As the stench of feet dissipated, Wang Xiaoma approached Jiang Kuntou. He pointed the tip of his dagger at the nail of Jiang Kuntou’s right index finger and sternly demanded, "Speak! What kind of mines were you all digging? What were the ores used for?"
Jiang Kuntou, having just recovered, gasped for breath. He looked at Yang Ming and Wang Xiaoma and stammered, "As… as fellow mine bosses, why are you poking only me? Doesn't poking him… him seem more appealing?"
The other two mine bosses immediately exchanged glances. The mine boss surnamed Fang, in terror, said, "Don't poke, don't poke! We… we… confess! Jiang Kuntou mines iron ore, I mine copper ore, and Wei Kuntou mines gold ore."
Ji Cheng wrote with the speed of flying.
"Where were the ores you dug transported, and what were they used for?" Lu Ye continued to press.
The three mine bosses glanced at each other again, looking hesitant.
With a "swish," Wang Xiaoma plunged his dagger into Jiang Kuntou’s index finger.
"Ah!" Jiang Kuntou screamed miserably, terrifying the other two mine bosses, who trembled like sieves.
"Our… our ores were all transported to the neighboring Lizhou. As for what they were used for, we don’t really know ourselves. We just heard some rumors that the iron and copper ores were used… used to forge weapons, and the smelted gold bars were sent directly… directly to the Crown Prince's manor."
Ji Cheng became so excited that his characters lost their original integrity.
"What else do you know about Duke Rong's manor, the Jiang family, and the Crown Prince? Tell us everything!" Lu Ye stared at them, his gaze sharp as a blade.
Jiang Kuntou weakly raised his head and shot a warning glance at the Fang and Wei mine bosses. Although he was a distant collateral son of the Jiang family, the Jiang family was still his kin. If the Jiang family fell, he would have nothing to rely on.
Seeing the three mine bosses hesitating and unwilling to say more, Lu Ye gestured to Wang Xiaoma.
Wang Xiaoma pried open Jiang Kuntou’s fingers. He plunged his dagger through one fingernail at a time. After piercing one, he didn't pull it out immediately. Only after Jiang Kuntou had experienced the full agony of the pain did he slowly withdraw it. This way, Jiang Kuntou suffered double the pain.
Upon piercing the seventh fingernail, Jiang Kuntou let out a shriek unbecoming of a man and fainted.
Fang and Wei, seizing the opportunity, immediately confessed all the inside information they knew about the Jiang family and the Crown Prince. Although they weren't subjected to fingernail torture, they had watched Jiang Kuntou suffer agonizing pain to the point of death, which filled them with even greater fear. While they had betrayed the Crown Prince, they were mere ants in the grand scheme of things, not even worthy of being mentioned by name to the Crown Prince. The information they provided about the Crown Prince was vague hearsay and rumors. Even if these people were to report to the imperial court, they would still need to find more reliable witnesses and evidence. Therefore, if the Crown Prince were to fly into a rage and start executing people, it would certainly not be their turn anytime soon. At this moment, they only wanted to survive, even if it was only for another ten days or half a month.
After the interrogation, Ji Cheng had Fang and Wei sign and thumbprint the confession. The unconscious Jiang Kuntou also had his finger pressed to sign, as did all the witnesses. Ji Cheng drafted an impeachment memorial and, along with the confession of the mine bosses, submitted them to Lu Ye.
Lu Ye, riding Hei Feng and carrying the small cloth bag made by Bai Sheng slung across his back, galloped towards the County town's Prince Yu’s manor. Before entering Prince Yu's manor, Lu Ye first went to the Yeshengmen base to organize the crimes of the Rongguo Mansion and the Crown Prince that he had had the rats collect, and also put them into the small cloth bag.
Prince Yu was thrilled to receive the items from Lu Ye. When he first arrived in Tashajun, he had already begun investigating the Crown Prince's private mining of iron ore and had gathered some information. Now, with the evidence provided by Lu Ye, it was enough to deliver a heavy blow to the Jiang family and the Crown Prince. The immediate priority was to find witnesses and evidence of the Crown Prince's private weapon manufacturing.
Prince Yu immediately dispatched a team of men to rush to Lizhou, determined to find irrefutable proof of the Crown Prince's private weapon manufacturing. Additionally, he had to investigate what the Crown Prince had done with those gold bars. If the Crown Prince had secretly manufactured a large number of weapons, then there must be people using them. Prince Yu made a bold guess: the Crown Prince might be recruiting soldiers and buying horses. However, he was somewhat puzzled. Since the Crown Prince was already the Crown Prince, and the old man doted on him so much, if he hadn't caused trouble, he would have steadily become the emperor after the old man's death. Why would he take such a great risk to privately mine iron ore and secretly manufacture weapons? Nevertheless, Prince Yu couldn't manage so much. Being able to strike a blow at the Crown Prince and make the old man furious made him very happy.
After delivering the message, Lu Ye prepared to return to Red Tree Slope immediately. Prince Yu, using his authority, insisted that he stay for dinner. Under the cover of night, in the front hall of Prince Yu’s manor, at the long dining table, Prince Yu sat at the head and Lu Ye sat at the foot. The table was laden with a sumptuous feast. After Prince Yu announced the start of the meal, Lu Ye picked up his chopsticks and began eating as if he were at home, completely disregarding his host and treating the person opposite him as if he were air.
"Are you satisfied with the shops in the capital?" Prince Yu, seeing that the person opposite him was only eating and paying no attention to anything else, asked with a frown.
"Very good."
"With my people guarding them, no one dares to cause trouble, right?" In front of Lu Ye, Prince Yu couldn't help but try to show off his superiority.
"Not currently." Prince Yu nodded with satisfaction, paused for a moment, and then asked, "How is Red Tree Slope? Is… Little Black Face… doing well?"
Lu Ye finally raised his eyes. He stared fixedly at Prince Yu and said in a low voice, "Everything is fine. Thank you for your concern, Prince Yu."
"Little Black Face is due to give birth soon, isn't she? Have you found a midwife? Do you need me to help find some experienced midwives?" When talking about Bai Sheng, Prince Yu’s eyes showed unconcealed concern.
Lu Ye frowned and said coldly, "No need for Prince Yu's concern. This commoner will make proper arrangements himself."
Prince Yu snorted, "You say nice things, but if you were capable of making proper arrangements, you wouldn't have let her work so hard!"
Lu Ye looked at Prince Yu, his gaze sharp. "Everything she does is what she likes to do and wants to do. As her man, I never restrict or restrain her. Whatever she does, I will fully support it. However, I will not allow her to work too hard. I will proactively share whatever I can to alleviate her burden. I understand her, I comprehend her, and I know how to take care of her, how to make her happy, content, and how to let her live with self-worth. Therefore, there’s no need for an outsider like Prince Yu to worry. This commoner has eaten his fill, I bid you farewell!"
"Stop!" Prince Yu was provoked by Lu Ye’s words. This man! Talking as if he were the only one who understood Little Black Face!
Lu Ye turned around. "Does Prince Yu have any further instructions?"