CHAPTER 704: CHAPTER 266: EMPRESS: I WILL STRIKE IN THE FORM OF A CAT LADY!_2

Qin Shu fell into silence upon hearing the words, and the air inside the sedan chair was tranquil.

After a long while, she spoke, "I won’t hide it from you, mother did indeed strike a deal with Chen Mo... Ever since you were thrown into the Imperial Prison, your father has regarded you as abandoned. Since he is unwilling to act, I can only use my own means to rescue you."

"Abandoned?"

"Impossible, I am the only bloodline of the Yan family..."

Yan Linghu spoke with some guilt.

As far as he knew, his father kept quite a few mistresses.

Even though there were no offspring yet, it wouldn’t be difficult to have a few more born...

Qin Shu said with a slightly mocking tone, "In the past, your father needed to rely on the power of the Qin family, always treating me with respect, not daring to openly take concubines, so your position as the scion of the Yan family was relatively secure."

"But since he got involved with Zhuang Jingming, the Qin family became insignificant in his eyes."

"Taking advantage of this opportunity, he weakened my position within the Yan family, gradually separating out the Qin family... In fact, that’s exactly what he did."

Yan Linghu was speechless for a moment.

Although he didn’t understand politics, he wasn’t a fool, and naturally understood how Yan Peizhi climbed to his current position.

A powerless and wealthless student from Jiangnan, without the support of the Qin family, would have long been devoured by the ravenous wolves in the court, leaving not even bones behind!

But precisely because of this, the Qin family knew too many of his dirty secrets. In the past, this might have been used as a bond binding the two families. But now that he’s in a high position, it’s clearly become a crack upon the golden body.

"Even if you manage to leave the Imperial Prison alive, Yan Peizhi won’t let you stay in the capital, and the Yan family’s estate has nothing to do with you."

Qin Shu looked him straight in the eyes and said decisively, "Now, you have two choices, either pretend to know nothing and return to being the young master of the Yan family, or come back with me to the Qin family. Although it can’t make you rich and powerful, at least you can be protected."

Yan Linghu didn’t expect that just after his release, his parents would have such a falling out...

Looking at those calm eyes, he suddenly felt that the Qin Shu before him was somewhat unfamiliar.

Is this still the overbearing and doting mother he remembered?

Why does it feel like she’s changed into a different person in just a few days?

Yan Linghu did not answer directly but instead asked, "Mother, you haven’t told me yet, what kind of deal did you make with Chen Mo when you came to the Imperial Prison that day?"

A slight blush flashed across Qin Shu’s cheeks, and her expression was somewhat unnatural. She said, "Ahem, let’s not talk about the past... Actually, Chen Mo is quite a good person, trustworthy, a real man..."

"There is no essential conflict between you two, you could actually try to become friends..."

?

Yan Linghu looked puzzled.

So, throwing me into the Imperial Prison, torturing me, and almost chopping me up to feed the dogs doesn’t count as a conflict?

"But I didn’t expect he had such courage, actually daring to act against the Prince Yu Mansion."

Qin Shu gazed at the massive building outside the window, her eyes flickering, "Based on what I know about Chen Mo, he won’t easily let Yan Peizhi go. After taking care of the Princely Heir, he should be targeting the Yan family next..."

"You’d better be mentally prepared as well..."

For some reason, Yan Linghu felt something was off, but he couldn’t quite articulate what it was.

Or rather, he dared not think too deeply about it...

...

...

Inside the cell.

Chu Heng was suspended in mid-air by iron chains.

The Prison Director asked in a low voice, "Mr. Chen, how do you plan to interrogate this time?"

As someone on duty in this Imperial Prison, he had seen many "big scenes," interrogating numerous officials, be it a hundred or dozens, but this was the first time with a royal relative, making him somewhat uncertain...

Chen Mo said calmly, "Just interrogate as usual, go and bring up the tools."

"Yes."

A prison guard responded and left.

Not long after, he returned to the cell carrying a heap of instruments, laying them out on the long table in front of Chu Heng.

Chen Mo walked forward, his fingertips grazing over the tools and said, "We have quite a variety of ways to play here, which one would the Princely Heir like to experience first?"

Chu Heng sneered, "Don’t try to scare me with these things, do you think having the support of the Three Departments allows you to do whatever you want? Don’t forget what this country’s name is!"

"Once I leave the Imperial Prison, I’ll go straight to the palace to report this to His Majesty. Do you think a mere Death Exemption Token can save you? Not only you, but all the Assistant Officers involved will have to be buried alongside!"

"Nonsense, of course the country is named Tian."

Chen Mo said, "And by the way, why do you think you can walk out alive?"

Chu Heng shook his head, "Do you think the Eight Deliberations policy is a joke? If no evidence of my treason is found, then let me go. Are you actually considering murdering royal relatives in prison?"

"Murder in prison?"

"How could that be."

"As the Deputy Thousand Households of the Sky Scale Guard, of course, I wouldn’t break the law."

Chen Mo leaned in close, whispering, "However, if the Princely Heir’s confidants attempt a prison break and he is riddled with arrows from the Demon-breaking Crossbow during the escape after triggering the defense array... no one would be able to trace it back to me, would they?"

Chu Heng was stunned upon hearing this, "You dare..."

"Do you dare to guess if I would?" Chen Mo said with a smile, "The Princely Heir may be mistaken. I do not intend to interrogate you, nor bother to find any evidence, my goal is quite simple, just to see you dead."

Chu Heng’s pupils contracted, and his throat felt dry.

Given what he knew about Chen Mo, this madman really could do anything!

"Since you’re here, don’t waste the trip, the procedure still needs to be followed."

Chen Mo picked up a steel Wolf Fang Club, weighed it, and said, "The Princely Heir is of noble birth, with tender skin, probably unable to withstand torture, so let’s start gradually, with the beginner level first."