Chapter 37: Can You Hold Out?

The sky in the early hours of the morning was exceptionally gloomy.

Inside the Fengyi Palace, however, the lights remained bright. Like Ning Chen, the Empress Dowager was pacing the floor, weighed down by heavy thoughts. The oppressive atmosphere was so stifling that even the old matron standing nearby held her breath, afraid to move.

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed from outside: "Your Majesty, Cao Dahai requests an audience!"

The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow: "Bring him in at once!"

"Your Majesty, we have captured him!" Pan Yu knelt on the floor, panting heavily.

"Oh? You caught Yang Fei?" the Empress Dowager asked with anticipation.

Cao Dahai glanced up at the Empress Dowager and said tremblingly: "Reporting to Your Majesty, we did not capture Yang Fei, but we have caught Fan Dayou..."

"What? You caught Fan Dayou but not Yang Fei?" The Empress Dowager frowned, eyeing Cao Dahai with suspicion. "What exactly is going on here? Didn't you say it was Yang Fei who let Fan Dayou go? Were they not together?"

Cao Dahai looked up at her again and quickly improvised: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty. This humble servant is certain that if we interrogate Fan Dayou properly, we will surely discover Yang Fei’s whereabouts!"

The Empress Dowager frowned: "You haven't interrogated Fan Dayou yet?"

Cao Dahai hurriedly replied: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I know the gravity of this matter and dared not interrogate him without your permission!"

The Empress Dowager studied Cao Dahai, a trace of satisfaction flashing in her eyes: "Very well. Cao Dahai, you are a clever man; you know what should be done and what should not."

"Continue your search for Yang Fei. Leave the interrogation to others. Remember, this matter must be kept strictly confidential!"

Seeing her reaction, Cao Dahai disclosed the location where Fan Dayou was being held and then promptly took his leave, without a single extra word or the slightest hesitation.

Once Cao Dahai had left, the Empress Dowager looked back at the old matron behind her: "Go. I don't care what methods you use, you must pry Fan Dayou’s mouth open! Furthermore, the most important thing is to find out if there is anyone behind him pulling the strings. If there is, you must dig out the mastermind for me!"

The matron acknowledged the order, then hesitated for a moment: "Your Majesty, do you no longer suspect Cao Dahai?"

The Empress Dowager sneered: "If Cao Dahai were framing Yang Fei, do you think he would have brought Fan Dayou back alive?"

***

On the other side, Ning Chen was still pacing anxiously in the Yangxin Palace.

Xiao Anzi hurried in once more: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Cao Dahai has gone to see the Empress Dowager again..."

Ning Chen raised an eyebrow: "Are you certain?"

Xiao Anzi nodded: "Certain! And he has already left the palace again!"

Ning Chen’s brows furrowed: "And what of Yang Fei?"

"There has been no sign of Yang Fei entering or leaving the palace until now!"

Ning Chen let out a sigh of relief and slowly walked to the window, looking up at the dim moon in the sky. After a long period of contemplation, he said with a complex expression: "Very good. The water is now muddy enough. Now, it all depends on whether Fan Dayou can hold out..."

Xiao Anzi paused, his expression gradually filling with worry: "Your Majesty..."

Before he could finish, Ning Chen murmured again: "I truly hate this feeling. Xiao Anzi, tell me, when will I reach a point where I don't have to pin all my hopes on others?"

Xiao Anzi was startled and looked deeply at Ning Chen. He understood very well why his nine-year-old master would say such things. This plan was truly taking an immense risk, and it involved more variables than ever before—especially Fan Dayou. Even if Fan Dayou were loyal to the young Emperor and known for his iron will, he was, after all, only a mortal of flesh and blood. Every man has his breaking point. If Fan Dayou failed to hold out, it would mean the end not only for him but for Master Kong and the young Emperor himself.

The young Emperor was betting his life once again. Even though he had orchestrated the plan himself, he could only remain a silent "spectator" behind the scenes.

Xiao Anzi seemed to think of something and said firmly: "Your Majesty, I do not see it that way. You have placed your hopes on their actions, but at the same time, are they not also placing all their hopes on your strategy? I believe that the day you topple the Empress Dowager, things will no longer be like this."

Ning Chen gave a hollow laugh: "Xiao Anzi, you certainly know how to comfort people. But even I do not have absolute certainty in this operation."

Xiao Anzi looked at Ning Chen with steady eyes, speaking word by word: "Your Majesty, even if you do not have a one-percent chance of success, we will still believe in you unwaveringly! Everyone in the Eastern Depot is prepared; if you give the command, we are ready to be shattered to pieces tonight without a single regret!"

