Chapter 50 - Interrogation

As the emperor ordered to search around the palace ground, Huang Fei Fong as the Great General leads his armies and imperial guards to carry out the order.

With a large number of men, it is faster and easier to explore the huge place. He divided those men into a few groups and each group must consist of both of the armies and also imperial guards. He trusts his men but not the imperial guards. Those guys are easily bribed by the ministers.

Huang Fei Hong warns them to meet and tell him first if they ever find anything suspicious. Don't go to the main hall directly. Every proof and evidence must pass through his inspection.

Huang Fei Hong strolls around while looking here and there. Suddenly one of his men ran towards him.

"General! General!"

"What is it? Any clues?" Fei Hong asked urgently but still, he remains his stoic face.

"We found some clothes remnants inside a burner."

"Take me there."

Both of them rushed to the place where the burner was. When they arrived, two armies were trying to sort out the ashes and some other remnants that didn't burn. They leave out the pieces of unburnt clothes and clean up the mess right after it.

Huang Fei Hong squats in front of the remnants pick them up and carefully examines them.

At a first glance, this kind of cloth is for sure doesn't belong to the lowly servant as it was a high-grade material. Huang Fei Hong keeps examining another two pieces but nothing could prove it belonged to Xiu Ying. Until the fourth piece, Huang Fei Hong smirks.

A phoenix embroidery.

No one else in the country could embroider a phoenix on their robe, except the empress.

"Anyone brought a handkerchief or small pouch?" He asked the men around. One of the imperial guards takes out a plain white handkerchief and hands it to him.

Huang Fei Hong picks up all four pieces of the remnants and wraps them inside the handkerchief. Then he hides it inside his robe. Such important evidence cannot be trusted in someone else's hands. He needs to take care of it on his own.

As he was just done putting away that piece of evidence, another imperial guard ran towards him.

"Greetings, General," the imperial guard folds his hands to the front and bows.

"What is it?"

"Can you come with me for a moment, please? We have found something but unsure whether it could be a clue or... just a junk."

Without wasting any more time, Huang Fei Hong follows the imperial guard, but he frowns as soon as they arrived.

They are standing in front of an unoccupied servant's room. To be precise, Huo Qubing's servant's room.

[A/N: For those who forgot, Huo Qubing made a moment of appearance in chapter 40. He's meeting with Yu Zhougong]

"My Lord, please," the imperial gestures Huang Fei Hong to walk ahead. Inside the room, some of the armies and imperial guards are still rummaging here and there.

"So, did you find anything?" asked Huang Fei Hong without dilly-dallying.

"Here," One of the armies holds out a small pouch.

Huang Fei Hong pulls open the small pouch and found there are a few round and black-colored pills. He tried to sniff on it and it gives out herbal scents. He can't say the pouch belonged to the empress as nothing can give away the identity of the pouch's owner.

He holds on to it tightly. "I'm going to the main hall first. Keep searching and inform ME immediately if you found anything else."

With that, he leaves those men while they doing their job and rushed to the main hall. But when he pushed open the door to the main hall, he could only see the ministers and officers talking to each other but no sight of Wu Zhang Wei on the throne.

He looks around and meets his eyes with Li Jie who is standing not far from him. He raises both of his eyebrows, sending signals to Li Jie. At a glance, Li Jie knows what he meant.

Li Jie nods and turns around, leading the way to the side room where Wu Zhang Wei and Li Shizen went into.

Huang Fei Hong knocks on the door and says, "Your Majesty, may I see you for a second?" After a few seconds of silence, he was allowed to enter the room.

"Your Majesty, we have found some clues," said Huang Fei Hong right after he kowtowed.

Wu Zhang Wei's eyes shine with hope. "What is it? Show it to Zhen."

Huang Fei Hong holds out his palm, showing the small pouch. "Here. We found this under the bed in... Huo Qubing's servant's room."

Wu Zhang Wei's hand tremors while trying to reach the pouch. Holding the pouch with both hands and gently caressing it.

"This belongs to Ying-er... Zhen gave it to him so he could bring the herbal pills with him everywhere. During his early pregnancy, he always felt dizzy and nauseous so he always needs to bring herbal pills with him. That's why Zhen gave this to him..."

His voice slightly trembles. He missed Xiu Ying too much. He is deadly worried about his wife and their unborn child.

Wu Zhang Wei pulls the pouch string and found a few round pills left inside. He grips the pouch tightly and frowns. Holding his anger.

