Proud Feather

Chapter 135 Confessed
“Princess…” Ge Dahai had completely given up on the idea of ​​suicide, because he realized that doing so would be of no use at all.

With the princess involved and the Imperial City Guard on board, who is behind this investigation? Even if he commits suicide, a city-wide search will find his whereabouts, allowing them to follow the clues and uncover the person behind it all!

This made him feel both frustrated and secretly relieved.

Even ants cling to life, and he ultimately couldn't bear to take his own life. Even if he suffered torture, living was better than dying.

Chu Ling discovered it. During her years in Shangyuan, she had fought against the Western Wei from time to time, and later against the Northern Hu. She knew what it was like for people to face death.

Since Ge Dahai is unwilling to die, we can get information out of him!

She sat there calmly, looking down at Ge Dahai, and said, "You don't think I don't know who's behind you, do you?"

Ge Dahai's expression shifted, filled with surprise and uncertainty.

Chu Ling curled her lips into a mocking smile: "Last time, your master's scheme worked well, managing to close the case by sacrificing Minister Lin's life. Oh, by the way, did you know Minister Lin is already dead?"

Ge Dahai nodded with difficulty.

How could the Prince Xin's mansion not have paid attention to Minister Lin's whereabouts? They had already made arrangements for Minister Lin's journey to exile, but who knew that he would be robbed and killed by bandits as soon as he left the capital.

What robbery and murder? How could someone be robbed and murdered so soon after arriving in the outskirts of Beijing? Especially since the aftermath was handled so cleanly, anyone in the know would know there was something fishy going on. But they dared not ask. The matter had finally been resolved, so how could they dare to utter a sound?
Ge Dahai had initially guessed that it was the Marquis of Jingping's mansion that was behind it, but after Chu Ling said that, he realized that he might have been wrong.

He really didn't know.

Chu Ling's smile grew even more confident as she continued, "Do you know who did it?"

Ge Dahai shook his head, his eyes filled with fear. He didn't want to hear it; his intuition told him he couldn't hear it, that it would be fatal.

Chu Ling, however, did not go as he wished, and said with a smile, "To tell you the truth, I was there when Minister Lin died. The matter was handled by the Imperial City Guard."

Ge Dahai closed his eyes, feeling pain all over his body and even more fear in his heart.

"Princess..." he pleaded softly, "I didn't know, I was just following orders..."

Chu Ling interrupted him: "Do you think the higher-ups are willing to close the case because they've given up?" Her smile vanished abruptly, her voice turning low and chilling, "It's nothing more than a stopgap measure by you to hijack public opinion!"

Ge Dahai shuddered, unable to control himself any longer, and began to tremble.

"Princess! Spare me! Spare me! I'm just a servant, I do whatever my master says, I've never had a choice..."

What does it mean to hijack public opinion? It means to go against the emperor's will! That's why the emperor wanted to kill Minister Lin to vent his anger. Now that things have calmed down, it's time to settle scores later.

Chu Ling watched with a smile. Ge Dahai was being tortured, covered in blood and grime, and crying with snot and tears streaming down his face. Instead of feeling any sympathy, she even seemed to appreciate his masterpiece.

This sent a chill down Ge Dahai's spine. He didn't know the princess; he had only seen her from afar the day Wenxianju was raided. His impression of the princess came from various descriptions: some said she was naive and ignorant, others said she was arrogant and domineering. The only good thing about her was that she deeply admired her father and brothers.

But now he understood deeply. That bright, innocent girl could utter such cruel words. It was as if, in the eyes of those in power, their lives were so easily arranged and toyed with.

—If the princess can watch him being tortured like this, why can't the emperor kill Minister Lin to vent his anger?
How could such an emperor allow his will to be disobeyed? The calm during this period was merely the build-up before the storm.

"The princess has already given you a chance, and you're still not satisfied?" Jiang Shijun continued, "Even if you don't speak, whoever Heaven wants to die, will die. It's the princess's kindness that needs proof, understand?"

Ge Dahai understood. Just like Minister Lin, he had already committed many crimes, but if the emperor was displeased, he would die. "Alright, let's stop here." Chu Ling raised her hand, pulled out the dagger from Qing Cha's waist, and threw it in front of him with a "clang." "I'm giving you a chance now. Didn't you want to commit suicide? Take this and cut your own throat, then you won't have to betray your master."

The young man hesitated for a moment, then signaled his men to let go, and Ge Dahai was thus freed.

He stared at the dagger, its gleaming blade sharp and menacing. He knew that a single, gentle cut would sever his throat. No more torture, no more fear of retribution for his betrayal.

He reached out, his hand trembling, and touched the dagger.

Chu Ling simply watched indifferently, his gaze unwavering, as if his life were insignificant.

Ge Dahai was torn between two conflicting thoughts. One voice said that the princess must be very valuable to her for going to such lengths to capture him. The other voice said that for the princess, this was simply a better option, and it wouldn't be a bad thing if she didn't have him.

Unbeknownst to him, cold sweat rolled down his forehead and dripped onto his tortured arm, making the pain even more unbearable.

Of course, he could choose to slit his own throat, thus avoiding the choice...

Cut...die...

Ge Dahai's mind was in a daze, and he couldn't hold the dagger. Finally, with a "clang," the dagger fell to the ground.

Tears streaming down his face, he cried out, "Princess, spare me! I'll talk! I'll talk!"

Chu Ling loosened her grip on the cup lid and secretly exhaled.

After the case was closed, all the leads she had were cut off, and the witnesses and physical evidence were also erased by her father. Ge Dahai was the lead she had painstakingly pieced together; if he were dead, there would be no hope of overturning the case.

Fortunately, she made the right bet. Ge Dahai was afraid of death, and once his psychological defenses were down, he had everything.

Jiang Shijun breathed a sigh of relief and beckoned the clerk over: "Speak!"

Ge Dahai wiped the sweat from his forehead and said through gritted teeth, “I am indeed a bodyguard. Eight years ago, I was sent by my master to the capital to stay with relatives. I am currently working at a bookstore.”

Jiang Shijun smirked. He had indeed lied earlier; what he called a pen and ink shop was actually a bookstore.

Who is your master?

Ge Dahai hesitated, but the young man suddenly kicked him in the back, making him break out in a cold sweat from the pain: "The magistrate is asking you a question, so hurry up and speak!"

“Yes…” he replied in a trembling voice, “My master’s surname is Wei…”

Chu Ling's gaze sharpened: "The Wei family of Yingyang?"

"Yes." Having already said it, Ge Dahai had nothing more to hide. "My family head's surname is Wei, and his given name is Yuanzhi."

Jiang Shijun continued, "There was a young lady who married into the Jingping Marquis's household; she was the wife of Fifth Master Pang, right?"

Ge Dahai's eyes widened in shock: "Yes..."

It turns out the princess already knew about Lady Wei, which means His Majesty had been eyeing her for a long time! So what was there for him to hesitate about? He should just tell her quickly; maybe he could save his life!
　I was a bit excited today, which made it hard to get into the flow of the writing. I finally finished it after procrastinating for a while, and I'll try to finish it a little earlier than usual.

　　(End of this chapter)