BLHO Chapter 46

Chapter 46: You think I wouldn’t dare rebel?

Chapter 46: You think I wouldn’t dare rebel?

The Imperial Prison at night was terrifying, like a ferocious beast with its bloody maw wide open, waiting for living souls to walk into its trap.

He Yuncheng and Lin Shuangxu were escorted separately and locked in different prison cells.

Today’s joint trial by the Three Judicial Offices had yielded preliminary results. Both the human and material evidence pointed to the General’s Manor, leaving them with no room to deny.

As for Li Yuliang, whom He Yuncheng had identified, his suspicion couldn’t be determined because the witness from the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion had already been silenced. The only course of action was to investigate the murderer responsible for the silencing.

Inside the heavily guarded iron cage, He Yuncheng sat on the grass-covered floor, his fingers tapping rhythmically on his knee as he closed his eyes to think.

It was unlikely they would be interrogated tonight; at the earliest, it would be tomorrow.

So far, the jailers hadn’t brought him any food. It was a common method of coercion – people were more likely to have their emotions broken down when they were hungry.

Many thoughts swirled and converged rapidly in He Yuncheng’s mind.

Now, the crux of the matter wasn’t the truth itself. There was no point in trying to prove his innocence at this moment.

The hundreds of thousands of He family soldiers were a piece of fat, coveted by lurking jackals who all wanted to snatch a bite and claim it for themselves.

But even if they wanted to eat, they had to see how big their appetite was.

Judging by the time, the military report from the border should have already been sent to the palace. Yan Zhao’s actions this time were faster than expected. He had already assembled his army and could launch an offensive at any time.

He Yuncheng had been stationed in the military camp these past few days to discuss countermeasures with Guo Yao.

The He family had always controlled military affairs at the border. Reporting to the imperial court was just a formality. After all, the Emperor didn’t want to interfere, and the powerful officials who wanted to interfere didn’t understand military operations.

Therefore, those who lived comfortably in Fengdu City, pontificating about the country, probably didn’t truly understand what kind of service He Yuncheng and the He family army were doing for Bei Sheng.

Before coming to be interrogated, he had instructed Guo Yao that if he didn’t return from the Three Judicial Offices, Guo should take the military situation to the palace and report it in detail, making sure to inform the Empress Dowager of the grim situation at the border.

The principle was to report truthfully, but if necessary, Guo could appropriately embellish the report. Guo Yao could handle the rest.

In short, Bei Sheng was at a critical moment of survival. First, internal stability was needed to resist foreign aggression. Without resolving the internal strife and with General He unable to command the army, this battle could not be fought.

Pressuring the palace in this way was a risky move. If not handled carefully, it could lead to being branded as a rebellious traitor. He Yuncheng didn’t want to resort to this unless absolutely necessary.

But in the court, those treacherous villains hadn’t even allowed him to see the Empress Dowager. If he didn’t find a way to protect himself, who would protect him?

If it were just him, so be it. But now, Lin Shuangxu was also implicated…

Thinking of Lin Shuangxu, He Yuncheng felt a painful suffocation.

Lin Shuangxu’s constitution was weak. How could he endure being locked up for days in the cold, filthy Imperial Prison?

He Yuncheng stayed awake, not sleeping all night.

No sunlight penetrated the prison. He estimated the time in his mind.

It was probably not until the evening of the next day that the person interrogating him arrived.

It was Xiao Ping, Minister of the Court of Judicature.

This man was still the same mediocre, good-for-nothing as before. When he saw He Yuncheng, he politely addressed him as “General” and, across the interrogation table, tried to persuade him to confess the truth.

Of course, He Yuncheng wouldn’t budge. Even though the Minister talked until his lips were dry, if he confessed truthfully, admitted his mistakes with a sincere attitude, the Emperor would consider the He family’s illustrious merits and would definitely treat him leniently.

These tactics were what He Yuncheng had used when interrogating prisoners of war. Listening to his coaxing and deceiving, just to get him to sign and affix his fingerprint so he could quickly finish the job, He Yuncheng only found it absurd and laughable.

He couldn’t help but ask Xiao Ping, “What benefits did that eunuch give you? To make you so loyal?”

Xiao Ping shrugged. “Oh, General He, you can’t speak recklessly. I eat the Emperor’s grain, so of course, I act on imperial orders. How can you say I’m loyal to others?”

“Is that so? Then why did you fabricate evidence to slander me?” He Yuncheng tilted his head slightly, his eyes fierce. “What makes you so sure that I’ll be defeated this time? What if I get away unscathed? Aren’t you afraid I’ll take your life?”

Xiao Ping was flustered, but he tried his best to maintain his composure. “General He, I really don’t understand what you’re saying. The Court of Judicature handles cases according to the law. If I’m unfortunately retaliated against and lose my life, then I’ll die for the sake of justice in the world, and a noble name will be recorded in history for thousands of years.”

He Yuncheng sneered.

