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Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 160

Chapter 160 - The Crown Prince Interrogates the Assassins

The night was pitch-black.


Chilly moonlight illuminated everyone's faces.


By now, midnight had long since passed, yet most of the people present felt not the slightest trace of sleepiness. Only the young children slumped asleep in the arms of servants.


The Crown Prince ordered the two assassins bound to long benches, laid flat on their backs facing upward.


Rolling up his sleeves, the Crown Prince pulled a sheet of paper as thin as a cicada's wing from a basin of water on the ground. Dripping wet, the soaked paper was placed directly over the face of one of the assassins.


The surrounding ministers and noble ladies still did not understand what this was meant to accomplish.


However, the Prince of Gongxi already realized what was happening. Frowning in disapproval, he said, "Crown Prince Imperial Brother, our dynasty rules through benevolence. Doing this might be improper..."


"These are assassins who intended to murder Imperial Father. Against such villainous monsters, there is no need to speak of benevolence," the Crown Prince stated. "Second Brother, join me."


The Prince of Gongxi had no choice but to step forward and, alongside the Crown Prince, lay soaked sheets of paper over the faces of the two assassins.


At first, the two assassins did not realize what was happening, even finding the cool water against their faces rather refreshing. Soon, however, intense agony began to set in.


Their noses felt completely blocked. Only by straining with all their might to breathe could a minuscule trace of air filter through, utterly failing to relieve the overwhelming sensation of suffocation.


"I promise you two: whoever confesses first shall be granted a swift death," the Crown Prince said unhurriedly. "As for the stubborn one, enjoy this torture to your heart's content."


Only now did the onlookers comprehend what was taking place.


So it was using paper and water to slowly suffocate someone to death. This process would last at least half a shichen—a true torment where one could neither live nor die.


Many people murmured in hushed conversations.


"The Crown Prince's method is brilliant; it will surely force the assassins to confess."


"The Crown Prince has always been known for his benevolence and compassion. How could he know such methods for interrogating assassins?"


"Though this technique sheds no blood, it is cruel to the extreme..."


Standing among the crowd, Yun Chu recalled how the Crown Prince had frequently fallen into trouble in her past life. It seemed to have stemmed from the fact that his daily actions contradicted the public persona everyone believed in.


The Crown Prince's benevolence was a flawless image meticulously crafted by the Empress. In reality, the Crown Prince himself was merely an ordinary man—he would make mistakes, engage in rebellious deeds, and gradually stray from the prosperous path the Empress had paved for him...


Even though she had died early in her past life, she could guess that the Crown Prince had ultimately met his downfall.


Because of this, she had never entertained the thought of having the Yun family support the Crown Prince...


"I'll confess! I'll confess!"


Under the slow, suffocating torture, one of the assassins finally broke down and cried out in a muffled voice.


A smile appeared on the Crown Prince's face as he personally peeled the paper from the assassin's face.


"That token was given to me by General Mingwei! He told us to use it as a signal to rendezvous and strike when the opportunity arose!"


The Crown Prince frowned. Among the many military commanders at court, he was only familiar with those of the first and second ranks; this was his first time hearing of General Mingwei.


Yet before he could speak, a sudden commotion erupted among the outer guards. Immediately after, a man in his forties was brought forward under heavy guard.


"Are you General Mingwei?" The Crown Prince smiled thinly. "Do you wish to taste this method as well?"


The moment his words fell, the man fell prostrate on the ground, weeping bitterly. "Your Majesty... This subject was coerced! This subject has elderly parents and young children! Prince Anjing seized my mother and my children. This subject had no choice but to do Prince Anjing's bidding, or my family would be destroyed..."


"Spouting complete nonsense! Absolute lies!" Before he could finish, Noble Consort De kicked him over, dropping to her knees below. "Your Majesty, Fourth Brother could never instruct anyone to commit such a monstrous crime! He may be a bit unruly, but even with ten times the courage, he would never dare attempt patricide! Your Majesty, I beg you to examine the matter clearly and restore Fourth Brother's innocence!"


