In the dungeon of the Grand Master's Mansion, shrill screams continued to be heard.
"I, I, I have all confessed, there really is nothing to hide!" In the cell, on top of the torture instrument, a bloody body was tightly held on top, with his head lowered, and he kept wailing.
The palace guard in charge of the interrogation subconsciously looked at the leader behind him.
"Watch what I do, keep fighting!" the leader of the guards said casually.
Upon hearing this, the palace guard swung the leather whip dipped in salt water in his hand and slapped the man severely again. A scream was heard, and the man being interrogated rolled his eyes and fainted immediately.
The palace guard paused in his hands, turned his head somewhat helplessly, and said:
"Boss, this man has fainted..."
The leader of the guards quickly stood up and went forward to check. After confirming that the person in front of him was still breathing, he felt relieved a little.
"Boss, have we gone too far? This Huali, after all, is the Dianke Department Lingcheng. If he is released, will he take revenge on us?" The palace guard in charge of the interrogation couldn't help but ask.
The leader of the palace guard was silent for a moment, stood up, and said:
"What are you afraid of? We are from the Grand Master's Mansion...Besides, whether we can get out alive is still a problem!"
"But the superiors only asked us to interrogate him, and didn't ask us to use such cruel methods."
The leader of the palace guard frowned and scolded:
"Why do you care so much? If the boss blames me, don't I?"
The interrogation guard immediately shut up.
"You guys are interrogating first, I'm going to go out and get some fresh air." The leader of the guards coughed dryly, then turned around and walked out of the cell.
The leader of the guards led out of the dungeon, walking faster and faster, and went straight to a courtyard next to the dungeon, and said anxiously to the man sitting in the courtyard:
"Mr. Wen, does it really matter if we do this?"
Wen Tiren put down the tea cup in his hand and said lightly:
"What's wrong? Something happened?"
The leader of the palace guards no longer looked as calm as before, and said with a trace of panic:
"Mr. Wen, the man named Hua Li just now almost lost his breath under the severe torture, but it scared me. These people are all high-ranking officials in the court. If the Grand Master releases them later, what will happen?
Don’t you want to find fault with us?”
When Wen Tiren heard this, he chuckled softly and said comfortingly:
"Don't be afraid, Mr. Tie told us to investigate this Huali carefully. In the past, he embezzled money from the treasury, blackmailed foreign envoys, and was even brave enough to pretend to be a bandit and intercept and kill envoys. Now everything has been exposed.
Just because of these few things, it’s impossible for him to turn around!”
The guard took the lead for a moment and nodded, but then he said urgently:
"Then there are others. They are all subordinate officials under the Nine Ministers of the Imperial Court, and they all hold high positions of authority..."
Hearing this, Wen Tiren raised his hand and handed over a cup of tea, saying softly:
"It's not like all of us were tortured. Except for those few who had no backing, the rest of us just had some ideas. Every one of these officials has a clean bottom. It's only been a few days.
, you and your men have gained a lot, right?"
Speaking of this, the leader of the palace guards couldn't help but smile, cupped his hands and said:
"Don't worry, sir, I know some of the rules, and your share will be yours."
Wen Tiren waved his hand, shook his head and said:
"I've always been good at dealing with yellow and white things... In addition, you have to keep an eye on those who have been dealt with. All the evidence of their crimes has been collected for those who have been dealt with, so handing them over can be regarded as a credit. There are others.
Officials, even if they can't actually take action, they still have to pull me over during the torture. If anyone can't stand it and is so frightened that he confesses everything, it's up to you and me."
The leader of the palace guards quickly raised his hands to Wen Tiren and said with a smile:
"Sir, you have lofty ambitions. You want to find this person and show your face in front of the Grand Master. I understand, you can rest assured."
Wen Tiren explained a few words with a smile, and then the leader of the guards went back with peace of mind.
He sat there, his mouth curved, but his eyes were filled with coldness.
Most of the officials who were caught were not punished in this way. But seeing their colleagues being tortured, it was inevitable to feel sad and resentful in their hearts.
Naturally, they did not dare to vent their resentment against the Grand Master. Naturally, it fell on Tie Shengwen.
When everything is settled, when the Grand Master arrives, even if he wants to reuse the Iron Shengwen, he has to pay attention to the mood of the ministers. In this way, the opportunity for him to warm up his body and benevolent will come!
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Li Lian was walking in the Grand Master's Mansion and frowned slightly when he heard the faint screams coming from deep inside the mansion.
"What's that sound about?"
When the palace guard leading the way heard this, he quickly said:
"Back to Mr. Li, the officials who were arrested are being tortured."
Li Lian frowned and said:
"Torture? They are all court officials, and there is no evidence. It is arousing criticism...Does the Grand Master know?"
"Of course I know, but I didn't ask anything," the palace guard replied.
When Li Lian heard this, he closed his mouth and said nothing, but he also looked very worried.
At this moment, Tie Shengwen was swinging his iron fan, walking unsteadily, and bumped into Li Lian head-on.
"Mr. Tie, what are you doing here?" Li Lian's face changed, and he smiled and bowed his hands in greeting.
Tie Shengwen lowered his head slightly and said with a smile:
"It's Mr. Li, but I haven't seen him for a long time."
"Hahaha, Mr. Tie is busy with work, and I am alone, so naturally I won't be able to meet him."
Having said this, Tie Shengwen couldn't help but shook his head and sighed:
"Isn't that right! In the past, assassins were arrested and then interrogated. There are also rumors that suddenly appeared in Beijing recently to slander the Grand Master. I have to investigate this carefully."
Speaking of this, Tie Shengwen suddenly remembered something and said:
"By the way, Mr. Li was summoned by the Grand Master today, I'm afraid it's because of this matter."
When Li Lian heard this, his eyelids twitched and he nodded:
"Oh? There is such a thing. I rarely go out of the house these days, so I don't know about it."
Upon hearing the Iron Shengwen, he closed his iron fan and cupped his hands and said:
"I'm afraid I will have to ask Mr. Li to help me for some time to come."
Li Lian waved his hands repeatedly and said:
"Don't dare, don't dare, you have to fulfill your responsibilities."
The two complimented each other a few more words before leaving.
In front of the Lingcheng Courtyard of the Grand Master's Mansion, Li Liang was about to enter the courtyard when a palace guard stopped him and said respectfully:
"The Grand Master suddenly has a major military incident to deal with. Please ask Mr. Li to wait in the side hall."
Li Lian didn't think anything of it, nodded, and followed the guards to the side hall.
But Li Lian and others were not summoned for several hours.
Li Lian was sitting deep in thought when a thought suddenly flashed through his mind and he was startled.
He hurriedly stood up and looked out of the side hall.
Outside the side hall, except for a few palace guards guarding it, there was nothing out of the ordinary.
Li Lian frowned and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Master Li, the grand master has summoned you!" The voice of the palace guard came from outside the side hall.
Li Lian took a deep breath, calmed down, walked out of the side hall, and headed towards Lingcheng Courtyard under the guidance of the guards.