Sun Zixuan shook his head, "Father, you've changed, you're unrecognizable. You never used to be like this."
"Jun Xuan, I..."
Sun Zixuan turned and left.
Sun Ming took a step back and slumped onto the chair, remaining silent for a long time.
The man in black on the eaves stood up, and in the darkness, a fleeting glint crossed his eyes, imperceptible to anyone.
Ministry of Justice Prison
A man covered in blood hung in mid-air. His head dangled until a basin of cold water was poured on him, and he felt a twinge of pain.
He slowly raised his head. His face was crisscrossed with wounds, and blood had congealed on it, obscuring his features. However, his eyes, even stained with blood, were exceptionally bright.
"Fenghua, look at you suffering here, but your father, the Emperor, knows nothing. Is it worth it?"
Fenghua chuckled softly, "Loyal to my master for life. Prince Jing, you won't get anything out of me."
Prince Jing walked up to Fenghua and said, "Fenghua, you are still young and have a bright future ahead of you. Why keep silent for your father who is about to be buried? Even if you do, he won't know. Why not tell me?
When I ascend the throne, you will prosper. Isn't that better than enduring torture here? It's not worth it."
"Whether it's worth it or not is not for you to decide, it's for me to decide," Fenghua raised his head. Beneath his disheveled hair was a blood-stained face, and his eyes were filled with ice.
Prince Jing sneered, "It seems you refuse the toast and insist on a beating... " Prince Jing's expression turned cold, his eyes filled with killing intent. He wore a jade-yellow brocade robe, and the dragon on his chest was lifelike.
Fenghua smiled, his smile laced with mockery, "Prince Jing, aren't you tired of pretending for so long?"
Prince Jing sneered, "Pretending? Do I need to? Fenghua, I advise you to speak up, or I have plenty of ways to make you talk."
"Prince Jing, your threats are useless. I will never betray His Majesty, not even with the last drop of blood in my body. Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you," Fenghua grinned, revealing a mouth full of blood-stained teeth.
Prince Jing roared, "You ungrateful wretch! Fenghua, I see you won't shed tears until you see the coffin. Where are the whips? Give them to me! I don't believe your mouth can be more honest than your body. Whip him! I want to beat the truth out of you."
Someone handed him a whip, which he took, dipped in saltwater, and lashed Fenghua hanging in the air.
Fenghua gritted his teeth, not making a sound. New whip marks appeared over old ones.
"Hit harder! It doesn't hurt at all! Prince Jing, have you not eaten? Or are you physically weak? How can you hit me without hurting me at all?" Fenghua laughed heartily.
"Very well, today I will show you what despair is!" Prince Jing waved his hand, and someone brought over a basin of charcoal.
Prince Jing took out a red-hot iron from the coals and approached Fenghua, sneering, "If I brand your knees with this, Fenghua, you will be crippled for life."
Fenghua looked at him, then suddenly spat a mouthful of bloody foam onto Prince Jing, who didn't have time to dodge. "Then go ahead! If I cry out, I'm not Fenghua."
Prince Jing was furious and shouted, "Torture him! Torture him..."
The sizzling sound of burning filled the air. Fenghua bit his lower lip, remaining silent. Someone stepped forward to check Fenghua's breathing and reported to Prince Jing, "Your Highness, he has fainted."
"Throw him to the back to feed my pets!" Prince Jing said, wiping his hands with a handkerchief.
"Yes, Your Highness!" The subordinate quickly dragged Fenghua away.
In the darkness, a black figure flashed by. Before the person dragging Fenghua could react, they were knocked unconscious to the ground. The shadow swapped Fenghua's clothes with the knocked-out person and threw them into the inner courtyard.
The sounds of ripping and gnawing were heard, along with a few weak cries for help, but they soon faded, leaving only the sound of chewing.
Xue Zining arrived at the Ministry of Justice Prison and quickly found the place where prisoners were held. Suddenly, she heard footsteps ahead and hid behind a tree.
"Do you think the Prince's pet is scary? One person was just eaten like that."
"Hush, be careful the Prince hears you."
After speaking, the two parted ways. Xue Zining quickly followed, arriving at a secluded spot. Suddenly, she held her sword to the person's neck and said, "Don't move."
"Spare... spare my life! All my money is in my pouch. If you want it, I'll give it all to you. Just spare my life."
"If you answer my questions truthfully, I will let you go."
"You... speak. I will tell you everything I know, without reservation."
"Was the prisoner arrested last night here?"
The person was taken aback and said, "Do you know him?"
Xue Zining pressed her sword closer and said coldly, "Speak."
"Great hero, don't be rash. I'll speak, I'll speak."
"Speak quickly," Xue Zining said angrily.
"I'll tell you, that man was very stubborn. Even after much torture, he wouldn't speak. The Prince, in his rage, fed him to his pets."
"Take me there," Feng Ning said coldly.
"I..."
"Let's go..."
"I'm going, I'm going."
"It... it's this place."
Xue Zining knocked the person out with a chop to the head, then stepped forward. Suddenly, a pair of glowing green eyes fixed on her. She was startled, what was this?
"Roar..." A roar sent her stumbling back a few steps.
But in those few steps back, her foot seemed to step on something. She paused, moved her foot, and saw a blood-stained piece of clothing.
She felt a surge of anger. She looked up at the glowing green eyes. Her gaze turned cold, and she snarled, "Beast."
"Roar..." The glowing green eyes suddenly roared.
She grabbed her sword and exclaimed, "Die!"
She sprang forward and stabbed into the glowing green eyes. The sound of a sword piercing flesh.
"Roar... Roar..." The glowing green eyes cried out in pain.
"Who's there?" a cold shout suddenly rang out.
Xue Zining's gaze sharpened. She drew her sword and was about to leave.
"Catch her!" Prince Jing, who had arrived, roared angrily.
Soon, dozens of black-clothed men surrounded her.
"Who are you?" Prince Jing asked coldly.
"What business is it of yours who I am?" Xue Zining said coldly.
Prince Jing frowned, "Capture her alive."
Dozens of black-clothed men attacked her simultaneously. Gradually, she was at a disadvantage. Just as the black-clothed men were about to capture her, a figure flew in.