Chapter 1 Meng Huaishu Found!

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Meng Huaishu has been found!"

A dark guard knelt in the center of the Hall of Diligent Governance, reporting in a deep voice.

Jiang Chen's eyes lit up, and he immediately stood up and said, "Where is she?"

"This woman has been押押进诏狱 (yā jìn zhào yù – imprisoned in the imperial prison) and is awaiting interrogation," the dark guard said, bowing his head.

"Good, today is truly an auspicious day!"

Jiang Chen smiled.

He felt all the weariness on his body disappear at this moment.

This Meng Huaishu had a special identity. Not only was she Zhang Kang's beloved, but she also seemed to be connected to the Mei Wen Shi Group.

As long as he could pry open this woman's mouth and get evidence through interrogation, the purification of the court would be just around the corner!

Now his power has greatly increased. Not only has he subdued the four battalions of the imperial capital, firmly grasping military power.

More than half of the civil officials in the court have also surrendered to him.

With such power, who would dare to challenge him?

Now, the only thing he lacked was evidence!

Evidence that could openly destroy the Mei family and eliminate the rebellious officials.

As long as he had solid evidence, he could subdue the world and ruthlessly attack those who harbored ulterior motives without any scruples.

If not, he could only maintain a false harmony like now, fighting under the table.

Late at night.

A team of imperial guards escorted a carriage silently towards the imperial prison.

Inside the carriage.

It was discreetly luxurious and comfortably furnished, a stark contrast to its simple exterior.

Jiang Chen was sitting in the main seat, asking Jing Yue beside him, "Are you saying that after Meng Huaishu left the capital, she has been hiding in a remote mountain village?"

"Yes, this woman bribed a mountain family, claiming to be a distant relative of this family. After gaining the trust of the villagers, she settled down."

"When she was arrested, the dark guards found a token in her residence. It was engraved with complex patterns and seemed to be a map."

As he spoke, Jing Yue took out a black iron token.

He respectfully said, "Please take a look, Your Majesty."

Jiang Chen took it and examined it closely.

He found that there were indeed map-like patterns on it.

Around the lines, there were also many recessed dots.

Jiang Chen guessed that those should be landmarks along the way, used to assist in locating and interpreting the map.

"Were there any other discoveries?"

Jing Yue shook his head, "Besides some copper coins and jewelry, there was nothing else."

Jiang Chen heard this and began to play with the token again.

Being something that Meng Huaishu would not forget to bring even when fleeing for her life, it must be extraordinary.

Perhaps the key to finding evidence lies in this lump of iron!

While pondering, the carriage had already entered the imperial prison.

Before the palace servants could react, Jiang Chen impatiently lifted the curtain.

He strode out and went straight to the prison entrance.

The imperial prison, which had not seen sunlight for many years, was dark and silent.

The air was also filled with a humid stench, making people subconsciously hold their breath.

At the end of the passage.

In the deepest cell of the prison, a woman with a graceful figure was curled up in a pile of withered grass.

She had fair skin, hair reaching her knees, and a waist that could be grasped.

Although he could not see her face clearly, he could tell from her back that she was a rare beauty.

Jiang Chen arrived here surrounded by guards.

He signaled the warden to unlock the lock.

The sound of the chains colliding and the long-lost light caught Meng Huaishu's attention.

She raised her head, her charming phoenix eyes filled with confusion.

But when she saw the black dragon robe, her eyes turned to panic, and she looked away.

"Meng Huaishu, you have caused朕 (zhèn – I, the emperor) quite a bit of trouble!"

Jiang Chen walked in, looking at the woman in the grass pile with interest.

He didn't let his subordinates use torture.

He was afraid that this woman would not be able to hold on and die in prison, ruining his subsequent plans.

Meng Huaishu hugged her arms, her delicate body constantly trembling.

She was frightened.

The emperor's indifferent gaze, as if he were looking at an object, made her shiver uncontrollably.

Jiang Chen looked at Meng Huaishu for a while.

Seeming to find her appearance interesting, he suddenly smiled.

