Lu Namu's disdainful expression faltered. He had initially dismissed Meng Shuping's threat to kill him as a mere scare tactic to extract a confession.
But once he realized Meng Shuping wasn't there for a formal interrogation, it dawned on him that if he truly provoked the young man, Meng Shuping might actually follow through.
After all, some hot-headed youths, when pushed too far, were capable of anything.
Thinking this was just a trivial question and not worth dying over, Lu Namu snorted, "We didn't come here for money!"
Seeing him evade the question, Meng Shuping couldn't help but speculate, *"Could it be they didn't pay him a single coin? Seriously? Even if it's a country, not some poor, rundown village, how could they be that stingy?"*
*"This is a job that risks your life! Is his life really worth so little? Or did they just assume he'd never make it back anyway, so they saved themselves the payment?"*
Jiang Cihe quickly recalled how much they paid the spies they had sent out and felt a wave of relief. *"Good, good—they weren't that stingy."*
Lu Namu's eyebrows shot up, ready to retort, but as he opened his mouth, he found himself at a loss for words. He grew frustrated. Clearly, things weren't as Meng Shuping described, so why couldn't he pinpoint what was wrong with the argument?
Just as he was wracking his brain for a way to save face for Beixiang, Meng Shuping asked again, "Wait, that doesn't make sense. If they didn't pay you, where did your operational funds come from?"
Lu Namu perked up, immediately finding a rebuttal. He raised his head proudly. "We don't need payment at all. The fur shop I run earns plenty every year. Even without pay, we have more than enough."
But just as a smug expression spread across his face, Meng Shuping remarked, "So you're saying you even have to pay out of your own pocket?"
Meng Shuping looked at him with even more pity. *"Not only are you risking your life for free, but you're also paying extra? What kind of total sucker does that?"*
*"I really want to know what kind of bewitching soup Beixiang gave him to make him agree to something so foolish. Could it be for a belief?"*
*"But Beixiang isn't on the brink of collapse. Why would they need such strong conviction? Was he raised from childhood with the idea of sacrificing himself for the country?"*
*"Tsk, tsk, tsk. For more than ten years, he's gone from a vibrant young man to a weathered middle-aged one, living in constant fear while working for free. Was it really worth it?"*
*"I'm not criticizing him, but if he'd spent that time on something else, he probably would've made it big by now. After all, he managed to run a fur shop so well—who could say he isn't talented? Sending him here as a spy is such a waste of his abilities!"*
Jiang Cihe couldn't help but smile. *"Truly a little moneygrubber, with such unique perspectives."*
Though Lu Namu sensed something off about Meng Shuping's reasoning, he couldn't help feeling a flicker of doubt. Had he really wasted the prime of his life?
During his decade-long stay in the capital, he had often felt lost. Sometimes, thinking about how long this fearful life might last, his life seemed utterly joyless.
It was ironic—only after being captured did the anxiety he'd carried for so long finally settle.
As he pondered, Lu Namu suddenly snapped back to reality. How had he unknowingly fallen under Meng Shuping's influence?
He stared at Meng Shuping with a strange expression. Was this kid somehow sinister? Though clearly inexperienced in interrogation, he had such a profound impact. Could he be their trump card?
Meng Shuping, genuinely curious now, asked Lu Namu, "What exactly did Beixiang offer you to make you willing to do this?"
Lu Namu initially didn't want to answer, but he couldn't resist hearing what else the kid might say. After a moment's hesitation, he prepared to speak.
Just then, Meng Shuping started guessing again, *"Did they promise him high rank and generous pay?"*
"Of course they promised me..." Lu Namu paused, then continued, "...high rank and generous pay."
Meng Shuping widened his eyes in surprise. *"So it's true! Is he stupid? How could he believe that?"*
Fan Yu shot Meng Shuping a disdainful look. *"What was wrong with that? Wasn't that why everyone worked?"*
Lu Namu also looked puzzled. *"Why was that so unbelievable?"*
Meng Shuping asked Lu Namu incredulously, "How old are you?"
Lu Namu, though confused, answered truthfully to see where this was going, "Forty-two."