He releases a heavy sigh. "What else did you find?"

Huang Fei Hong slips into his sleeve and takes out the folded handkerchief.

"These...?" Wu Zhang Wei asked.

Huang Fei Hong clears his throat. "We found remains of Her Majesty's clothes inside a burner. Seems like someone tried to burn Her Majesty's clothes to destroy the evidence."

Wu Zhang Wei takes the handkerchief from Fei Hong's palm. He unfolded it and when he saw it, he almost stumbled backward. Li Jie immediately runs to his side and supports him.

Wu Zhang Wei grips on the handkerchief tightly, shuts his eyes, and his eyebrows creased. He takes a deep breath.

When he opens his eyes, all that is present in the room unconsciously stand straight and lower their heads.

The menacing gaze can make someone's knees go weak. But Li Shizen, Li Jie, and Huang Fei Hong are the emperor's most trusted people so they could stand it as they know, the killing intent is not for them.

"Are these the only clues you got for now?"

Huang Fei Hong nods. "Yes, Your Majesty."

Wu Zhang Wei pondered for a moment. "Just now, the pouch was found in the Huo Qubing's servant's room, right?"

The Great General nods again.

Wu Zhang Wei caresses his own chin, touching his stubble. He murmurs, "He's just a medium-ranked officer but why would he do something like this? Did I ever do something to his family? Or does he wish for position or wealth? Or...he's actually cooperating with someone else..."

Li Shizen and Huang Fei Hong look at each other when they heard what Wu Zhang Wei just said.

Huang Fei Hong clears his throat. "Your Majesty, should I arrest Lord Huo? Or Your Majesty wants to observe some more?"

Wu Zhang Wei shakes his head. "Take him to the cell right now. We got no more time to waste."

Huang Fei Hong kowtows. When he's about to turn to leave, Wu Zhang Wei said, "Investigate all Huo Qubing's activities, including his family too."

His lips are slightly slanted. Huang Fei Hong fully understood why the emperor asked him to investigate Huo Qubing's family.

When things get complicated, a little threat might be useful.

Outside the room, the situation got heated when Huang Fei Hong brings a few men with him, striding towards Huo Qubing.

"Lord Huo, you're required to come with us. It is best if you keep silent and give your cooperation." Huang Fei Hong stands in front of Huo Qubing while swaying his long sharp sword.

Huo Qubing became edgy and cannot stop stealing glances towards Yu Chenyi, standing still and looking calm. The more he tried to resist, the more suspicious he'll be. So, Huo Qubing obediently followed the imperial guards, in the hope the one who is supposed to be his partner-in-crime will come and rescue him.

Huang Fei Hong looks from the corner of his eyes, the tiny interaction between Huo Qubing and Yu Chenyi. He brushed it off and will mention it to Wu Zhang Wei later on.

Half a day passed, all the rooms have been searched thoroughly and nothing else could be found. All the ministers and officers breathe a sigh of relief. They are allowed to return to do their own stuff. However, the topic of Huo Qubing being apprehended won't stop in the meantime.

........

Huo Qubing was taken to the underground cell. It was a place for an offender or suspect with a serious or heavy crime. Be it a normal citizen or a noble, no double standard. They'll be placed at the same kind of gloomy, bloody and stinky cell.

Huo Qubing trembles and his legs went soft when he noticed where he was taken. He cannot help but frown and scrunches his nose due to the unbearable scent.

The scent of skin being burned and bloody skin as it was torn due to continuous whiplashes. Also, sounds of people whimpering and screaming, saying it is hurt and killing them.

Huo Qubing is woken up from his daze when he was pushed into one of the cells. He grips on both sides of his robe tightly, scanning inside the cell. There is only one piece of straw mat and a pail for the call of nature.

Huo Qubing pulls the straw mat to the corner of the cell, takes a seat, knees close to his chest and he holds them tightly. He really wished 'that person' will come and help him. But if things look bad for him, he won't hesitate to spill the tea.

Early next morning, Huo Qubing awaken by the creaking sound of the cell door. He was about to smile as he thought 'that person' came to rescue him but his smile immediately froze when he saw the emperor and Great General standing in front of him.

He immediately kneels, "Greetings, Your Majesty. Your Majesty, may this servant knows, what this servant had done? This servant has been loyal for almost twenty years. This servant won't dare to cause any problems in this country. So please, Your Majesty, this servant would like to apologize beforehand if this servant accidentally made a mistake and caused a grievance towards Your Majesty," Huo Qubing rumbles.

