Chapter 68: Wrongly Accused!

Royal Palace Guard Interrogation Room.

Qin Shaofeng was strapped to a smart interrogation chair, a helmet-like silver halo fixed over his head.

It wasn’t to protect him, but to control and punish him through intelligent sensors.

“We won’t harm your body; that leaves traces. We’ll destroy your will and nerves instead.” The pain that strikes the nerves is incomparable to physical agony.

The instruments could adjust the pain’s intensity—three times, five, ten, twenty—until he couldn’t endure it, wishing for death, and finally confessing everything they wanted.

Technology advanced rapidly, and methods of interrogation evolved just as swiftly.

Daelid looked at Qin Shaofeng lying on the chair and said, “Captain Qin, you’re a former police officer. You must be familiar with this chair. If you think you can withstand it, we can start right away.”

“No need,” Qin Shaofeng answered, his face ghostly pale, despair filling his eyes. “Ask whatever you want, I’ll tell you everything.”

“Smart,” Daelid nodded. “You should know that at this point, resistance is futile. No one can save you, and no one dares to intervene now. Speak. Who ordered you to harm Her Highness the Princess?”

Qin Shaofeng quickly denied, “We didn’t know that woman… didn’t know Her Highness the Princess was present. If we’d known, even if someone held a gun to my head, I wouldn’t have dared disturb her. We’re not suicidal; who would dare oppose the Princess?”

“Are you certain?”

“Absolutely. If I’d known, I’d never have done such a foolish thing, no matter the threat.”

“So you were after the Princess’s friend?”

“We didn’t know he was her friend either… If we’d known, we would never have dared…”

“Enough. Tell me who gave you the orders,” Daelid commanded. “If you lie, I’ll make you endure every stage of the chair’s punishment.”

Qin Shaofeng shivered, replying in a low voice, “Liao Chengxu.”

“Hmm? Who is he?”

“Deputy Director of the Hexi Police Bureau, my direct superior,” Qin Shaofeng replied.

Liao Chengxu was not only his boss, but also his brother-in-law.

But things had reached this point; better the brother-in-law than himself.

Who told him to push Qin Shaofeng into this pit? He was the one who gave the order.

Daelid nodded, barking, “Bring him in.”

“Yes, sir.”

Two black-clad men responded and left.

-------

In a luxurious villa, Yan Wangshu and his daughter Yan Xinyou were drinking tea.

It was the finest black tea, from Dian Mountain in the empire’s southernmost region. An ounce of tea cost as much as an ounce of gold, a testament to its extraordinary value.

Yan Xinyou had drunk several cups already, yet still no good news arrived. She couldn’t help but urge, “Dad, should we call and check? Could something have happened?”

“Two petty criminals with no backing, what could happen?” Yan Wangshu savored the lingering sweetness of the tea. “It’s still not as good as that box of Emei Golden Buds. Golden soup, fragrant on the palate, leaves your throat sweet the next morning.”

“Dad, how can you still be thinking about tea?” Yan Xinyou fretted, glancing at her watch. “I’ve been back for over two hours and there’s still no movement.”

“How many times have I told you—in the face of important matters, keep calm.” Yan Wangshu chastised his daughter’s lack of composure. “Calling now would be unwise.”

“Why is it unwise?”

“If they succeed, they’ll call. If not, it means they’re still working on it. If I call now, it’ll seem like I’m impatient, which only breeds resentment.”

“But what if…”

Yan Wangshu waved her concerns aside. “There’s no what if, just a matter of time. Wait a bit longer; they’ll give me a satisfactory answer.”

“Fine,” Yan Xinyou agreed reluctantly.

Her heart was unsettled; until things were resolved, she couldn’t rest easy.

Just then, a servant approached and reported, “Sir, someone is here to visit.”

“Oh? Who?”

“The Royal Palace Guard.”

“The Royal Palace Guard?” Yan Wangshu was bewildered.

He had connections, yes, but not that high up.

“Show them in quickly,” Yan Wangshu said, rising.

These were guests he could not refuse.

Soon, several black-clad men entered. Their leader showed his credentials and said, “Yan Wangshu, you are under arrest for hiring assassins to murder. Please come with us…”

Crash!

The teacup in Yan Wangshu’s hand fell and shattered.

In times of great events, remain calm.

In times of disaster… you shatter.

