The Xianyang Palace Prison.
"Bang!"
With a muffled thud, Gao Jianli crashed heavily to the ground. His hands had been broken, all ten fingers shattered, and he could no longer touch the strings.
"Speak! Who else was involved in this?" the Black Ice Chief interrogator demanded sternly.
Gao Jianli sneered, spitting out a mouthful of blood: "Kill me or torture me, it's up to you."
"What a tough nut to crack!" The interrogator waved his hand. "Bring on the torture!"
Instantly, chilling screams echoed through the dark prison. Iron tongs and branding irons were used in turn, but no matter how the torture was applied, Gao Jianli gritted his teeth and refused to utter a single word.
The interrogation had lasted a full day and night. The bloodstains on the ground had long since dried, only to be replenished with new ones. Gao Jianli's body was so badly damaged that not a single piece of intact flesh could be seen, but his eyes still stubbornly stared at the interrogator.
"Enough!" The wicked man emerged from the shadows. "This kind of fighting won't work."
"What brilliant idea does the Grand Commandant have?" the interrogator asked, wiping the sweat from his brow.
The wicked man squatted down, staring into Gao Jianli's eyes: "You people of Yan value loyalty and righteousness the most, don't you?"
Gao Jianli was slightly taken aback.
"Someone come here! Bring him his zither!"
Soon, the guqin that had been his constant companion was taken to the prison. The wicked man gently stroked the instrument: "This is a fine guqin; it seems to be a good instrument."
"You..." Gao Jianli finally showed a hint of panic.
"Don't worry, this Grand Commandant won't destroy it," the wicked man laughed. "However... if you don't tell the truth, this zither will have to stay with you..."
He made a breaking gesture.
Gao Jianli struggled violently, but was immediately pinned down.
He stared intently at the violin, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.
This zither not only carries his musical talent and life, but more importantly, it is the last keepsake that Jing Ke left him.
"I'll give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to think it over." The wicked man stood up. "Whether you keep the zither or keep someone else's secret, the choice is yours."
After saying that, he turned and walked towards the depths of the prison. There, an important prisoner was still being held—Consort Sun.
"Grand Commandant, your presence is an honor; I have failed to greet you properly." Consort Sun's voice still carried a hint of arrogance.
"Why bother with these polite words?" The wicked husband sat down opposite her. "You and I both know this matter won't be that simple."
"Oh? What makes you say that, Grand Commandant?"
"An old friend of Jing Ke, a descendant of the Yan state, and now they've chosen this moment to stir up trouble in the harem," the wicked man sneered. "Do you really think this Grand Commandant would believe it's just a coincidence?"
Consort Sun was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "You wicked husband, you are indeed not simple. But I haven't been idle these past years either. Did you think that capturing me and Gao Jianli would protect your crown prince?"
"What did you say?" The wicked man suddenly stood up.
"Hehe..." Consort Sun said meaningfully, "Some things can't be found out just by wanting to."
Just then, an announcement came from outside: "Grand Commandant, the two Empress Dowagers have arrived!"
"Hmph! Consider yourself lucky." The wicked husband sneered. "When I, the Grand Commandant, return, I'll have plenty of time to argue with you!"
Upon arriving at the front hall of the prison, they found that Empress Dowager Xia and Empress Dowager Huayang had been waiting for a long time.
Behind them stood Ying Zheng, his face grim.
"Where is that slut?" Empress Dowager Xia asked bluntly.
"I'll be there soon." As soon as the wicked husband finished speaking, Consort Sun was brought up.
Despite being interrogated all night, she maintained her arrogance.
Upon seeing the two empress dowagers, former sisters, he not only failed to pay his respects but also sneered repeatedly.
"Kneel down!" the men from the Black Ice Platform shouted.
"Bah!" Consort Sun spat. "Who do you think you are, daring to make me kneel? If my Yan Kingdom still existed, you people..."
"Outrageous!" Empress Dowager Xia roared, "Slap him!"
"Clap clap clap!"
After several slaps, Consort Sun's cheeks were swollen high. But she still held her head high, her eyes filled with resentment and malice.
The wicked man had seen that look in Gao Jianli's eyes before.
"Do you know your crime?" Empress Dowager Huayang asked in a cold voice.
"A crime?" Consort Sun suddenly burst into laughter. "I avenged the Yan Kingdom, what crime have I committed? It is you who are guilty..."
"Shut up!" Empress Dowager Xia interrupted sharply, "The late King's kindness to you was so immense, yet you dare repay kindness with enmity! You are utterly heartless!"
Empress Dowager Huayang also angrily said, "What's even more hateful is that you dared to lay a hand on the eldest prince. Such a vicious person deserves to die!"
"Guards, bring forth a white silk ribbon!"
A bolt of snow-white silk was presented. Consort Sun looked at the deadly silk, but instead of being afraid, she laughed even more maniacally.
"Very well, very well!" She suddenly turned to look at Ying Zheng, "You think killing me will bring peace? Dream on! One day, you too will taste the pain of losing a child!"
"Drag him away!" the wicked husband ordered.
Soon, a muffled thud came from the inner room, and this orphan of the Yan Kingdom passed away.
"Grand Commandant!" After dealing with Consort Sun, the interrogator rushed over, "Something's wrong! Gao Jianli..."
"What's wrong?"
"He...he committed suicide!" the interrogator gasped. "He ran into a wall and died, still laughing before he died!"
The wicked man's face darkened, and he hurried toward the prison cell.
Sure enough, Gao Jianli was dead, but a strange smile remained on his face. Beside him, the zither lay perfectly intact.
"This is..." The wicked man picked up a piece of silk cloth with writing on it. It contained only a few words: "May the Yan Kingdom endure forever, and may the future be long!"
"How dare you!" Empress Dowager Xia roared in fury. "This madman deserves to die! Hang his corpse on the city gate as a warning to others!"
"Wait!" The wicked husband stopped the executioners. "There are still many secrets hidden in this matter. Just now, Consort Sun said..."
He recounted Consort Sun's dying words. Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng's face darkened further: "You mean, there's someone backing them?"
"Very likely," the wicked man said in a deep voice. "I suggest we keep quiet for now and investigate thoroughly in secret. Especially..."
He glanced at the two empress dowagers: "We must be even more vigilant regarding the inner palace."
"Approved!" Ying Zheng nodded. "This matter is entrusted to you."
As he left the prison, the wicked man glanced back at Gao Jianli's corpse.
The musician never revealed any secrets until his death, but his death only exposed more suspicious points.
"The saying 'Yan and Zhao are full of chivalrous men' is truly well-deserved. Why do they have to be like that leech?" the wicked man muttered to himself.
Unbeknownst to him, in some corner of Xianyang City, a mysterious person was reading a secret letter.
The letter read: "Old comrades of Yan and Zhao, awaiting only orders..."
The mysterious man tucked the letter away, his expression becoming very complicated.
"Ying Zheng and his wicked husband, this pair of ruler and minister, do have a commanding presence, but alas... their methods are too cruel."
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