Truth serum!
It was a military drug created seven hundred years ago by 'Demonic Doctor' Robert Terson. It was distilled from dozens of hallucinogens and psychedelics. Upon intake, it would cause a person's mind to reach a 'calm state' that was no different from numbness.
Under the 'calm state', the person's subjective reasoning would be repressed and their subconscious and unconscious thoughts would become the main driver. One would respond in the most truthful manner in response to any voices from the external world. There would be no room to hide any secret hidden deep in their heart.
In the third war between the hero faction and the criminal faction, Robert Terson had invented a truth serum that became the nightmare of war spies. The moment a spy was captured, they would be fed the truth serum. Whatever secrets they know would become intelligence for the enemy, causing the war to enter an unprecedented stalemate. The battle stage even resulted in the invitation of shameless battle strategies that sacrificed spies who were passed false information.
Although the truth serum's appearance had greatly reduced the need for gross torture during interrogations, the underlying tenet of the truth serum was a 'concentrated hallucinogen'. Not only did it result in a certain degree of mental harm to the recipient, leaving the person in a trance at the beginning, there would also be side effects of frequent hallucinations. It was easy to cause great mental and physical harm to the recipient. It was a grave violation of human rights.
Therefore, once a peaceful era was ushered in, truth serums were labeled by the United Nations as a 'Class A controlled drug'. Other than the military, no one else was to privately produce it. Furthermore, it could only be used on enemy spies and criminals that had committed grave crimes. Before its usage, a series of legal procedures and approvals were required. The usage of it had to be made public, making the stringent use of it very apparent.
Upon hearing Mu Zhaorong's roar, the relevant information regarding 'truth serums' flashed across Mu Lengxi's mind.
Mu Lengxi loved reading books. Her favorite pastime was to spend time in libraries and browse through all sorts of books to increase her knowledge. She had once read the description on 'truth serums' in military books that were relatively unpopular.
However, this was the first time she was encountering such a banned drug in real life.
Mu Lengxi widened her eyes in disbelief as she looked at the 'father' in front of her in shock.
He was the premier of the state council who showed wanton disregard of the law and he carried truth serums with him.
Was he even planning on using it on his own daughter?
Was this her father?
Was this the youngest leader of a country ever since China was established?
No, he was the Li family's 'cold-blooded emperor', Tyger Li!
"Tyger Li!"
Mu Zhaorong had shoved her daughter behind her. The frail woman who had been disconsolate a moment ago looked like an infuriated tigress that was baring her fangs. She had a domineering air to her.
Tyger Li remained expressionless as he faced Mu Zhaorong's angry gaze. He said calmly, "Whoever kills my son will have to pay the price. I need an outcome. Your daughter has lied to cover up for the murderer. I'm extremely angry but I cannot harm her so using the truth serum is the best choice."
The simple words 'your daughter' destroyed the last tiny bit of hope in Mu Lengxi's heart. Her expression turned ashen as her limbs turned cold. She buried her head into her mother's shoulders and did not dare look at the unfamiliar man who had never treated her as his 'daughter'. She was afraid that she could not hold back her tears any further.
Mu Zhaorong's expression turned increasingly cold as she gnashed her teeth and said, "What are you basing it on to be so certain that my daughter is lying? What proof do you have to be so certain that she's covering up for the murderer? I know you have none. You are a depraved mad man with a severe case of persecutory delusional disorder. You have nothing at all!"
Tyger Li's expression was cold as he said, "My judgment is the proof. Her covering up for a murderer is a fact of the irrefutable truth. By letting her drink the truth serum, it's instead me giving her a chance to prove herself."
Mu Zhaorong's scoffed from her extreme anger as she said, "What a nice way of putting it that way. After so many years, you are now more shameless than before! You clearly are aware that truth serums are Class A banned drugs and that it would result in damage to one's mind. Yet, you are forcing Xi'er to down it. Aren't you afraid of going to hell for actually using an interrogative method employed against spies or murderers on your daughter!?"
Tyger Li said in a deadpan manner, "There is a price to pay for lying. Regardless of the person's identity, the side effects of the truth serum are only a tiny punishment."
Mu Zhaorong said with a sneer, "Tyger Li, have you ever drunk truth serum before!?"
Tyger Li fell silent and did not respond.
"Falling into a trance with frequent hallucinations, waking up in cold sweat from nightmares. Such painful days will last for at least half a month!"
Mu Zhaorong gnashed her teeth and said, "Tyger Li, you have never drunk it before, but I have. You bastard, you had cheated me into drinking it!"
With that said, Tyger Li's expression finally changed slightly.
Mu Lengxi looked up in shock. Her expression seemed somewhat pale.
