My Lord, the princess doesn't want you anymore.

In the evening, a horse-drawn carriage came out of Prince Qi's palace and drove towards Prince Qi's villa.

This villa is located on an island in the middle of a lake, surrounded by water on all sides. It is about 40 meters away from the nearest lakeshore, with a bridge in between.

The bridge is not very wide and can only accommodate a small carriage.

This villa was the property of Cui Hongqi's birth mother, Concubine De's family, and was registered under Concubine De's name. After Concubine De's death, it became Cui Hongqi's property.

The scenery here is beautiful and the view is wide. Standing at the edge of the courtyard and looking into the distance, you can see almost all of the most beautiful scenery of Xiangxi Lake.

Today was a fine day, and the afterglow of the setting sun dyed the lake crimson. From time to time, water birds flew over the setting sun and swooped down, catching small fish, and then soared into the air, drawing beautiful arcs.

As soon as Cui Hongqi jumped off the carriage, Meng Nan came up to him. "He won't tell you even if you beat him to death. I used all the torture instruments three times in turn. He wasn't even afraid of being skinned. In the end, I took off his pants and he got scared. Humph, he's not afraid of death, but he's afraid of being a eunuch."

Cui Hongqi said calmly: "No matter what method you use, just confess."

"It's just that he said he could only tell Lord Ye, there was no other way but to invite the prince."

Cui Hongqi nodded and walked straight towards the villa.

He didn't ask any more questions, because he knew Meng Nan's methods and how cruel he was. If he couldn't get the answer from her by torture, then no one else in the world could.

There was a basement under the courtyard. He walked down the dark and gloomy stone stairs, and in front of him was the interrogation room.

He put on the green-faced, fang-toothed mask on his face and walked in.

In the interrogation room, all kinds of torture instruments were covered in blood, some fresh red and some old black.

The air was filled with a sickening smell of decay and blood.

Hua Laoer was tied to a wooden frame, his body was torn to pieces and covered in blood. The skin on his chest below the neck had been peeled off, revealing bright red flesh.

But he still stood there stubbornly, and even though he was grimacing in pain, he didn't look afraid at all.

As long as he is not castrated, he can endure any suffering and pain.

But if he wants to become a eunuch and never be able to get close to women again, it would be better to kill him.

Seeing Lord Ye come in, he sneered and turned his head to the side.

Cui Hongqi dragged a chair and sat down in front of him, then took out a silk handkerchief and covered his mouth and nose, as if he didn't like the strong smell of blood.

"Before, I saw you always following Du Zheng timidly, but I never thought you could be so tough. It seems that I really underestimated you." His voice was emotionless, and even no one could detect any characteristics. Even if Hua Laoer could walk out of here, he seemed to be unable to find the right words to describe his voice to others.

"I'm already here. Go ahead!"

Hua Laoer moved, and the rope around his wound made him hiss again. He endured the pain and said, "I only know that the Tiegu Gang has branches in Zhen, Chang, Xiling, and Dongbin, and there are branches in the states of each country. In short, it is spread all over the former Hengdu Empire. But I only know the general location of each branch, which is changing all the time. Don't say I don't know. Even if I knew, after the fire in Muring Lane, those branches must have moved to another place immediately. As for the leaders of each branch, I have no idea."

"You are Du Zheng's right-hand man. Do you think I will believe you if you say you don't know?" Cui Hongqi's tone was still calm.

"You know, Du Zheng has always been a cautious person."

Cui Hongqi sneered, "If he is as cautious as you say, how could he be completely defenseless against me?"

"That's because you have the means, my Lord."

Cui Hongqi snorted coldly, "What about Du Zheng? Where is he?"

Hua Lao Er sighed, "My Lord, I really don't know. The leader disappeared a few days before the fire in Muring Alley. I really don't know where he is."

Cui Hongqi stood up gracefully and walked closer. "You mean, you asked me to come here today just to tease me?"

Hua Laoer swallowed his saliva and said, "No matter what I said, that young man who looked like a dead person would not believe me. I can't do anything about it. I, I really don't know."

Cui Hongqi waved his hand, called Meng Nan, and said lightly: "Continue to treat him well!" Then he turned and left.

Meng Nan gave a wink, and someone immediately came forward to take off Hua Lao Er's pants.

"Don't—" Hua Lao Er shouted in fear, "My Lord, I really don't know, but I can tell you other news, okay? My Lord also knows that the Tiegu Gang has no other abilities, but they still have some ways to get information. Just don't let me change into a eunuch."

"As for the rest, I already know everything I want to know. You don't need to tell me." Cui Hongqi didn't look back, but covered his mouth and nose and was about to leave the torture room.

I only heard Hua Lao Er say loudly behind me: "My Lord, I have some news here. I just learned it a few days ago. Even Du Zheng doesn't know it. Maybe there is something that you are interested in."

Cui Hongqi stopped but did not look back.

Hua Lao Er showed a happy expression, "This is the news I sent back a few days ago. I wonder what the Lord wants to know..."

Meng Nan drew out his knife and placed it across his hips, "Why are you talking so much nonsense!"

Hua Lao Er then spoke up, "It's about the Crown Prince of Changguo. In fact, it was the assassins sent by the King of Chu of Changguo who killed him. They are mortal enemies."

Cui Hongqi finally turned around and asked, "The Iron Bone Gang can only find out information that even these fools can think of?"

"Also, I have some news about the Marquis Zhongde Mansion, and it's very strange. A few days ago, the second daughter of the mansion, Liu Piaopiao, suddenly disappeared. When the people in the mansion were looking for her in her yard, they dug up a corpse. Judging from the body shape and clothes, it looks very much like this Liu Piaopiao. But the corpse looks like it has been dead for at least two or three years, but Liu Piaopiao has only been missing for less than ten days. This matter is too strange, and the princess quickly suppressed it, so no one else knows about it yet."

Cui Hongqi was wearing a mask, and Hua Laoer didn't know what expression he had, but seeing him standing there motionless for a long time, he seemed to be somewhat interested in the news.

"Is there anything else?"

Hua Lao Er shook his head, "That's all."

Cui Hongqi sneered, "These are not enough to buy back your life."

"My Lord, I really don't know what you want to know! Even if you kill me, I still won't know." Hua Lao Er was about to cry, "Oh, there is another old story, I wonder if my Lord is interested."

"Say!"

"Have you ever heard of Concubine De, sir?"

Cui Hongqi's body stiffened, but fortunately he was wearing a mask and no one saw his stiff expression.

Hua Laoer continued, "She is the current Emperor Zhen's Consort De. She was married into the royal family as the legitimate daughter of Minister Mei, the Minister of Personnel. The Emperor loved her very much. But eighteen years ago, she was suddenly poisoned and died in the palace. Some people said she committed suicide, while others said she angered the Emperor and was sentenced to death. I learned a few days ago that this Consort De was not the biological daughter of Minister Mei and his wife, but the daughter of a benefactor of Mrs. Mei. Minister Mei and his wife were grateful to the benefactor, and after the death of the benefactor, they adopted his orphan and raised her in the mansion as a legitimate daughter..."

Cui Hongqi grabbed his neck, his body trembling slightly, "You, what did you say? Say it again..."