mtl008 Chapter 268 Died from Severe Injuries
Chapter 268 Died from Severe Injuries
Pei Ji pushed the Crown Prince into the interrogation room.
Mingruo's hands and feet were bound by iron chains. He was kneeling in a slightly twisted position. His clothes were already tattered from being beaten. The heavy makeup he had put on two days ago was smeared with blood, making his face look somewhat eerie and sinister.
The crown prince stared at him quietly for a moment.
He rubbed the silver ring between his fingers, remaining silent for a long time.
Outside the door, Ying Xun and his men from the Dali Temple stood guard, each holding their breath and listening intently to the sounds coming from inside.
Nearly a quarter of an hour passed before the Crown Prince finally spoke and asked.
"What is your relationship with Bo Zi'an? When did you find out his identity? Why did you participate in this assassination attempt?"
Mingruo's gaze fell on the prince's legs, her voice hoarse from not drinking water for too long: "He said he was a distant relative of mine and came to seek refuge with me. I took pity on him and took him in for a few days. I don't know what he was doing, and I didn't have much contact with him."
"What were you doing at the Princess's residence before the welcoming banquet? Were you asking the Princess to help you get into the palace?" the Crown Prince continued to ask.
"I only received a reward from the county magistrate to perform in the mansion; I know nothing else."
"You've been frequenting the residences of powerful figures in the capital lately, and have repeatedly mentioned the Ministry of Rites' selection of programs. What is your intention?"
"I have just started performing, and what I need most is fame. If I can be selected to enter the palace, I will become famous in the capital and receive more rewards."
Mingruo's answers were almost flawless. No matter how the Crown Prince asked, he could calmly reply, just like the interrogations he had undergone at the Dali Temple over the past two days.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Crown Prince asked again, "Is there anything else you'd like to say?"
"I've said everything I need to say. I'm just an opera singer; I don't know anything." Mingruo's voice became somewhat soft after speaking so much.
"You don't know? Pei Ji, use torture." The Crown Prince ordered calmly.
Mingruo looked up at the Crown Prince, and Pei Ji pulled out the whip and lashed it at Mingruo with a series of sharp cracks.
Pei Ji was a martial artist, and he knew best what hurt the most when he struck someone. Ming Ruo could endure it at first, but after a few blows, she couldn't take it anymore and cried out.
He stared coldly at the Crown Prince, a hint of mockery in his eyes: "Everyone says His Highness has the countenance of a wise ruler, and I originally thought so too. It seems, it seems, that he is just as I thought; unable to distinguish right from wrong, he'll only resort to torture to extract a confession—"
“You’re too noisy,” the Crown Prince said coldly, instructing Pei Ji, “Gag him and keep hitting him.”
Pei Ji stepped forward and stuffed a piece of cloth into Ming Ruo's mouth. Along with the cloth, he also inserted a very small pill.
Before Mingruo could react, he was forced to swallow. He wanted to speak, but his mouth was already covered. His pupils dilated as he struggled to hold his breath, and his eyes were filled with a blurry blood.
Pei Ji's whip lashed at Ming Ruo again and again. After an unknown amount of time, Ming Ruo lowered her head and gradually fell silent.
"Alright, let's go," the Crown Prince said calmly.
At this moment, the door was pushed open, and Ying Xun, along with a group of Dali Temple officials, glanced at the interrogation room and then all lowered their heads.
Mingruo on the rack was almost covered in blood, and one of his legs was crooked, clearly broken.
Everyone held their breath; no one dared to speak.
I had heard before that the Crown Prince had been in charge of criminal justice for a year and that his methods were extremely ruthless. Many people didn't believe it, thinking it was just hearsay. But now it seems that it might be true...
The Crown Prince looked at Ying Xun: "Keep the confession safe and close the case."
Ying Xun had just listened carefully to the Crown Prince's interrogation. Ming Ruo was indeed somewhat suspicious, but it was not enough to prove that he was related to the case. It all depended on how he was convicted in the end.
The other four people have also been questioned and signed their names. The case is not very serious, but after this incident, Xianyin Pavilion will probably be shut down.
He respectfully replied, "Yes."
About half an hour after the crown prince left, a jailer guarding the cell rushed in to report.
"Sir, that person... he's... he's not breathing."
Ying Xun suddenly looked up: "That Young Master Ming?"
The jailer nodded.
Ying Xun hurried over, placed his hand on Mingruo's nose, and waited for a moment, but it was clear that she had completely stopped breathing.
"Go and fetch a doctor," Ying Xun instructed.
Before long, the jailer brought a doctor over, examined Mingruo's body, and reported: "Died from severe injuries."
In places like prisons, it's common for prisoners to die from torture. The doctor was already familiar with the procedure, and his expression didn't change much. He followed the jailer's instructions, went through the process, and then left.
Ying Xun stared at Ming Ruo for a moment, then said to the jailer, "Go and take her away and put her in a safe place. The case can be closed now."
Once Mingruo is dead, the suspicions surrounding him will no longer matter.
……
After letting out all the emotions she had been suppressing over the past few days, Li Duan was finally exhausted and fell asleep leaning on Lu Yangyang's shoulder.
After midnight, Lin Shuang hurriedly walked in, knelt down to the side and whispered to Lu Yangyang, "Miss Lu, the Princess's mansion has sent word that a patient with an urgent illness has come to the door, and they want you to quietly go back."
Lu Yangyang frowned slightly. She had already said these past few days that she wouldn't see any guests. Who was coming to her door at this time?
She thought for a moment, then carefully placed Li Duan next to Lin Shuang. Li Duan was probably exhausted and did not wake up.
"I'll go back and check, and I'll be back in the morning," Lu Yangyang said softly.
Lin Shuang nodded.
Lu Yangyang then hurriedly left. Originally, the Princess's funeral should have been held for seven days, but the Emperor's birthday was just a few days away. If the funeral was held then, it would likely cause trouble. Therefore, the funeral could only be held for three days, and the funeral would take place early tomorrow morning.
Lu Yangyang left the Ming residence quietly on horseback without alerting anyone in the mansion.
When Lu Yangyang returned to the courtyard where she usually treated patients, she saw Pei Ji waiting for her there. Startled, she hurriedly asked, "Is there something wrong, Your Highness?"
Pei Ji replied, "His Highness is waiting for you inside."
Lu Yangyang rushed inside and immediately smelled a strong stench of blood.
She rushed to the Crown Prince in alarm: "Your Highness, are you injured?"
The crown prince shook his head: "It wasn't me."
Then show her the wooden frame behind her.
For convenience, Lu Yangyang had a rectangular wooden frame specially made for her patients. At this moment, a blood-soaked person was lying on the frame, and the strong smell of blood was coming from his body.
Lu Yangyang took a few steps over, and upon seeing the man's face, she was shocked: "Mingruo? How could it be him? What is he doing here?"
“He…” Lu Yangyang said, subconsciously reaching out to check his breath, but he was already lifeless. She frowned, quickly grabbed Mingruo’s wrist, then took out her gold needles and quickly inserted several needles into acupoints on Mingruo’s head.
Then he looked at the Crown Prince and silently mouthed, "Feigned death?"
"Hmm, you should treat his injuries first," the Crown Prince said softly, looking out the window. "He is my aunt's eldest son, Bo Changyi."