Chapter 602: A Gratifying Reckoning
Chapter 602: A Gratifying Reckoning
"Ugh—"
Prince Qi let out a heart-wrenching scream.
The already eerie dungeon became even more terrifying, now filled with the stench of blood and the smell of burning flesh.
Prince Rui and the four guards were completely taken aback by the scene before them, unable to react to the brutal violence unfolding.
What is hell?
He belongs to the Judge of Hell.
Lu Yuan's face, once filled with a sinister smile, was now devoid of any trace of amusement, replaced by a thick aura of murderous intent and bone-chilling cold.
Prince Qi writhed in agony, struggling desperately.
Lu Yuan grabbed him and said coldly, "Does it hurt? Uncle, it's not enough yet. Since Uncle enjoys the branding iron so much, your nephew will make sure you get your fill."
With that, he pressed Prince Qi's already disfigured face into the iron again.
"Which hand did you use to attack my father? This one?"
He grabbed Prince Qi's left hand.
"Or this one?"
He then grabbed Prince Qi's right hand.
Prince Qi could not make a single sound.
Despair and pain overwhelmed him.
"Not saying anything? I'll assume you used both."
Lu Yuan pulled Prince Qi's head out and pressed his hands into the furnace.
"Stop it!"
Prince Rui finally snapped out of his shock.
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed that a younger man could leave him so stunned.
How could anyone be so cruel?
He performed the most horrific acts with the calmest expression, as if he were branding a lifeless piece of wood, not a living person.
Prince Rui recalled the rumors about Lu Yuan: the First-Rank Grand Marshal, in charge of the Imperial Guards, known for his brutal methods, with no torture device he couldn't think of and no prisoner he couldn't break.
His methods of torment were endless, and death at his hands was often the best release.
Prince Rui didn't want to admit it, but the sight of Lu Yuan filled him with a creeping sense of dread.
His rational mind forced him to suppress his fear, and he shouted, "What are you all standing there for? Capture the assassin!"
One of the guards said, "But that's... Imperial Heir..."
Though the Crown Prince was guilty, the Imperial Heir was the State Guardian Kylin.
People were superstitious and dared not touch him, fearing divine retribution.
Prince Rui was furious. Seizing the opportunity while Lu Yuan was occupied with torturing Prince Qi, he grabbed an iron hook from the table and swung it at Lu Yuan's head.
In a flash, a slender figure moved like a ghost.
A slap sent Prince Rui flying into the wall.
Before he could land, another slap sent him crashing onto the table filled with torture devices.
The devices clattered to the ground, the sound echoing ominously in the dungeon.
Prince Rui's left arm dislocated, and he popped it back into place, reaching for the iron hook again.
A embroidered shoe mercilessly stomped on his wrist.
"I wouldn't even lay a finger on him, and you dare to?"
Liu Qingyun's eyes blazed with a fierce, bloodshot glare. "I fought my way through three thousand steps, each step stained with my blood, to rescue him from the Underworld. He's not here for you to bully and torture!"
She stomped on Prince Rui's hand, breaking his bones.
Prince Rui let out a scream of agony.
Liu Qingyun kicked him relentlessly. "He's under my protection! I won't let you bully him! I won't let you be blind! I won't let you find your death! I won't—"
"That's enough, Xiaobai, that's enough."
Lu Zhaoyan gently held her hand.
Liu Qingyun, enraged, said, "He bullied you!"
Her fierce, wide-eyed glare was the same as it had been years ago when she stood in front of him to warn the assassins who tried to kill him.
"He's under my protection! Anyone who dares to touch him will have to face my blade!"
Years had passed, but his Xiaobai hadn't changed a bit.
"Killing him would dirty my hands."
Lu Zhaoyan said softly.
Liu Qingyun gave one more kick before Lu Zhaoyan led her to the side.
She looked at his injuries, her brows furrowing. "Let me take a look."
"It's nothing, just some surface wounds."
Lu Zhaoyan didn't let her see.
Liu Qingyun insisted.
As they struggled, Prince Rui grabbed a knife from the ground and lunged at Liu Qingyun's back.
But at that moment, something unbelievable happened.
Just as his dagger was about to pierce Liu Qingyun, he froze.
He looked down, dazed, at the sword that had pierced his chest, and then up at Lu Zhaoyan, who had impaled him.
"You..."
Black blood trickled from his mouth.
His eyes were filled with shock, not at the sudden appearance of the sword in Lu Zhaoyan's hand, but at the realization that he had never truly understood Lu Zhaoyan.
