Chapter 713

Zuan stopped abruptly and observed carefully, discovering a group of Embroidered Envoy agents ambushing him, led by Zhu Xie Chixin. His heart skipped a beat as he wondered if he had exposed himself at some point.

His first instinct was to turn and run; after all, being found naked and embracing the Crown Princess, even if framed, was an undeniable capital offense. However, he quickly calmed down. There might not be concrete evidence for their arrest attempt here, and running would only confirm his guilt. Crucially, the palace's imperial guards were now fully mobilized, and the palace gates were closed, making escape unlikely. He took a deep breath and calmly walked towards them.

The moment he emerged, a group of Embroidered Envoy agents immediately leaped out from the surrounding bushes and surrounded him.

"What is the meaning of this?" Zuan asked in a deep voice.

Zhu Xie Chixin stepped forward, his gaze complex. "Gold Medallion Eleven, you're coming with us. There's something we need you to investigate."

"What is it?" Zuan asked calmly.

Zhu Xie Chixin gave him a long, deep look but offered no answer, simply waving his hand to his subordinates and commanding, "Take him away!"

Zuan did not resist; with a Half-Grandmaster present, any resistance would be futile. He was soon taken back to the Embroidery Tower, the Embroidered Envoy's main headquarters within the palace. He was led down to an underground secret chamber, where Zhu Xie Chixin dismissed the others, intending to conduct the interrogation alone.

The other Embroidered Envoy agents were somewhat surprised, as custom dictated that multiple individuals should be present during an interrogation to ensure checks and balances and prevent collusion or manipulated testimonies. The Grand Commander's current actions were a bit unconventional. Nevertheless, Zhu Xie Chixin commanded immense prestige, and given that the person being interrogated was the recently mysterious Gold Medallion Eleven, no one objected, and they quietly withdrew.

Once everyone had left, Zhu Xie Chixin came and sat before Zuan, silently gazing at him.

Zuan had already removed his mask, as his identity was known to his captor. "Grand Commander, what crime have I committed? Why was I arrested?"

At that moment, Zhu Xie Chixin slammed his hand on the table. "How dare you! How dare you lay hands on the Crown Princess!"

Zuan immediately feigned great alarm. "Grand Commander, where did such words come from? This is a capital crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of a family; it's not something to joke about."

"Who's joking with you?" Zhu Xie Chixin's face was grim. "Someone has formally reported that you and the Crown Princess had a secret illicit rendezvous. Is this true?"

"Absolutely not. Even if you don't believe me, surely you believe the Crown Princess?" Zuan quickly replied. "How long have I been in the palace? What kind of person is the Crown Princess? How could she possibly be interested in me? I don't know what damned person is spreading such malicious rumors, may they be cursed!"

He knew it was most likely Shi Jun, but he couldn't reveal it, as only the people directly involved would know that Shi Jun was leading the search for them. Having watched so many episodes of Conan in his previous life, where culprits always inadvertently revealed themselves, he now carefully considered every word he spoke.

"Never mind who reported you," Zhu Xie Chixin said coldly. "Know that there was more than one accuser—palace maids, guards, and eunuchs, all claiming to have witnessed it themselves."

"Impossible! I absolutely did no such thing. I hope the Grand Commander will see the truth!" Zuan thought to himself. When he ran, those people could at most have seen his back; it was impossible for them to clearly see his face. As for the Crown Princess, her face had been buried in his chest, making it even more impossible for her to be seen. It seemed those accusers were indeed orchestrated by the real framers.

"Then why didn't you leave the palace after dark?" Zhu Xie Chixin pressed on.

"It was getting late, so I decided to stay in the White Sand Courtyard," Zuan explained. "My own residence outside is quite lonely, so I thought it would be better to stay in the livelier palace."

"Stay in the lively palace?" Zhu Xie Chixin scoffed, amused and irritated. "What do you take the palace for? It's filled with empresses, concubines, and princesses. How can a man just stay overnight here?"

Zuan mumbled, "Don't I have the identity of an Embroidered Envoy agent? It would be a waste not to use it."

Zhu Xie Chixin was speechless.

He took a deep breath. "Then why weren't you there when we came looking for you just now? Where did you go in the middle of the night?"

