Green Mountain
Chapter 375 - 307. Pipa Hall 2

Chapter 375: 307. Pipa Hall 2

He pleaded bitterly with Li Xuan: "My lord, I was blinded by greed before and shouldn’t have sided with Chen Wenren against you. Please say a word for me."

This time, both Li Xuan and Chen Ji remained silent.

In no time, intense wailing echoed from the darkness: "My father is the Assistant Governor of Jinling, you all..."

"Ah! I’ll talk, I’ll talk!"

After ten minutes, two prison guards dragged him back to the cell, and all the Yulin Army stood anxiously in front of the iron bars. The interrogated Yulin Army’s hands were a bloody mess, and all ten fingernails were missing.

Hai Dongqing, under Xuan Snake’s command, looked around and pointed at another Yulin Army to be taken away. This time, when dragged back, the Yulin Army had two branding scars on his chest, with flesh rolling outwards.

The Yulin Army was in despair.

From 5 p.m. to 9 to 11 p.m., only four hours had passed, and the Imperial Prison was filled with cries.

But despite the interrogations, the case made no progress, and Hai Dongqing was gradually losing his patience.

He pointed to a Yulin Army under Li Xuan’s command, sneering: "I’ve read the Guyuan file, I know you brothers are deeply bonded. But now it involves the barbarian’s envoys, and Lord Xuan Snake has given a death order, the case must be solved within 24 hours, so I have no choice. If you know anything, speak up now while there’s still time; if not, then I can only interrogate each one of you. Rest assured, Lord Li, Lord Qi, I’ll make sure to interrogate the two of you last."

Li Xuan frowned deeply, and Qi Zhenzhuo was at a loss.

Just as the spy was about to drag the Yulin Army away, Chen Ji, leaning against the wall, suddenly said: "No need to interrogate him, interrogate me instead, I’ll take his place."

The Yulin Army officers were taken aback, none expected Chen Ji to say such a thing.

Qi Zhenzhuo panicked: "Master, no!"

Chen Ji stood up: "It’s fine."

The dragged Yulin Army was anxious: "Mr. Chen..."

Chen Ji smiled: "It’s alright."

Li Xuan spoke up: "Replace me, I’ll go!"

Hai Dongqing laughed heartily: "Are there really tough bones in the Yulin Army? Lord Li, your trip to Guyuan wasn’t in vain."

As he spoke, he pointed at Chen Ji: "Drag him to the Pipa Hall, I want to interrogate thoroughly. There’s an old saying in this Imperial Prison, under the Execution Stick, there are no truly brave men, how many self-proclaimed tough men can’t endure a single day here."

Chen Ji brushed the dust off his clothes and walked out: "No need to drag, I can walk myself."

However, at this moment, from the entrance of the passage, Jiao Tu’s voice came: "I’ll interrogate him personally."

Hai Dongqing’s face changed, turning to Jiao Tu: "You... you’re just a small Sparrow Rank spy, I’m Hai Dongqing under Lord Xuan Snake’s command, it’s not your place to tell me what to do."

Jiao Tu smiled and casually slapped him, spinning him around in place: "Let me teach you a lesson, if your strength isn’t enough, speak softly. Say another useless word, and I’ll kill you right now, and then go to Lord Prime Minister to plead guilty myself... Also, I just made some achievements in Guyuan, I’m already a Pigeon-level Spy, how dare you demote me a rank? Do you know how hard I’ve worked to accumulate merits?"

Hai Dongqing covered half his face, not daring to speak. Everyone in the Ritual Supervision knew Jiao Tu and Yun Yang were demoted by Bai Long; however, considering their strength and past role as the Prime Minister’s most trusted assassins, no one could be sure the Prime Minister truly considered them expendable.

Favor is power, and this applies just the same in Ritual Supervision.

Jiao Tu, looking impatient, waved her hand: "Leave the keys and get lost."

Hai Dongqing sneered, threw the keys on the ground, and turned to leave.

Jiao Tu pulled Chen Ji by the arm, leading him deeper into the Imperial Prison. As they passed Qi Zhenzhuo’s cell, he quivered and said: "What are you doing, let my master go, I’m the third-generation direct descendant of the Qi family, I... whatever you want, I can find a way."

Jiao Tu gave him a sidelong glance: "Always bragging about your family, aren’t you grown up yet?"

Li Xuan stood by the iron bars: "He’s never even touched the Korea envoy’s sedan!"

Jiao Tu ignored him, her face cold, pulling Chen Ji through the long, dark passage.

Only when they were far from the Yulin Army’s cell did she change to a smiling face: "Miss Jiao Tu was just a bit late in saving you, Mr. Chen, please forgive the delay."

Chen Ji glanced at her: "Taking credit by dawdling too?"

"Got delayed by something," Jiao Tu switched the conversation with deep significance: "Mr. Chen is quite a man of his word, really willing to give up credit?"

Chen Ji calmly said: "The Spy Department is full of wolves and tigers, one more ally is better than one more enemy, don’t you think so, Lord Jiao Tu?"

Jiao Tu’s smile broadened: "Of course, of course... It’s best that Mr. Chen thinks that way. You’ve met those two monsters, Xuan Snake and Treasure Monkey, today. Compared to them, cooperating with us old friends is surely more pleasant."

She turned to Chen Ji: "Does Mr. Chen prefer snakes or monkeys? Whichever position you like, we kill the person holding it. Rest assured, if there’s a chance for them to be alone, leave it to me."

Chen Ji remained impassive: "Lord Jiao Tu, I suppose you’ve already got one foot into the Seeking Dao Realm, no wonder the Lord Prime Minister values you."

Jiao Tu smiled without answering and changed the topic: "Tell me, Mr. Chen, what reward do you want this time? I can do many things for you, dear."

Chen Ji stopped in the passage of the inner prison: "Lord Jiao Tu, without Yun Yang here, there’s no need to put on a show."

Jiao Tu slowly withdrew her smile: "Mentioning that fool for what? It’s boring. Come on, you’re someone who doesn’t get up early without profit, what do you want in exchange for this credit?"

Chen Ji pondered for a long while: "There’s nothing to exchange, this is something I promised you long ago. However, there’s another enormous credit that requires your and Yun Yang’s help... Can Lord Jiao Tu move within the palace?"