The princess regretted it.

Chapter 259 Secret Cell

Zhong Chuzhou's teasing filled Fifth Master Zhang with a mixture of fear and frustration. Though he was from a branch of the Zhang family, Grand Tutor Zhang recognized his courage and ability, hence his selection to oversee all matters within the camp. He had always been a man to be looked down upon, and had never before endured such teasing and threats. Yet, he was now cornered, unable even to fight back. This was undoubtedly a profound humiliation for the proud and arrogant Zhang.

He couldn't resist now. Firstly, his body hadn't recovered yet, and the effects of the muscle softening powder were still raging through his body, making his limbs limp and weak. Even standing was a problem, let alone fighting. Secondly, his hiding place was too narrow. This small corner was completely imprisoned, like a natural cage, trapping him tightly.

He could tell this person was probably someone important, otherwise he wouldn't have dared to act this way, knowing who they were and who they were working for. Their plan must have been exposed. He wondered what was happening at Zhenyuan? He also wondered what the situation was like at the other strongholds. The thought of this filled him with even greater worry. His already gloomy expression took on a more solemn and uneasy look, his eyes revealing a deep fear of an unknown fate and a burning concern for his own situation.

Zhong Chuzhou stood up, a cold glint in his eyes. He stopped arguing with Zhang Wuye and turned to Mo Qing with a wink. Mo Qing understood and stepped forward to seal Zhang Wuye's acupuncture points. He then pulled him out from the crack in the cabinet and tied him up. He then immediately ordered his men to gather the other captives in the center of the open space downstairs and carefully search them for any hidden weapons or useful intelligence.

Zhong Chuzhou paced slowly through the room, seemingly nonchalant, but in reality, he was meticulously examining its layout and furnishings, not missing a single corner that might harbor secrets. He walked over to the table where maps lay, his gaze settling on a detailed map of the camp's perimeter, depicting the surrounding terrain and the locations of its defenses. His lips curled up slightly; this was a truly valuable trophy.

He gently rolled up the map and put it in his arms, then turned to look at Master Zhang Wu who was lying on the ground and said, "Master Wu, if you are sensible, tell me about your troop deployment and material reserves here. Perhaps I can consider giving you a quick death."

Uncle Zhang Wu snorted coldly, turned his head away, and remained silent, obviously not intending to cooperate.

Seeing this, Zhong Chuzhou was not angry, but just smiled faintly, "Fifth Master, there is no need to rush to refuse. I have plenty of ways to make you speak." After that, he signaled his men to bring Wang over.

Wang was already scared out of his wits. Seeing Zhong Chuzhou's eyes, his legs softened and he knelt on the ground. "Sir, please spare my life, sir, please spare my life, I'm willing to tell you anything!"

When Master Zhang Wu heard Wang say this, he spat in anger and cursed, "You spineless coward, if you dare to betray us, you will be cut into pieces! You know the Zhang family's methods. They will never let any traitor go!"

When Wang heard the threat from Master Zhang Wu and thought about the power and means of the Zhang family, his body trembled like a sieve, and his face was full of fear and hesitation. However, the desire to survive still made his lips tremble, and his eyes wandered between Master Zhang Wu and Zhong Chuzhou.

Zhong Chuzhou sneered, and his laughter was full of ridicule and disdain for Master Zhang Wu, "Are you still dreaming? Have you heard about the situation in other camps recently? Huh?" His eyes seemed to be able to see through Master Zhang Wu's heart, leaving him nowhere to hide.

Uncle Zhang Wu's pupils shrank, and a strong sense of uneasiness surged in his heart, "You, what do you mean?" His voice unconsciously rose a few notes, trying to pretend to be calm in the face of this unknown fear, but the slightly trembling tone betrayed his inner panic.

Zhong Chuzhou lowered his head and flicked his collar with an elegant and calm gesture. He said slowly, "You are the second to last survivors." He looked up at Master Zhang Wu's pale face and said with a smile, "Haven't you heard about the Zhenbei Army's great victory, the Yu Kingdom's surrender, and the news that the Zhenbei Army will be returning to the capital soon?"

To Master Zhang Wu, his smile was like the devil's smile, and every word he said was like a sharp blade, ruthlessly cutting the only remaining trace of hope in his heart.

With every word Zhong Chuzhou spoke, Zhang Wuye's heart sank further. He understood the implication that the other strongholds had been nearly destroyed, yet they hadn't received a whiff of the news. Furthermore, he knew Zhenyuan had personally led a team to rob the imperial army of rations bound for the northern border, with each battalion sending a team of elite soldiers. Now, hearing this person claim the Zhenbei Army had won a resounding victory, he began to wonder if Zhenyuan had been exposed.

"Stop exaggerating here! Who are you? How can you have such extraordinary abilities?" Uncle Zhang Wu gritted his teeth and stared at Zhong Chuzhou. Although his body was still limp, his eyes revealed a stubbornness and unwillingness. He didn't want to believe what he saw, and he didn't dare to imagine what consequences the Zhang family would face after the matter was exposed.

"You'll know who I am later." Zhong Chuzhou said calmly, then turned to Wang and looked at him coldly, "Have you thought it through? Do you want to tell me?"

Wang had already sensed the end of the situation from the previous conversation. He knew that if he didn't fully cooperate now, his fate would be certain death. So, he nodded frantically, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, his eyes filled with fear and flattery. "Sir, I'll tell you everything. There's a secret compartment in this camp, the entrance is under Master Zhang Wu's bed. Hidden inside are treasures and important letters, all evidence of the Zhang family's covert collusion with various factions over the years."

Uncle Zhang Wu was so angry that he cursed: "Mr. Wang, you are a heartless person! My Zhang family has been so kind to you. We provide you with good food and drink every day. How have we treated you unfairly? You sold out family secrets so easily for your own selfish reasons. Aren't you afraid of God's punishment?" His voice became hoarse with anger, and his body trembled slightly in rage, like a volcano about to erupt.

Wang was scolded until his face turned pale, but he didn't dare to say anything back. He just kowtowed repeatedly, muttering, "Fifth Master, I really have no choice but to do this. I don't want to die in this situation."

Zhong Chuzhou's brow furrowed as he glanced at Changsheng, who stepped forward and sealed Master Zhang Wu's mute point. Zhong Chuzhou then signaled his men to search the secret compartment. Two sturdy soldiers quickly approached Master Zhang Wu's bed and, with great effort, moved it aside. Sure enough, they discovered a slightly unusual wooden plank beneath it. Gently pushing it aside, a hidden compartment appeared. Inside lay several exquisite boxes and a thick stack of letters.