The Phoenix Reborn Book II

Chapter 115 Tortured and Lost

Hearing the woman's reply, Chenxiao frowned. Wounding Huang Miaoling was not something he wanted to do. No, not because she sympathized with the woman, but because she was worried that her employer was making an inappropriate decision.

“If you really are more knowledgeable than the Sixth Prince, then why can you still end up here?”

Huang Miaoling laughed inwardly, ‘This man is like sprinkling salt on a wound.’ He replied, “Because I want to talk to you.”

The frown on Chenxiao's forehead became even deeper. ‘So, this woman was on purpose? Just to talk to me?’ inner wondering.

Sacrificing himself for the success of a plan was something Huang Miaoling had done many times, and he was sure Chenxiao was meticulous enough to know about it. However, Huang Miaoling will announce at this time that the statement just uttered from his mouth.

Falling into Wang Chengliu's hands was not at all part of Huang Miaoling's plan.

From the very beginning, Huang Miaoling had prepared everything perfectly just in case something happened in the palace; an exit, a reserve army, as well as a secret safe haven in the unknown capital of Wang Chengliu.

However, who would have thought that the sixth prince would use Wang Zhengyi to attack Emperor Weixin?!

‘Lu Si, baj*ngan it.’ Recalling the fact that Lu Si helped Wang Chengliu back made Huang Miaoling's heart hot.

“What might Mingwei Junzhu want to talk to a servant like me?” chenxiao asked as he grabbed a leather scroll from the table. The man then untied the scroll as he approached Huang Miaoling. As the leather scroll opened, a series of needles flashed clear, sparkling reflecting the torch flame light.

Huang Miaoling's black bead was swaying the line of needles that were in Chenxiao's hands. He cusses, ‘This guy .. will use that way?’ His heart is pounding.

In his previous life, the torment that Huang Miaoling felt could count not many fingers, but quite memorable. After all, she was not a traitor to the country, but rather an empress who was unable to gain the heart of the emperor. However, now it seemed like Chenxiao was going to use one of the most cruel tortures to get an answer from her.

“Chenxiao, why are you so loyal to Wang Chengliu?” huang Miaoling asked with sharp eyes. “As someone who knows clearly about all the things he does, you should realize that he is a traitor to the state. When my father returns with reinforcements from Wu, he will not be able to escape the death penalty.”.

Chenxiao paused before Huang Miaoling, then looked at her with a flat gaze. “Junzhu, are you trying to buy time?” he said with a cold tone. “Do you think by asking me to speak, I will postpone my duties?” He pulled out a single needle from its place, then stuck it into the flesh between Huang Miaoling's fingernails and fingers.

“Ahhh!” Huang Miaoling shouted out loud as Chenxiao did just that.

The woman's eyes turned red, staring at the needle that lay between her fingernails and fingers. Red lines slowly appeared on the surface of Huang Miaoling's nails, faintly indicating the presence of needles within his nails. Slowly, blood dripped down from the tip of the needle.

Huang Miaoling's body trembled because of the pain he felt. Just one needle, one small needle, but with terrible effect.

“Junzhu, talk faster. When the tenth needle sits on your fingers, I'm afraid you won't have the ability to say it again,” Chenxiao explained as he twisted the needle on Huang Miaoling's finger, making the woman scream again. “If you can, also give the answer that the Sixth Prince wants.”

With bated breath, Huang Miaoling prayed in the heart, ‘Hold, Huang Miaoling.’ He closed his eyes tightly. ‘A Feng ...’ If only the man was here.

Suddenly, Huang Miaoling's shout reverberated within the small room, making the atmosphere even more gripping and heartbreaking. The smell of blood that existed from the beginning became increasingly concentrated as time went on.

The second needle is now embedded.

Chenxiao twisted the second needle that was set between Huang Miaoling's fingernails and index fingers, making the woman growl low. “It's already the second needle, are you still not going to talk, Junzhu?” he asked, it sounded so terrible because the tone was so calm.

Huang Miaoling gnashed his teeth, then with the energy he had, he lifted his gaze to stare straight at Chenxiao. Although he had previously shouted loudly due to the pain, but at that time he put up a grin. “Do Wang Chengliu know the loyalty you give based on your love for his mother?”

***

Inside a shabby room, a woman was staring fiercely at a man in all-white clothes. “You lied!” yelled the woman furiously as she lay on the bed, her teary eyes showing the sadness in her heart. “There's no way I've lost my son! Impossible!”

The man dressed in white knelt before the woman, then lowered his head and saluted. “Shang Junzhu, useless servant.” Really, the man did not know what else to say other than that.

“Meiliang, relax,” said a woman who is none other than Situ Yangle.

“How can I calm down?!” shang Meiliang shouted full of anger.

Just one second passed after he shouted, Shang Meiliang instantly realized that he had been acting presumptuous. The woman immediately turned her gaze in the other direction, covering up the shame and sadness that was clearly drawn on her face.

Seeing this, Situ Yangle put on a bitter expression. Then, he hurriedly glanced at the man kneeling on the floor, “Tabib Bai, go first.”

Hearing the order spoken by Minister Huang's wife, Physician Bai stood up and stepped out. Just as he shifted the dull cloth that became the barrier between the sleeping room and the living room, the man could instantly feel a number of gloomy gazes landing on him.

