“Princess.”
In the study, Ye Li set down her yet-unplaced chess piece and looked up at Qin Feng in the doorway. “What is it?” Qin Feng said: “The assassin has confessed.” Sitting across from Ye Li, Mo Hua’s eyes brightened as he too set down his piece and stared fixedly at Qin Feng. Qin Feng smiled: “The Princess’s method was indeed effective. Yesterday afternoon some of the assassins couldn’t take it anymore and confessed, though their leader only just confessed now.” Ye Li nodded with satisfaction, putting away the chess pieces and board while saying: “Bring him here, along with all their confessions.”
Soon after, a man with an exhausted, haggard face was escorted in by two guards. Just from the bloodshot veins in his eyes and his vigilant stare at Ye Li, one could see this man had reached his limit. After several days and nights without eating, drinking, or sleeping, he was now extremely weak both physically and mentally. Even if she released him now, he would likely collapse dead asleep right outside Prince Ding’s residence’s main gate.
Smiling at the man forced to kneel before her, Ye Li said gently: “It’s been several days, how are you?” The man’s bloodshot eyes seemed about to spark fire as he glared fixedly at the woman in blue before him. Ye Li paid no attention, playing with the jade bracelet on her wrist as she sighed softly: “You needn’t look at me like that. I was forced to use such methods against you all. My husband is away, and so many of you bullying one weak woman isn’t exactly honorable, is it?”
Though the man was mentally exhausted, the fact that he could still muster the energy to glare at Ye Li showed his remarkable resilience. Unfortunately, it did not affect Ye Li whatsoever. Soon enough he lowered his banner and ceased drumming, asking hoarsely: “What do you want?” Ye Li slowly withdrew her smile and said seriously: “Tell me who is behind all this.”
“I already told you.”
Ye Li gave a cold laugh, casually tossing the confession papers onto the table as she smiled: “When it comes to false confessions, I’m afraid you can hardly be called an expert. Zhuo Jing…”
Dark Three nodded: “This servant understands. Double the interrogation and intelligence analysis training.”
Ye Li nodded with satisfaction, glancing at the man on the ground. “You still don’t want to talk? Then go back and rest some more. Don’t worry, I won’t take your life. Let him rest for two hours then start questioning again.” Hearing Ye Li’s words, the man’s expression finally changed. Qin Feng frowned: “If we let him rest enough and then start again, won’t that affect the results?” Ye Li smiled: “Two hours, don’t worry. I believe after a brief rest, he’ll better appreciate the wonder of this interrogation method.”
“No, I’ll talk…” the man said, his face ashen.
Ye Li said: “Very good. Who sent you? Don’t tell me again it was that one in the palace. Though you’re only confessing now, those under you weren’t completely ignorant either. The leader of Night Killers ranked third among assassination organizations. Hmm?” The man’s expression changed as he looked somewhat helplessly at Ye Li and said hoarsely: “The Princess is truly all-knowing.” Ye Li smiled and took it as flattery, raising an eyebrow as she smiled: “The answer?”
The man said: “I don’t know exactly who they were either, but from their appearance and accent they seemed to be from Xiling.”
Ye Li pondered for a moment before asking: “Where did they contact you?”
The man said: “Night Killers is in the south, near… Yongzhou. When they came to find us, Prince Ding hadn’t yet left the capital, so we weren’t planning to take this job. But they swore that within a month at most, Prince Ding would leave the capital. So they paid heavily for us to infiltrate the capital first – if Prince Ding didn’t leave, we wouldn’t have to act. Then some days ago Prince Ding indeed left, and after observing for ten days and seeing that those attacking the residence weren’t from Night Killers, we decided to act.”
Ye Li smiled faintly: “Very good. Where is your leader?”
The man started in shock, staring at Ye Li in amazement. Ye Li said calmly: “You were able to observe for ten days before acting, so you’re not the type to act rashly. I don’t believe the past few days of assassins going in but not coming out failed to let you properly assess Prince Ding’s residence’s strength. Knowing it couldn’t be done but doing it anyway? That can only mean you… aren’t Night Killers’ true leader, are you?” Seeing the man lower his head in silence, Ye Li paid it no mind and pulled over a paper from the table, writing quickly for a while before looking up and handing it to Qin Feng: “Take him back and question him according to what’s written here. If you still can’t get anything out of him, no need to bring him back. I don’t have that much patience left.” Qin Feng glanced at the paper in his hand, waved at the guards, and left with the prisoner.
Mo Hua stared steadily at Ye Li: “The Princess knew early on he wasn’t the real leader? If so, why waste time on him?”
