A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1184: I Will Make You Believe Soon!

After Zhao Junyao surveyed them, it was evident that each of the three harbored hidden agendas.

At that precise moment, any lingering shred of compassion he held for them vanished entirely.

Irrespective of whether they chose to beg for leniency or not, his initial decree was for them to endure a brutal flogging of fifty strokes each.

All three individuals were advanced in years, veritable old foxes.

Master Lian, in particular, was nearing the age of sixty.

It was an impossible feat for them to withstand such a severe beating.

For a considerable duration, their pained shrieks and mournful cries filled the air, their volume so immense that the entire complex of the prison could clearly discern them.

Following the completion of the ordeal.

Their posterior regions, backs, and thighs were brutally torn, a landscape of cuts and contusions, thoroughly saturated with freshly spilled blood.

This outcome was due to specific prior instructions given to the attending servants.

The directive was clear: they were to inflict maximum pain but certainly avoid delivering fatal injuries, consequently targeting less vital areas while deliberately shunning critical spots.

Therefore, despite feeling as though their very backs might rupture, there were no outward signs of impending unconsciousness or imminent death.

Paradoxically, a heightened sense of lucidity began to dawn upon them.

In this state, they could only watch in profound helplessness as the servants, true to their word, brought forth the brazier and the searing branding iron.

The charcoal within the brazier glowed with a fierce, incandescent red, punctuated by occasional crackling and popping sounds.

The branding iron itself was heated to a similar extreme, radiating an aura of palpable danger.

The mere thought of such an instrument being seared into one's flesh...

A profound chill coursed through their entire beings, preventing them from daring to contemplate the reality further, their faces contorted into expressions of utter misery, a truly harrowing sight to behold.

Zhao Junyao let out a cold, derisive laugh.

"Fear not!"

"Should you choose to divulge the truth, I shall immediately grant you leave to return to your homes; what say you to that?"

His voice, as chilling as a pronouncement from the Asura realm of hell, delivered these menacing words with deliberate slowness.

The three men felt a potent mixture of terror and tantalizing temptation.

Old Master Song, succumbing to the potent combination of agony and dread, was the first to break, tears streaming down his face.

"Speak, speak!"

"Why must we resort to such brutality? Why can't we simply discuss this like civilized men?!"

Zhao Junyao's gaze sharpened, piercing.

"Discussion is hardly an option now!"

"Have I not already extended countless opportunities to you?"

Xia Ruqing, with practiced ease, continued to fan the flames of the interrogation from the sidelines.

"In my humble opinion, you would be wise to confess swiftly!"

"Explain everything with absolute clarity, and you shall be lauded as veritable heroes!"

"Viewed from this perspective, at the very least, your lives will be spared, wouldn't you agree?"

Old Master Lian, observing the pathetic display of weakness from Old Master Song.

Then, noticing the haughty demeanor of the young, fair-faced imperial envoy.

A surge of combined anxiety and anger swelled within him, accompanied by feelings of deep hurt and bitter resentment, as he silently cursed, frustrated by their spinelessness.

"Wavering fool!"

"Do you truly believe that confession will grant you passage to continued existence?"

Old Master Song, upon hearing this, felt a dreadful confirmation of his fears.

Indeed!

If their illicit activities were ever brought to light, the consequences would extend far beyond mere survival; the entire lineage of their clans would face execution!

Instantly, he dissolved into fresh tears: "No, I won't confess, I absolutely will not confess!"

Old Master Lian remained silent, continuing to groan under the relentless pain.

Old Master Rong, meanwhile, was drenched in sweat, his eyes beginning to roll back, rendering him incapable of coherent speech.

The three remained locked in this agonizing stalemate.

Zhao Junyao emitted another cold, heartless laugh, casually gesturing with his hand.

"Refusal to speak, is it?!"

"Bring forth the branding iron; apply it directly to their existing wounds!"

"Ensure this: permit no fainting, no loss of life, let only the excruciating pain be their sole companion!"

"Understood!"

The servants advanced, their attention first fixed upon Old Master Lian.

The intensely heated branding iron made contact with the raw, freshly inflicted wounds, producing a sickening sizzle.

Xia Ruqing turned his head away, unable to bear witness to the unfolding horror.

"Ah!!"

An excruciating agony, a vice-like grip on his very core, coursed through him.

Old Master Lian, displaying a surprising degree of fortitude, let out a hoarse scream, veins prominently bulging on his forehead.

"You!"

"Who exactly are you people?"

