The younger brother of the First Emperor

Chapter 108 Lin Xiangru entrusted his son to his care, and Ying Chengjiao was given the Lin family of Zhao

The brightly lit torture chamber was filled with the stench of blood, making one want to vomit.

The yellow earth was covered with dust, and a single wooden pillar stood in the center.

Eight hemp ropes as thick as an adult's arm were wrapped around a wooden pillar at one end and hooked on the beam of the torture room at the other end.

Seven executioners stood in the room, all with murderous looks on their faces.

Zhou Yu, the chief judge of the State of Zhao who was a retainer of Lord Pingyuan, adjusted his collar and gently turned his neck.

In front of Zhou Yu, there was a man kneeling with disheveled hair and messy dirty hair covering his cheeks.

The man was tied up, and his clothes were not stained with blood, but were a little dirty and messy.

"Zhao Yu." Zhou Yu stared at the kneeling man, his eyes like knives: "You are the most trusted by Lord Pingyuan among us, why did you poison Lord Pingyuan!"

The man raised his head, his hair fell on both sides, and his face was covered in dust.

"Nai Gong poisoned Lord Pingyuan? What bullshit are you talking about!
"Pingyuan Jun always eats with Nai Gong. If Nai Gong poisons Pingyuan Jun, isn't he poisoning himself?"

The hot fire pit, the warm fire wall, and the heat waves in the house are rolling.

Lin Xiangru wrapped himself in the quilt and said jokingly with a smile:
"This old man's room is so hot and uncomfortable even for a fifty-year-old man. You are the first kid who can handle it with ease.

"You are not so young, but you have a cold body and kidney deficiency, right?
"You haven't really tried all the copper pipe beauties you talked about with the king and the ministers yourself, have you? You are only seven years old, not seventeen."

Qin Wangzhu's greenhouse had not only a fire wall and a fire pit, but also floor heating in the ground, making it even warmer than Lin Xiangru's room.

Ying Chengjiao has been a wait-and-see since childhood and has a high tolerance to heat.

He thought of his grandfather in Lin Xiangru's room, feeling a little sad but with a smile on his face.

"Use the young bird when it is still hard, before the old bird can no longer be hard."

Even though Lin Xiangru was knowledgeable and experienced, it still took him a moment to react before he understood what the young man was talking about.

The old man choked and coughed repeatedly, pointing at the kid and making comments.

"You are more shameless than your father!"

"Speaking of shamelessness, Lord Lin should not be qualified to accuse me." Ying Chengjiao sat on the edge of the fire pit: "I don't mind being a pawn in Lord Lin's and father's hands. But if you don't tell me, I will be a little unhappy. I don't like the feeling of being manipulated by others."

"What are you talking about, kid? I am lying on a sickbed waiting to die, what kind of chess can I play?"

"Do you still want to hide it, Lord Lin? I already know that the cook Zhao Yu, a retainer of Lord Pingyuan, was a spy of the Qin State. He poisoned Lord Pingyuan. Lord Lin's plan this time is perfect."

"No, you were angry to death." Lin Xiangru smiled: "Ephedra and deer antler are both nourishing substances."

The old man glanced at Ying Chengjiao.

“I have done everything I promised Qin Yiren.

"Lin Jing's branch went to Xianyang with the Qin State delegation the night before.

"I have already reached an agreement with your Qin State, there is nothing more to discuss.

“I do have something to say to you, little kid.

"If you can tell me the plan between me, Qin Yiren, and Lu Buwei, then I will hand over the Lin family of Zhao to you, how about that?"

Ying Chengjiao narrowed his almond-shaped eyes.

"Mr. Lin really thinks highly of me."

Although there was no other outstanding person in the Lin family except Lin Xiangru.

But a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. No matter what, Lin Xiangru was a prominent figure in the State of Zhao.

Except for those aristocratic families that have existed since the founding of Zhao State or even in the Former Jin Dynasty.

The Lin family was the first-tier noble family in the State of Zhao.

Lin's fields, yield per acre, servants, power...all added up to a huge thing.

All the spies of Zhao State added together do not even amount to half of the Lin clan.

If Ying Chengjiao could completely control the Lin family, this one action alone would surpass all of Qin's efforts to infiltrate Zhao over the past hundred years.

