Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

On the mission's side, Murong Fu also encountered a lot of trouble when interrogating the Japanese. The Japanese man was extremely tight-lipped; no matter how much torture he was subjected to, he remained tight-lipped and refused to reveal his purpose in impersonating a Da Huai person as an interpreter, or the plans behind them.

So, while the delegation was enjoying the scenery and food, Murong Fu was quite troubled. An opportunity to make a name for himself had been presented to him, but he couldn't seize it—a situation that would upset anyone.

"Sir, why don't we go and ask Miss Zhang if she has any ideas?" one of the guards suggested when he saw Murong Fu's furrowed brows at the scene of the spy hunt.

“Miss Zhang? How could a young lady from the inner quarters know about these things? Don’t frighten her.” Murong Fu shook his head and denied it after hearing his words.

“My lord, ordinary young ladies from the inner quarters don’t speak Russian or know martial arts. I think Miss Zhang is quite different from the noble ladies we usually see. Why don’t you ask her? We don’t have any other choice right now, do we?”

After listening to his subordinate's analysis, Murong Fu admitted that what he said made a lot of sense, so he waved his hand and said...

"Let me think about it carefully."

Two more days passed, and the interrogation still made no progress.

One day, Xia Yu led Da Niu Shijiu back from shopping on the street, and they ran into Murong Fu pacing around the entrance of the post station.

"Greetings, Lord Murong." Xia Yu and the others bowed to Murong Fu.

“Miss Zhang, there’s no need for such formalities!” Murong Fu said politely.

Xia Yu didn't think much of it, stood up, nodded in greeting, and walked inside. But after only a few steps, she heard Murong Fu's voice behind her.

"Miss Zhang, please wait!"

"Hmm? Lord Murong, is there something you need from me?" Xia Yu asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Ahem, it's like this, Miss Zhang..." Murong Fu cleared his throat and told Xia Yu about all the problems he had encountered in the past few days.

After hearing his words, Xia Yu was even more confused. Did this matter have anything to do with her?

"What does Lord Murong mean?"

"Ahem," Murong Fu cleared his throat again before speaking.

"I wanted to ask Miss Zhang if there are any other methods of torture that could make that Japanese spy talk."

"..." Upon hearing his request, Xia Yu's silence was deafening.

After a while, she finally spoke softly.

"In Lord Murong's mind, what kind of ruthless person am I?"

"No...no...Miss Zhang, please don't misunderstand, I absolutely didn't mean that. What I meant was that we've used all the usual methods of torture, and it's been completely ineffective. Miss Zhang is intelligent and quick-witted. I just wanted to ask if Miss Zhang has any different interrogation methods?"

Hearing Xia Yu's question, Murong Fu quickly explained. He knew it; how could he ask a young girl about something like that? See, it's a misunderstanding, isn't it? He mentally cursed the subordinate who gave him the idea.

"So I misunderstood Lord Murong's meaning," Xia Yu said softly.

"It's not that Miss Zhang misunderstood, it's that I didn't explain things clearly."

“I have never encountered or thought about this before. Please allow me to go back and think about it carefully.”

"Yes, yes, it's only right. In that case, I thank Miss Zhang very much!" Murong Fu said, clasping his hands in a gesture of respect to Xia Yu. However, Xia Yu dodged him by stepping aside.

"Lord Murong, you are too kind. As a member of the delegation, this is what I should do."

After returning to the house, Xia Yu asked Nineteen.

"Nineteen, you heard what Lord Murong said just now. Do you have any thoughts on it?"

After thinking for a while, Nineteen shook his head and said...

"Miss, I have no other choice."

Xia Yu responded with an "oh," before continuing...

"We've been to quite a few places today, so you should all go back to your rooms and rest. I'll think about it some more."

After sending Da Niu and Shi Jiu away, Xia Yu leaned back on the chaise lounge in the room and began to recall the punishments she had seen in novels or on television in her previous life, such as the Ten Great Tortures of the Qing Dynasty.

'No, no, those tortures kill people as soon as they're used, what's the point of interrogating them!' Xia Yu shook her head as she thought to herself.

Suddenly, Xia Yu thought of interrogation scenes in modern anti-corruption films, where people are kept awake by a large light bulb that keeps them from keeping track of time, which is incredibly exhausting and wears down their willpower.

'This method seems pretty good, and no one will die.' The more Xia Yu thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. If he really told Lord Murong about the Ten Cruelest Tortures of the Qing Dynasty, even if the man didn't say it, he would definitely think of him as a pervert. Oh no, people at this time didn't know the word pervert. It should be called cruel.

Now that she had a plan, Xia Yu relaxed, took her clothes, and enjoyed a relaxing soak in the hot spring before returning to sleep. Tomorrow she planned to go shopping at a general store to buy some local seeds.

Two days later, Xia Yu finally found Murong Fu and told him her thoughts.

"Lord Murong, I believe this person must be of unwavering will. No amount of physical suffering can break his spirit. I suddenly thought of a plan yesterday, but I don't know if it's feasible. Please listen to it; if it works, all the better. If it doesn't, then I'm out of ideas."

Upon hearing Xia Yu's words, Murong Fu was overjoyed and quickly nodded, saying, "Miss Zhang, please tell me."

So Xia Yu recited everything he had planned, and after he finished, Murong Fu fell silent. Miss Zhang's method seemed too mild; would it even work?

"Miss Zhang, you mean to set up a room without windows, where there's no view outside, light many lamps inside, and have that Japanese man sit there while someone watches him from the shadows to keep him awake. If he falls asleep, immediately wake him up by banging a copper basin. And what about feeding him?"

"Let him eat, but not three meals a day. That way, he can deduce the time from the number of meals. Bring him food at irregular intervals, several times a day. Also, no one should talk to him. Make sure he doesn't feel the passage of time." Xia Yu explained the details again.

Murong Fu pondered for a moment, growing increasingly alarmed. This might actually be a good method. He had just put himself in that situation, and it certainly seemed quite torturous.

"Thank you very much, Miss Zhang. I will go and arrange for my men to do it this way right away." Murong Fu bowed to Xia Yu in thanks and then left excitedly.

"Lord Murong, please wait!" Xia Yu hurriedly called out.

"Is there anything else, Miss Zhang?"

"This method was devised by Lord Murong," Xia Yu said to Murong Fu with a smile.

"But if it really works, Miss Zhang will have done a great service!" Murong Fu said, puzzled.

“I am just an ordinary citizen, and this merit is of no use to me. But it is different for you, sir. Although I come from the countryside, I know how to help others achieve their goals. Therefore, this method was painstakingly devised by you, sir, and has nothing to do with me.”

Murong Fu, seeing that she didn't seem to be faking it, immediately returned...

"In that case, I thank you very much, Miss Zhang. In the future, if there is anything you need from me, please don't hesitate to ask, and I will do my best to help."

Murong Fu was deeply moved by Xia Yu's magnanimity and insight.

"Thank you, Lord Murong. I also wish you a bright future and boundless success."

"Thank you for your kind words, Miss Zhang!" Murong Fu thanked Xia Yu sincerely again, then turned to go and do his work for his subordinates.