Ning Chen glanced at Kang Xiao, then turned to Feng Qizheng. "Old Feng, take him away. Put a few extra sets of shackles on him and have him closely guarded. He can't die just yet.

Of course, not dying doesn't mean he gets to live comfortably. You know the Inspectorate's methods inside out—bamboo splinters under the fingernails, broken fingers, that sort of thing... As long as he doesn't die, even the wooden donkey isn't off the table."

Feng Qizheng's big mouth stretched into a grin. "Heh heh. Don't worry. Leave it to me!"

Kang Xiao looked terrified. He wasn't laughing anymore.

"Ning Chen, you can't do this to me. If you dare torture me, I'll kill myself... and if I'm dead, you get nothing."

Ning Chen snorted. "If you kill yourself, I'll respect you as a real man. Provided you have the guts to do it.

Take him away and keep him under close guard... If he wants to kill himself, nobody stop him."

Feng Qizheng led him off.

Ning Chen took Xiao Yanxi by the hand and headed for his room. "Little Xixi, do me a favor."

Xiao Yanxi's pretty face went red. "It's the middle of the day," she said shyly. "Can't I give it to you tonight?"

Ning Chen stopped short and looked back at her. Then a wicked grin spread across his face. "What are you thinking? Little Xixi, when did you get so dirty-minded?

I just want you to get a letter to Kang Luo for me, and then have your people dig into what exactly Kang Luo and Kang Xiao are to each other."

Xiao Yanxi's face went so red it looked ready to drip blood. She'd gotten the wrong idea. It was Ning Chen's fault for dragging her straight toward his room. No wonder her mind had gone there.

Ning Chen grinned wickedly. "Of course, if Little Xixi wants it, this prince is no stingy man. I'll gladly give you everything I've got."

Xiao Yanxi was so embarrassed she couldn't lift her head.

Ning Chen stopped teasing her. He took her back to…