Chapter 404 Gag
By now, everyone thought the truth had come to light.
Meng Xingyuan had previously refused to lend money to Meng Xixian for gambling, so the vengeful Meng Xixian harbored resentment and meticulously planned this accident.
But Wen Zhiming knew that things weren't that simple.
Meng Xixian's relieved and fortunate expression couldn't be hidden from him, and the evidence he secretly investigated further confirmed his suspicions.
This time, the branding iron was burned onto Meng Xixian's face. The jailer could tell that the emperor had extreme disgust for this prisoner, so he not only made the branding iron even hotter, but also moved the branding iron to the most humiliating spot.
When the branding iron made contact with the skin and flesh, a wisp of smoke even rose.
Meng Xixian convulsed from the burns. When the branding iron was put down, half of his face was already rotting. He howled for a long time before stopping.
This time, he no longer had the smug and arrogant attitude he had shown before. He lowered his head and said with a look of utter despair.
"Kill me, please kill me."
Seeing that Wen Zhiming remained unmoved, he turned his pleading gaze to Meng Xingyuan.
"Third Uncle, you're a good man. Please put in a good word for me and beg the Emperor to have mercy on me and give me a quick death."
Meng Xingyuan snorted coldly, flicked his sleeves, and turned away.
Meng Xixian seemed to have completely forgotten that he had just offended everyone present. He forced his head up and looked at each face, asking for help from everyone he knew.
When he looked at his brother Meng Xicheng, the other man spat out a "pui" before he could react.
"Don't call me brother. I don't have a brother like you. If you want a quick end to this, you'd better confess who's behind this and beg the Emperor for help."
Upon hearing this, Meng Xixian bit his lip tightly, refusing to speak again.
Wen Zhiming's eyes seemed to flicker with a dark flame, making it impossible to discern his emotions.
“The prisoners have had enough of this branding iron torture; let’s try something new to treat them.”
The jailer accepted the order and withdrew, quickly bringing over several kinds of torture instruments that looked terrifying.
Various shackles, fetters, chains, finger clamps...
The jailers tried each torture device on Meng Xixian one by one. The only sounds in the interrogation room were the crisp sounds of changing torture instruments and Meng Xixian's screams.
In the end, there was nowhere left on Meng Xixian's body to continue using torture instruments; he had been tortured to the point of barely breathing.
Even so, he gritted his teeth and refused to confess to being the mastermind behind it all.
Everyone present was somewhat surprised that a scoundrel like Meng Xixian, who had no principles, could withstand such torture to protect the mastermind behind the scenes.
It's unclear what benefits that person gave him, or whether Meng Xixian had some incriminating evidence against him that was more terrifying than death.
The jailer turned Meng Xixian over and over twice, then said to Wen Zhiming.
"Your Majesty, the prisoner is too badly injured. If we continue to torture him, he may not be able to withstand it."
Having endured so much torture, Meng Xixian was already at his breaking point; he was on the verge of death.
The jailer meant that if the torture continued, the prisoner would most likely die soon.
The main culprit has not yet been identified. Whether Meng Xixian dies now or waits a few days to die is of great importance.
But judging from Meng Xixian's current nonchalant attitude, even if the interrogation continues for several more days, it will be difficult to extract the mastermind from him.
Meng Xixian had just offended everyone, so they felt a sense of satisfaction when he was being tortured. Now, seeing his miserable state, they were also worried.
If Meng Xixian dies before he can confess to being the mastermind, and the truth is not fully revealed, these people will likely still find it difficult to gain their freedom.
Meng Xingyuan said at the right moment, "Your Majesty, the main culprit has not yet been identified. Let's treat the prisoner's injuries first and continue the interrogation tomorrow after he has rested."
Upon hearing this, Meng Xixian regained a sliver of joy from his perseverance until victory. A mocking smile played on his lips, and his eyes gleamed with contempt.
He said haltingly, "Don't waste your energy... Go ahead and do it if you dare, kill me, don't even think about it..."
"Don't even think you can get the mastermind out of your mouth!"
Seeing that he was having a hard time speaking, Wen Zhiming kindly took over the conversation, speaking in a light and casual tone.
“I have always disliked violence and bloodshed. If you had confessed just now, I could have given you a quick death. But you were stubborn and missed the opportunity. Now, even if you want to talk, I don’t want to hear it.”
He was a man of his word, and turned to give instructions to the jailers.
"Gag the prisoner."
This action was truly unexpected by everyone. What kind of logic is it to gag a prisoner during interrogation?
The jailer had no idea what the emperor was up to, but he simply obeyed the emperor's orders.
Soon, a blood-stained, foul-smelling rag was stuffed into Meng Xixian's mouth. The rag, which had been bitten by countless hardened criminals, made him feel physically uncomfortable, but he was unable to break free.
Meng Xixian was both surprised and aggrieved, shaking his head desperately and whimpering.
"You'd rather die than confess, but do you know what the mastermind behind you is doing?"
Wen Zhiming's lips curled into a cruel smile as he looked at him and said, word by word, "Early this morning, a mother and child were murdered at No. 17 Donglin Street. The victims had multiple stab wounds and were covered in blood."
Upon hearing this, Meng Xixian trembled violently, his eyes filled with disbelief followed by despair, and tears of blood streamed down his face.
He knew the address No. 17 Donglin Street all too well.
The house was rented by him, and a prostitute lived in it. Now this woman has given birth to his son.
Although his family had no power or influence, they were a respectable family and would not tolerate prostitutes entering their home, not to mention their pedantic and upright relative Meng Xingyuan. So even after he used all his savings to redeem the prostitute, he could only secretly hide her outside.
Very few people knew about this matter; besides him, only the mastermind behind the deal with him knew.
But why?
He had clearly agreed that if he took the blame, he would spare his wife and children's lives, so why did the other man still attack him?
Then what does it mean that he endured so much torture for so long?
The secret he had previously refused to tell was no longer necessary to keep, but no matter how hard he tried, that dirty, smelly rag was firmly blocking his mouth, preventing him from even venting.
He broke his promises countless times throughout his life, but the only time he withstood torture and kept his word was when the other party broke their promise and killed his wife and children.
How ironic.
Meng Xixian was in great physical and mental pain and was on the verge of collapse.
He was already barely breathing, but his resentment caused him to unleash tremendous strength, shaking the rack so violently it rattled.
"Do not treat his wounds, do not allow him to rest. As long as he closes his eyes, use torture instruments to wake him up until he dies."
Wen Zhiming showed no pity.
Whenever he thought of the perilous childbirth Meng Lingge endured, and Huaiqian who never got to see the world again, he wanted to inflict all the cruelest tortures on Meng Xixian.
With his beliefs shattered, wounded and speechless, coupled with the lack of rest, Meng Xixian's suffering was beyond description.
Judging from his current condition, he can at least continue to eke out a living for another three days or so.
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