Cai Yun's voice made everyone feel relieved, as long as someone took the blame.
Everyone looked at Qi Yan Su Luo with different expressions - hatred, sympathy, most were just watching the show with amusement. But no one was surprised that she was being accused.
Because everyone remembered she was the princess of the grasslands, and the emperor held a grudge against her.
Qi Yan Su Luo said calmly, "You've got the wrong person."
Cai Yun raised her voice, "I won't get it wrong. It must be you!"
Qin Zhao said, "It was dark at night, the latrine and the stable were far apart. At most, you could only see a vague silhouette.
Among the more than 20,000 people at the hunting ground, there were at least a hundred women with a similar build to Qi Yan Su Luo.
How can you be so certain that the person you saw was her?
If you dare to falsely accuse her, even if Father supports you, I can still take your life!"
Cai Yun was so scared that she knelt down with a thud, "Your Highness, spare my life. Every word your slave said was true!"
Qin Zhao's tone was as cold as frost. "Say it again, are you certain it was her?"
Cai Yun's whole body trembled as she recalled meeting General Xu Han.
-
"What's your name?" Xu Han asked.
"Cai Yun."
"Cai Yun, you said you saw someone appear in the stables at the hour of the ox, right?"
Cai Yun nodded.
"Could you make out that person's features and appearance?"
Cai Yun replied: "It was too dark then, I only saw a blurry figure, and didn't see who it was."
Xu Han paced around the tent, seeming to be thinking about something.
Then he walked back to Cai Yun and said, "If anyone asks, just say the person you saw was the most beautiful woman beside Princess Qin Zhao!"
Cai Yun shook her head violently, "No no, how could I slander someone, let alone someone belonging to Princess Qin Zhao!"
Xu Han glared fiercely and drew his sword, pointing it at Cai Yun's head, "If you don't do as I say, I'll chop off your head!"
Cai Yun was immediately so scared that tears streamed down her face. She trembled and said, "General spare me, I will do as you say!"
Xu Han waved his sword and cut off a lock of Cai Yun's hair, snarling viciously, "Consider yourself sensible, otherwise this would have been your fate."
-
Coming back to her senses, Cai Yun was about to confirm it was her, but when she glanced up, she was dazzled by the sight of the nobly dressed, awe-inspiring Princess Qin Zhao.
She couldn't get a word out.
Whether it was the murderous General Xu Han, or Princess Qin Zhao representing imperial authority, she dared not offend either.
But if forced to choose one side, Cai Yun decided to stand with the higher status Princess Qin Zhao!
She replied: "Your Highness, I must have been mistaken. That person wasn't this lady."
Zhou Quande gave Cai Yun a fierce kick and scolded, "You dare speak nonsense when you didn't even see clearly. Looks like you're tired of living!"
Cai Yun collapsed limply on the ground, panic-stricken!
Just when everyone thought it was a false alarm, Qin Zhao said, "I suspect Qi Yan Su Luo is indeed suspicious!
She was with me most of last night, but went out for a while in the early morning hours. I don't know what she was doing."
Qin Zhao continued, "I have always been fair - I will wrongly accuse no one, but I will also not let anyone who may have harmed Father off easily."
Qi Yan Su Luo looked at Qin Zhao indifferently, as if she didn't care about her words.
Zhou Quande was briefly surprised by this sudden turn, but quickly smiled ingratiatingly and asked, "So how does Your Highness wish to deal with this lady?"
Qin Zhao said, "Have her locked up first.
After all, she is someone by my side. I will personally interrogate her."
Zhou Quande replied, "Yes, Your Highness."
He beckoned to the guards beside him and said, "Take her away and guard her closely. Don't let anyone get near her."
This could be considered giving Qin Zhao a lot of face.
As someone close to the emperor, Zhou Quande didn't have to be so accommodating.
Qin Zhao was rather curious - where did his deference to her come from?
She would have to ask him clearly later when there was a chance.
Qi Yan Su Luo was taken away by the guards.
As Qin Zhao turned her head inadvertently, her eyes met Huo Chengjin's!
