The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 410 - 342, don’t you want to take revenge on Zhuang Xiaocheng that old dog?_2

They saw two prison guards, one on each side, dragging an almost limp figure to the empty cell opposite the two women and threw the person in like a sack of broken hemp.

Then they turned and walked away without leaving a single unnecessary word.

In the Imperial Prison, speaking to prisoners with severe sentences was a violation of the rules.

Wu Ling fell to the ground, powerless. This renowned actor from the Eight Directions Theater had a face pale as death, no longer clad in acting robes but in prisoner garb.

There weren't many visible wounds, the only conspicuous one was at the waist, a blood-stained area.

If one were to lift the clothes, they could see a copper nail embedded into the flesh of the abdomen to seal off all the mana within the body.

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"Cough... cough cough..."

Wu Ling coughed, gasped for a while, and felt some strength returning. He barely managed to get up and, through the bars, saw the two familiar faces opposite. He cracked a faint smile and said,

"Previously outside, we wondered how terribly you'd be treated in prison. Now it seems, it's better than we imagined."

Similarly well-fed, Qing Niao felt mocked. She opened her mouth and the words that came out were,

"They didn't torture you?"

"They did, water torture," Wu Ling replied, quite composed, with a self-deprecating smile.

"At least they didn't disfigure me, which, for an actor, is a matter of life and death."

After a silent night, Yun Xi turned around, her face stern as she coldly scoffed,

"Still making jokes, seems you didn't suffer much."

Wu Ling fell silent for a moment, then sighed,

"I truly didn't expect that last night you would be with Mr. Zhao; my identity..."

"It was I who told him," Yun Xi said with a cold smirk. "How about that, are you angry enough to curse me, this betrayer?"

A few hours ago, she had been denouncing the 'betrayal' of those at the Thousand Faces God.

A few hours later, she herself had become the very traitor she despised.

Enduring the pain in his abdomen, Wu Ling sat cross-legged and frowned,

"You knew?"

The remark was ambiguous, but as the only "Divine Chapter Realm" magician in the Capital sub-branch, his position within the branch was not low.

The Branch Leader first, the agent codenamed "Ballast Stone" second, he ranked third among the members.

Commonly known as "Third in command."

Therefore, he had interactions with this female disciple of Zhuang Xiaocheng and knew her character.

Considering the timing of his capture, more than six months after Yun Xi's imprisonment, he could guess why Yun Xi had turned traitor.

"You all indeed knew!" Without warning, like an enraged little leopard, Yun Xi got infuriated.

She climbed out of bed, walked to the prison door, and using some light, she could see the girl's eyes were entirely swollen, her eyeballs filled with bloodshot veins, lips also bitten.

She had cried silently for half the night.

Yun Xi erupted in anger:

"Since you all knew the truth, why then serve that Old Dog Zhuang Xiaocheng? Claiming to support the Kuangfu Society to save the common people, but in the end, isn't it all for personal gain? What? Plotting to overthrow the empire and still not giving up? Want to be revered as a hero of the dragon? Or what? I just hate that I knew too little; otherwise, I would have ended that old crook's life myself that very day! How blind I was to associate and be tainted with you all, bah!"

Yun Xi ranted on, more venting her pent-up emotions of the night than truly blaming.

The stronger one's beliefs, the more intense the vengefulness after betrayal.

The more respect she had for Zhuang Xiaocheng before, the more intense her hatred now.

"Yun Xi..." Qing Niao opened her mouth, trying to soothe her, but ultimately just sighed.

Wu Ling endured the girl's scolding, his face not displaying anger but a trace of a bitter smile, seemingly wanting to explain something, but finally, he just sighed,

"In Jianghu, one can't help oneself."

His hair disheveled, he shook his head with a bitter smile,

"The Kuangfu Society is neither as you once imagined, a group of noble scholars, nor as you now see, solely ambitious usurpers hungry for the throne. Those people like Zhuang Xiaocheng, having partaken in the rebellion, have no way back, yet they're not willing to just exile and hide, genuinely wanting to reclaim their positions."

