Chapter 51: I Agreed

Ling Xiao had no sleep. He practiced swordsmanship until midnight, the anger in his chest still not dissipating. At the hour of the tiger, he went directly to the Imperial Prison and interrogated the prisoners throughout the night.

His sleeves billowed as he strode into the prison, his feet stained with blood. The dim prison was even more eerie at night, but his imposing presence added to the chilling atmosphere. The sword followed him at a distance, and even Jian felt a chill down his spine. The Imperial Guards guarding the prison all held their breath and dared not even breathe.

“Bring Mo Shikang.” His voice was like ice.

“Yes!”

Ling Xiao directly ordered the guards to bring Mo Shikang. After a while, Mo Shikang was brought in. Two guards tied him to the cross opposite the interrogation table.

Mo Shikang was terrified by this scene and hurriedly shouted: “This, this is too much! Your Lordship, Your Lordship, I’ll confess everything. This matter is really… I entrusted it to my son to handle…”

He looked at Ling Xiao’s sinister eyes, his face instantly turned pale, he couldn’t even utter a word of plea, his whole body trembled.

Ling Xiao leaned on the table, his knuckles tapping lightly, his voice indifferent: “You entered the Imperial Prison and didn’t tell the truth.”

He raised his eyes, a sinister smile curling his lips: “Only if you do.”

Mo Shikang’s body turned to ice, he could barely breathe, and he was stiffly tied to the cross by the guards.

He trembled: “I, I have already confessed everything. Everything is… it’s all Mo Zichen, please interrogate him…”

Ling Xiao’s face became even more gloomy when he heard the name Mo Zichen. The Imperial Prison was full, it would be a problem to interrogate even a hundred people at the same time.

Mo Shikang hurriedly pleaded: “Lord Ling, Your Lordship, Your Lordship, please spare me! I really… I’m willing to pay a thousand taels of gold, ten thousand taels! Please, Your Lordship…”

Ling Xiao had no patience left. He swept his sword, and the sword directly… He took a dagger and stabbed it directly into Mo Shikang’s shoulder blade.

“Ah!”

Mo Shikang screamed in agony, his face contorted in pain. Crimson blood spread from his shoulder.

That night, the lights in the Imperial Prison were lit, and the screams of agony echoed through the night. All those involved in the rebellion case were spared no mercy.

“Your Lordship, this is the confession obtained from the interrogation. As you instructed, Mo Shikang was interrogated first, and he was tortured. Later, he changed his statement and said that Mo Zichen was involved. He handled all the matters related to Chen, but he only helped Chen transport goods and delivered some gifts. He had nothing to do with the King of Yong.”

Jian held the confession and handed it to Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao’s expression remained indifferent.

“The other several managers of Mo’s were interrogated, and they also confessed. One of them, Liu, said that Mo and Chen were good friends and that he often helped Chen buy things, but it was just normal social interaction…”

Jian paused, then continued: “As for Mo Zichen, we couldn’t get anything out of him. He was even more tight-lipped than Liu. It seems that Mo Zichen didn’t have any contact with the core interests.”

Mo Shikang’s son, naturally, could see through everything.

Ling Xiao strode towards the back, when he passed a cell, his footsteps paused. Mo Zichen was thrown inside, leaning against the wall, his head hung low, his hair was disheveled, his body was covered in blood and dirt. The once elegant young master now looked like a beggar.

Ling Xiao’s sinister eyes stared at him, his sleeves tightened. This useless waste, was he really worth all this? What a waste of a good name.

Mo Zichen’s consciousness was blurry, he sensed the sharp gaze and raised his head. His face was pale, his lips were covered in blood.

Ling Xiao’s eyes stared at him sinisterly, and he raised his foot.

Mo Zichen remained motionless, there was no longer any fluctuation in his heart. When the Imperial Guards came to take him away, he knew what would happen.

Mo Zichen had used all his strength, striving for everything, fighting with his brothers, but in the end, he became his father’s stepping stone.

He twitched his lips, and more fresh blood flowed out. This, was what he deserved.

Ling Xiao walked out of the Imperial Prison gate, Jian followed him, carefully asking: “Your Lordship, have you finished interrogating for the night? Will you return to the mansion to rest?”

Ling Xiao’s footsteps paused, and Jiang Yao’s face flashed in his mind. He had been interrogating all night, but the anger in his chest hadn’t dissipated at all!

