Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey
Chapter 20: Interrogation

Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Interrogation

"Mr. Yang, quite the elegant interest."

Jiang Shaohua sneered, curling his lips.

Yang Zheng’s face turned crimson, forced to bow and apologize: "Your servant has been busy with work all day, indulged in a drink momentarily, truly ashamed."

Actually, drinking in the signature room was not considered a major issue. Chen Zhuo and Feng Wenming often indulged in a couple of drinks after finishing their tasks! In the past, the Prince frequently invited them to drink together, with Jiang Shaohua serving wine on the side. Yang Zheng was never granted such honor.

Jiang Shaohua was already seeking his faults, and having caught him tonight, naturally would not let it go.

Jiang Shaohua left Yang Zheng bowing apologetically there and called over two Deputy Judges: "I want to use the Criminal Room for interrogation."

The two Deputy Judges quickly responded and accepted the orders. One went to arrange the Criminal Room, the other stayed by Jiang Shaohua’s side.

After Jiang Shaohua left, Yang Zheng finally stood up, his handsome face flushed like liver, body trembling uncontrollably.

Not knowing if it’s from anger or embarrassment.

The constables seldom witnessed such excitement, poking their heads out, secretly snickering.

"What are you all looking at?" Yang Zheng barked with shame and anger: "Have you finished your tasks? Those who haven’t finished shouldn’t expect to sleep tonight!"

The constables quickly scattered like startled birds.

Yang Zheng took a deep breath outside the signature room, repeatedly chanting in his mind "Don’t argue with a ten-year-old girl". After thirty repetitions, he barely managed to calm down. Then he stepped towards the Criminal Room.

The Criminal Room for interrogation had six rooms, lined up in a row.

In the evening, the Criminal Rooms were temporarily empty, Jiang Shaohua picked the innermost room. It was the cleanest and quietest.

Yin Zhu softly reported: "Commandery Princess, Mr. Yang has arrived. He’s volunteering to assist you in the interrogation."

The Yang family had generations serving in the Ministry of Justice, experts in interrogation. Yang Zheng did have some real skill.

Jiang Shaohua didn’t even raise an eyebrow: "Tell Mr. Yang, I have two Deputy Judges here, that’s enough. Please let Mr. Yang go rest!"

The two Deputy Judges exchanged a subtle glance.

Yin Zhu responded and went out, repeating the Commandery Princess’s words verbatim.

Yang Zheng was so furious his nose practically started smoking, stubbornly agreeing, then turned and left.

Yin Zhu was displeased, stomped after him: "Mr. Yang, what do you mean by this? Are you dissatisfied with the Commandery Princess?"

The Commandery Princess was tolerable, but now even a maid dared glare at him!

Yang Zheng suddenly turned his head.

Yin Zhu, thirteen years old this year, had already taken on a maiden’s appearance, standing with her cute little face facing Mr. Yang. Full of momentum, not losing any ground: "Let’s go to the Commandery Princess and reason it out."

Yang Zheng, expressionless, turned back, strode away... essentially fleeing.

Yin Zhu curled her lips at his departing figure.

A tall youthful trusted aide came over scowling, holding a short-statured young boy by the arm. _{f|re(e)web.n\ovel. (c)o.m}

Yin Zhu curiously glanced: "Third Brother Meng, is this the mysterious boy? Quite handsome looking."

Just the hair is especially short, a bit odd.

Meng Sanbao’s mother and Yin Zhu’s mother were both maids of the late Princess Nanyang, familiar from childhood.

Meng Sanbao grunted, not daring to delay, strode into the Criminal Room, threw the young boy to the ground: "Commandery Princess, I’ve brought the person."

Jiang Shaohua slightly nodded.

Meng Sanbao respectfully retreated. Once outside the door, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

...

The young boy awkwardly climbed up.

This room wasn’t big, yet it carried a cold and bloody smell. Various torture instruments hung on the walls, leather whips with reverse hooks, blood-stained hooks, sharp iron nails...

The young boy didn’t dare to look more, striving to stabilize his trembling legs, racking his brain to find a way to live.

"What is your name?"

The Commandery Princess sitting on the chair asked leisurely.

The young boy wanted to answer, but despite opening his mouth several times, he couldn’t make a sound. Desperately, he pointed at his throat.

Deputy Judge Pan Changqing slanted his eyes, sneered: "Commandery Princess, this kid’s pretending, please allow me to interrogate him alone for a moment. I promise he’ll confess everything truthfully."

Another Deputy Judge He was unwilling to be outdone, scrambling to make achievements before the Commandery Princess.

Jiang Shaohua glanced at the young boy showing despair and smiled at the two Deputy Judges: "I’ll interrogate him alone first, if we really can’t get anything out, then I’ll trouble you two to step in."

The two Deputy Judges respectfully retreated.

The door opened and closed again.

Only two remained in the Criminal Room.

Jiang Shaohua continued sitting, her gaze fixed on the pale young boy: "Now there’s no one else, only you and me. If you have any grievances you can’t tell others, you can say them now!"

"I’m giving you this one chance. If you can’t convince me, you won’t see the sun tomorrow."

This isn’t a threat.

This is a fact.

In Nanyang County, if anyone offended her—Nanyang County Princess—there was only one outcome. The young boy’s origin was strange, not undeserved being seen as an assassin.

The young boy’s heart pounded, eyes urgently searching. Jiang Shaohua understood, speaking softly: "You can’t speak, can you write?"

The young boy frantically nodded.

Indeed, there were paper and pen in the Criminal Room.

Jiang Shaohua signaled with her eyes towards the table in the corner. The young boy took a deep breath, walked over, and found a stack of paper and a charcoal pencil from the table.

He swiftly laid out the paper, gripped the charcoal pencil, and started writing quickly.

"What are you writing?" The Commandery Princess’s voice suddenly sounded by his ear.

Startled, the young boy’s hand shook. When did she get there? How could she move so silently?

Jiang Shaohua looked at the strange script filled page: "The characters you wrote, each one is strange, missing many strokes. Some can be barely guessed, most I don’t recognize."

"What exactly are you writing?"

The young boy was so desperate he almost cried.

Unable to speak, writing unrecognizable characters... wait!

The young boy extracted another piece of paper and the charcoal pencil moved quickly. In a moment, appeared a simple illustration.

A youth climbing a mountain, with just a few strokes yet vividly expressive.

On the next drawing, mountain path railings broke, the youth falling from the mountain.

Jiang Shaohua looked at the drawing, then at the young boy’s small arms and legs: "You fell from a mountain? There aren’t mountains within ten miles of the main road. Also, this is a grown man in the drawing, you look about ten."

The young boy’s expression turned bewildered, his gaze dimmed again. He tightened his grip on the charcoal pencil, pursed his lips, and drew a few strokes downward.

Sky, storm, lightning, a charred figure struck by thunder.

So this is...

"Are you swearing a poisonous oath, if you lie even a word, may lightning strike?" Jiang Shaohua guessed jokingly.

The young boy nodded hard, his heart full of dejected resignation.

These words sounded implausible. How could a full-grown man suddenly become a boy?

Jiang Shaohua restrained her smile, silently scrutinizing the young boy before her.

This world, probably only she would believe such absurd words.

After all, she herself had just returned to her youth yesterday.