The Supporting Female Character Enters the Game, the Crazy Crown Prince Slowly Falls Deeply in Love - Chapter 55

One hour ago.

At the Xie Manor.

Xie Yunian  sat in a sandalwood chair in the study, casually fiddling with a string of Bodhi beads. Illuminated by the candlelight, his face appeared remarkably composed.

Qiyin  appeared in the room silently, his voice urgent. “Master, Zhao Quan has left the palace. His direction is towards Bright Emerald Mountain.”

Xie Yunian slightly raised an eyebrow, stood up, and placed the string of Bodhi beads back into its box.

“Our men, according to your instructions, were ambushed around that broken temple in advance. We indeed found a suspicious individual and have already apprehended him.” Qiyin knelt on one knee, awaiting Xie Yunian’s next instruction.

“Go to the Ministry of Justice and arrange for a death-row inmate,” Xie Yunian pondered for a moment, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. “I will go there myself.”

Since it was the Mid-Autumn Festival, after changing into a simple outfit, Xie Yunian first informed Madam Xie in the main courtyard before mounting the horse that Yuanzheng  had prepared in advance. To avoid attracting attention, he was also dressed in a black outfit. The hem of his clothes fluttered slightly in the night wind, blending with the darkness.

Bright Emerald Mountain was located in the suburbs of the capital, and with the Royal Villa there, it was rarely visited on weekdays, appearing particularly desolate at night. Fine rain, like thin needles, fell from the sky, hitting the dilapidated temple with a faint rustling sound.

Time passed minute by minute. Finally, a speck of light appeared in the distance.

Zhao Quan’s figure looked slightly hunched under the dim yellow light. Water splashed onto his bamboo hat with a “crackling” sound. The surroundings were so silent that only the rain could be heard. He felt a faint unease in his heart, but he still pushed open the temple door with forced courage.

The door hinges let out a creaking sound, as if they hadn’t been opened for a long time.

Zhao Quan stood at the entrance, peering inside. The temple was pitch black. Only the faint light from the lantern in his hand illuminated a small area in front of him.

“Is anyone here?” Zhao Quan called out softly. His voice echoed in the empty temple, sounding exceptionally abrupt.

There was no response.

Zhao Quan’s heartbeat quickened a little, and his palms began to sweat slightly. He took a deep breath and stepped into the temple.

“Minister Liao?” Zhao Quan called out in a low voice as he walked.

Still no response.

Zhao Quan’s unease intensified, and his steps involuntarily slowed down. The temple was in ruins. The Buddha statue in the center had long collapsed. The corners of the walls were piled high with debris, and the air was filled with a damp, moldy smell.

“Minister Liao?” Zhao Quan called out again, his voice trembling slightly.

Suddenly, a cold wind blew in from outside the door. The flame of the lantern flickered violently, almost going out. Zhao Quan was startled. He quickly shielded the lantern with his hand, his heart pounding like a drum. He felt as if something was watching him, and his back felt chillingly cold.

Zhao Quan suddenly spun around, the lantern in his hand swaying with the motion, but there was nothing behind him; he could only see darkness.

Just then, the temple gate was suddenly flung open, and a voice loudly shouted, “Arrest him!”

It was Qiyin leading his men who rushed in.

Fine rain, like thin needles, fell from the sky, densely hitting the dilapidated temple with a faint rustling sound. In the corners of the temple, weeds grew everywhere, thoroughly beaten down by the rain.

Zhao Quan was terrified out of his wits by the sudden shout. He frantically tried to run towards the back courtyard. Before he could even push open the back courtyard door, he heard a loud bang.

Zhao Quan’s body jolted violently. The next second, he saw the back courtyard door being forcefully kicked open from the inside. A figure slowly walked out from behind the door, stepping on the raindrops, each step appearing exceptionally composed.

He looked at the approaching person in panic, his face pale, his eyes filled with terror.

Xie Yunian, dressed in simple attire, stood in the rain. Rainwater slid down his cheeks. He stopped in front of Zhao Quan, smiled slightly, and dragged the person in his hand onto the ground before him.

“Are you looking for him?” Xie Yunian’s voice was calm. Although he smiled, his eyes clearly held a chilling coldness.

Zhao Quan’s heart plummeted. The person on the ground, judging by his clothes, wasn’t he Liao Sheng, the contact he was looking for?

Zhao Quan’s heart sank abruptly, and a chill rushed up from within. He stammered, “Lord… Lord Xie…”

How could Xie Yunian appear here! He… he didn’t have amnesia?

“This person just bumped into me, so I arrested him. Eunuch Zhao, you are familiar with the palace rules. Tell me, how should I deal with him?” Xie Yunian said, kicking the person on the ground.

The person on the ground was covered in mud, a piece of rag stuffed in his mouth. Mud and blood were mixed on his face, making his appearance hard to discern. The kick was clearly not light. He let out a muffled groan of pain, looking utterly wretched.

Zhao Quan’s face grew paler. He tried to steady his voice. “A-According to palace rules, he should be… should be flogged twenty times…”

Xie Yunian’s expression remained unchanged. “Is that so?” He drew the sword from his waist, his voice calm, “But today, I don’t feel like following palace rules.”

The moment his words fell, the long sword in Xie Yunian’s hand suddenly pointed down, accurately plunging into the chest of the person on the ground.

Blood instantly gushed out, flowing from the wound onto the ground, mixing with the rainwater to form a crimson-red muddy mess.

Zhao Quan’s eyes instantly widened. His body trembled uncontrollably, and he stammered, “Lord… Lord Xie…”

“Oh, I forgot to ask. Eunuch Zhao, why are you here?” Xie Yunian stood in the rain, the long sword in his hand still dripping blood. He looked down at Zhao Quan, his eyes cold, yet his lips still held a faint smile.

Zhao Quan felt chills from Xie Yunian’s gaze. His eyes occasionally glanced at the lifeless corpse on the ground. He seemed to have already foreseen his own fate, and fear instantly filled his heart.

Xie Yunian squatted down, leaning closer to Zhao Quan’s face, his voice low. “Zhao Quan, do you know your crime?”

Zhao Quan raised his head, a hint of plea in his eyes. “Lord Xie, this humble one truly doesn’t know what you are talking about… This humble one was merely acting under orders. Everything was at the command of those above.”

“Acting under orders? Whose orders? Doing what?”

Zhao Quan’s lips trembled, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. “Lord Xie, this humble one… this humble one doesn’t know…”

“You don’t know?” Xie Yunian scoffed. He swung the long sword, and the tip of the blade slashed across Zhao Quan’s neck, leaving a streak of blood. “Do you know now?”

Zhao Quan was so terrified that his whole body shook, and he almost collapsed onto the ground.

Xie Yunian glanced at him, finding it somewhat boring. “Such loyalty! It’s just… I wonder if this loyalty can save your life?”

Hearing the mockery in his words, Zhao Quan’s face changed repeatedly. He knew in his heart that from the moment he first started doing this, it was already disloyalty to His Majesty.

But…