Tong Sui whispered, “There’s a little bit…”
“The founding Emperor sentenced those who embezzled and accepted bribes of sixty taels of silver to death. He deserves to die a thousand times,” Rong Jin remarked. “In Shu, there was a great drought and crop failure. The court opened the national granary to provide disaster relief, but after layers of exploitation, all that reached the people were a few scattered grains and chaff. Corpses lay everywhere. The common people, to avoid starvation, had to eat tree bark and roots, and even resorted to cannibalism.
Do you still pity such people now?”
Tong Sui’s mood darkened; he had not expected such serious underlying issues.
How could they dare to do this?
Eating from the court’s salaries while endlessly exploiting the common people.
Rong Jin walked a few more steps inside; Tong Sui stood frozen, feeling a chill underfoot. He hurriedly followed and stood close to Rong Jin.
In a cell, he vaguely saw a woman in official robes, her clothes stained and upon closer inspection embroidered with dragons.
The eye sockets that should have held eyes were two dark voids; the sleeves hung empty, hands missing, emanating a putrid smell.
“This was the former Fourth Princess. Her Majesty granted her land and made her a vassal queen, but she secretly trained elite troops, plotting to rebel day and night.”
Rong Jin had grown accustomed to the cruelty of the prison, while Tong Sui was left in shock, his mind blank.
At that moment, a sudden sound of iron chains clanking echoed from a cell.
A figure lunged forward.
If it weren’t for the solid bars blocking her, she would have dashed out to attack Rong Jin.
“You eunuch! Don’t think you can act arrogantly just because I am currently out of power! Let me tell you, I’m not afraid of dying. This debt will definitely be repaid one day!”
The woman, cursing fiercely, had clearly just been punished; her official robes were soaked with blood, completely lacking dignity.
Rong Jin walked close with a light laugh, and the previously defiant woman took a half-step back in fear.
“It seems the Governor of Transportation is quite dissatisfied with me,” Rong Jin chuckled. “Ah, I forgot, you are merely a prisoner in this imperial jail now.”
He smiled faintly and said, “Someone, pull out her tongue for me.”
Rong Jin’s tone was as calm as if he were commenting on the pleasant weather today.
The woman widened her eyes and shouted, “Rong Jin, you eunuch! You have no right to do this! Let me tell you! You’re just a dog by the Emperor’s side; once Lu Yunyi ascends the throne, you’ll be torn into pieces!!”
The obedient Jinyiwei held specially made torture instruments, stained with blood, and opened the cell to restrain the woman.
At this moment, the woman began to cry bitterly, “I was wrong, please forgive me! You, my lord, overlook the small faults of the common people! I can give you anything!”
Tong Sui, looking at the bloody torture instruments, could no longer bear it. “My lord, I feel like I’m going to be sick.”
Rong Jin nodded.
Tong Sui hurriedly rushed out, bent over, supporting himself against the wall, dry heaving, his pale dry lips furrowing, the cold air choking him, causing him to cough violently.
Rong Jin slowly came out and handed him a pure white silk handkerchief.
Tong Sui took it.
His eyes were red from retching, misty with tears, looking at him with the fear of a startled bunny.
“C-can I not go in?”
“Is it frightening?” Rong Jin asked. “Even under strict laws, it does not stop people from attempting to break them.”
Rong Jin continued, “Severe laws are meant to punish and create reverence. The classics of the nation restrain thoughts; only when the two combine can the state be stable.”
After returning from that cursed place, Tong Sui had completely lost his appetite, hurriedly returned to his room, changed his clothes, and scrubbed himself vigorously, the hot water in the tub gradually turning cold.
Tong Sui shivered but resisted the cold until his skin turned red before stopping.
He was exhausted when he returned to bed but felt as if he still carried the cold, rancid smell.
That night.
Rong Jin finished his tasks for the day and called for Feng Yongchang. “Where is Tong Sui?”
“In reply to the Supervisor, he hasn’t come out since returning today and hasn’t eaten. His door is tightly closed, and it’s dark inside; he should be asleep.”
Rong Jin frowned. “I will take a look.”
He stood outside Tong Sui’s door and knocked, waiting for a while but still hearing no response. Rong Jin pushed the door open and saw the figure on the bed.
Rong Jin inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief, walking over to find Tong Sui wrapped in the quilt, his exposed cheeks flushed abnormally.
He reached out to touch; the palm felt burning hot.
Rong Jin’s voice trembled slightly, “Go, call the imperial physicians, quickly.”
Several attendants hurriedly ran out.
Feng Yongchang peeked and asked, “How could he suddenly have a fever? Could it be he caught a chill today?”
Rong Jin cast a cold glance at him, and Feng Yongchang quickly shut his mouth and stood aside.
The imperial physician soon rushed in with a medicine box, frantically kneeling. “Supervisor, where do you feel unwell?”
“Enough kneeling, hurry over and check why he’s so hot.”
“Yes, yes.” The imperial physician got up to examine Tong Sui, touching his head and checking his pulse.
Rong Jin was growing agitated, “Well?”
“Rest assured, Supervisor. It’s just shock from fear coupled with a slight chill. A prescription to reduce the fever will do him no harm.” The physician said, “You can have the servants wipe him down with warm water first.”
“Go, bring some water.”
The servant brought in a basin of water, and Feng Yongchang hurriedly took it, placing it on a rack beside the bed.
“Supervisor, the water is here.”
Feng Yongchang wrung out a cloth, but Rong Jin took it from him. He lifted the quilt and found Tong Sui’s clothes soaked with sweat, clinging closely to his body.
Rong Jin furrowed his brow.
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