Chapter 134: I Will Make This World Feel My Pain!
Beep—!
Inside the Huagai Hall, the mad and tragic laughter abruptly stopped, as if choked by an invisible hand.
Old Zhu stood in place, his chest still heaving violently, blood dripping from the back of his hand onto the imperial desk and floor tiles, yet he seemed oblivious.
In his bloodshot eyes, madness, killing intent, grief, suspicion… all sorts of emotions intertwined and clashed like a storm.
Suddenly, he fiercely lifted his foot, seemingly intending to rush out of the Main Hall at all costs, to personally storm the Imperial Prison and dismember that ‘monster’ Zhang Biao, forcing him to reveal what he knew through the most brutal punishments.
Even if he knew Zhang Biao had no solid evidence, he believed Zhang Biao must have found some clues.
However, just as his foot was about to step forward, his reason, almost out of control from the extreme emotional impact, forcefully restrained him.
Can’t go!
Absolutely cannot go!
That madman is waiting for this!
He wants to enrage us, make us lose composure, and lead us by the nose!
In just an instant, Old Zhu reacted, clenching his fists tightly, his fingernails digging deeply into his palms, trying to force himself to calm down with greater pain.
That bastard did it on purpose! He’s gambling! Gambling on our suspicion!
Gambling on our feelings for Biao’er!
I am the Emperor, the Son of Heaven of the Great Ming! How can I be manipulated by a prisoner?!
However, although reason roared in his heart, emotion wound around his heart like poisonous vines.
That is Zhu Biao! The Crown Prince in whom he invested countless efforts and upon whom he pinned the future of the dynasty!
It can be said that Zhu Biao’s death was an unhealable wound in his heart!
Even if there is only one in ten thousand possibility that Biao’er’s death has hidden circumstances… he, Old Zhu, cannot ignore it!
This extreme tearing between reason and emotion almost ripped him apart!
“Hoo hoo…”
He gasped for breath, pacing back and forth in front of the imperial desk like a trapped beast, his steps heavy and disordered.
Several times he glanced in the direction of the Imperial Prison outside the hall, killing intent flashing in his eyes, only to forcefully suppress it again.
Finally, he stopped, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
When he opened his eyes again, the madness and grief in his eyes were forcibly suppressed, replaced by a terrifying, ice-like calmness, but beneath this ice was lava ready to erupt.
“Guards! Summon Jiang Huan!”
Old Zhu sat back down and issued a new order.
Although his voice sounded hoarse, it was exceptionally steady, carrying a chilling suppression.
Jiang Huan, who was outside the hall, heard the summons and his heart almost leaped out of his chest.
He scrambled on all fours back into the Main Hall and prostrated himself on the ground, not daring to look up: “Your humble servant is here.”
“The words you just said, say them to us again…”
Old Zhu did not look at him, his gaze fixed on the bloodstain on the imperial desk, and spoke slowly, each word like an ice pearl hitting the ground: “Say them again, word for word. Do not add, do not omit.”
“Yes…”
Jiang Huan trembled all over and could only brace himself and, in as steady a tone as possible, recounted Zhang Biao’s casual questioning and his own reactions, including his own panicked loss of composure, without concealment.
Old Zhu listened quietly, his face expressionless, only his fingers tapping the desk unconsciously and very slowly.
After listening, a longer silence fell upon the hall.
After a long while, Old Zhu spoke again, his voice still terrifyingly steady: “Jiang Huan, you have followed us for so many years, commanding the Imperial Guard, and have seen countless madmen and heard countless wild words.”
As he spoke, he slightly raised his eyelids, his gaze like a cold blade falling on Jiang Huan: “Tell us… are Zhang Biao’s words just a wild accusation before death, an attempt to bargain for survival… or…”
He paused, finally asking the most crucial question: “Is it possible… he really knows something?”
“This…”
Jiang Huan lay on the ground, his mind racing, cold sweat soaking his back.
He knew that his answer was crucial, possibly even determining his own survival.
He carefully recalled Zhang Biao’s expression and tone when he spoke, and the madman’s ability to always pinpoint secrets during previous audits…
Finally, he gritted his teeth and chose a relatively safe answer that also demonstrated his value:
“Replying to Your Highness, your humble servant believes… Zhang Biao, while acting crazed and arrogant, his ability to pry into secrets is truly unfathomable. The Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of War, and even the residences of nobles, many private matters have been revealed by him as if in jest…”
At this point, Old Zhu showed no reaction. He chose his words even more cautiously:
“Therefore, your humble servant dares not assert that his words are necessarily deceit. Perhaps he truly glimpsed some unknown traces related to past events during the audit, it is also possible.”
