Chapter 98: Spicy Liquid
Hou Wenji slowly walked out of his room and strolled to the prison along a stone-paved path. Although the Intelligence Department wasn’t in charge of formal interrogation, the methods used here were more terrifying compared to those used in the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review.
Ordinary prisoners might be able to see the sky again, but it seemed like none of the prisoners in the Intelligence Department made it out alive. Of course, there were exceptions, depending on Hou Wenji’s judgment.
When the Centurion who was guarding the prison saw Hou Wenji, he quickly went up and bowed. Hou Wenji casually waved his hand and asked where the prisoner was. Then, he slowly walked toward that cell.
The Centurion opened the gate of the cell, and Hou Wenji signaled him not to follow. The Centurion nodded and guarded the door with his hand on the handle of his saber.
The prison cell was dark and moist.
Although the torch fire wasn’t small, this place was dim and uncomfortable. There was only an iron gate and no windows, so sunlight couldn’t shine through. It was a luxury for prisoners here to breathe fresh air.
This prison cell was narrow but deep, and all kinds of torture devices were placed on the walls to the two sides, able to make people shiver.
Hou Wenji rarely came to the prison; he didn’t like the stale atmosphere and the rotten smell.
There was one chair in the room, and the chief interrogator would sit there. On the other side of the chair, there was the prisoner whose shoulder blades were penetrated by iron chains and nailed into the wall. It was hard to tell what he looked like after the prior interrogation.
That night, Zhuo Buyi controlled Vulture’s mind and used Vulture to capture this man.
Although what happened that night seemed simple, Zhuo Buyi’s terrifying ability could only be sensed after reflection. Since Vulture was one of Yu Donglai’s henchmen, his cultivation strength wasn’t low. His bat-like agile movements and vicious snake-like sword techniques were all worth praising. However, Zhuo Buyi controlled the mind of such a cultivation master who was dozens of meters away.
Right now, the prisoner who was nailed onto the wall had his head lowered, and a liquid was dripping down his head, but it was hard to tell if it was water or blood.
Hou Wenji sat down in the chair and frowned as he looked at the prisoner who almost didn’t look like a human now. He slowly raised his left hand and flicked a finger. Although it was silent, the prisoner shook and groaned in pain as a bloody hole appeared in his shoulder.
“Do you know how dumb you are?” Hou Wenji picked up a deboning knife from the table and filed his fingernails. While looking at his slender and long fingers, he said calmly, “Since your master asked you to handle this, it shows his trust in your abilities. I heard that none of Luo Yao’s subordinates is a coward, but I’m disappointed today.”
“I… don’t want to die.”
The person hanging on the wall replied with his hoarse voice in difficulty.
“Your name is Luo Two?” Hou Wenji continued without raising his head, “Have you thought about the fact that you might have destroyed your young master’s future? Yesterday, His Majesty had issued the edict that will promote your young master to a rank 4 colonel and ask him to serve under Li Yuanshan of Right Valiant Guard in the northwest. That is a good place, and your young master might soon soar into the sky. Because of you, he might be arrested by the Court of Judicial Review before he gets to wear the armor of a rank 4 colonel. His future probably will be done.”
“I… don’t want to die,” Luo Two repeated what he said. After a moment of silence, he added, “Although… I’m only a servant, I… don’t think… my life is worthless.”
Hearing this, Hou Wenji put down the knife, clapped his hands, and laughed, “I like people who don’t want to die, especially the prisoners in the Intelligence Department. As long as a person doesn’t want to die, all the secrets will be spilled. Although you have told us everything, including the stuff that you should say and shouldn’t say, I won’t kill you.”
Hou Wenji continued with a smile, “Don’t worry, I won’t kill you in a long while. I still have great uses for you. If you didn’t confess, I might not let you live. The person who got arrested alongside you is in the next cell, and he confessed the things that he should and didn’t say a word about the things that he shouldn’t reveal. He is a good henchman, but… you will live, and he will die.”
Hou Wenji slowly walked close to Luo Two and said gently to the man who had injuries all over his body, “There is also another difference between you and him. On top of surviving, I won’t even tell others about your confession. Your secrets will end here with me. The other person didn’t snitch on his master, but his master will be dragged down. You snitched on your young master, but I will treat it as if nothing happened.”
