Lai Chenglong and Lu Yifeng had a close relationship. Although Lai Chenglong held a higher rank and social standing, his status with Emperor Yongchang had risen due to his father and mother’s influence, the two of them never cared about such things between themselves.
At that moment, hearing Lu Yifeng speak so animatedly, Lai Chenglong turned to glance at him. “You seem to know quite a lot about this?”
Know? He knew all about it!
Lu Yifeng beamed. “How could I not? Liu Jin and Old Zhao came to me personally and told me to arrest Qilin! I was the one who delivered him to Taiji Hall!”
Thinking back, he actually felt quite honored, it was as if he had done Miss Qi a great favor.
As he spoke, a scream suddenly erupted from within, the sound of Cao Xingwang’s godson being skinned alive right in front of him.
These grand eunuchs, who usually strutted about arrogantly, daring even to give attitude to neglected concubines and returning ministers, now trembled like dogs when thrown into the imperial prison.
Lu Yifeng clicked his tongue.
But Lai Chenglong had already pushed open the cell door and entered.
Lu Yifeng jumped in alarm. “Hey, hey, don’t go in yet! There’s still a while to go!”
This was all part of the interrogation procedure, skinning the godson in front of Cao Xingwang was just to break him, to wake him up before questioning began.
But Lai Chenglong didn’t care at all and strode straight into the dark prison, stopping before Cao Xingwang.
Cao Xingwang was utterly stunned. He had indeed ordered his subordinates to kill and frame people, but never in person. In front of him, everyone was always respectful and obedient.
Now, faced with the blood-soaked floor and his godson’s lifeless, wide-eyed stare, Cao Xingwang finally broke down, sobbing in the corner.
Before he could compose himself, someone grabbed his collar and dragged him outside, right up to his skinned godson’s corpse.
That sight nearly scared the soul out of him. He let out a terrified scream and tried to crawl away.
But he didn’t get the chance.
Lai Chenglong held him down forcefully, pressing his head to face the skinned corpse. With a raised brow and a smile, he said, “Don’t be afraid, Cao Gonggong.”
Cao Xingwang heard the voice and turned around in shock, only to see Lai Chenglong and was even more astonished.
Wasn’t Lai Chenglong on a diplomatic mission to Japan? How was he back already?
But there was no time to dwell on that. Face tear-streaked and trembling, Cao Xingwang begged, “No, no, Lord Lai, please let me go. I’ve been wronged, truly wronged!”
Lai Chenglong let out a cold laugh, smiling: “Everyone who enters the imperial prison says that.”
He flicked the melon seeds in his hand to the ground, then suddenly forced Cao Xingwang’s head toward the bloody face of his apprentice. In a soft voice, he asked: “Do you see it clearly, Cao Gonggong? This is the price you pay for stalling and refusing to tell the truth.”
This man is a demon!
Cao Xingwang cursed him a thousand times in his heart.
He had thought Lu Yifeng was already brutal beyond words, but now realized that Lai Chenglong was just as merciless.
Cao suppressed his sobs, but Lai Chenglong remained unmoved.
To him, scenes like this were commonplace.
He merely clicked his tongue and said slowly, “Think carefully, Cao Gonggong. If you still won’t tell the truth, I’ll begin peeling them one by one.”
As he spoke, he waved his hand, and all of Cao Xingwang’s subordinates were dragged in.
In an instant, the place turned into a h*llish nightmare. Everyone was wailing, crying, and begging for mercy.
These were the same people who had helped swap the disaster relief grain, none of them were innocent.
They had always believed Cao Xingwang could protect them.
But seeing the skinned corpse on the ground, how could they not understand?
One person immediately wet himself in fear, collapsing as he sobbed for home.
Lu Yifeng frowned impatiently. These people, so sheltered and soft.
What did they expect in the imperial prison?
Now they wail and beg for mercy? What were they doing before?
Idiots!
Lai Chenglong, of course, felt no sympathy for them.
Tampering with disaster relief wasn’t just about framing Xiao Yunting, it was a crime that could kill tens of thousands of citizens awaiting aid!
To think they’d do this out of selfishness and personal grudges, not a single one of them deserved to live.
And on top of that, Cao Xingwang had enabled Feng Caiwei to scheme against Qi Yuan!
When he recalled what Lu Yifeng said about Tian Baoci setting dogs on Qi Yuan, Lai Chenglong’s fury surged even higher.
Without another word, he slammed Cao Xingwang’s head down onto the ground with a loud thud.
Cao Xingwang was dazed, like he’d just bowed his head heavily to the earth.
He looked up at Lai Chenglong in confusion.
But before he could speak, Lai Chenglong had already taken the red-hot branding iron from the side and without hesitation, seared it into Cao Xingwang’s face.
Those close by could hear the sizzle of flesh burning.
The man who’d wet himself screamed even louder: “I’ll talk! I’ll talk! It was Cao Gonggong! He told us what to do! Told us to prepare the sand, buy moldy rice, mix it together and send it off as disaster relief!”
He didn’t want to be roasted alive.
And with him breaking down, the others followed suit.
One cried out, “Me too! I confess! Cao Gonggong had me deliver a message to the Feng girl, told her the Tian family had a dog yard, so she could lure Miss Qi there!”
Another wailed, “Cao Gonggong also had me spy on Miss Qi’s outings. If her brothers were ever alone, I was to tip off the sixth young master of the Tian family so they could set the dogs on them!”
Cao Xingwang’s face turned ashen.
But Lai Chenglong didn’t spare him a glance. Instead, he turned to the court scribe beside him, who was scribbling furiously.
When the testimonies were written, dried, and ready, the scribe handed them over to Lai Chenglong.
He glanced at them, raised an eyebrow, and said, “Have each of them sign and fingerprint it.”
This, this was true ruthlessness. Far beyond Lu Yifeng’s level.
No wonder Lai Chenglong could inherit his father’s position, oust Pu Wuyong from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and become Commandant of the Embroidered Guards at such a young age.
Cao Xingwang stared at him blankly, heart pounding in terror. And when Lai Chenglong turned his gaze on him—
—he nearly retched.
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