son, don't mess around

Chapter 847 Torture of the Sixth Prince

Inside the dungeon.

The surroundings were airtight, and the dim yellow light made one drowsy.

In the deepest room, a person is imprisoned.

Sixth Prince, Li Chang'an!
At this moment, Li Chang'an looked haggard, his eyes were bloodshot, and he seemed agitated. His gaze was fixed on the outside.

I have no idea how much time has passed since I was brought here. The surroundings are completely sealed off and deserted.

He was left there, and apart from occasional food and water being brought to him, no one paid him any attention.

Even though he insisted, no one paid any attention.

After being tormented day and night for so long, Li Chang'an's emotions had become somewhat irritable.

Who exactly arrested him?
What's the purpose?
What do they want to do?
Anxiety and fear of the unknown welled up in Li Chang'an's heart, making him increasingly irritable.

"Crash!"

Just as Li Chang'an's nerves were on the verge of collapse, the sound of an iron lock opening came again from outside the dungeon door.

"Who exactly is your master?!"

"What exactly do you want?!"

Li Chang'an looked up angrily at the doorway.

The next second, he froze on the spot, his gaze suddenly sharpening as if in disbelief, but then he seemed to realize something.

"It's you?!"

Li Chang'an's tone was tinged with surprise and doubt, but also with a sense of entitlement.

"It's really you!"

At the entrance to the dungeon.

Lin Jiangnian slowly walked into the dungeon, looked at the disheveled figure in front of him, and chuckled: "Did the Sixth Prince already know it was me?"

At this moment, Li Chang'an's emotions had stabilized considerably. His gaze was deep as he stared at Lin Jiangnian: "In this world, how many people dare to lay a hand on me?"

"You definitely are one!"

"Is the Sixth Prince praising me?"

Lin Jiangnian chuckled and approached Li Chang'an: "Does Your Highness know why I, the young master, would target you?"

Li Chang'an's eyes were deep, and he sneered, "Why do you need to keep me in suspense?"

"We both know the truth!"

Lin Jiangnian sighed: "I have no grudge against Your Highness, so why did Your Highness have to kill me?"

Upon hearing this, the Sixth Prince's heart sank.

Sure enough, the boy found out.

But then, Li Chang'an calmed down and lowered his gaze.

It's not surprising that this young man was able to find him. The last time the two met at Cuiwei Residence, this young man probably already suspected him.

"So, this is your reason for capturing me?"

Li Chang'an stared at Lin Jiangnian: "Do you know how serious a crime you have committed by secretly imprisoning the prince?"

Lin Jiangnian raised an eyebrow: "In terms of crimes, how can I, the young master, compare to you, Sixth Prince?"

“He severely injured the leader of the Secret Celestial Bureau and attempted to kill him to silence him. The Sixth Prince’s methods are far more ruthless than mine.”

Li Chang'an's pupils suddenly contracted.

What he worried about most happened.

But only for a moment, and Li Chang'an regained his composure: "I don't understand what you're saying. What does the leader of the Secret Celestial Bureau have to do with me?"

Seeing that he was still being stubborn, Lin Jiangnian's smile widened: "It's no use arguing with me. Since we dared to arrest you, we must have enough evidence."

"Whether you want to kill Chen Changqing or plot a rebellion to usurp the throne and become emperor, none of that matters to me, and you don't need to explain it to me."

Lin Jiangnian's words undoubtedly made Li Chang'an tremble with fear, and his heart sank suddenly.

If Chen Changqing's matter troubled him, then Lin Jiangnian's words about treason and usurpation struck at the deepest secret in Li Chang'an's heart.

His expression changed drastically. He tried to remain calm, but his face had turned pale without him noticing.

"What exactly are you trying to say?!"

Li Chang'an stared intently at him.

"Sixth Prince, there's no need to be nervous."

Lin Jiangnian still smiled and said, "I've come to you only to ask the Sixth Prince a few questions."

Li Chang'an didn't speak, his eyes deep, clearly disbelieving.

Lin Jiangnian, regardless of whether Li Chang'an believed him or not, asked the question that was of most concern to him at the moment.

Where is Chen Zhao?

Upon hearing these words, Li Chang'an's mind reeled as if it were being bombarded.

Instant system crash!

Chen Zhao, something's happened!

The last shred of hope that Li Chang'an had was completely gone.

Chen Zhao is still alive!

Very few people in the world know about this news.

Now that Lin Jiangnian has asked this question, it means he knows Chen Zhao is still alive. It also means... Chen Zhao's identity was probably exposed a few nights ago.

Chen Zhao must have acted on Li Cining according to the agreed plan, but the current situation proves that Chen Zhao has failed!

