Qin Xiaorong clutched her stomach, her heart trembling at Zou Yunming's words.
To swear on the child she had with Zhang Lang? No, how could she possibly do that? If something were to happen to their child because of it, how would she face Zhang Lang when he returned?
Qin Qianyu looked down at Qin Xiaorong and roared, "Xiaorong, don't be afraid. Just swear it, and our Qin family will naturally seek justice for you!"
Qin Xiaorong lowered her head, seemingly not hearing him.
"Xiaorong!"
Qin Qianyu's heart sank to the bottom.
This meant everything Zou Yunming said was true, and the child in Xiaorong's belly was not his?
No, how could that be possible!
"Xiaorong!"
Qin Qianyu's eyes were bloodshot, and for a moment, he barely recognized his own sister!
The Prince's Mansion guards arrived late, surrounding the entire Jinxiang Jewelry Shop. A figure clad in dark robes strode in. The moment he appeared on the second floor, the air seemed to freeze into ice.
An oppressive aura washed over them. Qin Qianyu turned his head with difficulty, and Ji Jinmo's imposing face, one that commanded respect even without anger, immediately met his gaze.
Ji Jinmo looked at Qin Qianyu, and in just an instant, Qin Qianyu felt a deathly illusion.
He ignored Qin Qianyu and strode towards Nan Shiying, taking her hand and examining her closely. Only after confirming she was unharmed did he slowly exhale.
"Why so tense?" Nan Shiying asked with a smile.
Ji Jinmo held her hand, his peripheral vision catching sight of her clothes, seemingly slashed by a sword. He then turned his gaze to Qin Qianyu.
"Did you do this?"
"Your... Highness!"
Before Qin Qianyu could finish speaking, Ji Jinmo snatched the sword from Xuan Yi and, without a word of explanation, thrust it into Qin Qianyu's chest.
Instantly, blood gushed out, flowing slowly down the blade.
Ji Jinmo pulled the sword out, and blood splattered.
Qin Qianyu looked at his blood-stained chest, staring at Ji Jinmo in disbelief.
"You should be grateful you are the legitimate son of the Qin family!" Ji Jinmo's deep voice carried an icy chill, his meaning all too clear.
Had he not been the Qin family's legitimate son, his thrust would have been aimed at the heart, not just the chest!
And all for merely slashing clothing!
Qin Qianyu clutched his chest, trembling uncontrollably.
"Guards, take them away!" Ji Jinmo commanded. The Prince's Mansion guards seized Qin Qianyu and Qin Xiaorong, dragging them to the yamen.
...
The matter involved the Qin and Zou families, and even the Prince's Mansion. The capital's prefect's head nearly exploded. How was he supposed to pass judgment? How could he?
"Submit it to the Ministry of Justice!"
He suddenly recalled the Fengluan incident and slapped his forehead in exasperation. Why was he agonizing over this? When matters involved high-ranking officials of the court, it was not something he, the capital's prefect, could decide!
With that, he swiftly submitted the case files.
But what good would submitting it to the Ministry of Justice do now? Ever since Ji Jinmo led his troops to storm the palace, the morning court had been suspended for several days. Upon receiving the case files from the capital's prefect, the Ministry of Justice nearly cursed them out!
How were they to judge this?
If they dared to harbor Qin Qianyu and Qin Xiaorong, wouldn't the Regent lead his troops to dismantle their ministry?
But if they were to pass judgment!
How would they explain themselves to the Empress Dowager?
They were in a dilemma.
With no solution, the Ministry of Justice could only submit a memorial to the central government.
Ji Hong, upon seeing the memorial submitted by the Ministry of Justice, flew into a rage, throwing everything on his desk to the ground.
The Empress Dowager, upon hearing of the matter, became greatly agitated.
"My son, Xiaorong is with child. She cannot remain in prison!" the Empress Dowager said with deep concern, clearly caring more for Qin Xiaorong than Qin Qianyu.
"Do I not know this, but..."
Ji Hong frowned. Why did Qin Xiaorong have to provoke Nan Shiying? Didn't she know that Ji Jinmo had stormed the imperial city for Nan Shiying just days ago? And now, another incident had occurred. If he favored the Qin family, wouldn't that be like handing a knife to Ji Jinmo? But if he punished the Qin siblings, how would the civil and military officials perceive him, and what would the people of the world think of him?
Moreover, envoys from Da Li were still in Lin Yuan, and the prince of Da Li was on his way to Lin Yuan. At such a time, Lin Yuan could not afford to have any incidents!
This was also why, on the day Ji Jinmo attacked the city, he had not ordered an advance, and Ji Hong had not ordered their annihilation.
With Da Li on the outside and spies within, civil war was not an option!
"The only course of action now is to delay!"
"The Qin siblings will be held in the Ministry of Justice prison for now. Mother, rest assured, I will handle it!"
The Empress Dowager pondered for a moment and finally nodded, agreeing to Ji Hong's plan.
...
The Prince's Mansion, Xin Yuan Pavilion!
"Master, Nan Chaoyin is truly problematic!" Nan Shiying recalled Nan Chaoyin's martial prowess today and felt that he was even more formidable than those lingering Miao Jiang remnants hidden in the shadows.
Ji Jinmo fiddled with his prayer beads and gave a faint "hmm."
"I surmise Ji Hong has also realized this!"
Otherwise, after he had married Nan Yuan'er in his stead into the Prince's Mansion, Ji Hong should have married Nan Yuan'er.
"Master, is the Xuanjia Army very powerful?" Nan Shiying's thoughts jumped rapidly, her questions boundless. That day, she had only been concerned about the่ worms on Ji Jinmo, neglecting the Xuanjia Army.
Ji Jinmo said, "The Xuanjia Army was established by the founding emperor of Lin Yuan. The Demon Hunting Army originated from the Xuanjia Army but is stronger than it."
"Is that so!" Nan Shiying uttered an "oh," as if she understood.
Ji Jinmo meant that the Xuanjia Army was strong, but definitely not as strong as the Demon Hunting Army.
Nan Shiying tapped her fingers on the table, her other hand supporting her chin. The candlelight in the room flickered, shadows dancing. Ji Jinmo's silhouette appeared and disappeared as he lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought. Nan Shiying remained silent, and the room fell into silence.
Nan Shiying stood up and took a book from under her pillow. It wasn't the toxicology text gifted by Yue Sinan, but the Historical Records she had taken from the study earlier. After retrieving the book, she sat back down and quietly read page by page with relish.
Suddenly, she spotted a name.
Chang Sheng Dao!
She remembered, Yue Sinan originated from the Chang Sheng Dao Sect!
Nan Shiying felt a chill run down her spine, her flipping of pages growing faster. She no longer looked at anything else, only searching for information about Chang Sheng Dao. However, with the fall of the Great Yuan Dynasty, the Chang Sheng Dao Sect had long since vanished into the river of history.
So, did this Chang Sheng Dao have any relation to Yue Sinan's Chang Sheng Dao Sect?
Seeing Nan Shiying frowning, Ji Jinmo glanced at the book in her hand. Historical Records again?
What new content had appeared?
"What's wrong?" Ji Jinmo asked.
Nan Shiying snapped back to attention, closed the book abruptly, and replied with downcast eyes, "Nothing!"