Chapter 12: The Interrogation of Xu Luowan

Xu Luowan’s shouts and curses quickly ceased, struck dumb with fright.

Tang Chaochao said coldly, “Miss Xu, isn’t it? It seems you haven’t fully grasped the situation. Your uncle left you here precisely because he was prepared for your death.”

Xu Luowan’s eyes instantly reddened with disbelief. “You’re talking nonsense! That’s impossible, absolutely impossible!”

Tang Chaochao raised an eyebrow and glanced at Xu Jiaye beside her with a wry expression. “What do you think, Young Master Xu?”

Xu Jiaye tensed under Tang Chaochao’s piercing gaze. If his father truly was the murderer of Miss Tang, then Tang Chaochao’s violence against them would be justified. But was his father really the culprit?

Xu Jiaye’s silence made Xu Luowan’s heart race in panic. She screamed, “Cousin, you’re your uncle’s only son. There’s no way he would abandon you, right?”

Tang Chaochao sneered, “Perhaps, Young Master Xu is his only son, so he might try to save him. But you? That’s another matter entirely.”

Xu Luowan was on the verge of a breakdown because what Tang Chaochao said was not untrue. Her father was Xu Huairen’s younger brother, a minor official in the capital. But his father had many concubines; not only daughters but four sons as well. If she died here, even if her father was angry, he wouldn’t dare offend her uncle over it.

The more Xu Luowan thought about it, the more terrified she became.

Noticing the fear in her eyes, Tang Chaochao spoke up just in time. “Tell me everything you know, or…”

A gleaming sword was thrust into the wooden pillar above Xu Luowan’s head. She was about to faint again.

Impatient, Tang Chaochao suddenly extended a hand, and several silver needles appeared unbeknownst to anyone. With a flick of her arm, the needles pierced several acupuncture points on Xu Luowan’s body.

Raising her brow, Tang Chaochao observed, “Now you won’t faint so easily.”

Sure enough, the moment Xu Luowan’s vision had blurred moments ago cleared instantly. Meeting Tang Chaochao’s faintly mocking gaze, she quivered and said, “I... I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“Oh?” Tang Chaochao responded with a teasing tone. “If you don’t speak today, do you think you’ll ever leave this shed?”

Xu Luowan’s eyes darted anxiously. She had indeed come to Huaicheng with a matter to settle, but only she and her personal maid knew of it. Tang Chaochao certainly was unaware.

Feigning calm, she replied, “I don’t understand what you mean.”

Tang Chaochao grinned. “Really?”

Xu Jiaye stood dumbfounded, utterly confused by their exchange. Before he could ponder further, Tang Chaochao produced a small bundle.

Xu Jiaye recognized it immediately—it was the murder weapon Tang Chaochao had displayed on the street, the same one used to kill her sister.

Tang Chaochao held up a fine cattle-hair needle, her smile deepening. “Perhaps you know this, perhaps you don’t. But that’s irrelevant. Let me tell you, this is called a cattle-hair needle, capable of killing without a trace. It can block the blood vessels in the body, cutting off circulation until death ensues. Oh, and by the way—I’m trained in medicine, so I know how to use this to inflict unbearable pain. Miss Xu, would you like to try?”

Xu Luowan trembled uncontrollably at these words. Was Tang Chaochao intending to kill her?

Xu Jiaye could no longer bear it. After all, she was his cousin. He spoke up, “Xu Luowan, if you know anything, speak now! Do you want to die here?”

Xu Luowan wanted to speak but dared not. Offending that woman was as dangerous as offending Tang Chaochao herself.

Tang Chaochao clearly saw the struggle in her eyes. It seemed her methods weren’t harsh enough yet.

With a swift flick, the cattle-hair needle plunged into Xu Luowan’s fair neck. Tang Chaochao manipulated the needle with her inner strength, guiding it beneath her skin.

Xu Luowan cried out in pain almost immediately.

But Tang Chaochao showed no mercy. “Can’t stand just one? I still have thirty-five more. Want me to try them all?”

Veins bulging on her forehead, Xu Luowan shook her head frantically. Such bone-deep torment was beyond her endurance. If all thirty-six needles were used, she’d rather be slain outright.

Terrifyingly, the silver needles Tang Chaochao had inserted earlier prevented Xu Luowan from losing consciousness.

Eventually, she couldn’t hold back and begged in agony. “It hurts! I’ll tell you! Please… don’t torture me anymore!”

Her pitiful cries made Tang Chaochao cease her actions. Once stopped, the pain seemed to vanish.

Yet, when Xu Luowan saw the cloth bundle in Tang Chaochao’s hand, her gaze instinctively recoiled.

Tang Chaochao wasted no time. “Speak!”

Hearing her cousin’s agonized cries, Xu Jiaye turned away in distress. But upon hearing Tang Chaochao’s command, he quickly looked back—curious to know what his cousin had done to warrant such harsh interrogation.

Xu Luowan pressed her lips together, as if steeling herself. “I’ll tell you, but you must promise me one thing first.”

Tang Chaochao raised an eyebrow. Was this woman foolish? To bargain at such a moment?

“Looks like you haven’t felt enough pain yet.”

Xu Luowan instinctively pressed her body against the wooden pillar behind her, clenching her teeth. “If you don’t promise, when I return to the capital and she finds out, I won’t survive!”

“She?” Tang Chaochao murmured.

Xu Luowan took a desperate gamble. “Yes, her status is no less than yours, and she’s connected to the royal family.”

Xu Jiaye was stunned. Could it be that his cousin had some involvement in the death of Miss Tang? Did she commit the crime while their father covered it up?

The more he thought, the more he feared for his life. Especially since Xu Luowan hinted at royal affairs.

Tang Chaochao was never one to show mercy. None involved in his sister’s death were innocent.

Picking up another cattle-hair needle, her voice took on a chilling tone that sent shivers down the spine. “Seems Miss Xu is stubborn. Let’s see how many of these needles you can endure.”

Terrified, Xu Luowan shook her head vehemently. She couldn’t endure even one; Tang Chaochao’s expression clearly showed she was serious.

As expected, another needle pierced through her clothing and embedded itself in her thigh.

Tang Chaochao grinned at her. “Don’t worry, I have plenty of ways to keep you alive.”

Xu Luowan screamed in terror as Tang Chaochao prepared to thrust another needle.

So scared, she lost control of her bladder.

Indeed, a noble lady of the capital was so frightened she wet herself.

Tang Chaochao covered her nose and mouth in disgust. Such a lack of decorum!

Xu Jiaye turned away, unable to watch any longer.

Xu Luowan was filled with fear and resentment. Had she known Huaicheng harbored such a deadly force, she would never have come.

If this incident leaked out, how could she ever face anyone again?