Chapter 141
Chapter 141: Interrogation
Upon hearing these words, Shen Qi Ming nodded gently. “I was just about to speak with Your Highness about this matter.”
He then took out a sealed letter from within his robe, presenting it with both hands through the iron bars to Li Zhi.
Li Zhi received the letter, glancing briefly before opening it. Under the faint glow of a dim oil lamp on the stone wall, he quickly read through the contents. Soon, his brows knitted in clear surprise.
“The Shadow Assassinate Order… it’s with him?”
Li Zhi’s heart sank. To be certain, he read through the letter once more. Only when he confirmed he had not mistaken the contents, Li Zhi gave a cold smile and murmured softly, “Truly fearless out of ignorance.”
Shen Qi Ming, standing quietly outside the cell, slightly raised his head at this remark but maintained his respectful silence without further questions.
At this moment, Li Zhi turned and sat back down upon the straw mat in his cell. He quickly took up a brush and wrote a letter on the small desk, sealing it carefully and passing it back through the bars to Shen Qi Ming, instructing clearly:
“After you return, the person you saw previously will come to take this letter. Until then, you need not do anything.”
Shen Qi Ming nodded softly, safely keeping the letter. Then, he looked up to ask, “Your Highness, the Eldest Princess has asked repeatedly when you might leave the prison. How should I reply?”
Li Zhi waved his hand gently, gazing calmly beyond the iron door, and replied, “Tell my royal sister there is no need to worry. It shouldn’t be too much longer now.”
…
At the same moment, clad entirely in mourning white, the Right Chancellor and Second Prince Li Que were swiftly escorted by a group of martial experts from the gloomy Heavenly Brocade Guard headquarters to the Third Prince’s residence.
Originally, they had surrounded the Heavenly Brocade Guard headquarters, intending to force Fu Qi Wen to emerge. Unexpectedly, the defenses of the Imperial Capital’s renowned Heavenly Brocade Guard had become so lax. With hardly any effort, their men easily occupied the headquarters.
However, even more surprising was the absence of Fu Qi Wen, who, like Li Mu Sheng, was nowhere to be found.
“Could Fu Qi Wen have fled to escape punishment?”
Second Prince Li Que’s expression turned extremely ugly. Beside him, the grief-stricken Right Chancellor Ji Song slowly closed his eyes, hoarsely remarking, “I suspected that the Heavenly Brocade Guard had been planning a major move lately. However, that Fu Qi Wen himself would be directly involved—I did not foresee.”
Opening his eyes once more, Ji Song continued, “Still, I am certain my son’s death involves Fu Qi Wen and the Eighth Prince. Since we currently cannot hold them accountable in court, we might as well see them perish outside.”
Hearing this, Li Que glanced at Ji Song’s aged and weary face, hesitatingly replying, “It’s not that I disagree, Chancellor, but Fu Qi Wen’s martial prowess is profound. Assassinating him will be extremely difficult.”
Ji Song lifted his eyes slightly, meeting Li Que’s gaze. “Your Highness need not worry. Any matter personally handled by Commander Fu Qi Wen cannot be small. I suspect he himself might be entangled in great trouble.”
“In the past, we indeed had no means to touch him, but this may be our chance. As long as we can locate him, taking his life is entirely possible.”
Ji Song slowly rose, solemnly bowing to Li Que. “If Your Highness helps me avenge my son, I pledge my lifelong loyalty to you.”
At this, Li Que’s expression flickered with emotion. He quickly reached out to support Ji Song, all hesitation fading from his eyes as he spoke gravely, “You speak too gravely, Chancellor. The Third Younger Brother’s matters are mine as well. I will certainly spare no effort to avenge him.”
“Moreover, my residence has many martial masters from the Martial World. Subduing Fu Qi Wen will surely pose no great difficulty.”
Ji Song coughed lightly, bowing his head. “With Your Highness’s assurance, I feel much relieved. I will seek assistance from Sir You Shan and request the Heaven’s Secrets Pavilion to join us in avenging my son.”
Li Que inwardly sighed in relief. He only half-believed Ji Song’s words, but if the martial experts from Heaven’s Secrets Pavilion joined their cause, the chance of success might indeed be real.
Ji Song then raised his head to inquire, “Your Highness, any news on the Eighth Prince?”
Li Que furrowed his brows slightly but shook his head. “My men previously reported that his carriage had left the Imperial Capital, traveling far away. By now, he has probably long left Jing Province.”
Then quickly adding, he said, “But rest assured, Chancellor. The martial expert I sent should soon catch up with them.”
Ji Song nodded, cupping his hands politely. “My thanks, Your Highness. I have not rested for days and feel quite weary. Allow me to retire and rest a little. Please feel at ease, Your Highness.”
With that, Ji Song was helped away from Li Zhu’s mourning hall by his servants.
Li Que watched quietly with gentle eyes until Ji Song disappeared. Only then did he glance briefly at Li Zhu’s body lying in the center of the mourning hall—but his gaze showed no emotion. Without another moment’s pause, he returned swiftly to his own residence, surrounded by his numerous martial guards.
Elsewhere, after Ji Song returned to his study, he had servants prepare hot tea. He then sat silently, waiting patiently.
Before long, a middle-aged scholar in scholarly robes, with a square cap upon his head, entered the room soundlessly, like a gentle breeze.
“Minister Ji, please accept my condolences,” Sir You Shan softly sighed, his eyes filled with sympathy as he gazed upon the grieving, hunched figure of the elderly minister.
Ji Song slowly lifted his head, asking in a rough voice, “Sir You Shan, have you discovered who murdered my daughter?”
Sir You Shan nodded slightly, taking a seat opposite Ji Song.
Seeing this, Ji Song’s lifeless face finally showed a hint of vitality. He poured tea for Sir You Shan, urging, “Please, Sir You Shan, tell me.”
Sir You Shan sipped his tea thoughtfully before speaking, “Minister Ji, although Heaven’s Secrets Pavilion is skilled at gathering intelligence, we are not omnipotent. Please forgive me if there are any mistakes.”
Ji Song waved a hand dismissively. “Speak freely.”
Sir You Shan then continued, “Imperial Concubine Ji’s death is closely connected to the case involving Marquis Cang Yuan’s household. According to Heaven’s Secrets Pavilion’s investigations, a key person in all this is Marquis Cang Yuan’s daughter, Cang Yin Yue.”
“Recently, many events have surrounded this young woman, and the root of everything points to yet another figure—the Eighth Prince of Great Li.”
Ji Song’s expression shifted slightly. “Continue.”
Sir You Shan’s eyes flashed as he shook his head gently. “This Eighth Prince is not ordinary; many mysteries surround him.”