"I…" Before Li Zhi could react, Gu Yun launched into another rapid barrage:
"You were involved in the Gold Case back then! You knew Qu Ze was wronged, and you knew who the true mastermind was, didn't you?!"
Li Zhi was dumbfounded, eyes wide with shock, unable to form a coherent sentence.
"She… she… how could she possibly know? Impossible!"
But it wasn't only Li Zhi who was stunned. Even Shan Yulan, seated above the court, was visibly shaken.
What kind of divine ability did this girl possess, to know even that which the heavens themselves concealed?
Pleased by Li Zhi's look of utter terror, Gu Yun curved her lips into a smile once more, waved her hand nonchalantly, and said:
"There's nothing so surprising about it. We've already gathered some evidence. Giving you the chance to speak is simply offering you a path to redemption."
This time, Li Zhi completely lost his composure. He hadn't imagined that the secret he'd fought so hard to conceal would be exposed by a mere girl. But how much did she actually know?
Panic gripped him anew. As if murmuring to himself, or trying in vain to find comfort, he muttered:
"I… I can't… even if I speak, I'll still die…"
That person would never let him go!
Back then, he had known the truth but stayed silent. If the truth came out now, he would not survive!
So be it. His reaction was tantamount to an admission of guilt regarding his knowledge of the Gold Case.
Without giving him a moment to think, Gu Yun struck again with piercing coldness in her voice:
"If you don't talk, you're as good as dead! Do you really think the killer will spare you?
There were five of you back then. Qu Ze is dead. Yang Lu is dead. Do you think the culprit will let you live?
You have no choice now. Cooperate with us and not only can we clear your name, we can also protect you.
Otherwise, even if you manage to walk out of this cell alive, you won't last long out there."
In an instant, images flashed through Li Zhi's mind—Qu Ze's mangled body before death, and Yang Lu's blood pooling at his feet.
A frigid chill enveloped him as cold sweat streamed down his forehead.
Suddenly, a hand landed heavily on his shoulder.
Gu Yun leaned closer and pressed on, her voice cold and commanding:
"Speak! Tell us everything that happened back then. Reveal the name of the true mastermind! Speak!"
"I… I can't… I can't say! I don't know… I don't know!"
Under the relentless interrogation, Li Zhi collapsed to the ground, paralyzed by fear that needed no explanation.
"Stop pressuring me! I don't know anything… I know nothing!"
Clutching his head in despair, Li Zhi roared over and over, oblivious to the fact that the one tormenting him was merely a teenage girl.
Gu Yun slowly withdrew her hand and said nothing more. She walked back to Zhuo Qing and handed her the flying dagger, shrugging helplessly.
His mental fortitude was truly pitiful… or perhaps the force behind all this was simply too formidable?
"Guards," Shan Yulan called out in a low voice.
The constables stationed outside immediately entered the hall.
"Take the prisoner to the dungeon. Keep him under strict surveillance."
"Yes, sir."
Li Zhi, limp and helpless, was dragged away. Shan Yulan turned to Gu Yun, puzzled.
"Why didn't you continue questioning him?"
With a little more pressure, he might have confessed.
Gu Yun glanced at Zhuo Qing.
Zhuo Qing sighed and explained,
"He's on the brink of collapse. Anything we say now won't reach him.
From a psychological standpoint, forcing him to think in this state will only deepen his fear.
Let him stew overnight. With another push tomorrow, he'll talk."
She had seen just how ruthless Gu Yun could be during interrogation—pressing until the suspect couldn't even breathe.
"Inspector Shan, we'll take our leave for now. From this moment onward, I recommend increasing the prisoner's protection. Don't give the true killer any opening."
With that, Gu Yun took Zhuo Qing by the hand, and the two began to leave the courtroom.
Suddenly, Shan Yulan called out, "Miss Qing, please wait."
Who was he calling?
Zhuo Qing and Gu Yun exchanged glances, then turned around. Shan Yulan was striding toward them and stopped in front of Gu Yun, cupping his hands in respect.
"There are a few matters I hope the young lady can enlighten me on."
Gu Yun responded graciously, "Go on."
Receiving her permission, Shan Yulan wasted no time.
