Chapter 197: Is It Her?

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes flashed like lightning as he stood among the servants, his face expressionless. Behind him stood a tall red flag bearing the three large characters "Xilai Shun." This was the mutton hotpot restaurant he had opened in the provincial city, also his secret base. His subordinates came and went from here to carry out various missions.

"Our army recently suffered a defeat in Lina; you have all heard." He spoke coldly, his voice like a blade, piercing into everyone's hearts.

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, thinking: What does this have to do with us juniors? We are merely servants doing odd jobs; how could we know anything about military intelligence?

"The reason our army was defeated is that someone secretly leaked information. And this traitor is among you!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu said in a deep voice, his gaze burning like torches as he scanned everyone's face.

"What!" The crowd erupted in shock, unable to believe it. They were servants personally selected by Jiang Jiang Mingyu, having followed him since childhood; how could anyone among them do such a thing?

"My Lord, what kind of joke is this!" A young servant said timidly. He was one of Jiang Jiang Mingyu's favorite little brothers, always following him to attend to his needs.

Cold light shot from Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes. The young servant felt a chill run down his back and dared not make another sound. He sensed Jiang Jiang Mingyu's killing intent, making his whole body tremble.

"I never joke." Jiang Jiang Mingyu spoke word by word. "Traitor, step forward immediately; perhaps I can show some leniency. If you continue to hide and conceal, do not blame me for showing no mercy!"

The servants exchanged glances, all guessing whether these words were true or false. Did the Lord truly know who the traitor was? Or was he merely testing us? What would happen if someone stepped forward? What if no one did?

A maid stepped forward and knelt, crying out, "My Lord, I know nothing; I beg you to spare us!"

A young servant stumbled forward, sobbing uncontrollably, "My Lord, who did this? Please tell us clearly! We, the humble ones, are willing to undergo interrogation to prove our innocence!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu remained unmoved and strode away. He did not answer the servant's question because he already had a plan: tonight, he would drag the traitor out!

The crowd exchanged glances, all guessing who the traitor was. Jiang Jiang Mingyu's move made everyone panic and lose their composure. They did not know Jiang Jiang Mingyu's true purpose, only feeling that he was deliberately creating panic to make the traitor reveal himself.

At this moment, he was already waiting quietly on the side. His eyes were sharp as a hawk's, observing everyone's movements with meticulous care.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu watched the servants kneeling on the ground with cold eyes; each kept their heads bowed and eyes lowered, yet no one stepped forward to confess. Their faces showed fear, anger, or grievance, but not a single person dared to meet Jiang Jiang Mingyu's blade-sharp gaze.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sneered and strode away: "Continue kneeling; let us see how long you can last!"

His voice pierced into everyone's hearts like ice, making them shiver with dread. They knew Jiang Jiang Mingyu did not speak idly; he truly had the ability to make them kneel until death. They also knew Jiang Jiang Mingyu did not suspect them without cause; he had evidence. They simply did not know how much evidence Jiang Jiang Mingyu held or whether it implicated them.

The crowd exchanged glances, daring not to make a sound, enduring only the freezing cold beneath their knees. They felt their blood congealing and their lives slipping away. Only one thought remained in their hearts: Find that traitor quickly, make him confess quickly, and save us all!

Zhu Ge Yu hurriedly followed, speaking softly, "Master, forgive my bluntness, but such forced confessions seem improper. A traitor will not easily confess."

Zhu Ge Yu was Jiang Jiang Mingyu's most talented disciple and also his most trusted aide. He had investigated this matter together with Jiang Jiang Mingyu and knew why Jiang Jiang Mingyu acted this way. But he felt this was too extreme, too cruel. He could not bear to see these innocent people suffer.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu said calmly, "Disciple, do not be anxious; I have a clever plan. This move is merely a feint; my true intention lies elsewhere."

Zhu Ge Yu was utterly confused: "Then what is your intention, Master? Merely to humiliate everyone?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled slightly and offered no further explanation, saying only, "Go see if Zhang Zhang Jiani is feeling better."

Zhu Ge Yu could not make sense of it and could only follow behind Jiang Jiang Mingyu, muttering in his heart, "Master's move is truly difficult to understand."

