Chapter 284: Chapter 283: Biting Off One’s Tongue to Commit Suicide

At first, when Zhu Cheng interrogated Yang Chengxuan, he didn’t call Zhu Yu and the others. Zhu Yu had already anticipated this and remained calm on the surface, but internally she felt somewhat stifled. Now, Zhu Cheng had sent someone to invite them over for help, and Zhu Yu didn’t even bother to put on a pleasant face for Zhu Cheng, keeping a stern expression as she went over.

Zhu Cheng could tell that his daughter was displeased, but he could only pretend not to notice and dared not have any other reaction.

After all, at this critical moment, the only people around him he could trust, who had no ties with the Pang Family, were clever, and could help him make decisions and handle matters. Besides Zhu Yu and Lu Qing, he truly had no one else to rely on.

“This Yang Chengxuan won’t bow to persuasion or coercion, what should be done?” Zhu Cheng humbled himself to ask Zhu Yu.

Seeing their stance, he had grown wise. Since whenever he asked Lu Qing, Lu Qing would lead Zhu Yu to express her opinion first, he decided not to waste his breath in such urgency and directly asked Zhu Yu.

“He’s not impervious to persuasion; he just figured out your weaknesses, Father.” Zhu Yu had already thought of a solution on her way over. “I’ll go over and see what he says.”

Zhu Cheng quickly ordered the guards to escort her and Lu Qing over.

Yang Chengxuan had probably been subjected to some measures before, and now appeared far more miserable than Wen Qiming had been, yet he still maintained a staunchly upright posture in the cell.

“Right Chief Historian truly has the demeanor of a hero!” Zhu Yu sneered, tugging her lips while standing outside the cell to taunt, “Such deep loyalty and righteousness, bearing everything alone. Your master behind the scenes must be greatly moved to know this.”

Yang Chengxuan glanced at her, vaguely recognizing her but unable to remember. But seeing Zhu Cheng standing behind Zhu Yu, he guessed that Zhu Cheng had brought her here to extract his words, so he snorted coldly: “The only master Yang serves is Prince Shuo; there is no master behind the scenes! Don’t spout nonsense here and tarnish my name!”

“Only loyal to Prince Shuo? Then where do you place the Emperor of Jin Country, the Sovereign of the World?” Zhu Yu inquired.

Yang Chengxuan was startled, then snorted: “Don’t try to play word games with me here! I refuse to engage! The innocent are innocent; speaking more is of no use! If you keep slandering me, framing me with false charges, I might as well bite off my tongue to prove my innocence!”

Zhu Yu said nothing, merely smiled at Yang Chengxuan steadily, staring at him until he became flustered, his imposing demeanor cracking as he somewhat angrily questioned, “What is the meaning of you staring at me like that? Do you think I dare not?!”

“What would you not dare?” Zhu Yu, now laughed directly without bothering to pretend, “If you dared to incite the traditional nobility to wreak havoc in Shuo Land, oppress the people, and plot rebellion, what’s left to fear about biting off your tongue in suicide?

From my perspective, a stalwart man like the Right Chief Historian, after his plans are exposed, should indeed bite his tongue off in suicide, to preserve his master’s secrets.”

She paused, raising an eyebrow to look at the ashen-faced Yang Chengxuan: “What now? Did the Right Chief Historian guess wrong? You think we are all afraid you’d take your own life?

Once you’re dead, we’d have no one to testify to the Pang family’s treason?”

Clearly, she hit the mark with her words, leaving Yang Chengxuan’s expression nuanced. He didn’t retort, but his eyes flickered uncertainly as he looked again at Zhu Yu.

“I’m clear about the Right Chief Historian’s intentions. You are merely hoping to keep the Pang family’s secrets, so that they can later rescue you from this prison, and you will have an ideal token of loyalty to offer, allowing you to continue enjoying a glorious life with the Pang family.

You must be confused right now, huh? Thinking we’re worried you might suffer a misfortune, needing us to patiently persuade, coax, and threaten you into revealing those sordid things about the Pang family?” Zhu Yu gestured dismissively, “Overthinking. The Prince, perhaps remembering old times, might want to give you a chance to repent, but I don’t agree with such an approach.

I, in fact, would rather the Right Chief Historian bite his tongue off to prove his innocence right now, so that I can use your blood before it congeals to prick my finger and write a confession letter, documenting the evidence we’ve already gathered.

This way, the Right Chief Historian redeems himself, preserving a shred of honor, preventing an infamy that would last through the ages. It’s dying with dignity.

Meanwhile, we can bring to light the leads we have secretly gathered, justifying our actions and pointing our accusations rightfully.

Isn’t this an outcome that serves us both well?”

“You!” Yang Chengxuan probably never imagined someone could so self-righteously utter such a despicable plan, his face turning livid, “Despicable scoundrel! Shameless villain!

This is slander against me!”

“Oh? To denounce and expose the Pang family’s treason in your name is despicable and shameless, is slander?

And you colluding with the Pang family in their treachery, that’s something worth defending with your life?!” Zhu Yu snorted, “The Right Chief Historian indeed has the knack for crying thief while being the thief!

You betray your master, devour from within, for personal gain, roasting the people of Shuo on an iron plate, and yet you have the gall to bite back!

Speaking so righteously just now, why hesitate to bite off your tongue and let the blood gush into your windpipe, suffocating yourself to death? Reluctant to die, are you?

The lives of countless young and strong men in Shuo Land were taken by you and the Pang family, yet you cherish your own wretched life!

You now refuse to confess the Pang family’s deeds, nor do you dare to bite your tongue off—thinking perhaps that the Prince can’t contend with the Pang family, and as long as you remain alive, the Pang family will eventually find a way to get you out?

Think again; that day will never come. The Pang family cannot gain power, and you even less likely to leave this cell alive.”

Yang Chengxuan glared fiercely at Zhu Yu, then cast his gaze towards Zhu Cheng behind her, seeing Zhu Cheng with a dark, frighteningly grim face, not denying the implication of the earlier words, seemingly aware of the Pang family’s matters.

He hesitated briefly, but still snorted and turned his face away.

Zhu Yu was momentarily confused by his reaction, expecting that revealing Zhu Cheng’s awareness of the Pang family’s activities would worry and unsettle Yang Chengxuan, even altering his stance, but was surprised by his sustained silence after a brief moment of hesitance.

She roughly guessed what this indicated.

“Considering the Prince still holds some regard for past camaraderie, I advise the Right Chief Historian to seize this opportunity,” Zhu Yu spoke again, “Your heinous crimes leave no room for reversal, but doing the right thing at the last moment, might not save your life, but at least won’t implicate family.

Far better than only being of use as a corpse.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep