Ji Yunxi and Feng Xingzhi quickly arrived outside the prison cell. Inside, it was in complete chaos.
The jailer nervously looked at Ji Yunxi and stammered an explanation, "We... we didn't kill her. We just planned to torture her to make her tell the truth, but we hadn't had the chance to start yet!"
Ji Yunxi saw the torture instruments on the table. Indeed, there were no terrifying ones that would strike fear into people's hearts.
Even if they had really started the torture, it would have been nothing more than beatings.
However, Lian Zhi's body was lying on the ground with a hideous face. It was obvious that her death was extremely tragic.
"Did you torture her?" Ji Yunxi needed to figure out the whole story.
Seeing that they didn't seem angry or blaming, the jailer replied, "Sir, we haven't started the torture yet."
Ji Yunxi stepped forward to examine carefully. Bending down, she found a deep strangulation mark on Lian Zhi's neck.
"Azhi, come and take a look at this."
Ji Yunxi slightly pulled aside the clothes around her neck, revealing the blue - purple fingerprints.
"Could she have been strangled to death?" Feng Xingzhi was a bit confused. Generally, people strangled to death would stick out their tongues or have their eyes bulge.
However, Lian Zhi clearly didn't have these strange symptoms.
Ji Yunxi checked all over but found no sign of an assassin's weapon. She could only ask, "Is there a coroner in this prison?"
The jailer was very smart. "There wasn't one originally, but we were afraid of being wrongly accused, so we've already sent someone to invite one."
Sure enough, not long after he finished speaking, an old man ran in, sweating profusely. Seeing Ji Yunxi and Feng Xingzhi, he immediately knelt down. "Liu, the coroner, pays respects to the two sirs."
Feng Xingzhi didn't deny his identity. Pointing at the body on the ground, he said, "Please examine her carefully."
The coroner didn't dare to waste a moment and immediately stepped forward to conduct a thorough examination.
The others stood at the door waiting. Ji Yunxi whispered, "Azhi, what do you think caused her death?"
"Judging from the strangulation mark, it seems like she was strangled, but the appearance of her death doesn't quite match."
"Yes, I also find it strange. Although her death was very tragic, it seems more like she died from poisoning, suffering a great deal."
The jailer smiled bitterly. "Sir, we hadn't even had the chance to act, and now the prisoner is dead. The Empress... sigh!"
Ji Yunxi didn't offer any comfort. After all, they had failed in their duty. Whether it was a reward or punishment would be decided by Hua Siyun.
The coroner soon came out and didn't dare to look up at Feng Xingzhi and Ji Yunxi.
"Sir, although this person has a very obvious strangulation mark, in fact, she died from poisoning."
Ji Yunxi and Feng Xingzhi exchanged a look and immediately understood. Lian Zhi should have been forced to take poison while being strangled by someone.
The person who could enter and leave the dungeon fearlessly must have an extraordinary background.
Suddenly, Feng Xingzhi seemed to think of something, and his face changed. "No, Xixi, let's hurry to Lian Zhi's mother's courtyard!"
Fearing that the person who had so mercilessly killed Lian Zhi might not stop there and would also kill her mother to eliminate all traces.
The two didn't stop for a moment and quickly rushed there using their light - body skills.
Unfortunately, they were still a step too late. From afar, a smell of blood wafted from the three - courtyard mansion. Lian Zhi's mother was lying dead on her back in the courtyard closest to the door.
The guards who were supposed to be on duty had disappeared without a trace.
"Siyun sent quite a few people to guard here!" Ji Yunxi looked around. "I haven't seen any of these guards yet. Are they dead or alive?"
The two couldn't come to a conclusion for the moment and could only expand the search area first. If they could find one or two guards, it would be helpful.
Ji Yunxi sighed and suddenly caught a glimpse of a person standing on a tree outside the wall.
"Who's there?" Ji Yunxi stared intently at the person. She felt that the figure was very similar to Jiang Yaoji.
Feng Xingzhi also saw it, and the two were about to chase after the person.
However, before they could move, a person came running from afar. "Master! Vice - master! Urgent order! Something has happened in the palace. Return to the palace immediately!"
Ji Yunxi suddenly realized. No wonder Lian Zhi had suddenly died and there were no survivors. It was a luring - the - tiger - from - its - den strategy!
Their target was Hua Qi'an!
Without hesitation, Ji Yunxi turned around and ran, her heart pounding.
At this moment, a group of black - clothed men were fighting with the disciples of the Dream Blossom Pavilion in front of Hua Qi'an's palace.
Jing Weiwei, leading Zhao Qingcang and a group of disciples, was stubbornly resisting.
Suddenly, a figure approached from afar. Hua Siyun looked up and saw that it was Jiang Yaoji, who had just left.
"Jiang..."
Before she could finish speaking, she saw Jiang Yaoji smile slightly, suddenly draw out her sword, and attack them.
"Be careful!" Hua Siyun had trained under Ning Shuihan for a few days, so her ability was still quite good.
Jiang Yaoji rushed straight towards Jing Weiwei without any mercy. At this time, Jing Weiwei was busy killing the people from the Moon - Watching Pavilion and didn't know the sudden danger behind her.
Hua Siyun blocked with her sword. The huge spiritual energy counterattacked and actually knocked Jiang Yaoji away.
Hearing the sound behind her, Jing Weiwei turned around and saw the usually high - and - mighty princess had taken off her heavy shawl and was holding a sword in front of her.
There was a look of surprise in Jiang Yaoji's eyes. "You're... not bad."
"Miss Jiang, what do you mean by this?"
Hua Siyun calmed herself down, suppressing the panic caused by the absence of Ji Yunxi and Feng Xingzhi. For the first time, she stood at the front like an adult.
Jiang Yaoji looked at the sword in her hand. "Can't you tell what I'm going to do? But what if I don't want to tell you now?"
She laughed softly, but her eyes scanned everyone like a venomous snake.
There was a slight sheen of sweat on Hua Siyun's hands, and there was a momentary hint of retreat in her heart. However, the next second, two hands pressed on her shoulders.
"Princess, we're still here." Jing Weiwei and Zhao Qingcang firmly stood behind Hua Siyun, and the three of them confronted Jiang Yaoji together.
Seeing this, Jiang Yaoji burst out laughing. In her eyes, they were just three ants. "Overestimating yourselves. Since you're begging for death, I won't grant it!"
Saying this, she suddenly attacked. With a flick of her sword, she immediately scattered the three of them. She seemed to be playing with them as she came and went.
After just a few moves, she had torn Zhao Qingcang's clothes to shreds. He could tell that Jiang Yaoji was playing with them and angrily shouted, "If you really have the ability, just come at us straightforwardly!"
Jing Weiwei's face darkened. Although they were being toyed with now, at least their lives were not in danger. If they angered her, they might not be able to hold on until the master returned!
"Shut up! If you had practiced harder on normal days, you wouldn't be humiliated like this today. I've already sent someone to inform the master. Hold on a little longer. Everything will be fine when the master returns!"
Hua Siyun also understood her meaning and continued to stubbornly hold on.
However, she had been exhausted from days of hard work. Now, holding on like this was like a strong crossbow at the end of its flight.
Jiang Yaoji looked at her playfully and rushed forward to get close to Hua Siyun. "So, you only learned such a little bit of the skills on Kunlun Mountain?"