The Crown Prince also fell to his knees. "Imperial Father, when this son fell gravely ill last time, the clues pointed straight to Fourth Brother. This time with the assassination attempt, the evidence once again points to Fourth Brother..."


"Regarding last time's incident, Your Majesty has already investigated and proved that someone deliberately framed Fourth Brother!" Noble Consort De explained frantically. "This time, General Mingwei must have colluded with the mastermind to frame my son as well! He is definitely lying! Interrogate him thoroughly, and the truth will come to light!"


The Prince of Gongxi lifted his gaze and looked at General Mingwei kneeling on the ground.


General Mingwei slowly raised his head and met the Prince of Gongxi's eyes. His throat trembled involuntarily.


Suddenly, he stood up and shouted frantically, "Yes! I framed Prince Anjing! This matter has nothing to do with Prince Anjing, nor does it have anything to do with my family! I alone plotted rebellion and assassination! I am guilty, I deserve death! Your Majesty, this subject is willing to atone for his crimes with his life!"


Before anyone could react, he drew a guard's sword from its scabbard and thrust it directly into his own throat. Blood gushed forth, and he collapsed dead upon the ground.


Noble Consort De turned pale with terror, then screamed, "Guards! Imperial physicians, quickly save him! He cannot die!"


If he died, Fourth Brother's guilt would be sealed.


The Empress said coldly, "Noble Consort De, as for what the truth actually is, we will know once Fourth Brother is found."


Noble Consort De's heart constricted tightly as an ominous foreboding spread within her.


Moments later, Chu Yi arrived at a gallop. "Reporting to Imperial Father, this son led men to search Yanshan completely, but no trace of Fourth Brother was found. The men sent down the mountain inquired with local villagers, who saw a young man escorted by dozens of people fleeing to the west. Upon showing Fourth Brother's portrait, the villagers at the foot of the mountain confirmed it was indeed Fourth Brother."


"No... Impossible!" Noble Consort De crawled on her knees to the Emperor's feet. "Your Majesty, Fourth Brother is innocent! He could not have done such a thing..."


The Emperor, who had remained silent all this while, abruptly stood up and kicked Noble Consort De aside with a single stroke.


Beside them, Xie Ping froze in utter terror.


In her mind, Noble Consort De had always been a supreme existence—so noble and arrogant before her. Yet now, she lay prone on the ground, more humble than dust.


She thought with a touch of malice: Serves Noble Consort De right for being so domineering! Her retribution has finally arrived.


Yet she also knew that if Prince Anjing's guilt in the assassination was confirmed, her own fate would be no better than Noble Consort De's.


"Prepare the imperial carriage—we return to the palace!" Suppressing his wrath, the Emperor flicked his sleeves and stood up. Pausing for a moment, he added, "Third Brother, remain at Yanshan. Dig three feet deep if you must, but find him!"


Chu Yi accepted the order: "Yes, Imperial Father!"


"Second Brother, take men to Prince Anjing's manor and conduct a thorough search," the Emperor said in a deep voice. "If this treacherous son harbored intentions of patricide early on, evidence will surely be found!"


The Prince of Gongxi lowered his head to conceal the calculation in his eyes: "Yes, Imperial Father!"


The autumn hunt ended at the beginning of the Hour of Yin on the twenty-second of the ninth month.


The Emperor set off back to the palace, with the ministers, noble ladies, and young misses following behind the imperial procession. They traveled until near dawn before arriving back in the capital.


Yun Chu returned to the Xie residence together with Xie Shi'an.


As soon as they stepped through the door, Xie Jingyu came forward to meet them. "I heard there was an assassination attempt at Yanshan. What on earth happened?"


"All evidence points to Prince Anjing," Xie Shi'an said with a gloomy expression. "It would have been fine had he acted earlier, but he had to arrange for people to assassinate the Emperor just one month after Eldest Sister married into his estate... If his guilt is confirmed, Eldest Sister will likely... and our Xie family will be dragged down as well.”

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