What Zhu Ge Yu did not know was that Jiang Jiang Mingyu had long sent people to secretly monitor the movements of all the servants. He knew the traitor would surely try to escape or contact accomplices. He only needed to wait for the traitor to reveal himself, then capture him in one stroke. These servants were merely pawns he used to frighten the traitor; he did not intend to truly harm them.

Night deepened, and the stars shone brilliantly. The kneeling servants, heads bowed to their chests, were already numb. Their knees were soaked through by freezing snow water, stinging their nerves. Their clothes were drenched in sweat and frozen stiff. Their breathing grew faint, as if they might draw their last breath at any moment.

Zhu Ge Yu, watching this scene, could not help but say softly, "Master, the hour is late; this method is of no benefit. Might we not devise a new strategy tomorrow?"

His voice carried a hint of pity and reluctance. Although he was Jiang Jiang Mingyu's most talented disciple and most trusted aide, he was also a man of flesh and blood. He could not bear to see these innocent people suffer.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu remained unmoved and said calmly, "Disciple, do not rush; the hour approaches."

His voice was cold and firm. Although he was a young and handsome man, he was also a ruthless person. He did not care about the lives or deaths of these irrelevant people.

Moments later, only one quarter-hour remained before the third watch. Jiang Jiang Mingyu suddenly opened his eyes and said softly, "Come, follow me to take the person."

His eyes flashed with cold light. Although he was a dashing man, he was also a man of wisdom and courage. He had already seen the signs of the traitor.

Zhu Ge Yu, still utterly confused, followed Jiang Jiang Mingyu to the courtyard where the servants knelt prostrate.

Night was deep; the crowd was either asleep or awake. Suddenly, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes brightened as he pointed at the shadow of a maid who was bowing, trembling, and glancing left and right.

"Seize her!" he said in a deep voice.

Under the moonlight, Zhu Ge Yu finally saw clearly that the one restrained was Liu Liu Yifei's personal maid, Xing Xing Youli.

She was bound tightly with ropes, kneeling before Jiang Jiang Mingyu and trembling, her face deathly pale. She had once been a beautiful and captivating woman, but now she seemed like a bird startled by the sound of a bow. She had once been a loyal maid, but now she seemed like a treacherous and cunning viper.

Zhu Ge Yu was still out of the loop, while Jiang Jiang Mingyu already sneered, "Finally, I have waited for you to walk into my trap. I never thought you were the traitor!"

Only then did Zhu Ge Yu suddenly realize that the Master had long seen the signs and thus set up a net of heaven and earth! So Xing Xing Youli was indeed the traitor who secretly leaked information to the enemy, revealed military secrets, harmed the master, framed colleagues, sowed discord, created chaos, turned black into white, and committed every evil!

Xing Xing Youli knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face: "My Lord, I am innocent! You must believe me!"

Her voice was mournful and shrill. Although she was a traitor, she was also a woman. She did not want to die; she wanted to live.

His voice was cold and certain; he had already seen through everything.

Zhu Ge Yu was still out of the loop, while Jiang Jiang Mingyu already declared, "She is undoubtedly the traitor!"

His voice was resounding and decisive. He completely trusted the Master's judgment.

Xing Xing Youli cried out, "My Lord, I never left the Liu residence even a single step; how could I know anything about these actions? Please listen to my explanation!"

Her voice was frantic and fearful. Although she was a traitor, she was also a coward. She dared not admit her crimes.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, expressionless, raised a hand: "Torture her!"

His voice was flat and merciless. Although he was a man, he was also a devil. He would give anyone no chance.

Xing Xing Youli struggled and wailed, soon bound tightly with ropes. Jiang Jiang Mingyu stared at her, his eyes like knives: "Still not confessing? Do you want me to pull out your fingernails one by one?"

His voice was chilling and cruel. Although he was human, he was also a beast. He would show anyone no mercy.

Xing Xing Youli, her face deathly pale, sobbed uncontrollably: "My Lord misunderstands; I truly know nothing!"

Her voice was desperate and powerless. Although she was a woman, she was also a dead person. She had no hope left.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu snorted coldly and turned to leave. At that moment, Xing Xing Youli suddenly shouted, "I have always cared for Miss Liu; how could I harm her! My Lord, please think again!"

Her voice was filled with grief, indignation, and madness.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's steps halted, his expression shifting unpredictably...