Shuhan

It was late at night, but the palace was in commotion due to a sudden incident.

Although Sun Lin's assassination attempt failed, his sharp sword blade had left shocking marks on the body of the eunuch Huang Hao.

Huang Hao was like a dead leaf at this moment, falling helplessly on the cold ground. He was surrounded by mottled bloodstains, which dyed his gorgeous clothes into a shocking dark red.

His face was as pale as paper, his lips were an unhealthy bluish white due to excessive blood loss, and although his eyes were slightly narrowed due to pain, they were still forced open, as if an indomitable will was supporting him.

His body trembled from time to time due to the severe pain, but he still tried to maintain his last dignity and did not make a single groan.

When Liu Chan's hurried footsteps sounded in the silent and tense atmosphere, everyone's eyes were involuntarily focused on him.

Liu Chan may have relied on Huang Hao a lot on a daily basis, but it was more based on his ability to get along with others and to respond tactfully.

However, the scene before him caused an unprecedented emotion to surge in Liu Chan's heart.

Liu Chan walked quickly to Huang Hao's side, his eyes showing both shock and emotion.

He had never expected that at this critical moment, it was Huang Hao, who seemed humble on weekdays, who stepped forward desperately and blocked the fatal blow for him.

Looking at Huang Hao's painful but still smiling face, Liu Chan's voice was choked with sobs: "Just rest and recover. I will let the great doctor Hua Tuo treat you."

When Huang Hao heard this, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, followed by deep gratitude.

He struggled to stand up and salute, but Liu Chan gently held him down.

"I am a lowly servant, how can I ask the miracle doctor to help me?" Although Huang Hao's voice was weak, every word was sincere, revealing his self-awareness of his own identity and his fear of this honor.

Liu Chan's heart was filled with complex emotions. He looked at Huang Hao deeply and said firmly, "You don't need to say more. Today's events have shown me your loyalty. Although eunuchs are vassals of the imperial power, your actions have proved that no matter what your status is, you can have a sincere heart. Rest assured and recuperate. When you recover, I will use you in a meaningful way."

After saying this, Liu Chan turned around and ordered his attendants to quickly invite Hua Tuo, and at the same time arrange the best medical care to take care of Huang Hao.

Seeing this, everyone in the hall sighed inwardly.

"Huang Hao survived a great disaster, he will surely have good fortune in the future!" Gu Yong exclaimed, his eyes flashing with admiration for Huang Hao's heroic behavior.

"After this incident, his position in His Majesty's heart will surely be more solid."

"Yes, although Huang Hao is often looked down upon on weekdays, his actions today are truly a model of a loyal minister!" Seeing what Huang Hao did today, Fei Yi also echoed, with a bit of admiration in his tone.

"It seems that we will have to re-examine this eunuch in the future."

"Hmph, I always felt that Huang Hao was a very cunning person." A voice sounded with a hint of disdain, but even so, it could not conceal the hint of surprise in it.

"However, what happened today has made me look at him with new eyes. He is so loyal that he can risk his life to block the sword for Your Majesty. Not everyone can have such loyalty."

The person who spoke was Guan Xing. It was Guan Xing who, after seeing Huang Hao save Liu Chan, changed his opinion of Huang Hao's identity as a eunuch.

Huang Hao was carefully carried onto a stretcher by his servants. His face was still pale, but his eyes flashed with determination.

As the stretcher slowly moved, he left the hall full of noise and tension, leaving behind a crowd of people who were talking about something.

Liu Chan's gaze swept across everyone in the hall. Their faces showed surprise, worry, speculation, and all kinds of emotions intertwined.

He took a deep breath, then slowly said, "Everyone please disperse. This matter happened right before our eyes. I will find out who is behind this incident, and then I will make a decision."

There was unquestionable majesty in Liu Chan's words. Upon hearing this, everyone bowed and took their leave, but their hearts were filled with doubts and uneasiness.

Gu Yong stood in the crowd, but his heart was surging.

When he heard Liu Chan mention "the mastermind behind the scenes", he immediately became worried.

He knew very well that if the mastermind behind this incident was really revealed, the entire court would be plunged into turmoil.

Gu Yong hesitated for a moment, but decided to step forward and speak.

He bowed and saluted, then said, "Your Majesty, perhaps Sun Lin was just being rebellious, and there is no one behind this."

When he said this, his heart was already filled with regret.

The emperor is very angry now. If he says something like this, isn't he just walking into trouble?

Upon hearing this, Liu Chan looked at Gu Yong sharply, as if he wanted to penetrate his heart.

Gu Yong felt an invisible pressure looming over him, and he didn't dare to look up and look Liu Chan in the eye.

"Oh? Why do you make such a conclusion, Lord Gu?" There was a hint of coldness in Liu Chan's voice. He was obviously not satisfied with Gu Yong's answer.

