Southern Commandery Assistant (deputy mayor) Zong Rui stood in the doorway, with four commandery officials behind him.
Liu Yin glanced at the Prison Assistant beside Zong Rui. The Prison Assistant immediately put on a miserable expression and lowered his head, pretending to tremble with fear. This is the Commandery Prison, and he's the deputy head of the commandery. Even if I wanted to stop him, how could I? Besides, one of you is the chief and the other his deputy. If the chief came from the gentry and the deputy from a humble family, that would be one thing, but it's exactly the other way around! What am I supposed to do, caught between you two...
"Commandery Assistant Zong," Liu Yin said frostily, "I am interrogating a major suspect. Surely barging straight in like this is against procedure?"
Although Zong Rui was Zong Ce's son, his character was the complete opposite of his father's flighty, easygoing disposition. He was solemn and upright, prudent and commanding; his subordinates treated him with respectful awe and dared not show the slightest discourtesy. Questioned by his superior, he said nothing, merely fixing his gaze on the iron tongs in Liu Yin's hand. He watched coldly, and though he had not spoken a word, an invisible pressure spread through the room.
Liu Yin casually returned the iron tongs to the torture bench. The young Legal Clerk, however, could not quite keep his composure. "His Honor the Chief Clerk was merely making a show of intimidation. He had no intention of actually using torture."
Zong Rui's stern gaze shot toward the Legal Clerk like a cold star. "If it was merely a show, why did you need to explain it?"
Pierced by Zong Rui's gaze, the Legal Clerk's heart quivered. He opened his mouth to argue,