Chapter 12: I Don’t Want to Be the Imperial Family’s Dog

“But… what if the person who silenced the witness is an expert, and our officials from the Supreme Court can’t catch them?”

“That’s still better than getting nothing out of them here. If they were willing to confess, they would have done so under Prince Su’s custody. Anyone bold enough to commit such a deed must be a fanatic. We need to rethink our approach.”

It didn’t matter if the culprit was killed.

Qin Yu could still retrace the past twenty-four or twenty-three hours, pinpoint the assassin who silenced the witness, and once the culprit was caught, he could follow the trail back to the mastermind.

After some thought, Lin Jing nodded. “This is the only method left. I’ll order their release immediately.”

Qin Yu shook his head. “You may pass down the order, but they cannot be released now. They must wait until tomorrow morning.”

“Why?”

“First, this information needs to spread; second, it’s easier to tail the suspects during the day when they leave; and lastly, it gives the suspects a chance to contact their accomplices.”

Hearing this, Lin Jing suddenly understood and praised, “Your insight is remarkable, sir!”

Qin Yu waved his hand. “Go arrange it. I’m heading home.”

Insight? Not at all.

He was simply calculating the timing based on the time-reversal ability.

Releasing the two tomorrow morning means that by the morning after next, exactly twenty-four hours would have passed. Whether they lived or died, he could retrace everything within that period.

If they were released now, by the time he rewound the timeline the day after tomorrow, there would be nearly a twelve-hour gap, potentially causing him to miss crucial information.

Under the close protection of four attendants, Qin Yu returned to his residence and, after dinner, diligently practiced martial arts in the courtyard.

In this world, martial arts techniques were divided into four grand tiers: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow, each further subdivided into upper, middle, and lower ranks.

The technique he practiced was called “Wild Bull Strength,” classified as Profound middle rank—merely average. His previous incarnation had reached the fourth-rank martial artist level, which was decent talent.

Yet, among fourth-rank martial artists, his previous strength was just ordinary.

Qin Yu was now certain that he couldn’t even unleash the power of a fifth-rank warrior, which filled him with a strong sense of urgency.

He had to improve his strength.

To do so, beyond hard training, the key was to acquire an advanced martial arts manual, which troubled Qin Yu greatly.

High-level manuals were held by the Jianghu, noble families, and the royal lineage.

He had no connections with the Jianghu from his past life.

When the Great Qian Dynasty was newly established, the Qianwu Emperor had fiercely suppressed noble families, causing most to go underground, making them unreachable.

That left only the royal family.

Years ago, when the Qianwu Emperor eliminated martial sects to remove threats, many high-level manuals were gathered, leading to the royal family’s martial prominence.

As long as one showed enough loyalty and accomplished great deeds for the royal family, they could be rewarded with advanced martial arts manuals—this was the best path Qin Yu could currently think of.

But this meant serving the royal family as their dog, with no guarantee of receiving such rewards. Qin Yu felt deeply resistant to this.

So, for now, the matter had to be set aside.

By around ten o’clock, Qin Yu stopped training.

Sweating profusely, he planned to take a bath but remembered this damned world had no water heaters; hot water had to be boiled in the kitchen.

Previously, the mansion had maids who would handle such matters early on, but now, with only the male elders left, no one bothered to arrange this.

No, he had to buy two maids.

But these few days, he wouldn’t have time. He would remind Steward Hu tomorrow to prepare hot water for bathing each night; tonight, he’d have to make do.

The next day.

Qin Yu returned to the Supreme Court prison for further interrogation.

This time, he instructed Lin Jing to be more thorough, pressing hard on details, hoping to uncover clues in the minutiae.

In truth, Qin Yu wanted to control the number of suspects interrogated, preferably limiting it to three, since he could only rewind time three times a day.

He naturally did not interrogate personally; Lin Jing remained in charge.

Following the plan, Qin Yu ordered the jailers to release the two maids questioned yesterday, then dispatched four constables to follow them secretly.

Besides seeking breakthroughs among the princess’s maids, Qin Yu considered probing into the Assistant Minister of Justice Sun Yue and his accountant Liu Quan.

After reminding Lin Jing to interrogate carefully, Qin Yu and four Supreme Court constables headed to the Ministry of Justice’s prison.

The prison warden was surprised to see him.

“Lord Qin, what brings you here?”

“I’m here to see my accountant, Liu Quan.”

“Sir… this isn’t quite proper. The Ministry of Justice falls under the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction. You shouldn’t trouble me. Perhaps you should inform my superior first?”

“I’m not here as the Left Deputy Director of the Supreme Court, but as Liu Quan’s former master and victim. Wouldn’t that be proper?”

“Ah…”

The warden looked troubled.

Qin Yu’s expression darkened immediately.

“That’s not allowed? Does the Great Qian’s law forbid me from visiting the Ministry of Justice’s prison?”

The warden panicked and quickly waved his hands. “Please don’t be angry, sir. What you say now makes it proper. Go ahead and visit!”

“Lead the way.”

“Right this way, sir.”

The Ministry of Justice’s warden, like those of the Supreme Court, was a ninth-rank official.

Despite any friction between the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court, such low-level officials wouldn’t dare be insolent before a fifth-rank official like Qin Yu.

After leading Qin Yu to Liu Quan’s cell, the warden stepped out and quietly instructed his subordinates, “Notify Lord Sun of this immediately!”

Liu Quan’s condition was far worse than Qin Yu expected.

His body was covered in wounds, clearly the result of flogging, with a burnt smell lingering—he must have suffered branding torture as well.

The cell had no bedding; Liu Quan curled up on a pile of straw, trembling, his face pale and lips white. It was uncertain if he’d survive the coming winter.

“Liu Quan.”

Qin Yu called softly.

Liu Quan froze for a moment, then looked up, overjoyed. Like a wounded dog, he crawled quickly toward Qin Yu.

“Lord, please save me! For all the years I’ve served you and my master, save this wretched life!”

Tears streaming, he repeatedly banged his head against the hard floor, eyes full of remorse and hope.

Qin Yu said nothing but asked curiously, “You reported on me, shouldn’t you have been treated better? How did you end up in such a pitiful state?”

“I don’t know either, sir. The first day I arrived, I was fine—food, drink, bedding. But the next afternoon, they hung me up and beat me to near death. Lord, please save this old servant!”

Qin Yu understood.

Clearly, after Prince Su rescued him, the Ministry of Justice figures deemed him useless and began torturing him severely—standard procedure.

“I might save you, but tell me—has anyone coerced you?” Qin Yu inquired.