His father, Qin Zichu, married Lin Xiangru's granddaughter Ji Yaotiao in Zhao State. Thanks to the Lin family's reputation, he attracted followers to join him and helped him get through the most difficult initial stage.

Later, he returned to Qin, hoping to gain Lin Xiangru's support and borrow the power of the Lin family to preserve his position as crown prince.

His brother Ying Zheng was able to survive in Zhao State during the Battle of Changping thanks to the Lin family's presence.

"I haven't finished yet." Lin Xiangru said calmly: "If you can't say it, then don't step into my house again. Zhao ministers don't get along with Qin people, and Qin children can't do it either."

"That kid is showing his ugliness." Ying Chengjiao said calmly, "I was wondering how the famous Lord Pingyuan Zhao Sheng died so easily. It turned out that Lü Buwei had been planning for several years. Zhao Yu should have been related to Lü Buwei, and the words he gave Zhao Sheng should have been taught by Lü Buwei... At this moment, Zhao Yu should be persuaded with emotion, persuaded with reason, and tortured to extract a confession."

In prison.

The court judge Zhou Yu laughed in anger and kicked Zhao Yu in the chest.

Zhao Yu flew backwards three meters with his buttocks dragging on the ground, raising a trail of dust.

Before he could still.

Zhou Yu stepped heavily on Zhao Yu's chest, and was so angry that his whole body was shaking.

He and Zhao Yu had known each other for a long time, as they were both among the twenty guests who followed Pingyuan Jun to the State of Chu.

He had eaten food cooked by Zhao Yu many times, and he and Zhao Yu had a very good relationship and could be called good friends.

But because of this, he could not forgive Zhao Yu, and he was even angrier than an ordinary person.

“Still quibbling!
"Do you think you are Gongsun Long or Gongsun Zibing? Can you be a lobbyist?
"He is as skilled in both martial arts and literature as Mao Sui. He is an excellent swordsman and his three-inch tongue can defeat a million soldiers.

"You are nothing! You are just a cook!
"A chef who can't cook properly deserves to be killed by God!
"Without Lord Pingyuan, what's the difference between you and those beggars? Ah!

"Why would I, Zhou Yu, be friends with someone as ruthless as you? You are really blind!"

Zhou Yu used his toes to push hard and rolled down slowly.

Zhao Yu's hands and legs were tied, and he could not resist and could only groan in pain.

Zhou Yu guessed that Zhao Yu's body was twisted, he was retching, drooling down his mouth, and he shouted loudly.

"Come here! Execution!"

"only!"

After responding in unison with anger, the seven executioners lifted Zhao Yu and untied the ropes on his hands and feet.

Zhao Yu, who was still vomiting, was pressed face-down against a wooden pillar. His hands and feet were wrapped around the pillar and tightly tied with thick hemp rope, round and round.

Each of the seven torturers was furious and wished they could use all the cruel punishments on this adopted son of a slave.

The name of Pingyuan Jun Zhao Sheng was not only famous among the various nations, but also well-known in the State of Zhao.

From the important officials in the court to the peasants in the countryside, everyone remembered his good points.

Folk songs have always been sung among the people of Zhao State.

"Without Lord Pingyuan, the State of Zhao would have perished long ago.

"With Lord Pingyuan, there is no need to panic when disaster strikes."

After the seven executioners tied up Zhao Yu, they lifted the bottom of the wooden pillar and placed it flat in the air.

Both ends of the wooden pillar were hung on the beams by ropes, and they swayed back and forth with a slight shake, like the crossbar used to strike a large bell in a temple.

Zhao Yu was lying on this wooden pillar, with his head sticking out about a foot from one end of the pillar.

He looked up and found that the opposite wall was very close to him, only about five feet away.

He saw a circular pool of blood splattered randomly on the rammed earth wall.

If you squint, it looks like a sun.

Squeak~squeak~
The seven executioners held onto the wooden pillar, exerting a little force.

The wooden pillar began to sway slightly, swaying back and forth.

Zhao Yu looked at the sun. He first got closer, then farther away, and then closer again...

He immediately knew where the sun came from.

It was formed by the prisoners who were tied to wooden pillars and banged their heads against each other, bleeding profusely, and finally a sun was formed.

His body swayed along with the wooden pillar, with the amplitude becoming larger and larger.

The voice of his good friend Zhou Yu rang in his ears.

"You and Lord Pingyuan were both older than me, and both of you are good at cooking.

