The moment Wang Nanshi saw Ling Mohan again, the fear etched into his bones surged back, making him tremble and curl up, trying to crawl away.
Lu Shi, seeing this, immediately stepped on Wang Nanshi's back, restraining his movements.
"In front of the young general, you dare to be so unruly. Do you truly not wish to live!"
"Are you Wang Yunjian?" Ling Mohan's voice was icy cold.
Terror filled Wang Nanshi's eyes. He nodded instinctively, then immediately denied it, "I... I am not. You've captured the wrong person!"
"You admitted it yourself just now, and now you're contradicting yourself. Your lying tongue is no longer needed!"
Lu Shi was furious, wishing he could kill Wang Nanshi with his own hands.
"Take him away. Go find your young madam and get some things for him to enjoy before he dies."
Ling Mohan's lips curved into a smile, but the expression was chilling.
"Yes, Young General!"
Lu Shi cupped his hands in acknowledgment and immediately sprinted off to find Feng Jin for some items. Feng Jin was an expert in such matters.
"Young Madam!"
Feng Jin had just coaxed the two children to sleep when Lu Shi's shout startled them. Feng Jin quickly patted them to soothe them back to sleep.
"Be quieter, they just fell asleep."
After a pause, when the two little ones were sleeping soundly, Feng Jin tiptoed out, pulling Lu Shi along with her.
"What is it?"
"Young Madam..."
Lu Shi quickly recounted the entire incident to Feng Jin.
A smile played on Feng Jin's lips. Ling Mohan's choice was indeed wise; coming to her for these matters was absolutely correct.
"This... let him smell it, and he'll laugh uncontrollably for one to two hours. Then you give him an antidote. Don't exceed three hours, or he'll laugh himself to death."
"You can also use this itching powder. Once it touches the skin, it will cause intense itching, and he'll scratch himself until he's covered in sores..."
Lu Shi listened intently to Feng Jin's explanations, finding each option suitable, and was momentarily undecided.
"If you're hesitating, why not use them all?"
Feng Jin's words completely dispelled Lu Shi's indecision. The young madam made sense; why not use everything?
"Thank you, Young Madam. I'll go and use them all on him now."
Lu Shi eagerly grabbed the items and left, desperate to witness the traitor Wang Nanshi's ultimate fate.
"What are you doing? What are you doing!"
Wang Nanshi trembled, scooting backward, fear spreading through his entire body.
"Nothing much, just want to use some good things on you. Even a little bit of this stuff here is worth a thousand gold. My young madam, in her kindness, specially prepared this for you. You mustn't let her good intentions go to waste."
Lu Shi's words were true. A single bottle of these medicines would cost a fortune. The young madam was so generous, giving him so much; she was truly magnanimous.
"You are truly fortunate. To be able to use these wonderful things at the same time. I specifically requested them for you."
"You... you..." Wang Nanshi stammered, his fingers trembling as he pointed at Lu Shi, unable to articulate a coherent thought.
"Don't thank me. This is all in good faith. Enjoy yourself."
With that, Lu Shi applied the various bottles and jars Feng Jin had given him onto Wang Nanshi one by one.
Instantly, sounds of torment, worse than death, filled the air.
At this moment, Wang Nanshi let out sounds that were indistinguishable between cries and laughter. His body was scratched raw, his pupils wide with terror.
Lu Shi watched the utterly tragic Wang Nanshi with cold eyes, a sense of vengeful satisfaction filling his heart.
The battle that year was supposed to be a victory, but due to his cowardice and desertion, the battle was a crushing defeat. Tens of thousands of soldiers perished, their blood staining the earth.
His best brother had also died in that battle, his head severed and displayed on the city walls, his body not whole.
All of this was thanks to Wang Nanshi. How could he let him off?
Why should innocent soldiers die because of him, while he lived freely and prosperously?
Thinking of this, Lu Shi's eyes reddened further, and he intensified his torment.
"Lord Lu, the young general ordered that he be tortured until he can't bear it any longer before he dies. But if this continues, he'll be dead soon."
"Use this. Revive him. I want him to suffer greatly, to atone for his sins before he is allowed to die."
Lu Shi watched Wang Nanshi's agony, his hatred slightly appeased.
...
Feng Jin stuffed cotton into her ears, and the world instantly became quieter. The silence felt wonderful.
Ever since Lu Shi took the medicine from her, the heart-wrenching screams had not stopped. Her eardrums felt like they would burst.
If she had known this would happen, she shouldn't have impulsively given all the medicine to Lu Shi. Now she was suffering the consequences; it served her right.
Unable to bear it any longer, Feng Jin suddenly stood up and rummaged through the medicine chest. She finally found a small red porcelain bottle on the bottom shelf.
Fortunately, she had brought it with her. It would be useful now. Clenching the bottle, Feng Jin walked out.
"Has he been tortured to this extent?"
When Feng Jin arrived, Lu Shi had just given Wang Nanshi the antidote. Wang Nanshi lay on the ground like a corpse, completely still.
"The young madam's medicine is truly effective. If used during an interrogation, any prisoner would confess within fifteen minutes."
Lu Shi said flatteringly, seeing Feng Jin as an all-powerful being.
"Did you enjoy listening to his wailing all this time?"
Lu Shi blinked, rubbing his ear, "I've gotten used to it, so it doesn't bother me."
"You've gotten used to it, but I haven't. The entire post station is filled with his screams. Are you trying to prevent us from living?"
Every time Feng Jin closed her eyes, she heard his ghostly wails. She was utterly exasperated.
"Give him this哑药 (mute medicine)."
"Yes, Young Madam."
Lu Shi took the bottle, surprised that Feng Jin had mute medicine as well.
Without hesitation, Lu Shi poured the mute medicine into Wang Nanshi's mouth.
The medicine worked very quickly. After drinking it, Wang Nanshi felt a burning pain in his throat, an agony worse than death.
When the burning sensation subsided, Wang Nanshi opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
"Now the world will be quiet. You continue the interrogation. If you need anything, go find Cai Qing for medicine."
She just wanted to sleep soundly now; she was too tired. She pushed all the remaining tasks onto Cai Qing.