Chapter 30 The Thirty-second Kill

Xiaoyu raised her eyebrows, obviously agreeing with Tian Xiaohui's words.

Tian Xiaohui glared at her and wanted to attack Xiaoyu, but after moving her body for a moment, she was tied tightly to the rack by the ropes again.

She couldn't move and could only vent her anger.

"You are just like them, a sinister and cunning person! Sooner or later, I will peel off the skin and pull out the tendons of all of you to comfort my father's spirit in heaven!"

Xiaoyu picked his ears and said coldly, "You are almost dead, and you still think about your father's spirit in heaven."

Tian Xiaohui's body trembled, and she looked at Xiaoyu warily: "Are you going to kill me?"

Xiaoyu looked at her like she was crazy: "You are talking nonsense. Have you ever seen anyone who failed in assassinating the prince and still managed to get out alive?"

Tian Xiaohui stretched her neck and shouted, "I'll take your head or my life. Since I've failed, you can do whatever you want with me!"

Xiaoyu would have left if she was such a stubborn and stubborn person. But thinking of Zhou Xunran, Xiaoyu held back and tried to persuade Tian Xiaohui: "Don't you want to know who the real murderer of your father is?"

Tian Xiaohui stared at Xiaoyu suspiciously, "Isn't it Zhou Xunran?"

"Who told you that the murderer was the prince?"

"Of course it's my cousin..." Tian Xiaohui stopped and stared at Xiaoyu: "Why should I tell you!"

Cousin? There are so many cousins. Xiaoyu secretly noted, "Don't just listen to hearsay. Think about it. If the prince wanted to kill him, why did he go through so much trouble to demote him first and wait until he left the capital before taking action?"

Tian Xiaohui was still looking for excuses: ".....He was afraid that people would find out about our private discussions!"

"Did he have a good reputation at that time?!" Although Xiaoyu didn't want to admit it, he still said this.

Tian Xiaohui was speechless. Since the current emperor succeeded to the throne, Zhou Xunran became the regent who supported the government. He was drastic and ruthless in his actions, and his methods were sinister and vicious. If he disliked someone, he would never use such a roundabout method. He would first demote the person, and then take action quietly outside the capital at night.

Instead, he dealt with the person on the spot.

Officials in the court were discussing this, but no one dared to express their opinions in front of him.

It has been exactly eight years now, and apart from Lord Cao, no one else in the court has power comparable to his.

Tian Xiaohui looked at Xiaoyu.

Xiaoyu understood her look: "Who else could it be? Someone from the Manchu dynasty. Think about it, besides the prince's political enemies, there are still people who dare to go against him and frame him for this matter."

Tian Xiaohui's tone softened, but still remained firm: "Why should I believe you?"

Xiaoyu stepped forward and untied the rope around her: "Then why do you believe those who told you that the prince was the murderer? They only have their mouths, no evidence, right? How can you be sure that you are not being used by them?"

"They are my relatives!"

"Your family asked you to assassinate them, but you hid far away?" Xiaoyu put down the last rope and said with disdain, "You are so stupid. You were sold out for nothing, and now you are saying good things to others."

Tian Xiaohui blushed at what she said, and the wounds on her body from being whipped were painful and numb. Seeing Xiaoyu had his back to her and was not on guard at all, Tian Xiaohui narrowed her eyes, raised her right hand and wanted to knock Xiaoyu unconscious so that she could escape.

Unexpectedly, it seemed as if there were eyes behind her, and she said quietly: "Put down your hand. If I faint here, you will never be able to escape."

Tian Xiaohui bent her fingers, "Then why did you untie me?"

"Of course I'll take you to find evidence."

"What evidence?"

Xiaoyu turned around and looked at her: "Evidence that Cao Shipeng framed our prince."

Tian Xiaohui still didn't believe her and sneered, "I want to see what you can come up with."

