"Royal Uncle..." At this moment, Princess Serenity looked like a pitiful little thing, nervously twisting her sleeves, her head lowered as she timidly glanced at Nolan Dongling.
Nolan Dongling took a slow sip of tea, his voice full of meaning: "Serenity, you've grown up."
"Royal Uncle, Serenity... Serenity..." Princess Serenity's tears suddenly streamed down, her face utterly aggrieved as she said:
"Royal Uncle, you've misunderstood me. I only heard rumors that Miss Feng hired assassins to attack me and was upset, so I came to ask for the truth. I just happened to run into Commander Lucan Lu interrogating Miss Feng."
Telling blatant lies with open eyes is an essential weapon for every noblewoman.
Commander Lucan Lu knelt on the ground, hardly daring to breathe. Hearing Princess Serenity dump all the blame onto him, he suffered in silence.
He wanted to defend himself in front of Ninth Royal Uncle, but as soon as he looked up, he met Princess Serenity's cold gaze. He could only lower his head again, letting large beads of sweat drip down.
Nolan Dongling seemed selectively deaf, only catching the latter half: "Commander Lu is conducting an interrogation?"
At this point, Commander Lucan Lu didn't dare say yes or no—he could only bow his head even lower, pretending not to see Princess Serenity's murderous glare.
Offending Princess Serenity at worst meant she'd make life difficult for you, but offending Ninth Royal Uncle could mean ending up a corpse on the spot.
Ninth Royal Uncle didn't need a reason to kill someone.
Nolan Dongling didn't need Lucan Lu's answer. After a cold glance at Serena Feng, he set down his teacup. "If Commander Lu wishes to proceed with the case, go ahead. I won't interfere with your work."
Whew... Lucan Lu let out a huge sigh of relief, and Serenity was secretly delighted too. It looked like Ninth Royal Uncle really was just passing by.
But both of them celebrated too soon. Nolan Dongling said he wouldn't interfere, yet he remained motionless, sitting there as if waiting for something.
Lucan Lu had planned to stand up and respectfully see Ninth Royal Uncle off, but just as he managed to lift himself halfway, he thudded back to his knees.
Ninth Royal Uncle, you're really putting me in a tough spot!
"What is it? Commander Lu, weren't you going to conduct an interrogation? Go ahead. Don't let me delay your official duties." Nolan Dongling repeated, even colder than before.
"Y-yes, yes, I'll begin right away." Lucan Lu hurried to his feet, but with both a royal uncle and a princess standing here, how was he supposed to interrogate anyone? In the Punishment Room, no less?
Lucan Lu looked utterly miserable, but he had no choice but to comply.
Seeing this, Princess Serenity tried to act cute again: "Royal Uncle, perhaps I shouldn't stay here, so as not to hinder Commander Lu's work. I'll take my leave."
"No rush. Since Serenity's safety is at stake, it's better if she stays. How could her presence possibly hinder Commander Lu's work? I trust that no matter who's here, you'll conduct a fair trial. Commander Lu, am I right?"
"Yes, I will absolutely be impartial." Lucan Lu felt like dying.
Talking about 'impartiality' with the Bloodcloak Guard—wasn't that just a slap in the face?
Outsiders might not know, but Ninth Royal Uncle certainly did. What was the Bloodcloak Guard, really? They sounded powerful, but in truth, they were just the emperor's attack dogs—whoever he wanted bitten, they bit.
Evidence? Testimony?
Under heavy torture, you could have as much evidence and as many confessions as you wanted.
A higher rank can crush you, let alone when someone like Ninth Royal Uncle speaks.
Lucan Lu, an old hand at officialdom, knew perfectly well that Nolan Dongling's visit to the Bloodcloak Guard today was no coincidence. He'd come to back Serena Feng.
Lucan Lu discreetly glanced at Serena Feng, secretly impressed.
These past few days, the Wang Clan, General Warren Yu, and the Su Clan had all been trying to speak up for Serena Feng—Lucan knew that much. But he never expected those three to actually persuade Ninth Royal Uncle.
Timing and fate.
Serena Feng wasn't just well-liked—her luck was good too. Ninth Royal Uncle didn't arrive early or late, but right as Princess Serenity was about to torture her.
Lucan Lu knew Ninth Royal Uncle was determined to protect Serena Feng, so he immediately ordered her released from the torture frame.
Serena Feng's limbs had been bound, cutting off her circulation. As soon as she was freed, her legs buckled and she nearly collapsed. Luckily, the young eunuch behind Nolan Dongling reacted quickly and caught her. "Careful, Miss Feng."
Serena Feng gave the eunuch a gentle smile of thanks, then stepped forward and knelt before Nolan Dongling. "Serena Feng greets Ninth Royal Uncle—may you live a thousand years."
This kneel was sincere—Serena Feng meant every bit of it.
If not for Ninth Royal Uncle, she really would have been crippled today.
Nolan Dongling waved his hand, not even sparing Serena Feng a glance.
But that was normal—someone like Ninth Royal Uncle would never bother with such trivial matters or people.
For Ninth Royal Uncle to personally come to the Bloodcloak Guard for Serena Feng's sake, she ought to be burning incense in thanks.
Lucan Lu's cold sweat eased a little. He ordered the Bloodcloak Guard to bring in another prisoner.
With a clatter of chains, Serena Feng looked up. The man appeared a little over thirty, powerfully built, his face brutish and fierce. Covered in blood and filth, shackled at hands and feet, he moved as slowly and heavily as an old man.
It was obvious he wasn't getting any special treatment from the Bloodcloak Guard.
They say your face shows your heart—this time, it was true. The man just looked evil.
When he entered the Punishment Room, his body trembled slightly, as if startled. Once his shackles were removed, he dropped to his knees with a thud.
He called out loudly, greeting all the officials present.
Just from that kneel, a pool of blood spread beneath his knees.
Serena Feng knelt off to the side, secretly relieved she hadn't been subjected to harsher torture. The Bloodcloak Guard's punishments were truly beyond what most could endure.
Just that iron comb raking her back had burned with pain, making all her hairs stand on end.
This wasn't a regular magistrate's office—there was no wooden desk for dramatic slaps. With Ninth Royal Uncle present, Lucan Lu didn't dare conduct the interrogation as usual.
Once everyone was present, Lucan Lu stood just below Nolan Dongling and began the questioning.
"Qian Jin, look at who is beside you." With Nolan Dongling present, Lucan Lu didn't dare play any tricks.
The accused, Qian Jin, glared at Serena Feng with vicious hatred. Anyone watching would think they had a deadly feud.
"Sir, it's her! She said she's the young lady of Feng Manor and gave me a thousand taels of gold to lie in ambush and act on her signal. Sir, I'm innocent! If I'd known the target was Her Highness the Princess, forget a thousand taels—even ten thousand wouldn't make me dare!"
When he finished, he started banging his head on the floor, looking utterly remorseful.
His performance was so convincing that even Serena Feng almost believed him.
"Miss Feng, do you have anything to say?" Lucan Lu asked again.
Honestly, he wasn't optimistic—even Ninth Royal Uncle's appearance couldn't change the facts.
After all, this was an iron case—personally engineered by the Empress. It might have been rushed, but her power was overwhelming.
Speak? Speak about what?
Say she's innocent? Say she's been framed? Would it matter?
Serena Feng seriously doubted it.
Ninth Royal Uncle stepping in only gave her a chance—it didn't mean she was automatically innocent.
But how could she possibly prove her innocence?