I Won't Act Anymore

In his foggy state, Qian Desheng felt a splash of cold water hit his face.

He immediately became alert.

The scene that had just occurred was still violently affecting his mind.

In all his years of experience, he never expected to encounter such a madman.

Coming in without a word and pulling down someone's pants!

Ten years ago, a nobody like Fang Zheng would have been chopped into ten thousand pieces by him!

The more he thought, the angrier he grew. Qian Desheng hung his head, his face turning red and swollen with rage.

"Oh my, your face is turning red!" Fang Zheng sipped his tea, looking at Qian Desheng with a smirk.

"Since you're awake, talk! Stop playing dead! Or I'll castrate you again!" Zhou Tie shouted.

Qian Desheng swallowed and slowly raised his head, revealing a pitiful old face full of terror and panic.

Trembling, he began: "Young masters... what do you want with me! I'm just an ordinary citizen. If you want money... I have some! Let's talk this out..."

Fang Zheng and Zhou Tie exchanged glances, both bursting into laughter.

This old fox still acting after having his pants pulled down.

And apparently he still hadn't recognized Zhou Tie.

Zhou Tie laughed: "Master, he's not confessing. Should I beat him first? It'll help me loosen up!"

"No rush, let's play with him a bit." Fang Zheng stroked his chin, eyeing Qian Desheng playfully.

"I'm a law-abiding citizen!!"

Qian Desheng's heart leaped into his throat.

Gritting his teeth, he was determined to deny everything no matter what.

The princess's situation was still unclear, he had to stall!

Qian Desheng said through clenched teeth: "Young masters, what do you want me to confess! Kidnapping citizens in broad daylight, aren't you afraid of the authorities!"

"Ordinary citizen?! Where did your chicken go! Tell the truth!"

"I f...I fell from a tree when I was young...got injured. I really am just an ordinary citizen!"

Is this how you interrogate criminals?!

Qian Desheng's teeth were clenched so hard they hurt, his cheek muscles trembling.

Such scum... even when he was at the Eastern Depot, he'd never seen the like...

"You fell on a tree fork? Enough, Eunuch Qian, stop pretending. Should I call you Qian Desheng or Qian Sheng?" Fang Zheng said calmly.

"My name is Qian Sheng, I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Then how do you know my name?"

"Master Fang is famous... I saw you in Banshan District." Qian Desheng wailed: "Master Fang! Please release me, I know nothing! I've been a capital resident since childhood, if you don't believe me... I have household registration, you can check the census records!"

The old fox had prepared his false identity quite thoroughly! Fang Zheng couldn't help but admire him.

Back when he was setting things up, he'd desperately sought talented people who could forge documents.

Who knew the real professionals came from the palace!

"Very well, raise your head and look at who's beside me?"

Qian Desheng looked up at Zhou Tie, his eyes confused.

Though the man looked familiar, he truly couldn't place him.

Zhou Tie stepped forward, grabbed Qian Desheng's hair, and growled: "You old bastard!"

"I remember you, but you don't remember me?"

"Back then you delivered a sword to me and swindled me out of twenty taels of silver. Have you forgotten?!"

Qian Desheng stared blankly at Zhou Tie.

His mind raced through memories... he'd swindled too many people to remember one insignificant fellow.

Delivering a sword... what sword?

Seeing his confused expression, Zhou Tie's anger rose.

He raged: "Stop fucking pretending!"

"I gave you five hundred taels to get rid of the second-place guy in the competition, and you didn't do a damn thing!"

"Surprise! I won on my own merits! And you never returned my money! You even had the nerve to swindle me out of twenty more taels!"

As he spoke, Zhou Tie shook Qian Desheng's head violently.

Completely ignoring Fang Zheng's look of disdain behind him.

So this fellow's champion title really was bought... and for just five hundred taels!

Seems like the Qian Dynasty truly was rotten to the core...

Qian Desheng's scalp hurt from being yanked, making it impossible to think clearly. He kept begging for mercy.

Only when Fang Zheng called for him to stop did Zhou Tie release his grip and step back.

When Qian Desheng regained his senses and looked at Zhou Tie, memories suddenly flooded back, and he cried out in surprise: "Zhou Tie!?"

Zhou Tie folded his arms, giving him a cold smile.

Fang Zheng said with a grin: "Good, now can you confess?"

Qian Desheng's head drooped again.

He never anticipated that his disguise would fail—fate had placed him before someone who knew him.

He swallowed painfully, his mouth twisting in what seemed like self-mockery.

It seemed his life would soon end, and the princess would likely share the same fate. He never imagined his final years would be so tragic!

"Hehehehe..." A low, self-mocking laugh rang out.

The room was dimly lit, adding to the eerie effect of Qian Desheng's hoarse, low laughter, giving it the feel of a deranged jester.

Fang Zheng grew impatient with the sound, rose, and gave him two slaps across the face.

The laughter stopped abruptly!

"Spit it out! Keep acting and I'll castrate you again!"

Qian Desheng raised his head, his demeanor completely transformed.

Gone was the timid commoner persona, replaced by sharp eyes that fearlessly met Fang Zheng's gaze.

"Fine... fine! At this point, I'll stop acting!"

"I am the Grand Eunuch of Great Qian, Supervisor of Eastern Depot, Qian Desheng!"

"Great Qian is no more!" Fang Zheng added immediately.

Qian Desheng's breath caught, and he said angrily: "Kill me or torture me as you wish!"

Seeing his defiant attitude, Fang Zheng smiled and returned to his seat, picked up his teacup, crossed his legs and said: "Don't be hasty, Eunuch Qian."

"This official detests violence most of all. If you cooperate with me, sparing your life isn't out of the question."

"Look, Zhou Tie is also from Qian, and he's living quite well now."

"Pah! Traitor!"

"Hey! You fucking old bastard with a death wish!" Zhou Tie was instantly enraged and moved to beat Qian Desheng, but Fang Zheng quickly stopped him.

"What is Bai Yi to you, and what was her position in Qian?"

Qian Desheng turned his head away, refusing to speak.

"Fine, if you don't want to talk about that, I won't force you. Tell me about yourself, what have you been doing in the capital?"

"........."

Seeing he had no intention of cooperating, Fang Zheng remained patient. It wouldn't be easy to pry open his mouth right now.

The main issue was his emotional state. Once he calmed down, fear would set in.

Smiling, he continued: "No need to be stubborn. You have only yourself to blame for not using your head—you couldn't even be bothered to change your shop's name."

"Qian Desheng... Qian Sheng... hehe."

Hearing this, Qian Desheng actually responded, saying flatly: "My birth name is Qian Sheng, the 'De' was bestowed by His Majesty."

"I won't change my name or my allegiance!"

"Eunuch, you've already been cut, no need to act so tough."

Qian Desheng glared furiously at this remark.

This little bastard's words could anger someone to death!

Fang Zheng set down his teacup and said composedly: "I can arrest you, and I can release you."

"Besides the people in this room, no one in the palace likely knows your identity."

"Why don't we make a deal?"