“If you harm her even slightly, I will kill you.”

Jingrong clenched both fists tightly, and in his agitation, thick murderous intent churned in his eyes.

The more nervous he was about Ji Yunshu, the more satisfied Jing Yi became.

Walking before him, Jing Yi looked down from above and sneered: “You’re now a criminal bearing guilt. You can barely protect yourself—whether you’ll even live to walk out of here is still unknown.”

Jingrong tightened his throat, his lips pressed into a line. His hands gripped the wooden stake tightly as he hoisted up his heavy body. His stern brows emerged from beneath his disheveled hair, sending chills down one’s spine.

Even Jing Yi felt a tingle down his back in that instant!

“You should know clearly that what I’ve said, I will certainly make happen. If you dare touch her, what I just said will definitely come true.”

A naked threat!

But Jing Yi laughed: “You’re threatening me? Fine, I’d like to try and see how you’ll kill me after I kill Master Ji.”

These words weren’t just talk—Jing Yi really could do it.

“You…”

“Want to make a bet?”

Jingrong’s heart tightened. He had to admit that Jing Yi’s use of Ji Yunshu’s life to threaten him had indeed worked.

“What will it take for you to release her?”

Jing Yi smiled wickedly: “Very simple. If the matter Father Emperor ordered me to investigate yields results, I’ll naturally release Master Ji—as long as you sign your confession.”

Jingrong’s eyes flickered slightly, his bloodied lips about to move—

Ji Yunshu spoke out: “Don’t believe him. This matter has absolutely nothing to do with Your Highness. If because of me, Your Highness is made to bear the crime of treason and regicide, then I would be the eternal sinner.”

Jingrong looked at her: “I cannot let anything happen to you.”

“Nothing will happen to me.” After saying this, she looked at Jing Yi: “Prince Yi, I also understand a thing or two about the Great Lin Code of Laws. May I ask, what constitutes trespassing into the heavenly prison?”

Uh!

This truly left Jing Yi speechless.

Ji Yunshu continued: “Article Thirty-Two of the Great Lin Code of Laws states that anyone who breaks into the heavenly prison armed with a blade, kills court officials, or abducts prisoners shall be executed! But I neither carried a blade, nor killed any officials, nor abducted any prisoners. At most, I can only be charged with the crime of deception.”

“What a sharp and eloquent tongue. No wonder Prince Rong regards you as a retainer and protects you so.”

“If Prince Yi were to kill me, it would be killing the innocent. Can you bear that charge?”

Ji Yunshu spoke with righteous confidence!

When reason is on your side, you can travel the world without fear.

Fortunately, that county magistrate in Jinjiang would occasionally stuff a few books into her arms—either official documents and cases issued by the court, or revised volumes of the Great Lin Code of Laws. And as it happened, when she had nothing else to do, she enjoyed leafing through them!

But just then—

Jing Yi said: “Master Ji is indeed a talented scholar. Since you’ve brought up the law, very well. This prince won’t take your life, but while the death penalty may be avoided, punishment for the living cannot be escaped.”

With those words, he snapped his fingers!

He ordered the guards: “Escort Young Master Muruo out of the palace. Take Master Ji to the dark chamber. This prince will personally… interrogate him.”

“Yes!”

The guards took Ji Yunshu to the dark chamber.

Muruo shook out his sleeves twice, directly pushing away the guard, and said to Jing Yi: “Prince Yi, I was the one who brought Master Ji into the palace. If you want to interrogate someone, interrogate me instead. Why make things difficult for a scholar without the strength to truss a chicken?”

A scholar?

Jing Yi’s brow darkened: “In this prince’s view, she is not a scholar, but a clever person.”

His words carried deeper meaning!

With a wave of his hand: “Why haven’t you escorted Young Master Muruo out yet?”

Three or four guards acted together, dragging the struggling Muruo out.

Jing Yi turned to look at Jingrong and said: “Don’t worry, I promise that after interrogating that Master Ji, I’ll safely escort her out of the palace.”

With that, he went to the dark chamber!

Jingrong’s body had no strength left. Just after Jing Yi’s departure, his body suddenly dropped down, kneeling on one knee, and he vomited blood…

In the dark chamber!

Ji Yunshu was bound to a blood-stained wooden stake. After Jing Yi entered, he dismissed everyone.

In the gloomy dark chamber, besides the stench and smell of blood, there was also a thick moldy odor. Ji Yunshu wrinkled her nose, feeling a churning in her chest, and actually felt somewhat nauseous.

Jing Yi walked before her with his hands behind his back, his eyes full of appraisal, the corners of his mouth slowly rising.

He extended his slender fingers and gently caressed Ji Yunshu’s ear.

She turned her head away, her cold eyes glaring at him.

The more she acted this way, the happier Jing Yi became. The movement of his hands didn’t restrain itself, but rather more brazenly moved from Ji Yunshu’s earlobe to her fair cheek, finally landing on the shallow scar at the corner of her eye.

“Master had always worn a mask before. Now seeing your true appearance, this prince is greatly amazed.”

Just like a hungry wolf that swallows without spitting out bones!

Ji Yunshu tried her hardest to turn her head to the side, but Jing Yi grabbed her chin with one hand and lifted it high.

Examining her, he said: “Clearly an absolutely beautiful woman, yet you insist on disguising yourself as a man. What a waste.”

“Let go!” Ji Yunshu said.

The force in Jing Yi’s fingers increased several degrees.

“This prince just cannot understand why the Ji family would send Ji Muqing to the palace to become Crown Princess instead of you. What a pity, what a pity…”

What a pity your sister!

Ji Yunshu laughed disdainfully: “Does Prince Yi want to know why?”

“I’m all ears!”

“Because only clever people don’t rack their brains trying to seize power and status that don’t belong to them.”

“What do you mean?”

“Aren’t my words clear enough? Everything Prince Yi does—isn’t it all for the Crown Prince position, for the throne? But since ancient times, people like Your Highness have only had two outcomes: first, being reviled by the world, and second, being strangled to death in the process of fighting for power and status!”

Isn’t that what the history books record?

Even the renowned First Emperor of Qin was no exception!

Her words were met with Jing Yi’s somewhat appreciative gaze.

This woman—he was very interested in her!

His fingertips pinched slightly again, lifting Ji Yunshu’s face even higher. He lowered his head toward those clear yet defiant eyes of Ji Yunshu’s.

“What a clever tongue, speaking words this prince loves to hear. Miss Ji’s intelligence and defiance also earn this prince’s admiration, but for such a clever woman to remain by Jingrong’s side—what a true waste!”

One “what a pity” after another!

Spoken with utmost sincerity!

“Why don’t you follow this prince instead? Enter my Prince Yi Manor as a retainer. Perhaps then you wouldn’t need to live in constant fear.”

Bah!

I have no interest in that.

Ji Yunshu bit her red lips and forcefully twisted her head, breaking free from Jing Yi’s hand gripping her chin.

She asked directly: “Since Prince Yi isn’t going to kill me and brought me here, and has said so much, why not just get straight to the point?”

Jing Yi smiled and stepped back several paces. The corner of his mouth curved up in a slant, once again revealing a cold and sinister smile.

“Isn’t Miss Ji very skilled at making deals with people? Why not make a deal with this prince as well? How about it?”