In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 996 Missing one's family even more during festivals
The Imperial Guard Prison
Darkness and dampness seemed to forever shroud this place, interspersed with screams and shrill cries.

As more and more members of the anti-Party organization are arrested...

The wails here grew increasingly frequent.
In the end, even the Embroidered Uniform Guard could not force them to keep quiet.

In this situation, those rebels watched their comrades being tortured and mistreated.

My greatest wish has become to die sooner, to die quickly.

I just wish I would never have to suffer like this again.

As evening approached, Du Pingping, the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, walked into the imperial prison with a gloomy face.

Just yesterday he was attacked and killed by rebels, and today he is being impeached by court officials for plotting to harm loyal officials.
This filled him with resentment.
Who is truly loyal and virtuous?

Are those who secretly mobilize troops outside the capital considered loyal and virtuous?

Are those who manipulate land prices and seek personal gain considered loyal and virtuous?

At this moment, Du Pingping looked at the prisoners crying and wailing before her.
No longer could I feel a shred of pity.

And finally, I felt more empathy for Mao Xiang's past indifference.

He took a deep breath, suppressed his frustration, and strode towards the deepest part of the imperial prison.

This morning, Ye Qifeng, the manager of Lianbao Trading Company, was sent to the Imperial Prison.

To everyone's surprise, no torture or forced confession was required.

He readily confessed everything, catching the officials in charge of the interrogation completely off guard.

At this moment, Ye Qifeng was sitting on a bench, dealing with repeated questions from two clerks.

The matter of plotting to murder the crown prince alone has been asked no less than thirty times.

However, Ye Qifeng's answers were consistently reasonable and well-founded, without the slightest deviation.

This convinced the interrogators that Ye Qifeng either had deliberately memorized the information beforehand or had actually done it himself.

Du Pingping walked closer and glanced at them.
A middle-aged man was seen standing to the side, holding a written statement, looking at it with a furrowed brow.

The man was dark-skinned, and his everyday clothes were somewhat worn.

His hands, clutching the documents, were chapped, as if he had just come from a long journey.

"you are?"

Du Pingping frowned and asked in a deep voice.

Upon hearing the voice, the middle-aged man quickly looked up, a smile playing on his lips, and bowed deeply.
"Are you Lord Du?"

"who are you?"

“Zhang Gou, Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, pays his respects to Lord Du. I have come here on the orders of Lord Yuan to participate in the interrogation of the traitors.”

"Zhang Gou?"

A hint of doubt flashed in Du Pingping's eyes, but she quickly realized what she meant and asked in return:

"Is it Zhang Gou, the one who went to Liaodong?"

Zhang Gou nodded with a smile:

"It's the lower official."

Du Pingping sized him up a few times, and understood immediately.
After his trip to Liaodong, this Lord Zhang is sure to rise to a high position.

After all, interrogating traitors was always a coveted job.
If the trial is not conducted well, it is considered resistance against the Party; if it is conducted well, it is considered a great achievement.

Du Pingping pulled up a chair and sat down, then waved her hand:
"Bring a chair for Lord Zhang. Since he is from the Censorate, he should be treated well."

"You're too kind, Lord Du."

Zhang Gou verbally declined, but his body language betrayed him by sitting down.

He put the document aside, looked at Ye Qifeng, and then turned to Du Pingping:

"Lord Du, this Steward Ye is quite stubborn."

Two members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard interrogated him for a whole day, but he remained firm in his story.

They're using the same old excuse over and over again; it seems they've been planning this all along.

Only then did Ye Qifeng slowly raise his lowered head and let out a soft chuckle:
"My lords, I was the one who did it. If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do."

Upon hearing this, Du Pingping's face instantly turned cold.

He glanced at Ye Qifeng's perfectly intact clothes and let out a soft snort:
"Execution!"

Zhang Gou raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

Strangely, Ye Qifeng remained completely calm, even raising his hand to help the officials unlock his handcuffs.

When they were tied to the cross post,
He also spread his arms wide, cooperating fully throughout.
Seeing this, Du Pingping's eyes darkened even more, and she waved to signal the officials to stop.

