Ji Jinmo's grip tightened, turning Ji Hong's face purple, yet Ji Hong continued to smile.
"I know you sneaked into the imperial prison a few days ago. Thanks to you, I also learned who Feng Luan is. So I laid a net in the imperial prison. It's a pity you didn't fall for it, but it's not a loss."
"If I die, Feng Luan dies."
"If I live, Feng Luan lives."
"You're threatening me," Ji Jinmo's expression was so grim it seemed water could drip from it.
With his neck held, Ji Hong let out a cold, guttural chuckle. He could feel Ji Jinmo's rage, the anger he hadn't seen on Ji Jinmo's usually cool and composed face, a face that seemed incapable of being stirred by anything, for so many years.
"Yes, I am threatening you. But you can choose not to be threatened," Ji Hong continued to smile, ignoring the suffocating sensation spreading through his body.
Ji Jinmo looked at Ji Hong as if seeing him for the first time. "I can also trade you for Feng Luan and the Wentian Sword!"
"You want to make Feng Luan a fugitive?"
"She didn't kill Zou Cheng Yi."
"Where's the proof?"
Ji Jinmo looked up at the sky. The sacrifice had begun at sunrise, and it was now nearing noon. By now, there should be results.
"Someone will deliver it to the palace."
Ji Hong's eyeballs bulged, his bloodshot eyes reflecting Ji Jinmo's figure. He clenched his teeth, as if biting into Ji Jinmo's flesh, determined not to stop until he achieved his goal. "What can you do if I refuse to acknowledge it?"
"It is Feng Luan's fortune to be buried with me."
Ji Jinmo yanked the jade pendant from Ji Hong's waist and threw it to the flustered chief eunuch standing by. "Pass down the order, bring Feng Luan out of the imperial prison."
The eunuch fumbled to catch the jade pendant. He definitely wouldn't obey Ji Jinmo's command. He stiffened his neck and shouted in a sharp voice, "Although I am a eunuch without roots, I understand loyalty and patriotism. How could I obey the orders of a rebellious minister like you?"
Ji Jinmo laughed instead of getting angry. "Hong'er, it seems this eunuch by your side doesn't want you to live!"
"You're talking nonsense!"
The eunuch couldn't bear such an accusation and his voice changed drastically in fright.
Ji Hong suppressed his anger and managed to spit out a curse. "Fool, go bring Feng Luan!"
Ji Jinmo has compromised. Can't you even see that?!!
The eunuch didn't dare to say anything more. Holding the jade pendant, he hurried towards the imperial prison. Ji Jinmo moved his hand from Ji Hong's neck and grabbed his collar.
Guards held their swords but dared not step forward, only watching Ji Jinmo vigilantly.
Outside the guards, officials watched Ji Hong and Ji Jinmo nervously. The battle that took place outside the Ministry of Justice a few days ago was still vivid in their minds. The deafening battle cries and the clang of weapons filled the entire night. By dawn, those who hadn't witnessed the battle saw only the blood-soaked plaza in front of the Ministry of Justice.
The battle that day instilled more fear in everyone than the skirmishes within the palace. However, the sudden appearance of assassins that day interrupted the engagement between the two armies. It didn't bring the power struggle in Lin Yuan to an end, but it further deepened the conflict between civil and military officials.
Before attending the sacrifice, no one expected such a turn of events to occur today.
For a moment, their hands and feet grew cold, and their mouths felt dry.
The military officials quietly moved behind the civil officials. Before the civil officials could react, they formed a containment. As soon as Ji Jinmo gave the order, they could apprehend all the civil officials at the fastest speed.
By the time Nan Chaoyin realized it, it was already too late. His heart couldn't help but tremble.
Seeing the situation, sweat beaded on the guards' palms. The imperial guards also couldn't help but swallow, and the tense atmosphere spread. Every second felt like an eternity.
...
Nan Shiying squatted on the ground, looking at the people who had been incapacitated by the poisonous smoke.
The chief eunuch rushed into the imperial prison but was shocked to see such a scene, his liver and gallbladder immediately split with fear.
"You, you, you..."
His voice trembled, unable to form a coherent sentence.
Nan Shiying stepped over the people on the ground and walked towards the eunuch, seizing his trembling body.
"What happened upstairs?"
The imperial prison was far from the sacrificial altar, but she still felt a slight tremor. Based on Ji Jinmo's words that day, it couldn't have been him showing off his power to cause the earth to roar. Then it could only be an explosion.
The eunuch said with a trembling voice, "The sacrificial altar exploded."
Nan Shiying raised her eyebrows and grinned at the eunuch. "And then?"
She applied a little more pressure to the eunuch's shoulder. The eunuch winced in pain and dared not refuse. "His Majesty was taken hostage by the Regent, who ordered this servant to bring you out."
Is this an escape?
It can't be. If she wanted to escape, could this imperial prison hold her?
"Old Eunuch, have you never tasted the pain of torture?"
Seeing Nan Shiying's radiant smile, the old eunuch trembled violently, almost wetting himself. He dared not hide anything further and recounted the events from beginning to end, focusing on the key points.
"Explosion, assassins, stone tablet, Wentian Sword..."
Nan Shiying twitched her lips. These uncle and nephew were having a good time, even daring to crack the stone tablet left by their ancestors. She didn't believe the stone tablet was cracked by the explosion or by natural means, nor did she believe that either of them didn't know the Wentian Sword was hidden within the stone tablet.
She just didn't know what these two were planning.
Nan Shiying tidied her clothes, put her arm around the eunuch's shoulder like a close friend, and said with a smile, "Since His Majesty and the Prince have sincerely invited me, I shall go."
The old eunuch: "..."
Are you sick? What sincere invitation? They were about to tear each other apart upstairs, but you're treating it like attending a banquet?
The eunuch dared to be angry but not to speak, as his life was still in her hands. He couldn't help but want to cry when he thought of His Majesty's confident threats just now.
My Majesty, what are we going to do now!
...
As Nan Shiying and the eunuch walked out of the imperial prison and passed through the imperial garden, they happened to meet Zou Yun'er, who was rushing towards the sacrificial altar.
"Oh, Your Highness Consort, good morning!" Nan Shiying put her arm around the eunuch's shoulder and waved casually at Zou Yun'er. Zou Yun'er suddenly stopped. Her worried expression immediately turned into a ferocious hatred.
"You dare to escape!"
"Guards, arrest her!"
Hearing Zou Yun'er's order, Nan Shiying had no time to say anything. The eunuch's face turned pale, and he quickly stopped her. "Your Highness, please do not act, Your Highness. It was His Majesty, it was His Majesty who ordered this servant to bring her out."
The eunuch naturally wanted the guards to arrest Feng Luan, but he was more afraid of losing his own life in the process. In fact, his death would only be a cheap life, but if this person suddenly attacked and injured Her Highness, or took Her Highness hostage to threaten His Majesty, wouldn't that put His Majesty in an even more precarious situation?
Therefore, no matter what, Her Highness must not make the first move!