H! GVCP Chapter 25

Chapter 25: A New Method of Interrogation

Yu Lingzhao straightened up and sat directly on the grand armchair that had been brought over. 

She looked down at the assassin with a condescending gaze, as if she were merely looking at an insignificant ant.

Yu Xunyang’s brow furrowed slightly, he didn’t know how Zhaozhao planned to make her move.

Yu Lingzhao called for Feiyu, saying, “Go prepare some mulberry paper and a basin of water.”

Feiyu left to fulfill the request. By now, Guan Xiao had released the assassin’s collarbone, but the assassin remained stubborn: “Don’t even dream of getting a confession out of me!”

Yu Lingzhao smiled—a smile as beautiful as a celestial consort. 

“What are you thinking? I don't care about your confession.”

The assassin fell silent, but Yu Lingzhao’s interest was piqued instead.

She told Guan Xiao to bring over the weapons found on the assassin and place them on the small table nearby, inviting Yu Xunyang to take a look with her.

Just as Yu Xunyang was about to reach out and dismantle them, Yu Lingzhao glanced at the assassin. Seeing a faint glint in his eyes, she raised her hand to stop her brother.

Looking at the assassin again, the disappointment in his eyes was plain to see.

Yu Lingzhao gave a light laugh. 

“Is this dagger poisoned?”

The assassin jerked his head away, refusing to answer.

Taking the opportunity, Yu Lingzhao said to Yu Xunyang, “Third Brother, did you know? If he hadn't reacted at all, I really couldn't have been sure if this dagger was poisoned or not.” 

“But as soon as he moved, well, then I knew. It definitely has poison.”

Yu Xunyang: “...”

Seeing her brother’s speechless expression, Yu Lingzhao found it quite amusing. 

“This is a live demonstration; everyone pay attention and learn.”

“Yes! County Princess!”

This response came from the guards, led by Guan Xiao.

Yu Xunyang looked at his sister with mild exasperation. 

“And then? Are you going to identify his master through this poison?”

Yu Lingzhao extended her index finger and wagged it. 

“Of course not. I’ll have him test the poison himself later. There are only a few people who would be keeping tabs on me at a time like this.”

Yu Lingzhao calmly listed a string of names. It wasn't until she mentioned ‘Princess Qing’an’ that the man couldn't help himself and revealed a tiny slip-up.

This time, without Yu Lingzhao even needing to say a word, Yu Xunyang could see it too, this person was sent by Princess Qing’an.

Right then, Feiyu arrived with the mulberry paper and water.

Yu Lingzhao smiled at Yu Xunyang and gave him a heads-up: “Third Brother, don't be scared.”

Yu Xunyang didn't know what Zhaozhao was about to do, but he said solemnly, “Naturally, I am not afraid.”

Yu Lingzhao called Guan Xiao to her side and whispered in his ear for a while. The guards watched as Commander Guan’s expression shifted slightly before returning to normal.

Yu Lingzhao looked at Guan Xiao. “Is there a problem?”

Guan Xiao shook his head. “Please rest assured, County Princess. Your subordinate will certainly complete the task.”

Guan Xiao ordered his men to bind the assassin to a pillar in the outer courtyard's pavilion, then personally went over to set out the mulberry paper and the basin of water.

Yu Lingzhao smiled faintly. "Begin."

At her command, Guan Xiao started soaking the mulberry paper in the basin, waiting until they were completely saturated before layering them over the assassin’s face.

The assassin didn’t know what kind of trick Yu Lingzhao was playing; seeing only a few crude sheets of mulberry paper and a basin of water, he showed a look of disdain. 

"A cheap trick!"

Hearing this, Yu Lingzhao didn't feel offended at all; instead, she admired his courage. 

"When facing things you don't understand, it's better to stay humble. Otherwise, I’m afraid you won't even have the chance to catch your breath in a moment." 

While she was speaking, Guan Xiao had already soaked the third sheet of paper and pressed it onto the assassin’s face.

Yu Xunyang didn't understand either. Unsure of what kind of punishment this was, he looked toward his sister.

