CHAPTER 1112: CHAPTER 608: SCHEMING AGAINST ZHAO DOUAN

Inside the cold government office.

Accompanied by Hu Xuezhai’s reddened eyes, as he cursed, Feng Ju and the other officials who were just about to mediate were all stunned.

"Pa!"

Lin Susu fiercely slapped Hu Xuezhai, a clear crisp sound echoing as five distinct red finger marks were left on his face.

"You dare hit me!? Slut...slut..." Hu Xuezhai was dumbfounded by the slap, seemingly not expecting it, holding his face while repeatedly mumbling.

Lin Susu, whose appearance greatly resembled the concubines in the palace, also had reddened eyes, tears welling up. She bent down, lifting her head as if the slap broke her own back, staring at her husband with intensity, her lips almost bleeding from the bite: "What nonsense are you saying?!"

Feeling the eyes of the surrounding officials, Hu Xuezhai’s anger surged as if he were a gas canister ready to explode, coldly sneering:

"You want to hear it again? Truly a shameless whore. When you first came to the capital, you seduced Li Yinglong, then clung to that Zhao surname, you think I don’t know? Can you dare say you have nothing to do with him? Otherwise, given his status, why would he reward you with such a huge benefit as an Imperial Merchant? Do you know how they speak of me, Hu Xuezhai, in the Jiangnan business circle? They all say I rose by offering my wife! I was blind to redeem a prostitute like you! If it weren’t for you, how would I have ended up on a pirate ship, now being watched like a prisoner here?"

He spoke these words with a sense of release, clearly holding them in for a long time.

Lin Susu looked at him in disbelief, the light in her eyes gradually fading, murmuring: "So, this is how you see me..."

"Otherwise?" Hu Xuezhai mocked: "Another foolish woman, merely interested in your looks at first, didn’t expect one trip to the capital would land me in prison, offending the Li family. If not for your ties to the Zhao surname, holding the position of Imperial Merchant, you think I would playact lovey-dovey? Pretend as a loving couple? Wear a cuckold’s hat?"

The light completely disappeared from Lin Susu’s eyes, unable to utter a single word.

It was then that Feng Ju snapped out of his shock, sternly saying: "Hu Xuezhai, are you acting as if I don’t exist?"

Hearing this, Hu Xuezhai turned his mockery towards Feng Ju and the others, suddenly raising a foot and kicking the boiling kettle on the fire over!

"Clang!"

Hot water splashed over, causing some officials to cry out in pain.

Feng Ju quickly retreated, yet half of his arm was splashed, the pain making him grimace and shiver, saying: "You’ve gone mad, mad, the court is still in place, when Mr. Zhao comes..."

Hu Xuezhai laughed wildly: "You fools. At this point, you’re still trying to scare me with that Zhao pretty boy?"

He no longer pretended!

After being imprisoned for so long, everyone unable to get news from the outside, he had long lost hope and fear.

"With so many Vassal Kings rebelling, the court might not even exist by now! Zhao might have been dead for a long time! And you all still expect?"

Laughing, Hu Xuezhai’s face twisted, greedily looking at the officials on the ground, whose arms were bright red from the scalding, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he astonishingly picked up a brick from the ground, walking over.

Feng Ju was horrified, hurriedly picking up the iron pot from the ground, trying to defend himself.

Yet, the officials in the government office were mostly old and dizzy from hunger, while Hu Xuezhai, younger and stronger.

Just as bloodshed was about to occur.

Suddenly, the locked government office door was kicked open.

"Clang!"

The people inside were startled, turning their heads to hear the sound of fragmented footsteps approaching from the courtyard outside the tightly shut door.

Then, the room door was also kicked open.

"Woo woo——"

Cold wind swept in, making the scattered charcoal on the ground flicker and emit a red glow.

Several rebel soldiers, holding their waist knives, walked in, the leading rebel soldier sweeping a glance at the few people, then frowning slightly, followed by a sneer: "Still have energy to fight, it seems you’re fed too well. Lock them all up, take them away!"

Hu Xuezhai, who was nearly delirious, felt as if he were doused with a bucket of cold water, immediately calming down, the brick falling from his hand, his eyes filled with fear: "Don’t kill me... We are still useful... useful..."

Not just him.

Feng Ju and several other government officials instinctively assumed that the rebels were finally here to "interrogate" them.

Suddenly fear rose in their hearts.

Not knowing what fate awaited them.

Yet, the few who were weak couldn’t resist? Easily having their hands tied with ropes by the rebels, like grasshoppers tied on a string, dragged outside.

However, Lin Susu did not resist at all, as if soulless, only a mere shell.

"May I ask who wants to see us?" Feng Ju forced himself to remain calm, inquiring.

The rebels, however, couldn’t be bothered to answer.

Only escorting the group outside, with the sparse stars and moon, it was impossible to tell if it was night or dawn.

Outside the government office main gate, other rebels holding torches were standing guard. Feng Ju saw the rebel leader escorting them take out a token and hand it over, then stamped the received document, seemingly undergoing the interrogation process.

After which, the group was herded onto a prison cart, driven away.

The night grew darker and darker, Feng Ju estimated it was closer to dawn.

Everyone shivered, while Hu Xuezhai endlessly pleaded until a rebel stuffed his mouth with a rag, finally quieting down.

It was unclear how much time passed.

The cart twisted and turned, avoiding several patrol teams on the way — strangely enough, the escorting rebels seemed to know the rebel army’s deployments and patrol routes.

Stopping and starting, moving like phantoms.

The more Feng Ju watched, the more he felt something was amiss, if this were the normal interrogation procedure, why dodge the other rebels?

Finally.

When the cart passed through an alley, a burst of torchlight suddenly appeared ahead, another group of people holding torches, waiting for a long time.