Chapter 253: Convicted and Imprisoned (1)

At this moment, Qingfeng was like a dying lioness, yet she still wanted to protect her own kind. The panic and fear, the struggle and persistence in her eyes pleased Yan Hongtian. He raised his hand slightly, a cruel smile curling the corners of his mouth, and Yan Hongtian coldly snorted, "Throw her out."

"Yes." Gao Jin stepped forward and dragged Qingfeng out.

"Yan Hongtian!" Qingfeng struggled with all her might, but she could not break free from Gao Jin's grip. This seemingly thin and tall man was far stronger than she had imagined.

Gao Jin dragged her out of the hall and handed her over to the guards at the door to watch. He then walked straight toward the direction of Lou Xiyan and Qing Ling. Qingfeng wanted to stop Qing Ling from entering the hall, but unfortunately, she had only taken one step forward when her shoulders were fiercely pressed down by the guards, leaving her unable to move. She wanted to shout, but when she opened her mouth, she realized her voice was so hoarse that even she could barely hear it.

Her heart was filled with anxiety, but she could only watch helplessly as her eldest sister was taken into the hall.

What would Yan Hongtian do to her sister? Her chest ached unbearably, and her throat felt as spicy and stinging as if it were burning with fire. Yan Hongtian was so violent, and her sister was so delicate; how could she endure it? In the midst of her worry and anxiety, Qingfeng suddenly saw that tall, slender figure in front of the hall—Lou Xiyan. Under the night sky, he stood there quietly, yet no one could ignore his presence. That air of being in control of everything always made people feel inexplicably at ease.

Perhaps, only he could save her eldest sister now!

Qingfeng used all her strength to shout loudly, "Lou Xiyan."

The hoarse voice sounded somewhat eerie in the night. Lou Xiyan, not far away, glanced at her, nodded politely, walked to her side, and smiled gently, "Miss Qing."

Compared to Lou Xiyan's gentleness and humility, Qingfeng's tone was clearly impatient, "Are you... sincere toward her?"

A flash of something unusual passed through Lou Xiyan's phoenix eyes. He didn't say yes, nor did he say no, his face still wearing that faint smile. Qingfeng knew that Lou Xiyan would not answer her. This man might look gentle and polite, but he was certainly no saint at heart. However, given the current situation, she could only pin her hopes on him.

"If you are sincere toward her, no matter what, take her out of this palace!" Leaving behind these words, Qingfeng no longer looked at Lou Xiyan.

Her voice was slightly hoarse, and the dark blue bruises on her neck were vaguely visible. What exactly had happened to make the Emperor so furious as to lay such a heavy hand on a woman? Thoughtfully, Lou Xiyan looked at the tightly closed hall door and suddenly said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, your subject Lou Xiyan has an urgent matter to report."

Qingfeng looked at Lou Xiyan beside her in surprise. He still stood there with such elegance and indifference, as if he could see the Emperor whenever he wanted. Sure enough, Yan Hongtian's cold, deep voice soon came from inside, "Enter."

Not long after Lou Xiyan went in, Yan Hongtian's impatient voice rang out from inside the door, "Someone, throw that other woman surnamed Qing in here for me."

Without needing the guards behind her to move, Qingfeng secretly took a deep breath and pushed open the tightly closed door. No matter what, she would not let her sister stay by this terrifying man's side, absolutely not!

Entering the hall, Qingfeng immediately saw Qing Ling standing behind Lou Xiyan, her clothes already torn to shreds, and there were deep five-finger marks on her neck as well.

Yan Hongtian's sharp, eagle-like eyes fixed on Qingfeng, and he asked, "Who exactly are you?"

Qingfeng felt heartache for her sister, and without hesitation, she coldly spat out two words, "Qing Ling."

Hmph! Yan Hongtian snorted coldly. He knew she wasn't afraid of death, but not everyone was as reckless as she was! "I will give you one last chance. Are you going to tell the truth, or are you going to lose your head?" The words seemed to be directed at Qingfeng, but Yan Hongtian's eyes remained fixed on Qing Ling, who stood quietly to the side.

Qingfeng's face turned pale, and cold sweat had already soaked her back, but there was not a trace of retreat in her eyes. Qingfeng still stubbornly replied, "I am Qing—"

"You clearly already knew I was Qing Ling just now, why must you make things difficult for her?" Qing Ling walked out from behind Lou Xiyan, interrupting Qingfeng's words. Her calm and composed language made Qingfeng slightly startled. Since when had her eldest sister become so proud and fearless?

At least there was one person who could distinguish what was important. Yan Hongtian snorted lowly, "Do you admit now that it was your plan to swap identities to enter the palace?"

Qing Ling replied in a low voice, "I have already explained. The officials escorting me fed me medicine for over half a month. I was in a coma the whole time. After I woke up, I found that I couldn't remember many things, and I couldn't even remember who I was. They all said I was Qingfeng, so I thought I was Qingfeng. The reason I entered the palace today is because I was anxious to see my sisters and figure out who I am and what happened."

As soon as Qing Ling finished speaking, Yan Hongtian flew into a rage again and roared, "Don't try to fool me with amnesia again! If you had amnesia, how could you talk so eloquently about the art of autopsy in the main hall and assist in solving cases? If you didn't have amnesia, what else could you do?"

