TRBDM -Chapter 64 Jiang Yuelin Arrests Someone

“Wei—Zhao—rong!”

The moment Lei Lieshan saw Wei Zhaorong, his eyes split with fury. He suddenly lunged toward her.

He moved at terrifying speed, as if intending to ram her straight off her feet.

Yet just three meters away from her, he stopped short.

An iron chain behind him jerked tight, yanking him back. Like a dog on a leash, he was bound fast and firm—no matter how he struggled, he could not move even half a step forward.

The chain clanged loudly under his violent tugging. Not far away, a horse was startled by the noise, neighing as it reared up on its hind legs.

Wei Zhaorong’s expression did not change. Her icy gaze remained nailed to Lei Lieshan.

“Wei Zhaorong! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill everyone in the Hou residence! Ah—today’s humiliation, I’ll make you repay it tenfold!”

Wei Zhaorong spoke coldly:

“Lei Lieshan attempted to murder his wife and was caught in time by our Hou residence. I have already reported the matter to the Court of Judicial Review and requested a full investigation. This is Deputy Minister Jiang of the Court of Judicial Review. He will preside over the case.”

Only then did Lei Lieshan notice the man in official robes standing beside her.

He recognized Jiang Yuelin. In court, civil and military officials formed two opposing factions, constantly at odds and never seeing eye to eye.

Though young, Jiang Yuelin had already risen to Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicial Review—two ranks above Lei Lieshan. Lei had often cursed him behind his back.

At its root, it was jealousy.

Now, being seen by Jiang Yuelin in such a wretched and humiliating state, Lei Lieshan longed to tear the so-called culprit, Wei Zhaorong, to pieces.

“General Lei,” Jiang Yuelin said, lowering his gaze to look down at him, “last night at Mingde Hou Residence, you committed violence with intent to murder your lawful wife, Xie Wanrou. Do you admit your guilt?”

Though a civil official, Jiang Yuelin was tall and well-built, nearly equal in stature to Lei Lieshan.

But at this moment, chained and exhausted after struggling the entire night, Lei could barely remain standing. He seemed shorter than Jiang Yuelin.

“Bah! Jiang Yuelin, don’t slander me! I didn’t commit violence. What’s wrong with beating my wife? It’s perfectly justified. Xie Wanrou was indecent, flirting with other men. I was just disciplining her. What crime is that?”

Not only did Lei Lieshan refuse to admit fault, he even smeared Xie Wanrou’s name, his attitude brazen and vicious.

Smack. Smack.

Wei Zhaorong swiftly delivered two sharp slaps across his face. The force was so great that her arm went numb.

“You beast in human skin! Stop spewing filth. Rou’er has always conducted herself with purity—you are not allowed to slander her in the slightest. Lei Lieshan, this is Mingde Hou Residence. Standing beside me is the Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. No one will believe your lies. In the Weiyuan General’s Manor you may cover the sky with one hand, but here, don’t even dream of harming Rou’er again.”

Wei Zhaorong bowed toward Jiang Yuelin. “Lord Jiang, I ask that you investigate thoroughly and give my Rou’er justice.”

Jiang Yuelin nodded. “General Lei, please accompany me to the Court of Judicial Review. I will ascertain the full details of the case.”

“Bah!” Lei Lieshan spat. “I won’t go. I’ve committed no crime—why should I? If anything, Mingde Hou Residence unlawfully detained a serving general. That’s what should be investigated!”

Jiang Yuelin understood there was no use in further words.

He waved his hand. Several guards stepped forward, unfastened the chain, and seized Lei Lieshan.

Lei Lieshan resisted fiercely, but the Court’s guards were no pushovers. After a few swift exchanges, his arms were twisted behind him, locked tight so that he could no longer move.

“Let’s go,” Jiang Yuelin said, his voice as cold and sharp as an unsheathed blade.

Outside the gates of Mingde Hou Residence, a crowd had gathered to watch the spectacle.

Last night’s attempted wife-murder scandal had already become the capital’s hottest gossip topic—everyone had something to say.

Some idle onlookers lingered outside the residence, pointing and whispering.

“I think I just saw Deputy Minister Jiang of the Court of Judicial Review.”