Realizing this, Li Chang'an felt a chill run through his body, his eyes filled with fear, and he was no longer as calm as before.

"I have no idea."

Li Chang'an stared intently at Lin Jiangnian: "I don't know what you're talking about."

"At this point, why is the Sixth Prince still being so stubborn?"

Lin Jiangnian looked at him casually: "Do you think this will cover up your crime of colluding with Chen Zhao?"

"Do you really think you have the ability to mobilize so many skilled individuals to assassinate me in Chujiang City?"

"Or do you think that you, a lame prince, without any support behind you, dare to covet the throne?"

Lin Jiangnian's words about the "lame" prince stung Li Chang'an's heart. His eyes turned angry as he stared intently at Lin Jiangnian.

"You don't need to look at me like that; it only makes you look like you're incompetent and furious."

Lin Jiangnian shook his head regretfully: "Your plan was completely exposed the moment Chen Zhao failed to assassinate the emperor. Did you think that if I could find out about you, your good brother, the emperor, couldn't?"

At that moment, Li Chang'an felt ice-cold all over, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

All his secrets have been exposed!
Finished!

His plan, which he had been preparing and patiently waiting for for so many years, has failed just like that?

At that moment, Li Chang'an became extremely agitated.

He is not willing!

Not reconciled!
However, his anger at this moment seemed to have turned into impotent rage.

After a while, he collapsed limply, his already disheveled appearance looking even more dejected.

His voice was hoarse: "How...how did you find out?"

"That's a long story."

Lin Jiangnian glanced at him: "Where is Chen Zhao?"

"He's still alive?"

Li Chang'an seemed to have grasped something important and suddenly looked up, but when he met Lin Jiangnian's gaze, he froze.

Yes, what's the point of being alive?
exposed!
Chen Zhao has been exposed, and so has he, which means the plan has completely failed!
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, his death is imminent.

Even if he doesn't die, his fate will probably be worse than death.

"I do not know."

After a long pause, Li Chang'an spoke in a hoarse voice.

"He hasn't contacted you?"

Lin Jiangnian stared at Li Chang'an, trying to glean something from his face.

Li Chang'an said, as if mocking himself, "Why would he trust anyone?"

"When did you start colluding with him?"

"Collusion?"

Li Chang'an muttered to himself, a cold smile appearing on his face: "I have never colluded with him."

At this point, a glint of shrewdness and resentment flashed in Li Chang'an's eyes: "In the end, I am nothing more than a pawn, a puppet, in his hands..."

Hearing this, Lin Jiangnian was somewhat surprised, but then he quickly realized. That makes sense!

Back then, Chen Zhao wielded immense power and influence. Li Chang'an, on the other hand, was merely an unfavored prince, powerless and without influence.

In Chen Zhao's eyes, Li Chang'an was indeed just a dispensable pawn.

As Zhao Xi said, whether it was Li Chang'an in front of them or the Third Prince Li Yuan, they were probably just Chen Zhao's pawns from the very beginning.

Furthermore, there are countless other pawns that Chen Zhao has placed within this palace.

"If that's the case, why don't you resist?"

Lin Jiangnian asked.

Hearing this, Li Chang'an stared at Lin Jiangnian and sneered, "Why do you think I shouldn't resist?"

Lin Jiangnian raised an eyebrow: "You want to be the emperor?"

Li Chang'an sneered: "Don't you want to? Doesn't your father want to?"

Lin Jiangnian said calmly, "Not everyone is as greedy as you."

"Ha, that sounds so high-sounding!"

Li Chang'an sneered repeatedly as he stared at Lin Jiangnian: "You are the only son of the Prince of Lin, a future hereditary prince. You have been pampered since childhood and have immense power. Naturally, you have never had any worries."

"You were destined for wealth and honor from birth, to be above all others, but what about me?"

"Do you know how much neglect and cold treatment I suffered since childhood? Do you know what would have happened to me if I hadn't fought for it?!"

"If you were me, you wouldn't say such a thing!"

Looking at Li Chang'an, whose expression was somewhat ferocious and whose emotions were agitated, Lin Jiangnian remained silent.

He's obsessed!

The desire for power had blinded him.

But in a sense, this does seem to be his only way out.

A prince with a physical disability from childhood was destined to be unfavored in the palace and to suffer criticism. This would be difficult for any proud person to accept, let alone a prince of Da Ning.

However, he was also fortunate to have a benevolent elder brother who became emperor, thus saving him from the fate of fratricide.

But it is precisely because of this that his distorted childhood experiences led to his ever-expanding desire for power, ultimately leading him down this path of no return.

