Chapter 17 Threats
Inside the hall, everyone's eyes were fixed on Shen He.
There is curiosity, exploration, schadenfreude, and also... deep fear.
A gleam of light flashed in the empress dowager's eyes, and her hand holding the teacup was as steady as a rock.
He continued to announce, his voice cold and icy, "Crown Prince Xiao Jinghuan and Third Prince Xiao Jingren will assist you and ensure that Shen He's investigation is conducted impartially and without hindrance."
No one obstructed?
I'm afraid these two people are the easiest to obstruct.
Now that these two people are placed in such a position, they have to think twice before trying to interfere.
The emperor is the emperor after all. The imperial edict has been issued, the three-way balance of power is established, and the pattern is set!
Chen He only felt that the jade piece in his palm suddenly became hot and heavy as a thousand pounds!
What kind of jade piece is this?
This is clearly a hot potato thrown down by the emperor, a death warrant, and also... a huge opportunity!
She took a deep breath and clenched the jade piece tightly, her fingertips turning slightly white due to the force.
"Your humble servant, Chen He, accepts your command and expresses gratitude!"
The voice was not loud, but it carried an unwavering determination to move forward!
Just at this moment, Chen He's eyes moved, and he keenly caught the subtle movements of the third prince Xiao Jingren beside him.
His hands hanging at his sides suddenly tightened!
There was only an extremely slight "crack" sound of shattering, which was covered by the wide sleeves. If you didn't look carefully, you wouldn't be able to notice it at all!
But the fine mutton-fat jade pendant hanging around his waist... was definitely cracked!
Chen He's heart sank suddenly!
She was too familiar with this habitual action, as if it was engraved deep in her memory and could never be erased.
In his previous life, every time Xiao Jingren wanted to kill someone who was an eyesore, he would subconsciously clench the object in his hand, whether it was a jade pendant or a cup!
Chen He calmly glanced at Crown Prince Xiao Jinghuan, who was standing on the other side with his head bowed, accepting orders.
The prince still had that gentle, respectful, frugal look on his face, as if it had nothing to do with him.
But Chen He clearly saw that the thumb of his right hand, which was wearing the emerald ring, was unconsciously rubbing the cold and smooth edge of the ring over and over again.
The speed was not fast, but it revealed an indescribable tension.
The emperor's decree was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, stirring up huge waves and stirring up the undercurrent at the bottom.
Inside Yongshou Palace, the atmosphere became increasingly eerie and solemn.
A storm surrounding the broken jade bracelet has taken shape!
And Chen He, the newly reborn Avenger, was suddenly pushed to the center of the storm!
***
The heavy gate of Yongshou Palace slowly closed behind him, isolating him from the unpredictable situation inside.
Chen He let out a long sigh, and his tense nerves seemed to finally get a break.
It was already late, and the glazed palace lanterns on both sides of the palace road lit up one after another. The dim light barely dispelled the twilight, but cast deeper shadows at the corners of the palace walls.
Chen He gathered his sleeves, wanting only to leave this oppressive palace as soon as possible.
She quickened her pace, wanting only to return to the Shen Mansion, a place that seemed safe but was actually fraught with danger.
However, just as she turned past a vermilion palace wall and was about to step onto the white marble road leading to the palace gate—
Suddenly!
A tall figure, like a ghost, silently flashed out from the shadow of the corner, blocking her way!
Chen He's heart was filled with alarm! He suddenly stopped and looked up!
"Chen, He."
The sinister voice, like a poisonous snake spitting out its tongue, carried a biting chill as it rang out in the silent palace corridor.
It's him!
The third prince, Xiao Jingren!
He stood with his hands behind his back, his face as gloomy as the sky before a storm, and in his narrow and long phoenix eyes, there surged undisguised anger and... murderous intent!
Chen He's heart tightened, but he didn't dare show it on his face.
She lowered her head, bowed her head, and saluted respectfully: "Your Highness, the Third Prince, is here to see you."
Xiao Jingren seemed not to see it and slowly approached her step by step.
The invisible pressure, like a heavy mountain, crushed towards Chen He.
"Chen He," he stopped only three steps away from her, his voice as cold as ice, "You are so brave!"
"You dare to take on the jade bracelet case?"
Chen He curled her fingertips slightly and forced herself to remain calm: "Your Highness, this is His Majesty's command, and I... dare not disobey."
