Chapter 420: My Father Is Innocent!

At the First Division courtyard of the Public Security Department, Capital Ironclad Department.

Ji Kongliu forced a strained smile onto his face, nodding from time to time.

Behind him stood the Ironclad agents of the First Division, each wearing a strange expression, heads bowed in silence.

Before Ji Kongliu stood a middle-aged woman in palace attire, her expression calm:

"Bring Zhao Yingying out and hand her over to me right now, and hand over Yang Ling as well, and this matter will be settled."

"If not, I will have the Emperor handle this personally, and have the Ministry of Personnel investigate whether you, Director, are still fit to sit in that seat of yours."

Beside this woman stood an old lady of about sixty or seventy years of age.

She merely stood there quietly watching Ji Kongliu, yet she alone was enough to bring tremendous pressure upon him.

Behind them, Han Changyuan and other officials stood silently.

The looks they cast upon the Ironclad agents before them were tinged with contempt and arrogance.

Ji Kongliu forced a smile and said, "Eldest Princess, Commander Zhao did assault Chief Constable Yang in the street this time. According to regulations, our Ironclad Department must properly question her about the matter."

The Eldest Princess spoke in a calm tone:

"It's nothing more than a quarrel between children. Yingying has been on good terms with Xie Zhihu since she was little.

When she learned he had been injured by your subordinate Yang Ling, it was only natural for her to come looking for Yang Ling to settle the score.

But I heard that Yang Ling shouted something about Rong Tribe spies and such.

Is he trying to sling mud at Prince Pinglan?"

At this moment, a middle-aged man suddenly let out a cold laugh:

"Your Ironclad Department just loves this kind of mudslinging business. No matter what happens, you drag the Rong Tribe spy narrative into it.

But don't forget, this is the Capital. Where would so many Rong Tribe spies even come from?

His Majesty granted your Ironclad Department the authority to enforce the law, not to use that authority against innocent, law-abiding people!"

Ji Kongliu looked at the man:

"You're Wu Yanjun, the Langzhong of the Ministry of Revenue? Wu Xiaoshuai is your son?"

Wu Yanjun sneered:

"It seems you've already figured out our backgrounds. Is there anything your Ironclad Department doesn't know?"

The Eldest Princess lightly raised her hand, and Wu Yanjun immediately fell silent.

She looked at Ji Kongliu, her gaze gradually turning cold:

"Yingying is to participate in the Sixth-Rank Top Hundred Battle this time. This is a competition between our Zhao State and the Rong tribe, and it has extremely wide-reaching implications.

I know Yang Ling is also going. By capturing Yingying at this time, is he trying to clear obstacles from his path?"

Hearing this, the Ironclad agents of the First Division groaned inwardly.

That Chief Constable Yang could have arrested anyone, but he just had to arrest the daughter of Prince Pinglan, provoking a big shot like the Eldest Princess.

Ji Kongliu said gravely, "Eldest Princess, Chief Constable Yang's arrest this time actually had other reasons..."

At that moment, Xu Wenjun suddenly arrived with Xu Qingnian and others.

Not only did he come, but every Director from the Public Security and Bandit Apprehension Divisions who had time on their hands also rushed over.

The spacious First Division courtyard suddenly became quite lively.

Zhao Xun took one look at the scene and immediately turned to Yun Buchuan:

"What's going on?"

Yun Buchuan's expression was grave:

"Yang Ling might have gotten himself into big trouble..."

Although Han Changyuan and the others didn't think much of these martial artists, with so many experts gathered here, all of them Directors, they couldn't help feeling somewhat uneasy.

Fortunately, the Eldest Princess was like an anchor of stability. When they saw her composed and unruffled demeanor, the unease in their hearts dissipated somewhat.

"Eldest Princess..."

Xu Wenjun walked over quickly, cupping his fists in salute.

The Eldest Princess kept her cold expression:

"Xu Wenjun, what business do you have with the matter here?"

Xu Wenjun said solemnly, "The Eldest Princess misunderstands. I only just heard that the Public Security Division arrested Commander Zhao."

"Very well. Since Ji Kongliu is unwilling to release her, what do you suggest we do?"

The Eldest Princess said flatly.

Unwilling to release her?

Xu Qingnian was somewhat surprised. That Yang Ling was this bold?

