Chapter 111 Shi Qingchen's Memories
Deep within the Jinwuwei prison, Shi Qingchen's shrill screams echoed once more, this time accompanied by the smell of burning flesh.
Gu Nanxiao used a branding iron with the character for "slave" on it to brand Shi Qingchen's body again and again. His chest, arms, and thighs were all covered with the character for "slave".
Having learned from his previous experience of being beaten, Shi Qingchen wanted to immediately cooperate and give Gu Nanxiao the information he wanted when he saw him this time.
However, Gu Nanxiao harbored resentment towards him because of Yunxi's departure, so even if he was willing to talk, he insisted on using torture first before questioning him.
Shi Qingchen's body was already covered with whip marks, which had just scabbed over, and many places were still oozing pus. At this moment, the red-hot branding iron was branding his flesh raw, causing him to bulge his eyes out of the corners of his eyes and scream until his voice was hoarse.
At that moment, he suddenly remembered that he had treated Liu Shi in the same way before. At that time, he only felt a sense of pleasure, never imagining that having his skin burned by a branding iron would be such an extremely painful punishment.
He didn't know if this was retribution, but he had already secretly vowed that if he had the chance in the future, he would never use such torture on anyone else again.
After enduring half an hour of this, Gu Nanxiao finally stopped, satisfied. He then instructed the doctor to treat Shi Qingchen, ensuring that no one's life was in danger.
Gu Nanxiao washed his hands with a cold water towel, sat down on the armchair, and then began to ask questions: "Tell me about what happened before and after you met Yunxi."
Let's focus on the passage she mentioned to you, the one that allows you to return to your own world. If there's even a hint of what's going on...
Before Gu Nanxiao could finish speaking, he turned his gaze to the torture instruments on the shelf. Shi Qingchen followed his gaze, and when he saw the knives, pliers, whips, awls, and other instruments of torture, he shuddered and replied in a very fast voice:
"Tell me, tell me, I will definitely explain it clearly. Whatever Your Excellency wants to know, I will tell you everything I know without reservation."
Gu Nanxiao had no time to watch his obsequious performance. He waved his hand, signaling him to start quickly and not waste time. Shi Qingchen dared not offend this formidable figure, and immediately spoke tactfully:
"When I first met Yunxi, it was one night. Yunxi was wearing strange clothes, carrying a small bag, and her face was a little dirty. Her shoes and trouser legs were also covered in dust. She looked like she had been traveling all day."
Moreover, after I rented the side courtyard to her, Yunxi simply washed up with cold water and didn't even eat dinner before going to bed early. She seemed very tired.
The next morning, I thought I should call her to have breakfast together, but when I got to the side courtyard, I found that she had already left. The only thing that proved she hadn't left was the small package on the bed.
Yunxi didn't return home until after I finished school in the afternoon, carrying two packets of roast beef, two packets of pastries, and a packet of silver. At first, I didn't know how she had managed to get so much silver in one day.
Later, I heard from Yunxi that he found a restaurant on the verge of closing down in the market and made more than a dozen dishes for the owner. The owner, who immediately saw the business opportunity, paid to monopolize the recipes.
After just one day of free tasting, the restaurant became famous in the town. In the afternoon, the innkeeper paid Yunxi two hundred taels of silver and personally wrapped up meat and pastries for her.
That evening, we ate the roast pork and snacks that Yunxi had brought back. Before that, I hadn't eaten meat for several years. Although I felt embarrassed, I couldn't resist the temptation.
Then, Yunxi took out fifty taels of silver and gave it to me, saying it was for three months' rent in advance. This fifty taels not only allowed me to pay off my debts to my classmates, but also left me with a dozen or so taels in hand. That was the first time in my life I had ever felt what it felt like to have extra money.
In just a few days, I discovered that Yunxi not only had a unique way of dressing, but also possessed extraordinary abilities. From then on, I often sought opportunities to talk to her. Unexpectedly, the more I learned about her, the more remarkable I became.
Yunxi is not only erudite and versatile, but also knowledgeable in both ancient and modern times. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he knows everything from astronomy to geography.
What's most incomprehensible is that, as a woman, she actually made significant contributions to court politics. Moreover, her views were all insightful and enlightening.
As for business acumen, it goes without saying that Yunxi seemed to have a natural talent for it. After only staying at the ancestral home for a dozen days, she had already established cooperative relationships with all the taverns, teahouses, restaurants, general stores, cosmetics shops, and clothing shops in the market.
Moreover, Yunxi was only responsible for coming up with ideas, providing blueprints, and sharing some secret recipes. Yet, she managed to get shopkeepers to willingly give her a significant portion of their profits for nothing.
I have no idea how much money Yunxi earned after that. I only saw her buy the best carriage, change into the most fashionable clothes, and hire two maids and four servants to take care of our daily needs in the mansion.
After that, I followed her and began living the life of a true young master. Yunxi was only slightly disheveled on the night I first met her. After that, she lived an incredibly comfortable life.
After she arrived, I began to enjoy a life of luxury, eating well, dressing well, and using the best things. Although Yunxi was a woman, she was extremely generous and magnanimous.
Moreover, she made money with ease; whenever she wanted, she would bring back money after every trip out. It was as if all the money in the world was at her disposal.
Since I met Yunxi, I have never experienced the trouble of being short of money.
At that time, I truly admired Yunxi, so I stopped putting on airs as a man and started asking her questions often, living a life of both teacher and friend with Yunxi.
During the time I discussed academic matters with Yunxi, my arguments and articles were often praised by him. Soon, I became a renowned scholar, known far and wide.
Shi Qingchen's words, "both teacher and friend," also awakened Gu Nanxiao's memories. Conversing with Yunxi was indeed one of life's greatest pleasures.
Moreover, during that period, thanks to the prescriptions provided by Yunxi, he received repeated praise from the emperor, and his father's opinion of him changed from then on.
Yunxi is such an outstanding woman. Anyone who comes into contact with her feels as if they are bathed in sunshine, and their life becomes unrestrained and vibrant.
Gu Nanxiao did not interrupt Shi Qingchen's recollection, because every bit of Yunxi's past, even the years he had not participated in, sounded incredibly familiar to Gu Nanxiao at this moment.
Shi Qingchen seemed lost in his own world, even the pain in his body seemed to have temporarily left him. When he spoke of Yunxi, his eyes shone and his lips curved into a smile, as if he were recalling an incredibly beautiful past.
However, in addition to making money, Yunxi would travel by carriage every few days, but she always seemed somewhat disappointed when she returned home in the evening.
Later, she bought many books on astronomical calculations and asked me if I could find a way to meet with someone from the Imperial Observatory.
Actually, with some money, I could have used the Shi family's name to arrange a meeting with the officials of the Imperial Observatory. But at that time, I sensed that Yunxi intended to leave, so I lied to her.
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