Gu Yong's heart tightened, he knew that his answer did not satisfy the emperor.

He tried to stay calm, and then continued, "Your Majesty, Sun Lin has always been rebellious and unruly, so it's not surprising that he did something like this. Perhaps he really acted on impulse and there was no one else to instruct him."

Liu Chan was silent for a while after hearing this, and then said coldly: "Master Gu is wrong. Although Sun Lin is rebellious, how dare he assassinate me under my nose without the instructions of others? There must be a conspiracy behind this. I must find out the mastermind behind this and punish him severely!"

Gu Yong's heart sank when he heard this.

Not only did his answer this time fail to satisfy the emperor, but it might have put him in even greater trouble.

He secretly regretted his impulsive behavior, but it was too late to undo it now.

He could only step back silently, praying in his heart that the matter would be settled as soon as possible and not involve too many people.

As for Gu Yong's idea, it naturally failed.

Liu Chan's heart was like surging waves. He would never let this assassination attempt pass easily. He wanted to take this opportunity to clear out the old territory of Wu State and integrate Wu's resources in order to prepare for the Northern Expedition.

I was originally looking for an excuse, but now this reason has come to me.

Just as he was lost in thought, he suddenly felt a pair of soft and cold hands gently grabbing his.

He looked up and saw Sun Shangxiang's beautiful face. Tears were glistening in her eyes, full of self-blame and anxiety.

"If I hadn't brought Sun Lin into the palace, Your Majesty wouldn't have been frightened like this. This is my fault. Please punish me, Your Majesty." Sun Shangxiang's voice was filled with tears. Although her face was extremely beautiful, it was filled with guilt and pain at this moment.

Liu Chan held her in his arms, his voice gentle but firm: "It was Sun Lin who was rebellious and didn't know what was good for him. What does this have to do with me? If I really wanted to kill me, with my martial arts, how could I survive?"

As he spoke, his lips moved closer and closer to Sun Shangxiang's face, as if he wanted to use his warmth to dispel the coldness in her heart.

He asked softly, "Are you willing to kill me?"

Sun Shangxiang immediately shook her head, her eyes full of determination: "Even if I die, I would rather not hurt Your Majesty in the slightest." Although her voice was tearful, the firmness in it could not be ignored.

Liu Chan laughed loudly upon hearing this, his laughter full of relief and joy: "That's it! Let's go!"

This was the first time she had seen Sun Shangxiang like this. The previous Sun Shangxiang was so strong!
How could she be so weak?

Thinking of this, he hugged Sun Shangxiang in his arms and rushed to the bedroom.

Sun Shangxiang screamed in his arms, but was then thrown steadily onto the bed.

Inside the bedroom, the flickering candlelight illuminated the intertwined figures of the two.

As I was sweating, it seemed that all my worries were gone.

"My dear, you don't need to blame yourself. This matter has nothing to do with you. It was done by that crazy and rebellious guy Sun Lin. You just need to stay by my side. I will protect you and won't let you come into any harm." Liu Chan's voice was low and gentle, and his words were full of love and care for Sun Shangxiang.

When Sun Shangxiang heard this, the tears in her eyes gradually faded away, replaced by a look of determination and gratitude. She held Liu Chan's hand tightly, as if she wanted to remember this warmth and strength forever in her heart.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to stay by your side forever, no matter the wind or rain, no matter the difficulties. As long as you are safe and sound, I will be satisfied." There was firmness and tenderness in Sun Shangxiang's voice, and her eyes flashed with deep affection and attachment to Liu Chan.

When Liu Chan heard this, a warm current surged in his heart. He hugged Sun Shangxiang tightly, as if he wanted to merge her into his own flesh and blood.

Ma Su received the emperor's order and stepped into the imperial prison with heavy steps. There was no sunlight here all year round. It was cold and damp, as if it was a terrifying world isolated from the outside world.

The interrogation room was even more eerie. The flames in the brazier flickered, reflecting the surrounding stone walls, stretching and distorting everyone's shadows like dancing demons.

Sun Lin was tied tightly to a wooden stake. His lips had turned pale and his face revealed unwillingness and stubbornness.

Ma Su walked up to him and asked in a deep voice, "Who asked you to assassinate His Majesty?"

Sun Lin spat fiercely in Ma Su's face and cursed: "A tyrant and a lewd ruler should be killed by everyone! Who do I need to give orders to?"

Ma Su was angered by Sun Lin's arrogance. He sneered and waved his hand to signal his men to start the execution.

This time, they prepared a cruel punishment called "stick punishment" for Sun Lin.

Caning punishment is not simply beating people with a stick, but an extremely cruel method.

The executioner held a long stick and inserted it directly into the person's mouth or anus. The entire stick was inserted into the body, piercing the stomach and intestines, causing the person to die in extreme pain.

