Chapter 65 You dare call her by her name!
Soon, jailers brought Shen Moyan out and tied him to the gallows.
Xiao Jingheng's gaze was icy cold as he scrutinized him for a long time, his phoenix eyes as dark and unfathomable as an abyss.
The person before her was pale and thin. Apart from his face, which was barely recognizable, what was so special about him that could make Lingxi so bewitched?
Even Su Xiaoyu, who was so averse to trouble and only wanted to lie down, tried to intervene time and time again, ultimately suffering a backlash from fate and falling into a coma.
He didn't believe things could be that simple.
Lingxi might be deceived by his appearance, but Su Xiaoyu knows the 'future', and her intervention must be based on some definite 'outcome'.
There must be some unknown secret hidden within Shen Moyan.
The scrutinizing gaze was too direct, like a cold blade, sending chills down Shen Moyan's spine.
He felt as if all his pretense had been stripped away, and he could only bite his lip desperately to try and calm himself down.
"Shen Moyan."
Xiao Jingheng spoke, his voice carrying a chilling pressure: "I ask you, was the Black Wind Stronghold incident your doing alone, or were you acting under someone else's orders? What exactly is your purpose?"
Bound up, Shen Moyan looked up at Xiao Jingheng and forced himself to remain calm, saying, "Young Master Xiao, I have said many times that I only followed along because I was concerned about the safety of the Second Miss. I had no other intentions, let alone any mastermind behind it."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingheng slowly squatted down to meet Shen Moyan's gaze. He then used the other end of the whip to lift Shen Moyan's chin.
"I advise you to think carefully before you answer."
"Black Wind Stronghold is located in a secluded place with many traps and secret passages. How did you, a scholar who is weak and powerless, manage to find the room where Lingxi and the others are being held so accurately in the dead of night, and get through unimpeded?"
Shen Moyan's eyes flickered slightly, and he immediately replied, "I followed the carriage up the mountain and luckily caught a lone patrolman. Under duress, he revealed the approximate location where the Second Miss might be imprisoned. I took advantage of the chaos of the banquet in the mountain stronghold to sneak in and hide along the way before I was able to find her. It was not a deliberate arrangement."
"Oh?" Xiao Jingheng stood up and looked down at him.
"That Black Demon is ruthless and kills without hesitation, so why would he show you leniency and allow you to leave with Lingxi? Would he believe the 'deep affection and loyalty' of a stranger like you?"
"Your Highness!" Shen Moyan suddenly looked up and protested:
"At that time, I was desperate and fought tooth and nail to get this opportunity. If Your Highness doesn't believe me, you can ask Lingxi. Everything I said is true... Ah!"
With a "snap".
Before Shen Moyan could finish his sentence, he was whipped hard on the back, and blood instantly seeped through his white prison uniform.
"You dare call me 'Lingxi'?"
"Young Master Xiao, I... Ah!"
Before he could finish speaking, another whip lashed down hard.
"You hurt someone you shouldn't have; this lash is the interest!"
"Smack!"
"This lash is for your self-righteous scheming!"
He gave Shen Moyan no chance to scream or defend himself, pressing him relentlessly, each word carrying the sharp edge of a whip.
It shattered all his pretense, along with his self-esteem.
"Trying to curry favor with the Marquis's family? You're not worthy!"
Xiao Jingheng scoffed, and the whip fell again. "Your sincerity is not even as good as the dust in the mountain stronghold; at least it's honestly dirty."
Shen Moyan screamed in agony as he was whipped.
"You...you forced confessions under torture...cough cough..."
Xiao Jingheng sneered, his eyes showing no emotion whatsoever.
He tossed the whip to the jailer beside him, found a handkerchief, and slowly wiped his fingers.
"Shen Moyan, stop with your hypocritical act. Do you think you can hide your rottenness by putting on a human skin? Clinging to the powerful and scheming, do you really think no one can see through your intentions?"
Shen Moyan's expression changed. He didn't even care about the pain in his body. He clenched his fists and tried his best to restrain himself.