After leaving the interrogation room, there was a long corridor outside, with torches burning fiercely hung on the walls every half a meter. Tian Xiaohui endured the pain in her feet and followed Xiaoyu out, the deep and dark night gradually appeared in front of her.

When she walked out of the private prison, Tian Xiaohui saw dozens of guards standing in two rows in the open space in front of the door.

A man who looked like a death row inmate was kneeling on the ground.

His clothes had been torn and cut by the torture instruments, the rips of his clothes stained red with blood. He lay on the ground, his messy hair clotted with dried sweat and blood.

"Cousin!" Tian Xiaohui screamed and wanted to go over to help him, but she forgot her own injuries and lost her strength and fell to the ground.

Directly opposite them, Zhou Xunran sat in an armchair, his eyes as calm as a lake containing the abyss.

Xiaoyu walked over and stood beside him.

Tian Xiaohui still didn't give up, and half crawled and half walked to the front of the prisoner, "Cousin, cousin."

Tian Xiaohui, who could endure even torture and humiliation, was now crying.

Xiaoyu felt a little uneasy and reached out to hold Zhou Xunran's arm which was resting on the armrest of the chair.

Zhou Xunran looked up at her, then covered her hand with his open palm, "Xiaoyu, you go back first."

The little fish shook its head.

Zhou Xunran only gave her this piece of advice, and when he saw that she refused, he stopped trying to persuade her.

"His name is Jiang Kangping. He is the eldest son of Tian Xiaohui's uncle Jiang Wenjie. He now serves in the court. After Tian Xiaohui's father Tian Mansheng was demoted, the Jiang family cut off their marriage relationship with the Tian family in order to protect themselves. Only this Jiang Kangping has devoted himself to the Tian family and served them wholeheartedly."

The little fish looked at him.

Zhou Xunran continued, "My people found out that Jiang Kangping had defected to Cao Shipeng three years ago. The reason why Tian Mansheng was killed this time was that he learned the details of Tian Mansheng's departure from Beijing from Tian Xiaohui and secretly revealed them to Cao Shipeng."

Tian Xiaohui held Jiang Kangping's head and shouted after hearing Zhou Xunran's words: "You are talking nonsense! My cousin would never harm my father! It's all your fault! You wanted to frame my cousin!"

Zhou Xunran did not answer her, but looked at Zhou Yi beside him.

Zhou Yi stepped forward and kicked Jiang Kangping hard.

Jiang Kangping coughed, woke up from his coma, and made some movements.

"Cousin? Cousin." Tian Xiaohui hugged him and cried.

Jiang Kangping struggled to speak: "Xiaohui."

"Cousin, it's me, Xiaohui. Who beat you up like this? Tell me, cousin, and I'll avenge you."

Jiang Kangping struggled to sit up, but his body was soft and twisted as if he had no bones. He was in so much pain that he could hardly speak.

"Xiaohui, it is your cousin who is sorry for you. But Xiaohui," he paused for a moment before saying, "Lord Cao promised me that after this matter is over, he would help me ascend to the top. Your cousin really has no other choice."

Tian Xiaohui kept shaking her head: "Cousin, he is the one threatening you, right? He must be the one threatening you!"

Her eyes were red and bloodshot, and she looked at Zhou Xunran fiercely: "Cousin, wait for me to avenge you!"

Jiang Kangping held her hand tightly, took two quick breaths, and wanted to say something: "No..."

But his body could not hold on, and the hand holding Tian Xiaohui fell heavily on her legs.

Zhou Xunran didn't want to watch any more, so he waved to Zhou Yi, then stood up and walked out with Xiaoyu.

Xiaoyu asked anxiously, "Prince, is what Jiang Kangping said true?"

Zhou Xunran nodded, "No one can fool me."

The night was dark, and the cool dew fell on his hair, turning into a thin mist. Even his cloak was emitting a cool feeling.

"My Lord, go back and rest."

Zhou Xunran responded, "Wu Jing just reported that he and Qiu Tang will be returning to Qizhou tomorrow. Do you want to see them off?"