"The arbitrary infliction of personal punishment is a violation of the law; are you ignorant of the imperial statutes?"

"Even His Majesty the Emperor would not overlook such transgressions!"

The audaciousness and brazen tone of his words were something Zhao Junyao had never before encountered.

(Naturally, it was his inaugural encounter; who else would have dared to speak so previously?)

Zhao Junyao, in an extremely rare display of emotion, felt his countenance darken to a steely blue with mounting rage, his patience utterly exhausted, and his desire to continue this charade extinguished.

He rose abruptly, drawing the Dragon Head Lockbone Gold Whip, adorned with intricate gold and silver inlays, from his waist, and delivered a forceful lash.

The whip struck the very ground, carving a deep fissure and sending dust plumes swirling into the air.

"Most outrageous!"

"Only Jinling and a handful of its surrounding vicinities have witnessed such exorbitant price surges across all of Jiangning!"

"This entire predicament can be attributed to the clandestine machinations of your three families!"

"You colluded to artificially manipulate the market, artificially inflate prices, and then proceeded to import goods from elsewhere solely to vend them at exorbitant rates, thereby amassing staggering profits!"

"I have already meticulously scrutinized the various enterprises operating under your control! Their declared assets pale in comparison to the reality!"

"I demand a comprehensive accounting, detailing the exact flow of your vast embezzled fortunes!"

These direct and unvarnished accusations struck everyone present with profound shock.

This was the first instance Xia Ruqing had ever witnessed such unbridled fury from him.

The inherent, almost regal aura that emanated from him was undeniable.

That unmistakable, powerful resolve to annihilate the entire clan left one breathless.

Silence...

A thick, suffocating silence descended.

After an immeasurable stretch of time, Old Master Lian finally stirred, his body trembling as he regained his senses.

He turned his gaze toward Old Master Rong and Old Master Song, his expression etched with bewilderment.

"Emperor?"

"Did he... did he just utter the word 'Emperor'?"

The other two elders were equally stunned, their faces mirroring confusion.

"No... I don't know!"

"I... oh... I didn't quite catch that either!"

Old Master Rong, consumed by pain and distress, found his mind a jumbled mess, oblivious to anything else.

Old Master Lian was plunged into utter despair.

If... if the man standing before him was truly the Emperor, then... his family's fate was sealed!

Comprehending this grim reality.

Old Master Lian slumped back onto the tiger-head bench, his face drained of all color, appearing frighteningly pale.

"You... you..."

"You truly are..."

Zhao Junyao arched an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his gesture.

"So, still not going to speak?"

With a leisurely air, he turned and resumed his seat.

"If you continue to remain silent, I shall have you fed to the Wei River turtles immediately!"

Such unrighteous wealth, feeding them to turtles would be a kindness!

Xia Ruqing audaciously fanned the flames of their predicament.

"All under heaven belongs to the King!"

"The Emperor's word is law, are you still refusing to confess?"

Old Master Lian shifted his gaze towards Xia Ruqing.

Noticing her fair and unblemished face, the complete absence of any facial hair, and a voice subtly higher than a typical man's.

If that person was indeed the Emperor.

Then this individual must be an eunuch! Though, this particular 'Little Eunuch' carried himself with uncommon audacity.

If it truly was the Emperor, how could the eunuch by his side display such blatant disrespect?

It was far more likely a deception!

Old Master Lian glared at her with burning anger, then suddenly erupted into laughter.

"Hahaha!"

"Emperor?"

"If you claim to be the Emperor, then I must be the Taishang Huang!"

"Imposters, impersonating the Emperor should earn you a swim with the river turtles!"

Seeing that his pronouncements were not yielding a confession, Zhao Junyao let out another cold laugh.

"If you don't believe me, that's fine!"

"I will soon make you a believer!"

He then turned and summoned Li Shengan, issuing his decree on the spot.

"The merchants of the Lian, Song, and Rong families have engaged in market manipulation, inflicted harm upon the populace, and amassed vast fortunes through illicit means! Their transgressions warrant the death penalty! Given their continued obstinacy, blatant disrespect for imperial authority, and clear MALA FIDES , hence... all their assets shall be confiscated, all female household members are to be relegated to the status of courtesans, male descendants under the age of ten shall be exiled, those over ten will be detained and executed after the autumn harvest!"

The decree was delivered with immense power and authority.

His piercing gaze and the overwhelming aura he exuded compelled a visceral urge to kneel and beg for mercy.

Such an identity could be feigned.

But that gaze, that commanding presence, that inherent nobility – could those truly be faked?