Deep night rolled in. Today, the imperial palace was also pressed down by dark clouds covering the sky, making it hard to breathe.

Accompanied by thunder and drizzling rain, it was extremely eerie.

At this moment, in the Great Inner Prison!

Jingrong was confined in the innermost cell, surrounded by waves of foul stench that pierced the nose.

This was the first imperial prince to be imprisoned since the Marquis Chao years ago!

Fortunately, his hands and feet weren’t shackled with iron chains.

At least they gave this prince some face.

He leaned against the cold stone slab, one hand resting on his knee, his face calm and indifferent, not showing the slightest trace of fear. His torch-like gaze remained fixed on the area outside the cell, as if waiting for someone.

Before long, two guards hurried over and opened the cell to enter.

“Prince Rong, Prince Yi wants to see you. Come with us!”

Jingrong smiled slightly at the corners of his mouth, cooperatively rose to his feet, and left the cell.

That upright, proud figure—where did he look like someone imprisoned? He clearly looked more like someone conducting an inspection.

The two guards even trotted along behind him!

Arriving at the interrogation room, Jing Yi was sitting properly inside waiting for him. He had actually brewed a pot of fine tea, its fragrance filling the air, permeating the foul-smelling interrogation room—quite “flavorful” indeed!

This hobby was probably only Jing Yi’s favorite.

While pouring tea, he raised his eyes to look at Jingrong, the corners of his mouth forming an arc, sinister to the extreme, as he suddenly declared: “Suspect Jingrong, maliciously plotting to harm His Majesty, crimes reaching to the heavens—bind him and interrogate him thoroughly.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the guards went to work, pressing Jingrong to the wooden stake in the interrogation room and locking him up with iron chains.

Their movements were clean and efficient. Jingrong didn’t struggle, still cooperatively complying!

His cold, stubborn eyes remained fixed on Jing Yi.

After a short while, Jing Yi fanned the hot tea in his cup, rose and brought it before Jingrong, placing the teacup at Jingrong’s nose and rotating it, asking: “Fragrant?”

Stinks!

Stinks just like you!

“What exactly do you want to do?” Jingrong asked.

“It should be me asking you that—why did you plot to harm Father Emperor?” Straight to the point.

“It wasn’t me.”

“But you did indeed go to the Palace Service Department and switched out that batch of lanterns. For no reason at all, why switch them?”

“If I told you, would you believe me?” Jingrong laughed coldly.

Jing Yi didn’t see fear in his eyes, which greatly displeased him. The fingers gripping the teacup tightened forcefully before he threw it down hard. The teacup hit the ground.

Bang—

Shattered all over the floor.

The tea’s fragrance filled the air, covering a trace of that foul stench.

The guards in the interrogation room only dared to watch, not daring to make a sound.

Just as the teacup hit the ground, Jing Yi grabbed the front of Jingrong’s clothing, revealing a fierce appearance, and said: “Jingrong, you understand the gravity of this matter better than I do. Father Emperor has awakened and ordered me to thoroughly investigate this matter. Since you did it, why not admit it? It would spare you from physical suffering.”

A threatening tone, carrying a bloodthirsty taste.

Presumably, Jing Yi had been waiting for this day for a long time.

If it were someone else, they might beg for mercy pitifully, but Jingrong didn’t fall for this trick. He raised his chin, meeting Jing Yi’s gaze.

He said lightly: “Do you want to torture me severely? Or have me commit suicide out of guilt?”

“You…”

“Jing Yi, from the day I left the capital, you secretly sent people to follow me, killed the five guards I sent back to the capital, and repeatedly joined forces with Yan Weiyi to assassinate me. Yet in the end, I still returned to the capital safely. Do you want to know why?” Jingrong said.

That seemingly light tone carried a sharp, sword-like edge.

Jing Yi’s eyes reddened with anger as he clenched his teeth tightly, released him, and said: “Fine, speak. I also want to hear—why exactly?”

The answer wasn’t immediately given. The two men’s gazes locked for a long time…

Only then did Jingrong say: “Because you were too clever by half.”

Uh!

Jing Yi’s eyes darkened as he slowly stepped back.

Jingrong continued: “You always thought that eliminating me meant eliminating your greatest threat. You regarded me as your greatest enemy in competing for the Crown Prince position. But I told you many times that I never wanted to compete. Over the years, I’ve also avoided the limelight. In Father Emperor’s eyes, as long as Jinghua is deposed, the only person who could ascend to the Crown Prince position is you. I only wanted to investigate the Linjing Case, but because of your various obstructions, this gave me more opportunities to shine before Father Emperor and also made Master Ji by my side successful. Isn’t this being too clever by half?”

Yes!

Indeed so!

Back then, it was precisely because Jing Yi and Consort Xiao had Ji Yinshu investigate the disappearance case that led to Ji Yinshu making a deal with the Emperor, opening the Linshan tomb, and becoming famous.

And because Jing Yi was one step ahead in intercepting Gan Chouliang, Jingrong wouldn’t have displayed his brilliance before His Majesty!

Every single incident was Jing Yi’s own doing!

After digesting Jingrong’s words, the bloodthirsty intent in Jing Yi’s eyes grew increasingly intense.

“Jingrong, I don’t have time to waste with you on other matters. What you just said, I’ll just listen to it.” Having said this, he ordered sharply: “Bring it!”

A guard nearby brought over a piece of paper covered in black characters and handed it to him.

Jing Yi held it in his hand, placed it before Jingrong, and said: “Right now, what’s most important is that you quickly admit this incident was your doing, then you won’t have to suffer physical torment, and I can report to Father Emperor. After all, you’re a prince—Father Emperor won’t take your life. Don’t you want to be a carefree prince? Perfect—you sign this confession, Father Emperor demotes you to commoner status or exiles you from the capital, and for the rest of your life, you can truly be free and unrestrained.”

Thanks to your whole family!

Obviously, Jingrong would never sign the confession. At least he was grateful he wasn’t Gao Bingze—otherwise, how could Jing Yi still say so much to him? He would probably already be dead in this interrogation room by now.

He said: “I won’t sign the confession unless you kill me.”

Jing Yi had long known he would say this. Unhurriedly, he tucked the paper into his sleeve, walked to the rack of torture instruments, selected a whip, weighed it in his palm, and walked before Jingrong.

“Fine. Since you refuse to admit it, don’t blame me for being merciless. After all, this is Father Emperor’s decree—I can only obey.”

Having said this, the whip in his hand lashed down fiercely at the ground.

Crack—

That piercing sound echoed within the interrogation room, deafening!

Jingrong maintained an indifferent appearance throughout, not afraid in the slightest.

This further provoked Jing Yi. He gripped the whip and swung forcefully, striking Jingrong’s body.

Immediately, his clothes tore open, drawing a bloody welt.

“I’ll give you one last chance. Was this incident your doing or not?” Jing Yi roared angrily.

Jingrong’s sword-like eyebrows were wind-swept, slightly furrowed. A burning pain came from his chest as he laughed dismissively, completely unconcerned.

Raising his eyes to look at Jing Yi, he said: “If I were you, I wouldn’t let myself make mistake after mistake.”

“You’d better break down and beg me for mercy, or… die.”

Having said this, another whip lashed over.

Crack—

Inside the interrogation room, that whipping sound was like death’s soul-snatching lock, seeping coldly into people’s hearts.