Chapter 785 – Breaking Out, The Beautiful Negotiator (9)
Meng Hunyun was kicked out by Fu Wang, and Jiang Pengji had already set her plans in motion, secretly catching a spy among the remaining forces of Wolong County.
This spy was none other than the Big Man who had woken up first yesterday.
Upon seeing the spy’s true identity, the audience in the live stream was completely stunned.
【Garlic Sauce Shrimp Rice Bowl】: This is a slap in the face! Just yesterday, I could feel his helplessness and sorrow through the screen. I even said he would die for those who understand him… And now, just a day later, what a slap! Turn around and tell me this guy is the spy?
【Shrimp Meatballs】: I’m also part of the slap-in-the-face crew. This guy was crying so pathetically yesterday, I thought he was a tough and righteous dude, and now I find out… he’s the culprit behind the total annihilation of Wolong County’s forces… Impossible!
【Secret Sauce Mixed Rice】: Hahaha, I knew it! This guy couldn’t be a good person. I didn’t like him from the get-go, seeing him cry so faked yesterday. Sure enough, he’s got secrets. Looking back, the host seemed to be wary of him the whole time. Honestly, this guy’s acting is off the charts; even movie stars in the entertainment industry can’t compare. How did the host not get fooled?
Of course, Jiang Pengji wouldn’t be fooled, as she had already realized the guy was just putting on an act.
When two actors collide, only the better one can deceive the lesser one.
Speaking of acting, who could compete with Jiang Pengji?
The revelation of the spy’s identity caught everyone off guard; even the spy himself had no clue where he slipped up.
“Why are you capturing me—”
The Big Man tried to break free, but two hands pressed down on his shoulders, forcing him to kneel on the ground, unable to rise.
Jiang Pengji looked at him with a cold smirk, “Why are you being captured? Isn’t that a question for you?”
“That question should be directed at Zhong Langjiang! How would I know…”
“You dare say you don’t know? If you don’t know, then how did the governor of Wolong County die in battle? How could he be completely annihilated?”
At first, he could maintain his composure, wearing a righteous face, but as time passed, the growing anxiety and fear bubbled to the surface, making it hard for him to meet Jiang Pengji’s gaze. Her eyes felt like needles, causing pain just by looking at them.
Cold sweat dripped down the Big Man’s back, and his breathing became strained.
“I-I really don’t know…”
Jiang Pengji’s gaze shifted to the medic standing next to the Big Man, who pulled out a cloth bag tied with a rope.
This bag was wide and long, resembling a long strip that could be wrapped around the waist or chest and then covered with coarse cloth, making it appear as if it were a makeshift bandage. Jiang Pengji sneered, “Stubborn as a dead duck, do you want to be tortured before you confess?”
The evidence was laid out before him, but he still wanted to argue, struggling for a moment.
“What is this…”
“Sleeping herbal medicine and golden nightshade pollen—you know, the stuff mixed into the food. I’ve already asked the Young Doctor with the troops, and these are all highly refined, incredibly potent. If you weren’t a spy, why would you hide these on you? Just confess honestly, or else you’ll suffer!”
The Big Man’s face turned pale, and after a moment, he evasively said, “Zhong Langjiang, that’s a serious accusation. Where did the spy rumors even come from? These things are mine, but what does that prove? Even if I’m a spy, what does that have to do with Zhong Langjiang…?”
Even if he was a spy, it only harmed the forces of Wolong County; he hadn’t harmed anyone else.
“No need to quibble. I know you’ve been wandering around during the day for a reason—just trying to gather intel to make your move, right?”
At this point, the Big Man realized his actions were thoroughly exposed, but he still didn’t understand why.
Did he not act well enough?
Or was there just a flaw somewhere?
“When did Zhong Langjiang start to suspect me?”
Jiang Pengji replied, “From the moment you woke up, we were suspicious. The more you said, the more mistakes you made.”
The Big Man’s face stiffened; he had never imagined Jiang Pengji hadn’t trusted him at all.
Jiang Pengji continued, “I had someone look into your identity. You’re the confidant of the governor of Wolong County and his wife’s brother. Logically, it would be impossible for you to be a spy. However, nothing is impossible in this world. Once you became a spy, no one would suspect you. Everyone is severely injured, including Young Master Cai, but your injuries seem suspicious—they look severe but aren’t fatal. Looking at your wounds, some are from others, but there are also several you inflicted on yourself. Just this alone is enough to raise doubts about your identity. I believe you did this to lower the governor’s guard and convince him to hand over the young master to you and your allies, am I right?”
“What’s most suspicious is that you never ate the tainted food.” Jiang Pengji smirked, “You said you were worried the young master wouldn’t have food, so you never touched those rations. But when I had the medic check everyone else’s food, yours didn’t seem as scant. You starved yourself for a long time, only sipping water and refusing to eat—can you explain how that works?”
Honestly, when the Big Man said those words, he did come off quite convincingly, painting himself as a loyal vassal in just a few sentences.
But did Jiang Pengji let herself be deceived so easily?
The Big Man’s face turned ghostly pale, trembling with anxiety, “Zhong Langjiang, do you want to kill me?”
Jiang Pengji said, “Of course not. If I wanted to kill you, would you still be alive right now? I ask you, what conditions did the Meng Clan offer you?”
After hesitating for a moment, the Big Man resignedly answered, “After the deed is done, I would be made a prince, given territories, promised riches, and beauties.”
“Tsk, that’s quite a generous offer.” Jiang Pengji remarked, “But do you know, in comparison to your life, which is weightier, the prince title, territories, riches, and beauties? Have you considered how, with the annihilation of all the elite forces of Wolong County, you are left without troops or power, how you will secure that princely title? How will you defend your territory? As for the Meng Clan, they are just the lapdogs of Changshou Wang, relying on others for survival. How can they grant you a title or territory? They can spout empty words, and you believe them?”
At this moment, the Big Man was in complete disarray, his complexion shifting from pale to gray.
Jiang Pengji smiled, continuing, “Betraying your old master and killing your comrades—if this gets out, even if I spare your life, there won’t be a place for you in this vast world. Do you think the remaining forces of Wolong County will let you off?”
Over ten thousand soldiers lost their lives because of his selfish desires; the living would never forgive him, and even the spirits of the dead would demand his life. At the thought of this, the Big Man was too frightened to say another word.
He was obviously afraid of death, and as long as there was a glimmer of hope, he wouldn’t easily seek death.
He realized that Jiang Pengji had deliberately brought him in to expose his identity, clearly for some purpose.
Sure enough—
“Someone, bring the goods up.”
As soon as Jiang Pengji’s voice fell, soldiers brought up two large boxes and opened them with a loud bang, revealing the gold, silver, and jewels inside.
They glimmered dazzlingly, almost blinding him.
The two boxes were filled with heavy gold, silver, and precious pearls.
He even spotted several perfectly round pearls the size of two fingers, incredibly valuable!
“The promises the Meng Clan made to you are nothing more than beautiful illusions—looking good on the surface but beyond your reach. If you’re smart and sensible, all this can be yours. Once the deed is done, I’ll fake your death in revenge for your old master, leaving behind a legacy of honor—how about that?”
