Chapter 564: Interrogation, playing wicked (1/2)

Chapter 564: Interrogation, playing wicked

Which of the other Seven Noble Families are still active?

Chu Tianyin realized for the first time that Long Feiye was interested in the Seven Noble Families as well.

“If the Duke of Qin knows I’m from the Nether Clan, you must have done investigation into the rest, right?” Chu Tianyin probed. Intelligent people knew how to read between the lines to get what they wanted.

Naturally, Long Feiye was aware of this as well, but he’d never let slip that he was the East Qin imperial heir. “If Western Zhou’s Emperor Kangcheng Kangcheng1 knew the origins of your Chu Clan…”

Before Long Feiye could finish, Chu Tianyin panicked and cut him off. “Long Feiye, if you’re here to talk terms, then get to the point instead of going on tangents!”

Han Yunxi felt very uncomfortable at those words. Long Feiye was the last man in the world to wander off on tangents because he was rarely that patient. It’s obviously Chu Tianyin that’s evading questions and beating around the bush, alright!

She was about to retort when an unhappy Tang Li beat her to it with a chuckle. “Chu Tianyin, get the facts straight. The Duke of Qin is interrogating you, not having a chat! Just because he says a few extra sentences, you think you’re all that?”

It was unclear whether Chu Tianyin was really thick-skulled or just thick-skinned. Instead of feeling awkward, he simply burst forth, “Long Feiye, what will it take you to let me go? State your terms as you wish.”

His words avoided the topic of the Seven Noble Families completely, but Long Feiye didn’t get distracted. He closely scrutinized Chu Tianyin and discovered that he was the most coolheaded captive he’d have yet. Still, a prisoner was still a prisoner in the end.

“Your lordship isn’t planning to let you go at all. Tell me what you know of the Seven Noble Families, or else…”

Chu Tianyin interrupted him again. “Unless you release me, don’t even dream of loosening my tongue!”

He had been tricked once with Witch Aunt already. He wasn’t going to play the fool a second time! Moreover, Witch Aunt had already escaped, so he wasn’t going to give any more intel to Long Feiye. His expression turned fearless as he shut his mouth.

Long Feiye was planning to threaten the man but got threatened in turn instead. The last traces of his patience evaporated before he turned to Tang Li and Han Yunxi. “Which of you want to try?”

Which of us?

Naturally, the ‘try’ referred to interrogation. Whether it was Tang Li’s weapons or Han Yunxi’s poisons, both were much more fearsome than any torture implements in this chamber. Long Feiye went to sit down by Han Yunxi with his legs crossed, one arm coming to wrap around the back of her chair. He looked on coldly with a domineering air.

“I’ll go!” Tang Li had been itching for a fight for a while thanks to all the pent-up emotions about his marriage. He finally had a victim to vent on, so he wasn’t going to miss this chance.

Chu Tianyin didn’t know the relationship between Tang Li and Long Feiye, but he was clear on Tang Li’s own origins and his formidable assassination weapons. Although he felt ill at ease, he was rejoicing as well. Good thing it isn’t Han Yunxi. I fear her poisons most.

But Tang Li hadn’t even made a move before Han Yunxi spoke up. “Young Master Tang, I don’t think you need to show yourself just yet. This fellow’s got a strong backbone!”

“Wanna bet?” Tang Li asked without the least hesitation.

If Chu Xifeng was there, he would have held back Tang Li for sure. There were never any good endings from a bet with Han Yunxi!

“Sure!” Han Yunxi agreed happily, while Chu Tianyin’s ashen face turned three shades paler. Dammnit, what do these two take me as?

“First off, how do we bet and what are we betting?” Tang Li was very excited.

“We’ll bet on which one of us is the first to pry his mouth open,” Han Yunxi grew excited as well.

“And the terms?” Tang Li asked next.

“You each have a 1-hour time limit and you have to keep him alive. But everything else is fair game,” Long Feiye put in. No matter how cool-headed Chu Tianyin was, he still couldn’t help an involuntary shudder. But in the end, he kept his expression unmoved.

Han Yunxi was all too happy to agree. “Alright!”

But Tang Li was more serious. “So the winner’s whoever can pry open his mouth?”

“Mhm,” Han Yunxi nodded.

“And the stakes?” Tang Li asked next.

“Whatever you want,” Han Yunxi’s open generosity was in no way inferior to Long Feiye.

“If I win, we’ll clear all debts of silver I owe to the Duke of Qin?” Tang Li asked with a grin. After escaping from his wedding, his father had cut off all financial support to him, forcing him to rely on his mother in secret. But soon his father found out and dried up that avenue as well. Now he could only ask Long Feiye for money and had a pile of debts.

Han Yunxi burst into laughter. “I’ll just take your place, then.”

“You still have divisions between you and the Duke of Qin? Isn’t he already yours? His body is yours, that’s for sure…” Tang Li ridiculed.

Long Feiye didn’t speak, but went to drink his tea while the cup conveniently hid his face. Still, his eyes settled on Han Yunxi, whose face was red as she plow dauntlessly forward, “And what if you lose?”

“Whatever you what!” Tang Li was being generous as well. There wasn’t anything he could afford to lose anyways.

Han Yunxi only laughed. “If you lose, then I get you order you about for an entire year. Whenever I call, you’ll come!”

“Fine!” Tang Li was brimming with confidence.