Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 440 - 276 Interrogation

"Senior brother, if I get thrown into prison, please look after my second sister’s family and my classmates."

Though Gu Chengyu already had plans in mind, he might really have to take a trip to prison.

His parents were not in the Capital, so they should remain unaffected for now; only his second sister’s family was in the Capital, and he feared that someone might take advantage of his absence to harm them.

Yin Kun glared at him. "What nonsense are you talking about? How old are you? There’s still a long way ahead of you! What’s this small matter worth worrying about? I’ll go check your examination rank. Maybe we’re just being too anxious over nothing, so don’t overthink it."

Looking at the young man before him, Yin Kun thought that he seemed to always be confident. Even though danger was imminent, he remained calm and composed.

His teacher had a good eye; if this young disciple could escape this calamity, he would surely make his mark on the court soon.

"Well, senior brother, I’ll head back first." Gu Chengyu planned to return to interrogate Guo Shi, and the Hu Mansion should have also replied.

"Hmm! Once I get the examination rank, I’ll inform you. Your second senior brother and third senior brother..." Yin Kun intended to say something but seemed disheartened.

They had been out of court for quite a while; if the two had the intention, they would have sent someone with a message by now. There was still no action; he wondered what they were thinking.

Gu Chengyu hurried back to the mansion, and upon arrival, Ming Mo reported that the Hu Mansion had replied. Mr. Hu agreed to the proposed meeting place, and the Wu Mansion also sent a message requesting Gu Chengyu to visit.

After pondering for a moment, Gu Chengyu decided to first go and interrogate Guo Shi, and then head to Tianxiang Pavilion.

"Go and reply to the Wu Mansion; say I have matters outside and will visit after two hours. Where is Guo Shi?"

"He’s confined in the secret chamber!" Ming Mo received the order and prepared to send someone to the Wu Mansion with the message.

Gu Chengyu nodded and instructed to summon Ming Yan.

Passing by the pond in the outer court, Gu Chengyu arrived at a rockery in the garden and entered the cave within. He surveyed the surroundings and, seeing no one, felt for the mechanism on the rockery.

With a slight rumbling sound, the ground of the rockery opened to reveal an entrance to an underground passage. Gu Chengyu descended the stairs, and as he reached the bottom, the stone slab above automatically closed.

The space below was vast, with torches burning on the surrounding walls, illuminating the secret chamber as bright as day.

Guo Shi, tied up and blindfolded, was lying on the ground with a cloth stuffed in his mouth. Hearing someone entering, he became agitated.

He quickly sat upright, making a muffled sound through the cloth.

Li Zhuang, hearing someone enter, hurriedly took his two subordinates and hid to the side. Once he saw it was Gu Chengyu who had entered, he came forward to greet him.

"Greetings, Master!" Ever since Guo Shi was brought back, Li Zhuang had been guarding him with others.

Gu Chengyu nodded and signaled Li Zhuang and the others to put on black veils. He himself donned a mask with a blue face and fangs, which he had purchased during the Lantern Festival.

Gu Chengyu instructed them to remove the gag from Guo Shi’s mouth and the cloth covering his eyes.

The bright light ahead made it hard for Guo Shi to open his eyes. Once his mouth was free, he hurriedly spoke, "Who are you people? Why did you aid an official?"

Guo Shi couldn’t discern the purpose of these men, but he knew they likely weren’t there to kill him, or he would have been dead already.

He remembered there were assassins on the carriage trying to take his life, but he was saved by two men in black, then knocked out and taken somewhere unknown.

Guo Shi tried to open his eyes, his vision blurred.

He saw three men, two of whom were muscular and wore black veils, masking their faces. The one in front seemed slightly thinner, wearing a blue-faced, fanged mask.

Lowering his voice to a hoarse tone, Gu Chengyu said, "Mr. Guo, you should be grateful my men rescued you; otherwise, you’d already be dead."

After a while, Guo Shi could finally see the people before him, yet their faces remained obscured, leaving him unaware of who sent them.

"I must thank the brave warriors here for saving me. But why have you captured me? I am a court official, and imprisoning a court official is punishable by death."

Gu Chengyu let out a mocking laugh. "Mr. Guo, you think too highly of yourself. Do you believe that once outside this place, you would have nowhere to hide and die with no grave?"

Guo Shi’s face turned pale. Ever since he awakened, he had been trying to figure out who wanted to kill him.

The Eldest Prince trusted him; otherwise, he wouldn’t have entrusted him with this task. As for the court, if they wanted him to continue serving the Eldest Prince, they wouldn’t kill him.

Could it be the Third Prince? But the Third Prince was under house arrest and couldn’t possibly have the capability. If under house arrest, not even a bird should enter the Third Prince Mansion.

Gu Chengyu inwardly cursed at Guo Shi for being such a fool, still clueless about who wanted him dead.

"Mr. Guo, you know full well whom you serve. Better confess everything you know, because otherwise, do you think the Eldest Prince and your true master can save your life?"

Gu Chengyu had long known there were two factions after Guo Shi, indicating he was serving two masters simultaneously. Yet, he believed him to be a naive fool, not suited to be a double agent.

"I don’t understand what you’re saying." Hearing Gu Chengyu expose his secrets, Guo Shi felt a surge of fear, cold sweat soaking his back.

Gu Chengyu felt the urge to roll his eyes. If he wasn’t so reluctant to use the Truth Powder, he would have used it on him already, instead of wasting words.

The small bottle he had still lacked enough ingredients for another batch. If he could make it himself, it would be miraculous.

Unfortunately, the ingredients for Truth Powder were Second-level Spiritual Medicines from the Cultivation World, unavailable in the Mortal World.

Gu Chengyu gave a glance to Li Zhuang. Since Guo Shi still dreamt of escaping, it was time to show him some real consequences. Let’s see if his fists or Guo Shi’s mouth were stronger.

Li Zhuang nodded, stepping forward to punch Guo Shi in the stomach. Guo Shi yelped, collapsing on the ground, curling up in apparent agony.

Li Zhuang smirked. This Guo Shi was just a frail scholar, surely unable to withstand his iron fists. Just one punch, and it seemed he was about to die.

Gu Chengyu signaled to halt. Guo Shi couldn’t take much; a single punch should be enough to make him talk obediently.

"Mr. Guo, if you continue this obstinacy, don’t blame me for the rough treatment. Where did you get those letters from? Was it under the Eldest Prince’s orders? Why was Mr. Song implicated? Do you think the Eldest Prince will spare you? Those assassins were sent by the Eldest Prince, and your master behind him also wants to kill you. You’ve already been discarded."

Guo Shi’s forehead dripped with cold sweat as his stomach cramped in pain, his mind in chaos. Who was this person? How did he know it was the Eldest Prince who instructed him?

Enduring the pain, he spoke haltingly, "Who are you? How do you know I’m working for the Eldest Prince?"