He walked up to Ye Qifeng, his face turning stern:
"I know you're being manipulated, but you need to think this through."

Is it worth taking the blame for those people?
You are a rebel, and according to the law, your entire family should be exterminated.

You can face death calmly, but what about your family and friends?
Some of them are now in Beijing, while others are in their hometowns.

I was unaware that you had committed such a heinous act, and I did not send anyone to arrest them.

I'm giving you a chance to confess.

I can promise that your family will not be implicated. What do you say?

Ye Qifeng's expression finally wavered slightly, and he asked with a hint of curiosity:

"They...really weren't arrested?"

"I wouldn't stoop so low as to lie to you about something like this."

Ye Qifeng nodded, then suddenly chuckled:
"Lord Du, I have long heard of the methods of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Once I confess, how could the imperial court let them go?

Your promise is worthless.

You'd better save your energy; if you're going to torture me, just do it quickly.
"Since I'm here, I don't intend to leave alive."

"Insanity!"

Du Pingping's voice suddenly rose, and she slapped Ye Qifeng hard across the face.

The immense force caused Ye Qifeng's cheek to swing to one side.
He slammed hard against the wooden post, and two teeth fell out.

"Punish him! Don't be polite!"

If he dies, torture his family!

Since he wants to face death calmly, then let him suffer it!

The next second, two officials stepped forward, took out long, red-hot needles from the stove, and without hesitation, pierced Ye Qifeng's palm, pinning him to the wooden stake.

This swift and decisive action left Zhang Gou, who was standing to the side, with no time to react.

"what!"

A piercing scream instantly echoed throughout the prison, and Zhang Gou couldn't help but shudder.

Compared to the Censorate's prison,

The methods used by the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the imperial prison were still too bloody.

The official then took out four long needles and drove them into Ye Qifeng's ankles.

Hot blood dripped onto the crimson anvil.

It makes a sizzling sound, and you can even see tiny oil droplets.

Zhang Gou couldn't help but glance at it.
I felt a sharp pain in my hands and feet.

Immediately afterwards, the clerk swiftly and decisively plucked out twenty of Ye Qifeng's fingernails.

His movements were so practiced, it was like a pig slaughtering process he had repeated countless times.

By this time, Ye Qifeng was covered in sweat.
His previously calm expression had completely vanished.

After the instruments of torture stopped, waves of excruciating pain washed over me.
He was breathing heavily, staring at Du Pingping with eyes full of resentment:
"Kill me if you dare! I did it, and no one else has to do it!"

Du Pingping shook her head with a smile, her face full of sarcasm:
"Manager Ye, in the Imperial Guard prison, death is the most painless thing."

How could we let a traitor like you, who plotted against the Crown Prince, die so easily?

Don't worry, even if you bite off your own tongue...
We also have a way to reattach your tongue.
These techniques have been practiced countless times on people; there's no way they're wrong.

Du Pingping's voice was chilling and biting, adding to the already cold atmosphere of the imperial prison.

Zhang Gou's breathing became increasingly rapid. Unable to bear the scene any longer, he quietly turned away, not daring to look any further.

Du Pingping picked up the statement document, flipped through it casually, and suddenly laughed:

"Li Cunyi has been dead for a year, and you still say you are his loyal follower?"
Such words can only fool the officials in the Ministry of Justice; they cannot fool me.

Say!
Who's behind you? Who ordered you to do all this?

Ye Qifeng, covered in sweat, glared at Du Pingping with eyes wide with fury:
"No one ordered me to do this! His Majesty and the Crown Prince are cruel and bloodthirsty."

How can one not feel disheartened when a group of dukes and marquises rendered meritorious service to the country but ended up in such a state?
Even if I don't do it, someone else will.

Loyal and righteous people from all over the world will continuously rise up until this tyranny ends!

Zhang Gou suddenly turned around and stared intently at Ye Qifeng.

He carefully recalled that none of the previous confessions from the rebels contained such statements.

Despite the constant infighting in the court
However, the people of the world have always highly recognized the Ming Dynasty and its achievements in establishing the Ming Dynasty.

Now, such a pure traitor has emerged.

It truly broadened his horizons.

