The Ming Dynasty: Starting with taking Old Zhu on a journey to the future

Wang Sancai prostrated himself on the ground, hurriedly picking up the broken teacup pieces before leaving the study.

He sighed softly.

Since the death of the crown prince, the emperor's mood has been low.

Sometimes, nothing seems right, and when things don't go your way, it's easy to get irritable and angry.

After Lan Chen arrived, His Majesty's mood improved considerably.

But now that Lan Chen has been assassinated, the emperor's mood seems to have returned to what it was like when the crown prince had just passed away.

Nothing pleases me.

……

The Imperial Guard's prison.

Jiang Huan took off his flying fish robe, leaving his upper body bare.

He stared fiercely at Chen Yuan, who was hanging on the cross.

At this point, Chen Yuan was already covered in bruises from being whipped.

Jiang Huan turned to the executioner Xiao Ming beside him and asked, "How is it? Did they confess?"

Xiao Ming was taken aback: "Sir? What instructions?"

"You didn't ask?"

"Sir, isn't this man a member of Hu's faction? Should we interrogate him?"

Wasn't the trial of Lan Yu's treason case already over?

This case actually didn't have many twists and turns.

Just follow the procedure.

Anyone suspected of participating in Lan Yu's rebellion.

There's no need for interrogation; they're subjected to severe torture from the start.

You can write down whatever result you want without interrogation.

Jiang Huan remained silent: "Didn't the person who brought him tell you? Isn't he a member of Lan Yu's faction?"

Xiao Ming shook his head.

"Sir, should I interrogate him again?"

It's clear that the person in charge of the handover was biased and didn't negotiate well.

However, it's nothing serious.

"It's alright, I'll interrogate him myself."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ming handed the red-hot branding iron to Jiang Huan.

After Jiang Huan took it, he slowly walked forward.

Looking at Chen Yuan, who had been tortured into unconsciousness.

He glanced at it.

Xiao Ming promptly poured a basin of cold water directly onto Chen Yuan.

The coolness of the ice water instantly roused Chen Yuan from his coma.

Seeing that Chen Yuan had regained consciousness, Jiang Huan placed the red-hot branding iron directly in front of him: "Speak, who exactly sent you to approach Lan Chen?"

As Chen Yuan looked at the scorching heat emanating from the branding iron in front of him, tears and snot streamed down his face.

"Sir, I really don't know anything."

"All I know is that someone gave me a sum of money to approach someone and then lead that person into the alleys of Jiangdongmen Street."

"I really know nothing else, sir."

Jiang Huan looked at Chen Yuan: "What did the person who gave you the money look like? Do you still remember?"

Chen Yuan shook his head.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Huan immediately threw the branding iron aside and then drew a short knife.

He stabbed directly into Chen Yuan's leg, his face grim as he said, "Are you still being stubborn? You even dared to kill a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, you've got some nerve."

Blood was flowing freely.

Chen Yuan screamed in pain.

"Sir, I really don't know!"

"I was just thinking that since someone paid me, I could have a good time. All I had to do was lure that person to Jiangdong Gate."

"I really didn't know their purpose was to kill!"

Sure enough, there's no such thing as a free lunch.

At first, he thought his luck had turned around and he had met a benefactor.

He was given a large sum of money, which he squandered at will.

All we need to do is find a way to lure a person named Lan Chen to Jiangdongmen Street; we don't need to worry about anything else.

The rest of the money also went to him.

He had also observed the man; he was plain-looking and seemed a bit weak, not like a high-ranking official or nobleman.

That's why he dared to agree to do it.

Unexpected.

I fell into a pit.

Jiang Huan sighed softly, "Stubborn, really stubborn. Your mouth is like a rock in a latrine, smelly and hard."

"I have all kinds of torture instruments here. I want to see how long you can keep up your stubbornness."

One hour later.

After undergoing the entire "massage," Chen Yuan completely lost consciousness.

Seeing this, Xiao Ming asked, "Sir, could this kid really not know?"

All normal people.

Whether they are captive assassins or people who cannot feel pain.

Otherwise, usually under half a set of tortures, they would confess to everything.

He was able to recall every single detail of the three minutes of intercourse, leaving nothing out.

They can even admit to doing things they didn't do themselves.

This is the cruel punishment of the Hongwu reign.

The Imperial Prison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which struck fear into the hearts of all the officials.

It's a place that many people would rather commit suicide than come into.

Under torture, almost no one refused to confess; if they didn't, it basically meant they genuinely didn't know.

Jiang Huan hesitated for a moment.

Chen Yuan's entire body was completely unharmed.

They haven't even confessed to a single name yet, so it seems they really don't know.

Since they couldn't get any useful clues out of Chen Yuan...

Then we'll have to search the entire city.

The emperor has given his permission, so I can investigate with confidence.

……

Fengyang Prefecture.

After assassinating Lan Chen, Zhu Gaoxu left Yingtian Prefecture overnight.

They returned to Fengyang Prefecture.

Zhu Gaoxu rode his horse, his expression solemn.

When we return to Fengyang.

Zhu Jihuang had already prepared a feast with a sumptuous selection of dishes.

Not only does it have chicken, fish, pork, and mutton, but it also has venison.

The wine is also a fine and mellow brew.

Looking at Zhu Gaoxu, who had already returned to Fengyang Prefecture, Zhu Jihuang hurriedly greeted Zhu Gaoxu below.

"Cousin, over here!"

Upon hearing the sound, Zhu Gaoxu looked towards a second-floor window of a restaurant.

Zhu Jihuang was waving at him.

Seeing this, he led his men to the entrance of the restaurant and dismounted.

The waiter immediately stepped forward, took the reins from Zhu Gaoxu, and walked towards the stable.

Zhu Gaoxu led his men toward the second floor of the restaurant.

We arrived at the door of the private room.

Before Zhu Jihuang could open the door, Zhu Gaoxu kicked it open.

His attendants stood guard at the door.

Zhu Jihuang said with a smile, "Cousin, why are you so angry?"

Zhu Gaoxu grabbed Zhu Jihuang by the collar and shouted, "You dare to trick me?!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Jihuang...

He quickly explained, "Why do you say that, cousin?"

"You're still playing dumb with me? You dare say you didn't know Lan Chen is protected by the Imperial Guards?!"

He only realized it now.

That's not right.

The fact that Lan Chen was able to overturn the verdict in Lan Yu's case proves that this kid is definitely not an ordinary person.

What normal person would dare to overturn a treason case?

The key point is that even the Emperor could be persuaded.

Zhu Jihuang smiled slightly: "Cousin, please calm down! It's precisely because of the Embroidered Uniform Guard that we need your help, isn't it?"

"After all, in this whole world, the only person I can think of who is brave and skilled in killing someone in the hands of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is my cousin."

These flattering words did not appease Zhu Gaoxu.

But its arrogance has also diminished considerably.

What he liked to hear most was when people said he was brave.

Stop fucking flattering me.

"However, I am curious, when did you acquire someone in the Five Cities Garrison?"

He was able to leave the capital under the cover of night.

It was also thanks to Zhu Jihuang's connections in the Five Cities Military Command.

However, Zhu Jihuang was also a prince, so when did he have such great power?

The Five Cities Garrison was the department in charge of maintaining order in the capital.

Don't tell me you don't have such connections.

Even my own father wouldn't have such connections, would he?

Zhu Jihuang swirled the wine in his glass: "Leaving that aside, I wonder, cousin, did you truly succeed in killing Lan Chen?"

Zhu Gaoxu snorted coldly: "You don't believe me? I shot that kid in the head with one arrow."

"He's definitely going to die!"