"Oh, Holy Order?"
Xiao Jingren let out a short and contemptuous sneer, as if he had heard a huge joke.
"Do you think you, a lowly little woman, are qualified to inquire about the royal secrets?"
"Or do you really think that you can shake the towering tree of this prince and the queen with this?"
His voice was full of arrogance and disdain.
Before he finished speaking, a cold light flashed in Xiao Jingren's eyes and he suddenly attacked!
Not a hit, nor a grab, but a hard push!
"Bang!"
Chen He was caught off guard and was pushed back several steps by him, and her back hit the cold and hard palace wall heavily!
"Well!"
The violent collision made Shen He groan, and his back felt a burning pain, as if his bones were about to break!
The rough texture of the bricks and the uneven, painful gaps between them...
This collision was like a switch!
moment!
In the previous life, in the dungeon, I was tied to the rack, whipped by cold iron chains, with my back pressed against the equally rough and cold wall. The despair and pain... surged in like a tide!
Those memories of fear and pain that were deep in the bone marrow exploded!
Chen He's face suddenly turned as pale as paper, and even his lips lost their color!
She began to tremble slightly uncontrollably.
Xiao Jingren was obviously very satisfied with her reaction. He slowly approached, and his tall figure almost completely covered her in shadow.
He raised his hand, the hand that had just crushed the mutton-fat jade pendant.
Slender, bony fingers, with a chilling chill, slowly and with a cruelty that was almost intimate, slid across Chen He's slender, white neck...
Finally, it stopped at her fragile throat!
That position!
In her previous life, Xiao Jingren had done just that, strangling her throat and making her watch her father being tortured!
Shen He's body stiffened instantly!
The blood seemed to freeze at this moment!
My breathing was strangled!
The suffocating fear, like a cold poisonous snake, wrapped around her heart, making her almost unable to move!
"Chen He," Xiao Jingren's voice was very low, with a venomous hiss, reaching her ears, "Do you know... what happened to the last person who dared to disobey this prince and tried to pry into things he shouldn't know?"
His fingertips applied a little pressure, feeling the subtle pulse beating under the skin of her neck.
"She was like a pitiful little bird," he said with a cruel smile, but there was no trace of laughter in his eyes. "This prince... crushed her throat with his own hands. She couldn't even let out a final wail."
The shadow of death looms so clearly!
The back was against the cold and rough palace wall, and the cracks between the bricks were painful, like the scars of torture in a previous life.
The demon was closing in on her, and the coldness from his fingertips almost pierced her skin.
Chen He bit her lower lip tightly, the intense pain and humiliation allowing her to maintain the last bit of clarity.
Don’t be afraid!
She told herself.
In this life, she must never allow herself to be slaughtered like she did in her previous life!
She forced herself to raise her head and meet Xiao Jingren's eyes that were filled with brutality and murderous intent. There was an unyielding stubbornness and... a barely perceptible sneer in his eyes.
At this moment when the situation was tense and Chen He almost thought he was going to make the same mistake again——
“Wow—!!”
Without any warning, a startling cry of a child resounded through the silent palace!
The crying was loud and clear, with a trembling tone of grievance, and it was very penetrating!
Xiao Jingren's movements suddenly stopped, and the threatening words were stuck in his throat.
A trace of displeasure and irritation at being interrupted flashed across his face, and he frowned.
Chen He was also stunned and subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound.
At the corner of the palace wall, a man in a bright yellow brocade robe stumbled out.
The man was clearly an adult, but he ran with his mouth wide open, crying loudly, his face covered with tears and snot, and he looked extremely sad like a child.
What is even more eye-catching is that he is holding a long silk thread tightly in his hand.
At the other end of the silk thread was a crudely made kite with a funny face painted on it. The kite looked like it had just experienced a catastrophe. It was crooked and looked like it would fall apart at any time.
Xiao Jingchi seemed completely immersed in his own sorrow and didn't even notice the two people blocking the way ahead.
Or rather, with his childlike mind, he didn't realize how dangerous and strange the situation was.
He ran forward sobbing, his footing was unstable and he was about to fall, his little body rushed straight towards Xiao Jingren!
A trace of disgust flashed in Xiao Jingren's eyes, and he subconsciously turned sideways to avoid it.
However!
In the blink of an eye!
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