Chapter 53: Seeing Gu Yun Again (7)

"I..."

Gu Yun didn't wait for him to react, and launched another fierce attack like a chain of cannons: "You also participated in the gold case back then, you know Qu Ze was wronged, and you also know who the mastermind was back then, right!?"

After listening to Gu Yun's words, Li Zhi was so shocked that his eyes were about to split, and he couldn't form a sentence. How could she... know! Impossible!

It wasn't just Li Zhi who was surprised, but also Dan Yulan sitting on the public hall. What kind of heaven-defying ability did this woman have, to know even things he didn't know?!

Seeing Li Zhi's extreme fear as she wished, Gu Yun raised a smile again, waved her hand, and replied indifferently: "There's nothing to be surprised about. We have already mastered some evidence. Letting you speak is just giving you a chance to make amends. Otherwise, you're dead for sure!"

Li Zhi was completely panicked this time. He didn't expect that the things he was anxious to hide would be known even by a little girl! But how much did she know?! His heart panicked again, and Li Zhi seemed to be murmuring, or comforting himself: "I... can't say... if I say it, I'll be dead anyway..."

That person wouldn't let him go!

He knew but didn't report it back then. If the incident was exposed, he would definitely not survive!

Very good, he could be considered to have implicitly admitted that he knew the inside story of the gold case! Not allowing him to think carefully, Gu Yun added another fierce medicine, saying coldly: "If you don't say it, you're dead for sure! Do you think the murderer will let you go? Of the five of you back then, Qu Ze died, and Yang Lu also died. Will the murderer let you live?! You have no choice now! Cooperate with us, not only can you clear your name, but we can also protect you. Otherwise, even if you walk out of this prison door, you won't live long."

In Li Zhi's mind, the face of Qu Ze, tortured beyond recognition before his death, flashed by in an instant, along with Yang Lu's blood gurgling and flowing at his feet. His body felt as if it were in an ice cellar, and beads of cold sweat flowed down Li Zhi's cheeks from his forehead.

A hand suddenly rested on Li Zhi's shoulder, and Gu Yun continued to press him in his ear: "Tell the truth about the beginning and end of the matter back then, tell the name of the mastermind! Say it!"

"I... I can't say... can't say! I don't know... I don't know!" Under Gu Yun's repeated questioning, Li Zhi had already collapsed on the ground, his face filled with fear that didn't need any interpretation.

"Don't force me anymore, I don't know... I don't know anything!" Almost out of his mind, he hugged his head and roared constantly, already unable to care that the person standing before him was just a ten-something-year-old little girl.

Gu Yun slowly withdrew her hand, didn't say anything, returned to Zhuo Qing's side, handed the flying dagger to Zhuo Qing, and shrugged her shoulders helplessly. His psychological endurance was too weak... or was the person behind the scenes too strong?

"Come here." Dan Yulan called out softly, and the yamen runners guarding outside immediately entered the inner hall.

"Escort the prisoner to the prison and guard him strictly."

"Yes." The limp Li Zhi was dragged away. Dan Yulan looked at Gu Yun and asked in confusion: "Why stop questioning?" If he continued, he might have revealed the truth.

Gu Yun looked at Zhuo Qing, and Zhuo Qing sighed and explained: "He has already collapsed. Now, no matter what you say, he won't listen. From a psychological perspective, the more he thinks in this situation, the more panicked he will be. Tomorrow we will add more fire, and he will definitely tell the truth!"

She had finally witnessed the sharpness of Yun's interrogation, almost making people unable to breathe!

"Criminal Justice Official Dan, we will take our leave first. From now on, it is best to strengthen the protection of the prisoner and not let the murderer have an opportunity." After speaking, Gu Yun pulled Zhuo Qing, and the two walked out of the public hall. Dan Yulan suddenly called them to stop: "Lady Qing, please stay."

Who was he calling? Zhuo Qing and Gu Yun looked at each other, turned their heads to look at Dan Yulan, only to see him walking over quickly, stopping in front of Gu Yun, bowing and asking: "Dan has a few questions, I hope the girl can enlighten me."

Gu Yun replied generously: "Speak."

Getting the consent, Dan Yulan didn't talk nonsense, and asked: "You were in the Yang house for less than a quarter of an hour, how did you know the position of the body at that time? How did you know about the gold case? What other evidence and clues do you have in your hand?"

"The first question, my nose is particularly sensitive to the smell of blood. Even after cleaning, I can still feel its smell for a short time. Also, the difference between the traces left by the flying dagger and the traces left by the sword is so great that I believe I don't need to say it, Dan Official can also distinguish it. And in the room, the traces left by most flying daggers are basically the same in force and direction, except for one knife mark that is particularly different. Combining these, it is easy to guess the position of the body. The second question, we have met Qian Jing alone once, and the gold case was a clue he provided. The third question, I don't have any evidence or clues about the gold case in my hand. I was just..." Raising her eyebrows lightly, Gu Yun smiled: "Talking nonsense."

Ao Tian and Ye Mei, who went to investigate the gold case, hadn't returned yet, so naturally, she wouldn't know about the gold case. However, she had said that appropriate lies and intimidation were of great use for solving cases.

"I'm done, farewell." Watching the two blue and green figures walking away leisurely with deep thought, Dan Yulan didn't stop them. He was very much looking forward to what other abilities they had.

Walking out of the Yingtian Government Office, it was already afternoon. Zhuo Qing asked: "Going to find the other two people now?"

"Hmm." Although she faintly felt that those two people weren't any key figures, not allowing a single oversight was her principle for handling cases. Let's go take a look.

"Lady Qing Ling." The two had only walked a few steps when an old woman's voice sounded faintly.

