Two hours have passed since Li Qiang's wife left, and it's already dark outside, but she hasn't returned.
Zhang Xiue wanted to call the soldiers to ask questions, but Qin Xiaoniangzi stopped her.
"Let's keep quiet. I think she'll be back soon. The neighbors are already making enough noise. If we keep quiet, we can draw their attention to them."
After hearing Qin Xiaoniang's words, Zhang Xiue lowered her head and remained silent.
Sure enough, less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Li Qiang's wife returned, unharmed.
As soon as she entered the door, the two children rushed up to her and hugged her, crying.
"Don't cry, don't cry, Mom is alright!"
Qin Xiaoniang hurriedly went over to check on Li Qiang's wife's body and saw that there wasn't even a bruise on her body, so she figured that she hadn't been tortured.
Song He'er asked softly, "Tian Niangzi, what did they ask you? Why were you gone for so long?"
Li Qiang's wife was parched, so she picked up the jar on the ground and gulped down two mouthfuls of water.
"They didn't ask me anything, they just tied me to that pillar for two hours. When that prince came, he simply asked me about my background, origins, age, and relationship with you, and then released me."
Qin Xiaoniang was somewhat incredulous. "What? What does this mean?"
If Song He'er wasn't mistaken, these soldiers were deliberately stalling for time so that they would think Li Qiang's wife had suffered a serious injury and, out of fear, would have no choice but to tell the truth.
"I think they're deliberately keeping me in suspense to force you to tell the truth, but I haven't said anything yet. I reckon they'll have to call for backup."
“Do I need to call someone else? I’ll go then!” Zhang Xiu’e stepped out from the crowd.
Li Qiang's wife quickly shook her head, "It's no use! It'll definitely be that cowardly one. You're so strong, there's no need for you."
Song He'er sensed something was wrong. Su Yu's wife was currently in a daze and harbored resentment towards them. If she were chosen by the soldiers, this woman would talk nonsense. She had to hide her away from the soldiers as soon as possible.
Just then, Song He'er walked up to Zhang Xiu'e and told her everything.
Zhang Xiu'e was a sensible person. After listening to a few words, she took a bundle of straw and sat down in front of Su Yu's wife, blocking the view of the outsiders so that they could not see Su Yu's wife sitting there.
Sure enough, two more soldiers arrived in the next instant.
He opened the cell door, looked around, and then pointed directly at Song He'er.
"You're the one! Come with us!"
Qin Xiaoniang frantically pulled Song He'er into her arms.
"No way! My daughter is too young. If anyone should go, it should be me!"
"You want to get beaten too, don't you? Those two crazy women next door have already been whipped. If you want to get whipped too, then keep yelling!"
Song He'er shook her head, signaling her not to speak. After all, only by going out could they find out what this prince of Xizhou was up to.
Perhaps she can still find a way out; if she digs a tunnel, it's not impossible for her to crawl out.
“Mother, let me go. If Tian Niangzi was fine, I will be even more unwell. I am young, and if they have any compassion, they should take care of me.”
The soldiers lost their patience and lashed out with their whips at the pillar, scaring the children into tears.
"If you keep dawdling, I'll have to resort to torture! Think it over!"
Song He'er stepped forward and nodded obediently, "Don't...don't hit me, I'll go with you!"
The officers snorted and took Song He'er away from the prison.
Zhang Xiue and the others could only watch helplessly from behind, not daring to step forward to stop them.
Song He'er followed the soldiers through a maze of twists and turns until they entered a dimly lit room filled with all sorts of torture instruments.
A man dressed in exotic clothing sat in the chair at the head of the table, but he was not the same man they had seen that morning.
This person had a rather stern appearance, with no smile on his face, and a fierce look that made people feel intimidated.
"Get her a chair and let her sit down."
As soon as she finished speaking, the soldiers next to her brought over a chair and let Song He'er sit down.
"I ask you questions, and you answer them."
Song He'er pretended to be obedient and nodded, "Yes."
"age."
"Sixteen years old (by Chinese reckoning)."
Where do you live?
"Central Plains, the capital city."
"What kind of business does your family engage in? Are any of your relatives or friends serving as officials in the imperial court?"
Song He'er shook her head. She knew that Li Qiang's wife would say the same thing, and no matter how she was asked, she should not mention the General's Mansion.
“We all do business in the capital. Our families aren’t rich, but we’re doing alright. It’s just that business is bad this year, so we’re out here doing business.”
After pondering for a while, the interrogating officer continued with some skepticism, "Don't any of you have elderly relatives at home? Why bring your children and families along when you're out doing business? Where is your father?"
“My father and uncle went to another place, and we left in two separate groups.”
After layers of questioning, not a single detail was revealed.
Having exhausted all other options, the person on stage had no choice but to leave and ask someone else for help.
Song He'er breathed a sigh of relief and began to look around to see if there was anything good she could put into her spatial storage.
Long knives, axes, steel whips, and all sorts of torture instruments that Song He'er couldn't recognize hung on the walls.
Taking advantage of the moment when no one was looking, Song He'er recited an incantation and carefully selected and stored these items into her spatial storage.
"The prince is here! Everyone, perk up!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
