The Demon Prince

The Imperial Prison of the Ministry of Justice.

Once the iron gate was closed, the sounds of torches outside were shut out, and a wave of dampness rushed in.

An oil lamp hung on the wall, its flame flickering.

Li Lingxi followed behind Xiao Xingyue, glancing at the torture instruments on the wall and then at the dragon robe in Xiao Xingyue's arms.

Xiao Xingyue suddenly turned around:

"Why is the Sixth Princess here? Didn't you vehemently refuse before?"

Li Lingxi raised her chin: "Just passing by."

Xiao Xingyue looked at her:

"Passing through the imperial prison on the way from the palace?"

"I'd be happy to." Li Lingxi patted the bundle at her waist:

"I'll also show you what I'm capable of, and let you know that you're not good enough for me."

Xiao Xingyue almost burst out laughing when he saw her like this. This online dating partner is so easy to fool.

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture:

"If the princess can really help me find out Cui Daoyuan's background, this prince will indeed look at you in a new light."

Li Lingxi's eyes lit up.

My friend was right after all. If we directly break off the engagement with the Xiao family, someone like Xiao Xingyue will definitely not accept it.

He needs to see the difference with his own eyes, to understand that Li Lingxi is not someone he can aspire to be with, and then he will naturally back down.

"really?"

"really."

"Then you'll see what I mean."

Xiao Xingyue deliberately lowered his voice:

"But I wonder, Princess, how you intend to impress me?"

Li Lingxi immediately squatted down, opened the package, revealing a dark official robe, a thin mask, and several copper pieces inside.

Her fingers flew, the copper plate pressed against the side of her throat, the mask was placed over her face, and when she looked up again, her features had changed.

It's not exactly the same, but in a dimly lit place like the Heavenly Prison, it's intimidating enough.

What was most striking was her voice. Li Lingxi coughed lightly, and when she spoke again, it was in Lu Chengzhang's lukewarm, official tone: "Take her down!"

Xiao Xingyue's eyelids twitched: "Sure!"

Li Lingxi tossed another short garment out of her bundle: "Change into this."

Xiao Xingyue picked up his clothes: "Shall I go in too?"

"certainly."

Who am I playing?

Li Lingxi declared confidently, "My little brother."

Xiao Xingyue remained silent for a moment.

Li Lingxi then switched to Lu Chengzhang's voice: "Keep up."

……

The deepest part of the prison cell.

Cui Daoyuan huddled beside the straw mat, his official robes now replaced with prison clothes, his hair a tangled mess.

Before yesterday, he was a high-ranking official in the court; now, a bowl of spoiled rice sits at his feet.

Hearing footsteps, Cui Daoyuan suddenly looked up. Upon seeing who it was, he was initially delighted, but then froze in surprise:

"Lord Lu? Why are you back again?"

Li Lingxi almost stopped in her tracks.

Again? Lu Chengzhang just came by? Could there really be a big secret?

Li Lingxi mimicked Lu Chengzhang's posture, putting her hands behind her back and lowering her voice:

"It's because I don't trust you."

That little bastard Xiao Xingyue has already advised His Majesty to investigate this matter, in case he finds something he shouldn't be investigating..."

Cui Daoyuan knelt down, tears streaming down his face:

"Don't worry, sir."

"When Xiao Xingyue arrives, I will say absolutely nothing. I would rather die than say a word!"

Li Lingxi was stumped. After all, she wasn't a seasoned official, and this was the first time she had tried to trick someone into giving a false testimony.

The cell suddenly fell silent. Cui Daoyuan was still kneeling on the ground, waiting for Lord Lu to give him a lecture.

Li Lingxi was at a loss for words.

Xiao Xingyue stood behind her and glanced at her.

That's it?

He raised his hand and gently pinched her pert little bottom.

Li Lingxi almost jumped up; she turned around abruptly and glared at him.

Xiao Xingyue looked serious and gestured for her to continue.

Li Lingxi cursed eight hundred times in her heart, "Damn it, I'll peck you to death with my mechanical bird when we get out!"

With business at hand, she turned back, forcing herself to maintain Lu Chengzhang's voice: "But I'm still worried, Lord Cui, what do you suggest?"

Cui Daoyuan burst into tears, his snot and tears mingling together, completely losing any semblance of the dignity of a courtier.

"Did...the lord blame you, sir?"

Rest assured, sir, I will never let you be blamed by the Lord.

In case... in case things get out of control... I will definitely die!

Li Lingxi and Xiao Xingyue were both shocked.

Your Majesty? Wasn't the imperial examination scandal orchestrated by Lu Chengzhang? Are there even deeper figures involved?

Xiao Xingyue pinched Li Lingxi's pert bottom again, even harder than before.