“Thanks…” Luo Two raised his head with difficulty and wanted to see who was in front of him.
“You don’t need to thank me.” Hou Wenji smiled and said, “I’m letting you live because you are useful. I’m not going after your young master because your young master is useful. With you alive, I can bring misfortunate to your young master at any time. Perhaps tomorrow, perhaps next week, and perhaps before he leaves Chang’an. How do you think he is going to react after I show him your confession document?”
A trace of fear flashed across Luo Two’s eyes, and he looked at Hou Wenji, hoping the latter wouldn’t do that.
Before Luo Two could say anything, Hou Wenji patted his shoulder and said, “He would hate you, and he would want to skin you, eat your flesh, and drink your blood. I heard that Junior General Luo has half of the viciousness of his father, which is impressive. I wonder if he will beg me not to reveal the secret. Even if he is vicious, what can he do? He could only beg me.”
Hou Wenji continued, “What if I show your confession document to Great General Luo Yao? Guess what he would do? Recreate the drama that happened more than 20 years ago? Kill your young master and plead guilty in the Capital? Perhaps, but he will kill your entire family first. Now with your confession document in my hand, both Luo Yao and Luo Wen would try to please me and would even give me a ton of money to seal my mouth. They might even give me everything they have. I guess you must be thinking about how Luo Yao killed his first son years ago, right?”
Luo Two nodded his head while shivering, not daring to speak.
Hou Wenji shook his head and said, “You are wrong. Luo Yao wouldn’t do that again. He could do it 20 years ago because he could get another son. He was lucky, and he finally got a son who isn’t that dumb after having seven daughters in a roll. Now, he is old. Even if he could have another son, could he last until his third son grows up? He isn’t the Luo Yao in the past. When people get old, they would become more afraid. In order not to lose his son, his status, and his prestige, Luo Yao should be even willing to do things for me. Luo Yao wouldn’t reject my requests, and it is the same situation with Luo Wen. Don’t you feel proud? With the confession of an insignificant figure like you, I now have control over Luo Yao and Luo Wen.”
Luo Two’s lips twitched as he asked, “You… you want to threaten my young master and old master and make them work for you!?”
“I’m not that brave.” Hou Wenji smiled and said, “I’m only doing things for His Majesty. However, the Royal Guard is interested in what the generals are talking about in private. It would be a win-win situation. You should be proud. You are more important than both Luo Yao and Luo Wen at this moment. If the two of them don’t listen to me, I will send you to Tai Chi Palace and let you explain everything to His Majesty. Also, don’t try to commit suicide by biting off your tongue.”
Hou Wenji looked at Luo Two in contempt and said, “Your life is only something extra; your confession document is enough. If I want, the heads of your parents and your little sister will be delivered to you in a month even though Yong State is far in the south. Live well. You lived for the Luo Family before, and now you should live for yourself. You already snitched on your young master like a fool, so I hope you will be smart this time and think about what you should do.”
Luo Two seemed dead inside. He was truly terrified. His survival instinct made him confess, but now he was regretting not being dead.
At this moment, Godly Eye Liu Duxiu, one of the seven chiliarchs, walked in from the outside with a stack of documents.
“Department Head, all the documents on Vulture’s case are organized here.”
Hou Wenji nodded, grabbed the documents, and glanced at them before placing them under his arm. Then, he glanced at Luo Two and said to Liu Duxiu, “Heal him, feed him, and give him liquor and women if he wants. Let him live well; we will need this man’s help in the future.”
“As you wish,” Liu Duxiu replied.
Hou Wenji turned around and walked away. When he got to the gate, he stopped and ordered, “Go arrange a meeting with General Luo Wen, a new rank 4 colonel, tomorrow morning. Get a table of good dishes at Guest-Prosper Dwell and tell General Luo Wen that I have something to discuss with him.”
“As you wish.”
Hearing this, Luo Two’s body shivered, and he fainted in fear.
“Don’t tell anyone about this person being alive, not even Captain Luo Weiran,” Hou Wenji whispered to Liu Duxiu.
[TL Note: There is also a Guest-Prosper Dwell in Fangu that Fang Jie opened, and this restaurant has the same name. There is no connection between the two. This name is quite common in ancient China]
…
The only shop that didn’t a signboard over its door on East 20th Street was the one that Fang Jie rented. He had rented it for more than ten days, but it seemed like he was in no hurry to earn money. Although a big portion of the silver taels that he brought from Fangu was used, and he couldn’t even bribe a little rank 7 official now, Fang Jie still seemed calm. He even hired a maid and a servant to take care of Da Quan.