His gaze no longer held the greasy affection, but rather made her feel a hint of chill.
Huo Chengjin looked away, breaking eye contact.
Qin Zhao also turned and walked forward, thinking to herself that Huo Chengjin had finally reverted to the imposing King of Asuras he was in the original book.
Such an opponent was more interesting for her.
Back in her tent, Qin Zhao found a brand new whip.
Then she went with Cong Han and Shen Xue to the tent where Qi Yan Su Luo was imprisoned.
Four guards stood outside the tent, immediately making way when they saw Qin Zhao arrive.
Qin Zhao pushed aside the curtain and went in.
This tent was a simple interrogation room set up temporarily, with some instruments of torture inside.
Qi Yan Su Luo sat on the ground with her hands shackled in chains.
Hearing the sound, her body trembled slightly, but she didn't look up.
Qin Zhao squatted down in front of her and asked, "Is there anything you want to say?"
Qi Yan Su Luo looked up at her. "You want to torture me, so why bother finding so many excuses?
You can do whatever you want with me at any time."
Her tone was rather seductive. Anyone else probably would have been beguiled by her.
Qin Zhao said, "Your beauty is indeed a very destructive weapon.
You also know how to use it well, but in the end you still don't understand women, you don't understand what I want."
A hint of confusion flashed across Qi Yan Su Luo's expression.
Qin Zhao went on, "Apart from what your eyes see, have you ever asked your own heart?"
Qi Yan Su Luo lowered her eyes and kept silent.
Qin Zhao couldn't stand her always avoiding heart-related questions. She grabbed Qi Yan Su Luo's collar, "Why can't you trust me a little more?"
Qi Yan Su Luo was still silent.
Qin Zhao let out a cold laugh, stood up straight, and told Cong Han and Shen Xue, "Tie her up!"
Cong Han awkwardly shuffled over and carefully confirmed, "Your Highness, do you really want to do this to Sister Qi Yan?"
"Stop blabbering and just tie her up when I tell you to!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Cong Han apologized softly to Qi Yan Su Luo, then worked with Shen Xue to tie her to the rack.
Cong Han said to Qin Zhao's back, "Your Highness, she has been tied up as you ordered."
"Mm, you two go stand guard outside. Don't let anyone in."
Cong Han replied, "Understood."
After the two had gone out, Qin Zhao paced to stand in front of Qi Yan Su Luo and, without another word, swung the whip and lashed Qi Yan Su Luo!
Qi Yan Su Luo let out a muffled grunt, then had no other reaction.
A slit appeared in her clothes, vaguely revealing the smoke-green corset underneath.
Qin Zhao said, "Cry out if it hurts, keeping it in will just make me think I'm not using enough force."
As she finished speaking, the second lash landed on Qi Yan Su Luo!
This lash ripped her clothes open, leaving a long red welt on her skin!
Qi Yan Su Luo clenched her teeth tightly, forcing back even a groan.
"Let's see how long you can endure!"
Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!
The harsh cracking sound echoed inside the tent, making Cong Han and Shen Xue outside feel alarmed.
The two were very worried that Qi Yan Su Luo might be whipped to death by Qin Zhao!
Qin Zhao's whip did not cease falling. Qi Yan Su Luo fainted from the pain twice, only to be lashed awake again each time!
Her clothes were ripped to tatters that no longer served to cover her body.
Qin Zhao was about to lash down again when she suddenly saw Qi Yan Su Luo raise her head, so she stopped and asked, "What is it? Ready to talk now?"
Qi Yan Su Luo smiled, her lips bloody. "Did you not eat? Why is your strength so weak?"
Qin Zhao ground her teeth furiously and swung the whip heavily!
Qi Yan Su Luo was in so much pain she didn't even have the strength to cry out.
Qin Zhao rained down lashes continuously until her arm went numb and she had no choice but to stop and rest.
Panting heavily, she said, "Let's see how long you can keep up the tough act!"
But Qi Yan Su Luo spoke up, "If I really did it, would I be stupid enough to not even try to conceal it? Would I just brazenly go, afraid that others wouldn't know it was me? You take me for a fool?"
