Chapter 239: Cheng Yu’s Plan
A tooth-grating screech rang out.
The prison cell door opened.
The people locked inside immediately raised their heads and looked excitedly at Xiao Qi and the other Jinyiwei who walked in.
They had all heard everything clearly just now.
Qian Sunbao, Minister Qian, had come and had already reached an agreement with Cheng Yu.
They could be released!
However, they still felt somewhat worried. They did not know the specific result of the discussion between the two men, and it was still uncertain who exactly would be released.
If only the big fish were fished out while the small shrimp like them were ignored, that would be tragic!
Xiao Qi took out a list and walked in front of a few people in the corner.
He spoke in an indifferent tone. “Lord Liu, Lord Li... My lord has a few questions to ask you. Once you answer them, you may leave with Lord Qian.”
The few officials of no low status stood up and nodded excitedly, their faces filled with relief.
Unwilling to remain in the prison cell for even a moment longer, they headed toward another secret room where Cheng Yu was.
Elder Grand Secretary Qi and Minister Qian had indeed not abandoned them!
The others in the prison cell looked at this scene with incomparable envy.
They could only click their tongues helplessly.
These men had all been enjoying the Beauty Banquet at Harmony Tower and had been caught red-handed by the Jinyiwei. Their crimes were backed by ironclad evidence.
Yet unexpectedly, compared to those who had merely been implicated, they were actually leaving even earlier.
Having power and backing truly was different.
Even a ruthless, fierce man like Cheng Yu would open a back door for them.
As they were sighing in grief and lamentation, Xiao Qi’s voice rang out again.
“Ma Wu, Niu Liu... after you pay the fine silver, you may leave.”
Those who did not hear their names collapsed to the floor, all hope completely draining from their eyes.
It was over!
Meanwhile, those who heard their names instantly grew excited.
They could finally leave!
They truly had only gone to Harmony Tower to eat!
The matter of the Beauty Banquet that the Jinyiwei were investigating could be said to have absolutely nothing to do with them.
They had simply been too unlucky, suffering implication because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time!
When they heard they could leave, they immediately stood joyfully and were about to head outside.
As for the fine Xiao Qi mentioned, they acted as if they had not heard it at all and paid it no mind.
They were all people who could afford to eat at Harmony Tower. How could they lack some family wealth?
They would pay it. They would pay it!
But when they saw the amount of the fine they needed to pay, they were directly dumbfounded.
“For those in the First Rank Martial Realm, two thousand taels of silver must be paid. For each rank higher, the amount doubles. Those who hold official status will have the amount doubled again...”
“This... this is far too much!”
According to this calculation, a Fourth-Rank martial artist with official status would have to pay more than thirty thousand taels!
Everyone present had martial arts in their bodies and was no longer an ordinary person.
Gold and silver were not important things to them. Treasures such as weapons, spiritual pills, and similar items were what truly concerned their lives and fortunes.
Those truly valuable treasures could not be bought with money, nor could their value be estimated.
Now that the Jinyiwei wanted them to pay a fine, although the amount was enormous, it was not to the point of making their hearts ache.
The real problem was that they could not produce so much money at the moment!
Silver could not buy truly valuable things anyway. Household necessities and daily expenses were purchased by servants. When they went out, there was simply no need for them to carry silver notes.
How could they take them out?
Xiao Qi sneered. “Is it too much? That is fine. My lord is very open-minded. Anyone who thinks it is too much does not need to pay. Just stay here and eat prison meals.”
Everyone was dumbfounded. Continue staying in this place?
How could that be allowed!
“Not too much, not too much. Not too much at all. Lord Cheng is truly magnanimous and generous. It is only that we cannot pay this amount from what we have on hand. Could you release us first, and then we will send someone to deliver the silver afterward?”
Xiao Qi raised his brows, revealing a fierce glint.
“What if you run away? Not allowed! If you cannot pay, you are not allowed to leave!”
When they were at Harmony Tower, the truly innocent diners had already been released by the Jinyiwei.
Those who remained had either made movements of resistance at the time or had a close relationship with the owner, Qian Shengcai.
Even if it had already been confirmed that they had no connection to the Beauty Banquet, they were absolutely not good people.
Xiao Qi was too lazy to say much to these people. After collecting the fine silver from the few who could actually produce the money and letting them leave, he prepared to leave directly.
Seeing this, the people hurriedly spoke up.
“My lord, do not be in such a hurry. It is not that we are unwilling to pay. We truly cannot take out the money on us! How about this? Can we entrust someone to bring the money here?”
“Bring the money here?”
Xiao Qi stroked his chin. “That is not a problem. You may entrust someone to bring the money.”
After receiving permission, the other party immediately let out a sigh of relief. They could have someone deliver the money!
They could finally leave this damned place!
They looked at one another happily. It seemed that Cheng Yu was not as unyielding as the rumors said. Once Minister Qian came to rescue people, he had simply decided to release everyone.
“I have to quickly find someone to go to my home and tell them to send silver notes! I cannot stay in this place for even a moment longer.”
“You are right. But are you asking me to find someone?”
“Ah, wait... I feel as though something is not right!”
Just as everyone was rejoicing, they discovered that they had overlooked something very important.
They had all been thrown into prison. Where were they supposed to find someone to tell their families to send money?
Xiao Qi looked at this group, who had turned from joy to sorrow, and laughed.
“Everyone, do not be anxious. Once your families discover you are missing and ask others to make inquiries, there will naturally be someone then.”
As he spoke, he even sneered and looked toward one wall, where Young Lord Li’s blood was still vividly visible.
Everyone immediately trembled all over and shook their heads repeatedly.
If they waited until their families came looking, Cheng Yu might go mad and kill people again!
They did not dare gamble!
“This... this lord, could you make an exception? Could we trouble the young Jinyiwei brothers to notify our families?”
“Yes, yes. This is a small token of our appreciation.”
Beneath their earnest words and expressions, bright white silver was shoved toward Xiao Qi’s hand.
“What are you doing!”
Xiao Qi shouted sternly and flung away these people’s things in utter disgust.
“If you can pay the fine silver, then pay it. If you cannot pay, then obediently stay here. Do not try to play tricks with me!”
Once he became angry, the people in the prison cell were utterly dumbfounded. The hope they had just gained shattered completely at this moment.
From the very beginning, when Cheng Yu had set such a high fine, he had never intended to let them leave!
...
On the other side.
Cheng Yu sized up the four people before him. Each of them held an official post of Fifth Rank or above. They were genuine important officials of the court.
If they were imprisoned because of the Beauty Banquet matter, it would probably stir no small waves in the court and the realm.
“We pay our respects to Lord Cheng. We wonder what questions my lord wishes to ask. The four of us will tell everything we know.”
Cheng Yu smiled and nodded.
“I actually do not have any questions to ask. I only called you here because there is one small thing to do.”
Everything he needed to know, Cheng Yu already more or less knew. As for truly secret matters, the other party would not speak of them anyway.
What he was planning now was something else.