cell.
Nine feet underground, it was pitch black.
For Chen Hai, every incense stick's time that night felt like an eternity.
Even though he was covered in bruises, his nails were all torn off, a piece of his scalp was missing, his teeth were cracked, and his clothes, now torn into tiny strips, had grown into his flesh, he still managed to pull through.
"A tough guy."
The cruel officials and jailers in the central government prison were all elite soldiers who had been on the battlefield. They couldn't help but feel admiration for their colleague and gave him this evaluation.
Tough guys appreciate each other. Regardless of their stance or allegiances, as long as you're tough enough, you'll earn each other's respect.
Especially since everyone works at the Central Government Office and sees each other frequently, Chen Hai's image in their eyes has undergone a complete transformation, becoming a completely different person from the one they remembered.
"Director Chen, there's no point in holding on any longer. Just confess."
The necessary tortures were still used—it was their job—but the prison guards really didn't want to continue.
Chen Hai, who had been keeping his head down and hadn't said a word, suddenly burst into laughter.
He coughed up several mouthfuls of blood as soon as he opened his mouth.
"I know your methods all too well... cough cough... you're out of options, aren't you..."
"Chen Hai, you!" The jailer was furious, then sighed, "Why did you have to do this!"
The squeaking of rats came from the corner of the wall. The cell door opened, and Xiao Luofeng walked in with Yang Taozhi.
Through the iron bars, Yang Taozhi saw that Chen Hai's hands were hanging down, his head was drooping, his hair was disheveled, and there were congealed blood clots on the ends of his hair.
"Open."
The jailer opened the door and said as Yang Taozhi went in, "She's not afraid of death or pain, and hasn't uttered a single word since she came in."
“I know you all already call him a tough guy. If he were made of paper, Commander Xiao wouldn’t have called me here.”
The jailer looked at Xiao Luofeng, and Xiao Luofeng nodded.
The jailer said, "What do you need? Please let me know."
"Just bring me a needle."
"yes!"
Yang Taozhi walked up to Chen Hai, stretched out her gloved hand, grabbed Chen Hai's hair, and lifted his head up.
"My name is Yang Taozhi. You can remember me because I will be the last person you see in your life."
As the first rays of morning sunlight shone on the stone table in front of Zhao Cheng and Xiao Luomu, Xiao Luofeng and Yang Taozhi walked over.
Zhao Cheng and Xiao Luomu both stopped drinking and looked at them.
Xiao Luofeng's expression was strange. He subconsciously distanced himself from Yang Taozhi, rubbed his hands together, and said, "Chen Hai... confessed everything."
...
Like Chen Yuxian, Chen Hai was a leader in the Southern Zhou spy organization, in charge of the entire Qingdong intelligence network.
The most critical issue is that although Chen Hai doesn't know the details of the intelligence network in the thirteen cities of Jingdong, each city has a designated contact person. If the Jingjun army follows these contacts to dig deeper, it's only a matter of time before they uncover the entire intelligence network of the thirteen cities of Jingdong.
Chen Hai's opening of his mouth was undoubtedly a catastrophe for the Southern Weekly intelligence network.
For Yasukuni, this was yet another great victory.
Zhao Cheng had no intention of relinquishing the credit this time, nor did he need to. He had decided that before returning to Yanchuan, he would make as much of a commotion in Qingdong as possible.
As he expected, once Chen Yuxian was gone from Yanchuan City, a new contact person immediately appeared.
A group of people were staying at the Xiao family's house. After breakfast, they were taking a walk in the yard when Zhao Wu walked quickly toward Zhao Cheng.
"Master, Xu An has sent a letter saying he wants to come and see you."
Zhao Cheng reached out and touched the fruit on the tree, saying, "I'm about to go back, what's he doing here?"
“He said he missed you, and that he was already on his way when we received the letter.”
"I miss him..." Zhao Cheng pouted, "When did he become so gay!"
