Chapter 210: Torture

The prison was eerily quiet. The words that Xiao Yan seemed to have on the tip of his tongue fell into her ears, making it impossible for Tang Ning to ignore them. Fortunately, the screams of King Cheng in the interrogation room at that time covered up her panic, so she was able to quickly turn her head in the dim light to hide her momentary surprise.

But……

Tang Ning felt a little helpless holding the cup of water.

Brother, why does he say that?

Was it her fault? Or was it her fault for trying to understand his feelings? Or was it her fault for overstepping her bounds, getting so close even though she knew they weren't related?

That's not right. My brother was not angry with her. Even when he pulled her hand down to interrogate King Cheng, he did not show any anger, but spoke to her in a gentle voice.

But if it wasn't because of her, what did this mean?

Tang Ning held the teacup in her hand, thinking of her brother's expression when he looked at her just now. His black eyes were no longer indifferent as before. Her reflection was brewing in his eyes, and every word he spoke seemed to be on the tip of his tongue.

She suddenly remembered that day in Heli Hall when her brother suddenly approached her and trapped her in a cramped space. He was like a wild beast that had shed its laziness and grabbed her waist, pressing her against the couch, and she was in panic.

His breath came in and out, and fell on his lips. He said in a low voice with a serious look on his face: "Tang Ning, I am a man too."

He also said: "Eunuchs can also marry."

She was extremely frightened at the time and was shaking with fear all over. Later, her brother let her go on his own initiative and said jokingly that he was just teasing her. But she remembered what he had blurted out in prison just now.

Tang Ning shook her palm, and the tea in the cup splashed out. Her bewildered face was reflected on the shaking water.

…

Xiao Yan was not in a good mood. He was upset for a moment just now.

It was so chaotic that I almost said something I shouldn't have said.

Xiao Yan was leaning on a chair in the corner, his long legs crossed making him look particularly tall. He seemed to be in a bad mood, and the air around him was low. His white fingers supported his forehead and gently stroked the center of his eyebrows that had just been touched by Tang Ning. In his ears was the hoarse scream of King Cheng.

When the red-hot iron fell on King Cheng's flesh, the flesh turned black in an instant.

King Cheng's eyeballs bulged out, and his body, tied to the rack, twitched uncontrollably.

When Canglang took off the branding iron, a piece of burnt flesh was torn off along with it. He saw that King Cheng had no strength left to scream, and his eyes rolled back as if he was about to faint.

He smiled and said, "Your Highness, please confess honestly. There are many tortures in this prison. Even if you can endure this time, you won't be able to endure the rest."

"Look at your delicate body, how can you endure such suffering? Instead of being tormented by these things, it is better to speak honestly and clearly. My Lord will not make things difficult for you."

King Cheng's lips were pale and he was dying.

"My lord...I don't know what you want me to say..."

He turned his head to look at Xiao Yan, his forehead covered in cold sweat:

"I don't intend to rebel, and I'm only hiding weapons for self-protection... I know, I know you want to kill me for Rong Yue, but which powerful family in the capital doesn't secretly raise some hidden guards and hide some shameful things?"

"If what I have done is considered treason, then what are they? You are just trying to use this as evidence to frame me and take credit for Emperor An. If you really have the guts, why don't you check if the others are so clean? Could it be that the person the Lu family used to assassinate you was fake..."

ah--

The words in King Cheng's mouth suddenly stopped, and he screamed miserably.

The red-hot iron almost melted the flesh and blood of his wound. Canglang pressed hard with his hand, and King Cheng screamed even louder, while Canglang mocked him.

"How come the others didn't dance in front of the Lord? Who said you were the only one who was stupid enough to stick your tail out and hand it to my Lord?"

When he grabbed Luo Tie, he moved slightly, and a patch of red appeared on his face. "Since your Highness is a prisoner, he should know how to save his life. He has fallen into such a predicament, and yet he still tries to be tough with my Lord Governor. Why bother?"

King Cheng's body twitched until Canglang took the branding iron away again. He looked like he was fished out of the water, with blood and sweat all over the ground.

He couldn't help crying and snotting, his face pale and miserable. "Xiao Yan, killing is not enough, why do you torture me like this..."

"If you had cooperated a little, why would I have to torture you?"

Seeing that King Cheng was just staring at him and refusing to speak, Xiao Yan changed the direction of his legs and crossed them, tapping lightly on the chair with his fingers.

"Where did the Thunder Crossbow come from? How did the ladder get into Prince Cheng's Palace? Even without you telling me, I can guess a little."

"You stubbornly refuse to admit to the crime of treason, hoping that the royal family can still save you. However, no one dares to be involved in the secret storage of weapons and the raising of private soldiers. Who in the royal family dares to speak up for you?"

He looked at King Cheng, whose face was pale and trembling with pain, and said calmly:

"Branding is only the simplest form of punishment in the Criminal Department. It inflicts some physical pain. If you still refuse to speak, then the next step is the torture of drilling. First, your leg bones will be broken inch by inch, then your patella will be cut off, your feet will be chopped off, and your ten fingers and arms will be plucked out."

"If you still refuse to speak, you will be subjected to the punishment of skinning. When skinning, the knife must be cut from the spine, carefully and cautiously, splitting the skin on the back in two. Then, use a leaf knife to slowly separate the skin and flesh from the bones. When the skin and flesh separate, it will be like a butterfly spreading its wings, tearing the entire skin apart completely..."

Prince Cheng felt cold all over, as if someone had cut his back with a knife, tearing off his skin and flesh.

The dark prison was already filled with the smell of blood, and the eunuch sitting not far away looked like a ghost. The courage in his heart to hold on gradually dissipated with Xiao Yan's words. His hands and feet curled up, and his face turned pale and trembled with fear.

Xiao Yan, however, felt it was not enough and smiled slightly, "Of course, Your Highness has experienced the brutal battle for the throne, so I think he is not afraid of these tortures. I am not the kind of person who would deliberately embarrass others. If you can endure it, I will personally put an end to you and send Your Highness to a peaceful grave."

"As for the Ministry of War and the Armaments Department, they are probably colluding with you. Arrest them all. I will then write a confession for you, stamp it with your fingerprints, and present it to them. There are always some among them who are not as resolute as Your Highness."

King Cheng hissed, "Xiao Yan, you... you are shameless!"

He actually wanted to forge a confession!

"If His Majesty knew you did this, he would not forgive you!!"

Xiao Yan raised his lips and said, "Your Majesty only believes confessions, and the prince will be dead by then. I don't think Your Majesty will embarrass me for a dead man."

“You’re despicable!!”

"Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty."

Xiao Yan stood up nonchalantly, straightened his sleeves, and said to Cang Lang, "Greet Prince Cheng well and don't bring disgrace upon the reputation of the Ministry of Justice."