Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 55 Instigating Rebellion
Cui Zhufeng was speechless for a moment. After a pause, he plunged into the sea of ​​fire and flew out carrying two relatively intact corpses a few blinks later.

After placing the two corpses on the ground, Cui Zhufeng's face was quite grim. In truth, she didn't know how to deal with it. Although she was usually unlucky and always encountered various misfortunes, she rarely faced such overwhelming malice. Now she could only wait and see how Lord Ying would handle it.

At this moment, Yi Shiyi, who had gone back to report the news, finally returned, bringing a large number of men. He had been terrified when he saw the thick smoke rising from the area, thinking that something had happened to Lord Ying as soon as he left. He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief upon seeing Lord Ying unharmed, but his gaze fell upon the two corpses on the ground, and he frowned. Each corpse had only one fatal wound, either in the throat or the heart—a typical method of silencing witnesses. What had happened to Lord Ying this time?
Faced with concern, Ying Jiuque paused. She was actually not good at examining corpses; such things had to be left to professionals, like Chunyu Shuang.

"Eleven, you have something to do. Go to the Jingzhao Prefecture and report a case."

Yi Shiyi surveyed the surroundings and, finding it relatively safe, especially since all his men had arrived, promptly used his light-footed skills to report the incident to the Jingzhao Prefecture. Of course, he also relayed the information to his superior at the same time.

Therefore, Ying Jiuque was surprised to spot Chunyu Shuang among the officials. Wasn't Chunyu Shuang a clerk in the Ministry of Justice? Although she also wanted Chunyu Shuang's help, the two institutions didn't interfere with each other. This criminal case had to be reported to the Jingzhao Prefecture first, and only if the Ministry of Justice was needed in the future would the two institutions cooperate. So why was Chunyu Shuang here?

This wasn't the first time the two had interacted. Meeting Ying Jiuque's questioning gaze, Chunyu Shuang simply nodded. She couldn't very well say in public that His Majesty had sent her, could she? Besides, His Majesty had also instructed her to keep it a secret.

Professionals make all the difference; the two bodies were quickly and properly placed on site. Chunyu Shuang conducted a brief examination on the spot and then walked towards Ying Jiuque.

"Both of them died from a single blow. One wound was in the throat, with the sword tip piercing through the entire neck, and the other was in the heart... I can only say that at least they didn't suffer too much when they died."

Ying Jiuque nodded quietly. Did that mean she could die just because she hadn't suffered too much? Of course, this had nothing to do with Chunyu Shuang, so Jiuque didn't say anything. She simply led the other person to a house that seemed rather deserted.

When Chunyu Shuang saw the gruesome deaths of the civilians, her expression changed instantly. Coupled with the burning house and the stench of burning flesh emanating from within, it was hard not to recall a certain fact.

"Kill and silence?"

"Correct."

When Jiu Que told Chunyu Shuang about Cui Zhufeng, Chunyu Shuang's face turned ugly. Although she was somewhat embarrassed, she still expressed her opinion.

"I know this might not have been done by that senior expert, but as the last person to come into contact with these women, she will inevitably be interrogated. Perhaps..."

They might even be blamed as the culprit.

Jiu Que was well aware of this. Senior Cui was currently in a daze, but with her martial arts skills, no one should be able to trap her unless she wanted to.

"I want to go to the palace to see His Majesty."

This matter is now beyond the control of a mere sixth-rank imperial censor. To track them down so quickly, kill them to cover it up, and eliminate them without revealing a single word—the way they did it was so swift and decisive; she couldn't believe the people of Wuyou Cave could pull it off.

Furthermore, the entire search of Wuyou Cave has already taken place, and many minor leaders have been captured. Those people are too busy hiding to make a move at this time. Therefore, this incident can only be caused by the real mastermind cutting their losses to avoid being implicated.

Before entering the palace to meet the emperor, she had something to do first. "Lord Chunyu, I would like to see Mr. Yi."

Chunyu Shuang nodded.

In truth, Ying Jiuque's rank and official position didn't qualify him to interrogate prisoners at the Ministry of Justice. However, before coming, His Majesty specifically instructed him to fully support whatever Ying Jiuque wanted to do, so this was just a minor matter. After explaining a few words to Cui Zhufeng, although Cui Zhufeng was naturally free-spirited, she would generally abide by the rules. At least for now, she was willing to go to the Ministry of Justice with Jiuque.

Upon arriving at the Ministry of Justice, they were unexpectedly warmly received. The Left Vice Minister of Justice personally accompanied them, and without even asking Cui Zhufeng, who was with Ying Jiuque, he led them directly to the depths of the dungeon.

Mr. Yi is the most valuable criminal captured so far, so he cannot be interrogated easily. Otherwise, Chunyu Shuang would suspect that her superior might clean Mr. Yi up and bring him to a clean and tidy house before letting Ying Jiuque meet him.

Although His Majesty had specifically given instructions beforehand, her superior's obsequious face was truly unbearable to look at. Having been in the Ministry of Justice for so many years, this was the first time she had ever seen this usually stern superior so enthusiastic. She wondered what His Majesty had said to him…

"Your Highness, that 'Mr. Yi' is just ahead. But please be careful. Although we have him under control, he is quite arrogant and has refused to speak for several days. Be careful that he doesn't suddenly become violent."

Upon hearing this, Jiu Que did not react. Jia Ershisan quietly stepped forward and stood close to Ying Jiu Que, fearing that Lord Ying would be injured right under his nose.

At that moment, in the dark, cold, and damp dungeon, the man firmly chained to the rack seemed to hear the noise and slightly raised his eyes to look. He appeared to have been subjected to extreme torture; his body was covered in blood, and even raising his eyes was extremely difficult.

However, upon seeing Ying Jiuque standing at the door, the previously calm person suddenly began to struggle!
"It's you...it's you!"

Mr. Yi will never forget that when he could have escaped, it was this seemingly frail woman who single-handedly cut off his escape route, leaving him to linger here like a dog, barely clinging to life! He dreams of seeing Ying Jiuque and killing her with his own hands!

Mr. Yi sneered, surprised that the other party would appear at this time.

“I know why you’re here. I can tell you anything you want to know, but I have one condition: you have to come here in person before I will tell you. Otherwise, you won’t get anything.”

"no!"

Jia Twenty-Three immediately stopped him. That man clearly had ulterior motives; he couldn't be trusted easily. Surely the sir wouldn't risk his own safety for the sake of investigating a case?

Ying Jiuque responded by saying two sentences in a detached tone.

"I am the one who destroyed your cave dwellings."

"You've been abandoned. You'll be the next one to be silenced."

(End of this chapter)