"I was just wandering around the palace," Zuan said. "I'm new here and not very familiar with the layout. I was worried about another assassin incident like last time, so I decided to proactively familiarize myself with the palace grounds to avoid being lost and helpless if something happened again."

"You were wandering around the palace in the middle of the night?" Zhu Xie Chixin scoffed, a humorless laugh escaping him. "How many times have I told you? The palace is full of nobles. You can't just wander around freely; you must avoid suspicion, don't you know that?"

"I was just bored, so I went for a stroll. Who would have thought I'd be met with such suspicion?" Zuan quickly explained. "Grand Commander, although I haven't been in the Eastern Palace long and am not very familiar with the Crown Princess, based on what I've learned about her recently, she would absolutely never engage in such an illicit affair with another man."

Zhu Xie Chixin snorted coldly. "If I didn't trust the Crown Princess's character, do you think His Majesty would patiently allow me to question you at such length?"

Zuan's expression shifted in surprise. "So His Majesty wants to question me."

"What did you think? With such a major incident, how could His Majesty possibly ignore it?" Zhu Xie Chixin said in a deep voice. "Based on our analysis, it's highly likely that you and the Crown Princess were set up. Now, truthfully tell me what happened between you two, so I can help you manage the aftermath."

Zuan said earnestly, "Grand Commander, why won't you believe me? Nothing truly happened between the Crown Princess and me. I haven't seen her since I left the Imperial Study." Of course, he couldn't admit it. While there might be some truth to the offer, whether the Emperor or Zhu Xie Chixin genuinely intended to help manage the fallout, he knew that while the Crown Princess might be spared, he himself would certainly be doomed.

He still remembered when Yun Jianyue attempted an assassination: he had clearly saved the Crown Princess, yet merely embracing her during the rescue had almost cost him a hand, courtesy of the Emperor. Today, he had seen the Crown Princess completely exposed. No matter how magnanimous the Emperor was, he couldn't possibly allow another man to defile his daughter-in-law, could he?

Zhu Xie Chixin gazed deeply at him. After a long moment, he lowered his voice. "Very well. From now on, no matter who questions you, stick firmly to this story."

Zuan looked at him, somewhat surprised. Was this man secretly helping him? It seemed his previous favor had paid off.

Zhu Xie Chixin cleared his throat, and his voice returned to its normal volume. "Then, did you see any suspicious individuals?"

"No," Zuan shook his head. "I hadn't been out for long when I noticed the palace seemed to be in chaos. The imperial guards appeared to be searching for someone. Worried about trouble, I returned, and then you brought me here."

Zhu Xie Chixin sat back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop, lost in thought. The rhythmic tapping of his fingers on the table resonated piercingly in the room, creating an oppressive atmosphere.

After a moment, Zhu Xie Chixin said, "Someone will take you to the imperial prison for further interrogation later. You must be clear about what to say and what not to say. Furthermore, His Majesty specifically instructed that you absolutely must not reveal your identity as an Embroidered Envoy agent."

"Understood!" Zuan's heart lightened. The Emperor's words indicated that he still wanted Zuan to help him plot against Prince Qi. Therefore, as long as he didn't reveal what truly happened between him and the Crown Princess, the Emperor likely wouldn't kill him.

Zuan couldn't help but ask, "Why has this matter escalated to the imperial prison? Shouldn't it have been suppressed sooner? A public investigation like this will surely damage the Crown Princess's reputation."

Zhu Xie Chixin hesitated before explaining, "There is more than one faction in the palace; there are also numerous forces loyal to Prince Qi. They have already begun to fan the flames, so how could this matter be easily suppressed? The Crown Princess's status is unique, making her difficult to question directly. They will certainly begin with you."

Zuan managed a bitter smile inwardly. Indeed, in this world, ordinary people had no rights.

After Zhu Xie Chixin departed, someone quickly escorted Zuan to the imperial prison. General Guo Zhi of the Right Guard sighed upon seeing him. "Brother Zu, I never expected us to meet under such circumstances."

Zuan offered a bitter smile. "Neither did I."

Guo Zhi seemed about to speak but stopped himself. Then, unseen by those around them, he transmitted a message via vital energy: "Later, the Grand Master of the Imperial Clan, the Grand Justice, and the Grand Minister of Ceremonies will jointly interrogate you. Handle yourself wisely."