Ignoring his words, Wu Zhang Wei talks to the guards, "Take him." Then he turns around, leaves the cell.

"Yo- Your Majesty! Listen to me, Your Majesty! I- "

"Shut up! His Majesty will listen to your excuses in a while. For now, just shut your mouth," said one of the guards who is dragging him.

Huo Qubing was pushed to sit on a wooden chair with both wrists tied on the armrest. Two long blocks of wood were put in between his legs. This is for leg-twisting torture. His legs tremble so hard and he almost wetted his pants when he saw the branding iron on his right side. Two guards standing on his left and right side.

Huo Qubing flinches when heard footsteps, then he slowly lifts his head.

Wu Zhang Wei sighs. "Alright. Cut the chit-chat. Lord Huo, just tell Zhen, where is Zhen's wife?"

"Yo- Your Majesty! Please... I know nothing. I have no reason to involve in the disappearance of Her Majesty. I-"

His words were cut off when Wu Zhang Wei grunts and shot a deathly glare at him. "General Huang." Wu Zhang Wei said simply before taking a seat opposite him.

Huang Fei Fong moves forward. "Lord Huo," Huang Fei Hong waves the small pouch that they found in front of Huo Qubing's face. "This small pouch was a gift from His Majesty to Her Majesty. This kind of design and materials were specially chosen by His Majesty, so no other person can have this. This pouch was used to store herbal pills as Her Majesty was not feeling well before."

Huang Fei Hong opens the pouch and shows the herbal pills to Huo Qubing. Huo Qubing frowns and Huang Fei Hong understood. He knows Huo Qubing must think why would he tell him about this pouch.

"This pouch that belongs to Her Majesty was found inside one of your unoccupied servant's rooms."

Huo Qubing feels the blood drains from his face. Small beads of sweat slowly trickled down his face.

"I guess Lord Huo didn't notice this pouch accidentally dropped from Her Majesty's robe when you remove it....before you burn it. Am I right, Lord Huo?"

Huo Qubing shakes his head vigorously. "N- No! I kn- know nothing! It's not me!"

Huang Fei Hong glances at the two standing guards and raises his chin, signaling them to proceed.

Screams immediately filled the whole underground cell. Feeling like his muscles are being torn apart one by one, Huo Qubing wets his pants.

Wu Zhang Wei scoffs. "Disgusting."

After three times his legs are twisted, Huang Fei Hong continues the interrogation. "Telling the truth is the best way, Lord Huo. The longer you delay, the worse you will feel. So, tell us, where is Her Majesty right now? Why you take Her Majesty away? Are you doing it on your own? Or... you're doing it for someone else?"

"I...do- don't know..." Huo Qubing winces. The pain in his thigh makes him barely able to say any words.

Huang Fei Hong lifts his chin again and another shrilling voice occupied the cell.

Huang Fei Hong turns to take a glance at the emperor, he swallows his saliva. The emperor's frustration kicked in and he was about to explode with rage.

The empress has been gone for over a week and his condition is still unknown. They already wasted so much time and they cannot waste even more.

Huang Fei Hong clears his throat. "So, you don't know? Hmm... if you don't know about this, then do you know about a ger, in his early 30s, living in a big mansion outside the capital?"

Huo Qubing froze.

"I heard that ger used to be a male courtesan. He was quite popular among the people who came to the second famous brothel in the capital. But a certain minister took a liking to him and impregnate him. Without the knowledge of HIS WIFE. So, when the minister knew the ger was pregnant, he quickly sent him away from the capital and keep him in a mansion that he received from another minister."

Huang Fei Hong leans forward until his face is parallel with Huo Qubing. "What do you think will happen if the Huo family knows Lord Huo, who is well-known as a loving husband and doting father has a ger as his mistress, and the mistress is already pregnant?"

Huo Qubing grits his teeth, then he smirks. "Go on and tell them. The worst thing that can happen is my wife asking me to leave him. It's not a big deal. I can give him the house and money then we can go separate ways. A lowly GER should know his place and won't dare to demand so much."

The smirk on his face immediately ceased and he cried out for mercy as a sharp sword penetrate his thigh.

Feels like time is frozen and nobody moved. They never thought the emperor would suddenly stab Huo Qubing's thigh.

"That ger is a thousand times better than a despicable person like you.. Sleeping and impregnate someone that slept with your son. What A GOOD FATHER!"