"Even when facing death, you show no remorse and blame your initial plan for not being thorough enough. Xie Lingyu, you truly deserve to die a thousand deaths."
"Death?" Xie Lingyu suddenly changed from her previous deathly expression. As if remembering something, she slowly stood up from the ground and glared at Xie Lingqin. "I want to see Xie Danling. He will definitely save me."
"Xie Danling?" Xie Lingqin sneered, "Even now, you're still harboring such schemes, still trying to take advantage of that kid's stupidity?"
"Of course, Dan Dan listens to me the most. If I die, Dan Ling will not let you off the hook."
"Xie Danling..." Xie Lingqin suddenly stopped, raised her hand, and lightly tapped the iron cage. A cold smile appeared in her eyes. "That's true. When I returned to the manor today, he was still asking me if I still didn't believe you. He didn't believe you would do so many bad things. He didn't believe you were a fake Xie Lingyu. He didn't believe that you had been deceiving her all these years."
"Really? Hehe." Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope suddenly appeared in Xie Lingyu's eyes as she looked at Xie Lingqin. "That's right. Over the years, Danling has always listened to me the most. He definitely wouldn't leave me to die."
Hearing this, Xie Lingqin glanced at a certain place out of the corner of her eye, then chuckled, "Yes, he's stupid enough, idiotic enough."
"Of course, to be honest, he's not as good as you. He's smart enough, but he's too obedient to me. He believes whatever I say. If I say you're bad, he believes me. If I say you hit me, scolded me, or bullied me, he believes me. When my mother and I suggested we get a maid in the room to take care of him, he believed us. He has no idea that we just wanted to control him better. Haha, as soon as I act pitiful, he cares about me..." Xie Lingyu became more and more smug as she spoke. "He will definitely come to see me. As long as he comes, I will definitely have a chance to live."
"Is that so? Then you'll just have to wait and see." Xie Lingqin raised her eyelids slightly, stopped talking, and walked outside.
Zihe waited there, watching Xie Lingqin arrive before following her out of the dungeon.
However, as she left the dungeon, Zihe glanced furtively at a certain spot out of the corner of her eye before looking away.
"Miss, are we not going to do anything about it?" Zihe asked.
Xie Lingqin shook her head slightly, "No need."
"Having experienced this firsthand, I wonder if you, sir, can understand."
"The human heart is the hardest thing to control. If someone has already become so foolish, there is no point in trying to save them," Xie Lingqin said.
As I stepped out of the dungeon, a cool breeze swept over me, causing my skirt to rustle slightly.
Under a crescent moon, the Prefect of the Capital stood there, looking quite dashing. When he saw Xie Lingqin come out, he immediately stepped forward with a smile, his face friendly and exceptionally polite. “Miss Xie, it’s so late. Why have you come to this dungeon? You can speak directly to me and the people here.”
"Lord Huo, you are too kind. This is just a small matter. It has a deep grudge with this little kitten over the years in the General's Mansion. Before, in front of the Emperor and Empress, she talked about the persecution she had done to me over the years. I am not a saint, so I naturally had to come and question her properly. It is not appropriate to trouble you with such a small matter."
Xie Lingqin's voice was clear and upright, neither arrogant nor servile.
His posture was upright, and his features were pleasing to the eye.
Lord Huo had already held Xie Lingqin in high regard because of the previous assassin incident, but now, seeing the girl's resolute and courageous demeanor, he was even more impressed. He felt that the Emperor's decision, regardless of its underlying purpose, was at least a wise move for the time being.
However, investigating cases has always been a man's job, and it's unclear how Miss Xie intends to proceed.
"It's getting late, Lord Huo, you should go back to sleep early. I'm also heading back to my residence. I'll come to ask you for advice again tomorrow."
Xie Lingqin was extremely polite, and the Prefect of the Capital immediately moved aside, saying, "Then, I'll see you off."
"No need. Your Excellency is an official appointed by the imperial court. I have only been ordered by the emperor to investigate two cases related to the General's Mansion. Some things should be done the way they should be, and no one should overstep their bounds. I am aware of this rule."
After Xie Lingqin finished speaking, she cupped her hands in farewell to the Emperor of Jingzhao and said, "Farewell."
Unlike the usual gentle and graceful way of a refined lady, this cupped-hand gesture exuded a heroic air.
Upon first glance, this sight left the Prefect of the Capital somewhat stunned.
After all, he had seen Xie Lingqin's mother, Zong Zhengxu, the eldest daughter of the Zong government, back then, that beautiful and charming woman.
Only after Xie Lingqin had walked far away did the Prefect of the Capital sigh and withdraw his gaze.
Not far away, in a corner, Huo Yanru finally withdrew her gaze indignantly, stomping her feet in frustration. "This Xie Lingqin actually received such a great imperial decree, even my father is turning against her. I even colluded with that fake Xie Lingyu to bully her before, she will definitely take revenge on me."
"As long as you behave yourself, no one will want to retaliate against you."
As Huo Yanru was reciting her prayers, a dark shadow loomed over her. When she looked up, she saw her father standing in front of her, looking at her with a stern expression.
"Father……"
"Don't cause trouble, understand?"
Huo Yanru was taken aback for a moment, then nodded, somewhat reluctantly replying, "Daughter understands."
...
As dusk fell, fewer and fewer people appeared on the streets.
"Miss, that was what Xiao Gouzi said just now. Who do you think that person was back then?"
Xie Lingqin shook her head, her face seemingly imbued with an unyielding white light under the moonlight. "I don't know."
"Miss, should we ask the Crown Prince? He is very powerful and might be able to find out the truth."
Xie Lingqin shook her head again, "Let's talk about this later, I don't have any clue yet."
Furthermore, she didn't want to have to ask Yuwen Yao for everything.
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