Shen Man's departure to Dongling implied her defection wasn't a betrayal.
No, rather, Shen Man wasn't a hidden guard replaced by the Prince's estate; she was the legitimate daughter of the Shen family. The reason Shen Man played the role of 'backstabbing' the Shen family in this affair must have had the complicity of Shen family members.
Therefore, the Shen family were not traitors? Or rather, not all members of the Shen family were traitors.
This branch of the Shen family, no!
Shen Zhong, perhaps not.
Either the second or the eldest son of the Shen family made a deal with Xiliang.
From Shen Man's move to Dongling, Nan Shiying discerned some clues. She bit into a grape, its juice bursting out, a little sour.
"What, sour?"
Ji Jinmo saw her frown, picked up a grape, and tossed it whole into his mouth. He bit down and also frowned.
It was indeed sour.
He waved his hand, signaling Lüyuan to take the grapes away.
Baizhi took a grape from Lüyuan's hand and popped it into her mouth. After swallowing, she smacked her lips. Sour? This wasn't sweet at all!
Lüyuan glared at her but said nothing more, only instructing her to have the small kitchen prepare some pastries that the Empress favored. The atmosphere in the room today... Lüyuan bit her lower lip, a hint of worry creeping into her heart.
...
There was no news from the Shen family for a time. The Emperor ordered the Dali Temple to investigate. Luan Wencheng, having just submitted his report, didn't even have time to catch his breath before being assigned to investigate this case of harming a prince.
Luan Wencheng felt he should go to a temple to worship the Buddha.
"Let's go together!"
Wang Yuyi's mouth was bitter, but his heart was even more so.
His superior had ordered him to assist Luan Wencheng in handling this case. His past year had been anything but a human existence.
The two from Dali Temple sighed in lament, but the case could not be left uninvestigated. In the past two days, entering and leaving the Shen residence, they were met with the mournful gazes of the female family members, making their scalps tingle.
However, whether it was because the Shen family was too deeply hidden or someone had destroyed the evidence in advance, no concrete proof had been found for the moment.
Helpless, Luan Wencheng and Wang Yuyi had no choice but to head to the Prince's estate.
"Your Highness, Empress, Luan Wencheng and Wang Yuyi request an audience."
"Let them in!"
"Yes!"
Jia Huan bowed and retreated, returning to the mansion gate to invite Luan Wencheng and the other in, leading them to the study.
"Your Highness, Empress, Luan Wencheng and Wang Yuyi have arrived."
"Enter!"
Jia Huan pushed open the door and made a gesture of invitation to Luan Wencheng and Wang Yuyi. The two exchanged glances, lifted their robes, and stepped into the room. Their eyes first fell upon the woman sitting on the soft couch.
Graceful and dignified, with an extraordinary bearing.
Her eyes were slightly lowered. Hearing the footsteps, she finally raised her gaze. Her bright pupils were like gems immersed in a trickling stream, light pouring down, rippling outwards.
Her eyes moved up and down, quickly sweeping over the two. Luan Wencheng and Wang Yuyi suddenly tensed, feeling as if they had been completely seen through.
These eyes were incredibly sharp.
Within this Prince's estate, the only person who could appear in the study so openly and with such casual indolence was the Princess Consort. Luan Wencheng and Wang Yuyi had met the Princess Consort before. While previously they were struck by her beauty, they were now more astonished by the captivating aura she exuded.
It was identical to the Prince's.
"Your subject Luan Wencheng (Wang Yuyi) greets the Princess Consort!"
The two clasped their fists, bowed deeply, their voices loud and resonant, indicating they were martial artists.
Nan Shiying waved her sleeve, "You are dismissed!"
Then she added, "The Prince is in the inner chamber. Proceed!"
"Yes!"
The two stood up and walked towards the inner chamber.
Their gazes met in mid-air. Their eyes flickered, but they didn't say much, understanding each other implicitly.
Ji Jinmo looked up, watching the two as they entered the inner chamber.
"Your subject greets the Prince!"
The two knelt on one knee, not bowing.
Ji Jinmo raised his hand, signaling them to rise. The two stood up, a moment of silence ensuing.
It was Ji Jinmo who spoke first, "I heard the Emperor ordered you two to investigate the case of the Shen family harming this Prince? Have you uncovered anything yet?"
"Your subject has failed Your Majesty's grace!"
Luan Wencheng confessed his failure in a deep voice.
Ji Jinmo chuckled, "If that is the case, why have you two come here?"
Luan Wencheng and Wang Yuyi exchanged a glance. Luan Wencheng stepped forward, "This subject wishes to see the assassins from that day!"
"Merely to see them?"
"If possible, to interrogate them again!"
Ji Jinmo stared intently at Luan Wencheng and Wang Yuyi until beads of sweat broke out on their foreheads and their bodies swayed slightly. Only then did he retract his gaze and call out towards the outside, "Jia Huan!"
Jia Huan entered the room, standing with his hands clasped, awaiting orders.
"Take these two to the dungeon."
"Yes!"
Jia Huan led the two away. As they passed the soft couch, they bowed to Nan Shiying again before taking their leave and departing the study with Jia Huan.
The Prince's estate dungeon was deep and dark, the air filled with a faint scent of blood—the scent left behind by blood seeping into the walls and floor.
The assassins were confined in the innermost cells of the dungeon, housed separately.
Luan Wencheng and Wang Yuyi wished to interrogate them again. Jia Huan brought one of the assassins to the interrogation room, tied him to a stake, and then retreated, standing in a corner.
Luan Wencheng and Wang Yuyi interrogated the assassin again. After the interrogation, their scalps tingled. They turned and glanced at the estate guards who stood quietly in the corner.
"Guard Jia..."
Luan Wencheng hesitated.
Jia Huan said, "Lord Luan, Lord Wang, it was I who interrogated this scoundrel that day. Now, the confession you two have obtained differs from that day, which shows I was too lenient with them."
"Guards..."
Jia Huan called out and ordered, "Skin him!"
Luan Wencheng and Wang Yuyi's expressions changed. Before they could speak, Jia Huan added, "Such a heinous criminal deserves to be dismembered. Yet, the Prince, in his benevolence, did not torture them for the sake of law and justice. But these wicked villains are ungrateful, overturning their confessions and playing with us. Such detestable individuals, do you two still intend to plead for them?"
"But..."
"My Lords, the confessions today can be reported to the court. As for me, I have only acted against this one person. I will not touch the other assassins. If you two have any other questions, you can interrogate others."
Jia Huan gave Luan Wencheng and the other no chance to speak. Now, after interrogating just one person, their original confession had been overturned. To verify, they should interrogate the others. This person was about to be skinned and likely would not survive. Five assassins were captured alive and imprisoned; with one dead, four remained. If they obtained different confessions from others, they might lose another one.
Luan Wencheng and the other discussed it and decided to interrogate one more person to see if his confession would be completely overturned like the current assassin.
Jia Huan nodded and ordered someone to take the prisoner to another interrogation room.
The two interrogation rooms were not connected. The subsequently interrogated assassin could not see the other's plight, only hear the惨烈 screams.