He said with a gloomy face: “No, I’m going to the Ministry of Punishment.”

Jian shuddered. “Yes.”

–

Jiang Yao had a restless night. She had been on edge for so long, constantly fearing that a knife would fall on her. Now that Ling Xiao had finally torn off his mask, she was relieved.

When she woke up, it was already dawn. As usual, she washed up and went to greet Mrs. Lin.

Ling Xiao hadn’t returned to the mansion today, and she didn’t ask about it. She was now used to it.

“I heard that the Lord left in a hurry last night and hasn’t returned yet. He must be busy with court affairs, but he should also take care of himself. Sigh.” Mrs. Lin sighed.

Jiang Yao didn’t say anything, she just accompanied Mrs. Lin for breakfast, chatted for a while, and then returned to her own courtyard.

The unrest in her heart had subsided. It should be like this, it should be like this.

She didn’t care if Ling Xiao came back or not, she continued her daily routine as usual, as if nothing had happened last night. She was busy for half a day, until she wiped her face, had dinner, and bathed.

Ling Xiao still didn’t return to the mansion, he went directly to the Imperial Prison.

In the back room of the Imperial Prison, he had been busy investigating the rebellion case, and when he was busy, he would go directly to the back room.

But now, this case wasn’t urgent.

He had been busy for two days, and now he was lying down, but he still couldn’t relax. There was a knot of tension in his heart, with nowhere to vent.

He was furious at Mo Zichen’s pathetic attempt to climb up. His chest felt like it was going to explode.

He forced himself to calm down, closed his eyes, but suddenly Jiang Yao’s image of taking off her skirt last night appeared in his mind.

He thought of her slender figure, so beautiful, as she removed her wide robe, revealing a simple halter-neck dress underneath. The candlelight illuminated her, outlining her graceful curves.

He suddenly opened his eyes, his chest heaving violently, the knot of tension in his heart suddenly burned, he wanted to… he wanted more.

He hadn’t returned to the mansion, only Mrs. Lin had sent someone to ask, but there was no response.

Last night, her eyes were filled with concern, as she untied his belt.

His throat was dry, he swallowed, trying to dispel the image in his mind.

He was extremely angry, but he couldn’t bear not to have her.

He suddenly jumped up and turned over.

“Your Lordship…” Jian heard the commotion and hurried over.

“Follow me.” His voice was gloomy.

Jian shuddered and immediately stood at attention, he was really scared.

Ling Xiao strode out of the Imperial Prison, mounted his horse, and rode back to the mansion.

When he arrived at the Marquis’ Mansion, the guards at the gate were already about to doze off. They hurriedly opened the gate when they heard the sound of hooves. “Your Lordship is back.”

Ling Xiao casually threw the reins, strode into the Marquis’ Mansion, the night was already deep, and the Marquis’ Mansion was also enveloped in the silence of the night. The lanterns along the corridor still emitted a faint glow.

His steps were swift, and the lanterns hanging along the way swayed slightly as he passed, the candles flickered.

He walked through the long corridor, passed the hanging door, entered the inner courtyard, and arrived at the pavilion. He didn’t stop, but directly jumped in.

The maids were all asleep. One maid was on night duty and had already started to doze off.

The sound of his heavy footsteps woke her up. She quickly got up and bowed. “Your Lordship, Your Lordship…”

He directly used a dagger to knock her unconscious.

Then he pushed open the door and entered.

Jiang Yao was also asleep, but she was a light sleeper. She suddenly heard someone calling “Your Lordship,” and she woke up in a daze. At that moment, she heard the door being pushed open.

“A’er…” Jiang Yao called out.

He didn’t answer, only the sound of his heavy footsteps, step by step.

This was the sound of a man’s footsteps.

Jiang Yao propped herself up and called out again: “A’er.”

The beaded curtain was lifted, and a tall figure entered. Only two candles were left in the room, the dim light flickered, illuminating his handsome face.

Jiang Yao’s pupils constricted, and her breath hitched.

She had already gone to bed, her soft hair was scattered over her shoulders, some strands even fell to her chest. She was wearing her nightgown, and she had just gotten up, so her collar was slightly open, revealing her delicate skin, her slender neck, and a faint glimpse of the thin blue straps of her shoulder straps.

His dark eyes stared at her, not hiding the darkness in his eyes, his voice was slightly hoarse: “You made a condition yesterday, and I agreed.”