The Child Emperor

Two palace maids walked in, one walked to the table, glanced at the meal that had only been eaten a few mouthfuls, and turned to look at the prisoner in the corner with his companions.

There were not many female guards in the palace. Meng E had seen these two people, but she could not name them. She stood up slowly and looked at them calmly.

A palace maid showed the string in her hand and smiled, Is it okay?

Meng E nodded, since she chose to stay, she would not make unnecessary resistance.

One palace maid stood where she was, while the other walked towards Meng E. Meng E knew the rules, she turned around, put her hands behind her back, and put the rope around her wrist. It was very gentle at first, as if she just wanted to make a move, but suddenly tightened and tied it two or three times. Okay the knot.

The rope is not thick, it is twisted from cowhide strips and is very strong, even someone stronger than Meng E can't break free.

Meng E turned around and walked out of the room, with two palace maids leading her one after the other.

It was already bright, but the palace was extremely quiet, and no one else could be seen. After turning a few corners, Meng E was taken into a separate courtyard. She was a little puzzled that this was not a place for interrogating prisoners, but an unused residence. , only higher-ranking eunuchs or female officials are eligible to live.

There was a chair in the main room, with her back to the door. This was Meng E's position. She sat down, and the maid took out a long rope, tied the chair around her waist twice, tightened it tightly, and finally exerted force. After pulling it twice to confirm that it was correct, he backed away.

There were whispers outside the door, as if someone was telling something, Meng E couldn't turn around, and didn't want to look, she sat silently on the chair, waiting for her fate.

There seemed to be a lot of people coming from the sound of footsteps, but there were only two people who circled in front of Meng E. One was Zong Zhengqing, Han Chou, and the other was a eunuch. Meng E had some impressions, but couldn't name them.

The two humbly gave in for a while, the eunuch sat down first, followed by Han Chou, the two did not immediately start to question, they leaned over and whispered for a while, and then sat upright, the eunuch said first: Your name is Meng E, the maid next to Your Majesty?

Um.

Do you recognize me?

I should have seen it, I don't know my name.

I'm Rong Huamin, Admiral of the Imperial Horse Supervisor.

Meng E and her brother once taught martial arts to the emperor and others in the Imperial Horse Prison. After listening to Rong Huamin, she had an impression, I remembered it, and I have seen it.

That's good. I have a few things to ask. Would you like to answer truthfully?

willing.

Rong Huamin didn't start the interrogation immediately, he turned his head to look at Han Chou, bowed his eyes and nodded again for a while, and continued: You are from the East China Sea Righteous Island, your original surname is Chen, right?

right.

What's your real name?

Chen, it's dumb and unspeakable.

This is a strange name, especially for a woman, Rong Huamin nodded and began to ask the real question, Have you ever been interrogated in Cui Mansion?

Meng E shook her head.

Answer.

No.

You killed a woman named Zhang Qinyan in Cui Mansion, right?

Zhang Qinyan was poisoned, and it has nothing to do with me.

Where did she get the poison?

I don't know. I guess she hid the poison in the qin. If His Majesty heard the sound of the qin and went to see her, it would be His Majesty who was poisoned. But when His Majesty went to see Cui Sheng's son, Zhang Qinyan would take the poison himself.

Why would she do this?

She knew that she couldn't escape, and she probably took the poison to avoid the pain of flesh and blood, or maybe she didn't want to implicate others.

Then why did you go to see Zhang Qinyan?

She's from Jianghu. I was worried, so I went to check. Han Zongzheng should know Zhang Qinyan better than me.

Han Chou didn't change his face, and said to Rong Huamin: As I said before, Yun Mengze has been planning the assassination for a long time, and it is their usual method to slowly move closer to the target from the periphery. I am willing to take the crime of oversight. .

Master Han's affairs are not under my control, I am only responsible for-- Rong Huamin pointed to Meng E on the opposite side, and continued: So you suspected that there would be assassins in Cui Mansion?

Meng E thought for a while, I am the maid by your Majesty's side, and I am also a bodyguard. I suspect that there are assassins everywhere, even the imperial palace, not just the Cui residence.

Rong Huamin chuckled, slowly took out a roll of paper from his sleeve, unfolded it, and said, I met the Chen brothers and sisters in Linzi City, and Chen Xie expressed his willingness to return to the emperor's side to lurk, assassinate the emperor if necessary, and make A great chaos, in line with the righteous deeds of the east. Chen Xie claimed that there was a way to gain the emperor's trust, and her brother Chen Mo was willing to vouch for it, so we let her out of the city.

Rong Huamin shook the paper in his hand, Do you know who this confession came from?

Saint Army Master.

Is he telling the truth?

Yes.

Meng E answered so happily, but Rong Huamin was a little confused, put away his confession, and coughed, Are you admitting that you participated in the assassination?

I don't admit it. What I said to the Holy Army Master was just a way to escape, not the truth. Your Majesty knows these things, and he is willing to believe me.

Han Chou interjected: Isn't it your purpose to gain His Majesty's trust?

I have countless opportunities to kill the emperor, there is no need to wait until Cui Mansion.

Perhaps this is Yun Mengze's arrangement, you are just following orders. Han Chou said.

This is Han Zongzheng's guess, and Han Zongzheng should provide evidence.

Han Chou laughed, What a smart woman, you know that His Majesty is unconscious, but you claim that only His Majesty can testify for you.

