Prime Minister

Chapter 238, Section 237: [The Wind Rises]

"Back to my initial question, why are you so determined to kill me?"

Xue Huai was well aware that Liu Ying was on the verge of a breakdown, so he didn't stop there, because that was exactly the effect he wanted to achieve.

Under Liu Ying's gloomy gaze, he continued, "There may be other reasons behind this, but at least one thing is certain: you are good at general affairs but not good at weaving such a trap, or rather... you are no match for me in this regard. The ancestor sent you to do this simply to reap the benefits, to use you to deal with me, and at the same time to use me to eliminate your power."

Liu Ying took a deep breath, barely managing to control her emotions, and said coldly, "If the Ancestor wanted to deal with me, there would be no need for such trouble."

Xue Huai wasn't surprised that she was still making excuses. This kind of inertia, formed over two or three decades, was hard to get rid of in a short time, so he just smiled faintly.

"Liu Ying, you're being far too naive."

Xue Huai softened his tone and explained in a simple and profound way: "You are a great contributor to the Holy Sect. If the Ancestor rashly takes action against you, what will others think? Who will be willing to risk their lives for the Ancestor in the future? Based on this, the other party can only use someone else to kill you. This is a very common way to eliminate dissidents. Don't you understand? If I'm not mistaken, there must be someone within your ranks who covets the position of Holy Maiden, and this person is highly valued by the Ancestor, isn't that right?"

Liu Ying's pupils contracted slightly, and her hands clenched into fists.

Although she didn't answer, her reaction was enough for Xue Huai to make a further judgment, so he asked casually, "What's that person's name?"

"Hu Jiaoniang—"

Liu Ying's voice stopped abruptly.

From the moment Xue Huai stepped into this heavily guarded cell, her emotions were constantly being led by him, subjected to intense stimulation, and her psychological defenses had long since crumbled. Especially after Xue Huai analyzed the patriarch's motives, she had fallen into extreme self-doubt.

This doubt relates to the meaning of her life over the past twenty years.

It was as if two little people were fighting in her mind. One said that the patriarch and the higher-ups in the sect would never scheme against her like this, while the other said that Xue Huai's analysis was reasonable and well-founded, and that the root cause of her current predicament was the cold arrow that came from behind.

In such a state of intense entanglement and pain, it's not surprising that one's defenses crumbled, which is why Liu Ying blurted out the name Hu Jiaoniang.

Xue Huai knew that he couldn't rush things at this point, so he didn't immediately press Hu Jiaoniang for information. Instead, he said in a very calm tone, "Now, you have fewer and fewer bargaining chips. Jimintang is now just an empty shell. Without the support of the government, it will close down within six months at most. Your trusted subordinates are either dead or captured. Now, there should only be a few people still floating around. As for Xu Zhiwei, whom you have spent more than ten years cultivating, she and you are like strangers."

These words clearly and accurately depict Liu Ying's current situation.

"As I just said, if I hand you over to the Jing'an Division, you will suffer a fate worse than death."

Xue Huai knew the time was right and said in a consultative tone, "However, perhaps we can talk about another possibility."

Liu Ying's eyes were complex, containing suspicion, fear, and a very subtle hesitation.

Betrayal of the Holy Church?

She was not as simple-minded as Xu Zhiwei. As the Holy Maiden, she was well aware of how ruthless the Ancestor's methods were.

Most importantly, Xu Zhiwei was all alone and had no ties, while Liu Ying still had many relatives alive.

But if we keep the secret to ourselves...

Xue Huai's words kept echoing in her mind. It turned out that the old ancestor's support for her was just a veiled attack, meant to lower her guard. After confirming that she was unwilling to give up Jimintang, the old ancestor and several high-ranking members of the sect began to plot an assassination against her.

No wonder the ancestor so abruptly ordered her to find a way to kill Xue Huai.

Now she has finally realized the truth, but it's too late.

Various resentments intertwined in her heart, gradually gathering into a raging fire.

“I know you’re having trouble making a decision right now, so I’ll tell you first what promises I can make to you if you’re willing to cooperate.”

Xue Huai held up one finger and said clearly and forcefully, "First, Jimintang will continue to exist. Although it can no longer treat the poor without regard to cost as before, I will maintain its fundamental nature as a people-benefiting pharmacy. All the managers and doctors in Jimintang who are innocent can stay. Your name will naturally be erased, but the Jimintang brand and the original intention of helping the people will continue. The cause you have devoted half your life to will not be completely destroyed because of the evil cult and the rebels."

Liu Ying nervously clenched her fingers; she admitted that Xue Huai's promise was very attractive.

If Jimintang still exists a thousand years from now, even if it has no apparent connection to her, it will at least be a place she created and will be remembered in history.

This gave her some comfort.

Xue Huai continued, "Secondly, regarding your fate. If the information you provide is crucial enough to help me eradicate the source of this treacherous cult, especially by capturing the patriarch himself, I can guarantee that you will be able to atone for your crimes and regain your freedom."

