“Yes.” Ding Yang’s words were like a basin of cold water poured over Xiuzhu’s head, extinguishing the brief warmth she had just felt. After all this circling around, the young prince had still died by her hand…

Yunyi stared at Ding Yang: “It seems the person who gave you the light bamboo leaves is the one who instructed you to use Xiuzhu to do all this. Who is this person? Speak!”

Ding Yang’s body trembled, his voice shaking uncontrollably: “No one instructed this humble servant. Everything… was all done by this humble servant alone.”

“You?” Yunyi sneered: “What reason then? Do you have a grudge against the Princess Consort, or against me?” Without waiting for Ding Yang to speak, she shook her head: “This matter is beyond what you alone can bear responsibility for. Speak!”

Faced with Yunyi’s words, Ding Yang only kept shaking his head, refusing to speak no matter what. Actually, Yunyi had already guessed eighty to ninety percent of it, but this matter had to be spoken from Ding Yang’s own mouth.

“If you don’t speak, don’t blame me for being merciless!” With these words, Duan Zhihong tightened his grip on the steel blade, and a thin, long wound instantly appeared on Ding Yang’s neck, with crimson blood slowly seeping down.

Ding Yang felt the pain on his neck. Wanting to beg for mercy but not daring to move, he could only say with a mournful face: “Don’t kill me, please don’t kill me!”

Duan Zhihong said coldly: “Then speak quickly!”

Though Ding Yang feared the consequences of betraying Jirong, he was more afraid of the steel blade at his neck that could fall at any moment. Gritting his teeth, he said: “May I ask the Princess Consort, if I speak, will you spare me?”

As Zhangsun Shi was about to speak, Yunyi, who had seen through Ding Yang’s inner fear, spoke first: “You have no right to bargain with us. Choose whether to speak to us, or go to the underworld and speak to the Judge of Hell!”

Ding Yang initially said nothing, but after Duan Zhihong cut another wound deeper than the previous one, he couldn’t bear it and said: “I’ll speak. It was…”

“Puff!” A cold light flew over, entering Ding Yang’s open mouth and then flying out from the back of his head. Only after its force was spent and it fell to the ground could they see it was a short arrow the length of a palm.

“There’s an assassin!” Duan Zhihong was the first to react. After ordering the accompanying guards to protect Yunyi and Zhangsun Shi, he quickly ran toward the direction from which the short arrow had come. There was a mound there – the assassin was likely hiding there.

He had only run a few steps when he heard another cry of alarm from behind. Hurriedly turning back, he saw Xiuzhu with a similar short arrow piercing her chest. From the direction, it had been shot from the opposite direction. It seemed there wasn’t just one assassin – which way should he pursue?

In this moment of hesitation, he had already missed the best time for pursuit. When Duan Zhihong reached the mound, there was no trace left, only marks where a crossbow had been set up. The other side was the same – no one was caught.

As for Ding Yang and Xiuzhu, both arrows had struck vital points, and they died on the spot, not even having time to say a single word.

Zhangsun Shi held Xiuzhu’s corpse, silently weeping in great sorrow. Though the latter had killed her child, they had been together for over ten years, close as sisters. When she was driven out of the Zhangsun residence by her half-brother, it was Xiuzhu who had loyally followed by her side. This friendship she had never forgotten, and even after learning the truth, she had never intended to take Xiuzhu’s life.

Duan Zhihong came before Yunyi with guilt: “This subordinate is incompetent, failed to catch the assassin. Please punish me, Yang Fei.”

Yunyi glanced at the directions from which the two short arrows had been shot: “They deliberately shot and killed Ding Yang and Xiuzhu from two sides to delay our pursuit and give themselves time to escape. You’re not to blame.”

Duan Zhihong had also noticed this: “One arrow struck a vital point precisely, and when retreating they left no trace, not even a glimpse of a person. They’re probably professional assassins, but… this subordinate doesn’t understand why assassins would suddenly appear.”

“They should have been brought by Ding Yang.” Yunyi’s words startled Duan Zhihong, who asked in surprise: “Ding Yang? How could he bring people to kill himself?”

Yunyi said calmly: “I only said they were brought by Ding Yang, I didn’t say Ding Yang could command them.”

Duan Zhihong understood: “Your Ladyship means the assassins were sent by the person behind Ding Yang. His purpose… should be to monitor Ding Yang, and once he discovered Ding Yang had intentions of betrayal, to kill him immediately, just like what happened!” After a pause, he continued: “It seems this person is not only extremely scheming but also very cautious. But… who would go to such great lengths to harm the young prince, not hesitating to sacrifice two lives for it?”

Yunyi glanced at him and said coolly: “Do you remember where Ding Yang served?”

“This subordinate remembers – he served at Changchun Pavilion.” As soon as these words left his mouth, Duan Zhihong’s face immediately changed. He stared intently at Yunyi and said in shock: “Your Ladyship means… Consort Ji?”

Yunyi didn’t answer his question, but said: “Later you’ll accompany me to the Eastern Palace.”

After Duan Zhihong acknowledged, Yunyi walked to Zhangsun Shi’s side, wiping her tears while gently persuading: “Princess Consort, please take care of your health. Don’t be too sorrowful.”

Jixiang spoke hastily: “Xiuzhu did such an inhuman thing – she’s not worth the Princess Consort’s grief and sorrow.”

“Mind your tongue!” As Yunyi scolded, Zhangsun Shi choked up and said: “I know that in your hearts, Xiuzhu isn’t worth pitying, but her nature wasn’t bad. She only did such things because she was instigated and deceived by Ding Yang. It’s also my fault for neglecting her recently and speaking too harshly, which drove Xiuzhu down this path of no return. I’m the one who harmed her!”

“According to the Princess Consort’s reasoning, the most at fault should be me. If I hadn’t appeared, there wouldn’t have been discord between Xiuzhu and the Princess Consort, and she wouldn’t have done things that mistakenly harmed the Princess Consort.”

“I’ve never blamed you, sister, it’s just…” Before Zhangsun Shi could continue, Yunyi said: “I understand the Princess Consort’s meaning. I’m saying this to tell the Princess Consort that everything is already decided – excessive thinking serves no purpose.” After pausing briefly, she continued: “Though Xiuzhu committed a grave error, she has already paid with her life, and she served the Princess Consort faithfully for so many years. Please grant her a dignified funeral.”

Zhangsun Shi knew these words were spoken for her sake and said gratefully: “Thank you, sister.” After suppressing the tears in her eyes, Zhangsun Shi looked toward Duan Zhihong: “Do you know who killed them?”

Duan Zhihong glanced at Yunyi and shook his head: “Not clear yet, only that they should be professional assassins!”

“Assassins…” Zhangsun Shi slowly repeated these two words, a trace of wariness flashing through her usually gentle eyes. After glancing at Ding Yang’s corpse, she said: “Sister, will you return to the residence with me?”

“Ding Yang was Consort Ji’s servant, and now he’s suddenly dead. I want to personally go to the Eastern Palace to inform Consort Ji, and also ask her about who Ding Yang associated with closely in daily life. Perhaps we can find the person behind him from this.”