That little speech was almost the exact same one Peng Pei had used to tempt Gu Nan Yi. 

Despite being thoroughly embarrassed, Peng Pei proves to be a  formidable character and quickly steps forward and kicked Li Asuo, “You lowlife, who ordered you to slender Official Gu! Confess quickly!” 

Taking a few tumbles on the ground after being kicked, there was blood on Li Asuo’s forehead. Casting a timid glance at Peng Pei, Li Asuo gritted his teeth and bowed his head to the ground, “No…no! It was this commoner who became resentful after my key lock stall was kicked over once by Official Gu. I was holding a grudge…so…so…that’s why I slandered him!” 

“You lowlife, to slander an official just over such trivial matters!” 

Official Ge exchanged a glance with Official Zang, coughed, and said, “Li Asuo, a commoner framing and slandering an official is a capital offense, you have to think clearly.” 

Li Asuo’s body shuddered, opened his mouth to speak but the moment he raised his eyes he was greeted by the dark blue corner of Peng Pei’s official uniform. The dark blue hue reminded him of the terrified faces of his wife and children in his small courtyard in the dark night…he shuddered and bowed again, “…this commoner…is guilty…” 

Ning Yi suddenly said, “Li Asuo, when and where did Official Gu kick over your stall, describe the incident.” 

Caught off guard by the question, Li Asuo opened his mouth, and hesitated for a good bit before he said haltingly, “…this commoner can’t remember clearly, it seemed to be last year…or…it seems to be the year before last…”

Gu Nan Yi suddenly said flatly, “I only came to the Imperial Capital the year before last.”

“It was last year! Last year…spring!” Li Asuo’s eyes lit up, and he said loudly, “Last spring, he said this commoner’s stall was blocking his path. He kicked over my stall with one kick, trampled on many of this commoner’s hard work, and ended up destroying this commoner’s business for half of a month!”

Ning Yi laughed.

Several people in the hall also laughed, some of the laughs were with regret.

“Last spring.” Ning Yi said with a vicious smile, his voice soft and almost gentle, “Because Official Wei went missing after encountering a landslide on the way back to the capital from South Sea, Official Gu searched all along the route for more than half of a year. He never returned to the capital during that whole year.”

Li Asuo’s mouth fell open. 

Hua Qing chuckled. 

It is truly effective when someone who never lies stealthy drops a few hints to lead a confession. This is the way how it should be done. 

“I, I, I….” Li Asuo stammered. At this moment, he really couldn’t come up with anything else. In a panic, he looked at Peng Pei anxiously. 

Taking advantage of the chaos, Feng Zhi Wei shuffled her way to Gu Nan Yi’s side. 

Constricted by the space, Gu Nan Yi couldn’t back away too much. Now that she is close, she realized the chill she had felt previously was indeed emanating from the chains on his body.  The closer she got, the more she could feel the bone-chilling cold. If that’s how she felt just being close, then what it must be for Gu Nan Yi who is actually wearing the chains? 

Now that she has the opportunity to take a closer look at the chains, she realized she had misidentified them yesterday in the dimly lit dungeon. They were not made of black iron, but cold iron. Cold iron is formed at the bottom of the deep sea. Not only are they ten times heavier than ordinary iron, but after absorbing the extreme cold in the deep underground for thousands of years, they are extremely cold. Who knows how the Ministry of Punishment was able to obtain something like this? No wonder Official Zhang seemed surprised. Something like this was probably reserved for the vilest and most ferocious death roll criminal. It can’t possibly be something the Ministry of Punishment uses casually. 

But it was used on Gu Nan Yi!

From last night to now, how did he bear it? 

Feng Zhi Wei glanced over and saw the fingers Gu Nan Yi weren’t able to hide in time because of the keys. His nails have already turned slightly blue, an indication that the poisonous cold has already seeped into his body. His fingers should be frozen stiff by this point. (Not sure if this is medically correct, but in these sorts of stories, the word “poisonous cold” used here is not just a description but is actually a poison that harms the body, causing lasting damage or even death.) 

He actually managed to use those hands, under such conditions, to carve that key!

Sensing a change in her, Gu Nan Yi immediately retracted his fingers into his sleeves. Feng Zhi Wei stared at the flickering blue light, she could only feel a coldness filling her inside completely. In the depth of that coldness, came a burst of furious flame, as fierce as a poisonous flame spreading through every vein in her body, before exploding out, bringing with it, the fierce and violent currents she had been suppressing under her usual calm facade. 

She turned her head violently. She had used so much force that she could hear the creakings of her neck bones. 

She had been waiting, had been enduring, waiting for the perfect moment to strike her opponent. With disdain, she had watched those people dancing about wildly, digging their own graves deeper and deeper. She had waited patiently and leisurely, with the self-assurance that she is exuding calm confidence and grace. Little did she know, that every second of waiting is harm and torture to Nan Yi. Every leisurely second she was enjoying was paid by Nan Yi’s silent pain he endured through gritted teeth. He avoided her, hid from her, not willing to let her close to him to find out the viciousness of the chains. In her blissful ignore, she was still calculating what the most favorable timing would be… 

Feng Zhi Wei’s whole body was trembling. 

She had spent her whole life calm and indifferent, habitually suppressing all of her hatred and her viciousness. Yet, she finally discovered today, even a Buddha has fire! (as in even a saint has a temper.” 

*Keng!*

The sound of chains clashing caused Peng Pei, who was still in the middle of glaring at Li Asuo threateningly, to turn around in astonishment. What greeted him was the sight of Feng Zhi Wei who had obediently knelt on the ground all this time, suddenly standing up slowly. 

Her face looked calm, but the expression in her eyes was extremely dark, like the sky of the far north that is devoid of sun, not reflecting a trace of light, only a strange scorching red that is churning and burning in the deep abyss. 

Meeting those eyes, Peng Pei felt as if his heart was suddenly plunged into the depth of a winter lake, gripped by a fear even more overwhelming than when Gu Nan Yi had froze him by acupoints just now. Forgetting what he had wanted to say, Peng Pei stumbled back a step in panic. 

Everyone in the hall looked over in surprise. Ning Yi’s expression changed, coughed softly, and sat up straight. 

Feng Zhi walked over to Peng Pei, stared at him, and let out a chilling smile. 

“Peng Pei, have you finished talking nonsense?” 

Peng Pei took another step back, his face pale. 

Feng Zhi Wei took another step forward. 

“I’ve endured you for a long time, now…” (The you here is plural, so she meant Peng Pei and those he is working with and for)

She flashed a grin, showing her pearly white teeth. 

“It’s my turn.” 


  All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com


ps. I am usually a staunch supporter of Ning Yi…but I have to admit, my little heart wavered just a bit when I was translating this post. 

pss. A big thank you to all the kind comments that come in every week! Although I usually only reply to those who have questions I do really read every comment and they are a big encouragement to me.

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