Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 183. The Tragic State of the First Beauty
183. The Tortured Su Zuidie
「Ruyang City」
In the westernmost, secluded corner of Ruyang City, there was an unassuming courtyard. From the exterior, this small courtyard looked no different from any other in Ruyang City, with nothing particularly conspicuous about it. The owner even went out daily to buy groceries, shop, and stroll, just like his neighbors. However, stepping into the inner section of this courtyard revealed an entirely different world. This was because it served as the garrison for the King of Ding Kingdom’s most mysterious and elite group, the Qilin. Any unauthorized person entering would immediately fall into the hands of the Qilin members who were stationed there for recuperation and training. The torment they would subsequently endure was enough to make anyone regret being alive.
In the dead of night, a shadowy figure quietly slipped over the outer wall. Superior lightness skill allowed the figure to land without making the slightest sound. The man in black carefully and swiftly surveyed the entire courtyard, then lifted his foot, intending to head towards his destination.
"Don’t move." A low voice sounded from behind him. The man in black froze, his expression darkening slightly as he obediently stood his ground. "The Qilin truly live up to their reputation as a force Xiling regards as a fearsome tiger. Impressive."
The moment he spoke, someone had already silently appeared beside him. A few casual pats, and all the weapons he carried were confiscated. The man in black didn’t resist; he knew, of course, that there was definitely more than just this one person watching him in the courtyard. "To be able to find your way here, you’re quite skilled yourself, Your Excellency. Follow me to meet the Commander, Young Master Han." The man in black—Han Mingyue—froze for a moment, then finally shook his head with a bitter smile. "You knew it was me all along..." The man beside him sneered, "If we didn’t know, do you think you could have found this place, Young Master Han?" Han Mingyue said nothing and obediently followed the man deeper into the courtyard.
Under the candlelight, Qin Feng was still in his study, poring over a thick stack of documents. Over a month ago, he had selected more than three hundred elites from the military and the secret agents for initial training outside the city. Relying on his own training experience and the extensive materials left by the Princess Consort, he had managed to get things barely on track. As the Commander of the Qilin, Qin Feng insisted on reviewing the files of these trainees daily, assessing their potential for future development. Simultaneously, he had to further train himself and the original members using the materials left by the Princess Consort. Consequently, Qin Feng was so busy he was practically spinning in circles every day, leaving him no time to dwell on those infuriating matters. Whether this busyness was necessary or self-imposed, Qin Feng had no intention of figuring out. Thus, when he saw Han Mingyue being escorted in, Qin Feng’s mood immediately soured. He was already very busy, and Han Mingyue’s arrival would undoubtedly make him even busier. More importantly, Han Mingyue’s appearance would remind him of certain unpleasant things.
"Young Master Han, what business brings you here so late?" Leaning back in his chair, Qin Feng stretched his somewhat stiff neck and narrowed his eyes lazily. Yet, his half-open eyes revealed an undisguised danger.
Anyone associated with Ye Li would never welcome him; Han Mingyue was not surprised by this. Cupping his hands towards Qin Feng, Han Mingyue said with a faint smile, "Apologies for the intrusion, Commander Qin."
Qin Feng shot him a cool glance, his meaning clear: If you knew you were intruding, why bother coming?
"I wish to see Zuidie. I hope Commander Qin can accommodate this." Knowing that Qin Feng would never bring it up if he didn’t mention it himself, Han Mingyue made his request directly. Two months ago, after Mo Xiuyao handed Su Zuidie over to Qin Feng, she had been taken from the Governor’s Mansion. After all, the Governor’s Mansion wasn’t large enough to house everyone from the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. Thus, personnel such as the secret agents, the Qilin, and most civil and military officials had left the Governor’s Mansion to find other accommodations. Currently, only Mo Xiuyao himself, his trusted confidants like Feng Zhiyao and Xu Qingze, and Han Mingyue, who temporarily had nowhere else to go, still resided in the Governor’s Mansion. Han Mingyue hadn’t seen Su Zuidie since she was taken away. This inevitably made him worry. Without Tianyi Pavilion at his disposal, finding Su Zuidie’s whereabouts, even within the relatively small Ruyang City, had cost Han Mingyue considerable effort. Now it seemed that even this success was because the other party had deliberately gone easy on him. Han Mingyue couldn’t help but smile bitterly, a sense of powerlessness rising in his heart. Without Tianyi Pavilion, without the Han Family, Young Master Mingyue was, in the end, just an ordinary man.