-------

Fenghuang drove Tang Fei and Xiaopang back to the small courtyard. Tang Fei said to Fenghuang, “We’re safe for now. Do you want to return?”

Now that Fenghuang’s identity as a princess was exposed, he worried it might bring her trouble.

He’d always troubled Fenghuang, but still tried not to burden her more than necessary.

Fenghuang shook her head. “I can’t leave yet.”

She didn’t know who was trying to frame Tang Fei, or whether the target was him or herself.

Until the truth was clear, she couldn’t leave.

After all, Tang Fei and Xiaopang were new to the planet, unfamiliar and rootless; only she could be relied upon.

If she left and some other powerful agency came to arrest them, what would Tang Fei and Xiaopang do?

Would they surrender, or fight back desperately? Neither was a good outcome.

As long as she was here, no one would dare act recklessly.

“Then come inside and sit,” Tang Fei said.

The three carried their bags inside. Xiaopang hurried to boil water for tea, while Tang Fei and Fenghuang sat in the living room to analyze the situation.

“What do you think?” Fenghuang asked, watching Tang Fei.

She knew Tang Fei was no ordinary boy from the Old Earth. He had a strong sense of danger and sharp intuition, thoughtful and mature beyond his years.

“First, I can rule out that this was aimed at you,” Tang Fei said.

“Oh? Why?” Fenghuang asked, puzzled.

Tang Fei smiled. “This is New Star, Phoenix City—your territory. You just survived an assassination attempt on Old Earth; some are hunting the culprit, others trying to cover it up. Who would target you here, only to deliver themselves into your hands?”

“But you and Xiaopang just arrived, have no enemies, barely know anyone… Who would come after you both?”

Fenghuang frowned, her tone hard. “Possessing drugs is a serious crime in the Empire. The amount they planted on you… they wanted to destroy you.”

“I have a guess… but I’m not certain,” Tang Fei said.

“Hm? You have an idea who’s behind this?”

“There are very few suspects… If it’s them, I believe we’ll see the answer soon.”

Indeed, before they finished their tea, Fenghuang’s phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID, answered, “Captain Daelid, what is it?”

“Your Highness, we’ve apprehended the mastermind. We need you to come identify them.” On the screen appeared Daelid, Captain of the Royal Palace Guard.

Fenghuang nodded. “We’ll come right away.”

She hung up and smiled, “They’ve caught them. Let’s go see which villain wanted to target you two rookies.”

“I’m no rookie,” Tang Fei grinned. “I’m a meat-eating eagle.”

“What about me, brother?” Xiaopang asked expectantly.

“You’re a rice-eating rice bucket,” Tang Fei replied.

Fenghuang smacked Tang Fei. “Don’t bully Xiaopang.”

“Hehehe…” Xiaopang giggled, “I am a rice bucket. My godfather used to say so.”

“……”

At the Royal Palace Guard’s exclusive prison, Daelid waited at the entrance.

Seeing Fenghuang approach, he bowed and said, “Your Highness, the mastermind behind Qin Shaofeng’s attack has been apprehended.”

Fenghuang waved her hand. “Thank you, Captain Daelid. Take us in… let’s see if Mr. Tang’s guess matches the culprit.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The interrogation room door opened. Tang Fei saw Yan Xinyou seated in the iron chair and exclaimed in shock, “So it was you…”

Daelid, knowing Tang Fei was the Princess’s friend, asked, “Mr. Tang, do you know them?”

“I’d know them if they turned to ash,” Tang Fei barked angrily. “They hunted the Princess on Old Earth. We fought for our lives, suffered grievous wounds, and barely stopped them. I didn’t expect, right after arriving on New Star, they’d seek revenge…”

Yan Xinyou stared wide-eyed at Tang Fei. “Princess? What princess? When did we ever chase Her Highness?”

Tang Fei pointed to Fenghuang. “Still denying? It was her. You brought assassins to Old Earth, besieged and hunted the Princess… What, afraid to admit it now?”

“We’re innocent!” Yan Wangshu, seeing the gravity of the situation, cried out.

This burden was too heavy for him to bear.

It could cost him his life.

(ps: Thanks to little Huan Zui for becoming our Galaxy Mascot, a very active old friend. You must be an old friend, right? After all, the first novel you finished was written by Old Liu… Which one was it, I wonder? Handshake, welcome back.)