Yu Lingzhao took the willow-branch nectar drink handed to her by Huayue, took a sip, and then slowly explained, "This punishment is called Tie Jia Guan (The Jumping Official Mask). No blood is shed, and the floor doesn't get dirty. All it requires is a basin of water and some mulberry paper."

Just as she finished speaking, Guan Xiao layered on a fourth soaked sheet. 

At this point, the assassin still had about half his breath.

Yu Lingzhao took a bite of a white jade cream square cake and continued, "The execution method involves layering wet mulberry paper, sheet by sheet, over a person's face. In the beginning, there is no discomfort. But when the fifth or sixth sheet is completely applied, a slight sense of suffocation begins. Look, he's like this now."

Guan Xiao had already applied the sixth sheet, which clung perfectly to the assassin's face. The man finally realized something was wrong and began to struggle frantically.

Guan Xiao gave him no such opportunity, he had tied him so tightly that he couldn't move an inch.

Yu Lingzhao set down the cake and watched the assassin struggle with an expressionless face.

In that short time, Guan Xiao added two more sheets, and the assassin’s struggles became even more violent.

"Guan Xiao."

Yu Lingzhao suddenly called out for him to stop. Seizing the moment, Guan Xiao peeled off all the layered paper at once. The assassin gasped greedily for air; though his eyes were dazed, his gaze remained fixed on the little County Princess in the armchair.

Yu Lingzhao wasn't afraid of his gaze in the slightest and tapped the table.

Hearing the sound, Guan Xiao slammed the eight sheets of paper he had just removed back onto the assassin's face.

Unfazed, Yu Lingzhao continued, "Ten sheets at most, and it takes less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea to easily take a life. When the paper dries and is peeled off, the contours are distinct, just like the 'Promotion Mask' used by actors on stage. That is why it is called Tie Jia Guan."

As she finished speaking, Guan Xiao had just applied the tenth sheet.

Everyone looked toward the assassin. Sure enough, the transition from violent struggling to struggling to breathe happened in the blink of an eye, it looked as if he was about to expire.

Guan Xiao peeled the paper off once more. This time, the assassin inhaled even more frantically, even choking and coughing violently.

Without waiting for Guan Xiao to question him, the assassin confessed of his own accord, "I’ll talk! I’ll talk! It... it was Princess Qing’an!"

Everyone was shocked by Yu Lingzhao’s tactic, and Yu Xunyang looked at his sister with even greater astonishment.

Yu Lingzhao watched with cold eyes and told Guan Xiao to drag the man away, lock him up, and keep a close watch on him.

Yu Lingzhao stood up and went back into the inner study. 

Yu Xunyang followed her inside, while Feiyu and the others stayed behind to clean up. 

"Since you already know who the mastermind is, Zhaozhao, why didn't you just kill him?" Yu Xunyang asked urgently as soon as he entered.

Yu Lingzhao shook her head. "He’s just an assassin; there’s no value in killing him. He’s had enough of a scare today. In a couple of days, find a way to let him 'slip out,' then send people to follow him and find out who his master actually is."

Yu Xunyang was stunned. "Was he not telling the truth!?"

This time Yu Lingzhao laughed. She patted her brother’s shoulder with an air of earnest gravity. 

"Caution is the parent of safety. What if he lied to me? A wily rabbit has three burrows; how could I believe him so easily?"

Yu Xunyang was greatly shaken but felt his sister was right. The way he looked at Yu Lingzhao changed, it became one of pure admiration.

Seeing her third brother like this, Yu Lingzhao really didn't have the heart to tell him that their second brother would be hiding among the eldest sister-in-law’s group when they arrived in the capital.

Once Second Brother arrived, Third Brother’s good days would likely be over.

— 

Please Read More on Tie Jia Guan on Baidu

Author's Note- 

The Little County Princess’s classroom is now in session.

Lecturer: The Little County Princess

Attendees: Third Brother, Guan Xiao, and all of the Little County Princess’s trusted guards, etc.

Demonstrator: The assassin captured in the previous episode

>>H! GVCP Chapter 26