Amnesia? Qingfeng's heart tightened into a ball. Eldest sister? Amnesia? How could this be? Was she faking it? Thinking back on her sister's every action today, the way she looked at her really seemed very strange, and her speech and actions were like those of a different person. Could amnesia really change a person's temperament?

Sighing innocently, Qing Ling replied, "I only have amnesia and have forgotten many past events, but those autopsy methods are as natural to me as eating or writing. I just can't remember who taught me these things."

"A fine case of amnesia!" Yan Hongtian looked at Qingfeng and sneered, "Are you going to say you have amnesia too?"

Qingfeng met Yan Hongtian's cold gaze and replied word for word, "I do not have amnesia. I remember clearly who I am." And she remembered even more clearly who had caused their family to be broken and destroyed, and who had caused them sisters to be separated by life and death!

Yan Hongtian sneered coldly, "Continue, I want to see what else you can make up!" One had amnesia, the other just happened to be an impostor; they were working together quite well.

Qing Ling didn't know if she really had amnesia and didn't know how to answer, or if she was pondering something, so she kept her head down and remained silent. Qingfeng recalled the past; it was she who said she wanted to ruin her appearance, and it was she who insisted on committing suicide. Her stubbornness and selfishness not only failed to achieve her so-called integrity but also harmed her sisters. This time, taking revenge on Yan Hongtian was her business, and she would definitely not let her sister be harmed again.

Putting away the hostility in her words, Qingfeng explained, "We didn't intend to deceive anyone. When we committed suicide in the ruined temple, my sister stood in the middle to grab my hand and our younger sister's hand. When I was rescued by the escorting officials, in my hazy state, I heard them say I was Qing Ling and was still alive. Later, just as my sister said, I was fed medicine every day. By the time I woke up, I was already in the palace. I thought they were all dead, and I didn't want to live either, which is why I threw the vase at you yesterday. The reason I insisted I was Qing Ling is because the person the Emperor wanted was Qing Ling. From the moment I was sent into the palace, no matter who I was originally, I am Qing Ling now."

She couldn't see through Lou Xiyan, but looking at his attitude toward her sister, he must like her. Her sister being with him was safer than being with Yan Hongtian. She wasn't sure if her sister really had amnesia, but in any case, as long as she could leave this palace and stay far away from Yan Hongtian, that was enough.

"Scoundrels!" Did they think they could fool him with such an explanation?

The cold light shooting from Yan Hongtian's eagle eyes was enough to pierce a hole through the two of them. Inside the hall, silence fell once again.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. May I say a few words?" Lou Xiyan, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke.

"Speak." Yan Hongtian had always been polite toward Lou Xiyan.

"That such a thing happened is entirely because the officials of Haoyue mixed them up and sent them to the wrong places. Since it has already happened, no matter who is who, it is too late to switch them back. The matter I wish to report today is to request the Emperor to grant a marriage and bestow the woman sent to my mansion upon me as my wife."

Bang!

Yan Hongtian slapped the long table fiercely, making a loud noise. Not only could everyone in the hall hear it clearly, but even Gao Jin, who was guarding outside the hall, felt his heart pounding.

He wanted to marry her?

As soon as these words were spoken, Yan Hongtian was burning with rage, Qing Ling was speechless and stunned, and Qingfeng was extremely surprised.

"You just said, you want to marry her as your wife?" In the dead-silent hall, Yan Hongtian's not-so-loud voice sounded exceptionally cold. Qingfeng and Qing Ling looked at each other and swallowed involuntarily. Only Lou Xiyan maintained his respectful and calm attitude, as if he hadn't seen Yan Hongtian's raging anger, and replied calmly, "Yes."

"Impossible." Glaring at Lou Xiyan, Yan Hongtian lost his pleasant demeanor and said with clear annoyance, "Minister Lou, you are the Prime Minister of Qiongyue, holding a first-rank position. She is just a woman sent as tribute from a small country; she is simply not worthy of being your wife. If you are really in such a hurry to marry, I will immediately grant a marriage between you and Princess Zhaoyun. It would be a perfect match, a talented man and a beautiful woman."

"Your subject has always maintained the proper conduct between sovereign and subject with the Princess, and I dare not have any improper thoughts." He requested the marriage first because of Qing Ling, and second because of Yan Ruxuan; if he married early, it would allow her to give up her hopes sooner.

Yan Hongtian snorted coldly, "I will only grant a marriage between you and Xuan'er. As for these two, they swapped identities, deceived their sovereign, and spouted nonsense; they should be taken into custody and investigated."

"Your Majesty, please be discerning. What they said is not necessarily a lie. As long as you send someone to Haoyue to verify it one by one with the officials who escorted them, you will naturally know if what they said is true. I have lived with Qing Ling for half a month, and I believe she is not that kind of person. I hope Your Majesty will investigate thoroughly."

"Everything will be decided after verifying what they said. First, lock them in the Heavenly Prison and wait for the investigation." He would definitely investigate; he, Yan Hongtian, could not tolerate the slightest deception or mockery. They had better be telling the truth, otherwise, he would let them know the consequences of deceiving him.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 254 =====