You asked me to answer truthfully, I did it, believe it or not.

Han Chou turned to Rong Huamin, smiled and said, Yunmengze is a rhetorical person. This woman killed Zhang Qinyan to silence her and protect someone behind her. There is no result when she asks and asks, so she has to use torture.

Rong Huamin was silent. He was also an old eunuch in the palace. Although he didn't believe Meng E's words, he didn't dare to torture people around the emperor lightly, for fear of retribution afterward.

The queen mother made it very clear that there is a high probability that there are ministers in the court behind the assassination. The two assassins in Cui's house have been killed. The Holy Army division and others don't know the details. Only this woman is the only clue. We can't live up to the queen mother. trust.

Rong Huamin nodded and said to Meng E, I will ask for the last time, are you willing to confess the truth?

Every word I say is the truth, and His Majesty can testify for me.

Rong Zhongmin waited for a while and said to Han Chou, Please go to another room to rest for a while.

Ministers usually do not participate in torture unless they are in court, especially for female prisoners. Han Chou stood up, and Rong Huamin and Rong Huamin humbly gave each other for a while. They left together, talking in a low voice as they walked. What to have for your next meal and where to go when the weather is nice.

Meng E sat on the chair, unable to move, and didn't want to move, she calmly looked at the two empty chairs opposite.

A palace maid came around and persuaded: It's better for you to confess, those torture instruments can't even stand for men, you will tell everything sooner or later, why suffer in vain?

Is Your Majesty still awake? Meng E asked back.

The palace maid was slightly taken aback, You asked the wrong person.

Meng E nodded, Use torture.

The palace maid beckoned, and another palace maid came over, holding a pair of scorpions in her hand. This is a torture tool for pinching fingers. It is very simple and very effective.

Zhangzi is very old, and I don't know how many people have used it on the fingers of many people. The palace maid showed it to Meng E for a while, then went around behind her, untied the rope tied to the chair, and asked Meng E to stand up, move the chair away, and put the bag on. The child was put on his fingers, and his movements were deliberately slowed down, so that the prisoner could experience the fear before the torture.

More than one person was tortured behind her. Meng E did not look back. Someone pressed her shoulder and wanted her to kneel. She refused and stood up straight.

The palace maid on the opposite side said, As long as you have a name and tell the assassin who is helping Yun Mengze, you don't have to suffer.

Only His Majesty can testify for me. Meng E repeated this sentence.

The palace maid stared at her for a while, then nodded her head behind her, Zhang Zi slowly tightened, the pain in her fingers gradually became stronger, and after a while it began to weaken.

Meng E was surprised that she had never been tortured, but she also knew that the pain was too weak to be called a real torture.

The maid on the opposite side seemed to have received the order, waved her hand, the scorpion was untied, the chair was moved back to its original place, Meng E sat down, the rope was re-tied, and two more loops were added.

After everything was completed, the palace maid walked out, and there were footsteps behind her. Everyone seemed to be leaving, except Meng E.

She still doesn't look back.

After a while, someone came in again and walked around to Meng E. It was Tong Qing'e and Zhang Youcai.

Tong Qing'e seemed a little nervous, as if she was reluctant to come, but she had to come. Zhang Youcai was guarding the front, her expression was so serious that it didn't match her age, Meng E, you really didn't betray Your Majesty?

Your Majesty can testify. Meng E said the same thing.

You know...

Meng E interrupted Zhang Youcai, Have you seen Your Majesty?

Zhang Youcai nodded hesitantly.

He didn't wake up?

It's not awake, but His Majesty has opened his eyes, but he doesn't seem to be able to see anyone, and occasionally makes a sound...

My face is very red, and my pulse is disordered. Meng E continued on for him.

Zhang Youcai was taken aback, How, how do you know?

It shouldn't be. Your Majesty just made a mistake in his internal energy. There are masters of internal energy in the palace, and His Majesty should have been cured long ago.

Zhang Youcai was even more surprised, Since you know the cause, why didn't you tell me earlier?

To whom?

Zhang Youcai was speechless. When they were in the Cui Mansion, they were both imprisoned in solitary confinement and could not meet each other, let alone communicate to the palace.

You should say after returning to the palace. Tong Qing'e whispered.

I thought Your Majesty had gotten better, just pretended to be in a coma, and I don't trust those people, the two of you are trustworthy.

The two of them looked at each other, Zhang Youcai ran out, and Tong Qing'e faced Meng E alone, and was a little nervous, Actually, I also believe in you, how many nights, His Majesty would rather sleep in the study than go back to the bedroom, only you By my side, Your Majesty really trusts you very, very much.

Meng E didn't answer, looked at Tong Qing'e's stomach, Congratulations.

Tong Qing'e smiled slightly, I didn't expect it, I don't know if it's male or female.

His Majesty, both male and female, will like it.

Tong Qing'e's expression darkened, I hope so, if His Majesty wakes up...

Your Majesty will surely wake up.

Then I hope this is a girl. Tong Qing'e gently stroked her unpregnant belly, You can stay away from all disputes.

There was a question that had been hidden in Tong Qing'e's heart for a long time. When there was no one around, she said, Why... why don't you want a name? Your Majesty will give it to you.

Meng E was silent for a while, You misunderstood, I will never join the harem, that's not my purpose.

Tong Qing'e was stunned.