Ye Li smiled helplessly: “Though we knew he was just a scout, we truly didn’t know where the rest of Night Killers were, did we? I feel… if we can’t find these people quickly, we’ll have big trouble.” Mo Hua gritted his teeth: “Even if that one in the palace wasn’t involved, they knew these people’s plans. The hidden guards have been hindered everywhere these past days searching the capital – it must be that one’s doing.” Ye Li said calmly: “Have the hidden guards reached the point where palace guards can easily obstruct them?” Mo Hua’s face turned iron grey as he stood speechless for a long while. Finally, he ground out: “Does the Princess have any brilliant ideas!”
Ye Li shrugged, smiling: “No brilliant ideas, just meet change with constancy.”
Half an hour later, Qin Feng brought the assassin’s confession again. His expression carried even more killing intent than before. Ye Li didn’t rush to read the confession, asking: “Is he dead?” Qin Feng shook his head: “Not dead, just unconscious.” Ye Li nodded, lowering her head to look at the confession in her hands. A cold smile gradually bloomed on her lips: “Very good…” She handed the confession to Mo Hua and Zhuo Jing. When they saw it, their expressions also grew heavy. Mo Hua stood up: “This servant will immediately recall all hidden guards near the capital back to the residence!”
“Stop!” Ye Li said calmly.
Mo Hua turned back somewhat angrily to glare at Ye Li: “Princess, various forces have united to attack the residence. Once they…”
“Once they enter, I will ensure they never leave!” Ye Li said with a cold laugh. Mo Hua started, seemingly cowed by the killing intent Ye Li now openly released. He frowned: “Though the residence’s defenses are strict, it’s impossible to simultaneously defend against so many experts. Not just the Princess’s safety, but many important places in the residence…”
Ye Li’s smile was gentle, yet made listeners involuntarily feel a chill in their bones: “Don’t worry. Send word to General Sun to lead the Black Cloud Cavalry to guard all routes in and out of the capital – any fleeing assassins are to be killed without mercy. Hidden guards are stationed throughout the capital, once they spot anyone fleeing, kill! Additionally, when hidden guards near Prince Ding’s residence see the signal from inside, immediately surround the residence – allow entry but no exit.”
“This servant obeys!” Qin Feng and Zhuo Jing said respectfully.
Mo Hua looked at the two of them and also respectfully assented. Ye Li nodded and said to Qin Feng: “Release all your people to practice. Their first mission, codename ‘Extinction’.”
Qin Feng nodded somewhat excitedly: “This servant understands and will not fail the Princess’s trust.”
Ye Li waved for the three to withdraw. Looking up at the bright sunlight outside the window, she couldn’t help but sigh. In just over ten days, Prince Ding’s residence had become a sea of blood. But… no matter what, she had to protect this residence. This wasn’t just a magnificent princely mansion, it was her home.
Since Prince Ding’s departure, the capital’s nobles felt an oppressive atmosphere like gathering storm clouds. Not everyone was in the dark about the repeated attacks on Prince Ding’s residence – after all, the fighting and killing made no small commotion. But there was no reaction whatsoever from the palace, so people somewhat understood that one’s intentions. Yet occasionally they couldn’t help feeling somewhat uneasy. It would be fine if nothing happened to Prince Ding’s residence, but if something did happen, Prince Ding’s return would be quite troublesome.
In the following days, news spread that the Princess had taken ill from fright and was bedridden, even declining all palace summons. Prince Ding’s residence closed its doors to visitors, leaving those both concerned and those seeking information equally unable to learn the Princess’s true condition. Many privately believed the rumors of the Princess’s serious illness. After all, she was just a teenage girl – no matter how capable, without Prince Ding by her side, facing assassination attempts for over ten days straight would be too much not just for a woman but even for most men to bear.
“Princess, Lord Xu from the Censorate requests an audience,” Steward Mo reported respectfully.
Ye Li’s brush paused, and she said calmly: “Don’t see him. Ask Lord Xu to return. When I’m better, I’ll visit Uncle and Aunt at the Censorate another day to pay my respects.”
Steward Mo hesitated before saying: “Lord Xu is very insistent, and says if the Princess refuses to see him, he will immediately go to the palace to petition the Emperor about the recent assassination attempts on Prince Ding’s residence.” Others had already reported this matter to the Emperor, but all memorials were held without response as if the matter didn’t exist at all. Some were constrained by the Emperor’s attitude, others were quietly placated by Prince Ding’s residence, so although the attacks were now an open secret, everyone still played along with the Emperor’s pretense of ignorance.