"Dare you say that your deliberate approach to her wasn't because you were after the Marquis's family's social standing and power?"
"But don't worry, as long as I am alive, you and Lingxi will never be together!"
These words thoroughly provoked Shen Moyan, as if piercing through his carefully crafted disguise and tearing away the veil of pretense.
The embarrassment and humiliation made him tremble all over, and his face turned from green to white.
Shen Moyan remained silent for a long while before finally speaking excitedly:
“Young Master Xiao! You are of noble birth, and you can treat me like an ant, and you can insult my character at will! But my feelings for Miss Xiao are as clear as day and night. How can you... how can you slander my sincere heart like this?”
He stubbornly raised his head, looking defiant.
"Yes! I am from a poor family and am not worthy of the Marquis's family, but true feelings cannot be measured by social status. My admiration for the Second Miss is pure and unconditional, born of affection and restrained by propriety! You can prevent us from meeting, you can lock me in this dark and hopeless prison, but you cannot stop my heart!"
After Shen Moyan finished his 'eloquent speech,' the surrounding jailers all gasped.
I've seen shameless people, but I've never seen anyone as shameless as this!
One hot-tempered jailer couldn't help but spit out a "pui!"
"What a shameless bastard! He's scheming against the Marquis's mansion and still pretending to be a romantic hero."
"Sir! Don't get your hands dirty, let me do the slapping."
The jailer was about to raise his whip and lash out again, to teach this arrogant fellow a lesson.
"Wait!"
Xiao Jingheng suddenly raised his hand to stop him. The anger on his face receded like the tide, replaced by an unfathomable calm, and even a chilling smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Sir?" The jailer asked, puzzled.
"Young Master Shen's deep affection and sincere heart have even deeply moved this young master!"
Shen Moyan's pupils contracted, completely baffled as to what Xiao Jingheng was up to. Alarm bells rang in her mind.
Suddenly, Xiao Jingheng instructed the jailer beside him, "Young Master Shen is truly devoted to Lingxi. If I were to keep him locked up here any longer, it would make me seem heartless."
"Go, help Young Master Shen down properly and take him to the best clinic in the city. Find a skilled doctor to treat his injuries. I, the young master, will cover all medical expenses!"
The jailers and guards were dumbfounded; they could hardly believe their ears.
Just a moment ago, the adults were itching to skin this kid alive. How come they've changed so drastically in the blink of an eye...?
The jailer's eyes darted around, and he seemed to quickly realize something.
"What are you still standing there for?" Xiao Jingheng glanced at the jailer.
"Yes! Yes! I understand!" The jailer jumped up and quickly called to the guards:
"Quick! Untie Young Master Shen, be careful!"
Shen Moyan was quickly taken off the rack, his whole body aching. But his heart was filled with unease and doubt.
Xiao Jingheng had just threatened him, and he absolutely did not believe that Xiao Jingheng would let him go.
Behind this sudden act of 'mercy' lies a deeper calculation!
After Shen Moyan was taken away, the jailer stepped forward obsequiously and tentatively asked:
"Sir, your move is brilliant! Is it... a strategy of feigning weakness to lure him in? Let this kid go ashore first, let him feel safe, and then he'll slip up, or... lure out the big fish behind him?"
Xiao Jingheng's face remained expressionless; he merely glanced indifferently at the jailer. His gaze was calm and unwavering.
"Do your job well, and also, keep an eye on what your subordinates say."
His tone left no room for argument.
The jailer repeatedly agreed.
Sure enough, an adult is an adult. Rather than locking him up here and subjecting him to severe torture, this stubborn fellow surnamed Shen might not be able to get anything out of him.
It would be better to release him, let him think he has escaped by chance, and lower his guard. Then he will inevitably contact the person behind the scenes or take further action.
That's true brilliance!
The jailer thought he had figured everything out. Little did he know, Xiao Jingheng had no such intention at all!
Although Shen Moyan was a scholar, he was not stupid. How could he not see through this feigned indifference?
He let him go to verify something.
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