Chapter Ten: The Interrogation

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By the time Gu Yan woke, another day had passed. When Shen Qiuning heard that Gu Yan was awake, she hurriedly put on her shoes and went to find him, forgetting even to drape her cloak.

“Gu Yan!” Shen Qiuning burst through the door.

“Ah!” Overcome with excitement, she had forgotten to knock. Gu Yan was changing his bandages shirtless, and Shen Qiuning quickly turned away, blushing deeply.

“It wasn’t intentional; I just wanted to check on how you’re doing,” she stammered.

Gu Yan finished dressing, picked up the cloak nearby, and draped it over her shoulders. “Why are you dressed so lightly? Don’t wander around before your wounds heal.”

Shen Qiuning stared at him. Gu Yan’s pale face and colorless lips made him look softer than usual.

“Your... injuries…”

“They’re nothing. You came to see me about something else, didn’t you?” Gu Yan lowered his head, fastening the ties of her cloak.

“It’s nothing,” Shen Qiuning hesitated but then asked, “The real list hasn’t been found yet, so why did you suddenly arrest Zhao Xingzhou? What do you intend to do with him?”

Gu Yan gave a wry smile, already knowing she had something on her mind.

“If you want to arrest him, just arrest him. After the interrogation, he’ll be sent back to the capital to report,” Gu Yan said calmly, making it hard to discern his true intentions.

Shen Qiuning remained suspicious. If they’d planned to capture Zhao Xingzhou, surely they would have prepared thoroughly. How could he have suffered such a severe injury?

Seeing her doubtful expression, Gu Yan said, “Shen Qiuning, I told you, you shouldn’t have come.”

Again with such words. Did he have a mission to complete, but she did not? Shouldn’t have come, shouldn’t have come—but she did anyway. There are countless dangers in this world; if everyone retreated at the slightest threat, it would be better to lie six feet under.

Hearing this, Shen Qiuning grew angry, took off the cloak, threw it into Gu Yan’s arms, and turned to leave.

Gu Yan stared at the cloak in his arms, lost in thought. He dared not imagine what would have happened if Shen Qiuning hadn’t escaped. Just because Zhao Xingzhou’s men were incompetent didn’t mean all enemies would be so. If she insisted on getting involved, the only thing he could do was hasten to resolve everything.

“Ah Xiao, come with me to interrogate Zhao Xingzhou.” Gu Yan set down the cloak, took up his sword, and headed to the dungeon.

In the dungeon.

“My cousin is the Empress of the current dynasty. You must release me!” Zhao Xingzhou, weak from shouting for so long, hung with his hands chained, nearly unconscious.

A basin of cold water was poured over him, making him shiver and regain some alertness. Seeing who had come, he shouted, “Gu Yan, release me! My cousin is the Empress! Let me go!”

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“You have illegally seized the lands of countless civilians over the years. Then there are your forged accounts, the list of officials you colluded with, secret letters exchanged with foreign enemies—each and every one of these must be truthfully confessed. When you finish confessing, you will be taken back to the capital to meet your so-called good sister,” Gu Yan said, casually fiddling with the torture instruments on the table.

Zhao Xingzhou continued to feign ignorance. “I know nothing of what you’re saying. I’m going to the capital to pay respects to the Emperor! Gu Yan, if you torture me illegally, when I see the Emperor, you won’t get away with it.”

“Going to pay respects to the Emperor? I’m afraid you won’t have that chance,” Gu Yan said, raising a token.

“Anyone who sees this token is as if they’ve seen the Emperor himself!” All the guards knelt and saluted.

Gu Yan lifted a branding iron before Zhao Xingzhou. “Prefect Zhao, do you still object to the interrogation?”

The moment Zhao Xingzhou saw the token, he realized the Emperor was about to take action against them. He closed his eyes, remaining silent.

Gu Yan sneered, pressing the branding iron harshly against his chest. The screams echoed through the dungeon.

“Zhao Xingzhou, will you confess willingly, or shall I find it myself?” Gu Yan stabbed a thick needle between Zhao Xingzhou’s fingernails.

Zhao Xingzhou only screamed in pain, still refusing to speak. Gu Yan continued piercing needle after needle between his fingers.

Footsteps sounded behind them. Shen Munian and Shen Qiuning arrived.

Gu Yan looked back at Shen Qiuning, wiped the blood from his hands, and the harshness in his eyes softened. “Why did you come?”

Shen Qiuning handed him an envelope. “This is the ledger and secret letters Shen San found at the Zhao residence. The real list still hasn’t been found.”

Just awakened by the cold water, Zhao Xingzhou overheard Shen Qiuning mention the real list and finally realized Gu Yan had been deceiving him—the moment his mistake was revealed.

Gu Yan took the envelope silently and shifted his body to block Shen Qiuning’s view of Zhao Xingzhou.

“Thank you, Miss Shen. It’s rather bloody here; please come with me to avoid dirtying your eyes.” Gu Yan sent someone to escort Shen Qiuning out.

She hadn’t intended to stay long anyway. The scene inside was indeed unsettling; she just wanted to deliver the list and see if Zhao Xingzhou was dead or alive.

Shen Munian glared at Zhao Xingzhou, eager to kill him immediately. Ning’er had suffered such a grave injury all because of him.

The anger in Shen Munian grew. “Bring him here; sever his hand tendons. If he still doesn’t confess, cut out his tongue.”

Zhao Xingzhou, barely human from the torture, finally broke after his hand tendons were cut.

“I’ll talk, I’ll talk! But I want to return to the capital to see my sister first. Once there, I’ll confess everything,” Zhao Xingzhou slurred through bloodied lips.

“How can I trust you?” Gu Yan cleaned his sword.

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“I can tell you half the list now, and the rest once we reach the capital,” Zhao Xingzhou’s arrogance was gone.

“Bring him medical treatment. Make sure he arrives alive in the capital,” Gu Yan and Shen Munian left the dungeon.

Shen Munian stopped. “Zi Rui, would you care for a game of chess?”

“Gladly,” Gu Yan replied, following Shen Munian indoors.

The two sat opposite one another, holding chess pieces and making moves.

“Zi Rui, how many spies do you think are in my army?”

Listening to Shen Munian’s question, Gu Yan’s slender fingers picked up a smooth piece and placed it on the board. “General Shen, if you already have suspects in mind, then do not hesitate.”

Shen Munian had indeed noticed something amiss. After killing that man, he had thought the traitor was eliminated. But that night, he saw the deputy general send out a letter. He intercepted it; it said the issue was resolved and that the next phase could proceed.

That deputy general was someone he had personally promoted—he never expected it to be him.

Click. In a careless moment, most of the black pieces were captured. Gu Yan collected the pieces and set them aside. “General Shen, like today’s game, if you are softhearted, the black pieces will be devoured one by one.”

“I understand now. Zi Rui, you’re still injured; rest soon. I’ll have someone prepare soup for you,” Shen Munian said, already having an answer.

At this moment, Shen Qiuning was preparing to board a carriage bound for the outskirts of Yizhou. Gu Yan happened to see her and approached. “It’s almost dark. Miss Shen, where are you going?”

“I heard from Noble Consort Xuan that her master lives on the outskirts of Yizhou City. Since we’re returning to the capital tomorrow, I thought to visit the elder,” Shen Qiuning said before boarding the carriage.

Gu Yan followed closely and also boarded.

“Why are you coming along?” Shen Qiuning looked across at Gu Yan.

“Afraid you might be in danger. Let’s go,” Gu Yan answered casually.

Shen Qiuning said no more. The two sat in silence. After their recent quarrel, sharing a carriage created an awkward atmosphere between them.