Zhou Hongfu kept his head down and didn't dare speak. Guilt was written all over his face.

Ding Jianian said heavily, "We have Lord Zhou to thank for this."

Li Zhixing's face was thunderous. "What happened?"

Ding Jianian bowed. "This official felt from the start that it was improper to take a prisoner for questioning on Her Majesty's word alone, with no formal written edict, but Lord Zhou wouldn't let this official say another word.

The cell door had three locks, and this official meant to wait until the Lord Minister got back.

But Lord Zhou, clever man that he is, actually had someone bring in the thief we arrested a few days ago. The man's an expert at picking locks. That thief is the one who opened all three."

Li Zhixing was so angry his vision went black.

Smack!!!

He slapped Zhou Hongfu across the face, hard.

"Zhou Hongfu, oh, Zhou Hongfu. I knew you were good at working the angles and licking boots, but I never imagined you were this stupid!

You can guard day and night, but there's no guarding against a thief inside the house... Now it's all over. You and I can both wait to die."

Zhou Hongfu clutched his swelling cheek, his eyes full of terror.

"Lord Minister, th-those people might really have been from the palace."

Li Zhixing shook his head and sighed. "The chances of that are next to nothing. This minister was tricked into going to the Inspectorate, and right after that, people from the palace show up to collect a prisoner? How could that be a coincidence?

The enemy planned all of it, and you were one of the pieces. They must have known how much you love to lick boots."

Suddenly Li Zhixing fixed Zhou Hongfu with a cold stare. "This minister is asking you: were you bought?"

Zhou Hongfu went white with fright. "My lord, see the truth of it! This official has been wronged!"

Just then a constable ran in.

"My lord, Geng the Purple Coat from the Inspectorate is here with his men."

Li Zhixing thought…