Zhang Gou took a deep breath, smelling the faint scent of blood in the air, and looked at Du Pingping, saying in a deep voice:

"Lord Du, I have been here for a day. I will take the statement back to the Censorate and report to Lord Yuan. I will trouble the Embroidered Uniform Guard to do their best in the subsequent interrogation and find out the truth as soon as possible."

"Um"

Du Pingping didn't turn around, but picked up the salt shaker next to her and sprinkled salt into Ye Qifeng's bleeding fingernails.

Until Zhang Gou's footsteps gradually faded into the distance,

The gentleness on Du Pingping's face vanished completely, replaced by intense violence.

He grabbed Ye Qifeng's hand.

Grip three of his fingers tightly and slowly apply force.

The coarse salt rubbed between my fingers, ravaging the tender flesh beneath my nails.

Ye Qifeng's mouth gaped open, his pupils contracted sharply, and cold sweat poured out like a waterfall.
But not a sound could be uttered.
The pain had robbed him of the strength to scream.

"Who! Who ordered you to do this! Speak!!!"

Du Pingping's voice was ferocious and terrifying.
Her already gaunt face pressed tightly against Ye Qifeng's.

It looks just like a vengeful ghost!

"I...I don't know! I did it! I did it all!!!"

Ye Qifeng roared with all his might, his voice hoarse like a broken gong.

Du Pingping continued to apply pressure with her palm, and the salt grains pierced her skin and embedded themselves into her flesh.

Ye Qifeng shook his head frantically, letting out a roar that made no sense.

At that moment, he felt as if thousands of ants were gnawing at his palm, the pain so intense that he wished he could die immediately.

But Du Pingping wouldn't give him that chance.

He waved his hand, and a clerk brought over a bowl of honey.

Without hesitation, Du Pingping pressed Ye Qifeng's other hand into the honey.
The thick syrup temporarily relieved Ye Qifeng's pain.

But this comfort didn't last long.

Another official brought over a porcelain jar, the mouth of which was wide enough to accommodate a palm.

When the black cloth was lifted, swarms of ants poured out.

It was as if they had found a guiding light.

Du Pingping forcefully shoved Ye Qifeng's honey-soaked hand into the porcelain jar.

Strangely, the ants that had swarmed out seemed to receive some silent command, and all turned back into the pottery jar.

Immediately afterwards, Ye Qifeng's frantic roar rang out again.

The sound was so piercing that the other prisoners in the imperial prison huddled in a corner, too afraid to look up.

Du Pingping took a step back and quietly watched Ye Qifeng struggle in pain.

The resentment of being impeached, the fear of being attacked and killed by the anti-Party,
All of this transformed into a surge of joy, which he poured out into his heart.

"Torture him severely, and remember, don't let him die!!!"

"Yes!"

Seeing the lord's expression, the several Imperial Guards in the room...
Somewhat shaken, they subconsciously became more restrained in their actions.

As dusk approached, the orange-red sunset gradually sank below the horizon.

The fiery clouds in the distance were slowly swallowed by darkness, covered by a layer of inky blue.

The moon quietly appeared, becoming bright, like a jade plate hanging in the sky.

In the courtyard of the Lu residence, Lu Yunyi lay on a bench, quietly gazing at the bright moon in the sky.

The moon is exceptionally round today; it turns out it's the Mid-Autumn Festival.

His thoughts drifted back to Qingzhou, wondering what that border town had become.

Although life there was hardship and the weather was harsh, there were some advantages.
No matter how big the turmoil in the capital, when news of it reaches elsewhere...
They would all become inaudible.

Even local officials were belatedly amazed.

Huh? Someone in the capital is planning a rebellion?

Then go about your business.
At this moment, what Lu Yunyi wanted most was to return to Qingzhou, far away from the troubles of the capital.

This turmoil has already spiraled out of control, growing larger and larger.

From the initial debate over relocating the capital, to the later regional and civil-military conflicts, and now to the divisions over imperial power.

Disagreements are narrowing, while consensus is growing.

Both the civil and military officials seemed to share a common desire to restrain imperial power.

The nobles charged ahead, while civil and military officials rallied from the rear, constantly undermining the court's efforts.
The sole purpose was to limit imperial power.

