Qin Zhao said, "Of course, I know that there is a problem with that palace maid.
Seeing someone's silhouette from a distance is a completely different feeling from seeing them up close.
But she was convinced it was you, undoubtedly someone behind her was instigating or threatening her.
However, that is not the issue I'm concerned about.
I just want to hear from you directly, did you do it or not?!"
Qi Yan Su Luo opened her mouth to say something when suddenly, sounds of fighting and arguing came from outside the tent!
And among them was the voice of Huo Chengjin!
Qin Zhao immediately took off his own coat and wrapped it around Qi Yan Su Luo!
Just as he finished wrapping her up, Huo Chengjin stormed into the tent with a few people!
Han and Shen Xue also rushed in, both of them with injuries on their faces.
Han said to Qin Zhao, "Apologies, Your Highness, I failed to stop them."
Qin Zhao gave Han a comforting look and said, "It's alright."
Huo Chengjin saw that Qi Yan Su Luo had been beaten up badly and anxiously said, "Qi Yan Su Luo, are you alright?
I'll save you right away!"
He took a step forward, wanting to touch Qi Yan Su Luo, but Qin Zhao pushed him away with a palm.
"Outrageous! Dare to lay a hand on her in front of this palace? Don't you want that hand anymore?"
Huo Chengjin clenched his fist, withdrew his hand, and questioned, "Your Highness, why didn't you investigate thoroughly and subjected Qi Yan Su Luo to torture?!"
Qin Zhao glanced at the lowered head of Qi Yan Su Luo and said, "I don't need to explain to you what I want to do. Who do you think you are?"
Huo Chengjin was stung by the disdain in Qin Zhao's eyes, took two steps back, and his chest heaved violently!
After a few moments, he gradually calmed down and said, "Your Highness, I can prove Qi Yan Su Luo's innocence!
She is definitely not the one who caused the downfall of the Emperor!"
"Oh? How do you prove it? Explain it in detail, and I'll listen," Qin Zhao replied.
Huo Chengjin raised his hand, "Bring them here."
The guards obeyed and brought forward two palace maids.
One was an unfamiliar woman, and the other was Cai Yun.
Huo Chengjin pointed at Cai Yun and said, "This wretched servant has been lying from the beginning. She never left the tent, so how did she see a suspicious figure?
Miao Ying, you speak!"
Miao Ying, the palace maid, bowed to Qin Zhao and said, "I shared a tent with Cai Yun.
Because I was reprimanded by the governess during the day, I wasn't feeling well and couldn't fall asleep at night.
So I know about Cai Yun's situation. I can testify that she didn't leave the tent last night!"
Upon hearing this, Cai Yun wailed, "Your Highness, please listen to what I have to say!
I didn't lie, I really left the tent!
Your Highness, please be fair to me!"
Huo Chengjin angrily shouted, "Such a shameless wretch! How dare you spout nonsense in front of the princess!
I won't believe it until I see you in a coffin!"
He drew his sword, intending to kill Cai Yun, but Qin Zhao stopped him, "Stop!"
Huo Chengjin halted, but his gaze towards Cai Yun still carried a murderous intent!
Cai Yun took two steps back, trying to distance herself from Huo Chengjin, and knelt towards Qin Zhao.
Qin Zhao asked, "Cai Yun, I want to know how you recognized Qi Yan Su Luo."
Cai Yun quickly denied, "Your Highness, I made a mistake!
That person was not Qi Yan Su Luo!"
Qin Zhao's voice was cold and indifferent. "Now you realize your mistake. Weren't you so sure back then? Why the change of heart?"
Cai Yun, with tears streaming down her face, repeatedly apologized, "I'm sorry, Your Highness. I truly understand my mistake. Please forgive me this once!"
"I don't want to hear excuses. Tell me, who instructed you to falsely accuse Qi Yan Su Luo?" Qin Zhao demanded.
Cai Yun hesitated for a moment before shouting, "It was General Xu Han!"
"He forced me to slander Miss Qi Yan, threatening to kill me if I refused!
Your Highness, I'm just an insignificant palace maid.
I'm too weak to provoke anyone, which is why I'm tossed around like a floating weed.
I have no control over my own fate!"
She wanted to continue speaking, but her head was suddenly severed by a sword!
Blood sprayed onto Miao Ying's body, causing her to immediately convulse in fear and collapse to the ground!
A few moments later, she lay motionless.
A guard approached and reported, "General, she's dead."
Huo Chengjin said, "Take the body away and throw it into the desolate mountains to feed the wolves."
The guard replied, "Yes, sir."
Qin Zhao glanced at the dragged-away corpse and thought, Rather than living in constant fear like an insignificant ant, it might be a stroke of luck to die early.
Huo Chengjin said to Qin Zhao, "Your Highness, that wretched maid was spouting nonsense. Please don't believe her.
I believe she knew she was going to die and wanted to implicate General Xu Han!"
Qin Zhao sneered, "I haven't said anything yet, but you're in a hurry to defend Xu Han.
Could it be that you're involved with him?"
Huo Chengjin smiled and said, "Your Highness, how can you make such a hasty judgment? I have merely exchanged a few words with Xu Han.
I just couldn't bear to see that wretched maid tarnish his reputation.
General Xu Han, the esteemed General of the Right Guard of the Imperial Guards, has no reason to plot against a captive steppe princess.
He probably hasn't even met Miss Qi Yan."
"You're right. I also think he lacks sufficient motive," Qin Zhao said, her tone growing colder. "So, I suspect it was you who instructed him!"
Huo Chengjin froze for a moment, then slowly replied, "I had no need to do such a thing.
Please refrain from making baseless accusations, Your Highness!"
Qin Zhao had reached her conclusion and didn't want to waste any more time with Huo Chengjin on this matter.
She would settle this debt with him sooner or later.
Qin Zhao waved her hand dismissively. "Enough, let's set this aside for now. You may leave."
She ignored Huo Chengjin and walked over to Qi Yan Su Luo's side, using a dagger to cut the ropes binding her.
Qi Yan Su Luo fell weakly into Qin Zhao's arms.
Then, she struggled and pushed Qin Zhao away. Without any support, she fell to the ground.
Seeing this scene, Huo Chengjin immediately stepped forward, crouched down in front of Qi Yan Su Luo, and extended his hand. "Miss Qi Yan, if you don't want to go with Your Highness, would you allow me to take care of you?
I promise to cherish and protect you more than anyone else in this world!"
Qin Zhao initially wanted to reprimand him and tell him to back off, but she suddenly wondered, if she let Qi Yan Su Luo choose for herself, whom would she choose?
Qin Zhao also crouched down and spoke, "I'll give you a chance to choose."
She, like Huo Chengjin, reached out her hand in front of Qi Yan Su Luo and asked, "Who do you want to go with?"