"You shouldn't have touched her."
Lu Zhaoyan ruthlessly pulled out his long sword, his other hand cradling the back of Liu Qingyun's head, using his clean forearm to block the splattering blood.
Liu Qingyun caught the strong scent of blood and heard the sound of someone collapsing behind her.
As a martial artist, she could even judge that the person was on their last breath.
"Yan, you..."
She stared blankly, "Didn't you say not to kill him?"
Prince Rui, after all, was a prince.
No matter how outrageous his actions, his life couldn't be taken so easily.
Because she understood this, she had willingly stopped at Lu Zhaoyan's urging.
"He deserved it."
Lu Zhaoyan said softly.
Liu Qingyun turned her head.
"Don't look."
Lu Zhaoyan embraced her, his voice as gentle as possible, but his gaze on Prince Rui was utterly cold.
Prince Rui trembled all over, blood gushing from his mouth.
"Se... se... you..."
He couldn't form coherent words.
However, Lu Zhaoyan still read his lips.
He was saying, "You killed your own brother, you will be punished..."
Lu Zhaoyan's expression didn't change at all.
Punished?
Let him bear it alone.
He threw away the sword, dragged his weakened body, and led Liu Qingyun out of the cell.
...
"Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!"
Prince Jin, still fuming, had just returned to the palace. Before he could even enter, he was stopped by the Chief Clerk of the Ministry of Justice.
The clerk looked like he had just fled a disaster, his official hat askew, his robe disheveled, and even one of his official boots missing.
Prince Jin, who valued decorum, especially since becoming regent, frowned. "What kind of decorum is this?"
The clerk, panic-stricken, adjusted his hat and panted, "Your Highness... the Ministry of Justice... something terrible has happened!"
Prince Jin asked suspiciously, "What could have happened at the Ministry of Justice?"
The Ministry of Justice was guarded by Prince Rui and Prince Qi.
Prince Qi was impulsive, but Prince Rui was level-headed.
Compared to interrogating Lu Zhaoyan, his current concern was how to deal with his formidable aunt.
Compared to the Crown Prince, who lacked a solid foundation, the Princess, who had the support of the people and the military, was his greatest threat.
The clerk, who had just come from the Ministry of Justice, was unaware of the Princess leading troops into the city.
He was on the verge of tears, "Your Highness... Prince Rui... is gone!"
Prince Jin's expression froze, "Who is gone? Where to?"
The clerk fell to his knees, "Prince Rui, Your Highness! He... he died at the Ministry of Justice..."
Prince Jin's face darkened, "What?! Who did this?!"
The clerk stammered, "I... I... I dare not say..."
Prince Jin pointed at him, "Speak!"
The clerk lowered his head, "It was... Prince Qi!"
Prince Jin roared, "Nonsense! Why would Prince Qi kill Prince Rui?"
The clerk sobbed, "I saw it with my own eyes..."
Prince Jin grabbed his collar, "Tell me the truth! If you lie, I will exterminate your entire clan!"
"Such grandiose threats, Your Highness. Just a few days as regent, and you've forgotten your place? Exterminating a clan? Is that something you can decide?!"
The Princess, surrounded by officials, walked in with a dignified and formidable air.
Prince Jin had indeed overstepped.
Those were words he had no right to utter.
But he hadn't expected so many civil and military officials at the palace gates!
His aunt's actions were so swift and decisive!
Was this still the same aunt who seemed to lack brains?
Or had she been putting on an act all along?
To lower everyone's guard.
So that once he and the Crown Prince were locked in a life-or-death struggle, she could step in and reap the benefits?
"Stand up."
The Princess said to the Chief Clerk.
The clerk glanced at Prince Jin, clearly hesitant.
If he obeyed the Princess, he would become a thorn in Prince Jin's side.
Life was full of choices.
The clerk gritted his teeth, stood up, and moved to the Princess's side.
Prince Jin narrowed his eyes.
The Princess said indifferently, "It was I who sent Liu to inform you."
Her use of the word "inform" was not a report.
Only someone of higher status could speak in such a manner.
Prince Jin slowly regained his composure and asked seriously, "So, the incident at the Ministry of Justice is related to you, Aunt?"
The Princess replied, "I just entered the city when I encountered Imperial Heir Huang, who came to me with a grievance, saying that the Crown Prince was being tortured at the Ministry of Justice."
Her complaint was skillfully crafted.
Instead of declaring the Crown Prince innocent, it was revealed that someone had subjected him to private and unlawful punishment.
