Jiang Ji remained silent, unwilling to answer.
"Why doesn't Crown Prince Yun Cheng ask Yu Jiang Yan?" Jiang Ji suggested.
Yu Jiang Yan? Luo Yun Cheng's brow furrowed slightly, then he seemed to recall something.
"Which child are you?" Luo Yun Cheng quickly realized.
"This has nothing to do with the Crown Prince," Jiang Ji replied.
"You are from Miao Yin," Luo Yun Cheng continued.
"Never," Jiang Ji told him.
Luo Yun Cheng was clearly shocked by this statement. He suddenly lost control. "But you've always dealt with us as someone from Miao Yin..." Luo Yun Cheng trailed off, jolting awake.
"Was it all your scheme? You impersonated this identity to force us into this situation?" Luo Yun Cheng questioned him.
"I was merely following orders, entrusted with a task. I am not from Miao Yin, but I grew up in the Miao Yin Pavilion since childhood," Jiang Ji said something that was both true and misleading.
Luo Yun Cheng wanted to ask more, but Yu Jing Chen gave him no further opportunity.
"Take him away!" Yu Jing Chen ordered. Luo Yun Cheng was then escorted out. Yu Jing Chen turned to Jiang Ji. "You were aware of Nan Su's death, weren't you?" he asked.
"Yes," Jiang Ji answered directly.
"Suicide?" Yu Jing Chen pressed.
"Yes," Jiang Ji still replied.
"So... you were present at the scene?" Yu Jing Chen's tone grew dangerously.
"Yes." This time, Jiang Ji's answer clearly lacked his earlier confidence.
"Were you able to prevent it?" Yu Jing Chen's question carried immense pressure.
"...Yes." Jiang Ji gave several affirmative answers before Yu Jing Chen struck him. Jiang Ji crashed into a pillar behind him, spitting up blood.
"Then why didn't you stop it?!" Yu Jing Chen demanded.
"...It was the General's own decision. This servant had no right to interfere." Jiang Ji dared not look up.
"Jiang Ji, you are truly a capable person, to have hidden for so long and to dare stir up so much trouble right under my nose." Yu Jing Chen was almost amused by anger.
"Do you feel you've lived up to Yun'er? To the Empress Dowager?" Yu Jing Chen had learned a great deal these past few days, especially concerning the Empress Dowager.
"Her Majesty the Empress Dowager... she was aware. General Nan came to the palace to see Her Majesty the Empress Dowager precisely about this matter," Jiang Ji informed Yu Jing Chen.
"So... what kind of deal was there between you?" Yu Jing Chen inquired.
"The General did all this... for Her Majesty the Empress. He helped me fulfill my wish and ascend to a high position, in exchange for my future service to Her Majesty... Your Majesty, the General knew of your deep affection for Her Majesty the Empress, but he worried about the favor of an emperor. The General knew his time was short, so he wanted to secure a guarantee for Her Majesty," Jiang Ji explained.
Yu Jing Chen fell silent. In Nan Su's heart, he had never truly trusted him.
"Why you?" Yu Jing Chen asked again.
"...This servant and the General had met before. The person from Miao Yin whom the General rescued earlier was this servant... At that time, the Princess of Yu was sending people everywhere to look for me. By chance, this servant was fortunate enough to be saved by the General. However, I was still young then, and without anyone to rely on, alone. So later, the General sent me to the Miao Yin Pavilion," Jiang Ji answered truthfully.
"He sent you to the Miao Yin Pavilion?" Yu Jing Chen had not expected Nan Su to have any connection with the Miao Yin Pavilion.
"Yes... The Pavilion Master of Miao Yin Pavilion is actually Lord Gu Yin..." Jiang Ji replied.