"You were at the Yang residence for no more than fifteen minutes. How did you know the exact location of the corpse?
And how did you know about the Gold Case?
What other evidence or clues do you have?"
"For the first question," Gu Yun said calmly,
"My nose is especially sensitive to the scent of blood. Even after cleaning, the trace remains detectable for a time.
Also, the marks left by a flying dagger are vastly different from those made by blades or swords.
I'm sure Lord Shan can tell the difference as well.
In the room, the trajectory and force of most dagger marks were uniform—except for one, which was clearly different.
By analyzing that, it was easy to deduce the position of the body.
"As for the second question—we met Qian Jing privately once. The clue regarding the Gold Case came from him.
"Third… I possess no evidence or clues about the Gold Case at all."
She arched a brow and smiled.
"I was bluffing."
Ao Tian and Ye Mei, who had gone to investigate the Gold Case, had yet to return.
Naturally, she knew nothing.
But as she had always said—strategic lies and fear tactics were powerful tools in an investigation.
"I've said what needs to be said. Farewell."
Watching the two girls—one in green, one in blue—depart with unhurried elegance, Shan Yulan didn't stop them.
What other surprises were they hiding? He was curious to find out.
By the time they left the yamen, it was already afternoon.
"Shall we go find the other two now?" Zhuo Qing asked.
"Yes."
Though Gu Yun had a hunch the two were not the key, her principle in handling cases allowed no room for negligence.
Just as they took a few steps, a frail, elderly voice drifted toward them:
"Miss Qingling…"
Startled, the two turned to see an old woman.
"Who are you?" Zhuo Qing asked with a frown.
The woman smiled.
"I am Granny Liu, a servant."
She called herself a 'granny'—she must be from the palace.
Zhuo Qing's heart sank. Was the emperor causing trouble again?
Impatient, she asked, "What is it?"
Still smiling, the old woman replied:
"Her Majesty the Empress Dowager summons Miss Qingling to the palace."
The Empress Dowager?!
Zhuo Qing was stunned. Since when had she drawn the Empress Dowager's attention?
Yanhongtian was already enough of a headache!
Gu Yun scrutinized the woman's face and asked,
"You serve the Empress Dowager?"
"I do."
She turned to Zhuo Qing and said,
"Miss Qing, if you would."
Gu Yun stepped forward but was stopped by the old woman.
Polite, but firm:
"This lady may not accompany you. Her Majesty summoned only Miss Qingling."
Though the woman's smile was strained, her words were true.
A short distance away, a modest carriage stood with four burly guards at its side.
Clearly, they would take Zhuo Qing by force if she refused.
Gu Yun paid the guards no mind—what concerned her was offending the Empress Dowager.
"You go. I'll find Lou Xiyan," Gu Yun said plainly—both to reassure Zhuo Qing and to warn Granny Liu not to act rashly.
"Alright."
Trusting Gu Yun to handle things, Zhuo Qing turned to the old woman and said with poise,
"Then I'll trouble you to lead the way."
As the carriage carried Zhuo Qing away, Gu Yun hurried off toward the Prime Minister's estate.
Inside the carriage, Zhuo Qing's mind spun with questions.
Why had the Empress Dowager summoned her?
Another one of Yanhongtian's schemes?
Or did it have something to do with Lou Xiyan?
By the time she had puzzled herself into a tangle, the carriage had stopped inside the palace.
Granny Liu led her through twist after turn, until they stopped before a palace hall.
Zhuo Qing looked up and saw the sign: "Palace of the Western Glow."
Muttering to herself, she waited outside. Soon, Granny Liu returned and said,
"Miss Qing, this way please."
Following her into the hall, Zhuo Qing was startled.
She had assumed the Empress Dowager wanted a private meeting.
Instead, the hall was filled with women—each more beautiful than the last.
A pair of curious eyes fell on her.
Zhuo Qing raised her gaze—and to her surprise, found Qingfeng present as well.
Farther inside, she saw the Empress herself.
When the Empress saw her face, a flicker of complicated emotion crossed her eyes—too swift to interpret.
"You are Qingling?"
A warm, gentle voice echoed from above.
Zhuo Qing looked toward the seat of honor, where a plump matron was regarding her intently, dressed in deep violet robes…