Old Zhu’s brow furrowed imperceptibly.
“However!”
Jiang Huan immediately changed his tone and emphasized:
“This is all his one-sided story! And his choice to bring this up now clearly shows malicious intent, aiming to disrupt Your Highness’s mind, stall for time, or even… even attempt to use this to threaten Your Highness! His heart deserves punishment!”
Old Zhu continued to listen quietly, his face still revealing no emotion.
It was only when Jiang Huan’s heart was in his mouth that he calmly and indifferently said:
“Jiang Huan, what is your plan regarding this matter? Or… how should Zhang Biao be dealt with?”
Jiang Huan’s heart stirred at this.
He knew that what the Emperor wanted was probably not the real answer, but for him to articulate what the Emperor wanted to say but could not say directly.
A flicker of understanding appeared in his eyes, yet mixed with the ferocity unique to the Imperial Guard, he said sternly:
“Your Highness! Your humble servant believes that Zhang Biao is as cunning as a ghost! Rather than guessing his intentions here, why not let your humble servant bring him to the Imperial Prison’s torture chambers!”
“With the seventy-two techniques of the Imperial Prison, I don’t believe I can’t pry open his mouth! I guarantee he’ll spill everything he knows, along with the secrets of his ancestors!”
This was Jiang Huan’s most direct, instinctive thought.
Solving the problem in the way he was most skilled at.
He believed no one could keep secrets under the torture of the Imperial Prison.
However, after hearing this, Old Zhu slowly shook his head.
“No.”
Old Zhu’s voice was deep and decisive, with an undeniable finality.
Jiang Huan was stunned and looked up in confusion: “What does Your Highness mean?”
“Do you think I haven’t considered torturing him?”
Old Zhu’s gaze remained fixed on the bloodstain, as if talking to himself, or explaining to Jiang Huan: “When he ‘died for a cause’ regarding the three accumulated malpractices, I thought about torturing him, forcing him to solve problems for me and confess everything he knew.”
“However, I had to consider these issues.”
“First, he is not afraid of death, and even longs for it. Torture will only hasten his death. Relying on him to endure torture and confess everything is a gamble.”
“Second, he is so young yet comprehends worldly affairs, comparable to Li Shanchang or Liu Bowen, perhaps even superior. His fallback plans are difficult for even me to fathom.”
“Third, what if he cannot endure the torture and, to suffer less, speaks nonsense? At that time, if he points out a few pieces of information, will you believe it or not? Investigate, or not investigate?”
“Or perhaps…”
A very subtle concern flashed in Old Zhu’s eyes: “What if he really knows something, but before he could say it, he ‘accidentally’ dies under torture? In this world, there are likely more than one person who wants certain secrets to disappear forever.”
He paused here, then said meaningfully: “And don’t think that the Imperial Guard is truly flawless; the human heart is the most complex, especially for those pushed to desperation.”
He feared that Zhang Biao would falsely accuse, causing chaos in the Imperial Court, and even more, he feared that someone would use the pretext of torture to silence him.
Zhang Biao was now a gunpowder barrel containing potentially explosive secrets of the dynasty, and only he could firmly control it personally, never entrusting it to others, not even giving anyone an opportunity.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Huan broke out in a cold sweat, immediately understanding Old Zhu’s deep meaning, and quickly kowtowed:
“Your humble servant is foolish! I almost ruined Your Highness’s important affairs! Please forgive your humble servant!”
Old Zhu waved his hand, signaling him to rise: “It is not your fault. It is that… I must be cautious.”
Jiang Huan stood up, a lingering fear in his heart, and stood with his hands clasped, his mind racing again.
Since the path of torture was rejected by Your Highness, a more stable plan must be presented.
He carefully weighed the pros and cons, and after a while, he spoke again, his tone becoming more cautious and meticulous:
“Your Highness is wise, it is your humble servant’s lack of foresight. Since that is the case, your humble servant believes that the urgent matter is not his confession, nor his life or death, nor torture. But rather… the matter he spoke of, whether true or false, must be thoroughly investigated! But it must be done with extreme caution and secrecy!”
“Oh?” Old Zhu raised his eyelids and glanced at him: “Explain in detail.”
Jiang Huan organized his thoughts and slowly stated his true, well-considered idea:
“Your humble servant’s humble opinion is that, firstly, Your Highness can outwardly ignore his words, and even dismiss them as madness, continuing to press for other confessions to deceive outsiders and any potential masterminds.”
“Secondly, secretly, please grant your humble servant a secret edict, to mobilize absolutely trustworthy Imperial Guard officers to secretly restart the investigation of all who handled matters surrounding the Crown Prince’s demise!”
