Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 522 - 521: Make Him Kneel

Mr. Gao quickly responded, about to give instructions, glancing at Lu Qing, and then looked inquiringly at Emperor Jin.

Mr. Gao had been at Emperor Jin’s side for many years, and Emperor Jin naturally understood the meaning behind his inquiring look.

"Don’t give him anything, just let him kneel!" So he pointed at Lu Qing, his tone laced with displeasure, "He thinks he’s grown strong, making his own decisions, daring to take people and run off to Fan Country on his own.

Since his bones are so hard, let him kneel for a while longer! Let’s see whether his knees are tougher or the stone slabs of my study room are harder!"

Lu Qing lowered his eyes and knelt there without a word. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

He had to kneel, so naturally, the others beside him didn’t need to say anything.

Emperor Jin’s gaze swept over each of them, pausing on Zhu Yu, examining her without a change in expression.

"My virtuous nephew, you’ve transported your uncle’s remains to the capital from Fan Country, traveling day and night, and it’s been quite arduous, hasn’t it? Truly commendable filial piety." Without a change in expression, Emperor Jin shifted his gaze from Zhu Yu to the nephew of King Fan, "I’ve already read the memorial you submitted, and will arrange reliable people to examine your uncle’s remains.

Regardless of what happens, you will be given an explanation.

However, today, my headache has flared up, and I’m not feeling well. You’ve had a long, tiring journey, so why not rest first? Once my headache is better and the examination of your uncle’s remains is concluded, I will naturally give a fair statement on what to do next."

The nephew of King Fan was a bit conflicted.

On one hand, he was indeed worn out from traveling such a long distance for the first time since he was young, and the journey had been exhausting. Adding to that, he hadn’t eaten or slept well, and he was eager to quickly retreat and rest, to indulge himself with some good food and drink.

On the other hand, the person who instructed him before didn’t mention anything about postponing everything, as he had hoped to tackle it all in one go. Now, seeing things not progressing as anticipated made him a bit anxious, unsure of how to handle this unexpected situation.

But he quickly figured it out.

The person before him wasn’t just any high official, but the current Sovereign of the World.

This Holy Emperor said he had a headache and wasn’t feeling well, so how many lives would he need to insist on getting an answer on the spot at such a time?

So he promptly voiced his compliance, and then, with a hint of difficulty, glanced at Lu Qing and the others beside him.

Emperor Jin seemed to understand his implicit meaning, and spoke to Mr. Gao, "Have Prince Xiaoyao and his attendants escorted to the Shackles Prison, and without my written order, no one is allowed to visit or take them elsewhere!"

When he said this, everyone present, except for Lu Qing, displayed surprised expressions on their faces.

Inside the Imperial Palace, there are three places where wrongdoers can be imprisoned.

If a eunuch or palace attendant commits a crime, they are held in the Imperial City Prison.

If a member of the Imperial Family commits a crime, they are imprisoned in the Imperial Eunuch Prison.

As for the Shackles Prison mentioned by Emperor Jin, it is where court officials who need to be personally interrogated by the Emperor are held.

Although any of the three detention places in the palace are not ordinary detention places, especially the latter two, the people who are imprisoned there are not of common status.

However, as a prince, Lu Qing, even if he committed a great mistake, ought to be detained in the Imperial Eunuch Prison, yet Emperor Jin ordered them to be taken to the Shackles Prison, which means he is being handled like a court official.

If this matter involved anyone else, it might not have raised suspicions, and if it were Prince Xu or Prince Yi, others might think this was due to Emperor Jin’s fury, thereby detaining them in the Shackles Prison as a form of punishment and reprimand.

But now it was about Lu Qing, who is an adopted son, and was given the title of a Two-Character King when he was enfeoffed years ago.

This matter has been gossiped about for years, and now to say he is to be sent to the Shackles Prison...

Such a decision inevitably raises suspicions.

And it is not just veteran figures in the palace like Mr. Gao who suspect, but even the nephew of King Fan, visiting Jin Country for the first time.

He looked up at Emperor Jin in surprise, thinking he had misheard, and glanced towards Mr. Gao, seeing the same astonished expression, he finally understood, feeling secretly delighted.

Initially, seeing how the Deputy Captain outside and the old eunuch treated Lu Qing with such courtesy and respect, he thought he had been deceived, worrying whether the development of this matter might not be as expected, and also being concerned about unforeseen complications given Emperor Jin’s headache, unsure of how to handle them.

Now upon hearing the mention of the Shackles Prison, the anxiety in his heart subsided again.

Thus, the nephew of King Fan quickly rose and thanked graciously on his knees.

Emperor Jin didn’t seem to have the energy to deal with him much and waved a hand, signaling Mr. Gao to see the nephew of King Fan out.

After the nephew of King Fan left, the space before the desk in the South Study Room was left with only Lu Qing and his four companions kneeling there.

Emperor Jin looked at Lu Qing for a moment before coldly snorting, "I have a splitting headache today, and don’t want to utter more words. You should reflect carefully in prison, and when you are summoned, think well about how to explain your actions to me."

At that, the guards Mr. Gao summoned arrived, they entered the South Study Room, not giving Lu Qing a chance to speak, and just pulled all five of them off the ground, leading them outside.

When they were sent to the Shackles Prison, Mr. Gao accompanied them all the way, although he had earlier arranged for the nephew of King Fan to settle down, and now he was following along, busy on both ends.

He was, after all, getting on in years, and couldn’t keep up with the guards, so he followed far behind until they reached the Shackles Prison, where the guards finally stopped, waiting for him to catch up.

"Mr. Gao..." The leading guard had never handled placing a prince in such a place, and was somewhat unsure, so he consulted with the most authoritative figure in his mind beside the emperor, "The prince and his four companions...

Should they be held separately, or together?"

Mr. Gao waved a hand, "Hold them together, it will be more convenient for daily food delivery, and when the Emperor’s headache is better, it will be easier to summon them."

"Yes!" The guard quickly answered, turning to instruct those inside to prepare a larger cell.

It is often said that the emperor’s mind is difficult to predict, so even now with Prince Xiaoyao being imprisoned in such a place by the emperor’s order, they dare not be careless, nor dare to kick someone when they’re down at this critical moment.

In case a few days later, the Emperor’s anger subsides, and familial ties mend, then those who ’overstep their bounds’ at this point would be in serious trouble.