flstandardbreds Chapter 173 There's an Inside Mole
Chapter 173 There's an Inside Mole
This high-ranking official in the court was none other than Li Chong, a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.
He served as an official in the Night Dynasty for many years, outwardly appearing loyal to the emperor and patriotic, and diligent and conscientious. In reality, he secretly colluded with enemy countries, quietly transmitting many confidential intelligence reports of the Night Dynasty.
His face appears kind, often with a gentle smile, but behind that smile lies endless hypocrisy and cunning.
Time has etched deep wrinkles on his face, but it has also added a touch of feigned profundity to his appearance.
On ordinary days, he always wore a purple official robe symbolizing his high position, an official hat, and exquisite accessories. Every gesture he made exuded the demeanor of a high-ranking official. Little did he know that all of this was just a cover for his deception and collusion with foreign powers.
The mysterious owner was a woman with a graceful figure.
She wore a black, tight-fitting outfit that perfectly accentuated her slender waist and tall figure.
Her long, jet-black hair was tied up high, revealing her fair and slender neck.
Her face was exquisite yet exuded a coldness; her eyes were long and deep, like cold stars, as if they could see through people's hearts.
Beneath her high, straight nose were thin, naturally red lips, which, when slightly upturned, carried a hint of disdain and arrogance.
Her every move exudes competence and mystery, making her elusive and enigmatic.
Seeing that the big boss refused to speak, Chen Xiao turned to look at Li Chong, who was being held captive by Chu Yanxi, and said in a cold voice, "If you don't want to suffer endless torment, tell us everything you know, and you might be able to find a way to survive."
Li Chong looked hesitant, his eyes flickering as if he were weighing the pros and cons.
Seeing this, Chu Yanxi increased the force of her sword, the blade cutting a bloody gash across the official's neck. She said in a deep voice, "Don't try to get away with it. Confessing is your only way out now."
Li Chong felt a sharp pain in his neck and the threat of death. His body trembled slightly, and he turned his gaze to the woman.
The woman's expression remained unchanged; she calmly raised her eyes, but her gaze was filled with boundless indifference.
Seeing that he couldn't get any hints from the woman, Li Chong felt a surge of resentment, but dared not hide anything any longer. He could only stammer, "This Dark Night Plan was initially proposed by this young lady. She approached me, promising me great rewards, and asked me to pave the way for her in the court. I only know that she seems to be connected to a mysterious organization behind the scenes. That organization is powerful and spread all over the country. I've heard that they secretly manipulate the secrets of many officials in the court, using them to drive people to serve them."
Chen Xiao frowned, glaring at the woman: "Who exactly are you? Which organization do you belong to?"
The woman sneered, "You don't need to waste your energy. I won't tell you. I'm just following orders. Even if I fail today, you won't get a single word out of me."
Chu Yanxi sneered, "Such arrogance! Now that you're in this situation, how long do you think you can keep up your stubbornness?"
After saying that, she gave Chen Xiao a wink, signaling him to lock the two of them up separately for further interrogation.
Chen Xiao nodded and ordered the Imperial Guards to take Li Chong and the woman away and lock them in the most secure cells of the Imperial Prison.
Afterwards, Chen Xiao and Chu Yanxi returned to the palace and immediately began investigating those who had close ties with Li Chong and the possible identity of the woman.
They searched Li Chong's residence and study, hoping to find some clues, but found very little. They only found some fragments of letters that vaguely mentioned the mysterious organization, but the key information had been destroyed.
Meanwhile, in the imperial prison, Li Chong sat alone in a dark and damp cell, his heart filled with regret and fear.
He knew full well that his crimes were heinous and that once the truth was fully revealed, his entire family would be executed.
The woman remained calm and composed, as if waiting for something. Occasionally, a sly glint would flash in her eyes, as if she were plotting an escape plan.
Despite the difficulty in finding clues, Chen Xiao and Chu Yanxi decided to start their investigation by examining Li Chong's network of relationships.
After several days of investigation, it was finally discovered that Li Chong had close ties with a martial arts figure named Su Jin.
This person is elusive and frequently appears in underground trading venues in major cities and towns.
Chen Xiao immediately arranged for his guards to track down Su Jin's whereabouts, and they finally found his trail in a remote valley.
Su Jin was thin but exuded a strong and capable air. He wore a long, light gray robe, the hem of which swayed gently in the wind.
The robe appeared ordinary, yet it possessed exquisite, subtle patterns that hinted at its extraordinary nature.
His face was long and narrow, and his skin was slightly pale, like someone who had lived in the shadows for a long time.
His eyes were long and slightly upturned, and they often flashed with a cunning and vigilant light, as if he was always calculating something.
Beneath his high, straight nose were thin lips, with a faint smile always playing at the corners of his mouth, making it difficult to discern his true emotions.
His hair was tied into a bun and secured with a wooden hairpin, with a few stray strands falling on either side of his face, adding to his casual and unrestrained air.
When she walks, her steps are light and silent, like a fox darting through the night, ready to disappear from sight at any moment.
When the Imperial Guards and Secret Service surrounded the valley, Su Jin was not alarmed. Instead, she laughed loudly: "Do you think you can uncover the truth by capturing me? You are too naive."
Chen Xiao stood in front of him and said coldly, "If you don't want to die, tell me everything you know about that mysterious organization and the Dark Night Project."
Su Jin glanced at Chen Xiao, raised an eyebrow and smiled, "So the famous His Majesty is this handsome?"
There were four women among them: Chen Xiao and Chu Yanxi, who were in the lead, followed by Chao Yuan and Chao Ci.
The women frowned slightly upon hearing this, but remained silent.
Ye Yu, on the other hand, frowned and scolded, "Stop talking nonsense. His Majesty is asking you about serious matters. If you don't tell the truth, don't blame my sword for being merciless."
Su Jin, however, did not take it to heart, still wearing that faint smile, but with a hint of amusement in her eyes: "Your Majesty is in such a hurry, but the matter behind it is complicated and cannot be explained in a few words. I am just a nobody, and I only know the tip of the iceberg."
Ye Li said impatiently from the side, "Stop playing tricks here. Even if it's just the tip of the iceberg, you have to tell me everything, or today will be your death day."
Su Jin sighed softly, her gaze sweeping back and forth between Chen Xiao and Chu Yanxi, and slowly said, "That woman's name is Ling Xue, and she is a member of the Shadow Cult. This cult is deeply hidden in the martial world, with followers all over the land. They attempt to disrupt the world's situation and seek personal gain. The Shadow Cult is trying to overthrow the Night Dynasty, and the Dark Night Plan is just their first step. Li Chong is merely a pawn they manipulate in the court, and there are many pawns like him. As for me, I am just a minor character responsible for relaying messages."
Chen Xiao frowned even more deeply: "What other schemes does the Shadow Cult have? Where is their hideout?"
Su Jin shook her head: "I don't know where the lair is. I'm only responsible for passing on some messages. As for other conspiracies, I've only heard that they're secretly preparing for a bigger upheaval, and it seems they're colluding with various forces. I really don't know the specific details."
Chu Yanxi snorted coldly: "Do you think we'd believe your perfunctory words?"
Su Jin spread her hands and said helplessly, "Whether you believe me or not is up to you two. Now that I'm in your hands, telling you the truth is the best I can do."
After a moment of contemplation, Chen Xiao said to Ye Yu, "Take him back to the prison and keep him under strict guard. I will think about it carefully when I get back and then interrogate him."
After saying this, the group took Su Jin back to the capital.