"What a troubled time"

Just then, a light footstep sounded.

Lu Yunyi turned his head and saw Mu Jinghe, dressed in a white dress, walking gracefully towards him.

The cool moonlight shone on her, adding to her aloofness and distance.

But when their eyes met, the coldness in Mu Jinghe's eyes vanished instantly.
Instead, she was filled with the joy of a young girl.

She quickened her pace, walked to Lu Yunyi's side, and gave a slight curtsy:

"grown ups!"

Mu Jinghe smiled and squatted down, her long dress clinging tightly to her body, outlining the rounded curves beneath her slender waist:

"My lord, why have you returned to your residence so early today?"

Lu Yunyi patted her head and shook his head helplessly.

"I'm under house arrest."

A hint of surprise flashed in Mu Jinghe's bright eyes, followed by an expression of indignation:
"My lord, you have worked tirelessly for the court and fought battles everywhere. How can His Majesty confine you to your quarters?"

"Not His Majesty, but the Crown Prince."

Lu Yunyi avoided this topic and instead asked:
"How's business those days?"

The resentment on Mu Jinghe's face had not yet dissipated when another surge of anger welled up:
"Business should have been good, but recently there have been some rumors circulating, which has made Miaoyinfang's business much worse."

"What gossip?"

Lu Yunyi looked at Mu Jinghe and saw that the anger on her face gradually faded, and her cheeks flushed, making her look more shy.

She tilted her head slightly, revealing her delicate profile, and said in a muffled voice:

"Many wealthy families in the capital are saying that I am your mistress."

By the end, Mu Jinghe's face had turned even redder, and her tone carried a hint of reproach.
But to Lu Yunyi, it sounded like she was being coquettish.

“The big spenders who used to frequent Miaoyinfang have stopped coming here and are saying they don’t want you to make money.”

"Oh?" Lu Yunyi laughed.
"So, it seems I've dragged you into this."
Tomorrow I will send people to clarify the situation and arrest all those who spread rumors!

"what"

Mu Jinghe suddenly looked up, her face pale with shock:

"My lord, please don't. It's good that this is being spread. With your reputation, it can save me a lot of trouble."

"Hahahahaha."

Lu Yunyi burst into laughter.
"Now the court is full of people impeaching me."

If we don't sever ties, and you happen to get involved, that wouldn't be good.

Mu Jinghe, however, remained completely unfazed and even joked with a smile:

"My lord, you have fought for the court in many battles and contributed money and effort to stabilize the capital. His Majesty is a wise ruler and will not abandon you."

"You're quite carefree."

Lu Yunyi wasn't really worried. As long as the Crown Prince was safe and sound, he wouldn't have any major problems.

As for these rebellious factions in the imperial court...

As time goes by, they will all be removed by the palace one by one; it's just a matter of sooner or later.

Mu Jinghe rested her head on the armrest of the bench.
Her slender, jade-like fingers gently stroked Lu Yunyi's arm, her cheeks gradually flushing red, and she spoke thoughtfully:
"My lord, Miss Song recently sent some trinkets and a letter to the Grand Secretary. Is she... fond of you?"

"Song Wan'er?" Lu Yunyi was taken aback for a moment, then smiled:
"Aren't there enough people in the capital who are devoted to me?"

Mu Jinghe thought of the various letters in the study.
He felt his hair stand on end and nodded in complete agreement:

"What you say is true, sir."

While I was in Miaoyinfang, I often heard those noble ladies talk about you, and some of their private conversations were quite daring.

In my humble opinion, eight or nine out of ten noble ladies want to be close to you; they'd love to climb into your bed and bend over, waiting for your favor.

Lu Yunyi became increasingly bolder as she spoke.

He turned his head and glanced at her in surprise.

Mu Jinghe's cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were alluring, clearly implying something.

He was about to get up when he heard hurried footsteps coming from outside the courtyard.

The two looked over at the same time and saw the steward of the mansion rushing over.

The steward sensed the atmosphere and gradually slowed his pace.

A hint of embarrassment appeared on his face, but he still spoke urgently:
"Master, someone from the General's Mansion has arrived. They say the General will be in the capital tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)