torture
Xiao Yiqing didn't know what had happened to her during the interrogation of Chen Run, but since returning to the Prince's mansion, she had refused to see any visitors. Wang Qianqian, having been rebuffed by Shangguan Zeyu, went to see her again.
But they were stopped at the entrance of Peach Blossom Village by a servant guarding the entrance: "The Princess has ordered that no one is allowed to set foot in Peach Blossom Village."
Wang Qianqian was not angry. Instead, she gently requested, "Please inform the Princess that Madam Wang has important matters to discuss with her."
The servant hesitated for a moment, then said, "The princess specifically instructed that no one should disturb her, no matter what. Please leave."
"Young man, please make an exception. This concerns Consort Liu, so please report it immediately."
The servant was adamant and refused to report, so Wang Qianqian revealed her true colors: "You're nothing but a gatekeeper! I only spoke to you because I think highly of you. Do you really think you're so great? Let me tell you, this matter is extremely important to the Princess. If it's delayed, you can expect to be punished!"
Seeing her arrogant attitude and unfriendly tone, the servant carefully considered her words before reporting to Xiao Yiqing.
Wang Qianqian didn't just stand there waiting foolishly; instead, she followed the servant to find Xiao Yiqing.
Servant: "Your Highness, Lady Wang says she wants to see you about Consort Liu."
Xiao Yiqing sat lazily in the rocking chair, seemingly oblivious to everything around her, lost in thought.
Chunhua stood to her right. Hearing this, she looked at her and, seeing that she had no reaction, quietly walked towards the servant and whispered, "Go and tell Madam Wang that the mistress is tired and resting, and ask her to come another day."
The servant acknowledged the order and was about to turn and leave when Wang Qianqian stepped in: "I've already arrived. Let's wait until Princess Consort has rested before we talk."
Chunhua frowned immediately, gave the servant a look, and after the servant left, she said, "Madam Wang, this is Peach Blossom Grove, not Begonia Garden. Please be sure to obey the Princess's orders."
Wang Qianqian smiled slightly, appearing quite naive: "Oh, it seems I really came at the wrong time! But I meant well, I was just afraid the Princess Consort would be kept in the dark." As she spoke, she looked at Xiao Yiqing.
Xiao Yiqing had already come to her senses and was looking at her calmly.
Wang Qianqian walked towards her, saying as she went, "Good sister, you don't look very energetic. Are you feeling unwell? Have you seen a doctor?"
"Just say what you have to say!"
Wang Qianqian's face immediately showed worry: "Sister, I've thought about this for a long time before I dared to tell you. Please don't be too sad after hearing it."
"Speak."
“Sister, yesterday I inquired about Consort Liu with the Prince,” Wang Qianqian said, her gaze seemingly casually sweeping over Xiao Yiqing’s face before continuing, “As soon as the Prince heard you mention Consort Liu, he flew into a rage, scolding you, saying you were jealous, and that you weren’t even as good as a single hair on Consort Liu’s head. The Prince also said…” She glanced at Xiao Yiqing again, noticing her expression was indeed more unpleasant than before, and hesitated, “I don’t know if I should continue.”
Xiao Yiqing stared hatefully in a certain direction and said, "Speak!"
"Sister, the Prince said that he will only love Consort Liu in this life, and that he will be with Consort Liu no matter what!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yiqing was greatly shocked. He looked at her, seemingly disbelieving yet also believing, and asked painfully, "Really...really?"
Wang Qianqian pretended to be in great pain and said, "Sister Princess, shouldn't we stop now?"
A cold glint flashed in Xiao Yiqing's eyes as she sneered, "Stop? Why should I stop? We'll be together in the netherworld and the heavens? I won't!!"
Wang Qianqian looked sorrowful, but a triumphant smile gradually appeared on her lips.
Wang Qianqian and Xiao Yiqing reached another agreement to interrogate Chen Run again tomorrow at noon, when Shangguan Zeyu is out.
After Wang Qianqian left, Chunhua said uneasily, "Master, this servant feels that Madam Wang has ulterior motives. You still need to be careful and wary of her!"
But Xiao Yiqing seemed not to hear, still lost in her thoughts.
The next day arrived quickly, and Shangguan Zeyu left the mansion with Zhang Qin on business. Wang Qianqian hid behind a large tree by the mansion gate, watching them leave for a while before hurrying off to find Xiao Yiqing.