Aside from cleaning this place, their only job was to take care of Da Quan who couldn’t get off the bed. The most important thing they had to do was to cook meat for Da Quan.
Fang Jie was quite fond of the hot noodle soup that a shop close by sold. With that and a plate of steamed buns, Fang Jie could get full and feel comfortable.
Now, it was dark, and the temperature was cooler. Fang Jie seemed to be in a good mood, and he sat down with Mu Xiaoyao and Chen Qingshan at a restaurant. They ordered a few cold dishes but no liquor. Fang Jie was trying to get Mu Xiaoyao to quit drinking liquor, so he didn’t want to trigger her.
Before the food was served, an uninvited guest sat down next to Fang Jie.
“Damn it! So hot!” this person unbuttoned his shirt and revealed his fat belly.
“Xiang Qingniu, why aren’t you enjoying life at Pure Hollow Daoist Temple? I don’t have anything good to treat you with,” Fang Jie asked with a smile.
“Hey, where is your conscience?” Xiang Qingniu stared at Fang Jie and said with slight anger, “I saved your life. You aren’t even willing to buy me food, let alone being thankful. Are you still a human?”
“I will buy you food!” Fang Jie nodded and said, “Hot noodle soup! Steamed buns!”
“Three bowls of hot noodle soup and five plates of steamed buns!” Xiang Qingniu shout at the owner of the restaurant, “Do you have liquor? Get us a liter for now!”
“Liquor…” Mu Xiaoyao repeated after Xiang Qingniu, and her eyes were so bright that they would scare people.
“Do you want to die?” Fang Jie asked Xiang Qingniu.
Xiang Qingniu was afraid of women, especially pretty women. Upon seeing Mu Xiaoyao’s terrifying expression, he quickly shook his head and said, “I don’t want to die.”
“Then don’t mention the word liquor!” Fang Jie replied with a smile.
Xiang Qingniu looked at Mu Xiaoyao as if he was wronged, then he said to the restaurant owner, “No liquor. Get me two jars of… spicy liquid. You know what I mean.”
Ordinary prisoners might be able to see the sky again, but it seemed like none of the prisoners in the Intelligence Department made it out alive. Of course, there were exceptions, depending on Hou Wenji’s judgment.
When the Centurion who was guarding the prison saw Hou Wenji, he quickly went up and bowed. Hou Wenji casually waved his hand and asked where the prisoner was. Then, he slowly walked toward that cell.
The Centurion opened the gate of the cell, and Hou Wenji signaled him not to follow. The Centurion nodded and guarded the door with his hand on the handle of his saber.
The prison cell was dark and moist.
Although the torch fire wasn’t small, this place was dim and uncomfortable. There was only an iron gate and no windows, so sunlight couldn’t shine through. It was a luxury for prisoners here to breathe fresh air.
This prison cell was narrow but deep, and all kinds of torture devices were placed on the walls to the two sides, able to make people shiver.
Hou Wenji rarely came to the prison; he didn’t like the stale atmosphere and the rotten smell.
There was one chair in the room, and the chief interrogator would sit there. On the other side of the chair, there was the prisoner whose shoulder blades were penetrated by iron chains and nailed into the wall. It was hard to tell what he looked like after the prior interrogation.
That night, Zhuo Buyi controlled Vulture’s mind and used Vulture to capture this man.
Although what happened that night seemed simple, Zhuo Buyi’s terrifying ability could only be sensed after reflection. Since Vulture was one of Yu Donglai’s henchmen, his cultivation strength wasn’t low. His bat-like agile movements and vicious snake-like sword techniques were all worth praising. However, Zhuo Buyi controlled the mind of such a cultivation master who was dozens of meters away.
Right now, the prisoner who was nailed onto the wall had his head lowered, and a liquid was dripping down his head, but it was hard to tell if it was water or blood.
Hou Wenji sat down in the chair and frowned as he looked at the prisoner who almost didn’t look like a human now. He slowly raised his left hand and flicked a finger. Although it was silent, the prisoner shook and groaned in pain as a bloody hole appeared in his shoulder.
