Chapter 130 Survival in the Cracks

Xie Wulu struggled to lift his head, his vision blurred by blood.

He knew that if he didn't say something today, he would be beaten to death on this rack! Or... suffer a fate worse than death!

But if I tell, I'll die an even worse death.

"Speak!" Pei Mingyue's voice was hoarse. She stood barefoot in the pool of blood, raised her hand, and the blood-stained whip whistled sharply, about to fall again!

At this critical moment!

"The letter... I delivered the letter!"

Pei Mingyue's whip-wielding motion suddenly stopped!

"What did you say?!" Her voice was shrill, filled with murderous intent. "You admit it?! You treacherous wretch! It really was you!!"

"No...it's not betrayal! Your Highness!!"

Xie Wulu suddenly raised his head and screamed with all his remaining strength, his face covered in blood, sweat and tears.

He knew this was his last chance!

If he doesn't speak up, the next lash will send him to hell!

"I sent the message... not to help Xie Sangning! Nor was it to betray His Highness! I sent her the message... it was a scheme! It was a scheme I devised for His Highness... to lure her into a trap!"

"count?"

Pei Mingyue's brows furrowed sharply, her eyes flashing with malice. Clearly, she didn't believe it, and raised the whip in her hand even higher. "You still dare to argue when you're about to die? What kind of bullshit plan is that!"

"Your Highness is wise!"

Xie Wulu endured the excruciating pain that seemed to tear his entire body apart. "I know Xie Sangning, that venomous woman, all too well! She's arrogant, headstrong, and values ​​her life more than anyone else! I deliberately leaked the news that Your Highness had sent people to investigate Xihan to her, just to make her... to make her afraid! To make her panic! To let her know that Your Highness has already set your sights on her! You've already found her Achilles' heel!"

He was breathing heavily, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were fixed on Pei Mingyue, filled with urgency.

"I suspect that once she learns that Your Highness has discovered the secret of Xi Han, she will be thrown into chaos! Given her cowardly nature, she will definitely... she will definitely think that Your Highness has solid evidence and can kill her at any time! In order to protect herself and to appease Your Highness's anger... the most likely thing she will do is... to take the initiative to bow down to Your Highness! To curry favor! She might even... even bring the secret of Xi Han to surrender to Your Highness! Begging Your Highness to show mercy and spare her life!"

"In this way, Your Highness can make that arrogant Xie Sangning grovel at your feet without lifting a finger! Not only will you obtain the secret of the Xihan Mine, but you can also thoroughly humiliate her! Make her wag her tail and beg for mercy like a dog! Isn't this...isn't this more satisfying than directly sending people to investigate?! And more of a demonstration of Your Highness's majesty and methods?!"

He paused, noticing a fleeting hesitation in Pei Mingyue's eyes, then seized the opportunity, his voice rising, filled with annoyance and resentment:

"But...but I never expected this!" His face showed an expression of disbelief. "That Xie Sangning...she...she is so cunning! So unpredictable! Not only was she not intimidated, she did not come to Your Highness to beg for mercy...but instead...she took a risky approach! I don't know what kind of sorcery she used, but she went directly to His Majesty to ask for Xihan to become her fiefdom!"

"I...I miscalculated! I deserve to die!" Xie Wulu's voice was choked with sobs, filled with self-reproach. "I only thought of devising a clever plan for His Highness to subdue that vile woman! But I underestimated her audacity! And I never expected...His Majesty...His Majesty would actually agree to bestow Xihan upon her!"

While he was remorsefully admitting his mistake, he was also carefully observing Pei Mingyue's expression.

Pei Mingyue loosened her grip on the whip a little.

Xie Wulu's heart pounded wildly, knowing that his words had had an effect!

He had to add fuel to the fire! To completely extinguish her murderous intent!

"But! Your Highness!"

"So what if Xihan becomes her fiefdom? The mines! They won't run away! As long as they exist, they are Xie Sangning's death warrant!"

"Your Highness, if the people you sent find irrefutable evidence of the existence of the mineral vein! Proving that Xie Sangning had already discovered and privately mined and embezzled this enormous wealth belonging to the court and His Majesty! Then...that would be irrefutable evidence of deceiving the emperor! Embezzling state mines! A crime akin to treason! Unforgivable!"

"At that time! Let alone her mere county princess! Even her father Xie Zhenting won't be able to save her life! His Majesty will be furious! The whole world will condemn her! She, Xie Sangning... will surely die without a burial place! She will never be reincarnated!"

"To die without a burial place... never to be reincarnated..."

Pei Mingyue murmured these words repeatedly, the ferocity in her eyes slowly receding, her expression becoming increasingly excited, as if she could already see that day, see Xie Sangning being torn to pieces and reduced to ashes!

yes!

The mine won't run away!

If evidence is found proving that Xie Sangning embezzled the mineral resources before the land was granted, then it's a death sentence for her! No one can save her!

The murderous intent on Pei Mingyue's face melted away like spring snow, and a smile slowly appeared on her lips.

She looked at Xie Wulu, who was covered in blood and on the verge of death on the wooden frame, yet still loyally offering her advice, and her eyes became playful.

With a snap, the whip in his hand was carelessly tossed into the pool of blood at his feet.

"Seventeen, oh seventeen..." She stepped forward slowly, extending her fingers stained with bright red nail polish, and lightly wiped away the blood from Xie Wulu's lips with her fingertips. "I... have underestimated your loyalty?"

Her fingertips were icy cold, and when they touched Xie Wulu's cracked lips, they caused a sharp pain.

Xie Wulu suppressed the urge to dodge, forcing a mixture of gratitude and grievance onto his face: "Your Highness... I... I have absolutely no ill intentions towards you! I only hate... I only hate that Xie Sangning is too cunning..."

"Alright."

Pei Mingyue withdrew her hand and slowly wiped the blood from her fingertips with a handkerchief. Her voice returned to its usual haughty and languid tone, "It seems... I... misunderstood you?"

She turned and gave an order to the guards at the door:

"Put him down. Find the royal physician to examine him, don't let him die."

"Yes!" The guard stepped forward and untied the heavy iron chains.

Without the support of the chains, Xie Wulu felt as if all his bones had been removed, collapsing limply to the ground. The intense pain and dizziness from blood loss instantly overwhelmed him.

He lay prone in the cold, sticky pool of blood, gasping for breath. Each breath aggravated his wounds, bringing excruciating pain.

“However…” Pei Mingyue looked down at Xie Wulu, who lay sprawled on the ground like a rag doll, “this time… you acted on your own initiative, thinking you were right, and almost ruined my important plans!”

"Drag him away and lock him in a clean room. Keep a close watch on him day and night. No one is to approach him without my permission! He is not to step out of the room, nor is he to touch paper or pen. If he lets a single word escape..."

"You... will come to me with your heads!"

"Yes, sir!"