Chapter 157

Duke Zhao had not expected matters to develop to this point either. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "These things surely contain too many coincidences. I think..."

Dongfang Qi interrupted coldly, "Does Duke Zhao perhaps know the origin of this object?"

Duke Zhao's expression changed: "No, no, I do not know!"

This concerned the grave crime of treason; even if the Li and Zhao families were close, no one dared to get involved. Thus, Duke Zhao stopped speaking.

At this moment, Hong Yao also regained consciousness—waking up neither too early nor too late, just in time.

Lin Qingyue asked Hong Yao, "Why were you imprisoned in the Li family? The Crown Prince is here; he can uphold justice for you."

With a look of extreme terror, Hong Yao knelt before the Crown Prince:

"Your Highness, please hear me. This commoner is named Hong Yao, a native of Donglin Prefecture. Previously, while in Donglin Prefecture, I was captured by the Donglin Prefecture Changshi and taken to the jade mine to work as a slave. Fortunately, Duke Luo saved me, and I escaped that hellish, terrifying place."

"Later, I arrived in the capital alone. I had originally agreed with Duke Luo to act as a witness to testify that Miao Dong colluded with Duke Li to bring disaster to the region. I did not expect that Duke Li's subordinates would discover my whereabouts, kidnap me here, and subject me to inhuman torture! I beg Your Highness to uphold justice for me!"

"You, you are spouting blood!" Li Xiu was still trying to invert black and white. "You are clearly a fox demon, not a commoner at all, let alone a witness!"

Lin Qingyue said with a smile, "So, she was indeed captured by you?"

Li Xiu: "..."

He suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness, unable to defend himself.

Dongfang Qi said, "Since this Miss Hong Yao claims to be a witness and was rescued by Duke Luo, we only need to ask Duke Luo. But compared to the Donglin Prefecture case, the Li family's treason case is far more serious. Duke Li, please accompany me to the palace to see the Emperor!"

If it were said that the children of noble families could stand above the law—even if they treated human life like grass and brought disaster to the region, they could rely on their ancestors' shade to turn major crimes into minor ones, and minor ones into nothing.

Then, no matter the time, privately carving a jade seal and being suspected of treason was a crime punishable by death once confirmed.

This method, unsurprisingly, came from Lin Qingyue's clever thinking.

When she was in Donglin Prefecture, she knew that no matter how big this case became, it could not shake the Li family's foundation.

The only way to break the situation was to draw the firewood from under the cauldron.

Just like in her past life, after seeing through the cruelty and viciousness of those cultivation families, she knew the only solution was to eradicate all the tumors to ensure peace once and for all.

The slaughter, though it made her a tyrant, also reshaped the rules of the entire world.

So, on the day she left Qionglou, Lin Qingyue took away that piece of red jade.

At that time, the young girl who had been raising the jade lay naked on the cold ice, with only a thread of breath hanging in her throat.

The wound on her chest was shocking—it was the mark left from being cut open alive, having the jade stuffed inside, and then being sewn back up.

Yet, she was kept alive by various medicinal herbs to ensure she wouldn't die in the short term, forcing her to endure the pain and torture.

Seeing Lin Qingyue approach, her cracked lips trembled imperceptibly, her voice as thin as a thread: "I... it hurts so much... please... give me a quick end..."

Lin Qingyue took out the blood jade that had been sewn into her body, originally intending to save her. But her last breath had already been severed; there was no turning back.

Only her eyes remained wide open, the terror unfaded in her pupils, as if silently questioning: Why has the human world become such a purgatory?

Lin Qingyue raised her hand to close the girl's eyelids and promised her: "I will definitely bring the murderer to justice. Even if there truly is a purgatory in this world, I will personally make it turn to dust."

The eight characters "Received by Heaven, May You Live Forever and Prosper" were also carved by Lin Qingyue.

Only in this way could the devil be sent to hell to comfort the spirits of those who died unjustly!