Liu Ying listened attentively, and the hostility on her face gradually subsided.

“Even if you can’t help me capture the Ancestor, as long as you reveal the secrets you know, I can spare you from the death penalty and the inhuman torture of deliberate humiliation. You will be secretly imprisoned until the end of your life.” Xue Huai paused, then said solemnly, “This will allow you to retain your last bit of dignity and give you the opportunity to think carefully for the rest of your life about what you have lived for and what you have failed.”

To live with dignity, rather than to die like a dog in torture.

This promise carried just as much weight for the once high and mighty saint.

The final phrase, "What have I failed?", once again stung Liu Ying's nerves, because she understood Xue Huai's unspoken meaning.

She had always been under the control of the old master all these years. The happiest period of her life was actually the difficult time when she first established Jimintang. At that time, she felt that everything she did had real meaning, rather than being a puppet to be manipulated.

Thinking of this, Liu Ying sighed softly.

"Third, and this is the most important one for you."

Xue Huai's tone was low, yet still full of strength: "You understand without me saying it, that ancestor and the demonic cult's initial intentions were definitely not to save the world and bring peace to the people. They, including you in the past, only wanted to plunge the world into chaos and then take advantage of the situation. In the end, what you sought was your own wealth and glory. Now they've set a trap for you to die. Don't you want to see their fate even worse than yours? Don't you want them to be imprisoned in this dark and filthy cell? Don't you want them to taste that feeling of being worse than dead?"

After a brief silence, a sharp glint appeared in Liu Ying's eyes, and she said, word by word, "Of course I want to."

Xue Huai breathed a sigh of relief.

These past two days he had been thinking about how to break down Liu Ying's psychological defenses. At first, he had considered using torture directly. The Jing'an Division had experienced people in this area, and Xue Huai had also heard of some strange and unusual methods in his previous life, such as blindfolding and dripping water. However, after careful consideration, he decided to start with a softer approach.

For someone like Liu Ying, who has fallen from a great height into an abyss, being cut by a soft knife might be even more painful.

Time passed slowly, and the cell was eerily silent.

Jiang Sheng and Qi Qingshi, standing on either side, were equally nervous.

They witnessed the entire process from beginning to end, and their admiration for Xue Huai was beyond words. If it were them, they would probably have resorted to torture. How could he have been so methodical, breaking down the bandit leader's will step by step?

Liu Ying's expression changed constantly, from struggle, resentment, and hatred to a kind of numb resolve.

She slowly raised her head, her chapped lips parted, and she asked hoarsely, "What do you want to know?"

Xue Huai remained calm and said steadily, "Let's start with what you're most familiar with: Who exactly is the Ancestor? What is his true identity? What kind of force is the so-called Holy Sect?"

Liu Ying took a deep breath, a simple action that seemed to have used up all her strength.

The stench of blood and mildew from the cell filled her nostrils, mingling with complex feelings about the vague "promise" to the future.

She closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them again, there was only coldness in them. She said softly, "The last time I saw the Ancestor was two years ago. At that time, some people in the sect wanted me to hand over the Jimin Hall. After I directly opposed it, the Ancestor chose to stand on my side. Every time he appeared, he wore a jade mask. Even though I am the Holy Maiden, I have never seen his true face, let alone know his public identity. I can only roughly judge that he is around fifty years old."

Xue Huai's eyes narrowed, signaling Liu Ying to continue.

"The Hu Jiaoniang I just mentioned is the patriarch's confidante and is now the inner protector of the sect. She has always coveted my position as the Holy Maiden and the Jimin Hall, and has been openly and secretly fighting with me for the past few years."

Liu Ying suddenly stopped, seemingly lost in memories, and after a moment continued, "Our sect is called Xuan Yuan. As far as I know, it has a history of at least several decades. Twenty years ago, it was developing among the common people in the north and also infiltrated the government. However, because of the major case involving the Ministry of War in the second year of Taihe, the Xuan Yuan sect's foundation in the north was greatly threatened, and it had to move to the south..."

Taihe 2nd year?

Xue Huai certainly wouldn't forget that case.

The atmosphere in the cell grew increasingly solemn, with only Liu Ying's cold, desolate voice echoing through the air.

After half an hour, Xue Huai stood up, looked at Liu Ying who looked exhausted, and slowly said, "I will have someone treat your injuries and provide you with clean food and water. I will come back to question you in a couple of days. Liu Ying, I hope you remember one thing: if you dare to play tricks or conceal key information, everything I just promised will be null and void."

Liu Ying closed her eyes wearily and nodded slightly, saying, "I understand."

Xue Huai stopped looking at her and turned to Jiang Sheng and Qi Qingshi, saying, "From now on, you and Yue Zhenshan will take turns guarding this place and not allow anyone to approach her."

"Yes, my lord!"

The two responded enthusiastically in unison.

A moment later, Xue Huai arrived outside the prison. He looked up at the clear spring sky, felt the gentle spring breeze, and couldn't help but murmur to himself.

"What a fine canal transport office..."

(End of this chapter)