"Great!" Xiao Luomu clapped his hands and said, "I must treat the young marquis well! Is the young master coming?"
"It wasn't mentioned in the letter."
Zhao Cheng waved his hand and said, "Then you entertain him. I have to go back to Yanchuan."
"No, young prime minister!" Xiao Luomu tugged at Zhao Cheng and whispered, "My father still has business to discuss with you."
Dong Shier walked up behind Zhao Cheng and stammered, "Boss, I...we..."
Looking at Dong Shier's bruised and swollen face, Zhao Cheng frowned and said, "Spit it out!"
"Why don't we stay in Yanchuan for a couple more days?"
Zhao Cheng was taken aback. Looking at Yan Zhi, who was being held in Dong Shier's arms, he asked doubtfully, "If you two want to be intimate, why don't you just take her back to Yanchuan?"
“Azhi is coming back with me, but…” Dong Shier lowered his voice and said, “She wants to take her sister with her as well.”
"Why do men in love become so long-winded? They can't even utter a word for ages!"
Zhao Cheng looked at Yan Zhi and said, "Tell me what exactly happened!"
Yan Zhi seemed somewhat afraid of Zhao Cheng, and dared not look Zhao Cheng in the eye when she spoke. She said, "My sister Yan Lan was sold to Cuifang Brothel by my brother. He took the money and ran away. I have no money to redeem my sister."
"That's easy, just have Old Dong pay up!"
"Yan Lan is beautiful and young, and... inexperienced in the ways of the world. The madam of Cuifang Tower treats her like a treasure and wants to make her the most beautiful courtesan. She probably won't be willing to let her redeem herself."
"Why open a brothel? For money! As long as the price is right, this business is bound to succeed!" Zhao Cheng exuded the aura of a brothel owner.
Xiao Luomu nodded and said, "This is a small matter. I know Mama Fu at Cuifang Tower very well!"
Upon hearing this, Yan Zhi grabbed Dong Shier's arm and stomped her feet excitedly.
Zhao Cheng looked at Dong Shier with a strange smile and said, "Old Dong is quite the ladies' man!"
Dong Shier quickly said, "It's not what you think, boss! I brought Azhi's sister to Yanchuan because I wanted you to make some arrangements for her."
"Arrange to go to a club?"
"Boss, stop messing around..."
Zhao Cheng smiled at Zhou Nuo, then rolled his eyes at Dong Twelve and said, "The Right Prime Minister's residence doesn't need any maids anymore!"
"There will always be places where it is needed."
"Why don't they stay at your house? The sisters can stay together then."
"I'm not worried about the problem you mentioned, I'm just afraid I'll have too much luck with women..."
"Hey!" Zhao Cheng was about to yell at Dong Shier for being narcissistic when he caught a glimpse of Yan Zhi's eyes and immediately understood what was going on.
It wasn't that Dong Shier didn't want to, but that Yan Zhi was unwilling.
Zhao Wu suddenly said, "Master, didn't you want to find a maid for Miss Cai'e? You can send her over."
"Mind your own business!" Zhao Cheng glared at Zhao Wu.
Even so, Zhao Wu's words did remind Zhao Cheng that if Yan Zhi's sister was reliable, she could be sent to serve Yang Cai'e.
After all, Zhao Huan was going home, and Zhao Cheng needed to put his relationship with Yang Cai'e on the agenda and help Yang Cai'e adapt to life as a young mistress as soon as possible.
Thinking about these things, Zhao Cheng subconsciously glanced at Zhou Nuo, his feelings becoming somewhat complicated.
"Young Prime Minister, how about I take you to Cuifang Tower?" Xiao Luomu suggested.
Zhao Cheng glanced at the crowd and saw that most of them had eager eyes, like drunkards who didn't drink enough in the first round and insisted on going to the second round. He couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.
"Go! Go! Go!"
"What's that saying again?"
"Since we're already here..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
