Chapter 288: Trapped Like a Rat

Chapter 288: Trapped Like a Rat

“Yes, Lord Lian, even those imperial censors in the past who initially put on a show of integrity

could always be swayed by bribes or threats, and we could find their weakness. But this Cheng Ge, he’s utterly impervious to all that!”

Another official pounded his fist into his palm in frustration, “He accepts all the silver we give him.

But when it comes to investigating cases, he’s utterly ruthless, showing no mercy to anyone! He has no sense of honor or trust!”

“Now he’s taken all the evidence. Lord Lian, what are we to do?!”

The officials spoke one after another, and panic quickly spread through the hall.

They were accustomed to lording over Chengping Province, bullying and oppressing as they pleased. When had they ever encountered an opponent who played by such unpredictable rules and was so ruthless?

Lian Wujing sat upright in the main seat, leisurely brushing away the tea foam with the lid of his cup, completely ignoring the commotion in the room.

He didn’t even lift his eyelids until the voices subsided, then slowly raised his eyes.

His gaze swept across each face in the room, and a sarcastic, cold smile curled at the corners of his mouth.

His voice was not loud, but carried an undeniable authority: “Just a wet-behind-the-ears little imperial censor, and he’s got you all shaking in your boots like this?

Hmph, you’ve been drifting through officialdom for years, seen plenty of storms. Have you learned nothing after all that?”

His words were calm, but like a bucket of ice water, they instantly extinguished the clamor of the crowd.

The room fell deadly silent. All the officials held their breath, instinctively straightening their backs, not daring to speak again.

Zhou Wenyuan exchanged a glance with a few other senior officials, took a deep breath, and stepped forward half a pace.

Bowing deeply, he cautiously asked, “Lord Lian’s reprimand is correct.

It’s just that Cheng Ge’s actions are too ruthless and leave no room for negotiation. May I ask what wise plan Lord Lian has now? We await your orders.”

Another official quickly chimed in, his voice tinged with undisguised worry.

“Lord Lian, if those pieces of evidence reach the hands of that person in the capital, the consequences… would be unthinkable!”

Lian Wujing gently placed the teacup in his hand on the table, making a soft “tap” sound, distinctly audible in the silent study.

He leaned back slightly, his gaze deep and fixed on the window, and spoke with an indifferent tone:

“What is there to worry about?” he said slowly. “This Chengping Province is far from the capital, and the emperor is a distant figure. Don’t we already call the shots here?”

He paused, and his tone suddenly turned sharp, carrying a chilling murderous intent.

“Let alone a mere minor imperial censor, even if that person from the capital came in person, as long as This Official desires, he wouldn’t be able to take half a step out of Chengping’s borders. Now he is nothing but a fish in the net. Let him thrash around a bit more before he dies—it’s no big deal.”

At these words, everyone in the study felt their breath catch in their throats.

Although they had privately thought of themselves as local emperors, acting without restraint, having this facade so brutally torn away, and even openly mentioning defiance against Imperial Authority, was the first time they had heard Lian Wujing speak so bluntly.

For a moment, the officials exchanged glances, each seeing the shock in each other’s eyes.

The study was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard, and the air was so thick it could be cut with a knife.

After a long while, Zhou Wenyuan was the first to snap out of it.

Suppressing the tumult in his heart, he forced a fawning but determined smile onto his face and echoed loudly:

“Lord Lian is right. This Lower Official and the others were momentarily confused and panicked!

It’s just a brash young lad wet behind the ears, relying on sheer reckless courage. What is there to fear?!”

With Zhou Wenyuan taking the lead, the other officials seemed to find their courage. They snapped out of their shock, quickly wiped the fear from their faces, and put on a united front of righteous indignation, chiming in:

“Yes, yes! Lord Zhou is right! With Lord Lian here, what do we have to fear?”

“That Cheng Ge doesn’t know his place—he’s looking for death!”

“We will follow all of Lord Lian’s orders!”

After this lecture from Lian Wujing, the officials felt as if a great weight had been lifted from their minds.

So what if Cheng Ge was an imperial censor representing the imperial authority? A mighty dragon cannot overpower a local snake. In this Chengping Province, a dragon must curl up, and a tiger must lie low. A mere inexperienced young man, alone and single-handed—could he really turn the world upside down?

The more they thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. Their faces gradually regained their former arrogance and ease, as if they still held everything in control.

………

Inside the Censorate, Cheng Ge bent over his long desk, the flickering candlelight casting shifting shadows on his face.

The case files and petitions piled up beside him like a mountain, almost burying him. The tip of his brush flew across the paper, making a rustling sound.

Dahuang lay listlessly under the long desk, his fluffy tail occasionally brushing the floor.

Star Frost coiled around Cheng Ge’s writing arm, pressing against his skin, its head drooping low, while its slender tail occasionally helped Cheng Ge turn the pages, moving with practiced ease.

“Cough… cough… cough…” Cheng Ge suddenly turned his head, suppressing a heavy cough.

His thin shoulders trembled with the effort, and his already pale cheeks flushed with an unnatural red.

Lü Rou, who had been standing by his side all along, quickly stepped forward. Her eyes were also shadowed with dark circles from days of hard work.

She gently patted Cheng Ge’s back, then handed him a warm porcelain cup, her voice filled with undisguised concern.

“Young Master, drink some pear soup. Moisten your throat before you continue.”

Cheng Ge managed to catch his breath, looked up at Lü Rou, and gave her a grin. He took the cup: “Sister Lvrou, you should go rest. You don’t need to stay with me all the time.”

Lü Rou just smiled and shook her head, refusing to answer, stubbornly staying by his side.

Cheng Ge lowered his head, about to drink from the edge of the cup, when his movement suddenly stopped.

He blinked, then turned his head to look at the Star Frost on his arm.

Star Frost immediately raised its head, leaning over the cup, its crimson forked tongue flicking rapidly a few times.

The next moment, Star Frost abruptly pulled back its head, its body tensed, shaking its head wildly at Cheng Ge.

Seeing this, Cheng Ge’s heart sank. He immediately turned to look at Lü Rou beside him.

Lü Rou met his gaze, and seeing his grim expression and Star Frost’s unusual reaction, she instantly understood what was happening, and her face turned deathly pale.

Cheng Ge discreetly sent for a trusted physician.

After a careful examination, the physician, his face pale, reported: "Sir, this soup… appears to have been laced with arsenic.

Fortunately, though, the arsenic was impure and contained sulfur, which gave it a slight odor. Otherwise…"

He did not dare finish the sentence, but everyone understood—had it not been for that faint smell of sulfur, Cheng Ge would likely have been in grave danger.

Listening, Cheng Ge’s face darkened as if water were about to drip from it. His hand tightened around the soup bowl, veins bulging on the back of his hand.

He realized instantly that the culprit had not expected at all to kill him with this.

This clumsy poisoning was more like a blatant show of force and a warning:

"We are watching every move you make. We can get to your food and drink easily. Your life is ours to take whenever we want."