"Uncle Yin, will my third uncle and eldest cousin be alright?"
Sheng Wanwan blinked her big, watery eyes and looked up at Yin Liu, asking a question.
Yin Liu shook his head, squatted down, gently stroked Sheng Wanwan's little head, and comforted her:
"Don't worry, Miss, Master has already made arrangements!"
"Mmm!" Sheng Wanwan nodded obediently, revealing a sweet smile.
Yin Liu picked up Sheng Wanwan and slowly walked towards the General's Mansion...
When Chu Shuyu brought the Chu family members to the Dali Temple, it was already dark.
To prevent any unforeseen complications, Chu Shuyu ordered all members of the Chu family to be imprisoned in the Dali Temple prison.
They also interrogated Chu Yunzhou and Chu Qingchuan overnight.
Their goal was to quickly ascertain that the calamity that befell their family was caused by a heretical cultivator hired by the direct descendants of the Chu family.
Today's commotion has been too big. If he doesn't quickly find someone to take the blame, it's very likely that his tenure as the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review will come to an end.
Tomorrow, rumors will surely spread like wildfire about his lineage being punished by heaven.
Even the imperial court might be alarmed.
He had to find out, before the court could investigate his family, that the Chu family's direct line was jealous of their line's prosperity and had specifically sought out evil cultivators to harm them.
Otherwise, not only would he lose his official position as Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, but he and his brothers might also lose their lives!
After all, their family couldn't withstand an investigation...
The interrogation room was cold and damp, with a musty and bloody smell permeating the air.
The room was dimly lit, with only a few flickering candles providing a meager illumination.
In the center of the interrogation room stood a heavy wooden table, upon which lay writing implements and a newly written confession. Behind the table was a high-backed chair, where Chu Shuyu sat upright, his face filled with a chilling aura.
In one corner of the room, two sets of torture instruments were placed.
They were two wooden crosses, with two iron bracelets tied to each end. The iron bracelets were covered in rust, showing the marks of time.
The inside of the iron ring is polished to an exceptionally sharp point; even the slightest struggle can cut through a person's skin.
Chu Yunzhou and Chu Qingchuan were tied to the cross.
His hands were put into bracelets, and his feet were tightly bound with hemp rope.
Two constables stood beside them, each holding a whip, and they were grinning sinisterly at them.
Directly in front of them was a charcoal brazier with several red-hot branding irons stuck in it.
Chu Yunzhou and Chu Qingchuan stared at the red-hot branding irons, swallowing hard. They prayed silently, "Hurry up and our rescuers will arrive! Otherwise, we're really in for a world of hurt..."
...
"Chu Yunzhou, Chu Qingchuan, speak! Why did you kill my family members? Is it because you are jealous that our family has been living a better life every day since we left the Chu family ancestral home?"
That's why you're so utterly depraved as to treat us like this!
Chu Shuyu looked at Chu Yunzhou and Chu Qingchuan, who were tied to the rack, with a somber expression.
"Hahaha... Chu Shuyu, you really know how to talk a good game! These slanderous words just come out of your mouth."
"Today, your lineage has been struck by lightning. This happened in full view of everyone! Did you really think that my third uncle and I had the ability to summon lightning to strike you? If we had such supernatural powers, how could we have been captured here alive! We would have already turned you to ashes with us!"
Chu Qingchuan feigned composure and spoke sarcastically.
Upon hearing this, Chu Shuyu's lips curled into a sinister smile:
"You may not have the ability, but the evil cultivator you found is quite capable! Tell me! Where is that evil cultivator now?"
"What evil cultivator? Chu Shuyu, you're just spouting nonsense! How can you say whatever you want? You're saying we hired an evil cultivator and harmed your family? Where's the evidence? Arresting and detaining law-abiding citizens like us without any evidence is illegal!"
Chu Qingchuan appeared completely unconcerned, even giving Chu Shuyu a disdainful smile.
Actually, he was terrified and kept silently repeating to himself:
【姑母快来啊！再不来你最疼爱的大侄子就要挨揍了……】
"Hahaha... Chu Qingchuan, you were quite clever when you were young, but your brain hasn't grown at all! Now that you're on my turf, do you still need evidence?"
Chu Shuyu sneered, picked up the confession from the table, and held it up in front of Chu Yunzhou.
"Chu Yunzhou, I'm not talking to him! He's brainless! You've done business all over the country, you can't be a dull person!"
So, what do you say? Will you sign?
"Hehehe... You're right, I'm not a stupid person. So do you think I'll sign it?"
Chu Yunzhou was bound to the rack, his heart trembling, but his face remained calm and composed. He appeared to possess an air of unwavering composure even in the face of imminent collapse.
Chu Shuyu narrowed his eyes, a cruel and bloodthirsty smile curving his lips.
"If that's the case, then don't blame me for being impolite! There's no 'truth' I can't get out of this Dali Temple prison!"
As Chu Shuyu finished speaking, he gave a wink to the two constables standing behind him.
Upon receiving the order, the two constables took their whips and walked towards Chu Yunzhou and Chu Qingchuan...
Just as the constables raised their whips high, about to lash out at the two men, a flustered male voice rang out.
"Stop! Stop right now!"
Upon hearing this sudden shout, everyone in the interrogation room was startled and looked in the direction of the sound—
An elderly man in official robes stumbled in.
The old man's forehead was covered with large beads of sweat, and his white hair at his temples was messily plastered to his cheeks.
Behind him followed a woman dressed in fine clothes, who was none other than Madam Chu.
His steps were hurried, but he didn't look disheveled.
"Lord Rong! Why have you come so late?" Chu Shuyu saw that the person who came was his superior, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review—Lord Rong. He quickly got up to greet him.
When he saw the woman behind Lord Rong clearly, an ominous premonition came over him.
Lord Rong, panting heavily, wiped his sweat with his sleeve, ignored Chu Shuyu, and instead bowed to the Chu family behind him, saying:
"Madam Sheng, thankfully we arrived in time. Your brother and nephew are both alright!"
"Yes! Thank you for your hard work, Lord Rong!"
Madam Chu nodded slightly, her demeanor befitting a lady of high birth.
Although the Chu family disliked the Sheng family, the position of the head mistress of the Sheng family was indeed quite useful.
Sheng Lingtian is a rising star in the capital, currently enjoying the emperor's favor.
Many high-ranking officials and nobles in Kyoto would give Sheng Lingtian some face.
And so, she entered the Rong Mansion smoothly, assuming the identity of the matriarch of the Sheng family.
They then used the power of the General's Mansion to coerce and entice Chu Yunzhou and Chu Qingchuan, thus sparing them from physical harm and keeping them safe.
"It's no trouble at all! It's no trouble at all! I just don't know if Madam Sheng can give me what she has now, otherwise I won't be able to sleep!"
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