"My lord! The second prince is here!" A guard rushed into the room.
Wei Heping spun around, his movement causing his blade to nick Meiwan's chin and a drop of blood fell to her lap. She winced at the pain, but didn't cry out.
"Did he say why he came?"
"No my lord." The guard shook his head. "He showed up outside without any warning!"
The fourth prince clenched his fist and threw the strange instrument to the ground with force before turning back to her and glaring. His nostrils flared for a second but then hurridly left the caged room, his guard following close behind. The door clanged shut behind them.
...
"Second brother." Heping bowed to his older brother, though begrudgingly. "May I know what's brought you to my prisons?"
Before him stood a tall and handsome young man, dressed in fine clothing and holding a sword in hand. He looked intelligent as he eyed the fourth prince, his lips turned up in a casual smile.
"I heard my fourth brother had arrested two suspects who were involved with the trafficking case." Wei Rongxie smiled. "I hoped I could ask them a few questions myself."
The fourth prince scoffed. "Second brother must be joking, how could you dirty yourself in my dungeons?"
"All for justice dear brother."
"Hmm, yes. For justice." Heping considered his brother's request. He had no reasonable grounds to refuse, but also knew that if he were to agree, then he would be put in a difficult situation.
"I don't believe it will be necessary, I think I've gotten everything from them. If you'd like, I can give you written document of their interrogation. I'll send it to your mansion later this afternoon." The fourth prince offered.
"But I'm here already, I won't take too long." Rongxie, followed by his own guard pushed past Heping and headed straight for the prison entrance.
"Second brother, there is no need." He growled as he followed them.
But the other prince ignored him and swiftly made his way down to the interrogation room, knowing clearly of its location. His face had turned from kind and polite to being more serious and determined. He looked through the bars as he approached and saw the girl sitting in chains, his brows lowered.
"Open the doors," he told the jailer.
The man quickly unlocked the doors after seeing the fourth prince's grudging nod of approval, the keys jingling as he turned the lock. Rongxie opened the door and entered the small room, coming to stand before the girl. She looked frightened at his appearance and tilted her head to look at the ground. He turned to look at his younger brother.
Heping could tell Rongxie was already suspicious of the prisoner, however he decided to take a defiant stance. This was his dungeon and he would very well do whatever he wanted, after all, he had been granted the seal.
"Don't tell me this child, is your suspect?"
The fourth prince scoffed. "She committed a crime, she's already confessed." He crossed his arms.
"What crime?" Rongxie sounded annoyed.
Heping walked over to her, standing next to his brother. "This, child, was the main reason Ning's steward escaped. How's that for a crime?" He taunted. "Because of her, the whole case will become more difficult and take longer. Not to mention how many more people could be harmed due to her interference."
The girl shook her head, though mainly to herself, her face still turned downwards.
"What is your name?" Rongxie asked her sternly.
"Lu Meiwan, of Yan mansion."
The fourth prince sighed. She had just spoken the very words he hoped she wouldn't. He turned his face away so he wouldn't see his brother's fierce stare, which Rongxie did give.
"Yan mansion?" He repeated, still while looking at Heping. "Minister Yan's mansion?"
"Yes, I'm his niece. And my little brother is also being held here."
Rongxie's eyes couldn't have become more fiery. "Guard, release the children. Immediately. Heping..." He said as he exited the room, in a tone that meant his brother should follow.
After returning to the main hall of the Department of Justice, Rongxie twirled around and gazed silently at his brother, before speaking.
"Your nerve has gotten the better of you today. Don't think your reputation as a blood thirsty killer makes you intimidating and invincible." He pointed his finger in the direction they'd just come. "Yan Yifeng isn't the highest rank, but his history with our royal father is enough to make you removed from your position for this matter. And need I remind you, Mr. Yan is leaning towards being eldest brother's supporter? Which aligns perfectly with father's will."
Heping faced off with his brother. Of course he knew these things, and he didn't want his competitor to be the one to remind him. It was the very reason he didn't want Rongxie to see the siblings, he'd point out every issue regarding the whole matter. It would be better to ignore him.
"As I said, this is my prison. I'll do as I see fit. I won't send you, then." The fourth prince held his hand out to the doors, his action making it clear he wated Rongxie to leave.
The older brother walked past him and as he did said quietly, "Make sure you fix the Lu girl before you send her back personally. If Yan Yifeng sees her that way, it'll be hell to pay for you." And he left.
Heping stood in the hall for a moment, making his anger dissapate, so he could return to the prison and not kill anyone. He had hated his second brother for as long as he could remember. Rongxie had always been thoughtful, intelligent, skilled in martial arts, and good at wearing a smile.
After calming himself, he headed towards the dungeon. Moments later, Lu Meiwan's chains were tossed on the ground beside her, and the guard headed off to release her brother. Heping crouched before her and took her face in his hand, she tried to pull away but he held her firmly, he then examined her chin.
"What do you want?" She asked timidly, wincing as he ran his thumb over the broken flesh.
Sighing, he took his hand away and reached for the cloth he kept in his robe and pressed it to the bloody spot. "Unfortunately, I need to make you look decent before returning you."
Her eyes widened. "You're freeing me? And my brother?"
Her voice made his ears cringe, such a girl. "Shut up and hold this." He stood and turned towards the door, waiting till she followed. He led her back out of the prison and towards the main hall, where her brother was taken as well.
"Zhanyi!" She ran to her brother, who hugged her. She then proceeded to examine him from head to toe. "You're not injured are you?"
He shook his head, but then pointed to the cloth she held to her chin. "Sister, what happened?"
"An accident. It doesn't hurt though."
Heping scoffed, at least she knew what to say. But whether it had been an accident or not didn't matter to him. Had she not been able to prove her identity today and his brother not interfered, he would not have had a problem torturing her till she confessed. Now standing here, watching the display of sibling affection, he couldn't wait to have them gone.
"Carriage is here." He growled before heading towards the doors. Outside a horse was tied to a carriage, and a servant stood holding the reigns.
"Let's go home." He heard Lu Meiwan tell her brother.
Moments later the three were heading to Yan mansion. Wei Heping sat at the back of the carriage, while the siblings sat silently on either side of him. The girl still dabbed her chin gently, and the boy held his sister's knee. After thirty minutes, the driver pulled to a stop and announced their arrival.
No more patience left, he nudged their feet. "Out." He watched as the two scrambled from the carriage and then rushed up the steps of their home. "Return to the department." He instructed the servant, and again, he lurched into motion.
After he returned, his guard rushed up to him at the doors. "Ning's steward, he's been arrested!"
Good news, for once. Heping smiled darkly and headed towards the dungeons, no longer planning on entering the main hall. His reputaion had almost been ruined by the Lu girl today, and he needed to set things straight. Now it was time for a real interrogation.