Li Lingxi was furious, but she quickly heard Xiao Xingyue's whispered words. Suppressing her anger and embarrassment, she feigned hesitation: "What's the use of you dying... Before you die, you should at least confess your sins. Do you know what to say when you confess?"

Choi Do-won was stunned: "Confess?"

Li Lingxi said in a deep voice, "I need to confirm how much you know so that we can be on the same page."

Choi Do-won looked completely bewildered.

"What... degree?"

Li Lingxi paused for a moment; Xiao Xingyue had taught her to say those words, so she had no idea.

Xiao Xingyue immediately forced out a rough voice:

"Lord Lu means that the details must be consistent; otherwise, if the Ministry of Justice asks questions and you say one thing and the Lord says another, no one can protect themselves."

Choi Do-won looked at him in surprise. "And who is this?"

Xiao Xingyue snorted coldly, "I am the envoy of the Lord, so don't ask questions you shouldn't ask."

A thunderous boom echoed in Cui Daoyuan's mind. He nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, I understand."

Li Lingxi breathed a sigh of relief; Xiao Xingyue was really good at spouting nonsense.

She continued to pressure him using Lu Chengzhang's voice: "Say it, start with the imperial examinations."

Cui Daoyuan recounted the entire incident in a rapid-fire manner, like pouring out beans.

Li Lingxi became increasingly alarmed as she listened... It turned out that the changing of examination papers was not a matter of one or two sessions. The Hanlin Academy was just one link in the chain, responsible for selecting and packaging suitable candidates. Those who could actually mobilize people in the Imperial Examination Hall, the Library, and the Copying Office were of extremely high status.

Xie Yuheng was merely a pawn pushed out to stand in the latrine, while Cui Daoyuan was only responsible for monitoring the situation and covering things up, unaware of the true mastermind's identity.

The mastermind behind this, Xiao Xingyue and Li Lingxi, only learned a code name from Cui Daoyuan: the Lamplighter!

Xiao Xingyue realized that the imperial examination fraud case was part of an organized and premeditated criminal gang, a complete criminal chain, used to allow the master codenamed "Lamplighter" to secretly control some officials in the court.

As Cui Daoyuan spoke, he suddenly gritted his teeth and began to curse:

"If it weren't for those two little bastards, Xiao Xingyue and Shen Yan, intervening halfway, the elegant official should have been Xie Yuheng. As long as we control the selection of the military officer, we can deliberately lose to Gou Li's delegation and win the bet between the two countries."

Xiao Xingyue's eyelids twitched. Gou Li's delegation, a bet? So the imperial examination case and the selection of military officers were also connected.

Cui Daoyuan grew increasingly resentful as he spoke:

"It's a pity that that little bastard Xiao Xingyue was hiding his true strength; otherwise, our men could have killed Shen Yan that night, and there wouldn't have been any subsequent turmoil."

Xiao Xingyue's eyes turned cold. The assassin that night was indeed sent by them.

Shen Yan's knife wound almost killed him!

Upon hearing this, Li Lingxi's legs went weak. How did things get so complicated?

For the first time, she felt an overwhelming chill, as if a huge net was covering the entire court. Could a homebody like her really know these things?

Xiao Xingyue reached out and held her arm; even through the fabric, he could feel her trembling.

After helping her steady herself, Xiao Xingyue took half a step forward and said in a low voice:

"Lord Cui, the military officers are now also being interfered with by Xiao Xingyue."

Cui Daoyuan suddenly looked up: "What about Pan Yungong?"

Xiao Xingyue's gaze deepened, and he immediately remembered the name.

Pan Yungong should be the original candidate for the military officer position.

Li Lingxi immediately realized what was happening, regained her footing, and her tone returned to its coldness:

"The selection of military officers will be handled by me and the emperor. As for you..."

Cui Daoyuan trembled slightly: "Your humble servant is here."

Li Lingxi looked at the writing brush and ink in the corner of the cell:

"First, as you just said, write me a confession."

In case the situation becomes irreversible, a confession can protect your family from being implicated.

Cui Daoyuan's expression changed drastically:

"My lord, are you trying to abandon me?"

He crawled a few steps closer, his forehead touching the ground:

"My lord, I have served you for so many years."

"I may not have rendered any great service, but I have certainly worked hard. Xie Yuheng is dead, but I am still alive. You cannot let me die too!"

Li Lingxi was alarmed by his crying and looked at Xiao Xingyue.

Xiao Xingyue mouthed: "We'll advance and retreat together."

Li Lingxi immediately understood and continued:

"Why don't you just write my name in the list too?"

Cui Daoyuan looked up, his face streaked with tears: "Should we include the adults too?"