Chapter 147 Niukulu Clan Has Gone Bad
Jiang Nan chuckled softly, her gaze returning to Chun Tao. Looking at Chun Tao's pale face, she shook her head.
"Look, you've scared her so much, she's crying like a little kitten. Take the stuff out of her mouth, she needs to be able to speak. I want to hear why she wants to kill me."
Zhao Deyi immediately gave the signal.
A eunuch reached out and pulled the rag stuffed into Chun Tao's mouth.
As soon as Chuntao was able to speak, she kowtowed and cried out desperately, her voice hoarse.
"Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, please see the truth! I am innocent! I know nothing! How could I possibly harm Your Majesty? I have no knowledge of such a thing! Please, Your Majesty, have mercy!"
Jiang Nan's expression instantly turned cold.
She had no doubt about Zhao Deyi's competence; since she had targeted Chuntao, it must be Zhao Deyi who poisoned her.
This palace maid still dares to argue even now; she's practically a case of not shedding tears until she sees the coffin.
"Zhao is triumphant."
Jiang Nan's voice was not loud, but it carried a chill.
"It seems this servant hasn't learned how to speak to me properly. You should teach her some manners."
"This servant understands!"
A fierce glint flashed in Zhao Deyi's eyes as he bowed and replied.
He winked at the eunuch holding Chun Tao.
The two eunuchs understood and roughly dragged the limp Chun Tao to an open space on one side of the hall, where they held her down tightly.
Zhao Deyi then took a dark red wooden board from a eunuch behind him.
This was the very board that Jiang Nan had ordered specially made for the "one-zhang-red" punishment.
He had already ordered people to be constantly by his side, just waiting for some fool to run into him.
When Chun Tao saw the terrifying instruments of torture, especially when she thought of the horrific rumors in the palace about the "one-zhang-red" punishment, she was overwhelmed.
She was so terrified that she forgot to cry out and collapsed like a limp rag doll.
She might not be afraid of death, but she was absolutely terrified of this kind of pain that could break one's bones and make one wish for death.
"Hold on tight!"
Zhao Deyi gave a cold shout.
"Yes, sir!"
Two eunuchs pressed down on Chun Tao's body to hold it in place.
Zhao Deyi showed no mercy. With a swing of his arm, the heavy board whistled through the air and slammed hard between Chun Tao's waist and hips.
"Smack!"
A dull thud of flesh followed by Chun Tao's piercing scream echoed throughout the dining hall.
Jiang Nan rested her chin on one hand, watching with great interest, and even turned her head to comment on Niohuru beside her.
"Listen to that sound, it's quite crisp and clear."
Niohuru responded calmly, with even a hint of sarcasm in her eyes.
"Your Majesty is right. How can such people be expected to answer honestly without suffering some physical pain?"
However, Consort Wang and Lady Daijia, who were also in the hall, turned pale with fright and trembled slightly.
Consort Wang couldn't help but get up, holding the little princess, and asked for permission in a trembling voice.
"Your Highness... the little princess is still sleeping peacefully. I'm afraid... afraid of disturbing her, so I'd like to take her back to rest first..."
Dai Jia also quickly got up, her voice weak.
"This humble servant...this humble servant will also help Sister Wang take care of her..."
Jiang Nan glanced at them, knowing they were soft-hearted and couldn't bear to watch, so she didn't force them and calmly waved her hand.
"Go."
The two felt as if they had been granted a pardon, and hurriedly bowed and took their leave, almost fleeing from the dining hall.
After they left, Jiang Nan smiled and asked Niohuru.
"Don't you find this scene disgusting, sister?"
Niohuru rolled her eyes helplessly and said indifferently.
"Your Majesty, have you forgotten? I have no shortage of lives on my hands. This little show of force is not enough to frighten me."
Jiang Nan nodded upon hearing this, but thought to herself.
Has Niohuru really been led astray by her? Hopefully, she won't end up even more ruthless than Niohuru.
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In the hall, Zhao Deyi struck Chun Tao several more times, and Chun Tao's screams grew weaker until she finally fainted from the pain.