“How?” ask a man in dull clothes who looks in contrast to his handsome face. In some parts of his body, there was a bandage with medicinal stains and blood mixed into one, giving clues that he had been injured.

Physician Bai shook his head, “Excuse your servant is useless, Minister Huang.”

Huang Yade knitted his brows. He already knew the answer, after all Shang Meiliang's shout could be heard clearly from the small house. But the man was hoping to hear a different answer.

‘How do I convey this to Jieli later?’ inner Huang Yade bitterly.

Huang Yade constantly berated himself for being negligent in looking after his family. He never expected that psychological distress could cause his sister-in-law to lose a fetus in her womb.

War happens, of course fear and worry are inevitable. How could Huang Yade possibly keep that from Shang Meiliang? Even if the Half-God Physician, Hua Tuo, was here, this incident would most likely still be unavoidable!

‘I am not a healer, but if indeed the reason is psychological pressure, is it not natural to make the departure of Second Brother as the main reason?’ inner Huang Junyi who was also in the slum room. ‘In addition, there is still no news from Zhou-Shi border to date. Is Second Brother okay?’

Huang Junyi revealed a worried face as he glanced towards the dull cloth that served as the door. Different from Huang's residence, ‘ptu’ it does not limit a building with a yard, but a building—rum—with public streets, no longer part of the residence residence.

Huang Junyi's eyebrows are linked, ‘Then, how about Third Sister?’

Huang Junyi twisted his mind, recalling the moments the fifth prince's death ritual was performed. At that time, he was not sitting in the residence as he should be.

Instead of mourning in the residence like other noble families, Huang Junyi was actually on standby along with a number of Longzhu soldiers who did not attend the death ritual. According to Huang Miaoling's orders, he served as the leader of the reinforcements.

“You are a fighter. Outside the palace walls, only you believe me,” Huang Miaoling's words clearly ring in Huang Junyi's mind.

When the danger signal was received, Longzhu's army under Huang Junyi easily penetrated the palace's defenses. It seemed, Wang Chengliu did not fully expect that Huang Miaoling would willingly make a young man his trump card.

When Huang Junyi made it through the first gate of the palace, he could hear loud screams from inside the main courtyard, “Catch everything!”

Without a second thought, Huang Junyi immediately spurred his horse as he ordered the Longzhu Army to finish off all the Wang Chengliu soldiers standing guard in front of the main courtyard gate. Huang Miaoling's training supplies were obvious from how easily the Longzhu soldiers brought down the enemy.

The next thing to happen was certainly clear, the entire Longzhu Army was incorporated and able to save a number of important figures on the Huang family's side. Huang Yade, Wei Shulin, Wei Xinhao, Situ Haonan, Rong Gui, and many more. Out of the many people they could save, only one person could not be saved due to Wang Chengliu's determination to obtain it;

Huang Miaoling's.

‘Sixth Prince ...’

Huang Junyi clenched his hands as he recalled clearly the figure of Huang Miaoling who was inside Wang Chengliu's arms. The woman was injured, visible from the blood flowing from her temple—result from a hard blow.

However, the situation was not possible, and the most reasonable decision was taken by Huang Yade; they left him.

“Junyi, what's the matter?” huang Hanrong asked who returned Junyi's spirit from his daydream.

“No, i—"

Just at that moment, footsteps rang out from outside the house. Everyone in the room turned their gaze towards the hand that was getting rid of the dividing cloth.

Seeing the figure present, Huang Yade immediately asked, “Investigator Rong, what is it?”

Different than usual, but similar to the current Huang Yade, Rong Gui was seen wearing seedy clothes that were incompatible with his position. The man saluted and replied, “Minister Huang, the Crown Prince has come to his senses.”

Hearing this, Huang Yade was wide-eyed. Then, he immediately took a step to leave the room. However, the man stopped and glanced back, returning his focus to the sound of roaring cries from within the sleeping room.

Huang Hanrong knew clearly what was inside Huang Yade's mind. Therefore, he said, “Kakak, go. Me and Junyi will take care of both brothers-in-law.” Huang Hanrong's speech was followed by a steady nod from Huang Junyi.

Huang Yade was slightly pensive when he saw the sight of his two brothers. ‘They are mature,’ the inner. Then, he nodded his head, “I entrust to you,” and he went to follow Rong Gui.

Seeing Huang Yade's departure, Huang Junyi clenched his hands. In this kind of situation, other than helping to give his brother peace of mind, the young man realized that he was completely useless. In fact, the matter of him penetrating the palace defense can only be done because Longzhu Army has been trained hard by his third brother.

Shameful, but Huang Junyi does not elak pray, ‘Third Sister Sister, I hope you return soon.’ Reality must be faced, and Huang Junyi knows one thing, ‘Only you can help us turn things around.’

___

A/S:

Story: Huang Miaoling laughs inwardly, ‘This man is like sprinkling salt on a wound.’ He replied, “Because I want to talk to you.”

Me: :) For real, my lady?

Story: It was a lie.

Me: Good, because I bet the readers are fed up of you pretending to fall into a trap to execute the plan.

*A few minutes later*

Me: Hold on, continue .. Our lead seriously fell into Wang Chengliu's trap?! Jir, how weak!!

True A/N: Yes, this is sarcasm.:)