The cruelty of this punishment is so terrifying that it makes people shudder.

As the executioner walked towards Sun Lin with a stick, his eyes revealed despair and fear.

He struggled, trying to break free from the restraints, but to no avail. The stick ruthlessly penetrated his body, and he let out a shrill scream, the sound echoing in the interrogation room, making people tremble with fear.

"Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!"

Ma Su watched this scene coldly, without a trace of sympathy in his heart.

This is the punishment Sun Lin deserves.

The continued beating brought Sun Lin's pain to the extreme. His cries gradually became weaker and his eyes began to unfocus.

Finally, after a faint groan, he completely lost consciousness and his body hung limply on the wooden stake.

Sun Lin's body had been ravaged by the beating, and at this moment he was covered in blood, dying as he was tied to a wooden stake. His eyes revealed despair and fear, as if he had foreseen his impending fate.

A basin of cold water was poured on Sun Lin to wake him up.

Ma Su stood in front of him with a stern expression and sharp eyes.

He pressed again, "Tell me, who else ordered you to assassinate His Majesty? Are there other accomplices?"

Sun Lin closed his lips tightly and his teeth were chattering. He would rather endure endless pain than betray his beliefs and principles.

However, Ma Su did not intend to let him go.

He sneered and waved his hand to signal his men to begin another more cruel punishment - being eaten by thousands of insects.

Having thousands of insects eating your bones was an extremely cruel punishment in ancient times.

The executioner put the prisoner into a container filled with various poisonous insects. These poisonous insects had been hungry for a long time, and as soon as they saw the flesh and blood of a living person, they would pounce on it and bite it frantically.

Their venom is injected into the prisoner's body, causing endless pain and torture until the prisoner is completely devoured.

When the executioner carried Sun Lin into the container full of poisonous insects, his eyes revealed the final despair.

He struggled, trying to break free from the restraints, but to no avail. As soon as the poisonous insects saw the breath of a living person, they pounced on him frantically and began to bite his body.

“Aa ...

Sun Lin let out a shrill scream, and the sound echoed in the interrogation room, making people terrified.

He felt countless poisonous insects tearing at his flesh and blood, and the venom they injected made him feel so painful that he wished he was dead. He struggled, trying to get rid of this endless pain, but the more he struggled, the crazier the poisonous insects became.

After several punishments, Sun Lin's body was immediately torn apart and blood was dripping. He was trembling all over, and his pupils were almost unable to close. There was no trace of his previous stubborn look.

After all, he was just a teenager. How could he have experienced such a scene?
However, even under such painful torture, Sun Lin still gritted his teeth and did not utter a word for mercy.

His eyes revealed a firm belief, as if he was defending some principle with his life.

But as time went on, the pain gradually eroded his will, and Sun Lin's expression changed from stubbornness to fear.

Seeing this, Ma Su sneered even more. He walked forward, approached Sun Lin's face, and continued to ask: "Tell me, who asked you to assassinate His Majesty? Tell me, I might consider giving you a quick death." His voice was cold and cruel, as if he was enjoying this tormenting process.

Sun Lin showed fear on his face, he knew it would be futile to continue resisting.

So he said with difficulty: "It was ordered by the Wei State School Affairs Office."

His voice was weak and trembling, revealing his inner fear and helplessness.

Upon hearing this, Ma Su snorted coldly. He did not completely believe what Sun Lin said.

So he pressed again, "What else? Is there someone else instructing you?"

His eyes were as sharp as torches, as if they could penetrate Sun Lin's heart.

Sun Lin just wanted to be free as soon as possible. He raised his head, looked at Ma Su's cold and ruthless face, and asked in a trembling voice: "Who do you think is there, General?"

His voice was full of despair and helplessness, as if he was bowing to fate.

"In Jianye City, and even in the old land of Wu, you can say anything you want to claim. Sun Wu is gone, but these former ministers of Sun Wu are still enjoying wealth and glory in the Han Kingdom. Are you willing to accept that?" Ma Su was tempting.

Are you willing?

Of course he was unwilling to accept this!
Those noble families received salaries from his grandson's family, but at the critical moment, they surrendered to the Han Kingdom.

Why don't you die for your country?

Why do you still have the nerve to live in this world?

Since I'm not having a good time!

Since the Wu Kingdom has perished.

So!

Don’t even think about it!
Sun Lin immediately said: "Gu Yong, Zhang Zhao"

He listed dozens of names in succession, all of whom were former ministers of the Wu State and now held high positions in the Han State.

Ma Su was finally satisfied when he got this list.

So he waved his hand, signaling his men to stop the execution.

There was a moment of silence in the interrogation room, with only the flame in the brazier continuing to flicker.

As for Sun Lin
After all this punishment, he won't survive this night! (End of this chapter)