She continued, "This palace then went to the Ministry of Justice to investigate, only to catch Prince Qi and Prince Rui in the act. The Crown Prince is my own nephew, the son of my elder brother, a person of noble and precious blood. How can anyone subject him to such abuse? Not to mention the Crown Prince, even commoners deserve a fair and just trial, not forced confessions through torture!"
Her words were justified, logical, and fair!
The civil and military officials secretly admired her. Such a broad-minded and patriotic spirit truly befit the Princess of Great Liang!
Prince Jin's lips twitched violently. "Even if their methods were a bit hasty, Aunt, you didn't have to kill your own nephew!"
The Princess exuded a powerful aura. "I must correct you; their actions were not just hasty, but a violation of the law!"
Prince Jin clenched his fists tightly.
The Princess took a few steps forward and stood before Prince Jin. "Moreover, the one who killed Prince Rui was Prince Qi. This palace merely made them confess who the mastermind was. They kept blaming each other, and in his anger, Prince Qi drew his sword and killed Prince Rui."
"I heard that Prince Qi, under your indulgence, has become lawless and disrespectful, often disregarding all his brothers except you. I didn't believe it at first, thinking it was an exaggeration. But seeing it with my own eyes today, I am truly disappointed!"
"As the elder brother, you are like a father to your younger brothers. Their actions that defy justice are your responsibility!"
Her speech was eloquent and flawless, each word cutting deep to the heart.
Prince Jin was seething with anger.
He gritted his teeth. "Aunt, this is just your one-sided account. I want to see Prince Qi!"
The Princess replied with righteous indignation, "He fled from guilt."
Prince Jin looked into the Princess's cold and disdainful eyes, a thought flashing through his mind: She's lying!
"Aunt, you say Prince Qi fled from guilt. What's your evidence?"
The Princess pointed to the Chief Clerk and the officials she had brought to the Ministry of Justice. "Did you all see it with your own eyes?"
They all nodded.
They had heard Prince Rui shout from outside the cell, "Fourth Brother, you dare kill me!"
"It's not true, Third Brother... It's not true... I..."
"Seize him!"
After Prince Qi's and the Princess's voices, they saw Prince Qi, wielding a bloody sword, fleeing in a panic from the prison.
Prince Jin knew his two younger brothers best. Prince Qi was jealous and looked down on all his brothers except him.
But he would never have killed Prince Rui by accident!
Prince Rui would never have blamed him either!
Everything from the start was a lie!
Prince Jin, his eyes bloodshot, declared, "I want to see Prince Qi! I want to hear him say with his own mouth that he killed Prince Rui! Otherwise, it doesn't count!"
The Princess sneered. "Good nephew, when the Emperor and Prince Miao disappeared together, you didn't say that. By your logic, this palace should also see Prince Miao and confront him before determining if he abducted the Emperor."
Using your own spear to attack your own shield.
Is your spear truly invincible, or is your shield unbreakable?
Prince Jin was left speechless.
But if you thought that was all, you were too naive.
The Princess asked casually, "Ah, good nephew, do you think someone might have imprisoned the Emperor and deliberately framed Prince Miao?"
Prince Jin's face changed, and cold sweat trickled down his back.
He forced a smile, "Aunt, you really know how to joke."
The Princess laughed. "So, you know I'm joking. Then why... did your face change?"
Prince Jin didn't respond, maintaining his composure. "If Prince Miao was framed, why doesn't he come forward to prove his innocence instead of hiding like a coward?"
His words were both a challenge and a probe.
If the Princess said Prince Miao might have been captured, Prince Jin could almost be certain that the secret of the Underground Palace had been leaked.
The Princess looked at him deeply, her smile full of mockery. "For someone who would force a confession from the Crown Prince, what makes you think Prince Miao would show up to be killed? Good nephew, have you been so blinded by your role as Regent that you've forgotten human nature?"
Prince Jin's second confrontation with the Princess ended in another defeat.
In just half a day, the authority he had painstakingly built up was almost entirely destroyed.
"This palace is going to visit the Empress. Good nephew, step aside."
The Princess said this with a high and mighty air, then walked past Prince Jin without looking at him.
As they passed, Prince Jin asked coldly, "Who are you really?"
The Princess paused, her lips curling slightly. "I am your own aunt."
She was like a phoenix spreading its wings, striding into the palace with authority and majesty.
A eunuch announced loudly, "The Princess has returned to the palace—"
(End of Chapter)
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