Ning Chen looked at Xiao Anzi, moved: "I do not wish to see such a situation unless it is the absolute last resort."

Xiao Anzi paused, then forced a smile: "A good person is always protected by heaven, and you are the true Son of Heaven. The heavens will surely help you!"

Ning Chen gave a wry laugh, reached out his small hand to pat Xiao Anzi’s shoulder, and said meaningfully: "I do not believe in heaven, and I believe in fate even less..."

***

Before dawn, in the basement of an abandoned house in the capital, the sound of a whip striking flesh echoed repeatedly, followed by piercing, heart-wrenching screams that filled the dark, damp cellar. It made the already gloomy basement feel even more ominous, as if it were about to be swallowed by the breath of death at any moment.

Finally, the sound of the whip stopped, and the screams ceased.

The sweating eunuch approached the old matron, who had been sitting to one side sipping tea, and said respectfully: "Matron, he has fainted."

The matron sighed and slowly set down her teacup: "Indeed, brutal torture cannot break a man like him."

As she spoke, she stood up and walked over to Fan Dayou. With a look of disgust, she used her little finger to hook the edge of his tattered clothes, revealing wounds that were festering and bleeding incessantly.

"Someone, bring some water! Oh, and don't forget to add plenty of salt to it."

Soon, a basin of ice-cold salt water was splashed onto Fan Dayou, and the excruciating, piercing pain jolted him awake instantly.

"Master Fan, why put yourself through this? You are a scholar, after all; why be so stubborn? Speak. Was it Yang Fei who let you go? Why would he do that? And why were you caught by Cao Dahai? Furthermore, who is the person behind the scenes inciting you to oppose the Empress Dowager time and again, and who ordered you to strike at Pan Yu..."

Before she could finish, Fan Dayou spat a mouthful of bloody phlegm onto the matron's face, his expression one of defiance, as if he were ready to face death.

The matron was instantly incensed. She wiped her face with a handkerchief, but then began to laugh out of sheer fury: "Master Fan, I know you have hidden your family away, which is why you are not afraid of death. But have you thought about it? The entire Great Ning is under the Empress Dowager’s control. How long do you think they can hide? A year? Ten years? They cannot hide forever, can they?"

At these words, a glimmer of worry flickered in Fan Dayou’s eyes. Even that tiny flicker was caught by the matron. She smiled at him and continued: "Let's make a deal. As long as you confess honestly, I can guarantee that your wife and children will not be implicated in the slightest!"

Seeing that Fan Dayou remained silent, the matron smiled and changed tactics: "It seems you are not that worried about your wife and children after all. What about your mentor, Master Kong?"

Fan Dayou gave a violent start, his voice hoarse: "What are you trying to do? My mentor has nothing to do with this! Besides, he... he is also the Empress Dowager’s teacher..."

The matron laughed dismissively: "Does that matter? You should understand that whether Master Kong is involved or not is not for you to decide—it is for the Empress Dowager to decide! Once you are dead, Master Kong might even become the mastermind who incited you!"

Fan Dayou’s heart sank into absolute despair. Only now did he truly experience the ruthless, venomous nature of the Empress Dowager. He struggled and cursed: "Beasts! You bunch of beasts! How can you be so insidious, vicious, and shameless..."

The matron revealed a disdainful smile once more: "History is written by the victors. Does the method really matter? I will give you half an incense stick of time. Think it over carefully..."

Fan Dayou’s eyes were bloodshot as he watched the matron return to her seat to sip tea with complete composure. The resolve in his chest finally crumbled: "Fine... I... I will talk. I will tell you everything..."

***

Early morning.

Ning Chen, who hadn't slept all night, was still pacing nervously. This night had been the most difficult of his life. He knew clearly that his ability to successfully control the Imperial Guards, his ability to push forward with the next stage of his plan, and even his ability to survive, all depended on the results of this night.

He glanced at Xiao Anzi, who had fallen asleep hunched over the desk, and turned to look at the first light of dawn outside the window. He let out a long breath, his brow finally relaxing after a night of tension.

He muttered: "At last, I have safely waited until dawn. It must have been successful..."

Suddenly, a flurry of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall!

The breath Ning Chen had just let out caught in his throat again. Xiao Anzi was jolted awake from his sleep and rushed to Ning Chen’s side: "Your Majesty, what is happening? Is it possible that the Empress Dowager is coming to..."