Xue Xing Yue looked at Zhao Yan Luo and smiled coldly, "Young Marquis Zhao, are you doing well?"
Zhao Yan Luo inwardly lamented, thinking the Empress must have learned of his dealings with the Young Prince of Nan Ping. Now, he probably wouldn't be able to leave easily.
"Your Majesty, this commoner is terrified!" Zhao Yan Luo dared not look up, fearing he would see killing intent in the Empress's eyes.
"Terrified? But I see you are quite bold."
The Empress's voice was calm, yet to Zhao Yan Luo, it felt like a piercing cold wind that sent shivers through his entire body.
"Your Majesty, this commoner does not possess such boldness," Zhao Yan Luo quickly replied.
Xue Xing Yue smiled coldly and threw the items on the ground. "It seems Young Marquis Zhao sheds no tears until he sees the coffin. Since that is the case, look at this. I shall see if Young Marquis Zhao remembers anything."
Zhao Yan Luo's gaze darkened as he saw the scattered items on the ground. He had thought the Empress only knew of his collusion with the Young Prince of Nan Ping, but he hadn't expected her to have even discovered that the Young Prince of Nan Ping was Ji Wu Ran. Seeing this, his heart felt cold, very cold, the kind of cold that comes from being seen through.
Seeing Zhao Yan Luo remain silent, Xue Xing Yue said indifferently, "I wonder if Young Marquis Zhao remembers now?"
Zhao Yan Luo broke out in a cold sweat. After a long pause, he bowed his head deeply to the ground, "Your Majesty, forgive me!"
"Tell me everything you know, without any omissions. If you hide anything, Zhao Yan Luo, you know I have very little patience."
Zhao Yan Luo dared not conceal anything and confessed all.
Upon hearing this, Xue Xing Yue frowned. Zhao Yan Luo's account was largely what she had already surmised.
"When did you know Ji Wu Ran was the Young Prince of Nan Ping?"
Zhao Yan Luo twitched his lips. Beside him, Wu Hen said coldly, "Do not think of deceiving His Majesty."
"This commoner dares not!" Zhao Yan Luo quickly replied.
"Speak," Wu Hen ordered coldly.
Zhao Yan Luo couldn't help but think to himself that Wu Hen was truly formidable; why else would he be more intimidating than any man?
"From... from when you were still Princess Xing Yue," Zhao Yan Luo stammered.
"Be more specific," Wu Hen continued.
More sweat beaded on Zhao Yan Luo's forehead. He said cautiously, "It was around the time you returned from Zhen Wu Guan."
Truthfully, he hadn't known at first. He still wasn't sure if it was he who had discovered it, or if the Young Prince of Nan Ping had intentionally let him find out. After all, with his own intelligence, he felt it was unlikely he would have been clever enough to discover it then.
Xue Xing Yue's gaze deepened. She had never imagined that a spy from Qi would have been lurking under her nose for so many years. Although his imperial brother's death was not directly his doing, who could guarantee that he hadn't contributed to his imperial brother's demise?
Thinking that the man she had almost placed her heart upon was actually a spy placed by Qi to monitor her and her imperial brother, she was filled with rage.
"Zhao Yan Luo, for colluding with the Young Prince of Nan Ping and treasonously aiding the enemy, your crimes are unforgivable and punishable by death!" Xue Xing Yue exclaimed in anger.
Zhao Yan Luo slumped to the ground. Soon, he knelt and kowtowed fiercely, "This matter was solely my doing. I implore Your Majesty to spare my family and clan."
Xue Xing Yue walked forward, lifted Zhao Yan Luo's chin, and said coldly, "Your death alone is not enough."
Zhao Yan Luo trembled, tears welling up, "Your Majesty, spare my family, my clan. I..."
"Zhao Yan Luo, your life or death holds little consequence for me."
Zhao Yan Luo froze, his mind racing. "Your Majesty, what do you need this commoner to do? This commoner will certainly serve with utmost diligence, until death."
"I do not need you to die. I only need you to tell me where the Young Prince of Nan Ping is now?"
Zhao Yan Luo paused. Xue Xing Yue said coldly, "What? This is the best opportunity to prove your loyalty to me. Are you sure you want to waste it?"
"Your Majesty. To be candid, the Young Prince of Nan Ping is currently imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's jail in Qi," Zhao Yan Luo replied.
Upon hearing this, Xue Xing Yue glanced at Wu Hen. Wu Hen nodded, confirming it aligned with their intelligence.
"So, the Young Prince of Nan Ping is also in a predicament of his own making?"
Zhao Yan Luo nodded, "Yes."
"Is this not a form of karmic retribution?" Xue Xing Yue said coldly.
Zhao Yan Luo replied, "Your Majesty, others may say this, but you cannot."
"Why?" Xue Xing Yue asked.
Zhao Yan Luo said, "The Young Prince of Nan Ping has secretly assisted Your Majesty before. Do you truly believe every instance of your good fortune is simply a matter of course?"
Xue Xing Yue frowned and looked at Zhao Yan Luo, "Zhao Yan Luo, you had best make yourself clear."
Zhao Yan Luo felt that the Empress was the only person in the world who could save the Young Prince of Nan Ping.
With this thought, Zhao Yan Luo no longer concealed anything and spilled everything he knew.
Xue Xing Yue's complexion grew paler and paler. It wasn't that she had merely been lucky; someone had cleared the obstacles for her.
"Why did he not say it himself?" Xue Xing Yue asked.
Zhao Yan Luo replied, "The Young Prince said that the path ahead requires Your Majesty to walk it alone. He has repaid what he owed, and from this day forth, neither is indebted to the other."
"Neither indebted to the other?" Xue Xing Yue savored these words. But how could she simply pretend this never happened?
Xue Xing Yue was not one to dwell on things. She looked at Zhao Yan Luo and said, "How is the Young Prince of Nan Ping faring now?"
Zhao Yan Luo shook his head, "Not well. I fear..." He didn't finish. Attempting to assassinate a prince was a crime punishable by death, even the extermination of nine generations of one's family. Moreover, with the Third Prince as a witness, overturning the verdict seemed difficult.
Upon hearing this, Xue Xing Yue walked back to her chair and sat down, saying calmly, "Zhao Yan Luo, your willingness to enter the palace suggests you have a plan to ask me to help the Young Prince of Nan Ping, doesn't it?"