Xiao Yiqing had just finished packing when they hit it off and headed towards the Chen residence.
Chen Run sat in the courtyard that day painting, depicting the blue sky, white clouds, and every blade of grass and tree within his sight.
Upon hearing the hurried, irregular footsteps, he guessed that they had arrived and stopped painting.
Wang Qianqian said with ill intent, "Young Master Chen, you're in quite a mood! You're locked up and still have the mood to paint?"
Chen Run glanced at them and carefully hung up his paintbrush.
Xiao Yiqing stopped five steps away from him and went straight to the point: "Speak, what are your conditions? As long as you tell me where she is, I will agree to all your requests!"
Chen Run couldn't help but smile wryly, then looked at her: "Princess Xiao, I am truly curious, what is it that would make you, as her principal wife, so wary of her?"
Upon hearing the word "fear," Xiao Yiqing's eyes blazed with fury. As soon as he finished speaking, he impatiently retorted, "Why should I fear her? Young Master Chen has probably misunderstood!"
"If you weren't wary, why would Your Highness be so worried about her returning to the palace? Why do you want to strike first?"
"Why should I need to explain my actions to you!"
Chen Run smiled faintly: "The princess should already know the answer in her heart."
"So what?"
"Is the Princess insecure about herself, insecure about the Prince, or insecure about the relationship between you and the Prince?"
"I'm asking you, where exactly is Liu Ruyi?"
Chen Run continued, "A forced relationship is still a forced relationship; it's not sweet, it's bitter, so what's the point?"
Xiao Yiqing's eyes flickered slightly.
At this moment, Wang Qianqian, who had been silently listening to their conversation, said, "Why do you care so much? You just want to be with Liu Ruyi. As long as you tell us where she is, we will help you so that you can be with her and no longer be disturbed."
Chen Run stood there with his hands behind his back, but his eyes were fixed on the blue sky, and he didn't say another word.
Xiao Yiqing had already prepared for the worst, so seeing Chen Run's state, he showed no mercy and ordered his men to torture him again. This time, Xiao Yiqing brought the torturers with him, so they didn't hold back.
Chen Run was still flogged, but this time, he couldn't even stand up after being beaten, his skin was torn and bleeding.
Xiao Yiqing and Wang Qianqian went to see him. He looked like he was in great pain, his face was as pale as paper, and large beads of cold sweat slid from his temples to his cheeks. But even so, he didn't utter a single word of pain, and he didn't groan once during the entire beating.
Xiao Yiqing had lost all compassion, or perhaps, her compassion had been completely swallowed up by Liu Ruyi's disappearance.
"Will you talk or not? If you talk, I'll spare your life! If you don't talk, I'll take both your life and hers!"
Chen Run simply lay there quietly, glancing sideways at her, without saying a word.
Xiao Yiqing's cold eyes stared at his indifferent eyes for a long, long time before Xiao Yiqing, feeling guilty and defeated, finally ended their staring contest.
Wang Qianqian said, "Sister, it seems that he won't talk unless we use severe torture on him!"
Xiao Yiqing just kept silently watching Chen Run, lost in thought.
Wang Qianqian continued, "Sister, have you heard? The Prince is going on a spring tour in half a month. He says it's a spring tour, but I guess he's looking for Liu Ruyi. If you don't hurry, it will be too late."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yiqing's eyes immediately brightened again, and she said, "Guards, carry out the torture on him!"
Zan torture involves using a wooden stick to clamp the fingers, breaking the bones in the fingers. The process is extremely painful and not something an ordinary person can endure.
But Chen Run did not show the slightest fear or apprehension after hearing this.
Xiao Yiqing was still lost in thought, silently watching him. Where was Wang Qianqian? At this moment, she revealed a triumphant smile, quite satisfied.
Chen Run was forcibly dragged off the wooden stool used for caning and forced to lie on the ground. Two servants approached him with instruments of torture, placed his fair, slender fingers—clearly untouched by manual labor—into the instruments one by one, and then, without hesitation, one on each side pulled hard. Chen Run's face instantly turned deathly pale, whiter than paper, and large beads of cold sweat instantly covered his entire face.
Despite the pain, Chen Run did not utter a single cry or shout.
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