“Do you know how dumb you are?” Hou Wenji picked up a deboning knife from the table and filed his fingernails. While looking at his slender and long fingers, he said calmly, “Since your master asked you to handle this, it shows his trust in your abilities. I heard that none of Luo Yao’s subordinates is a coward, but I’m disappointed today.”
“I… don’t want to die.”
The person hanging on the wall replied with his hoarse voice in difficulty.
“Your name is Luo Two?” Hou Wenji continued without raising his head, “Have you thought about the fact that you might have destroyed your young master’s future? Yesterday, His Majesty had issued the edict that will promote your young master to a rank 4 colonel and ask him to serve under Li Yuanshan of Right Valiant Guard in the northwest. That is a good place, and your young master might soon soar into the sky. Because of you, he might be arrested by the Court of Judicial Review before he gets to wear the armor of a rank 4 colonel. His future probably will be done.”
“I… don’t want to die,” Luo Two repeated what he said. After a moment of silence, he added, “Although… I’m only a servant, I… don’t think… my life is worthless.”
Hearing this, Hou Wenji put down the knife, clapped his hands, and laughed, “I like people who don’t want to die, especially the prisoners in the Intelligence Department. As long as a person doesn’t want to die, all the secrets will be spilled. Although you have told us everything, including the stuff that you should say and shouldn’t say, I won’t kill you.”
Hou Wenji continued with a smile, “Don’t worry, I won’t kill you in a long while. I still have great uses for you. If you didn’t confess, I might not let you live. The person who got arrested alongside you is in the next cell, and he confessed the things that he should and didn’t say a word about the things that he shouldn’t reveal. He is a good henchman, but… you will live, and he will die.”
Hou Wenji slowly walked close to Luo Two and said gently to the man who had injuries all over his body, “There is also another difference between you and him. On top of surviving, I won’t even tell others about your confession. Your secrets will end here with me. The other person didn’t snitch on his master, but his master will be dragged down. You snitched on your young master, but I will treat it as if nothing happened.”
“Thanks…” Luo Two raised his head with difficulty and wanted to see who was in front of him.
“You don’t need to thank me.” Hou Wenji smiled and said, “I’m letting you live because you are useful. I’m not going after your young master because your young master is useful. With you alive, I can bring misfortunate to your young master at any time. Perhaps tomorrow, perhaps next week, and perhaps before he leaves Chang’an. How do you think he is going to react after I show him your confession document?”
A trace of fear flashed across Luo Two’s eyes, and he looked at Hou Wenji, hoping the latter wouldn’t do that.
Before Luo Two could say anything, Hou Wenji patted his shoulder and said, “He would hate you, and he would want to skin you, eat your flesh, and drink your blood. I heard that Junior General Luo has half of the viciousness of his father, which is impressive. I wonder if he will beg me not to reveal the secret. Even if he is vicious, what can he do? He could only beg me.”
Hou Wenji continued, “What if I show your confession document to Great General Luo Yao? Guess what he would do? Recreate the drama that happened more than 20 years ago? Kill your young master and plead guilty in the Capital? Perhaps, but he will kill your entire family first. Now with your confession document in my hand, both Luo Yao and Luo Wen would try to please me and would even give me a ton of money to seal my mouth. They might even give me everything they have. I guess you must be thinking about how Luo Yao killed his first son years ago, right?”
Luo Two nodded his head while shivering, not daring to speak.
Hou Wenji shook his head and said, “You are wrong. Luo Yao wouldn’t do that again. He could do it 20 years ago because he could get another son. He was lucky, and he finally got a son who isn’t that dumb after having seven daughters in a roll. Now, he is old. Even if he could have another son, could he last until his third son grows up? He isn’t the Luo Yao in the past. When people get old, they would become more afraid. In order not to lose his son, his status, and his prestige, Luo Yao should be even willing to do things for me. Luo Yao wouldn’t reject my requests, and it is the same situation with Luo Wen. Don’t you feel proud? With the confession of an insignificant figure like you, I now have control over Luo Yao and Luo Wen.”
Luo Two’s lips twitched as he asked, “You… you want to threaten my young master and old master and make them work for you!?”