After leaving the prison yard, there was no one else around the two of them. Zhou Xunran's back was no longer as straight as before, but instead appeared slightly hunched.

Xiaoyu said distressedly: "I won't go, I will stay in the mansion with the prince."

Zhou Xunran lowered the corners of his lips that were raised, "Tomorrow I want to eat silver thread tofu soup."

Xiaoyu didn't see his little thought, but thought carefully: "But my knife skills are not good, the tofu shreds I cut are not as thin as silver needles."

"Zhang Chuanjiang is good at knife work. Let him help you."

If she asked Zhang Chuanjiang to help her cut tofu, Xiaoyu could imagine that he would definitely give up because of his loud voice and would even shout unwillingly: "Let me help her? Why don't you kill me with a knife!"

Xiaoyu shook his head to shake off the horrifying scene and said, "I'll think of a solution."

"Okay, I'll take that as your promise." Zhou Xunran said.

Silver thread tofu soup is easy to make, but it takes time. It takes one or two hours just to prepare the ingredients. In this way, she has to stay in the kitchen all morning and cannot leave.

After letting Xiaoyu go back to rest, Zhou Xunran stayed in the room and did not fall asleep.

After half an hour, there were two knocks on the door, and Zhou Yi's voice came out from the crack of the door: "Prince, Tian Xiaohui escaped."

Most of Zhou Xunran's body was in the shadow of the bed curtains, and his voice was colder than the cold night: "According to the plan."

Xiaoyu didn't know what was happening outside. She got up early and went to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients for silver thread tofu soup.

Just as she became proficient in cutting tofu, the palace's doorman came to look for her and said, "Wu Jing and his family came to look for you, saying they want to say goodbye."

Yesterday, Zhou Xunran had already mentioned to her that Wu Jing and Qiu Tang were leaving Beijing for Qizhou today. Xiao Yu felt guilty for not being able to see Qiu Tang off.

Now hearing that they came to the palace to look for her, Xiaoyu took off her apron and asked, "Where are they now?"

The doorman said, "Wu Jing has handed in his badge and is no longer a palace guard. He can enter the palace for any reason. They are all waiting outside the palace."

Xiaoyu asked the chief steward for some more banknotes before rushing to the door.

Wu Jing found a carriage and went back. When he saw Xiaoyu coming out, he quickly opened the curtain and said, "Qiutang, Miss Xiaoyu is out."

Qiutang got out of the car through the car curtain he opened.

"Little fish."

Behind her, Mrs. Wu and Uncle Wu got off the carriage one after another and stood in front of it, looking at them.

Being stared at by these six pairs of eyes, Xiaoyu felt a little uncomfortable. She took Qiutang's hand and walked to the palace gate, handing her the banknote: "This is a little gift from me. The journey is long and arduous, so Sister Qiutang must not refuse it."

Qiu Tang held her hand tightly, unable to hide the hesitation in her eyes.

Xiaoyu realized that she was not hesitant about whether to accept the banknote, but must have other requests.

"Sister Qiutang?"

Qiu Tang bit her lower lip and said, "Xiao Yu, I beg you for a favor."

Xiaoyu nodded, indicating that she should continue.

Qiu Tang said, "I heard that someone from Qizhou came to Beijing to file a complaint, and the prince has sent people to investigate. You also know that Jing's family is working in Qizhou. If... I mean if, if this matter involves Jing's family, can you help deal with it?"

Xiaoyu paused for a moment, and suddenly understood the purpose of her, Madam Wu, and Uncle Wu coming to the palace. Thinking of the reluctance to leave the palace in Wu Jing's eyes, Xiaoyu asked, "Does Wu Jing know about this?"

Qiu Tang shook her head, her eyelids drooped, and the tears in her eyes were about to flow out.

"I know this is difficult for you. But Madam Wu told me that as long as you agree, she will let me in. It has not been easy for Jingge and I to come this far, Xiaoyu..."

She stared at the little fish pleadingly.