"Pingyuan Jun's beautiful concubine laughed at the cripple, and the cripple asked Pingyuan Jun to kill her, but Pingyuan Jun refused, and the three thousand retainers scattered in all directions.

“Pingyuan Jun didn’t know the reason, and it was you who reminded him.

"Pingyuan Jun killed his beautiful concubine and sent her head to the crippled man, and people's hearts were restored. Three thousand retainers left and returned, and Pingyuan Jun's family became even more powerful than before.

"You have thus entered the eyes of Lord Pingyuan, and you will be rewarded with a mansion, ten beautiful concubines, two pairs of jades, and three hundred gold coins."

Zhao Yu’s head moved one foot away and was only four feet away from the sun.

He could see the bloodstains more clearly and could see the old dark brown bloodstains among the bright red.

"I re-established the family for Lord Pingyuan, but he only gave me some external wealth." Zhou Yu became even angrier.

[You can't tame a wolf!]
He cursed in his heart, but did not respond. He continued:

"Before the Battle of Changping, you urged Lord Pingyuan not to accept Shangdang, but Lord Pingyuan did not listen.

"When we were defeated at Changping, Lord Pingyuan treated you as his guest of honor. That night, he lay in bed with you and cried about his short-sightedness.

“This time, in addition to the foreign wealth you mentioned, you also gained an identity.

"You will be in charge of Lord Pingyuan's kitchen."

With the creaking sound of the wooden pillar, Zhao Yu moved forward another foot and was only three feet away from the sun.

The old dark bloodstains and the new bright red bloodstains are clearer, you are in me and I am in you.

There is a black sun hidden in the red sun.

His heart was beating fast and his body was swaying in the air, without the solid feeling of being on the ground.

He made a "pah" sound and hit the wall with a "bia" sound.

"Identity? Haha.

"You call the chief chef an identity?

“I used to be a cook.

"I am the head chef in Lord Pingyuan's house, but I am still a cook!"

Zhou Yu was extremely angry. He personally grabbed the rope that was shaking the wooden pillar, shaking it while shouting:
"What about Shi Chu?
"The Qin State besieged Handan. The people in Handan City exchanged their children for food and cooked with bones. It seemed that the country was about to be destroyed.

"Pingyuan Jun wanted to go to Chu to ask for help. He wrote to the king that if he could get Chu's help through diplomacy, that would be the best. If not, he would force the king of Chu to sign the alliance in public, and he would not return to Zhao until Chu sent troops.

“The late king agreed.

"Pingyuan Jun wants to select twenty brave and resourceful men from among his three thousand followers, but only nineteen are chosen. You are the first one!
"From now on, whenever Lord Pingyuan eats at home, he will sit at the same table with you!
"Look at which guest has this honor? Isn't this because they value you?"

Ever since Zhou Yu took action, Zhao Yu clearly felt that the shaking speed had increased. He was getting closer and closer to the wall, with only two feet left.

He could see the black and red bloodstains clearly. He could even imagine the tragic scene of a human head being smashed here through the scattered bloodstains!

His heart was pounding and he gritted his teeth, the sound coming out from between his teeth.

“It’s just that he’s used to eating the food I cook!

"This time, Chu brought back reinforcements, and the other countries joined forces to repel Qin and save Zhao.

"Pingyuan Jun became the savior of Zhao State, and his reputation was unparalleled, and his name resounded throughout the Central Plains.

"You became the Minister of Justice, and Mao Sui became the Minister of State.

"What about me? What did I get?
"My good brother, since you say that it is an honor to eat from the same table with Lord Pingyuan.

"Then how about giving you this honor and letting me be the court judge? Huh?!"

Zhou Yu's teeth were grinding, his eyes were full of cruelty, and he shook his head violently.

When the seven prisoners saw this, they nodded heavily to show that they understood, but said nothing.

Eight people work together!

"Mao Sui forced the King of Chu to sign an alliance!
"I spent all my family wealth in the battle of Handan, and with the determination to die, I led 3,000 soldiers with Li Tong to fight out of Handan and repel the Qin army for thirty miles!
"What about you? What did you do? Cook?
"Pingyuan Jun assigned all his family members, including his wife, to the soldiers, and assigned them to guard the city. He also distributed all the items in his house to the soldiers for their use.

"You are the only one left to cook, and your gold, silver and jade items are not touched!