Xu Wenjun was also taken aback. He had assumed the First Division would have already brought the prisoners out by now. His gaze swept the area, and indeed, there was no sign of Zhao Yingying and the others.

He looked at Ji Kongliu, his eyes asking for clarification.

In his view, Ji Kongliu had secured his position as Director of the First Division of Public Security not just through first-rate martial arts talent, but also because his head was screwed on straight.

He would never do something impulsive or driven by emotion.

"Actually, Chief Constable Yang's arrest this time..."

Ji Kongliu began again.

Another figure walked into the courtyard.

The old lady beside the Eldest Princess narrowed her eyes slightly, locking gazes with Li Zhong.

Their eyes collided in mid-air, and a biting cold aura suddenly enveloped everyone around.

Some of the Ninth-Rank Ironclad agents with lower cultivation found even their breathing beginning to grow labored.

Xu Wenjun, Ji Kongliu, and all the other Directors present bowed in salute to Li Zhong in unison:

"We pay our respects to Lord Li!"

Li Zhong, Director of the First Division of the Command Division, Capital Ironclad Department, Public Security. A Third-Rank official.

With a status like that, anywhere in Zhao State, even here in the Capital, he was absolutely a top-tier big shot!

When the Eldest Princess saw Li Zhong appear, her expression softened somewhat.

She could dismiss Fifth-Rank and Fourth-Rank martial artists without a second thought, but a Third-Rank official who was also a Fourth-Rank Grandmaster was someone she had to treat with a measure of respect.

"Director Li, you've arrived just in time. Today, your Ironclad Department had better give me a proper explanation for this matter."

"Otherwise, if word of this spreads, how will everyone view this? Will they say your Ironclad Department is getting above itself, relying on imperial favor? That you've become lawless?"

The Eldest Princess said with a smile.

Her face broke into the first smile she had worn since arriving at the Ironclad Department.

As she spoke, the old lady beside her withdrew her gaze, and Li Zhong strode quickly toward the Eldest Princess.

That vague, oppressive pressure receded like an ebbing tide.

The Eighth-Rank and Ninth-Rank Ironclad agents in the courtyard all breathed sighs of relief.

"Eldest Princess, this subordinate will most certainly provide a satisfactory explanation for today's matter."

Li Zhong came close and said with a cupped-fist salute and a smile.

"Where is your Department Head?"

The Eldest Princess asked casually.

Li Zhong replied, "The Department Head is out on a mission and is not at the Ironclad Department."

The Eldest Princess frowned slightly but said nothing.

Li Zhong looked at Ji Kongliu and said in a deep voice:

"Director Ji, why haven't you released them yet? If your investigation turned up no problems, what reason is there to keep Commander Zhao and the others detained?"

Ji Kongliu clasped his fists and said, "Lord Li, Chief Constable Yang said that one among them has ties to the Immortal God Sect, and that there are problems there. Therefore, they need to be questioned for a while longer."

The moment these words left his mouth, everyone fell into silence - both those from the Ironclad Department and those from the Eldest Princess's side alike.

From the very beginning, both sides had assumed those words were just Yang Ling's way of venting his anger.

But hearing this sentence come from Ji Kongliu's mouth, the nature of the matter had become completely different!

Han Changyuan, as the Langzhong of the Division of Selection and Appointment in the Ministry of Personnel, understood the weight of those words perfectly well!

This meant that their sons and daughters might actually have some real problems.

Li Zhong was momentarily stunned.

A cold glint flashed through the Eldest Princess's eyes.

Before they could speak, Yang Ling had already arrived with Wu Xiaoshuai in quick strides.

When he saw the scene before him, his mind went momentarily blank.

The Eldest Princess had really come to arrest him...

And even his father had already been brought here...

Wu Xiaoshuai immediately dropped to his knees in a dramatic slide and wailed:

"Eldest Princess, this humble one truly did not rebel! I was deceived by the Immortal God Sect, and that's the only reason I became entangled with them!

I beg the Eldest Princess to see clearly, and please do not implicate my father! My father is innocent!"

That wail struck like a thunderbolt, leaving everyone present rooted to the spot in shock.

Yang Ling stepped forward quickly and handed the confession to Ji Kongliu:

"Director Ji, he has already affixed his fingerprint and confessed."