Chapter 248 - Surrendered

“When I just took up the Minister of the Ministry of Penalty in those years on the support of my family, I also wanted to work hard and reorganize the law of Dahan Country. However, I couldn’t realize my dream anymore because of the Yi Family.”

It was also a pity for Prime Minister Tang when he recalled the past. “Hierarch Li, I don’t know why you’re interested in a common family in Dahan Country, but I’m sorry to tell you that I don’t know much about the fire in the Ministry of Penalty. However, ...”

“Please put it bluntly. I don’t have so much time.”

Ling Li said faintly, but he paid more attention to it, just like Su Li and Ling Qinglan. They all knew that the next thing the old man would say was the key part.

“Actually, the case of extermination of the Yi Family is full of doubts.”

Prime Minister Tang said directly.

“Everyone in the Yi Family was killed in one blow! Moreover, the causes of death were different. There was not just one murderer. It seemed that it’s a disciplined organization. I’m not afraid to tell you that I firstly thought that it was your cult that did it!”

After that, he stared at Ling Li, but he didn’t find any differences.

Ling Li chuckled, which made Prime Minister Tang uncomfortable. “Although I’m not a good person, I’ve never had relationship with the Yi Family. Is it necessary for me to kill them?”

Ling Li said with disdain, but it was true. Although Prime Minister Tang was old, he still had ability to distinguish what was true.

He was silent for a while, and suddenly he said, “In fact, General Yi Qing was my old friend!”

Hearing it, Ling Qinglan held his breath, and subconsciously clenched his fists.

It was the first time to hear the name of his grandfather from others in 14 years.

“At that time, General Ling had highest opinion of General Yi Qing. He was very intelligent, so, General Ling would also ask him for advice on every decision. In other words, though Yi Qing was only a lieutenant, he played a vital role as a military counsellor.”

Ling Li became serious. There was very little memory in his mind about his grandfather and father. He didn’t know what happened in the military camp at that time.

He didn’t really regard himself as a member of the Ling Family before the assassination. So, he pretended to act as he concentrated on practicing. What he thought all the time was how to return to the earth.

Now, with his continuous exploration and understanding of this world, the idea of returning to the earth had been already dispelled. In terms of the science on the earth, there might not be in a plane space with the earth. No matter how he practiced, he wouldn’t be able to break the plane and go back.

When Ling Li returned to his mind, Prime Minister Tang continued to say, “I had an encounter with Yi Qing, and later we became intimate friends. Of course, at my status in the Tang Family at that time, I couldn’t have relations with people of the Ling Family. Therefore, in order to protect myself, our relationship was always hidden to others.”

At this point, his face looked extremely complex, “And it is the reason why I can survive until to now.”

Ling Li was touched, and he raised his eyebrows. He said suddenly without expression, “Is it true that the extermination of the Yi Family was related to the Ling Family?”

Prime Minister Tang was shocked, but he immediately shook his head, “It seems that Hierarch is a wise man, but it’s just my guess. After all, the men of the Ling Family died in mysterious circumstances.”

“Since the extermination of the Yi Family, the Ling Family was repeatedly confronted with dangers. And from then on, General Ling and the first son in the Ling Family were dead one by one in the next six years. But this thing ended at their second son. I felt so strange that if it was for crippling the power of the Ling Family, why didn’t they kill Ling Ping. Only having the useless Third Master, the Ling Family would be powerless naturally.”

“Aged ginger is more pungent. Sir Tang, you think clearly and understand thoroughly.”

Although Ling Li praised him, but Prime Minister Tang couldn’t hear any affections. There was only coldness in his words. Any personal emotions were not included.

He couldn’t help fearing. He thought that everyone had emotions when they talked. Hierarch Li said something with scorn and pride before, but now he was emotionless. Clearly, he was trying to restrain something.

But even he felt unusually, he couldn’t guess the relationship between the Hierarch of the Yinmo Cult and the Ling Family just relying on these small clues.

“Hierarch, you overestimated me.”

Prime Minister Tang dared not claim credit for that. He understood that Ling Li didn’t praise him, so, he immediately continued, “Not long before the extermination of the Yi Family, one day, I met Yi Qing and drank with him privately. At that time, I felt that he was anxious. I asked him many times, but he kept silent. At last, I didn’t know whether he was drunk or not, he suddenly told me... that he found a big secret!”

Ling Li raised his eyebrows, “What secret?”

“I asked him, but he sobered up quickly. It seemed that he regretted saying that, and then he kept silent again. He just told me that he would tell me after the things got done. And then, the Yi Family was massacred.”

