The Jinlin Guards lurking in southern Xinjiang traveled day and night and rode at full speed to bring Elder Hua back to the capital as quickly as possible.

Jinlin Guard Commander Han Ran immediately reported the incident to Emperor Jingming and began to interrogate Elder Hua.

This time the guarding of Elder Hua was extremely strict, with countless Jinlin Guards surrounding the cell where Elder Hua was held, in order to prevent Elder Hua from escaping like he did last time.

"Elder Hua, you still don't say anything?"

Elder Hua, whose hands and feet were entangled by iron chains, stared at Han Ran with bloodshot eyes.

This is already the seventh day that Elder Hua has not been able to rest. During this period, whenever she wants to close her eyes, she will be woken up.

This is one of the interrogation methods used by Jinlin Guard: exhausting people.

It may seem simple, but it has miraculous effects. According to Han Ran's experience, most people would become unconscious after being tortured by this method and would answer any questions.

But Elder Hua was obviously more determined than ordinary people. He looked at Han Ran with anger and determination, and sneered, "You're dreaming!"

Her voice was hoarse as if it had been burned by fire, which made people feel uncomfortable.

Han Ran frowned and said coldly: "Continue asking her questions!"

Soon, a Jinlin Guard took out the questions that he had prepared and started to interrogate Elder Hua. Those questions were very simple, even meaningless. If Elder Hua did not answer, another Jinlin Guard would give her an injection.

When Jin Linwei, who was asking questions, was dry-mouthed, he took turns with his partner who was doing the needle-poking.

Elder Hua's mind gradually became blurred.

Han Ran stood outside the interrogation room with a cold look in his eyes.

The Wu Miao people are indeed difficult to deal with. Even an old woman is so troublesome. No wonder the Great Zhou has always been reluctant to start a war against this mysterious tribe located between the Great Zhou and Nanlan.

But this time he must get the answer, otherwise he will not be able to explain to the emperor.

After spending another two days with Elder Hua, Han Ran asked the question again: "What is your purpose in infiltrating the Great Zhou?"

Elder Hua's eyes were dim, as if he had lost the ability to move. He murmured, "To cooperate with the chess piece that was planted in the palace many years ago."

Han Ran perked up, his eyes bright.

Speak up! Finally, this old woman spoke!

Han Ran's heart was beating rapidly, but he tried his best to keep calm.

At this time he didn't even dare to change his tone, for fear that Elder Hua would regain consciousness due to the slightest abnormality.

He has endured for nine days. If he endures any longer, he will not be able to bear it anymore. He cannot afford to fail at this moment.

"Who is the chess piece of the palace?" Han Ran asked calmly.

Elder Hua's eyelashes trembled, as if he was resisting his sleepy instinct.

Han Ran asked again, in a calm tone: "Who is the chess piece of the palace?"

Elder Hua finally uttered two words: "Empress Dowager."

Han Ran's expression suddenly changed, and his tone changed uncontrollably: "Queen Mother?"

My God, he seemed to have asked something extraordinary.

After an unknown amount of time, Han Ran staggered out of the interrogation room, sparking the curiosity of his subordinates who witnessed the scene.

What's wrong with the Grand Commander? He looks like he has seen a ghost.

Han Ran, who was rushing to the palace at this moment, felt worse than if he had seen a ghost and had an urge to cry.

It is said that Jinlinwei is a glorious commander, but in his opinion, this is just a brain-destroying job.

When he first found out that the emperor was cuckolded by the prince, he was so scared that he couldn't sleep well for several days. Now he knows something even more terrifying than this!

What to do...

Han Ran met Emperor Jingming in the Yangxin Palace with the feeling that he was going to die.

When Emperor Jingming saw Han Ran's expression, which looked like he had lost his parents, his heart sank.

"Could it be that something went wrong during the interrogation and Elder Hua couldn't hold on?"