“For example, all Imperial Physicians, Eastern Palace officials, eunuchs, and palace attendants, regardless of whether they are alive or dead, or where they are now, must all be re-examined for their words and actions at the time, their interpersonal relationships, and their whereabouts afterward!”
“Furthermore, all medical records and prescription archives must be secretly retrieved and re-evaluated by absolutely trustworthy confidant Imperial Physicians!”
“Thirdly!”
A fierce glint appeared in Jiang Huan’s eyes again, and he said gravely: “Regarding Zhang Biao, maintain a relaxed facade on the outside, but a tight grip on the inside! Outwardly, you can relax a little, as if Your Highness has not paid attention to his ravings. Secretly, surveillance must be doubled!”
“We must guard against his suicide, and even more against others silencing him!”
“Until the autumn execution, until the truth of the Crown Prince’s matter is revealed!”
After speaking, Jiang Huan prostrated himself: “These are all your humble servant’s humble opinions, everything depends on Your Highness’s wise judgment!”
Old Zhu listened without speaking for a long time.
Jiang Huan’s plan was seasoned and prudent, considering all aspects, fitting his identity and capabilities as the Imperial Guard Commander, and completely hitting the mark.
No outward change, secret investigation of the truth!
This was exactly what he wanted!
Investigate! Must investigate!
Whether true or false, it must be thoroughly investigated!
Old Zhu slowly stood up and walked to Jiang Huan.
“Jiang Huan.”
“Your humble servant is here.”
“I will give you a secret edict.”
Old Zhu’s voice was low and filled with absolute authority: “Do as you said. Mobilize all the power you can, and investigate for us secretly!”
“But remember, this matter, heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know! If a third person knows, and it traces back to you…”
Old Zhu did not finish, but the implication was clear.
Jiang Huan kowtowed heavily: “Your humble servant understands! If there is any leak, your humble servant will present his head!”
“Go.”
Old Zhu waved his hand, as if exhausted: “Remember, I want the truth. No matter… what the truth is.”
“Your humble servant obeys the edict!”
Jiang Huan kowtowed, but did not leave immediately, because he understood Old Zhu, and there was one more matter that required Old Zhu’s decision.
As expected, Old Zhu suddenly said: “Who else was present at the time?”
His voice was still steady, betraying no emotion.
“Two accompanying Imperial Guard officers, both trusted by your humble servant, and they have extremely tight lips.”
Jiang Huan replied immediately, but his heart pounded wildly.
“Hmm.”
Old Zhu responded faintly, his fingers tapping lightly on the imperial desk unconsciously, then stopping.
“Jiang Huan.”
“Your humble servant is here.”
Old Zhu’s voice was not loud, but carried an undeniable absolute command:
“Those two Imperial Guard officers heard nothing. All the personnel on duty in the Imperial Prison today will be replaced and transferred to serve at the front lines in the Northern Desert, never to be recalled.”
“You, personally handle this, quickly and cleanly.”
Jiang Huan’s heart tightened; this was to completely silence them!
He responded without hesitation: “Your humble servant obeys the edict!”
“From now on!”
Old Zhu continued, his tone still steady, but containing immense power: “The Imperial Prison Death Row Area will be guarded by you personally with the most trustworthy people.”
As he spoke, his gaze became extremely profound: “If Zhang Biao speaks again, mentioning anything related to this, you only need to listen, do not record, and then report it, word for word, without omission, only to me. Do you understand?”
“Your humble servant understands!”
Jiang Huan finally understood.
The Emperor intended to completely isolate Zhang Biao, turning him into a secret connected only to the Emperor himself, while also maximally controlling the spread of this secret, to the point where even he, the Imperial Guard Commander, could not intervene too much.
Soon, Jiang Huan cautiously withdrew from the Main Hall. It wasn’t until he walked out of the palace gate and was hit by the cold wind that he realized he was drenched in cold sweat, as if he had just been pulled out of water.
He knew that an investigation, more secret and more dangerous than any before, was about to begin.
And he himself had already deeply entangled himself in a vast vortex that could potentially consume everything.
Inside the Huagai Hall, Old Zhu, alone, looked at the bloodstained imperial desk and memorial, his gaze once again becoming unfathomably deep.
Zhang Biao, I don’t care how much you know, or what your purpose is.
You succeeded.
You have made me… unable to find peace.
He slowly sat back on the dragon throne, his entire being seemingly shrouded in an extremely cold shadow.
If Biao’er’s death truly has issues.
Then let everyone involved in this matter feel my pain.
Seeking monthly tickets~
