Liu Yifu gently placed his hand on Jiang Zhijing's palm. The other party's expression remained unchanged, only staring at him curiously: "Well? Has Lord Liu noticed anything?"
He narrowed his eyes slightly and chuckled softly: "The princess's destiny is beyond measure. Although her first half of life has been full of hardships, she will rise to great heights in the second half."
Jiang Zhijing was somewhat surprised, then slowly smiled and said, "Then thank you for your kind words, sir."
"But I have a question," Liu Yifu suddenly changed the subject, his eyes filled with inquiry, and asked meaningfully, "Is the princess really only sixteen?"
The atmosphere fell silent instantly.
Jiang Zhijing looked at him with her clear, innocent eyes: "Then, according to your opinion, how old should I be?"
This woman has exceptional mental fortitude, unlike any of the prisoners he has interrogated before.
Liu Yifu's lips curled up slightly: "Judging from the princess's appearance, I thought she was at most fourteen or fifteen years old."
Jiang Zhijing blinked, smiled, and lowered her eyes: "I thought you were praising me, sir."
After Liu Yifu left, the maid's eyes turned cold: "Your Highness, did Liu Yifu perhaps see through something?"
Jiang Zhijing chuckled lightly: "Do you really think he can feel bones? He's just trying to trick me."
Her eyes deepened, and a smile played on her lips. "Well, this person is rather interesting."
...
"Does Lord Liu really know how to read bones?" Shen Tangning asked, voicing her doubts.
Liu Yifu calmly shook his head: "Of course not."
She was speechless for a moment. How could he remain so composed?
Perhaps sensing her thoughts, he coughed awkwardly and said, "It was just a test. I have a feeling this princess is not simple."
Shen Tangning smiled and asked, "Did you find anything out, sir?"
Liu Yifu's gaze sharpened: "Although she didn't reveal any flaws, she pursed her lips when I said she was more than sixteen, which proves that she was agitated."
“When I said she was only fourteen or fifteen, her expression visibly relaxed, so I think your guess is correct, she is definitely more than sixteen.”
Shen Tangning looked thoughtful: "But why would she hide her age? Could it be..." Her gaze paused, "...that this princess is a fake?"
This is also what Liu Yifu couldn't understand: "If the State of Qi tries to fool us with a fake princess, what benefit could they possibly gain?"
——
Chi Yan looked at the woman on the rack; it was the dancer who had attempted to assassinate the emperor.
Even before the incident, she had considered biting into the poison hidden between her teeth to commit suicide, but unfortunately, it was too late.
Now that his jaw has been removed, it's difficult for him to bite his tongue and commit suicide.
Chi Yan looked at the woman covered in wounds, a faint pity in his eyes. She had been tortured ever since she entered the imperial prison, and now she was covered in wounds.
However, those who torture her always find a way to keep her alive while torturing her.
He quickly composed himself, his expression calm: "The punishments here are unbearable even for a seven-foot-tall man, so why should you, a woman, suffer like this? Do you think the person behind you will come to your rescue if you remain so defiant to the death?"
The woman had her head down, as if she had fainted. Someone splashed a bucket of cold water on her, and she immediately jolted awake and raised her head.
Those dark eyes were devoid of any emotion, simply staring at Chi Yan. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly:
This guy is obviously tough; it would be a miracle if he even got the answer!
The Minister of Justice frowned: "Top scholar, there's no need to waste words with her. I think she won't shed a tear until she sees the coffin!"
As the scorching red-hot branding iron drew near, a flicker of emotion finally appeared in the woman's eyes. Chi Yan then said, "Wait a minute, she seems to have something to say!"
He ordered someone to reattach her chin. Her voice was weak and hoarse. The Minister of Justice couldn't help but lean closer to listen. The woman gave a low, cold laugh: "You bunch of corrupt officials, I spit on you!"
The Minister of Justice was spat on, and looking at Chi Yan, he realized that he had wisely avoided getting close in the first place, and now he looked relieved.
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