Prime Minister Tang extremely regretted, and he also remembered the hesitation he saw on Yi Qing’s face. He thought that if he continued to ask, maybe he could know the secret. But since Yi Qing was dead, no one could know that secret.

“You talked for a long time. Don’t you want to tell us that you just know so little information?”

Here came a cold voice from Ling Qinglan. He showed great expectations, but Prime Minister Tang just told him that. He was disappointed and angry about his tease.

“Lord Qinghu, please cool off!”

Prime Minister Tang knew the situation, so, he kneeled down the ground from the chair without dignity, “Afterwards, the key point is after the extermination of the Yi Family.”

“Enough, Qinghu. Don’t scare Sir Tang. If something bad happened to him, who would I find to consult?”

Ling Li waved his hand. It seemed that he scolded him, but actually he told Qinghu that he should keep calm.

Ling Qinglan took a deep breath, relieved and kept silent.

“OK, go on.”

Ling Li said indifferently, cupped Su Li’s right hand with his two hands, and stroked it softly. It seemed that he didn’t care about the information.

But Prime Minister Tang dared not to delay, and he said the key point immediately, “At that time, I saw there were a lot of firewood and oil around the Yi Family. I knew that these murderers still wanted to burn the corpses, so, I decided to carry all of the corpses to the Ministry of Penalty, and checked Yi Qing’s body in person!”

There were slight lights sweeping from Su Li’s eyes. It was hard to imagine how Prime Minister Tang kept calm and did a quick reaction when he saw his one and only friend die in front of him.

The elder had given up his dignity for the safety of the whole family. Although that was quite humble, she still admired him.

“Yi Qing was disfigured after his death. It is hard to find relevant clues from his expression. His lips and teeth were damaged. His fingers were also broken. He died in pain!”

Prime Minister Tang’s voice was not steady. He seemed to recall the tragedy of that year.

“Someone tortured him to ask something. It’s speculated that his family was destroyed because of that secret! At that time, I wanted to go to the original site of the Yi Family to investigate clearly, but suddenly there was a fire in the Ministry of Penalty. I was stunned by a sneak attack from behind. When I woke up, I was already at home.”

“All the bodies of the Yi Family had been burned. It was impossible to distinguish them. Even the storehouse where the files were stored was burned. Only a half was left. The doctors of the Ministry of Penalty had died a lot!”

Prime Minister Tang bowed his head painfully, “Such a serious accident had never happened in Dahan Country. I was extremely scared when I heard. And I couldn’t bear the consequence at all, which might even get the whole Tang Family killed! Then, I received a secret call from the palace next day!”

Su Li thought deeply. 14 years ago, the emperor of Dahan Country was still Dongfang Xiao.

“At that time, Dongfang Xiao had just pacified the civil strife in the palace for less than two years. He was very radical in his work. I risked my life to enter the palace, but I met a king with a kind smile.”

Prime Minister Tang recalled the scene when he was called to meet the emperor that year, and he was still afraid. “He promised me that as long as I kept the accident of the Yi Family as a secret forever, the fire in the Ministry of Penalty would not be investigated, and no one would know what I did in the Ministry of Penalty. Also, my career would be promising!”

“So, you agreed?”

Ling Qinglan asked coldly with an intention of killing.

He knew that in that case, anyone would agree so as to stay alive. But he was a member of the Yi Family, and he had different position. Therefore, he would not worry about Prime Minister Tang.

Surprisingly, Prime Minister Tang shook his head.

“Yi Qing is my only confidant. Although I was going to die, I... still hesitated.”

Prime Minister Tang was calm. What he said at the moment was true, so, he didn’t feel guilty. “Dongfang Xiao hated my hesitation. He quickly issued an order... an inhuman order.”

Prime Minister Tang said bitterly, “He caught all the officials from the Tang Family in the Ministry of Penalty, every quarter I hesitated, he would kill one of them!”

Ling Qinglan was moved. He restrained his malice and felt a little guilty. Prime Minister Tang struggled for his family, and he might be kind to them. But he just even wanted to kill him...

“Dongfang Xiao didn’t give me much time. Before it’s a quarter, the eunuch killed a man at once!” Prime Minister Tang looked ferocious. “I almost rushed to fight with him, but the eunuch caught Lei and put him on the guillotine!”

Ling Li frowned. Tang Lei was at the same age as him. In other words, Tang Lei was only a two-year-old baby at that time.

“The little boy was dying, but he even smiled at the eunuch!”

Prime Minister Tang was angry, and his voice could not stop shaking. He shouted crazily,

“He is my first grandson! An apple in my eyes. How could I bear that if he died at that age?!”

“So... I surrendered.”