Hearing the surprise in Su Mingyu's tone, Tang Yan now understood what she was thinking.
He raised an eyebrow and said with a light smile, "Back then, this village woman was surrounded by a group of bandits. If it weren't for Gan Jiangnan, God knows what would have happened to her."
Su Mingyu nodded in understanding. "But that's not enough to prove that this woman is innocent. Now I need all the information about this woman."
Although Tang Yan thought it was rather redundant, he still nodded in agreement. "I'll have someone prepare it right away."
Su Mingyu gave a soft grunt, then walked up to the woman and Gan Jiangnan, looking down at them haughtily. "Gan Jiangnan, if you truly have the courage a man should have, you should tell me everything now. Since I've found you, I can protect you."
Saying this, Su Mingyu cast a glance at the woman, then continued. "I think you should be aware that since you've been captured by us, even if we let you go now, you'll be in great danger. Those people over there will never believe that you've said nothing."
"Right, Lao Gan. Just tell them," the woman pleaded, looking at Gan Jiangnan with beseeching eyes.
Gan Jiangnan's eyes were bloodshot, and he gritted his teeth tightly. He looked extremely conflicted.
Just at this crucial moment, the little boy beside them suddenly spoke up. "Daddy, Mommy, when are we going home? I'm hungry."
As the childish voice rang out, Gan Jiangnan's previously wavering expression instantly hardened.
"No! No! Don't force me. I won't say a word!" With that, Gan Jiangnan turned his head away, clearly showing that he didn't want to communicate with them.
Seeing his reaction, Su Mingyu narrowed her eyes and glanced at the woman. She always felt that this woman was the key to this whole thing.
"Since you won't say anything, then let me do the talking."
Su Mingyu sat back on the chair, crossing her legs as she looked at Gan Jiangnan. "Do you want to know why Lin Feng suddenly handed you over?"
"Because the general's wife was captured," Gan Jiangnan was willing to say this much.
Su Mingyu nodded. "Do you know why just the capture of a woman could make Lin Feng and Gu Ruobai act so drastically, even stirring up the entire martial world?"
"The general is a man of sentiment. It's only natural for him to care about his wife. What's the problem?" Gan Jiangnan was getting impatient. "What on earth are you trying to say?"
"What I'm trying to say is that I'm the missing wife of Gu Ruobai. Moreover, I'm pregnant with Gu Ruobai's child. Now do you know why Lin Feng was willing to betray your kindness and hand you over?"
Su Mingyu spoke slowly, but every word made Gan Jiangnan's eyes widen in disbelief.
"You're Su Mingyu? It can't be!" Gan Jiangnan couldn't believe it. "You're conspiring against me?"
"Lin Feng isn't that kind of person!" Gan Jiangnan shook his head. "I won't believe your words. You have no evidence!"
Su Mingyu raised an eyebrow, not in a hurry at all. "Believe it or not, I'm just telling you the reason why you were captured."
Although Gan Jiangnan was a military general, he wasn't stupid. He had a clear idea about many things.
The woman in front of him was very likely the legendary Su Mingyu. She did have a kind of competence that was different from ordinary women as others had described.
"No matter what you say, I won't say a word," Gan Jiangnan was determined to keep his mouth shut.
Su Mingyu just gave a soft grunt. "Really? I'd like to see how long you can hold out."
With that, Su Mingyu gave a look to the guard beside Gan Jiangnan. The guard immediately stepped forward and dragged the woman away. Then, in a flash, he raised a small hammer and smashed it down on Gan Jiangnan's finger.
Gan Jiangnan's face turned as pale as paper from the pain. He let out a shrill scream, and the agonized wail echoed throughout the room.
Looking at Gan Jiangnan's crushed finger and the blood on the floor, Su Mingyu clicked her tongue and said with a hint of regret, "I heard you're very good with a spear. Without this finger, can you still hold your red-tasseled spear?"
"You! You're so despicable!" Gan Jiangnan was sweating profusely and could hardly speak clearly due to the pain.
"I know you still don't want to talk, right?" Su Mingyu raised an eyebrow and gave the guard another look. The guard immediately smashed another finger of Gan Jiangnan.
Gan Jiangnan was in so much pain that he could hardly speak. "Just kill me."
Su Mingyu pouted. "How could I let you die?"
With that, Su Mingyu gave the guard a look, indicating him to continue. The guard swung the hammer down, and Gan Jiangnan was in so much pain that he almost stopped breathing.
"Su Mingyu! If you have the guts, kill me! Why are you torturing me like this!"
Gan Jiangnan's voice was so hoarse that it was almost inaudible. His face was covered in a thin layer of sweat due to the pain.
Su Mingyu just sat there calmly, unmoved. "Will you talk?"
"I won't say a word!" Gan Jiangnan gritted his teeth firmly.
Su Mingyu let out a drawn-out "oh", then immediately turned her gaze to the woman. She gave a look to the guard behind the woman, and the guard immediately dragged the woman to a chair on the other side and locked her up.
Then, right in front of Gan Jiangnan, he started slapping the woman across the face.
Gan Jiangnan was so angry that his eyes were bloodshot. "If you have any tricks, come at me! Why are you bullying a woman!"
Su Mingyu shrugged. "It's not us who are bullying her. It's you who are unwilling to save her."
With that, Su Mingyu parted her lips slightly and uttered two decisive words. "Continue."
The sound of slaps echoed non-stop. The woman hardly had time to whimper. Gan Jiangnan was so angry that he was incoherent. "Su Mingyu! You're a woman yourself. Why are you treating her like this!"
Su Mingyu raised an eyebrow. "Give me the answer, and I'll let you go. It's such a simple rule, but you're making it so complicated."
With that, Su Mingyu glanced at the place behind the curtain, from where came the crying of a child. "Daddy... What's wrong with you? You sound so miserable. What happened? I want to go home."
The little boy's sobs were heart-rending. Hearing this, Gan Jiangnan bit through the skin in his mouth and spat out a mouthful of bitter blood.
Seeing this, Su Mingyu remained unmoved. Instead, her tone became even calmer. "Gan Jiangnan, you can choose not to talk. I'll have someone pull back the curtain right now and let your son see what you look like now."
"No! Don't!" The woman was the first to react. She screamed at Su Mingyu not to do this.