Qiao Kun felt an unprecedented sense of dread, his entire body trembling. Rumors in the underworld claimed that Li Jiu was the most like their leader, Lord Jiu—both possessing a ruthless and decisive nature, as if possessed by a god of slaughter. At this moment, he felt the rumors were no exaggeration; this woman was both bizarre and terrifying.
"I wonder if your third leg is as stiff as your mouth!" She suddenly thrust a dagger into his groin.
"Ah... ah... I'll speak... I'll speak... I'll speak..."
*Clatter.* The dagger hit the floor.
Xie Jiuli curled her lips. "Not much to you, after all."
She asked, "Who is your master?"
"The Imperial City Bureau is loyal to His Majesty." Qiao Kun’s face turned deathly pale, his lowered eyes darting with evasion.
Xie Jiuli smiled, though the expression didn't reach her eyes. "You don't seem to learn your lesson!"
*Ah... ah...* Another dagger plunged straight into Qiao Kun’s right eye.
"Who is your master?" The cold, vicious voice echoed once more.
Qiao Kun’s teeth chattered; he felt as if thousands of ants were devouring his heart, or as if his body were being consumed by flames. The crushing pressure emanating from the person before him made him feel nearly suffocated, the pain compounded by the terror of the unknown.
"...It is the Chen... the Chen family... the Chen family..." Giving up, his tensed body completely collapsed.
"Which Chen family?"
"...Duke... Duke Chen... Duke Chen."
Xie Jiuli’s eyes darkened slightly. Duke Chen was Noble Consort Chen’s family. Very well!
"Someone, come in."
Instantly, two figures in black entered.
"Greetings, Master."
"Kill him, and hang the body on the gates of the Chen estate."
"As you command."
"...No... no... you cannot kill... *gurgle*..."
The man in black slashed Qiao Kun’s throat directly and dragged him out. Xie Jiuli sat quietly in a nearby chair, her fingers tapping rhythmically against the tabletop. She cared nothing for the Chen family’s ambitions, nor for the schemes of the "dog Emperor"; the affairs of the imperial court were none of her concern. She only knew that the Chen family had tried to kill Yuer, and that the dog Emperor had used Yuer to achieve his own ends.
"Uncle Rong."
The head steward of Begonia Courtyard entered quickly and bowed respectfully. "This old servant greets the Eldest Miss."
"How many children does Noble Consort Chen have? Who are they?" Xie Jiuli leaned back in her chair and slowly closed her eyes.
"Replying to the Eldest Miss, the Third Prince and the Seventh Princess are Noble Consort Chen’s children."
"Noble Consort Chen—" Xie Jiuli suddenly opened her eyes and said, word for word, "Take the Third Prince captive."
Uncle Rong’s eyes lit up. Ever since he was sent to the Capital three years ago to oversee Begonia Courtyard, he hadn't seen his master go on a rampage like this in a long time!
"Send Zaishan."
"As you command, Eldest Miss."
***
An hour later, the first light of dawn appeared. Yutang brought the dead-drunk top scholar, Zhou Qi, back to the dark cell at Begonia Courtyard.
"Wake him up." Xie Jiuli’s voice was calm and rippleless.
Yutang took the whip from the wall without hesitation, soaked it in saltwater, and lashed Zhou Qi viciously.
*Crack! Crack! Crack!*
"Ah... ah..."
Zhou Qi was furious. "Who the hell dares hit this top scho—ah!"
*Crack! Crack!*
After a few more lashes, Yutang stopped. "Now that you're sober, take a good look at where you are!"
Zhou Qi shook his head, feeling as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer. He squinted, then snapped his eyes open, suddenly realizing he was in an unfamiliar place and in a wretched state. He gulped nervously, his throat dry and burning. "I am the top scholar appointed by the Emperor himself! Who are you? Why have you abducted me? Applying private torture to a high-ranking scholar is a..."
"Do you want to marry Princess Anyang?" Xie Jiuli interrupted suddenly.
"Ha! How could a dignified top scholar like me marry an idiot? Though, playing with her for a while..."
