TSWPF -Chapter 413 Furious Scolding

The prefect observed the expressions of He, Zhao, Wang, and Lin. He gave an awkward smile. He was like a clay Bodhisattva crossing a river—unable to save even himself. How could he possibly save them?

He didn’t even know what punishment the emperor would give him.

It probably wouldn’t be anything good.

He had already prepared himself mentally. Once he returned to the prefectural capital, he would settle his family affairs and try not to implicate them.

“Lord Prefect, we were threatened! Please save us!” Whether they could get out depended entirely on him. If even he refused to help, they were truly finished.

Seeing the four men signaling at him, the prefect understood perfectly—they were trying to bribe him with money.

In the past, he would have been tempted.

But now, forget it.

He truly wanted to turn over a new leaf and start again.

“Whether you were threatened or not, you know it yourselves.” He snorted coldly. “Don’t waste your breath. His Majesty will decide.”

Of all things to do, they chose to become rebels against the court—wasn’t that opposing the emperor?

Would the emperor let them off easily?

Anyone with a brain knew that was impossible.

The emperor wished nothing more than to wipe out all rebels. How could he spare them?

What the prefect thought, the four men also realized. With despair in their eyes, they looked at him, begging him to put in a good word for them and lessen their punishment.

“I don’t have the authority to interfere with His Majesty’s decision.”

If he had such power, he wouldn’t be worrying about his own punishment.

He shook his head helplessly and told them to take care of themselves.

Hearing something that seemed favorable, the four men turned to Liu Zhimou, begging him for help.

Liu Zhimou looked at them coldly, the corner of his lips lifting slightly in mockery.

“Do you think I would spare people who tried to kill me?” They had tried to put him to death, and now they were begging him for help. Did they take him for a fool?

“From the moment you led rebels to attack the magistrate’s office and tried to kill me, your ending was already decided.”

It was a life-or-death situation. No one else was to blame.

Unable to hold back, Wang Yang pointed at Liu Zhimou’s nose and cursed, “You dog official! You’re eager for the four of us to die so you can dominate Ninghua County alone!”

Since Liu Zhimou arrived, they had been restrained everywhere and felt utterly stifled.

If he hadn’t gone too far, why would they have wanted him dead?

Liu Zhimou knew this mentality well—the “my misery is all your fault” type. He looked at Wang Yang with a half-smile and spoke only after he finished venting.

“All these years, how you’ve exploited the people of Ninghua County—you know it yourselves.”

His gaze sharpened.

“Unlike previous magistrates, I didn’t obey you or work for you. That made you unhappy, didn’t it? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have hired the Netherworld Assassins to kill me. Unfortunately for you, I was lucky and survived. Seeing this result, doesn’t it make you sick to your stomach?”

For this alone, he would never let them off.

Before he even had to act, they had already destroyed themselves.

Hearing this, the four men’s faces changed. They hadn’t expected Liu Zhimou to know it was their doing.

They thought they had been secretive.

Turns out, he knew everything.

They had been fooling themselves. How tragic.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Wang Yang stubbornly retorted. “If you don’t want to help us, just say so. Don’t spout nonsense.”

But panic crept into his heart.

Was he really finished this time?

What about his sons?

Would they be implicated?

The more he thought, the more frightened he became. He gripped the cell bars tightly, staring at Liu Zhimou with a ferocious expression, wishing he could tear him apart.

He had never hated anyone this much before.

If he ever got out, he would never let Liu Zhimou go.

Even if it meant mutual destruction.

Liu Zhimou merely glanced at him and ignored him. He turned to He Fourth Uncle.

“Why did you become a rebel? You don’t seem like a fool.”

He Fourth Uncle sighed heavily and met Liu Zhimou’s gaze.

“If I say I had no choice, would you believe me? Would you let me go?”

At first, he truly didn’t know his master was a rebel. By the time he found out, it was too late.

There was no turning back.

He had been smart all his life—yet foolish once.

He helped wholeheartedly this time because he feared his master would harm his family.

When he saw the troops sent out, he believed Liu Zhimou couldn’t escape.

But he hadn’t expected Liu Zhimou to have family guards.

Nor mysterious men in black.

Without them, Liu Zhimou might not have survived.

It was fate.

They had lost completely.

After a long silence, Liu Zhimou spoke coldly.

“No.”

Wrong was wrong. There was no excuse of “no choice.”

And they didn’t look forced at all.

He Fourth Uncle laughed bitterly.

“Then what’s left to say?”

Since he wouldn’t be released, why waste words?

“Liu Zhimou, stop trying to trick us,” Wang Yang said smugly. “We won’t tell you anything.”

He wanted to see Liu Zhimou panic.

But Liu Zhimou remained calm, which made him furious.

Shouldn’t he be anxious?

Without information, how would he explain to the emperor?

Why was he so indifferent?

Liu Zhimou glanced at him and said lightly, “Just now, your wives came to the yamen…”

He deliberately stopped.

The four men panicked at once.

“What did you do to them?!”

“What happens if you lie in court?” Liu Zhimou said calmly. “Even if you don’t think about yourselves, think about your families.”

He wanted them to confess.

He couldn’t accept letting the mastermind hide in the shadows.

An unseen enemy was too dangerous.

It was best to wipe them out completely.

“If you dare touch my wife, I’ll kill you!” Wang Yang shouted.

Liu Zhimou brushed his finger away and raised an eyebrow.

“With you in this state, how will you deal with me? With what ability?”

Wang Yang trembled with rage.

“I won’t let you go even as a ghost!”

“When you were alive, I wasn’t afraid of you. Why would I fear you as a ghost?” Liu Zhimou replied coldly.

Wang Yang turned livid.

Smack!

Liu Zhimou knocked his hand aside.

“Don’t you know I hate being pointed at?”

Panting, Wang Yang forced himself to calm down.

“What do you want?” he gritted out.

Liu Zhimou ignored him and turned to the prefect.

“Do you want to sit in on the interrogation?”

The prefect smiled and nodded. “Sure.”

He also wanted to know who was behind this.

Liu Zhimou ordered the guards to take the four men to the interrogation room one by one.

He and the prefect went first.

Soon, He Fourth Uncle was brought in.

Liu Zhimou studied him.

“Anything you want to say?”

He Fourth Uncle asked calmly, “What do you want to know?”

Liu Zhimou laughed.

“You’re smart. You know what I want.”

“The mastermind.”

“What else could it be?”

“I’m dull,” He Fourth Uncle replied. “I really don’t know.”

“Refusing to cry until you see the coffin,” the prefect snorted. “Lord Liu is giving you a chance to live. If you don’t cherish it, don’t blame us.”

He told Liu Zhimou not to be too soft.

If punishment was needed, use it.

He doubted He Tao could endure torture.

Sometimes, force was necessary.

Liu Zhimou smiled faintly.

When needed, he would be ruthless.

He wasn’t a saint.

“Let me ask you one last time,” he said slowly. “Do you really want to keep pretending? Some people aren’t worth protecting with your life. You know that.”

At this point, why still hide it?

That person would never come to save him anyway.