"Tomorrow Cui Qian will be interrogated. We must make him reveal the truth." Emperor Yuanyou slammed the table. "Shen Xiao, have the Imperial Guards investigate the other twelve portraits. This matter must clear Ah Huan's name."
The emperor was furious.
A gust of wind lifted a corner of the portraits on the table.
Nowadays, Song Shihuan was raised to be bright-eyed and radiant—utterly different from when she was first found.
So much so that people had unconsciously forgotten the hardships of her first ten years.
"Was Wu Ming absent from Ah Huan's birthday banquet when she was found?" Song Yu's voice cut through the silence, his eyes dark and unreadable.
"Your Highness, invitations were only sent to capital officials of the third rank or higher at the time," Wu Qi replied softly.
Emperor Yuanyou seemed to realize something, his gaze shifting toward Song Yu with newfound appreciation. His son had grown astute enough to notice such details?
"Father, I merely thought... the spread of these portraits was unusually swift. Don't you agree?" Song Yu spoke with a faint smile. "Overnight, they flooded the entire capital. Minister Wu's efficiency seems... remarkably high."
"If that's truly the case, Father should consider promoting Minister Wu."
Before dawn, Song Yu and Song Shihuan returned to the Qin Prince's Mansion, leaving those words lingering in Emperor Yuanyou's mind.
"Investigate. I want to know who has been in contact with Wu Ming these past few days."
......
Qin Prince's Mansion.
Shen Qingping had been waiting anxiously for Song Yu and Song Shihuan to return, so much so that a blister had formed at the corner of his mouth.
"What happened?"
At the sound of movement, Shen Qingping nearly sprinted toward them.
"Father also believes in Ah Huan. At dawn, Cui Qian will be interrogated at the Court of Judicial Review," Song Yu said, his grip on Song Shihuan's hand unyielding.
"But it may not be that simple."
To their surprise, Song Shihuan remained eerily calm. "If Cui Qian were willing to confess, why endure torture in prison without speaking?"
Her words silenced both Song Yu and Shen Qingping.
"Ah Huan, didn’t you mention a girl whose grandmother was gravely ill? Could she have taken the money and peachwood charm back home?"
Shen Qingping could swear the prince’s mind had never been this sharp before.
"Your Highness means this girl might have fled home, only to be lured to the Cui residence?" Shen Qingping stared at one of the portraits. "That’s highly possible."
Those desperate for money would spend even a single coin immediately.
They couldn’t afford to wait.
"We must identify this girl and locate her family at once." Song Yu steadied himself. "I’ll write letters—deliver them personally to your father, Gu Zheng, and Xu Jinruo. If only we had more men..."
Only now did Song Yu realize how limited the Qin Prince's Mansion’s influence was.
While Song Yu and Shen Qingping wore expressions of worry, Song Shihuan smiled.
The feeling of being protected...
Wasn’t so bad.
"Father, where is Madam Cui, the one who struck the grievance drum?" Song Shihuan asked slowly.
"I heard she refused to return to the Cui residence. The Court of Judicial Review must have arranged temporary lodging for her." Song Yu was puzzled by her sudden interest in Mrs. Qiu.
"If possible, have Madam Cui brought to the Qin Prince's Mansion."
Song Shihuan’s gaze darkened. "She stopped leaving the estate around two or three years ago. She might know something."
Shen Qingping smacked his forehead in realization and immediately rushed out.
......
At dawn the next day.
The Court of Judicial Review was already surrounded by a dense crowd.
Of the twelve girls in the portraits, only three had been identified. Their families wailed outside the court, their grief piercing the air.
"My poor child, why must fate be so cruel?"
Tears welled in the eyes of onlookers. Such a brutal case hadn’t been seen in the capital for years.
When Cui Qian was brought forward, rotten vegetables and eggs rained down on him, nearly inciting chaos.
"Order!"
Wu Ming barely restored calm. Cui Qian’s parents stood outside, their faces twisted in disbelief.
Their son wouldn’t even kill a chicken—how could he kill people?
There had to be more to this.
Yet Cui Qian, bloodied from torture, wore an unsettlingly indifferent expression.
"Accused Cui Qian, were the twelve girls exhumed from your estate all murdered by you?" Wu Ming’s voice boomed. "Every word you say here will serve as evidence. A single lie will implicate your entire clan."
"I heard you found the girl in that portrait?"
Cui Qian ignored the question, instead asking about Song Shihuan’s portrait.
"You will answer this court’s questions."
"But Minister Wu, how you answer mine determines how I answer yours."
"Outrageous!"
The gavel struck, but Cui Qian only chuckled.
Wu Ming’s eyes flickered. "Yes, we found her. She is Princess Fu'an, recently returned to the palace."
At those words, Cui Qian’s expression twisted with hatred.
The last heir of six generations, he harbored an unspeakable secret—his obsession with men.
Ning was the one who haunted his dreams.
Yet the family line could not end with him. After repeated attempts, Mrs. Qiu still bore no son.
It was Ning who told him of a ritual to summon a gifted heir. For two months, they stalked potential child sacrifices.
That day, Ning personally led servants to abduct the girls—but the next time Cui Qian saw him, Ning was dead.
Under coercion, one of the captured girls pointed to the thirteenth portrait—the one who had smashed Ning’s skull.
He had searched for years.
Today, he finally found her.
Cui Qian burst into laughter, his gaze eerie as he stared at Wu Ming. "Yes, I killed those twelve girls."
The crowd erupted.
Unable to reach Cui Qian, the grieving families turned their fury on his parents, clawing at them until blood streaked their robes.
"My son would never! He was forced!"
Amid the chaos, Cui Qian raised his shackled hands. The crowd stilled, waiting.
"I may be the culprit, but the girl in the portrait—Princess Fu'an—was my accomplice."
Wu Ming’s hand trembled around the gavel.
"If I recall correctly, Princess Fu'an once had a gravely ill grandmother. She needed silver—so I gave it to her, and in return, she lured other children to me."
Cui Qian’s eyes burned with madness.
"Tell me, Minister Wu—does the law punish a princess the same as a commoner?"
