When the brazier was brought over, Old Madam Jiang personally burned the cloth doll, while murmuring some Buddhist scriptures that Jiang Segu couldn't understand.

Finally, Madam Jiang was still uneasy. "Tomorrow, I'll take you to Fahua Temple to burn some incense!"

"No need. Grandmother, you know perfectly well that Azi doesn't believe in these things..."

"You may not believe me, but Grandma does! Just do this to put Grandma's mind at ease, okay?"

"Alright, I'll do as Grandmother says! But isn't a maid coming from the palace tomorrow? Grandmother won't be at home, so how will I see the maid?"

"What's so remarkable about that! They're here to teach your older sister manners, not me! Besides, your aunt will definitely greet them personally, what would an old woman like me do if I stepped forward!"

"oh!"

Have you washed and dressed yet?

"Not yet!" Jiang Segu replied honestly.

Knowing that there would be a commotion tonight, and thinking that she would have to go back to the courtyard to wash again after washing, she simply didn't bother to wash up.

"I'll have Qiaohe and Qinghong help me wash up, and then I'll come find my grandmother!"

Go!

As soon as Jiang Segu and her two servants left the main hall, she told Qinghong to go back and inform Gu Songhan that she wouldn't be going back to sleep tonight!

Upon receiving the letter and hearing these words, Gu Songhan felt a sense of loneliness, like that of a newlywed wife left alone in an empty room.

"Take good care of Miss Jiang. If she is even slightly harmed, she will be dealt with according to military law! Have Miss Jiang take something that belongs to Mama Zhou and take it to the Military Command!"

Then, carrying the bundle that Qiaolian had packed, he left the Marquis's residence and went to the Military Command.

The prison cells of Bingmasi were ablaze with fire, making it a perfect place to burn things!

Zhou Yuan was tied to a cross, his body covered in wounds.

When Shao Zhengnan saw Gu Songhan carrying a huge package, he stepped forward to help him unload it, but Gu Songhan dodged him.

Surprised, he replied in a deep voice, "I am incompetent; I still couldn't get this person to talk!"

He verbally claimed his incompetence, but inwardly he lamented: "It's not that I'm incompetent, it's just that this person is too stubborn! If I had known this wasn't a good job, I would never have tried to compete with Qu Shaowu just to curry favor with Deputy Commander Gu! What a miscalculation!"

"Alright, you can go back now! Leave this to me!"

"That……"

That would be perfect!

Shao Zhengnan almost blurted it out, but fortunately he swallowed back these treasonous words in time.

"How can that be! Although I am incompetent, I can still run errands for Deputy Commander Gu and fetch some items!"

Gu Songhan looked Shao Zhengnan up and down. "Since you're willing to stay and keep watch, I'll go back to sleep first!"

Then, I was very troubled about where to burn the contents of the package without attracting attention!

They paid no attention to Shao Zhengnan, who was completely dumbfounded.

What?

Wasn't Deputy Commander Gu here to interrogate this person at night? Or was he just here to check on the prison cell?

No, no!

Deputy Commander Gu must have said that on purpose, just to test him... test him on what?

Who cares!

He absolutely refuses to leave his cell tonight!

"Deputy Commander Gu, you should go back and rest well. I will keep a close eye on this man and make sure he doesn't escape!"

Gu Songhan glanced at the unconscious Zhou Yuan, then looked at Shao Zhengnan.

If he can lose face like this, then... he doesn't need to stay in the Military Command anymore!

Unaware of Gu Songhan's thoughts, Shao Zhengnan secretly felt that Gu Songhan's gaze towards him was different, and immediately felt that his guess was correct, which strengthened his determination not to sleep tonight!

This resolve completely crumbled as dawn broke!

So, Deputy Commander Gu really did come last night to relieve him and let him go back to sleep!?

But I foolishly stayed up all night!

Just then, Zhou Yuan woke up.

The pain in his body made him groan softly. Shao Zhengnan heard it and finally had a chance to vent his frustration!

He picked up the whip from the table and lashed Zhou Yuan hard, cursing, "If it weren't for you, you little bastard, I wouldn't be standing here all night! I'll beat you to death, you stubborn little bastard..."

At this moment, Qu Shaowu arrived.

"You're here really early!"

Hearing the commotion, Shao Zhengnan turned around angrily.

Seeing his bloodshot eyes and murderous look, Qu Shaowu was startled. "So angry so early in the morning? Who upset you?!"

Shao Zhengnan was so angry that his teeth were grinding together, and he was about to lash out at Qu Shaowu with his whip!

"What are you doing!"

He had just raised his whip when Gu Songhan arrived.

Shao Zhengnan quickly withdrew his whip and said awkwardly, "Zhou Yuan is awake. I was thinking of interrogating him again!"

Gu Songhan looked at Zhou Yuan and said to the two of them, "I've already spoken to Commander Ma. Shao Zhengnan, you go first and come back to work this afternoon!"

Shao Zhengnan would not repeat the mistake of last night, and he probably fled afterwards.

Qu Shaowu, puzzled, asked Gu Songhan, "Deputy Commander Gu, do you intend to continue the interrogation?"

"No need, you can go ahead and do your work!"

Just as Qu Shaowu was about to offer to stay and help, he remembered Shao Zhengnan's unusual behavior and said carefully, "If Deputy Commander Gu needs me, I will be there whenever he calls!"

Then, they left.

Gu Songhan pulled up a chair and sat down in front of Zhou Yuan. Without saying a word, he took out a handkerchief from his sleeve, unfolded it, and laid it on the table next to him where the torture instruments were placed.

"If you honestly reveal who's behind you, I'll spare your mother's life!"

Zhou Yuan glanced at the handkerchief once before looking away and sneered, "You underestimate me!"

Gu Songhan didn't expect to be able to pry Zhou Yuan's words with just a handkerchief; he just wanted to test Zhou Yuan!

His gaze remained unwavering as he examined the handkerchief, demonstrating that Zhou's mother was not Zhou Yuan's weakness. The only way to get a man to talk is to find his Achilles' heel!

"At yesterday's peach blossom banquet, you didn't stay until the end, so you probably don't know that the eldest daughter of the Jiang family has caught the eye of a distinguished person..."

Gu Songhan casually brought up yesterday's peach blossom banquet, but his gaze remained fixed on Zhou Yuan.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan tried his best to suppress the turmoil in his heart, and even deliberately lowered his eyes to avoid Gu Songhan's gaze.

Noticing his evasiveness, Gu Songhan was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected that the first person he mentioned would move Zhou Yuan so much. So he continued calmly, "Miss Jiang is as beautiful as a fairy, no wonder His Majesty was captivated by her. Marquis Changping is also quite perceptive; he immediately wants to offer Miss Jiang up so that she can return to the palace with His Majesty..."

Zhou Yuan suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with undisguised suspicion and hatred!

But soon, he gritted his teeth and lowered his head.

He didn't believe what the person in front of him was saying!

My master had promised me that once the deed was done, he would let me stay with the young lady forever!

The person in front of him is definitely trying to trick him into revealing information!

That must be it!

Gu Songhan continued, seemingly unconcerned, "However, Miss Jiang requested to wait until after Old Madam Jiang's birthday celebrations to enter the palace, citing the upcoming occasion. His Majesty, showing her compassion, granted her request and even sent two matrons to instruct Miss Jiang in palace etiquette..."