"How dare you compare yourself with me! How dare you compare yourself with Mao Sui! What reason do you have to complain?"

Listening to his good brother's roar from the bottom of his heart, the black and red sun in front of Zhao Yu's eyes suddenly enlarged, and the last two feet of distance flashed by!

The fishy smell penetrated his nostrils and he smelled blood on the wall!
His hair stood up instantly, and where his hair touched the wall, it was dotted with red.

His head felt like it was going to burst!

My heart is beating as fast as it can!
After so much banging going on, his panic grew greater and greater, and he was afraid that his head would burst into a sun.

Beheading is just a matter of one knife, this is too torture!

After listening for so long, he felt more and more guilty towards Lord Pingyuan. He knew very well that he was repaying kindness with enmity.

Most people who do evil know that they are doing evil.

His psychological pressure reached its limit and it exploded after just a short while.

He is not a righteous man like Yu Rang!

"Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!"

The sound of his collapse echoed in the prison.

The Chief Justice Zhou Yu loosened his hand.

The seven torturers loosened their grip.

The wooden pillar that Zhao Yu was tied to swayed in the air due to inertia.

Swaying along with Zhao Yu's begging for mercy.

"Put me down! I confess! I confess everything! Ahhhh! Put me down now!"

Zhou Yu looked at his extremely frightened good brother, spit in disdain, and ordered the executioner.

"Put it down and bring it to the king!"

Fire pit, fire wall, fire room.

Lin Xiangru had a calm expression, his old face was as still as a pond.

“Boy, your guess is very detailed.

“Since you called me your great-grandfather before, I’ll remind you.

“Not all spies are assassins.

"Zhao Yu's surname was given to him by Pingyuan Lord Zhao Sheng, and he was a native of Zhao.

"A man from Zhao who betrayed his lord who had treated him with great kindness and became a spy for the Qin State, which had a deep hatred for Zhao. Do you think he would be someone who could withstand torture?
"Even if the assassins don't commit suicide immediately, they will be caught and imprisoned and their mouths will remain shut.

“What’s more, Zhao Yu is just a villain.

“Pingyuan Jun Zhao Sheng is far more important than you think, and the people from the palace will be at the posthouse soon.

"I am about to die, but I will use this life to send you off for a while and take care of everything myself.

"If you do this, not only will your life not be in danger, but you can also use my life to raise your reputation."

Ying Chengjiao interrupted while the old man was taking a breath.

"Then Lin won't give it to me, right?"

"That's right. From now on, the Lin family of Zhao has nothing to do with you or Qin." Lin Xiangru raised his old eyes and said, "Tell me, do you want life or the Lin family?"

Two quarters of the midnight hour.

Zhao Wang Palace, Changle Palace.

A big banquet hall, a small banquet.

The participants of the banquet were King Dan of Zhao, Prince Pingyang Zhao Bao, and a group of Zhao royal family members.

There is also the seven-year-old Ying Chengjiao, and the fifteen-year-old Bai Wuxia standing behind him.

An hour ago, the two of them were lying on the bed in the inn, invited by the eunuchs of Zhao State to a dinner party.

There are nine copper pipes standing in the center of the field, and no one knows how they are fixed so firmly.

Nine beauties were moving and spinning on it, flesh-colored and bronze-colored things were tangled together, and their clothes were falling off piece by piece, all over the floor.

The most vulgar is the most elegant.

Ying Chengjiao sat on a chair, rubbing his eyes, looking sleepy.

He looked very tired, as if he had been woken up from his sleep and had not slept enough.

In fact, he was indeed very tired. The reason was that after he finished talking with Lin Xiangru, he disguised himself and hurried back to the inn carefully. He felt tired both mentally and physically.

I wanted to have a good rest and wait for King Zhao to call me, but I was trained by Bai Wuxia and my legs are still shaking.

Master Bai believes that night is also suitable for practicing martial arts.

How could you not be tired after doing so much and being called to a banquet at Changle Palace?

Ying Chengjiao really wanted to lie down on the table and sleep.

He endured it and leaned back in his chair to take a rest.

A shrill male scream instantly perked him up.

"it's him!

"I put five times more ephedra and deer antlers in Lord Pingyuan's food!
"It's because of this kid! Prince Cheng Jiao of Qin! Lord Chang'an!"

(End of this chapter)