Volume One, Chapter 16: The Princess Dowager Pays a Visit

Zhao Wujiang kicked aside a hurried constable eager to make a name for himself and said coldly, “That’s strange indeed. Qianye Rizhao has been bound in heavy chains and locked inside my prince’s residence. She has never left.”

“Don’t try to deny it!” The Prefect of Jingzhao’s eyes narrowed sharply. “As the victim, how could Cao Xiaolan lie? I order you to arrest her, Commander Long!”

Long Zhan was about to act, but the guards of the Northern Garrison Mansion formed a line, blocking Zhao Wujiang’s path, ready to fight at any moment.

Zhao Wujiang raised his hand. “I told you not to rush. Qianye Rizhao is inside the residence and has never left. If you don’t believe me, you may come in and see for yourselves.”

“Beware of deception!” Long Zhan directly stopped the Prefect and Cao Xiaolan.

The Prefect of Jingzhao, Sun Xiufu, gently pushed aside Long Zhan’s hand. His voice was low and steady: “I am handling this case; no scoundrel may disturb it, nor dare to. Commander Long, rest assured, I am only here to check the clues, and I believe the young prince knows his limits…”

Sun Xiufu gestured for Cao Xiaolan to accompany him. They passed by Long Zhan and Zhao Wujiang and headed straight into the mansion. Seeing no way to stop them, Long Zhan’s eyes flickered, and he followed along.

Zhao Wujiang turned calmly away. Elite mansion soldiers held crossbows aimed at the soldiers of the Cavalry Battalion and the Prefect’s men outside.

With the sound of chains dropping, the locked door was opened. Soldiers armed with sharp short weapons pushed the door wide, revealing everything inside.

Within the room, Qianye Rizhao’s hair was disheveled, her expression haggard, and her limbs heavily shackled. The chains were thick and long, allowing her only limited movement inside the room.

Seeing Qianye Rizhao truly confined within the mansion, the Prefect’s brow furrowed deeper, sensing something suspicious.

Suddenly—

“I will kill you… ah!!!”

Cao Xiaolan, tears streaming down her cheeks, lunged fiercely at Qianye Rizhao, the enemy who had destroyed her entire family. From her sleeve slipped out a razor-sharp crimson hairpin, aimed straight at Qianye Rizhao’s chest.

“Damn it! She can’t die!”

Zhao Wujiang reacted swiftly, catching Cao Xiaolan in a tight embrace, snatching away the hairpin, holding her close.

“Let go of me! I want to kill her!”

Cao Xiaolan sobbed uncontrollably, struggling in vain.

“If you kill her, I’ll never clear my name even if I jump into the Yellow River…”

Zhao Wujiang sighed inwardly, holding Cao Xiaolan firmly.

Only when Cao Xiaolan failed to reach her did Qianye Rizhao relax slightly. Hearing Zhao Wujiang’s unspoken thoughts, warmth filled her heart. At this moment, Zhao Wujiang was her only salvation.

Sun Xiufu’s eyes flickered as he challenged, “Young Prince, Qianye Rizhao’s presence in your residence does not prove she was not released last night!”

Long Zhan watched coldly but said nothing.

Zhao Wujiang understood—this bastard was surely scheming again.

“As long as you investigate thoroughly, sir.”

“Of course, I will.”

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