dognovel Chapter 300 Questioning
Chapter 300 Questioning
Inside the Prince Xiang's mansion, dusk was as dark as ink, and thick, dark clouds swallowed up the last ray of sunlight.
Only a few lanterns emitted a faint, dim yellow glow, swaying uncertainly in the oppressive atmosphere, as if they might go out at any moment.
Inside the main hall of the Prince's Mansion, the candlelight flickered, reflecting the room's coldness and majesty.
Mu Yin trembled uncontrollably, her slender body appearing exceptionally small in the empty hall.
He knelt heavily on the ground with a thud, his knees hitting the cold, hard stone slab, but he seemed not to feel any pain, his heart and eyes filled with fear and unease.
His head was hanging low, a few strands of messy hair fell on either side of his cheeks, and cold sweat kept sliding down his temples, wetting the ground in front of him.
"Your Highness, I...I deserve to die!"
Mu Yin's voice trembled violently, filled with deep fear and guilt, echoing in the silent hall.
Shen Yanchu wore a long black robe, the gold thread embroidered on the hem gleaming coldly in the candlelight.
He stood in the hall, his posture as upright as a pine tree, but his face was full of anger, his brows furrowed into a deep frown, and his gaze was like a knife as he shot towards Mu Yin, who was kneeling on the ground.
"Are you guilty?"
Shen Yanchu's voice was low and cold, each word seemingly carrying the frost of the twelfth lunar month.
"The task I entrusted to you has failed so easily. Where do you place my orders?"
Mu Yin lay prostrate on the ground, her body trembling even more, her forehead pressed tightly against the ground, her voice almost choked with sobs: "Your Highness, please calm down. It was my incompetence that betrayed Your Highness's trust."
“But…but Cui Zhihao may seem weak, but he has hidden experts around him. As soon as we get close, we will be detected. This operation is going to be very difficult.”
Shen Yanchu laughed in anger, but his laughter was full of sarcasm and disappointment: "Difficulties? I sent the elites of the Assassin Pavilion, and they couldn't even deal with a scholar who can't even kill a chicken. If word gets out, won't people laugh their heads off!"
He turned around, strode to the chair, sat down abruptly, and rubbed his temples in frustration, as if he found even a glance at Mu Yin repulsive.
"Alright, you've failed miserably this time. Go to the punishment room and summon the steward. I have something to discuss with him!"
Shen Yanchu waved his hand, his voice revealing fatigue and impatience.
Mu Yin secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but the thought of the cruel punishments in the torture chamber made her shudder again.
But he dared not plead for mercy. He could only suppress his fear, quickly bow, and say in a trembling voice, "Yes, Your Highness, I will go right away."
After saying that, he slowly got up and walked unsteadily out of the hall.
As Mu Yin stepped out of the hall, a cold wind swept over him, causing him to shiver.
The long corridor of the Prince's mansion appeared particularly deep and secluded in the night. The trees on both sides swayed in the wind, making a rustling sound, as if countless eyes were watching him in the darkness.
He quickened his pace, his heart filled with mixed emotions. The failure of this mission not only disappointed the prince, but he would also be severely punished. He was filled with remorse, but he dared not stop for a moment.
The butler, Zhang Fu, was over fifty years old, thin, and had a shrewd and capable look on his face.
He rushed to the main hall and bowed deeply upon entering: "Your Highness, did you look for this old servant?"
Shen Yanchu raised his eyes, looked Zhang Fu up and down, and said in a deep voice, "Uncle Fu, this assassination attempt on Cui Zhihao has failed, and this matter cannot be left like this."
"Go and investigate for me who is secretly protecting Cui Zhihao, and how they managed to defeat the Assassin's Guild."
Zhang Fu nodded slightly, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes, and said respectfully, "Your Highness, rest assured, this old servant will take care of it immediately."
"However, if this old servant dares to ask, why does Your Highness value Cui Zhihao so much, even going so far as to use the Assassin's Guild, when he is merely a weak scholar abandoned by his family?"
Shen Yanchu sneered, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes: "Uncle Fu, you don't understand."
"This Cui Zhihao may seem like a mere scholar, but in reality, he is sharp and ambitious. He has repeatedly opposed me and even dared to covet my women."
"Moreover, this man has long harbored doubts about my great cause."
"If it is not eliminated soon, it will surely become a major problem in the future."
Zhang Fu suddenly realized and quickly replied, "Your Highness is very insightful. This old servant understands."
"This old servant will immediately arrange for people to thoroughly investigate the situation around Cui Zhihao."
"Yes, the sooner the better, and we must not alert the enemy."
Shen Yanchu leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes slightly, and waved his hand to signal Zhang Fu to leave.
Zhang Fu bowed again before slowly leaving the hall. As he stepped out, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly. The prince was becoming increasingly ruthless in his efforts to eliminate dissidents, but the power struggles in the court were far more complex and difficult to resolve than that.
He shook his head and strode towards the outside of the Prince's mansion, preparing to carry out the task assigned by the Prince.
Meanwhile, Mu Yin had already arrived at the torture chamber. The chamber was filled with a pungent stench of blood and decay, and under the dim light, various torture instruments gleamed with a chilling light.
When the jailers saw him come in, they pointed expressionlessly to a wooden board in the corner: "Lie down on it yourself, don't make us do anything to you."
Mu Yin gritted her teeth, suppressing the fear and humiliation in her heart, and slowly walked to the wooden board and lay down on it.
He closed his eyes tightly, awaiting the impending excruciating pain.
A moment later, the whip came whistling and struck his back hard, tearing his skin and staining his clothes with blood.
Mu Yin clenched his teeth, remaining silent, sweat and blood mingling and sliding down his cheeks.
Outside the Prince's Mansion, the streets of the capital remained bustling and lively, with people coming and going.
Choi Ji-ho was walking home from behind the shop.
He was dressed in a moon-white robe, holding a folding fan, and his eyes and brows exuded an air of refined elegance.
However, beneath his seemingly calm exterior, he was not at ease inside.
Recently, he has sensed that he is being watched by an undercurrent, and the competition in the business world is becoming increasingly fierce. His every move seems to be being monitored.
"Young master, it's getting late, we should head back soon," said Cui Jiu, the guard beside him, with a worried expression.
Choi Ji-ho smiled slightly and nodded: "Okay, let's go."
Having said that, he quickened his pace. He knew in his heart that this struggle for power had only just begun, and he absolutely could not back down.
Inside the Prince Xiang's residence, Shen Yanchu sat in his study, toying with a jade pendant in his hand, gazing intently at the night outside the window.
He knew that this failed assassination attempt was just the beginning, and there was still a long way to go to completely eliminate Choi Ji-ho.
In this ever-changing imperial court, various forces are intertwined, and every step must be taken with extreme caution, for the slightest misstep could lead to utter ruin.
The night grew deeper, and both the Prince of Xiang's residence and the capital were shrouded in the boundless darkness. A greater storm seemed to be brewing quietly...