Putting on a gentle look, he said, "Miss Meng,朕 (zhèn – I, the emperor) is a reasonable person and very easy to talk to."

"As long as you cooperate and confess everything you know,朕 (zhèn – I, the emperor) will not do anything to a weak woman like you. You don't need to be afraid."

Meng Huaishu's emotions eased a little when she heard this.

Her eyes flickered and said, "Your Majesty is too kind. You are the Son of Heaven. How dare this criminal deceive you?"

"I will definitely tell you everything I know without reservation."

Jiang Chen's smile remained unchanged, and he nodded and said, "Good, then朕 (zhèn – I, the emperor) will not waste time."

"I ask you, did you participate in Zhang Kang's rebellion?"

Meng Huaishu was silent for a moment, then shook her head and said, "Your Majesty, I am just a woman, and I don't have the guts to get involved in such a thing."

"Oh? Is that so?"

"But how did朕 (zhèn – I, the emperor) find out that you suddenly left the mansion in a hurry the night before Zhang Kang's uprising and disappeared without a trace."

"After that, you hid your name and hid in a small mountain village. Isn't that a bit too coincidental?"

Jiang Chen still smiled on his face, but his eyes dropped to freezing point, as if they could freeze people to death.

Meng Huaishu got up from the pile of grass and knelt on the ground, saying:

"Your Majesty, this criminal really did not participate... This criminal accidentally heard that they were going to rebel, and was afraid of being implicated, so I found an excuse to escape."

Jiang Chen coldly glared at the woman on the ground and warned:

"Miss Meng,朕 (zhèn – I, the emperor)'s tolerance is only for once."

"If you don't know how to cherish it, don't blame朕 (zhèn – I, the emperor) for not knowing how to cherish you!"

Saying that, he bent down.

He pinched Meng Huaishu's chin, forcing her to look at him.

"Confess everything you know truthfully!"

Meng Huaishu felt like her chin was about to be crushed.

She trembled all over from the pain, and her beautiful eyes were filled with mist.

But she did not dare to cry, fearing that she would anger the tyrant in front of her, and pitifully said: "Your Majesty, this criminal really doesn't..."

Before she could finish speaking.

Jiang Chen opened his big hand and directly pinched Meng Huaishu's cheeks, making her only able to make some vague syllables.

"Miss Meng, your skin is really good, smooth and fair, and feels great."

"It seems that there should be many people who like it."

Feeling the cold gaze wandering over her body, Meng Huaishu stopped struggling.

Looking at Jiang Chen's eyes, it was like seeing a demon from hell, extremely terrified.

"Why are you looking at朕 (zhèn – I, the emperor) like that?"

Jiang Chen raised his eyebrows and said lightly: "In order to catch you,朕 (zhèn – I, the emperor) has spent a lot of manpower and resources. Since you are unwilling to confess,朕 (zhèn – I, the emperor) always have to make up for the losses from other places."

"You have no money to spare. All over your body, only this skin is still pleasing to the eye, so naturally it must be used well."

Jiang Chen's taken-for-granted attitude made Meng Huaishu cry even more fiercely.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen curled his lips slightly.

Before the tears fell, he directly甩手 (shuǎi shǒu – flung his hand), throwing Meng Huaishu into the dry grass pile, revealing a kind of disgust in his movements.

Then he said coldly: "Da Wei has a kind of torture specifically used for skinning."

"First bury people in the soil, leaving only their heads exposed, then use a knife to cut a cross on the top of their heads and pour mercury into it."

"Then, the mercury will separate the skin and flesh, and the people buried in the soil will also twitch不停 (bù tíng – incessantly) because of the severe pain, until they can't bear the pain, they will leap up and窜 (cuàn – burst) out from the cross-shaped cut on their heads, leaving only a layer of skin in the soil."

After saying that, Jiang Chen looked at Meng Huaishu and smiled, "If Miss Meng is lucky enough, she may be able to save her life, but朕 (zhèn – I, the emperor) is very curious, how can you..."

"Stop talking! Please stop talking! I'll confess now!"

Meng Huaishu collapsed...