The air seemed to freeze, solidifying into ice. Xie Jiuli lightly brushed a non-existent speck of dust from her clothes and tilted her head to glance at him. Feeling the biting murderous intent in the air, Zhou Qi’s teeth chattered. "To... to... to marry... or... or... not to marry..."
Yutang suddenly threw a dagger toward his crotch.
"Ah! I didn't want to play with her! It wasn't me... I was forced... forced..."
The still-dizzy Zhou Qi’s mind hit high alert; the person radiating killing intent before him had clearly abducted him on behalf of the "idiot" princess. He had only just become the top scholar; his grand future and the unimaginable wealth that came with it had only just begun. He didn't want to be left without heirs or rendered impotent!
"Heroine, spare me! Heroine, have mercy! Whatever you want to know, just ask. I will tell you everything I know, holding nothing back." Zhou Qi’s nerves were stretched to their limit. "Can you find me a doctor first? My Zhou family line has survived for nine generations—it cannot end with me... Please..."
Behind her mask, Xie Jiuli’s cold eyes remained inscrutable. Her tone was devoid of emotion. "Did you request an imperial decree for the marriage from the Emperor?"
"No... I hadn't had the chance yet... the idiot... Princess Anyang... she rebelled and was thrown into the dungeon."
Zhou Qi dared not look directly at her; besides the burning pain, he was trembling from the oppressive aura radiating from Xie Jiuli.
"Who forced you to ask for the marriage decree?"
Zhou Qi’s eyes were wide with terror. "The... the... Third Prince and... and several other noble sons."
He sniffled, his narrow eyes reddening as if he harbored great grievance. "Ma'am, I am not lying. I just became the top scholar and have no foundation in the Capital. I dare not cross a prince or the noble houses; I had no choice but to follow orders. Please... please, Ma'am, spare..."
"Cut out his tongue, break his limbs, and hang him on the gates of the Third Prince's mansion."
"Ah... no... don't... I... ah... ah..."
Yutang’s hand fell, and in an instant, Zhou Qi was reduced to mere whimpering.
***
Capital, Si Chun Pavilion. East Room on the third floor.
A man in a black robe sat quietly by the window, his deep gaze fixed on the chessboard as he casually dropped a black piece. His attendant, Changfeng, knocked lightly before entering. "My Lord, the prison of the Imperial City Bureau suddenly caught fire. An inspection of the corpses confirms it was not Princess Anyang."
Seeing his master continue his game, Changfeng added cautiously, "However, we found signs that the corpse’s limbs had been restrained by Thousand-Machine Needles before death."
The hand holding the chess piece froze. "Are you certain?"
"Uncle Tong inspected it himself."
The man finally looked up. His deep, melancholic eyes and exquisite features were like a beautiful painting.
"A-Jiu has come to the Capital." A rare hint of softness appeared on his face.
But it lasted only a moment before his expression turned cold enough to make one shudder. Changfeng swallowed hard, his nerves fraying. "Uncle Tong said that the real Princess Anyang must have been taken away by Ninth Miss."
"Go and investigate the relationship between A-Jiu and Princess Anyang."
"Yes."
As the door closed, the chess piece in his hand crumbled into dust.
***
Prime Minister Xie’s Residence.
"My Lord, our people arrived too late. The Imperial City Bureau dungeon suddenly caught fire, and we only brought back a female corpse charred by the flames."
Zaishan bowed his head, his face filled with anxiety. His master’s relationship with the Empress had only just begun to ease. If Princess Anyang were gone now, how would his master answer to the Empress?
Xie Yizhou’s pupils contracted. While he didn't care for the princess born to the Empress and the Emperor, he had never imagined Princess Anyang would die like this. How could Feng Wan bear such a blow?
"Are you certain that corpse is Princess Anyang?"
Zaishan looked up. "Could... could it not be?"
"Have old Yu conduct an autopsy. Princess Anyang has been taking medicinal decoctions for years; even if the body is charred, we should be able to find something. Also... investigate why the fire started."
"This subordinate will attend to it immediately."