Zhang Mao felt a sinking feeling in his heart. He had the same thought.
He looked at Ning Ze and gritted his teeth, "What I want to ask you is, why are you the one interrogating me?"
Ning Ze was confused, "What does that have to do with your confession?"
"It does."
"Alright, since you say it matters, I’ll tell you. The reason I’m interrogating you is because Master Feng said that I have experience." He pointed to his severed finger, "Here’s the experience. Learning from personal encounters, applying it in practice."
Zhang Mao was speechless for a moment.
"Are you going to talk? If you don’t, I can just cut it off," Ning Ze kindly reminded him, "Once it’s cut off, you can’t get it back."
"Wait, let me ask you a few more questions." Zhang Mao looked at Ning Ze, "I don’t mean to waste time. I mean, are you willingly doing this or are you being forced?"
"Of course, willingly." Ning Ze frowned at him, "What are you trying to say? Speak up. Don’t waste my time with useless talk. I want to hear something useful."
As he finished speaking, he added, "I’m really not here to intimidate you."
He was altogether sluggish and slow. However, he seemed quite focused and determined to complete the mission.
Zhang Mao naturally knew he wasn’t there to intimidate him. This person wore his thoughts plainly on his face. He asked, "Why are you willing to do this? I recall hearing news that your finger was cut off by Fen Ling."
The information he received couldn’t possibly be inaccurate.
Ning Ze was annoyed, "Of course, it’s because I was impressed by Lady Su Qi and Master Feng and decided to join them. Are you stupid?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
He suddenly doubted if Zhang Mao was as talented as his reputation suggested.
Zhang Mao stalled, looking at Ning Ze in disbelief, "You joined Su Rong?"
"Correct." Ning Ze straightened his back and said rather proudly, "Here in Daliang, imperial laws and regulations don’t apply to Nanchu. I can no longer be an official in Daliang, but I can be one in Nanchu. Lady Su Qi agreed."
He wore a smug face, "Now that I’m with Lady Su Qi and have experience, of course it’s me who interrogates you."
Zhang Mao was shocked. Looking at Ning Ze, the dagger in his hand, and the fact that he alone was here to interrogate him in this secret cell, the explanation made sense.
"With all your talk, you haven’t said anything useful. I’m going to cut it off now," Ning Ze tightened his grasp on the dagger, hesitating a bit with first time jitters, "As long as you’re still breathing, any wound is permissible. Master Feng said so."
"Wait." Zhang Mao did not want to die, and of course, he didn’t want to lose a finger.
He was a smart man, more clear-headed about his future than Ning Ze. When Su Rong blocked his way, his negotiations ultimately failed, and he was attacked. All his men fell one by one, no one escaped. Each one fell in front of him until he was left alone, captured and locked up in this secret cell. He knew his end was near.
He only had one path left, death. His father would never allow himself to be threatened by Su Rong on his behalf, and Zhou Gu and Su Rong would never let him escape.
He was only headed towards death.
The only difference was whether he died with dignity or in shame.
He clenched his hands and said to Ning Ze, "I want to see Lady Su Qi."
Ning Ze shook his head but felt no need to hide it from him, "She’s not here. She continued on her way to find more secret agents. Only after all the secret agents in the Nanping Boundary have been eliminated will she be able to come back."
Zhang Mao said, "Then I want to see Master Feng."
Ning Ze gripped the dagger and frowned, "Are you looking down on me? I am more than enough to interrogate you."
Zhang Mao stared at him, "I also want to join Su Rong. Can you make that decision?"
"Ah?" Ning Ze finally lost his composure, his eyes widened in shock, "You, are you joking around?"
Who was Zhang Mao? He was Zhang Ping’s legitimate son. If he wasn’t captured, he would be the most influential person in the Zhang Family, other than Zhang Ping. In other words, if Zhang Ping’s rebellion succeeded, he would become as powerful as the crown prince, Yan Huisheng.
"I’m not joking." Zhang Mao looked at Ning Ze seriously, "Please inform Master Feng for me."
Ning Ze stuttered slightly, "You, are you serious? Are you even more shameless than me? Are you scared of dying?"
One should know, if he did ally with Su Rong, that would be equivalent to plunging a knife into the Zhang Family from the inside, a knife that could kill Zhang Ping. Could a son do that to his own father?
Could he compare with him? He joined Su Rong because that was his mother’s wish. He had fallen into the mud and had no future. He had found a way out by joining Su Rong, and this move didn’t affect his family.
But he was different, if he joined Su Rong, would he have to watch as Su Rong killed his father or even help her do so?
"Die? Of course I’m afraid." Zhang Mao calmly replied, "But more terrifying than death is dying in such disgrace. I’d rather live than die like this."
Ning Ze didn’t understand, he scratched his head, "I don’t understand what you’re saying. You’re not dead yet."
"I’m going to die soon." Zhang Mao replied, "If I don’t join Su Rong, or if Su Rong doesn’t accept my allegiance, I only have one path: death."
He asked Ning Ze, "Do you really think, do you really feel, that my father, with his many sons, would be willing to save someone like me?"
"If he gives up his rebellion, you would naturally live." Ning Ze replied, "His Majesty is lenient, and the crown prince is benevolent. They won’t completely annihilate your Zhang family. After all, it is never too late to mend the error of your ways."
"There’s no way he will give up his rebellion for me. He’s been planning this for over ten years." Zhang Mao shook his head, "So, do you think, compared to a death like mine, it is worthwhile? Or is it not?"
Ning Ze was in a dilemma, he really didn’t know. After all, Zhang Mao was far more capable than him. Who knew whether there was life after death, or whether he would be as competent in his next life? If he died like this, it would probably be hard to accept, right?
He put the dagger away and said to him, "Alright, you wait here. I’ll go find Master Feng."
This was not a decision he could make. He turned around and left the secret cell.
Zhang Mao listened to the hurried footsteps as he withdrew, then looked around the dimly lit cell, at the damp air and the foul smell of decay. He didn’t know how many people had been locked up here, how many had walked out alive, or how many had died here.
Ning Ze ran to the kitchen, but Fen Ling was no longer there. After filling his stomach, he had gone back to his courtyard. Ning Ze had no choice but to run to the Pear Blossom Garden again.
Fen Ling had already gone to bed for the night.
Ning Ze felt this matter was important, so he barged into Fen Ling’s room and woke him up. He no longer called him Master Feng, "Fen Ling, wake up, don’t sleep just yet."
Fen Ling was woken up and opened his eyes irritably, "Why are you calling me? Can’t you handle this little thing?"
"It’s not that." Ning Ze shook his head, "It’s Zhang Mao. He says he wants to join Lady Su Qi as well."
"Hmm?" Fen Ling was surprised.
"That’s exactly what he said. He seemed quite serious too. I said that Lady Su Qi isn’t here, and he said it’s okay to find you." Ning Ze speculated, "He might be the same as me, a coward? Was he scared when he saw my dagger about to cut off his finger?"
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