Chapter 1 The Interrogation

Hearing this, Song Yilan frowned instantly, her eyes filled with displeasure as she looked at Xie Jin Yan.

Seeing her expression, Xie Jin Yan naturally understood what she was thinking.

He chuckled softly and explained, "Miss Song, the Princess of Nan Yue was once a junior sister to both A-Wu and me. In a sense, she and I grew up together, and she can be considered A-Wu's fellow disciple. Now that she's causing such a ruckus, it's ultimately a disgrace to our sect and to my reputation. If we want to clarify things and dispel the rumors, we must investigate thoroughly."

"Speaking of which, I haven't seen her in half a year. I wonder how many months pregnant she is and whether she's showing yet."

So, the reason for calling a doctor was to expose her lies?

Song Yilan breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.

She knew that Sister Yu was never one to suffer losses. How could she easily let others walk all over her?

Smiling, Song Yilan's attitude toward Xie Jin Yan became much gentler. However, she looked at him with some confusion and asked, "Xie Langjun, according to what you're saying, the Princess of Nan Yue isn't from Nan Yue?"

"No, she was originally a commoner from a small fishing village in Yin Zhou."

Xie Jin Yan shook his head and smiled as he replied to Song Yilan.

In the past, he wouldn't have bothered to explain.

After all, his reputation was already tarnished, and there was nothing to explain.

But in the current situation, reputation was one thing. If he were to be accused of colluding with the Princess of Nan Yue, it would be difficult to clear his name. Especially since he had half Nan Yue blood, seven or eight out of ten people would actually believe such a slanderous accusation.

This would be extremely detrimental to his current situation.

However, the most important thing right now was to see A-Yue first.

Firstly, to shut her up.

Secondly…

He had to be worthy of her father.

With these thoughts in mind, Xie Jin Yan turned to Song Guan and asked, "Song Gongzi, where is the Princess of Nan Yue currently being held?"

"She's being held in the Qing Zhou Prefectural Prison, along with some of the top Nan Yue spies."

Snapping back to attention from Xie Jin Yan's question, Song Guan quickly pulled Song Yilan along and led the way, saying, "Xie Langjun, Yu Niangzi, let's go now. We can still return before dark."

The Qing Zhou Prefectural Office was located in the bustling area of Qing Zhou.

It would take nearly an hour to get there from the Song clan's territory.

Yu Qing Wu was already tired from traveling for most of the day and didn't really want to move.

But in the current situation, she couldn't afford not to.

Firstly, because the matter was indeed important, and secondly… because Xie Jin Yan was often not very rational when facing A-Yue.

Especially now that he was facing such great difficulties, he might be even more irrational.

Lost in thought, Yu Qing Wu quietly glanced at Xie Jin Yan.

Xie Jin Yan's face was expressionless, but his eyes revealed a hint of worry.

He was very disappointed in A-Yue, but in the end, he still couldn't bear to watch her die.

"Alright, then please lead the way, Song Gongzi."

Xie Jin Yan's expression seemed quite calm as he gave a soft reply and immediately followed Song Guan's footsteps.

They traveled through the woods, and the group split into two.

Song Yilan went to retrieve the land deed for the real estate company as planned, while Xie Jin Yan, Yu Qing Wu, and Song Guan headed to the Qing Zhou Prefectural Office.

The secret war in Qu County and even the entire Shu region had given Song Guan, the son of a concubine, a certain amount of prestige within the Song clan.

In just a month, those who had once despised and belittled him had changed their tune.

Some were judging the situation and adapting, while others were genuinely admiring him.

In any case, Song Guan now walked with his head held high, and he was respected by everyone when he arrived at the Qing Zhou Prefectural Office.

As soon as they entered, a jailer greeted them and said with a smile, "Fifth Master, why have you come in person? Are you here to interrogate a prisoner?"

"No, just open the Tian Zi cell for me."

Song Guan's tone was indifferent. Although he had gained power, he didn't have the arrogant face of someone who had suddenly risen to prominence.

Such a temperament was more suitable for being Song Yan's successor than Song He, who was always rash and impulsive.

If they were to form an alliance in the future, choosing such an ally would be better than choosing a reckless man like Song He.

It seemed that they had to help Song Guan consolidate his position.

In the future, they could have more help.

"We're here."

While Xie Jin Yan was thinking, the group had gradually approached the depths of the prison.

The Tian Zi cell in the Qing Zhou Prefectural Office was always used to hold the most important prisoners.

In the past, they were either serious criminals, corrupt officials, or people who held important secrets.

Gao Min Yue didn't fall into any of the former categories, but her status as the Princess of Nan Yue was enough to make her a serious criminal in this Tian Zi cell.

In the dark and damp prison cell, rats ran rampant.

Gao Min Yue huddled in a corner, bound by ropes and with her mouth tightly stuffed. Her originally delicate face was covered with wounds.

Her disheveled appearance was a far cry from her pure and beautiful appearance yesterday.

At this time, her abdomen was slightly protruding. In the dim light, she saw four figures approaching, and she howled again.

However, this time it was not the arrogance and tyranny of the past, but fear and unwillingness.

Although Gao Min Yue was highly skilled in martial arts, she could not defeat four hands with two fists. Moreover, the Qing Zhou Prefectural Office was known for its ruthlessness. Even though she was a pregnant woman, she could not escape being beaten.

What's more, she had always been arrogant and domineering, so she must have been subjected to a lot of abuse here.

Fortunately, Gao Min Yue's body had always been strong, and even in this situation, there were no abnormalities in the fetus in her womb.

As the figures approached, a familiar yet unfamiliar face came into view.

Seeing Xie Jin Yan, Gao Min Yue instantly became excited. However, when she saw Yu Qing Wu beside him, her eyes were filled with resentment again.

When she looked at Song Guan, she began to curse even more frantically, but her mouth was covered, and Yu Qing Wu didn't hear what she was cursing.

"Come on, open the door and untie her."

At that moment, Song Guan spoke.

As he spoke, he gave the jailer a look.

Soon, the door of the cell was opened, and the ropes binding Gao Min Yue were untied.

Then, the jailer tore off the rag from her mouth.

The moment the rag was removed, Gao Min Yue almost crawled to Xie Jin Yan, exclaiming with joy, "Shixiong, Shixiong, are you here to take me away? I knew you wouldn't watch me be bullied! I knew you still cared about me!"

As she spoke, she tried to grab Xie Jin Yan's hand.

Xie Jin Yan moved slightly, naturally avoiding her touch.

Then, he turned to the white-bearded doctor beside him and said, "Doctor, please take her pulse first."

Take her pulse?

What for?

Oh! Shixiong must know that she had been treated inhumanely here and had specially brought a doctor to examine her.

In an instant, the joy in Gao Min Yue's eyes gradually turned into smugness. She quickly held out her hand to the white-bearded old man and deliberately glanced at Yu Qing Wu, saying with red eyes, "Shixiong, you don't know how they bullied me! I have a fetus in my womb! But they beat me in every way, clearly under someone's orders, just wanting my life!"