[It happened so long ago, who can vouch for it? Just give Zhou Yong a good beating, I'll see what kind of torture instruments they have in the prison.]
[The tiger bench? Wow, that's too much torture...]
[A branding iron? I wonder what it tastes like to burn flesh. If it were me, would I drool while being tortured?]
Pepper spray? Spraying it in my eyes? No way, I can't handle that!
【besides......】
Every time Chuanwen thought of a new form of torture, Zhou Yong's legs would tremble. He couldn't bear even one of them.
Looking up, he saw the emperor looking at him, his gaze seemingly contemplating which form of torture to use.
At this moment, Chuanwen's innermost thoughts were revealed:
[There are so many options, it's overwhelming. Let's just use them all. I don't believe Zhou Yong won't confess.]
Zhou Yong was about to cry. "Big sister, what have I ever done to you?"
"Zhou Yong, I'm giving you a chance. If you confess the truth, I won't torture you."
The emperor looked at Zhou Yong silently, a cold smile playing on his lips. Of course, he wouldn't torture his court officials. Even if Zhou Yong confessed, people would inevitably say that he had been tortured into confessing to favor Bao Hui.
"Your Majesty, I confess! I confess!"
Zhou Yong was practically itching to confess, as long as he wasn't subjected to those cruel tortures. The once dashing and debonair scholar was now nearly terrified, his composure completely ruined.
Zhou Yong not only confessed to deceiving Marquis Changxing, but also honestly confessed to how he abused Chaoyang at home.
The ministers were stunned.
Not only are they not allowed to use charcoal indoors in the dead of winter, but they also make us wash clothes with cold water!
Regardless of winter or summer, I still have to go to the countryside to dig for wild vegetables before dawn, and after I finish digging, I have to rush back to make breakfast for my mother-in-law!
The whole family ate delicacies, but Chaoyang had to eat only coarse food and vegetables. Even the maids and servants ate better than her!
If Zhou Yong was even slightly dissatisfied, he would abuse Chao Yang. Slapping him in the face was the least of his worries; he would often punch and kick him!
The key point is that even when Chaoyang was suffering so much, Zhou Yong was still using Chaoyang's dowry to support the family!
The above completely shattered the moral compass of the ministers, who couldn't help but turn their attention to Princess Chaoyang. How could she endure all this and still love Zhou Yong so devotedly? They finally understood what Chuanwen had said earlier: Princess Chaoyang was somewhat seriously ill!
Princess Chaoyang: "No, that's not how it is. Your Majesty, Mother, the reason why Zhou Lang treated me this way is all my fault! It's because my status is too high. People will talk about Zhou Lang and say that he only climbed up to me for power and wealth! I have tarnished Zhou Lang's reputation and caused him so much trouble. Blame me, please don't punish Zhou Lang."
Silence returned to the main hall, everyone once again stunned by Chaoyang. Could someone really think like that?
[So Zhou Yong really knows how to play the kept man, he's got a way with money. Didn't he marry the Princess of Chaoyang for power and wealth? If he were truly so noble, why did he kill his wife and children after only achieving third place in the imperial examinations? Wasn't it all to make his widow give way to the Princess of Chaoyang, so that Princess Bao Hui could secure him a good job? Pah, scum!]
He killed his wife and children!
Well, the ministers were shocked once again, their eyes almost popping out of their sockets. Even the most composed Prime Minister Zhang Hui opened his mouth wide in surprise. Even tigers don't eat their cubs, yet this guy actually killed his wife and children for power and wealth!
Wait, didn't he disbelieve in Chuanwen's supposed knowledge of everything? Zhang Hui quickly shut his mouth, trying to stay calm and not let this little brat lead him astray.
"Zhou Yong, is there anything else you need to summon?"
The emperor's face turned ashen. This was the third-ranked scholar he had personally chosen? What an ungrateful and inhuman scoundrel!
Zhou Yong trembled even more violently. Although he had hit Chaoyang, at least no one had died. But if he had been implicated in someone's death, he would be waiting to be executed in the autumn.
“Zhou Lang is not that kind of person, Your Majesty, please see the truth!” Princess Chaoyang kowtowed and cried out for justice. How could her Zhou Lang be so cruel? How could he be with her for the sake of power and wealth? “Zhou Lang, quickly explain to the Emperor that you have been wronged.”
Zhou Yong looked at the rising sun, his eyes sparkling with hope. With the sun shining, the Emperor and Princess Bao Hui would be hesitant to act rashly. However, before he could even voice his grievances, the Emperor pointed out someone.
"Minister Li, tell me, what instruments of torture should your Ministry of Justice use if a prisoner does not tell the truth?"
Zhou Yong was dumbfounded. He looked towards the emperor's gaze and saw someone step forward in response.
Li Tang from the Ministry of Justice glanced at Zhou Yong, who shivered at the cold gaze. Then Li Tang answered firmly, "The Ministry of Justice has 108 kinds of torture instruments, chosen according to the severity of the crime and the stubbornness of the prisoner. If someone commits murder and refuses to confess, we use a scalpel to remove the bone, starting from the chest, cutting away pieces of flesh one by one. As long as they are kept alive with a bowl of ginseng soup, they won't die. Some have endured up to 1356 cuts..."
Before Minister Li could finish speaking, Zhou Yong, trembling like a leaf, broke down, crying out, "Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me..."
Spare my life? Chaoyang was stunned, staring fixedly at Zhou Yong, who was kowtowing repeatedly.
Li Tang smiled and returned to his seat, keeping his achievements hidden.
I'm craving roast duck, freshly sliced and eaten right now...
Li Tang, who had just regained her footing, almost slipped. May I ask, ma'am, which word describes me in any way that is associated with roast duck?
Marquis Changxing glanced at the astonished expressions of the ministers regarding Chuanwen's thought process. Oh, I forgot to tell you all, Chuanwen also has a bit of a foodie nature.
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