"Su Zuidie?" Qin Feng paused, as if only then recalling such a person existed. His expression darkened slightly. "If you wish to see Su Zuidie, Young Master Han, please personally request permission from the Prince."
Han Mingyue smiled bitterly. If he could persuade Mo Xiuyao, why would he have snuck in here late at night? Seeing his expression, Qin Feng understood and said coolly, "Without the Prince’s permission... Young Master Han, forget about you coming alone; even if you brought an army of thousands, you still wouldn’t get to see Su Zuidie." Han Mingyue’s sword-like brows arched slightly. He knew Qin Feng’s subordinates were highly skilled. Although he lacked detailed information, their track record in the mere half-year since their appearance was enough to prove their strength. But to claim they could contend with an army of thousands seemed a tad too confident. However... he currently couldn’t muster an army of thousands either.
Observing Han Mingyue’s expression with interest, Qin Feng leaned back in his chair and said with a smile, "Young Master Han, you misunderstand. The Qilin are unscrupulous in achieving their objectives, but they would never recklessly seek their own demise by confronting a superior force head-on. What I mean is... without the Prince’s permission, even if you were to break in, Young Master Han... I would kill her the instant before you lay eyes on her. If Young Master Han wishes to witness Su Zuidie breathing her last, by all means, try."
Han Mingyue fell silent. He knew Qin Feng wasn’t joking. Although Su Zuidie hadn’t killed Ye Li with her own hands, Ye Li wouldn’t have fallen off the cliff if not for the hidden weapon Su Zuidie suddenly launched. If Mo Xiuyao didn’t still want Su Zuidie alive, the people from the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion would have long since dismembered her. Sighing, Han Mingyue said, "I just want to see her once. It’s fine if I don’t say anything."
Qin Feng had already picked up his documents again, his intention to see the guest out self-evident.
"Master Qin, let me see Zuidie. Just once. I will trade a top-secret piece of information for it," Han Mingyue said in a low, serious voice.
Qin Feng didn’t even raise his eyes, merely stating coolly, "The Qilin currently have no missions; we are not collecting intelligence. If Young Master Han has something to say, he can go to the Prince."
Han Mingyue’s smile was bitter. He had already approached Mo Xiuyao twice regarding Su Zuidie. Mo Xiuyao had made it clear that if he saw Han Mingyue again, he would either be thrown to the Southern Garrison Prince of Xiling or be made to accompany Su Zuidie. He indeed wanted to see Su Zuidie, but his intention was to save her life. If he were truly thrown in to accompany Zuidie, then it would really be over. "Commander Qin, Your Prince will definitely be interested in this information. Moreover, it has some connection to the misfortune that befell Princess Consort Ding." Qin Feng’s hand, flipping through the documents, paused slightly. He seemed to consider for a moment before looking up. "Let’s hear it."
"I want to see Zuidie first." Han Mingyue hadn’t forgotten Qin Feng’s earlier statement that the Qilin were unscrupulous in achieving their goals; abandoning an ally after they’ve served their purpose was clearly part of that. Qin Feng raised his brows, stood up, and said, "No problem. You can see her, but you cannot speak, and she will not see you." He then grinned at Han Mingyue. "I’m not worried about Young Master Han going back on his word. Similarly, if your information doesn’t satisfy me, you will soon see... what kind of punishment Su Zuidie will have to endure because of you."
Han Mingyue’s body stiffened. He stared at Qin Feng silently for a long moment before sighing. "Princess Consort Ding’s methods of training people are truly formidable..."
Qin Feng shrugged and sneered, "They could have been even more formidable. This way, Young Master Han."
Watching the scene before him, a myriad of emotions welled up in Han Mingyue’s heart. He truly couldn’t tell if he regretted trying every conceivable way to see Su Zuidie.
They stood in an extremely simple and ordinary room, a place where an ordinary person would never detect anything special. However, once a mechanism in the wall was activated, it revealed a spacious secret chamber. This chamber was located beneath their feet, allowing them to look down from their vantage point and have an unobstructed view of its entirety. A single glance was all it took for Han Mingyue to spot Su Zuidie. At that moment, she was the only person in the chamber, yet Han Mingyue genuinely doubted if the figure on the floor was indeed Su Zuidie.
