Chapter 2: Being taken in for questioning by the tyrant

The torn seal hung on the door of the Duke's Mansion like a hideous scar, indicating that the crisis had not been resolved.

The so-called "awaiting trial" is nothing more than a guillotine hanging over your head, which may fall at any time.

"You child! You were too impulsive just now!" Mother Zhao Yuanying stumbled over and hugged Yun Zhao tightly. Her body was shaking violently and her voice was filled with tears. "What a tyrannical superior! What if..."

The real, warm embrace instantly made Yun Zhao's eyes red.

The ecstasy of regaining what she had lost and the fear that followed came flooding back, tears bursting out: "Mom! It's okay... As long as you, Dad, and Afeng are all safe... your daughter will be at peace!"

She hugged back tightly, greedily absorbing her mother's warmth.

I have been wandering in Huangquan for too long and really long for my mother's arms.

"Don't cry... don't cry..." Zhao Yuanying wiped his daughter's tears carelessly, more like comforting himself, "Your Majesty didn't immediately convict her. Maybe... he needs to investigate further? The Yun family has made no contributions over the years, but they have worked hard..."

Yun Chongshan struggled to get up, holding on to the broken corner of the table. Overnight, his temples turned frost-free and glaring.

His voice was hoarse and heavy. "Everyone, return to your respective courtyards and stay calm. At this moment... there is nothing else to do except wait for the Holy Judgment."

There is no other way!

There was a faint glimmer of hope in Yun Zhao's heart.

The tyrant suddenly stopped, he must have become suspicious!

Prime Minister Su has a close relationship with the King of Qin. As long as Xiao Jin is not completely stupid, there is no way he won't investigate!

He would never sit idly by and watch the Yun family's jade mine fall into the hands of King Qin!

Return to the ruined house.

Broken porcelain, scattered clothes, the air was filled with dust and despair.

Yun Zhao and his servants cleaned up silently, their fingertips cold.

Just one hour!

That shrill voice was like a death warrant, once again tearing the deathly silence in the mansion!

"The Holy Lord's oral order—"

The chief eunuch Zhang Fuan came back, followed by several expressionless eunuchs, like ghosts.

The Yun family members were like frightened birds. They ran out in panic and knelt on the ground, their hearts in their throats.

Zhang Fuan glanced at the haggard Yun Chongshan and said, "Duke, please rise." His voice was flat, yet it carried an irresistible pressure. "Your Majesty has issued an order: Yun Zhao, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Yun, is to be brought into the palace for questioning immediately."

Enter the palace for questioning? !

Yun Chongshan's face suddenly changed, his body swayed, and he said anxiously: "Eunuch Fu! My daughter lives deep in the inner house and does not care about external affairs! If Your Majesty has any questions, this old minister..."

"Duke!" Zhang Fuan interrupted coldly, his eyes as cold as ice. "How can we guess what His Majesty is thinking? We are only following orders to come and fetch Miss Yun." He held the whisk and made an unquestionable gesture of "please," "Miss Yun, please."

"A Zhao——!" Zhao Yuanying burst into tears and rushed towards his daughter.

"Yuanying!" Yun Chongshan held his wife tightly, his nails almost digging into her arm, his eyes filled with great pain and powerlessness.

Yun Zhao took a deep breath to suppress the soreness in his throat and his pounding heart.

She broke free from her father's hand and bowed deeply to her parents. She raised her head, her eyes red, but her gaze held an icy calmness. "Father, Mother, Brother, just wait for me at home. My daughter...will definitely come back!"

Every word is heavy.

She no longer looked at her parents' desperate faces, straightened her thin back, and walked step by step towards Zhang Fuan, towards the palace sedan parked outside the door, symbolizing the mystery of the deep palace.

Every step is taken on lingering dust and unpredictable dangers.

…

The journey into the palace was long and arduous, and the moment one stepped into the dead silence of Yanying Palace was like falling into an icy cave.

The sandalwood incense in the hall was so strong that it was choking, but it could not suppress the depression that seeped into the bones.

Yun Zhao lowered his eyes and stared at the cold gold bricks. The chill he had felt when he first entered the palace and heard that two palace maids were killed in a fight for no reason once again crept up his spine.

She knelt, not daring to look up.

Time seemed to stand still, only the heart was beating wildly in his chest. A cup of tea passed, and the emperor, sitting high on the throne, remained silent.

[Kill me or chop me up, do it to me! Did you summon me here just to waste time?!]

[A vindictive tyrant! He must be torturing me for asking him to review the case!]

【How ridiculous! 】

“Bang!”

With a sudden loud bang, the purple-hair brush was slammed heavily onto the imperial desk.

Xiao Jin's icy voice slammed down: "Yun Zhao, do you know why I summoned you?"

【Unpredictable weather! Who knows! 】

"Your Majesty, I don't know. Please tell me clearly." Yun Zhao tried to keep her voice steady.

The dragon-patterned soap boots stopped in front of her.

The cold knuckles suddenly lifted her chin, forcing her to meet those bottomless, cold eyes.

"Why do you insist that your father was wronged?" Every word was filled with a chilling scrutiny.

Yun Zhao straightened her spine, digging her nails into her palms. "I have evidence! It's at the Su family! Your Majesty, send someone to search! If they can't find it, I will sacrifice my life!"

Xiao Jin released his hand and looked down at him: "You go search?"

[Incompetent ruler! Are the Imperial Guards just for show?!]

Xiao Jin's mouth tightened almost imperceptibly. "How did you know the evidence was in the Su family? Prime Minister Su is a senior official of the country! If there is no evidence, and he is guilty of slander, do you know what will happen to the Yun family?"

"Is Su a high-ranking official? My Yun family, with its centuries of loyalty and valor, isn't he?! My brother is still guarding the border for you! You didn't even blink when the Yun family was attacked, but you're so soft-hearted when Su is attacked? How foolish!"

Yun Zhao threw everything at the issue: "The Yun family has nothing left, so why fear losing it all? Your Majesty, a dying man's words are always kind! Since you wish to kill me, why not eliminate a traitor for you before I die?"

[If you die, then die! If you can't even touch a traitor like Su, how can you even talk about being the King of Qin!]

At the mention of the word "King of Qin", Xiao Jin's murderous aura suddenly surged!

He turned around abruptly and slammed his fist down on the imperial desk! The dull thud shook everyone's heart and soul.

【What's the point of getting angry! It's useless! 】

"Yun Zhao!" Xiao Jin's voice was like a poisoned ice blade, piercing straight at him. "I have one final question for you! Your father doesn't know about this, and neither do the court officials. How did you, a woman in seclusion, know about this?!"

[How suspicious! Could it be that I've been reborn and heard Su Mingli say this herself?!]

[Stupid ruler! If you have time to question me, you should have gone searching long ago!]

Rebirth? Su Mingli?

Xiao Jin's gaze suddenly locked onto Yun Zhao. For the first time, that deep pool of eyes was filled with a sharpness as fierce as a storm and...an unbelievable scrutiny?

It was like looking at a madman, or like discovering some shocking secret!