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墨書 Inktalez
Upon hearing the warning from Above, the plan to implement the Third Step Measure was completely scrapped. The Constables exchanged glances and began to exert all their strength to inflict punishment. After Thirty Strikes, there was no sound of protest, which made the Interrogator feel uneasy. They hoped that this Brat wouldn't be beaten to death; Above was still waiting to extract information about the mastermind behind it all! Signaling to stop and check, they found that this individual, gritting his teeth in pain, was still able to smile.
One Constable, unable to hide his admiration, pleaded, "If you don't confess soon, everyone in this room will be executed alongside you. We have families to think about..."
The Fat Officer was the same patron who had mocked the Woodcutter in the tavern. He waved his hand to signal silence and squatted down, pretending to examine the injuries while kindly reminding him, "Hero, please don't blame us for being too harsh earlier. You know how it is; officials have no freedom. We respect your actions, but enduring this isn't a solution. You might as well confess and spare yourself some pain. Even if you can withstand it, when your friend comes to rescue you, he will only find a crippled version of you. In this broken world, anything is possible if you have money. If you trust me, just tell me where that person lives, and I will notify your wealthy friend tonight to come up with a way to save you."
Meng Wu recognized him and had been silent on the way here out of concern for dragging others into trouble. Hearing the kind reminder made him feel a wave of bitterness. Right now, he couldn't even clarify his own crimes, let alone Luzi's whereabouts. But what was there to fear in death!? He could confess but couldn't bring himself to lie casually. "Could this Brother remind me?"
Upon hearing this, the Fat Officer frowned and quietly asked, "So it really wasn't you who did it!?"
Who did it was no longer important; what mattered was saving everyone in the room. Besides, continuing to resist would not lead to immediate release; the final outcome would still be a severe punishment. Thinking of this, Meng Wu smiled broadly. "It was all done in drunken folly; I truly can't recall."
The Fat Officer nodded and stood up respectfully saying, "Sir! The suspect has agreed to confess."
With those words, everything was settled! The officer in charge of the interrogation was contemplating expenses for tomorrow; if he could find someone to smooth things over, perhaps he could buy a few more days' grace. Hearing that he wouldn't have to spend money to avert disaster brought a smile to his face. It was indeed true that one cannot beat a suffering worm without reason!
Since the suspect agreed to confess, the dark clouds above dissipated completely. Everyone began asking and answering questions cooperatively, turning a wrongful case into an efficient performance record. As for the mastermind behind it all, despite extensive efforts for verification yielding no results, it turned out that it was purely personal animosity; because the Brother-in-law had slapped Meng Wu publicly, Meng Wu felt he had lost face and thus harbored thoughts of murder. He lingered in the city at night waiting for an opportunity.
There was no need to consider financial losses; perhaps there would even be rewards involved. Watching as the professional testimony came together perfectly, those seated at the head table praised each other earnestly. If anyone could rise through this incident, they would surely receive more attention.
The crowd below was busy signing documents without needing further explanation.
After sending off several officials back home, the Constable finally helped treat the injured with medicine for their wounds. Since this work involved bloodshed, these first aid supplies were naturally carried on their person at all times.
To rid the world of harm is the mark of a great hero! Wherever he goes, he is well-received. While escorting a serious criminal to Prison, the Fat Officer seized the opportunity to ask Meng Wu about the whereabouts of that wealthy friend. The testimony had already been established, but there was still room for maneuver. If someone were willing to lend a helping hand, many life-threatening matters could be resolved with just a word.
Meng Wu already knew who the murdered person was while cooperating with the testimony; it turned out to be the brother-in-law of that hated chancellor, someone everyone wished to devour alive. You say you kill someone, yet you leave blood marks on their wall. The murderer is Meng Wu!
Is there such a thing as being this treacherous!?
Meng Wu had learned from official documents about the entire scene of the incident. Who would have nothing better to do than engage in such business? Various signs indicated that aside from Luzi, who had given him silver that afternoon, there would be no one else! Just thinking about that smug face made him feel anything but merciful.
Damn it! If I get out of prison, I won't let this go!
But this was something he could only stew over in his heart; he could never voice it. Luzi's special status had long ensured he would be protected by all the spies, even at the cost of their own lives. There’s an old saying: a mute eats bitter gourd and has no way to express his suffering; that must refer to this kind of situation.
Rejecting the Fat Officer's goodwill, Meng Wu lay alone in his prison cell, seething with anger. Luzi indeed had that stubborn temper where he wouldn't rest until he achieved his goal; once he set his mind on something, no one could change it. Had he really been chopping wood with his head these past few years? How could he forget such important information!? He deserved those thirty lashes! If he didn't learn from this, next time it might not just be a spanking!
He had just heard from the jailer that this particular case had been decided as exceptional by higher-ups. Tomorrow at Noon, Dismemberment by Five Horses. Upon hearing this verdict, Meng Wu couldn't believe anyone would kill him in Qi State. In today's world, there was only one person who could kill him—Luzi! As for that Dismemberment by Five Horses, well, that could wait for later.
Would Luzi send someone to break him out tonight?
The pain in his buttocks and thighs only surfaced when he moved; if he stayed still, all he felt was a slight chill. Meng Wu sighed inwardly at how effective the wound medicine was while staring at the lightning outside, noticing that the sky seemed much brighter than before. When he saw a lavish meal being brought in through the door, he still couldn't bring himself to believe that the outside world could brighten up.
His mother always taught them that not eating food when it's available is wasting resources! Being full and satisfied would give him strength for what lay ahead! Determined, Meng Wu gritted his teeth and crawled over to eat heartily.
He had always thought lunchtime was long, but today he suddenly realized it passed in the blink of an eye. Due to the severity of his thigh injury, Meng Wu was carried onto the prison cart by the Constable who came to take him away. He had expected to see crowds lining the streets to bid farewell but found the streets completely empty. Perhaps they were worried about losing control with too many people around; every place along the route of the prison cart was shut tight.
Every three steps there was a post, and every five steps a sentry. The gleaming spears in the hands of the Soldiers extended along both sides of the street. At the end of this Alley might be the final destination of his life. If at the beginning he still hoped that Luzi would send someone to rescue him, now he prayed that no one would come, realizing that sacrificing more lives to save one was not worth it.
When he saw five horses anxiously waiting in the square across from him, he suddenly felt a sense of relief. Ending it this way might be for the best; he could finally put everything behind him. Alas! If he had been injured and captured on the battlefield, at least he could have shouted: "Long live the Qin State!" But now, it seemed he could only silently await execution like a Woodcutter.
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