“Cough.” Xiao Ping straightened his robes and continued, “I still advise the General to cooperate. If I can’t close the case in my hands, the Embroidered Uniform Guard will come to interrogate you. Those people will use any means to get you to confess and sign. Why would the General want to suffer that physical pain?”

He Yuncheng closed his eyes, not bothering to say another word to him.

Xiao Ping was embarrassed. As the Minister of the Court of Judicature, he was unable to get any results and had to leave in disgrace. As he stood up to leave, he felt this would make him appear too incompetent. But if he tried to ask again, He Yuncheng simply wouldn’t respond.

While he was hesitating, a subordinate came forward and whispered a few words in his ear.

After hearing this, his expression eased slightly, and he said to He Yuncheng, “The Court of Judicature has other important cases waiting to be handled, so I’ll give General He another night to think it over. I’ll come ask you again tomorrow.”

After he finished speaking, he left with his subordinates. He Yuncheng was locked back in his cell.

In the evening, he still wasn’t given food or water.

His lips and face were dry and pale, and he became increasingly worried about Lin Shuangxu.

He feared that whatever methods they were using to pressure him, they were also using to pressure Lin Shuangxu.

He used to be able to go without food or drink for days during battles, but how many days could Lin Shuangxu endure?

The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became. He wished he could recklessly rush out and see him in person, to make sure he was safe.

But these heavy iron bars were impossible to break through with human strength. Even if he did manage to break out, it would only make the situation worse.

They could only endure for now.

It was his fault, his impulsive actions. That night, he had to cling to him and force him to do something he didn’t want to do.

If only he had listened, if only he had obediently left when Lin Shuangxu told him to get out, he wouldn’t have given people this handle to exploit.

Even if the He family couldn’t escape this calamity, at least Lin Shuangxu wouldn’t have been dragged into it.

He Yuncheng repeatedly recalled the details of that night. Lin Shuangxu’s burning tears finally scalded him after many days. He was filled with remorse and raised his hand to slap himself.

At this moment, the candle on the wall flickered, drawing him out of his thoughts.

He cautiously stood up and listened carefully for any movements.

Someone was coming.

It was late. Who could it be? Xiao Ping again?

A moment later, a flying fish uniform appeared in the dim candlelight. It was Shen Tan.

She hadn’t brought any subordinates; she had come alone.

“Commander Shen?” He Yuncheng called out to her.

Shen Tan didn’t respond, maintaining a businesslike demeanor. Without looking at him, she took the key from her waist and opened the door with practiced ease.

He Yuncheng asked hesitantly, “Commander Shen, are you here to…?”

With a hint of contempt beneath her calm demeanor, Shen Tan said to him, “By imperial decree, I’m here to interrogate General He. Please.”

The two sat down across the table from each other. Shen Tan was backlit, and He Yuncheng couldn’t see her face clearly.

“How long does General He plan to resist stubbornly?” Shen Tan asked threateningly.

He Yuncheng sighed softly and shook his head helplessly.

“Speak,” Shen Tan said, personally picking up a brush and waiting.

He Yuncheng said, “I thought Commander Shen, although in a different camp from me, was still a chivalrous person. A word spoken is like a team of horses that can’t be called back. You personally promised that in court, you wouldn’t collude with the eunuch to slander me. Why did you go back on your word?”

Shen Tan paused slightly in her writing and placed the brush on the table. Then she asked frankly, “When did I go back on my word? The human and material evidence is irrefutable. Someone wants you dead. What can I do?”

“Who wants me dead? Li Yuliang?”

“Not just him.”

“Tell me.”

Shen Tan raised her eyebrows. “General He, some things are too late to know now. You can’t get out of this quagmire. Either surrender obediently, or kill me first, then kill everyone else, and you might live.”

“Are you forcing me to rebel?”

“Whether you rebel or not is not something I should consider. The Embroidered Uniform Guard is ordered to investigate the case. I only care about when your confession will be handed over.”

“What if I refuse to confess? What does Commander Shen plan to do? Torture me to force a confession?”

Shen Tan lowered her eyes, her expression hidden in the dim shadows.

She didn’t speak but stood up and walked in front of He Yuncheng, looking down at him condescendingly.

A bloody smell wafted over, and He Yuncheng inexplicably began to panic.

In the next moment, Shen Tan took out an object from behind her, wrapped in silk.

She deliberately slowed down her movements and unwrapped the silk in front of He Yuncheng.

Inside was a broken jade hairpin.

The hairpin was originally a translucent, lustrous white, but it was stained with blood, dyed into a shocking red-black.

Looking up again, He Yuncheng saw the triumphant arrogance on Shen Tan’s face.

“General He should recognize whose hairpin this is.”

The air stagnated, and He Yuncheng could barely breathe.

“You dare to torture him?”

He stood up abruptly, but the iron chains restrained him, and he couldn’t touch Shen Tan.

The other party smiled provocatively.

He Yuncheng clenched his teeth. “Do you really think I wouldn’t dare rebel?”