clueless.

This time, the Qi family’s offensive came quickly, fiercely, sharply, and decisively.

At this moment, the Inspector General mounted his horse, holding the reins leisurely: "Rest assured, Marquis Wu Xiang, this time, no one can save you. Let’s go."

The driver flipped the whip, the wooden wheels of the prison cart rolled over the bluestone road, slowly heading south.

A convoy of mules approached head-on, the convoy of lamps arrived as expected, but they were still a step too late.

Third Master Hu sat wearing a bamboo hat on the first mule carriage, and when he saw Chen Ji in the prison cart, he was stunned. He seemed unable to believe that Chen Ji, who was well earlier in the morning, had now become a prisoner.

His murky gaze wandered between the prison cart and the Five Cities Military Department, as if calculating the odds of breaking the prison cart.

Chen Ji shook his head at him, his gaze sweeping towards Xiao Man and the others not far away: take them away.

Third Master Hu restrained himself, the two groups passed by one another, one heading north, the other south.

...

...

Strangely, the prison cart did not head directly to the Northwest Corner of Inner City towards the Imperial Supervision Office, but instead transported Chen Ji through Chongwen Gate, heading towards the Outer City.

At noon, Zhengyang Gate Street was at its busiest.

Food stalls were steaming, peddlers with shoulder poles called out along the street, and a few children chased a stray cat, almost bumping into a horse’s legs. When the prison cart passed by, everyone turned to look.

The Inspector General, riding a tall horse, wearing a Fourth-Grade Blue Robe with a Cloud Goose patch embroidered on the chest, said loudly, "The convict Chen Ji is involved in the treason case of Prince Jing, accused as the mastermind of the Luocheng prison break case, and has been arrested by decree."

The crowd was in an uproar.

"Chen Ji? Which Chen Ji?"

"Who else? The one criticized in the newspapers."

"The Luocheng prison break? Is that true?"

A few days ago, the Imperial Capital was still talking about how Chen Ji brought down Left Imperial Censor Qi Xianzun, but today Chen Ji suddenly became a prisoner.

A man carrying a pole squeezed to the front of the crowd, tiptoed to look into the prison cart, and when he saw Chen Ji’s face, he turned around and shouted to the people behind him, "It really is him, everything the newspapers said about him being unfilial and unrighteous is true!"

A nearby woman quietly interjected, "This Eunuch Party really is no good, the Qi family was framed by him, right?"

"Is there any doubt? Qi Xianzun was expelled from the genealogy and returned to Ji State, and the Qi family handed over all their property..."

"No wonder Princess Bai Li left him!"

Qi Zhenzhuo heard these words and looked at Chen Ji with an embarrassed expression.

Chen Ji stood in the prison cart, head lowered, with no expression on his face, as if the people’s discussions were not about him.

Qi Zhenzhuo looked at the Inspector General and, gritting his teeth, said harshly, "Why not go straight to the Imperial Inspection Office?"

The Inspector General ignored him and continued moving forward.

Qi Zhenzhuo spurred his horse forward, grabbing the driver’s whip in one hand: "Stop!"

The infantry of the Five Cities Military Department were stunned, looking at each other, not knowing whom to listen to.

Qi Zhenzhuo turned around and shouted at them, "What are you standing there for? Take Chen Ji to the Imperial Inspection Office, no more detours!"

A few infantry hesitated to step forward, but the Inspector General suddenly maneuvered his horse to block Qi Zhenzhuo, and in a lowered voice, scolded, "Qi Zhenzhuo, are you crazy?"

Qi Zhenzhuo stared at him.

The Inspector General moved closer, "Chen Ji brought this upon himself by committing a great mistake. Parading him through the streets is a good opportunity to win back the Qi family’s reputation. Why are you siding against us?"

Qi Zhenzhuo clutched the driver’s whip so tightly that his fingers turned white.

The Inspector General’s voice was even lower and heavier, "Don’t you know the Qi family is on the verge of collapse, and how many people are eyeing this piece of fat? Today you pity him, but when those people come to carve up the Qi family tomorrow, who will pity you? You are the legitimate son of the Qi family, don’t forget your surname!"

Qi Zhenzhuo stood there, stunned, slowly loosening his grip on the whip.

The Inspector General’s tone softened, "Now, only by proving him treacherous can the Qi family regain some reputation, and the Imperial Inspection Office can regain some credibility. Otherwise, how will the Qi family and the Imperial Censors stand? All of Mr. Qi’s disciples and former subordinates are working for the Qi family, also for you... Don’t be foolish, always think of the Qi family first."

Taking advantage of Qi Zhenzhuo’s daze, the Inspector General signaled to the infantry of the Five Cities Military Department with his eyes, and the prison cart continued to move forward.

The escort team moved along Chongwen Gate Street, turning into Zhengyang Gate Street, heading south, then west, making a full afternoon of detours. Every street and intersection was teeming with citizens watching, and the discussions grew louder and increasingly unpleasant.

Qi Zhenzhuo rode alongside the prison cart, despondent, not daring to look at Chen Ji.

It was not until evening that the prison cart finally returned to the inner city through Xuanwu Gate, stopping in front of the darkly painted gates of the Imperial Supervision Office.

Qi Zhenzhuo reined in his horse, watching the prison guards stream out from inside the gate, hoarsely saying, "Master..."

Chen Ji whispered, "Go back, this is not something you can meddle in."

The prison guards of the Imperial Supervision Office opened the door of the prison cart, and Chen Ji walked out on his own.

The Inspector General waved his hand, "Marquis Wu Xiang is an executive officer, put on the shackles, lest he escapes."

Two prison guards carried over a heavy set of shackles, fastening them on Chen Ji’s wrists, the long iron chain dragging on the ground with a clattering sound.

The Inspector General stood on the steps, smiling as he looked at Chen Ji, "Marquis Wu Xiang, please come inside."