With a "plop," Lin Zhi hurriedly knelt on the ground, slowly raised his head, and looked at Chen Zhennan with a face full of injustice.
"Your Majesty, what do you mean by that? This humble servant has no knowledge of any Shadow Organization, let alone any inside agent."
Chen Zhennan sneered upon hearing this: "Lin Zhi, how long are you going to keep up this act?"
Lin Zhi looked completely wronged and protested, "Your Majesty, I am really not a member of any Shadow Organization. You must have misunderstood."
"Misunderstand?"
Chen Zhennan snorted and stood up, slowly walking to Lin Zhi.
"No one outside the city knew that I chose to take the route through the Great Yan. How could the Imperial Guards of Beirong City have known my whereabouts in advance and laid an ambush? However, that ambush was not for assassination, but to lure me to Beirong City, right?"
Lin Zhi frowned slightly and asked in return, "What does this prove?"
Chen Zhennan continued his recollection, saying, "After entering Beirong City, the Shadow Organization's plan officially began. Xiang Hao took the initiative to admit to the existence of a mysterious organization. He probably didn't know much; he was just a small pawn. The real mastermind behind it all was you."
Lin Zhi's expression darkened as Chen Zhennan spoke, and he said angrily, "Xiang Hao's death was an accident. I have no idea what happened."
"Xiang Hao's death was not an accident at all; he died at your hands, Lin Zhi!"
Upon hearing this, Yan Shiyu hurriedly went to Chen Zhennan's side.
With a furrowed brow, he hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, Lin Zhi has worked tirelessly and saved me twice during this time. How could he possibly be an inside agent of the Shadow Organization?"
His eyes revealed his trust in Lin Zhi, as if he were defending an innocent person.
Chen Zhennan's eyes were sharp, and he smiled slightly, a smile with a hint of amusement.
"Shiyu, you once told me about how Lin Zhi saved you in prison. The prison was so dimly lit at the time, yet Lin Zhi was able to stand right by the door and see the poisoned needle next to Xiang Hao's body. Didn't you even realize that Lin Zhi's eyesight was that good?"
Yan Shiyu grunted, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes. Recalling everything that had happened in the prison, he continued to defend Lin Zhi: "Maybe there was some glare at the time, and Lin Zhi just happened to notice it."
His voice carried a hint of uncertainty, as if he were searching for a plausible explanation.
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhi nodded hurriedly, his voice tinged with urgency: "Yes, Your Majesty, it was precisely because of the reflection of the poisoned needle that I discovered it."
Lin Zhi's eyes revealed a hint of pleading, as if seeking Chen Zhennan's understanding.
Chen Zhennan gave a puzzled "oh" and continued to ask, "The poison needle is completely black, and the prison is dimly lit, so how does it reflect light?"
Lin Zhi paused, as if he had suddenly thought of something.
"I only noticed it because the tip of the poisoned needle turned white." Lin Zhi's eyes held a hint of expectation, hoping that this explanation would satisfy Chen Zhennan.
"Lin Zhi, you're really something."
Chen Zhennan couldn't help but nod. Having such a mole by his side meant that this Shadow was truly extraordinary.
"After you killed Xiang Hao, you waited until the next morning to report the news, saving Yan Shiyu's life, gaining his trust and clearing yourself of suspicion."
Chen Zhennan's words were like a sharp knife, cutting through Lin Zhi's psychological defenses.
Lin Zhi's expression changed slightly. He wanted to explain something, but Chen Zhennan raised his hand to stop him.
"Don't explain anything, let me continue. Then, under my orders, you found the tunnel, and the handprint on the windowsill outside should be yours, Lin Zhi's, right?"
Cold sweat beaded on Lin Zhi's forehead, his lips trembled slightly, but he couldn't utter a single word. Chen Zhennan's speculation was like an impenetrable net, tightly enveloping him.
Chen Zhennan slowly walked towards Lin Zhi and continued, "After discovering the secret passage, my attention was completely focused on investigating that mysterious organization. Then, when I entered the Xiang residence, Xia Kexin deliberately revealed flaws, which deepened my suspicions."
Lin Zhi's face turned even paler, and he said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, you've misunderstood, I..."
Before he could finish speaking, Chen Zhennan interrupted him again.
"Afterwards, Yan Shiyu led people to investigate the back garden of the Xiang family, but no one found anything. However, it was you, Lin Zhi, who discovered the secret passage in the well, which immediately convinced me that Xia Kexin was a member of the Shadow Organization."
Following Chen Zhennan's words, Yan Shiyu also felt strange and began to ponder.
"After the assassination at Huaming Palace, I led a thorough search, and it turned out that it was you, Lin Zhi, who discovered the secret passage in Jiang Wenyu's palace, making everyone think they had found clues to that organization. But from beginning to end, the clues that Lin Zhi discovered were all insignificant."
Upon hearing Yan Shiyu's words, Lin Zhi's face instantly turned to despair, his eyes filled with grievance and anger.
"Your Majesty, Captain, you have really misunderstood me. I am absolutely loyal, and everything I have done is for Your Majesty and for the Great Yan."
Lin Zhi still refused to admit it, but Chen Zhennan was not in a hurry, his eyes filled with a deep look.
"Shiyu, tie Lin Zhi up, then go enjoy yourself. Bring Xia Kexin to Huaming Palace."
Upon hearing this, Yan Shiyu, though somewhat hesitant, nodded and signaled his special forces team members to tie up Lin Zhi.
Although Lin Zhi tried to break free, he could only surrender and wait for Chen Zhennan's trial.
Subsequently, Yan Shiyu led the special forces team to the Xiang residence.
The gates of the Xiang residence were tightly shut, but the place was bustling with noise as people prepared for the funeral. Xia Kexin stood in front of the mourning hall, her face solemn.
Yan Shiyu slowly walked up to Xia Kexin and said calmly, "It's probably not possible to hold the burial tonight. No one from the Xiang family can leave."
Xia Kexin's expression changed slightly, and a hint of worry flashed in her eyes: "General Yan, according to the custom that the coffin should be laid to rest when the sun sets, my husband should be buried tonight. If we wait until the burial date after tonight, we will have to wait another five days. By then, the body will have decomposed, and I'm afraid it may cause an epidemic."
Yan Shiyu didn't care about rules or regulations; a cold glint appeared in his eyes.
"Rules? What do rules matter in the face of His Majesty's orders?"
He waved his hand, signaling his men to tie Xia Kexin up.
Xia Kexin's face turned even paler, and she asked tremblingly, "General Yan, what are you doing? I am innocent."
"Innocence?" Yan Shiyu sneered, a hint of disdain in his eyes. "Innocence isn't something you can decide. Xia Kexin, come with me."
"Wait, General Yan, may I ask why? Why does the Emperor want to see me?"
Yan Shiyu pursed his lips, seemingly hesitant, but still slowly explained, "To tell you the truth, you probably won't survive this trip. Lin Zhi has already confessed everything, saying you're an accomplice and that you're one of the Shadow's people."
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