Ye Li was silent for a moment before finally saying: “Please show Uncle in.”
Xu Hongyan followed Steward Mo in. The steward excused himself at the door, leaving him to enter the study alone. Ye Li set down her brush and rose to welcome him: “Uncle, why have you come?”
Xu Hongyan glared at her irritably: “If I didn’t come, would you just let us wonder whether you were alive or dead in Prince Ding’s residence?”
Ye Li smiled, pulling Xu Hongyan into the study to sit as she said with a smile: “What do you mean alive or dead? I’m perfectly fine. I’m sorry to have worried Uncle and Aunt these past days.”
Xu Hongyan gave her a flat look: “If you know we’re worried, why keep your second brother out? If I hadn’t come personally today, were you planning to never send word to your family?” Ye Li looked somewhat troubled at Xu Hongyan: “Uncle, these days my residence…” Xu Hongyan frowned: “The capital has been very chaotic these days. Were those few at our residence sent by you?” Ye Li nodded: “These days the capital is likely to be in turmoil. Uncle and Aunt should be careful.”
Xu Hongyan frowned: “What exactly are the Emperor’s intentions!”
Ye Li smiled helplessly: “What else could they be? Take advantage of my husband’s absence to destroy Prince Ding’s residence through others’ hands – even when my husband returns, he can’t blame the Emperor, can he? At that time, either my husband swallows this loss and bows his head, or if he can’t bear it and confronts the Emperor, then Prince Ding’s residence becomes ungrateful, and I’m afraid I’ll become a beauty who brought disaster.”
How could Xu Hongyan not know all this? He grew increasingly disappointed in the Emperor’s actions. Looking at Ye Li, he asked softly: “You can’t keep claiming illness forever. Do you have any plans?”
Ye Li lowered her eyes with a faint smile: “Catch them all at once, make sure no one in the world ever dares target Prince Ding’s residence again.”
Xu Hongyan looked somewhat surprised at Ye Li. His niece before him seemed as gentle as ever, but that flash of coldness between her brows let one know she wasn’t as harmless as she appeared. Xu Hongyan sighed: “Would it be a problem for your uncle to stay here for a few days?” Ye Li frowned, saying disapprovingly: “Uncle, how could that work?”
Xu Hongyan raised an eyebrow: “They say a maternal uncle is like a mother. Can’t an uncle enjoy his niece’s prosperity?”
Ye Li smiled bitterly. In peaceful times they could hardly get Uncle and Aunt to visit even when invited, for fear of causing trouble for themselves and Prince Ding’s residence by drawing the Emperor’s suspicion. Now with the residence in chaos, Uncle’s presence would only make him share in the anxiety – how could he enjoy any prosperity? “Uncle, in a few days when things settle, can’t I invite you and Aunt to properly enjoy the residence’s hospitality then?”
Xu Hongyan looked at her calmly, neither opposing nor agreeing. Ye Li helplessly rubbed her nose and lowered her head. She knew this expression of her uncle’s well – it meant nothing she said would work, he had already made up his mind. Ye Li could only concede: “If that’s the case, I’ll have people prepare quarters for Uncle. Qin Feng, Mo Hua!”
Qin Feng and Mo Hua entered from outside, glanced at Xu Hongyan, and bowed respectfully: “Greetings to the Princess, greetings to Lord Xu.”
Ye Li waved her hand: “Skip the formalities. The second Uncle will be staying in the residence for some days. Mo Hua, make arrangements.” Mo Hua nodded, understanding the Princess meant for him to arrange hidden guards to secretly protect Xu Hongyan. Qin Feng asked: “Princess, should we send more people to the Xu and Ye residences?” Ye Li said: “Mo Hua, assign a few more hidden guards to personally protect Lady Xu and Second Young Master Xu. No need for the Ye residence – everyone in the capital knows my cold relationship with my natal family. Too many people would only put them in danger.”
“This servant understands. This servant will see to it immediately.” Mo Hua nodded and left.
Qin Feng looked at Xu Hongyan: “Princess, for Lord Xu’s quarters…”
Ye Li said: “Just arrange them in the closest courtyard to the main residence. Also, send someone to tell Feng San to move quickly – the sooner these matters are resolved, the better.”
Qin Feng’s spirits lifted as he smiled: “This servant understands, and will immediately send word to Young Master Feng.” These days they had been thoroughly annoyed by the waves of seemingly endless assassins – being able to resolve it all at once naturally lifted his mood. Turning to leave, Qin Feng’s spirits soared. The Princess had said codename “Extinction” – so any assassins daring to enter the residence absolutely could not leave standing!