The two were startled. Zhuo Qing looked at the old woman who spoke and asked: "Who are you?"

The old woman smiled and replied: "This servant is Nanny Liu."

Calling herself Nanny, she must be from the palace. Zhuo Qing felt irritable in her heart. It wasn't that Emperor again looking for trouble, was it! Zhuo Qing asked impatiently: "What's the matter?"

That Nanny still maintained a smile and replied: "The Empress Dowager has an order to summon Lady Qing Ling to enter the palace for an audience."

Empress Dowager?!

Zhuo Qing was stunned. When did she also attract the Empress Dowager's attention?! One Yan Hongtian was enough to annoy her!

Gu Yun stared at the woman's face and asked: "Are you the Empress Dowager's person?"

"Yes." Looking at Zhuo Qing, the old woman said: "Lady Qing, please."

Gu Yun followed by Zhuo Qing's side, but was blocked by the old woman. She was still polite, but her tone wasn't gentle: "This young lady, please stay. The Empress Dowager only summons Lady Qing Ling alone."

Although the old woman's smile wasn't sincere, what she said was indeed the truth. She should really be the Empress Dowager's person. Not far away, a low-key carriage was parked, and four sturdy men stood beside the carriage. It seemed that if Zhuo Qing didn't obey today, they would definitely take her away.

Gu Yun didn't take those men seriously, but the other party was the Empress Dowager, so she was afraid she couldn't afford to offend her.

"You go first, I'll go find Lou Xiyan." Gu Yun said it very clearly, comforting Zhuo Qing, and also warning Nanny Liu not to act rashly.

"Hmm." Yun would handle the next things, Zhuo Qing was very at ease. Looking at the Nanny beside her, she said generously: "Then I will trouble Nanny to lead the way."

The carriage carried Zhuo Qing away, and Gu Yun hurried toward the Prime Minister's Mansion.

The carriage drove fast. Zhuo Qing had been secretly thinking about why the Empress Dowager was looking for her. Was it another trick of Yan Hongtian? Or was it because of Lou Xiyan? Thoughts flew, and the carriage finally stopped in the palace. Following that Nanny, she turned left and right, and finally stopped in front of a palace. Zhuo Qing looked up and saw "Xixia Palace" written on the courtyard gate.

Secretly slandering, Zhuo Qing was left outside the courtyard. Before long, the Nanny returned again and said to her: "Lady Qing, please this way."

Following her into the hall, Zhuo Qing was startled. She had originally thought this Empress Dowager wanted to see her alone, but she didn't expect there were so many women in the hall, each more beautiful than the other. Receiving a flash of surprised gaze, Zhuo Qing looked up and saw that Qingfeng was also there.

Moving forward, Zhuo Qing also saw the Empress. After seeing her face, the Empress flashed a complex emotion, which couldn't be distinguished for a while.

"You are Qing Ling?" A gentle female voice sounded faintly. Zhuo Qing looked at the main seat at the very top, where a slightly plump lady was looking at her. She was wearing a dark purple long dress, simple headwear, looking very plain, and her smile was also very kind.

"Yes." Zhuo Qing replied generously.

"Come, come to my side."

Zhuo Qing didn't hesitate, walked generously to her side, and this Empress Dowager began to look her up and down, left and right. Just when she was about to get goosebumps, she suddenly took her hand and smiled: "Lou Xiyan's vision is really not bad, truly a spiritual girl. This name is also good, the person is like the name, don't you all think so?"

"What the Empress Dowager says is true, Lady Qing... no, should be called Madam Lou. This person is not only beautiful as a fairy, but also smart and clever, truly making people envious."

"Yes, I heard long ago that the three sisters of the Qing family are all talented and beautiful, and today I see two of them, truly well-deserved."

Disfigured and still beautiful as a fairy?

Knowing she was talented and smart at first sight?

Zhuo Qing's head was covered in black lines. If these women continued to talk, she was afraid she would be unable to help but vomit. Without a trace, she withdrew her hand and asked directly: "What is the matter with the Empress Dowager calling me here, might as well say it directly?"

"It's nothing, I heard Lou Xiyan is preparing for the wedding, so I wanted to see what kind of woman could get Lou Xiyan's favor."

It couldn't be that boring!

This Empress Dowager should be the Western Empress Dowager, that is, Yan Ruxuan's mother. Zhuo Qing thought she had called her here to give her some color, but she didn't expect her to be so kind and approachable, which made her not know how to react!

"Ling'er, just sit by my side. Everyone is here, serve the meal." Saying that, she really arranged her on her left hand, facing the Empress from afar.

Before long, a table of dishes was served, and a large group of women talked and laughed. Zhuo Qing felt extremely bored. Looking at Qingfeng, she was also impatient. Zhuo Qing chuckled softly. On this point, they were indeed of one mind.

The food was exquisite, but Zhuo Qing ate with no interest. At this time, someone asked with a smile: "What does Lady Qing usually do for entertainment?"

Entertainment? "Autopsy."

Zhuo Qing didn't think much and said it casually. She used to be a workaholic and was often teased by friends that her hobby was autopsy, and she was used to self-deprecating. Unfortunately, the group of women before her didn't quite know how to appreciate her humor.

For a time, the hall was as quiet as death. Almost everyone pushed the nearby meat dishes further away, especially the Empress, who had experienced the palace banquet storm, her face turned pale, intending to vomit.

By comparison, the Empress Dowager was obviously much calmer. The hand holding the chopsticks only paused slightly, and the kind smile on her face remained, asking: "Ling'er is indeed different. No wonder she is so favored by Lou Xiyan. Ling'er, who is your teacher?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 54 =====