Her drab prison clothes were covered in filth and bloodstains. Su Zuidie lay limply on the dirty ground. Even from their high vantage point, they could faintly discern the foul stench wafting up from below. Han Mingyue could clearly see her fingers, twisted at unnatural angles, resting limply on the ground. One of her legs was similarly contorted, and even though she was unconscious, it still twitched sporadically. Her face was a mask of agony, and she kept shaking her head, muttering something. If one listened closely, they would realize she was murmuring, "I was wrong... Spare me... Help..."
"What in the world have you done to her?" Han Mingyue finally couldn’t stop himself from demanding.
Qin Feng said coolly, completely unfazed, "Don’t tell me Tianyi Pavilion doesn’t have methods of interrogation. Rest assured, my men aren’t all novices. Even if they occasionally lose their sense of measure, they won’t take her life."
Han Mingyue couldn’t help but shudder. Of course, he knew all too well about those clandestine methods of torture. Young Master Mingyue was no living Bodhisattva; he too had once tortured enemies who fell into his hands without batting an eye. But he had never imagined those same methods would be used on the woman he loved most. "She’s just a weak woman! How can she endure such methods?" Qin Feng shrugged. Who cared if she could bear it or not? As long as she didn’t die, it was fine.
"Actually, she’s tougher than the average person." On this point, Qin Feng actually regarded Su Zuidie somewhat differently. Interrogation is not something one masters just by talking about it. Of course, it requires training, and training naturally requires subjects. Su Zuidie wasn’t alone. In fact, two other men, both skilled in martial arts, had been brought in at the same time as her. When no quarter was given during the interrogation, the two men couldn’t bear it and committed suicide, yet Su Zuidie was still alive. "Actually, we can’t be blamed for this. The Princess Consort was originally extremely opposed to such bloody interrogation methods. And she herself was quite experienced in this area. Unfortunately, she disappeared before she could teach us everything. So... we could only trouble Miss Su to continue enduring the old methods. Also, Young Master Han, you don’t need to worry. Her injuries... hmm, aside from her leg, none of them are irreversible. Tomorrow morning, someone will set her finger bones. Mr. Shen’s miraculous healing salve guarantees recovery within ten days."
Han Mingyue’s face was grim. "So they heal, only for you to break them again?"
"Snapping, actually," Qin Feng corrected. "Fingers are too slender; they aren’t easy to break by hitting—unless they’re completely smashed, the kind that can never be set right."
"This way... will her hands ever fully recover?" Han Mingyue roared. Just from Qin Feng’s tone, he understood this was definitely not the first time, nor would it be the last. Even if Shen Yang’s medicine was excellent, it was impossible for there not to be some lingering after-effects.
Qin Feng raised his brows and said coolly, "Does Young Master Han think she still has a chance of getting out? The Prince never said she had to be kept perfectly intact. In fact, that Su Zuidie is currently still in one piece is already a testament to my men’s considerable restraint. Young Master Han, don’t worry, we won’t touch her face. If your information satisfies me, you can even take some time to come over and paint a couple of portraits as keepsakes. The Prince said that making her too ugly would scare the Princess Consort and the heir."
Han Mingyue’s face was livid, but he couldn’t utter a word. Finally, he took one last, deep look at the woman lying on the ground, her breathing faint, then turned and followed Qin Feng out of the room.
"That man beside Mo Jingqi, Tan Jizhi, is a descendant of the previous imperial family," Han Mingyue said, meeting Qin Feng’s cold gaze.
Qin Feng’s eyes narrowed. "Young Master Han, are you playing me for a fool?" A descendant of the previous imperial family? In the past, this might have been a decent piece of news. But now, their relationship with Mo Jingqi was, one could say, covertly like fire and water. Who had the energy to care if someone beside him was a descendant of a former dynasty? Even if Mo Jingqi himself were a descendant of a former dynasty, it would be irrelevant to them now.
Han Mingyue said coldly, "Tan Jizhi may have only formally appeared at court this year, but he has been by Mo Jingqi’s side for over ten years. He is Mo Jingqi’s most trusted confidant and chief advisor. Do you think this is important or not?"
Mo Jingqi’s confidant and chief advisor?