"Alright, wake her up with water," Jiang Nan instructed.
A bucket of cold water was poured over her, and Chun Tao slowly awoke, her eyes unfocused, filled only with endless fear and pain.
Jiang Nan stood up, walked slowly to Chun Tao, looked down at her, and spoke without any emotion.
"Now, can you speak? This beating is just an appetizer. If you dare to treat me like a fool again, there are plenty of people in the palace who will hang themselves. Death is easy. But living a life worse than death, that's what's truly unbearable."
Chun Tao's psychological defenses had been completely destroyed. She collapsed to the ground, her eyes vacant, murmuring weakly.
"Your Majesty, I will tell you whatever you ask, I only ask that you give me a quick death."
Jiang Nan nodded in satisfaction.
"Who ordered you to poison them?"
"It was...it was Sister Ningwei from Kunning Palace...she gave me the poison...she also said that if it succeeded, she would transfer me to work in Kunning Palace...if I didn't do it, she would make sure my whole family died..."
Chuntao explained in fits and starts.
Jiang Nan was surprised.
Ning Wei? She didn't know her, but since she was from Kunning Palace, she must be a pawn of the Hesheli family.
After the blow of the full moon banquet, the Empress herself is probably disheartened.
Moreover, the Empress knew that she was immune to all poisons, so it was unlikely that she would use such an ineffective method on her.
This was most likely retaliation carried out by Ning Wei at the behest of the Hesheli family, who were unwilling to have their power usurped.
Thinking about it, she suddenly felt it was all meaningless; the Hesheli family was nothing more than a bunch of losers howling in despair.
Niohuru asked in a low voice.
"Your Majesty, is it the Empress?"
Jiang Nan gently shook her head.
"To be precise, it's the Hesheli family. Their official positions were stripped and their foundations destroyed. They are resentful and are thinking of taking revenge on me."
A murderous glint flashed in Niohuru's eyes.
"Your Majesty, shall I have my people escort the Empress on her final journey?"
Jiang Nan chuckled and shook her head again.
"The Empress is already dead and insignificant. How could the Emperor tolerate a criminal occupying the position of Empress? We just need to wait patiently."
Niohuru nodded in understanding. Her Majesty was doing this for her own good, not wanting her to leave any traces and attract the attention of the Hesheli family.
"So... we're just going to let the Hesheri family go like this?"
Jiang Nan chuckled lightly, her tone casual yet chillingly indifferent.
"The Hesheli family is outside the palace, and it's beyond my reach to retaliate right now. Besides, I disdain such petty tricks as poisoning. There will be plenty of time in the future, and I will have the opportunity to uproot them and exterminate their entire family!"
Upon hearing this, Niohuru's eyes revealed admiration.
"Your Majesty, you are truly domineering."
Jiang Nan raised an eyebrow and chuckled.
"Stop flattering me. I am a woman, so it's normal for me to hold grudges. The Hesheli family wanted my life, so I thought it was fair and reasonable for me to exterminate their entire family."
She turned to Zhao Deyi and gave him instructions.
"Drag him away and have him beaten to death. Also, issue an order for all the palace servants to go to the execution ground to watch. Tell them that this audacious servant dared to plot against me, a heinous crime, and this is the consequence of plotting against his master."
"Yes, Your Majesty, Your Majesty."
Zhao Deyi bowed and accepted the order, waving his hand to signal the eunuchs to drag the dying Chun Tao away.
Jiang Nan sat back in the main seat, and as if remembering something, added to Zhao Deyi.
"By the way, when I return to the palace, remember to remind me that I also need to settle accounts with that palace maid named Ning Wei in Kunning Palace."
"Yes, this servant has noted it down."
Zhao Deyi respectfully replied, already understanding in his heart that the Empress was going to settle scores later.
The hall returned to calm, but was filled with a heavy stench of blood and a chilling atmosphere.
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I came up with a short story last night. It kept me up all night with a headache, and I'm so eager to write it down.
So today there will be two chapters. I think the story is very interesting and it is called The Death of a Fraudster. Those who are interested can find it in the list of works.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