Meng Shuping pressed, "You came to the capital over a decade ago, and before that, you were busy learning about us. You probably don't have much experience in government, right?"
Lu Namu grew impatient. "So what?"
Meng Shuping countered in a pitying tone, "Since you lack experience, do you think they'd rashly give you an important official position? Aren't they afraid you'd mess things up? And without a high position, where would the generous pay come from?"
As if to drive the point home, Meng Shuping added, "You just said you're forty-two. Even if you return with merits, at your age, how many years could you serve? If they give you a minor post, you'll likely never reach a high rank, even by the time you're old and gray."
*"Empty promises are an old trick. If they don't dangle a big reward, who would risk their lives for them? And since spies might never return, they'll promise the moon—knowing they'll never have to deliver."*
*"Sigh, I don't know if he's clever or foolish. If he's clever, how could he be deceived for over a decade? If he's foolish, how did he run a fur shop so successfully? When will he wake up?"*
Lu Namu refused to believe it. He struggled to maintain a firm expression. "It's because my contributions weren't significant enough. If I'd uncovered more critical intelligence, I wouldn't be here now!"
Meng Shuping nodded dismissively. "If thinking that makes you feel better, then go ahead."
*"But what counts as a significant contribution? There's no fixed standard. If you think it's enough, but they don't, what can you do?"*
*"Everything boils down to results. The result is that you're working for free and paying for it, and your life might be on the line. The answer is pretty clear!"*
Lu Namu's expression finally cracked. He tried once more to convince himself, "Hmph, so what if I was caught? My family will be well taken care of!"
Meng Shuping couldn't resist retorting, "Have you seen it with your own eyes?"
*"It's been so many years. Even family members can't guarantee decades of consistent care, let alone outsiders. And even if they neglect your family, how would you know? They might not have bothered at all!"*
*"Besides, even if they try their best, what families value most is being together. No outsider's care can replace having loved ones nearby."*
*"Who's to say his wife hasn't run off with someone else, or his son isn't calling another man 'father' by now!"*
The more Lu Namu listened, the more disoriented he felt. He snapped, "Stop talking!"
Meng Shuping looked at him with pity. *"So he's realized he's been deceived! Well, Beixiang's actions are truly disheartening. I'm here risking my life for them, and they can't even take proper care of my wife and child!"*
*"Hey, maybe they're 'taking care' of his wife in bed too—after all, there's no one to stand up for her!"*
Lu Namu shut his eyes in agony, desperately telling himself this was all a trick to extract a confession. He mustn't believe them.
But he couldn't stop turning Meng Shuping's words over in his mind. Was it possible these things could really happen?
Watching Lu Namu completely lose his composure under Meng Shuping's verbal assault, Jiang Cihe felt a chill. He thought of their own spies—if captured and questioned like this, would they hold up?
The more he pondered, the more unsettled he grew. He decided then and there to submit a memorial upon returning, urging improved benefits for their spies. Those risking their lives for Great Chu deserved nothing less—they must not be left disillusioned.
Unaware of his influence on Jiang Cihe, Meng Shuping, after asking these questions, found himself again at a loss. He whispered to Jiang Cihe, "Your Highness, since Lu Namu is so pitiful, if he confesses, can we give him preferential treatment?"
Jiang Cihe glanced at Lu Namu and replied, "Naturally."
Meng Shuping turned to Lu Namu. "Lu Namu, did you hear that? His Highness says if you confess, you'll receive favorable treatment. He's a prince—his word is his bond. He won't deceive you!"
Though Lu Namu's worldview was shaken, he still had no intention of betraying Beixiang. After all he'd done for them, suddenly turning against them felt like a betrayal he couldn't stomach.
He deliberately avoided looking at Meng Shuping and the others, stating firmly, "No matter what you say, I will not confess!"
Fan Yu smirked scornfully. "See? All that talk, and it amounted to nothing!"
Seeing Lu Namu so stubborn, Meng Shuping had no idea what to do. After thinking for a moment, he tentatively said, "How about you start by saying something unimportant to test the waters? If it proves we're not lying to you, then you can share something more useful."