“You didn’t see wrong—that’s Lord Jiang. I heard the guards at his side are all highly skilled. They say they can kill gods if they block their path. Even General Lei might not be a match for them.”

At that moment, the crowd stirred.

“Look—someone’s coming out!”

“The one leading them is Lord Jiang.”

Those who had never seen Jiang Yuelin before stood on tiptoe and craned their necks to get a better look.

“Lord Jiang is truly handsome. How does an official robe look that good on him?”

“She’s gone daft—acting like she’s never seen a man before.”

“Hah, I’ve seen plenty of men. All crooked melons and split dates. A man as handsome as Lord Jiang? One in ten thousand.”

While they were still arguing about Jiang Yuelin’s looks, someone on the other side shouted, “I see General Lei!”

“Oh my, why does General Lei look so disheveled?”

“Yes, there’s something filthy stuck to his robe.”

“Let me see… doesn’t that look like horse dung?”

“No way. From this far, how can you tell it’s horse dung?”

“I grew up around stables—how would I not recognize it? Besides, I can already smell it.”

As soon as those words were spoken, others seemed to catch a whiff of the stench as well.

Some waved their hands in front of their noses and complained with curled lips, “So foul.”

By sheer misfortune, those two words drifted into Lei Lieshan’s ears. He suddenly turned around. The speaker felt a chill down his spine, hurriedly ducked into the crowd, and slipped away in embarrassment.

Jiang Yuelin escorted Lei Lieshan away from the marquis’ residence. Wei Zhaorong stood at the gate, watching until the carriage disappeared at the end of the road before finally turning back inside.

“Wei Zhaorong, stop right there! Release my Lie’er, or I’ll fight you to the death!”

A hoarse, madam-like voice rang out from afar. Wei Zhaorong turned around to see Madam Lei, Lei Lieshan’s mother, hurrying out of a carriage and pointing at Wei Zhaorong’s back while hurling curses.

Lei Lieshan had not returned to the general’s residence last night. Madam Lei had assumed he was staying at the marquis’ estate and paid it no mind.

Only this morning did she learn that he had been detained overnight by the Marquis of Mingde’s residence.

She rushed over in a panic, intent on venting her anger for her son.

“If you want to see Lei Lieshan, you might as well go to the Court of Judicial Review. He was just taken away by the Vice Minister of the Court.”

“What?!”

Madam Lei’s eyes nearly popped out in shock.

The Court of Judicial Review—once someone went in there, who ever came out unscathed?

“Fine then, Wei Zhaorong! Your Marquis of Mingde’s residence has colluded to frame my son, conspiring with the Court to harm one of our dynasty’s great generals. I will seek an audience with His Majesty and demand justice!”

“In that case, why aren’t you on your way? Madam Lei, if you don’t go, I’ll look down on you.”

Wei Zhaorong feared no escalation.

As the saying goes, those barefoot are not afraid of those wearing shoes. Aside from Xie Sheng, a mere seventh-rank official, no one in the marquis’ household held office at court. In contrast, several direct members of the Lei family served within the palace.

If the Lei family were ultimately convicted, the fallout would drag them all down—none would escape unscathed.

Lei Lieshan’s delay in transporting military rations and falsely claiming military merit alone were enough to secure a conviction.

Madam Lei had not expected Wei Zhaorong to be so unyielding.

Previously, whenever Wei Zhaorong saw her, she had been exceedingly polite, always treating her as an honored guest.

“Don’t think I wouldn’t dare! I… I’ll go to the Court first to see Lie’er, and then I’ll enter the palace.”

Finding a flimsy excuse to mask her guilt, Madam Lei saw she could gain no advantage here. Flustered and anxious, she hurried back into her carriage and ordered the driver to head for the Court of Judicial Review at once.

“Hmph.” Wei Zhaorong let out a cold snort.

Madam Lei had done her fair share of tormenting Xie Wanrou. Knowing full well that Xie Wanrou had been beaten half to death by Lei Lieshan, she had not once asked after her condition.

Like mother, like son.

Wei Zhaorong’s face darkened as she ordered the gates of the marquis’ residence shut.

Just as the doors closed, she caught sight of Xie Wanyi peeking furtively from beneath the covered corridor.