"But there were many who, before the revolt, had family members who had already secretly sided with the Second Prince Jian Wen. Zhuang Xiaocheng holds evidence of their allegiance, and if exposed, would face disaster, thus they had no choice but to be coerced and lured into joining."

"Of course, there are also some who joined later, looking for an opportunity, indeed there are such people."

"There are more like you," he continued, "completely deceived by Zhuang Xiaocheng and his crew from the start, aiding their escape, even getting involved. By the time they realized it, it was already too late.

Just like you, you understand now, but does that mean your identity as a rebel is gone? Sometimes, getting on board with thieves means you can only keep going down that path."

Wu Ling finished speaking in one breath and noticed Yun Xi silently ceasing to speak, and he laughed at himself:

"Perhaps in your eyes, I'm making excuses for myself.

Maybe, I admit, I was indeed tempted by the future Zhuang Xiaocheng and the others painted, at least until I understood the truth, and I still tried to overthrow the Empress. Now, getting arrested is nothing but my own fault. Go ahead and scold if you want."

Yun Xi stayed silent for a moment before suddenly asking, "How many within the Society know the truth?"

Wu Ling thought for a moment and said:

"Each sub-branch's senior members know, the middle ranks mostly realize it but often don't speak out. As for the lower members, indeed many are still kept in the dark.

Actually, for someone as naive as you to be chosen by Zhuang Xiaocheng to stay by his side is quite rare, but perhaps he chose you precisely because your faith is strong enough, making you reliable to use. As for us... our minds are too cluttered."

Yun Xi remained silent, pondering something.

The cell was quiet for a long while, neither spoke again.

Suddenly, the sound of doors opening came again from the end of the corridor, several prison guards walked in and started to open the doors of two cells.

The leading guard, his face full of bullish features, said with a smile:

"The three of you, Mr. Zhao requests your presence."

...

In a spacious "interrogation room" within the Imperial Prison.

Zhao Douan leaned back in a big chair, his legs up, resting on the table in front of him.

He flipped through interrogation records.

"Clang!"

The interrogation room door opened, the guard smiling sycophantically said, "My lord, the prisoners have been brought."

"Mm," Zhao Douan responded with a snap as he closed the booklet in his hands, putting his legs down, adopting a slightly more serious but still languid sitting posture, he said:

"Bring them in, then all of you leave. Don't let irrelevant people come close."

"Yes!"

The guard bowed and left.

Then Yun Xi, Qing Niao, and Wu Ling were pushed into the cold interrogation room.

With the iron door booming shut behind them and footsteps receding, the stone room contained only the cold long table and a few chairs.

Light streams pierced through the ventilation holes, stirring the dust in the air.

Zhao Douan tossed the dossier onto the table, crossed his arms over his abdomen, leaned back, and smiled, saying:

"Sit down, no need to be nervous, I'm not a demon."

The three had different expressions.

Qing Niao slightly tilted her head, not daring to meet Zhao Douan's eyes—

She always felt a deep wariness when she remembered how the Thousand Faces God flattered this man.

Wu Ling was nervous, mixed with complexity. The two had met before when Zhao Douan visited the theater and flirted with Pei Siniang.

Later, he even made an attempt on Zhao Douan's life, which failed without even seeing him.

Most recently, last night outside a carriage in the alley, he was shocked to learn that the State Preceptor was killed by Zhao Douan.

"What do you want us for?"

Yun Xi boldly, almost defiantly took a seat across him, her swollen eyes tearfully gazing at Zhao Douan, the prominent 'Prisoner' character on her chest boldly displayed, unhidden, she spoke while crying:

"Did you come to mock me?"

Zhao Douan watched the girl who cried all night, barely suppressing a laugh, suddenly pulled out a handkerchief and threw it at her face, saying lightly:

"Wipe your tears, don't you want to take revenge on that old dog Zhuang Xiaocheng?"

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ps: No need to wait till noon, updating a chapter early, definitely before 6 pm, you have my word!