Jia Huan was interrogating the person captured by the Xuan Guards, but the man was tight-lipped. Despite Jia Huan using almost every method, he couldn't get a single word out of him.
Jia Huan couldn't help but feel annoyed.
Ever since he took charge of the Prince's Manor's dungeon, he hadn't encountered anyone as stubborn as this man.
Xuan Wu leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his body hidden in the dark corner. Apart from his sharp, indifferent eyes, Jia Huan could barely see his face.
If it were Xuan Yi or Thirteen, they would surely tease him a few words. But even if they did, Jia Huan would rather not be with this fifth brother. It wasn't for any other reason than not wanting to freeze to death in the company of this human ice cellar.
Jia Huan rummaged through the pile of torture instruments, pulling out a small pair of pliers that fit in his palm. He crouched down, clamped the man's fingernail with the pliers, and said with a fierce tone, "Speak, who sent you here?"
As he questioned him sternly, he gave a hard yank, completely tearing off the man's fingernail. With the intense pain coursing through his nerves, the man let out a scream like a cuckoo weeping blood.
The scream was piercing, echoing through the empty space.
Ji Jinmo didn't stop his steps, only glancing at Nan Shiying from the corner of his eye. Seeing that her complexion was normal and her expression unchanged, he withdrew his gaze.
There was silence all the way, broken only by the sharp screams that continued unabated.
The man's pupils were almost dilated; he was on the verge of giving up. Jia Huan threw the pliers to the ground with a thud and spat in the man's face.
He couldn't continue! If he pressed on, the man would die before he could get any information!
Footsteps echoed from the corridor of the dungeon. Xuan Wu's ears twitched, and the next moment he vanished from his spot. He reappeared standing outside the cell door behind Jia Huan.
"Master!"
Xuan Wu lowered his head respectfully. His eyes, as cold and deep as a tranquil pool, flickered with a hint of surprise and confusion upon seeing Nan Shiying, but this surprise and confusion quickly dissipated.
Thirteen glanced at Xuan Wu and instinctively shivered. He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he always felt that wherever Xuan Wu was, the air seemed to be a few degrees colder than elsewhere.
Ji Jinmo let out a soft hum. His clear, sharp phoenix eyes shifted from Xuan Wu to Jia Huan. Jia Huan felt a chill down his spine and hastily apologized, "Please, Master, grant your subordinate another day. Within a day, I will surely pry open his mouth."
The stench of blood was almost palpable, and the air here was a few degrees more humid than outside, clinging to the skin with a nauseating stickiness. Nan Shiying couldn't help but frown.
Although it was dim here, everyone present had cultivated martial arts, giving them exceptionally good eyesight. They all noticed the expression on Nan Shiying's face.
Jia Huan was slightly taken aback. Thinking of the Princess Consort's position in the Master's heart, he panicked and quickly apologized, "Your subordinate is at fault. I shouldn't have made it so bloody and offended your eyes, Noble Lady. I beg your pardon."
Jia Huan's swift reaction was so impressive that Thirteen marveled.
In this manor, besides himself and Xuan Yi, Jia Huan was likely the third person to know the Princess Consort's standing in the Master's heart.
But this was a bit too exaggerated!
Nan Shiying glanced at Jia Huan, finding him truly an interesting person. Setting aside his thoughtful consideration, and recalling his past efforts in running errands and procuring goods throughout the capital for her, Nan Shiying was willing to put in a good word for him with Ji Jinmo.
She smiled and said, "Guard Jia is too serious. Dungeons are places for interrogating prisoners. If one doesn't use some severe methods, how can one get these people to talk?"
"However, this one seems to be a tough nut to crack. As I walked here, I heard this person cry out more than ten times. Such cruel torture couldn't make him speak, so it seems he has received professional training... But from what Guard Jia said, you are not planning to continue the interrogation today?"
Whether it was because Jia Huan apologized promptly or because Nan Shiying interrupted the questioning, Ji Jinmo did not seem angry.
It was clear he had no intention of punishing Jia Huan.
Jia Huan let out a sigh of relief, and even his response to Nan Shiying's question became more enthusiastic. "Replying to Noble Lady, this one is indeed a tough nut. I'm afraid we cannot continue the interrogation today. If we proceed further, it might cost him his life."
Nan Shiying tilted her head and looked inside through the gaps between the wooden cell bars. The blood-stained torture instruments were piled on the ground. The man, surrounded by the instruments, looked like a damaged, incomplete doll, breathing in more than he was breathing out.
"Guard Jia, have you heard of 'aoying'?"
She turned her head and suddenly asked.
Jia Huan was slightly taken aback, then replied, "I have heard of it. It is a method used by falconers to tame their hunting falcons."
Nan Shiying hummed. She then turned her gaze back to Ji Jinmo, her eyes shimmering with a crystalline light, like fireflies fallen into a frame at night. "Master, do you need my help?"
Xuan Wu, who had kept his head bowed the entire time, slightly lifted his head at this moment and quickly glanced at Nan Shiying.
Then, he lowered his eyelids again.
Ji Jinmo's lips curved upwards as if in a smile, though it was hard to tell if he was genuinely smiling or if it was just the natural curve of his lips. However, his voice was tinged with amusement. If one couldn't see his eyes, just listening would make it impossible to believe such a voice came from the lips of the "King of Hell" that was Ji Jinmo.
"Good, then I shall trouble my Princess Consort."
Nan Shiying grinned at Ji Jinmo.
She drew a roll from her waist and unfurled it, revealing silver needles of various sizes.
Holding the needles, she stepped onto the blood-stained floor and entered the cell. With a few swift movements, she inserted countless silver needles into the man's body. Her speed was so great that even Xuan Wu couldn't follow her needlework.
The man's complexion visibly recovered at a rapid pace. However, while needling alone could achieve this much, maintaining him for further interrogation would require medicine to keep him alive. She pondered for a moment, then turned to instruct Xuan Thirteen, "Thirteen, go fetch some ginseng and hemostatic medicine."
Xuan Thirteen glanced at his Master, resignedly agreed, "Yes."
He turned and left.
Only now did Xuan Wu truly focus his gaze on Nan Shiying. Unlike Xuan Yi and Thirteen, who had followed the Master closely, he knew very little about this Princess Consort who had married into the manor through a substitution. Meeting her today, he felt that this Princess Consort was not like the young ladies from noble official families, but rather more like them, the secret guards.
As if she had seen her fair share of blood.
Watching Nan Shiying's movements, Jia Huan finally understood why the Princess Consort had asked him if he knew about "aoying."
So the Princess Consort intended to keep him alive while torturing him!
This was truly a state of wishing for death but being unable to die!
Even Jia Huan, accustomed to such matters, couldn't help but shudder.
Indeed, a woman who could capture the Prince's attention could never be an ordinary official's daughter. Judging by the Princess Consort's methods, she must have been involved in torturing people quite a bit herself!