Chapter 124: The Confessions of a traitorous official (2/2)
Empress Lu wiped the tears off her face and stood with her maid's help, breathing heavily she said quietly ”why do you hate me so much?”
Emperor Zhong open and closed his mouth then took a step forward. He stretched out his hand to touch her shoulders but she stepped away from him and avoided his touch. He breathed out loudly and whispered ”I don't have you, Meirong. I never did!”
”Then why do you like to hurt me, why won't you let my family be! Why do you always hurt people I care about! You know that my family is loyal, you keep attacking them! You got angry that I am holding a memorial ceremony for my brother, forgetting the part you played in his death! Why do you have to get rid of anyone I care about! Why! Why!”
She sighed, collected herself and bowed. ”Please excuse my manners, your Majesty, I lost control of myself. I will lock myself in the temple and meditate on myself”. She left without looking back. She didn't want to look at his face and just left Jiangxi palace for the small temple in the palace.
Emperor Zhong stretched out his hands to hold her back but drew his hands back when she turned around and walked away. He had tried to suppress the Lu family for years. However, now that he had succeeded, he did not feel any better.
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Meanwhile, at the ice Prison
A loud sound of footsteps was heard as Prime Minister Shi led a team of armed guards into the prison. Lu Yaozhu and Lu Yingjie stood at various ends of the prison as they walked in. Prime Minister Shi stood a few steps away from the prison door and smiled
”General Lu, Duke Wu. It has been a while. Chief inspector Mu Yitze has been dismissed from the case. I will be taking charge of the investigation” he smiled coldly and then waved the soldiers at his side forward, ”Get the General, I will be taking him for questioning”.
From the prison cell behind Madam Lu, cried out ”No! Please don't hurt him!”
Prime Minister Shi just flawed at her and smirked ”the words of a criminal are worth noting”.
The door of the prison cell was opened at four guards rushed in, the held Lu Yaozhu on the arm and dragged him forward. They dragged him out of the prison while Prime Minister Shi followed them behind.
Lu Yaozhu has led to a small room a hall away from the cells and chained to a chair. Prime Minister Shi rolled up his sleeves and walked into the room. Two muscular men stood at both sides of Lu Yaozhu, the men were dressed in dull coloured guard uniforms with a leather apron wrapped around the front of their uniform.
The muscular men strapped strong leather and cold chains around his wrist and ankle. Prime Minister Shi dragged a chair forward and sat in front of him. ”How the mighty had fallen, General. Who would have thought that one day the powerful Lu family would find themselves stripped the low? What a pity, his Majesty is willing to give you all a reduced punishment. If you would confess to your traitorous acts”
Lu Yaozhu smiled and replied in a jovial tone ”Never!”
Prime Minister Shi frowned, ”then you leave me no choice” he looked to the two muscular men and said, ”Begin!”
”Yes, my lord” they chorused. The men picked up a thorny whip and began to whip him. Prime Minister Shi felt like it wasn't painful, he picked up a sharp dagger and pierced Lu Yaozhu at his side. Lu Yaozhu hissed at the pain and tried to you'll back but the chain held him back.
The guards kept whipping him until his skin drew blood but Lu Yaozhu refused to give the Prime Minister what he wanted. The Prime Minister lost his patient after two hours of prolonged torture. He put on an iron edged knuckle and punched Lu Yaozhu twice. While shouting ”Admit your crimes and get peace”
”No! No!”
”You, why are you as stubborn as your father! Don't tell me it is a family trait!” Prime Minister Shi breathed loudly and then instructed the guards ”Continue until she confesses, revive him if he faints and continue, don't stop until he confesses”