“I’m not that brave.” Hou Wenji smiled and said, “I’m only doing things for His Majesty. However, the Royal Guard is interested in what the generals are talking about in private. It would be a win-win situation. You should be proud. You are more important than both Luo Yao and Luo Wen at this moment. If the two of them don’t listen to me, I will send you to Tai Chi Palace and let you explain everything to His Majesty. Also, don’t try to commit suicide by biting off your tongue.”
Hou Wenji looked at Luo Two in contempt and said, “Your life is only something extra; your confession document is enough. If I want, the heads of your parents and your little sister will be delivered to you in a month even though Yong State is far in the south. Live well. You lived for the Luo Family before, and now you should live for yourself. You already snitched on your young master like a fool, so I hope you will be smart this time and think about what you should do.”
Luo Two seemed dead inside. He was truly terrified. His survival instinct made him confess, but now he was regretting not being dead.
At this moment, Godly Eye Liu Duxiu, one of the seven chiliarchs, walked in from the outside with a stack of documents.
“Department Head, all the documents on Vulture’s case are organized here.”
Hou Wenji nodded, grabbed the documents, and glanced at them before placing them under his arm. Then, he glanced at Luo Two and said to Liu Duxiu, “Heal him, feed him, and give him liquor and women if he wants. Let him live well; we will need this man’s help in the future.”
“As you wish,” Liu Duxiu replied.
Hou Wenji turned around and walked away. When he got to the gate, he stopped and ordered, “Go arrange a meeting with General Luo Wen, a new rank 4 colonel, tomorrow morning. Get a table of good dishes at Guest-Prosper Dwell and tell General Luo Wen that I have something to discuss with him.”
“As you wish.”
Hearing this, Luo Two’s body shivered, and he fainted in fear.
“Don’t tell anyone about this person being alive, not even Captain Luo Weiran,” Hou Wenji whispered to Liu Duxiu.
[TL Note: There is also a Guest-Prosper Dwell in Fangu that Fang Jie opened, and this restaurant has the same name. There is no connection between the two. This name is quite common in ancient China]
…
The only shop that didn’t a signboard over its door on East 20th Street was the one that Fang Jie rented. He had rented it for more than ten days, but it seemed like he was in no hurry to earn money. Although a big portion of the silver taels that he brought from Fangu was used, and he couldn’t even bribe a little rank 7 official now, Fang Jie still seemed calm. He even hired a maid and a servant to take care of Da Quan.
Aside from cleaning this place, their only job was to take care of Da Quan who couldn’t get off the bed. The most important thing they had to do was to cook meat for Da Quan.
Fang Jie was quite fond of the hot noodle soup that a shop close by sold. With that and a plate of steamed buns, Fang Jie could get full and feel comfortable.
Now, it was dark, and the temperature was cooler. Fang Jie seemed to be in a good mood, and he sat down with Mu Xiaoyao and Chen Qingshan at a restaurant. They ordered a few cold dishes but no liquor. Fang Jie was trying to get Mu Xiaoyao to quit drinking liquor, so he didn’t want to trigger her.
Before the food was served, an uninvited guest sat down next to Fang Jie.
“Damn it! So hot!” this person unbuttoned his shirt and revealed his fat belly.
“Xiang Qingniu, why aren’t you enjoying life at Pure Hollow Daoist Temple? I don’t have anything good to treat you with,” Fang Jie asked with a smile.
“Hey, where is your conscience?” Xiang Qingniu stared at Fang Jie and said with slight anger, “I saved your life. You aren’t even willing to buy me food, let alone being thankful. Are you still a human?”
“I will buy you food!” Fang Jie nodded and said, “Hot noodle soup! Steamed buns!”
“Three bowls of hot noodle soup and five plates of steamed buns!” Xiang Qingniu shout at the owner of the restaurant, “Do you have liquor? Get us a liter for now!”
“Liquor…” Mu Xiaoyao repeated after Xiang Qingniu, and her eyes were so bright that they would scare people.
“Do you want to die?” Fang Jie asked Xiang Qingniu.
Xiang Qingniu was afraid of women, especially pretty women. Upon seeing Mu Xiaoyao’s terrifying expression, he quickly shook his head and said, “I don’t want to die.”
“Then don’t mention the word liquor!” Fang Jie replied with a smile.
Xiang Qingniu looked at Mu Xiaoyao as if he was wronged, then he said to the restaurant owner, “No liquor. Get me two jars of… spicy liquid. You know what I mean.”
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