It's hard to say whether what he did was right or wrong; in a sense, Lin Jiangnian really has no right to judge.

These were not things that Lin Jiangnian cared about.

Where is Chen Zhao?

Lin Jiangnian looked at him calmly: "Tell me his whereabouts, and I can find a way to save your life."

Upon hearing this, Li Chang'an looked up at Lin Jiangnian, his expression seemingly incredulous: "You want to save me?"

Lin Jiangnian calmly said, "I can save your life."

Treason is a dead end.

Given the precedent set by the Third Prince, even if Li Cining wanted to protect Li Chang'an this time, the court officials would not allow it.

But Lin Jiangnian managed to save his life before things happened.

The prerequisite is that he has to be obedient.

Li Chang'an was stunned for a moment, then a cold smile appeared on his face, "I don't need your charity!"

"Whether I live or die, I will decide for myself."

Whether you live or die is not predetermined, nor is it something you can decide.

Lin Jiangnian gradually wiped the smile off his face: "Once you fall into my hands, you only have one path to take."

"Whether you cooperate or oppose me is up to you."

Li Chang'an sneered: "You're threatening me?"

"I, the young master, never threaten anyone."

Lin Jiangnian slowly stood up. "You'll understand soon enough."

"I hope you'll still be this stubborn next time we meet."

Lin Jiangnian gave him one last look, then turned and left without looking back.

Li Chang'an stared blankly at Lin Jiangnian's departing figure, and for some reason, his heart suddenly sank.

A feeling of unease suddenly welled up inside me.

……

It was three days later when I saw Li Chang'an again.

Inside the dungeon, a faint smell of blood permeated the air, mixed with an unpleasant odor that made one feel nauseous.

The once spirited Sixth Prince has lost all his sharpness.

On a mattress covered with dry grass, the Sixth Prince lay on a mat, covered in blood, his eyes glazed over, barely alive.

When he saw Lin Jiangnian, a glint of light flashed in his dazed eyes, and his hoarse voice was filled with intense emotion.

"Kill, kill me..."

"Quickly, kill me..."

Lin Jiangnian walked up to him, squatted down, and looked at him quietly: "I told you, your life and death are no longer in your own hands. Want to die? It's not that easy."

Li Chang'an's eyes were filled with fear, and his whole body trembled slightly.

I don't know if it was fear or pain.

It's clear that the torment of the past few days has been a painful experience for this pampered Sixth Prince.

"Tell me Chen Zhao's whereabouts, and you can decide whether he lives or dies."

Li Chang'an trembled all over, staring intently at Lin Jiangnian, his eyes filled with resentment and anger.

But in the end, the resentment and anger were dispelled by the torment of the past few days.

Even highly trained assassins might not be able to withstand the torture methods used by the Prince Lin's mansion, let alone Li Chang'an.

"I, I don't know..."

"He, he would only contact me first before. I, I don't know his whereabouts... After the assassination plan failed... he would never contact me again."

"I...I really don't know..."

Li Chang'an's voice was weak and feeble, as if he had used up all his strength.

Lin Jiangnian stared at him, his expression grave: "So, you don't know his whereabouts either?"

Li Chang'an nodded weakly.

"Why the hell didn't you say so earlier?!"

“I told you, I told you… but you didn’t believe me.”

Looking at Li Chang'an, who appeared weak and on the verge of death, Lin Jiangnian really wanted to slap him twice.

Judging from his expression and reaction, it didn't seem like he was faking it, and Lin Jiangnian didn't believe that Li Chang'an could withstand the torture methods of the Prince Lin's mansion.

Therefore, what he said is mostly true. But the problem is... can't you just say so directly?
Leaving him here is a waste of his time.

Why must we suffer physical pain?

How cheap!

"So, you're no longer of any use to me!"

Lin Jiangnian gave him a cold glance: "Then, we'll have to settle our score next, won't we?"

A hint of fear flashed in Li Chang'an's eyes: "You...you want to kill me?"

"Aren't you afraid of death?"

Seeing his reaction, Lin Jiangnian sneered.

Is there anyone in this world who is truly fearless of death?!
Li Chang'an stared intently at him, his voice hoarse: "I am the Prince of Da Ning. Even if you kill me, you won't escape."

"Even if I kill you, who will know it was me?"

Lin Jiangnian scoffed.

Li Chang'an's pupils suddenly contracted.

"However, I am kind-hearted and do not easily commit murder, so you can rest assured."

Li Chang'an gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with shock and anger; he naturally didn't believe it.

"Speaking of which, there's someone who really wants to see you."

Lin Jiangnian glanced at him, a playful smile on his face.

"I think you'll find it very interesting."

"..."

(End of this chapter)