HLnovel Chapter 223 Interrogation
Chapter 223 Interrogation
I looked closely and saw that it was Ruiyang. He looked like he was being tortured. His usually smiling face was now covered with dark clouds, and his eyes had changed from cheerful to numb.
He said to me, "Girl, are you awake?"
I tried to walk over to him, but the chain was not long enough when I was still a short distance away from him. I squatted down and looked at him with a concerned and questioning look.
He looked up at me and asked, "Ruofeng, is he really gone?"
My nose felt sore and I pursed my lips and nodded slightly.
He suddenly stretched out his bloody hand and grabbed me, saying bitterly: "At first I didn't believe what they said! But later Changbao testified in person, and I saw Xiaohui's... body. The young master treated you so well, how could you have the heart to do such a cruel thing? And Ruofeng, he and I are like brothers, I heard from them that even if he... turned into ashes, you can't even tell him apart!"
I struggled, shook my head, tears streaming down my face, and reached out my hand to the ground to write for him, but he pulled my hand hard, making it impossible for me to move.
"Could it be that... you are not satisfied with just being a concubine?" His eyes were bloodshot and he looked at me wide open, uttering words that hurt my heart.
I shook my head with tears in my eyes, and he shook me and yelled, "Speak up! I don't understand! What's the point of just crying?!"
His noise was so loud that it attracted the guards. Two guards opened the cell door and rushed over to pull him away. Another person who seemed to be the leader at the door said, "You still have the energy to yell. It seems that I didn't beat you enough." Then he slapped Ruiyang twice, making his already red and swollen face swell even higher.
"Boss, let's tie him up tighter. This girl is an important prisoner. Don't let this kid kill her before the trial. It will be hard for us to explain."
The man called the leader sneered and replied, "For her heinous crimes, it doesn't really matter if she dies early or late. Just wait for Miss Jingye to come back, and then it will be her turn to suffer."
His subordinates apologized with a smile: "Yes, yes, but we are responsible after all. Even though it's only for a short while, we are afraid that all our efforts will be wasted, right?"
The man took out a chain from his waist and handed it to him: "That's right, you better hurry up. I'll go meet Miss Jingye when she comes back! I've heard that she's pretty, I want to see what she thinks."
The subordinate took the chain and dragged Ruiyang to a corner and tied him up, smiling and saying, "Oh, she is indeed beautiful! It's a pity that you were busy recruiting other maids at that time, so you missed her. I don't know if she will still be as beautiful when she comes back!"
I felt sad, not knowing how much torture Jingye would endure. My knees went weak and I fell to the ground, bowing repeatedly to the guards.
They wondered, "What is this girl begging for? Is she hoping that we will let her go?"
I shook my head and took out my purse from my pocket and handed it to him.
The other man took it, opened it, took a look, smiled indifferently, and said, "You are sensible. It is impossible for us to let you go. Do you want us to let you suffer less?"
I shook my head again and made a gesture that I wanted to write. He understood and ordered someone to bring a pen, ink and paper. I bent over the ground and wrote quickly, and he leaned over to read.
"Are you going to meet the Madam for trial now?!" he asked curiously.
I nodded to him.
The man next to him leaned over and said, "You better think about it! Miss Jingye is being interrogated now. If you go too early, you might suffer even longer!"
I nodded repeatedly, returned the paper and pen to them, and bowed again.
The chief sighed and said, "Well, since you are so anxious to suffer, there is no reason for us to stop you. I will go and inform you right away. You just wait for your Miss Jingye to come back."
My eyes were filled with tears, but I couldn't raise my hands high enough to reach my face, so I could only let the tears flow freely.
Not long after they left, they came back with two servants. The two men had cold faces, and behind them followed Jing Ye, who had messy hair.
When I saw it, I ran to the railing and made a "woohoo" sound.
Jingye looked up and saw me. Her face was pale, but she didn't show any injuries. She asked, "Is that you?"
I shook my head.
A scrutinizing look flashed across her eyes, and then she lowered her head.
The two servants handed her over to the guards, stuffed her into the cell on the other side of me, and pulled me out.
I heard Ruiyang ask Jingye across my cell: "Sister, are you okay?"
Jingye's voice, as calm as usual, rang out: "It's okay, just a few beatings, flesh wounds, it will heal after some rest. How are you?"
Before I could hear Ruiyang's answer, I was pulled out of the prison lobby. The heavy door behind me slowly closed. The night was dark and it was already evening.
Not long after walking, I was brought to a courtyard with bluestone walls. The servant said something to the guard at the door, nodded to me, and the guard let us in.
After entering the door, I saw some torture instruments scattered around the yard, some of which were stained with blood.
I looked away and obediently followed the guard into the lobby.
Sitting at the top of the hall was Madam Tushan, with an anxious and angry look on her face, which showed her old age vividly. On the left and right sat Aunt Zhao and Tushan Hou, while Butler Hu stood near the door, and Changbao stood behind him.
There were also a few maids, old women and servants standing on one side, all of them familiar faces who served them on weekdays.
The guard pushed me forward, saluted, and left respectfully.
"Lanxiang, I heard from the guards that you are awake? Are you going to confess the truth? Where is Jing?" asked the lady.
I nodded and pointed to my throat.
Butler Hu said "Huh?" and raised his hand. A ray of light flew by, and I felt that my throat could make sounds again.
"Madam, it seems like she was put under a silencing spell and can't speak. I just got rid of it." Butler Hu clasped his fists and said to the hall.
The lady waved her hand to indicate that she understood, but her eyes were still fixed on me.
I knelt down and shouted, "Lanxiang is innocent! The second young master was kidnapped by the eldest young master! Changbao is Xiyan's spy, they colluded with--"
Before I could finish, Tushan Hou raised his hand and released a stream of spiritual power. I couldn't dodge the attack in time. My chest felt like it was on fire and I spat out a mouthful of blood.
"You're just talking nonsense! My second brother wanted to go to Jiye Restaurant with you, and several maids and servants in your courtyard confessed to it! You said that my second brother was kidnapped by me, but where is the evidence? Your cousin has escaped without a trace, and Jiye Restaurant was burned down by you. Ruofeng and Xiaohui were both killed by you. These are all clear evidence of your crime."
I felt a sweet and fishy taste in my mouth, and I took a breath with difficulty, trying to say, "I don't have any evidence, but you have a motive. You are a concubine's child, and you are jealous of the Second Young Master—"
"Shut up!" The lady stood up and interrupted me loudly.