*"Think of it like bargaining—whether it works out or not, you should at least get a trial, right?"*
At this point, Fan Yu couldn't hold back any longer and sneered, "Do you think this is a market? Letting him test the waters? Let me tell you, these spies are the most tight-lipped. If you're so polite, he'll never confess!"
However, as soon as he finished speaking, Lu Namu said with some doubt, "Can I really try?"
Fan Yu was immediately furious. Was this Lu Namu deliberately messing with him?
Meng Shuping quickly replied, "Of course! What do you want to say?"
Lu Namu thought that saying something unimportant wouldn't matter much, so he said with some doubt, "There are moles among your officials as well."
Before saying this, he had carefully considered it. Betraying his Beixiang comrades was something he couldn't do, but revealing information about Great Chu's officials was no problem for him at all.
Jiang Cihe's expression hardened. "Who?"
However, after saying this, Lu Namu closed his mouth again.
Meng Shuping immediately looked at Fan Yu. *"Ha! It's him, isn't it? I knew he was suspicious!"*
Cold sweat instantly broke out on Fan Yu's forehead. What was going on? Was there really an official betraying Great Chu? But it couldn't possibly be him—he was loyal to Great Chu. How could he do such a thing?
Jiang Cihe turned his head and looked Fan Yu up and down. *"Impossible, absolutely impossible. Everyone in the Military Hall Department had undergone strict investigations before joining. How could any of them betray Great Chu?"*
Seeing both of them looking at him, Fan Yu's heart raced even faster. He hurriedly denied in panic, "Your Highness, I didn't do it! Don't be used by them. These spies are all cunning!"
Hearing this, Meng Shuping's expression grew even more suspicious. *"Is this a confession without being accused? Lu Namu didn't even say who the traitor was. Why is he so nervous?"*
Fan Yu was seething. Why was he nervous? Who had just been suspecting him? If he didn't explain, what if Lu Namu really named him? Even if there was no evidence in the end, he would surely lose any chance of being trusted again.
Jiang Cihe wasn't willing to gamble. With a cold face, he said, "Get out. From now on, you are not to see Lu Namu alone."
Fan Yu grew even more panicked. "Your Highness, I really didn't—"
Jiang Cihe's gaze turned even icier. "Are you not leaving?"
Fan Yu had no choice but to back out anxiously.
After Fan Yu left, Meng Shuping immediately felt much more relaxed. *"Hahaha, finally got that eyesore out of the way."*
He brightly asked Lu Namu, "Go on, what do you want? If the information is true, we'll get you what you want. But it has to be real—no fakes allowed."
Lu Namu immediately made his demand: "I want a better cell and good food and wine! If I don't get it, I won't say another word!"
Jiang Cihe agreed right away. "No problem. Can you talk now?"
Lu Namu hesitated. He had considered naming Fan Yu but decided against it. Such a lie would be too easy to expose. If it turned out false, he might face Fan Yu's vicious payback, which wasn't worth it.
Even if he wasn't afraid of death, he saw no reason to make his life harder.
After a moment's thought, he uttered a name. Jiang Cihe thought for a long time before recalling a faint impression of the person—a minor official in the Ministry of Revenue, not prominent enough to draw attention.
But it didn't matter. Once he returned, he could investigate the details.
Knowing Lu Namu wouldn't say anything more, Jiang Cihe ordered his subordinates, "Take him away. Arrange a better cell for him and order some food and wine. Inspect the food carefully—if anything goes wrong, you'll be held responsible!"
The two subordinates quickly replied, "Yes!"
After Lu Namu was taken away, Jiang Cihe couldn't help but look at Meng Shuping with satisfaction. "You did well in the interrogation today. I'll add five hundred coins to your salary this month."
Meng Shuping complained, "Only five hundred coins?"
Jiang Cihe raised an eyebrow. "Too little?"
Meng Shuping quickly said, "No, no! I'd never complain about any amount!"
*"Even a mosquito's worth of meat is still meat! Having gotten used to a good life, how could I complain about five hundred coins?"*