The progress of the interrogation of Elder Hua is currently Emperor Jingming's top concern, and he calls Han Ran over almost every day to learn about the situation.

On the ninth day, Emperor Jingming was somewhat worried, fearing that Elder Hua would not be able to endure the interrogation like Aunt Duo did.

Han Ran lowered his eyes: "Elder Hua has confessed."

"Confessed?" Emperor Jingming's eyes lit up, and he did not hide his impatience. "Confessed what?"

Han Ran clenched his fists tightly, and veins on the back of his hands were knotted.

He knew that what he would face next would most likely be a storm, but he had no choice but to face it.

"Elder Hua admitted that the Queen Mother was one of their people—"

"What?" Before Han Ran could finish, Emperor Jingming interrupted him and said in a grim tone, "Say it again!"

"Elder Hua admitted that the Queen Mother was theirs, and many years ago, Li Dai Taojiang entered the palace as the Crown Princess..."

Emperor Jingming tried his best to control his emotions and listened silently. After Han Ran finished speaking, he took a deep breath and asked, "Elder Hua, do you mean that the Queen Mother is Wu Miao's pawn?"

"Elder Hua admitted that he was a Xue Miao."

Emperor Jingming's eyelids trembled, and he stood up and paced back and forth in the hall. He was so restless that Han Ran dared not even speak.

After a long time, Emperor Jingming said slowly: "Bring Elder Hua to see me!"

Soon, the haggard Elder Hua appeared before Emperor Jingming.

Emperor Jingming looked at her intently and asked, "Are you from the Xue Miao people?"

Once a person confesses, his demeanor changes completely. This is the case with Elder Hua, who looks dejected and hopeless.

She nodded numbly.

"If that's the case, why did your ancestors open a shop on Xishi Street as Wu Miao people?"

"Reduce the troubles for our clan." Elder Hua still had a blank expression.

Emperor Jingming gritted his teeth and asked the following question: "What is your purpose?"

Elder Hua's eyelids trembled, and he said in a flat tone: "It makes the Great Zhou emperor have no heir."

The Great Zhou Emperor had no heir——

When Emperor Jingming heard this, he immediately thought of many things and asked with a pale face: "Former Crown Prince——"

Elder Hua continued, "It was Nanny Duo who instigated Concubine Yang to seduce the former crown prince, in order to make the former crown prince lose his reputation and be abandoned..."

Emperor Jingming's head was buzzing and he figured out many things.

Although Lang'er is fond of women, there are countless beauties in the world. If he was not being plotted against, how could he dare to have any thoughts about his concubine?

"I didn't expect you to be so soft-hearted that you actually reinstated the crown prince. The queen mother had no choice but to let the maid who served the former crown prince hint that he had committed treason with a puppet... This time, the former crown prince was finally eliminated—"

"Shut up!" Emperor Jingming shouted, his eyes bulging.

Anger, regret, self-blame...all these emotions almost drove him crazy.

"Is this also the reason for the attack on Fuqing?"

"yes."

Emperor Jingming was furious but still had a clear mind: "Could it be that the Queen Mother's childlessness is also related to this?"

"She is here to replace the real Crown Princess, so naturally she cannot have children."

Emperor Jingming closed his eyes, his face pale: "Why do you do this? What benefit will this bring to you?"

"The Xue Miao and Wu Miao are born from the same origin, and their fortunes rise and fall as one tribe. The former great elder of the Wu Miao once left a prophecy that the prosperity of the Wu Miao is closely related to the bloodline of the Great Zhou Emperor. Our tribe has learned the prophecy and of course we cannot sit idly by and watch the Wu Miao continue to grow, which will prevent our tribe from ever recovering..."

Emperor Jingming trembled his lips and took a deep breath: "How do I know that you are not framing the Queen Mother and want to see chaos in the royal family of my Great Zhou?"

Elder Hua said calmly: "I can prove it, but I have a request."

"You say."