Qin Feng frowned. Having been handpicked by Mo Xiuyao from the numerous Black Cloud Cavalry to be assigned to Ye Li, and then to earn Ye Li’s approval to become the Commander of the Qilin, Qin Feng’s abilities in every aspect were, at the very least, above average. Therefore, upon hearing Han Mingyue’s words, Qin Feng immediately and keenly perceived the meaning Han Mingyue was trying to convey. A descendant of a former dynasty, even if that dynasty had fallen over two hundred years ago, appearing by the current emperor’s side as a trusted confidant—such a situation would inevitably draw a degree of attention and vigilance. Qin Feng certainly hadn’t forgotten that before the troops were dispatched, back in the Capital of Great Chu when Mo Jingqi attempted to seize military authority from the Princess Consort, this Tan Jizhi had also made things difficult for her.
In a mere instant, hundreds of thoughts had already flashed through Qin Feng’s mind. Staring at Han Mingyue before him, Qin Feng said with a deadpan expression, "How can I trust that what you’re saying is true? And... if even Prince Ding’s Mansion is unaware of this information, how did you, Young Master Han, come to know it?"
Han Mingyue replied coolly, "I was, after all, once the Lord of Tianyi Pavilion, was I not? Tianyi Pavilion controls the largest intelligence network in the world; what’s so strange about knowing some things others don’t?"
Qin Feng snorted lightly. "If it were any other information, I might not find it strange. But if it’s within the Capital of Great Chu... does Tianyi Pavilion truly have the capability to uncover intelligence that even Prince Ding’s Mansion is unaware of? For all these years, not only has the Emperor been constantly monitoring the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, but the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion has also never relaxed its vigilance against Mo Jingqi. Otherwise, during the years Prince Ding was gravely ill and reclusive, the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion would have long been devoured by the imperial family."
"If you don’t believe me, I have nothing more to say. This man definitely had a hand in what happened to Princess Consort Ding this time. You can consider: if Mo Xiuyao and Mo Jingqi were to have a complete break, who would be the true beneficiaries?"
The beneficiaries would naturally be the neighboring states and Mo Jingli, who has carved out his own territory. And, of course, if Han Mingyue’s words were true, then Tan Jizhi would be one of them too. In truth, regardless of whether he believed it or not, this information had to be reported to Mo Xiuyao.
However, Mo Xiuyao’s reaction to this caused Han Mingyue to turn pale with shock.
"Cut off Su Zuidie’s left arm!"
"You’re insane!" Han Mingyue roared furiously, looking at Mo Xiuyao’s calm expression. Mo Xiuyao looked up at him and said coolly, "Reveal the source of the information. Otherwise, before two hours are up, I will have a part of Su Zuidie cut off for you."
"I’ve already told you!" Han Mingyue said angrily.
"I don’t believe you," Mo Xiuyao said, pushing aside the account ledger before him. "Don’t forget who controls Tianyi Pavilion now. I know how many people you have in the Capital City. Or are you telling me that you concealed something in our previous transaction? In that case, I can still kill Su Zuidie." Han Mingyue looked at him with a complicated expression. "Don’t forget, her father and elder brother died for the sake of your Mo Family." Mo Xiuyao leaned back in his chair, his somewhat pale face showing weariness and apathy. "So what? I’ve said it before... if Ah-Li doesn’t return this year, no one can save Su Zuidie."
Ye Li is already dead! Han Mingyue desperately wanted to roar this out, but looking at Mo Xiuyao’s apathetic gaze, he couldn’t bring himself to say it. Or rather, he didn’t dare. He wasn’t sure what consequences would follow if he actually roared those words out. "Mo Xiuyao, you madman..." Han Mingyue whispered. Mo Xiuyao gave a low sneer, completely indifferent to Han Mingyue’s assessment. "I have always been more clear-headed than you. I know what I want to do. Han Mingyue, do you?" He would wait for Ah-Li and their baby to return. If Ah-Li didn’t come back, he would kill slowly, kill all those who wanted to harm Ah-Li and obstruct them, keep killing until Ah-Li returned, or until he himself died. "Now, give me the answer. Or do you want Su Zuidie’s arm?"
Han Mingyue closed his eyes in defeat. He was beginning to doubt whether telling Mo Xiuyao this information was right or wrong. "It was Zuidie who told me."
"Heh, interesting..." Mo Xiuyao laughed softly. "Su Zuidie told you? A woman far away in Xiling, regarded by the Southern Garrison Prince as a pawn to be discarded at any time... she actually knows such a secret piece of information? Qin Feng! Zhuo Jing!"
"Your subordinates are here." The two stepped forward, awaiting orders.
Mo Xiuyao said in a frigid tone, "Within one day, I want the answer from Su Zuidie’s mouth. I don’t care what methods you use."
The two exchanged a glance. "As you command."
