HomeAfter I Bloom Hundred Flowers DieChapter 571: The Crown Princess's Ruthless Methods

Chapter 571: The Crown Princess’s Ruthless Methods

Madam Geng was escorted from the prince’s mansion. Apart from the self-inflicted wound, many saw her being sent back to the Geng mansion with rosy cheeks.

Although Geng Liangcheng had colluded with the enemy and was already dead, the final disposition hadn’t been decided, and their mansion hadn’t been confiscated.

Back home, Madam Geng was restless, her mind filled with Shen Xihe’s words “Since you miss him so much, go be with him then.” Though spoken plainly, these words filled her with terror, laden with murderous intent.

She waited until dark, then stealthily left the Geng mansion for an abandoned temple. She left her token there and quickly returned home.

Moyu, who had been tracking her, returned to report to Shen Xihe.

“Did you get close? Did you notice anyone?” Shen Xihe asked.

“This servant didn’t approach but presumed she went there. I didn’t notice anyone around, nor did anyone stay to keep watch,” Moyu replied.

Shen Xihe nodded with satisfaction: “Go rest, no need to stand watch.”

Not getting too close and not leaving anyone behind would let vigilant people lower their guard. Without startling the snake in the grass, it would be easy to catch.

After everyone withdrew, Shen Xihe stood by the window contemplating the moon. Suddenly, Xiao Huayong lifted her from behind: “The night is short, Youyou should be thinking only of me.”

Shen Xihe’s thoughts were interrupted by Xiao Huayong. She looked at him, her dark eyes as deep as his back, as if something was about to break free. Regarding marital intimacy, Xiao Huayong was indulgent in all kinds of pleasure. Though Shen Xihe had experienced it too, she still found it embarrassing, yet she couldn’t refuse this man who was particularly domineering in bed.

Ice-like silk shed from jade-bright skin,

Peaks rise proudly like a crimson peach;

Brocade and bamboo mat shadows overlap,

Flower-plucking moon-playing clouds disperse.

The next morning while doing her makeup, Shen Xihe saw the charm in her brows and tenderness in her eyes, frightened by her reflection, she quickly flipped the mirror face down.

Xiao Huayong walked over unhurriedly, and picked up her rouge, powder, and eyebrow brush, wanting to do her makeup.

Shen Xihe glared at him, but he only smiled more smugly. By his hand, he finally managed to conceal the spring colors in her features, only then escaping her knife-like stares.

Madam Geng’s contacts were very cautious, not making contact for several days. Only after Shen Yueshan and others had discussed and finalized all of Geng Liangcheng’s crimes, sealed the Geng mansion, and left Madam Geng homeless for several days due to her refusal to divorce, did that person appear. Despite such caution, they still fell into Shen Xihe’s hands.

“Reveal your accomplices, and I can give you a quick death,” Shen Xihe sat in the dim room, speaking softly.

The bound person remained silent. They had been drugged and were completely weak, unable even to commit suicide. Though they could still speak, they wouldn’t.

After waiting a moment, Shen Xihe nodded to Moyu, who held tongs gripping a red-hot copper kettle in front of the person. Zhenzhu grabbed their arm, throwing their limp hand onto the kettle.

“Ah—” The scorching pain made even this trained person scream sharply.

Before they could finish screaming, Zhenzhu yanked their arm, leaving a layer of flesh on the kettle, then quickly dipped the arm in salt water beside them.

“AAAHHH—” The bone-deep pain made them dizzy, desperately wanting to faint, but A’xi stood beside them, using a silver needle to prevent unconsciousness.

Zhenzhu pulled out their hand and immediately applied medicine to the wound.

“I have the most cruel tortures here, and the best physicians, able to keep you suffering without dying…” Shen Xihe spoke softly, her voice steady and clear like ice striking jade, so pleasant it made one overlook the sinister content of her words.

After the torture, the person still bit their trembling teeth in silence.

Seeing this, Shen Xihe admired Emperor Youning’s training: “Question them thoroughly, mind the limits, keep them alive until they talk.”

That night, the person, tortured until covered in wounds without a patch of good flesh, finally couldn’t endure and confessed everything they knew, begging for a quick death. Of course, Shen Xihe didn’t let them die immediately but followed their confession to capture everyone they named. Only then did she give them a quick end. The others were also tortured, and once confirmed there was nothing more to confess, she had this batch of over ten people killed.

Shen Xihe had Moyu take their heads and apply her precious funeral incense. This incense could prevent corpses from decaying, though with just heads rather than complete bodies sealed in coffins, they wouldn’t last as long.

Still, it would be more than enough to reach the capital, preventing the bodies from rotting before His Majesty could recognize them.

“Youyou, you have no task for me?” Xiao Huayong had been waiting for Shen Xihe to assign him a mission.

Under heaven, only he could silently deliver the heads to His Majesty.

Shen Xihe’s gaze moved from her book, glanced at the expectant Xiao Huayong, then returned to her book, blocking their eye contact: “Such a small matter doesn’t require Your Highness’s attention.”

“You have another way?” Xiao Huayong raised his eyebrows, quite expectant.

Shen Xihe smiled without speaking. Xiao Huayong waited a while, feeling anxious. He had no interest in others’ affairs but was extremely curious about anything related to Shen Xihe.

Just as he was about to ask, Zhenzhu’s voice came from outside: “Crown Princess, Prince Xun has arrived.”

Xiao Huayong had to sit aside, one hand propped on the table, shoulders drooping, feigning weakness.

Xiao Changfeng entered and bowed, then asked: “Crown Princess called for me, what instructions do you have?”

“I have a gift for His Majesty that only Your Highness can deliver to him, so I must trouble you,” Shen Xihe put down her book, her gaze falling on a large box in front.

Xiao Changfeng followed her gaze: “What might it be?”

“Your Highness can take a look,” Shen Xihe’s lips curved upward.

Xiao Changfeng opened the box to find several smaller boxes inside. He opened one and his expression changed instantly, stepping back involuntarily.

Xiao Huayong was too far to see, and under Shen Xihe’s gaze, had to feign curiosity: “What is it?”

Xiao Changfeng turned sharply, staring at Shen Xihe: “What is the Crown Princess’s meaning?”

“I’m returning to His Majesty the people he sent. Also, here are their confessions. I don’t believe these people made false accusations, so I took great pains to preserve their appearances for His Majesty to identify, so he can see clearly which petty criminals dared to slander His Majesty and sow discord between the court and the Northwest.” Shen Xihe gestured for Zhenzhu to hand the confessions to Xiao Changfeng.

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