Mu Zhaorong sensed her daughter's worried glance and looked over. She consoled her gently, "Don't worry. That was from eight years ago. Although it is an unhappy memory, it had also made me make up my mind to divorce this bastard. It was worth it. Don't worry. With me here, I'll absolutely prevent him from making you drink that darn truth serum."
Mu Lengxi clenched Mu Zhaorong's hand tightly. She always believed that the reason for her parents' divorce was due to an incompatibility in personalities. She never expected for such a dark hidden past.
Tyger Li narrowed his eyes slightly and said softly, "I admit. It was a mistake on my part."
"A mistake?"
It was as if Mu Zhaorong had heard the funniest joke in the world. The corners of her lips curved into a mocking smile as she said coldly, "Tyger Li, everyone in the world thinks you are a cold-blooded tiger, but who would believe that you are actually a most lamentable coward. Not only do you have a persecutory delusional disorder, you also have a strong possessive instinct that borders on insanity. Our marriage was an alliance marriage. I did not like you and, you similarly had no feelings for me. However, because of a suspicion that I had been unfaithful, you tricked me into drinking truth serum, leaving me in pain for half a month. To you, was that just a mistake!?"
Tyger Li's expression turned slightly cold as he said, "I had said before that you are not to have meals with other men. Not only did you ignore it, you even chose a secluded tiny restaurant. My suspicions were not at fault."
Mu Zhaorong said angrily, "I had also said before that he had saved my life. He is my benefactor! Furthermore, I invited him to the meal to express my gratitude. That person isn't like you that cares about style. He likes a simple meal at a tiny restaurant, is that wrong? I seriously explained it to you but you only believed in yourself. You only believed in your suspicions. You did not mind lying to me to make me drink the truth serum so as to satisfy your persecutory delusional disorder. Tyger Li, you are a disgusting coward!"
The corners of Tyger Li's lips twitched as he said in a deep voice, "No man can tolerate his wife being unfaithful. It is the same for me. I don't think of it as an act of a coward."
"Pui!"
Mu Zhaorong said with a sneer, "When have you ever treated me as your wife? You only see me as something you own. I had used the business and political cooperation between the Mu family and the Li family to force a divorce. You were compelled to agree to it but you insisted on adding an unfair 'female party is not to remarry' clause. You are only a coward with a possessive instinct that borders on insanity. You call yourself a man? You had suspected me of being unfaithful and forced me to drink truth serum. And what was the result? The result only proved that although I didn't love you, I was a faithful wife. To be honest, making you a cuckold would have been extremely relieving for me but I'm not as selfish as you are. And I'm definitely not a scum like you. I would not do such disgusting matters!"
Mu Lengxi hid behind Mu Zhaorong and broke out into a cold sweat from hearing all of this. She was trembling, never expecting that the truth behind the divorce was so deplorable. She never imagined her father to be no different from male scum. Although she was young and she had only begun developing feelings for someone she liked, she understood that as a female, be it a girl or woman, it was an infuriating manner to be suspected of infidelity despite her lack of understanding with regards to love or marriage.
And not only had her father done so, he had even used a truth serum on his wife!
How distrustful was he of others that he would do such a thing?
Mu Lengxi buried her head in her mother's back. The image of her 'father' in her heart was crumbling.
A tyrannical look flashed in Tyger Li's eyes but he eventually managed to maintain his calm expression. He fell silent for a moment before saying softly, "On this point, you did no wrong. So I admit that using the truth serum was an oversight. But it's different this time. The person dead is my son, and he is also your son. We cannot let the murderer go scot free. It will be the best if you can persuade your daughter to say the truth. If you can't, then let her drink the truth serum."
Mu Zhaorong responded angrily, "You keep insisting that Xi'er is covering up for a murderer. Where's your evidence? Tyger Li, your suspicions have always been baseless. You only blindly trust in yourself and suspect others without a thought. I will not believe in your suspicions! I understand my daughter the best. She is kinder and more resolute than anyone else. She will not lie easily. Even if she were to lie, there must be a correct reason and sufficient justification for it. I'm sadder over Speechless's death than you and I'm more infuriated than you, but I will not act as perverse like you! I was fooled by you eight years ago and drank the truth serum. Today, don't you dare touch Xi'er! Both of us are not here to be bullied by you!"
"Impenetrably thickheaded."
Tyger Li's gaze turned grim as she stared at Mu Zhaorong as though he was a tiger about to devour her.
Mu Zhaorong faced him without showing any fear.
Tyger Li fell silent for a moment before sighing and turned his head to say, "Seven Wolfskins, come in."
With that said, the door to the hall was instantly pushed open. Figures began entering the hall and stood behind Tyger Li. There was a total of seven people dressed in military garb. They had an emblem of a wolf's head on their shoulders' epaulets.
Mu Zhaorong looked at the seven soldiers that had suddenly rushed in. With a mocking smile, she said, "Why? Are you planning to turn rough after losing your temper from embarrassment?"