It was also to perform this play well that Lin Qingyue, despite having the ability to save herself, pretended to be trapped underground, weakly waiting for Dongfang Qi's rescue.

But fortunately, Dongfang Qi was willing to go crazy with her.

Walking out of the Li Mansion, Lin Qingyue looked back at the two vermilion lacquered gates. The heavy door panels seemed to carry a thousand years of heritage, yet they could not hide the decay within.

Even if the ancestors were glorious and their merits covered the sky, how could the descendants' evil deeds be tolerated?

A cold arc appeared on her lips: "The Li family should perish."

Treason was a monstrous crime. Dongfang Qi no longer showed mercy and immediately ordered the guards to surround the mansion, forbidding any entry or exit, and escorted Duke Li to the Imperial Palace.

Duke Zhao had just stepped out of the gate, wanting to slip away quietly, when he was called back by Dongfang Qi: "Duke Zhao, stay your steps. Everyone here is a witness to today's events, so please accompany me to the palace."

Duke Zhao, Duke Cui, and Dongfang Yan had no choice but to follow.

Dongfang Yan had originally wanted to win over Duke Li to deal with the Crown Prince, but he didn't expect that before the alliance was even signed, the other party would fall first. He cursed him inwardly for being useless.

When he looked up, he saw Dongfang Qi and Lin Qingyue walking side by side, talking in low voices.

Lin Qingyue had a smile on her lips, her brows curved, looking bright and gentle.

Dongfang Yan felt a fire ignite in his heart and suddenly stepped forward twice: "My beloved consort!"

The smile on Lin Qingyue's lips vanished instantly, her gaze turning cold: "Prince Jin, show some respect! Call me Prince Chaolan or Deputy Envoy Lin. If you call me wrong again, I don't mind making you a mute again."

"Fine, Prince Chaolan." Dongfang Yan suppressed the fire in his heart and softened his voice, "You were frightened underground just now, weren't you? If you are not feeling well, don't ride a horse. I have already had people prepare a carriage specifically for you."

Lin Qingyue mounted her horse and said to Dongfang Qi, "Let's go."

"Qingyue..."

"Snap!" Lin Qingyue lashed out with a whip. "Qingyue is not something you can call either, you dog who doesn't learn!"

The whip fell suddenly, and bloodstains bloomed on Dongfang Yan's shoulder. The tip of the whip swept across his chin, and beads of blood rolled down immediately.

He let out a muffled groan in pain.

Zhao An rushed forward to protect his master: "Princess! The Prince has treated you well; how can you rely on his favor..."

"Snap!" Another whip lashed onto Zhao An.

"You called me wrong." Lin Qingyue's voice was icy. "I am no longer your Princess. Get lost, good dogs don't block the way!"

Before the words had even faded, she shouted "Giddy-up," and the horse bolted forward.

Dongfang Yan dodged in a panic, barely avoiding being knocked over.

Dongfang Qi, riding on his horse, looked down at him: "Prince Jin, you should not provoke people who do not belong to you again."

"What do you mean by not belonging to me?" Dongfang Yan sneered. "Does the Crown Prince have a penchant for picking up someone else's worn-out shoes?"

As soon as he finished speaking, his cheek was suddenly struck by a whip.

Dongfang Qi retracted the whip and said calmly, "Sorry, I intended to hit the horse, but you leaned your face in, so I missed."

"Dongfang Qi!" Dongfang Yan jumped in rage, clutching his face. "I am a Prince; how dare you humiliate me? I will definitely go to the Emperor to report you!"

Dongfang Qi didn't even look at him, flicked his horse whip, and chased after Lin Qingyue.

"Prince..." Zhao An hurriedly took out hemostatic medicine to apply to Dongfang Yan.

Dongfang Yan violently swatted his hand away, and the medicinal powder scattered all over the ground.

He clutched his bleeding cheek, his eyes fierce: "No need! I will enter the palace looking like this and let the Emperor see just how arrogant the Crown Prince is!"