“What about me?” Nan Shiying asked again.
“Why am I here?” Nan Shiying’s laughter was dismissive, as casual as discussing the weather. The turmoil in the court, the terrorist attacks, all seemed to dissipate like smoke in the wind the moment her voice fell.
Huyan Jue had realized what her presence and her questions signified, but he refused to believe it, refused to believe that all his meticulous planning had come to naught. He gritted his teeth and said word by word, "So what? Even if you are outside, the court is already in chaos. The Emperor and Regent of Linyuan have torn this country apart, and Linyuan is destined to be fragmented. Then, we, Liaojiang, Dali, and even farther lands like Woguo and Miluo, will rise up and carve up Linyuan. It is the general trend, how can a mere ripple in the tide like you stop it?”
“Feng Luan, even if I die, Linyuan will eventually become the sustenance for our Liaojiang.”
“I will wait for you in hell to witness your tragic end!”
As Huyan Jue spoke, he bit down on his tongue. Ying Yi’s toe lifted lightly, instantly kicking out his jaw. Huyan Jue let out a muffled grunt, his upper and lower teeth unable to close. He used his remaining hand to support his chin, his dilated pupils reflecting Nan Shiying’s figure. A sneer, a sound of indecipherable pitch but conveying disdain and mockery, emerged from his throat. He was laughing… he was laughing at Feng Luan’s naivety, at Linyuan’s fate.
He took pride in all he had done, even if the price was to endure torment worse than death until his demise.
Nan Shiying sighed. Why were there so many self-important fools everywhere? Even now, he still hadn’t realized what Ji Hong’s actions based on the list she presented truly meant.
She had initially thought torture would be unnecessary, but it seemed some people were truly deserving of it.
Nan Shiying waved a hand at Ying Yi. Ying Yi grabbed Huyan Jue’s hair and lifted him. A piercing scream tore through the night sky. The tiger, its massive head buried between its forelegs, tried to minimize its presence. For the first time, it felt a primal fear towards humans.
Huyan Jue confessed.
When he confessed, there wasn’t a single intact piece of flesh on his body. He lay on the ground like a heap of mud. Nan Shiying stood up, dusting off her sleeves. She walked to Huyan Jue and slowly squatted beside him, leaning in to whisper in his ear, “You said the Linyuan court was in chaos? Heh, it won’t be. Do you know why? Because Ji Hong and Jin Mo have stood together from the very beginning.”
“It’s a pity, a real pity. Despite your all-out efforts, you couldn’t inflict the slightest damage on Linyuan. Instead, your years of hard work have gone to waste. Oh, right, since you’re about to die, I’ll give you one more piece of news for free: the Eagle Master has rebelled!”
“Heh… heh… heh…”
Heavy breaths rumbled in his throat. Huyan Jue rolled his unfocused eyes and, in a final flicker of consciousness, raised his hand and grabbed Nan Shiying’s wrist. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but nothing came out. His wide, unseeing eyes, before losing their light, were still filled with a ferocious and venomous gaze.
He was dead.
Yet, his eyes remained open, and his hand still gripped Nan Shiying’s wrist.
He died with his eyes wide open.
Nan Shiying broke his fingers and threw them to the tiger.
Ying Yi carried a large box out of the secret chamber. Inside the box, besides ledgers and compromising materials, were banknotes and gold.
Lin Yuyin tightened his horse’s reins and galloped, dismounting at the palace gate. He hurried towards the main hall, holding a box.
“Commander of the Imperial Guards, Lin Yuyin, requests an audience!”
The eunuch’s sharp voice echoed through the hall. With Ji Hong’s decree, “Announce him!” Lin Yuyin strode into the great hall.