Chapter 1211: Zhao Rui's Scheme
She said to the palace maid indifferently, "This punishment won't kill you, but it will make your life worse than death."
"When you're in excruciating pain, when you can't take it anymore, you'll faint. But don't worry, I'll immediately wake you up."
The palace maid's eyes trembled, but before she could say anything, several eunuchs approached her with silver needles, grinning menacingly.
A look of panic flashed across the maid's face for the first time. She struggled desperately, but the eunuch guards behind her held her down tightly.
No matter how he struggled, he remained motionless.
"Remember, when you insert the silver needle, go slow. The slower the better. The slower it goes in, the longer and more intense the pain will be. She'll surely enjoy that feeling." Zhao Rui's voice, like a female demon, came at just the right moment.
"No! Don't!" the maidservant cried out.

Then, following Zhao Rui's method, she pierced the palace maid's fingernail with a silver needle that glittered coldly.
And, the process is incredibly slow.
Fingers are connected, and the point where the nail meets the finger is the most delicate and sensitive.
So when the silver needle pierced her fingernail, the palace maid let out a bloodcurdling scream.
"Oh my god!!!"
The scream was so terrifying that even those who had braced themselves beforehand felt a shiver run down their spines, as if a wave of cold air shot straight from their feet to the top of their heads.
Such a cruel punishment, not to mention experiencing it firsthand, even just watching from the side would send shivers down your spine.
Only Zhao Rui looked on with indifference.
The court lady, who had been quite arrogant before, fainted dead away after her fingernails on all ten fingers were pulled off.

Zhao Rui said expressionlessly, "Go get a basin of cold water to splash her awake."
Immediately, someone brought a basin of cold water and poured it directly onto the palace maid's head.
With a splash, the cold water roused the maid from her slumber.
As soon as she woke up, she screamed.
"It's so noisy."
Zhao Rui frowned and impatiently said, "Go find a piece of cloth and stuff her mouth."
A eunuch immediately brought a piece of ragged cloth and stuffed it tightly into the maid's mouth.
Zhao Rui felt that her ears were much quieter. Then she said, "Take off her shoes and socks, and pick up all ten toenails."
The eunuchs who had preceded them were ruthless and, upon hearing the order, would immediately remove the shoes and socks of the palace maids.
But at this moment, the maid struggled violently.
She shook her head desperately, spitting out a filthy rag from her mouth that smelled of something unspeakable. She screamed in terror, "Kill me! Please, just kill me! I can't take this torture anymore!"
"That's too much, isn't it?" Zhao Rui sneered.
"I've only just begun, and you're already unable to bear it. I thought your bones were tougher."
"I said I'd make you live in misery and die with regret. This is just an appetizer, the real show is yet to come. Don't worry, I have plenty of time to play with you."
With trembling eyes, the palace maid stared at Zhao Rui. For the first time, her eyes showed something besides madness and resentment: pure fear.
Zhao Rui could see that after the extreme physical torture, the palace maid's psychological defenses were gradually crumbling. At this time, with just a little guidance, she could completely break down the palace maid's defenses.

(Editor in charge：define novel)