Chapter 131: The Empress Dowager's Love Takes a Turn—Mocking the Empress to Her Face Is Asking for Trouble (4)
Inside the dim, foreboding depths of the imperial prison—
Both the rebels and the remnants of the Heavenly Dao Sect were locked away in separate cells.
Su Qing had decided to personally interrogate them.
And first on his list—
The rebel leader.
She sat bound in heavy shackles, her once-proud demeanor shaken.
For the first time in a long while, her spirit seemed dimmed, the weight of her failure pressing down on her shoulders.
As soon as he entered, the woman before him—her presence as sharp as a blade—glanced up with icy disdain.
"Someone like you… you're not just a mere rebel leader. What is your true identity?"
Su Qing ignored her cold demeanor, casually taking a seat as he asked with genuine curiosity.
The guild leader remained silent, her expression unchanged.
She refused to engage with a traitorous minister.
"Ah, I've seen that look before," Su Qing sighed dramatically. "So many have stared at me with the same defiance."
"I truly hate using extreme measures, being the benevolent person that I am."
"Why must you force my hand? By then, regret won't do you any good."
He exhaled in faux melancholy, shaking his head.
So many had been stubborn like her.
And yet, every single one of them had eventually succumbed to his persuasion.
Why couldn't they just skip the whole process and go straight to the conclusion?
"Try me."
The guild leader's voice was devoid of emotion, her confidence unshaken.
She was certain that nothing he did could break her.
Torture? Let him try. She would not even flinch.
"Guild Leader Jiang, surely you wouldn't want your admired superior's close friend to be humiliated by me?"
Su Qing's smile widened with feigned innocence.
As a master of strategy, he had a keen eye for details.
Jiang Yue's head snapped toward him, her entire body tensing.
She had heard tales of Su Qing's ruthlessness but had never personally encountered it.
But now—now she understood why he was feared.
He was a true master of psychological warfare, immediately striking her weakest point.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Weren't you unaffected by all this?"
Su Qing teased, enjoying the change in her expression.
"Despicable. If you want something, take it out on me!"
Jiang Yue's voice carried unmistakable fury.
"Listen to yourself," Su Qing chuckled. "Your reaction alone exposes your weakness."
"And now that I've found your soft spot, well… I can properly use it."
His wicked grin was that of a mischievous child.
Jiang Yue froze for a moment before turning away, refusing to engage further.
A small flicker of regret passed through her mind.
She had fallen into his trap.
Had it been any other matter, she wouldn't have cared.
But he had struck precisely where it hurt most.
"No need to keep up the act," Su Qing said smoothly. "I already know your weakness."
"I'm not unreasonable. Can't we just get along?"
His voice was almost gentle, but Jiang Yue shot him a scornful look.
She raised her shackled wrists, making a pointed gesture.
What kind of nonsense was he spouting about "getting along" when she was literally imprisoned?
"To prove my sincerity, I have a little piece of information for you."
"Don't you want to know who betrayed you?"
Su Qing's voice dropped to a low whisper.
Jiang Yue instinctively swallowed.
No one loathed traitors more than the betrayed.
Especially when that betrayal had cost her everything.
—
Midnight.
Dressed as a prison warden, Ye Xueyi moved silently through the dungeon.
She arrived at the cell housing the captives from the Heavenly Dao Sect.
With fluid motions, she unlocked the iron doors.
Not only that—she had the keys to their shackles as well.
One by one, the prisoners were freed.
As they moved to escape, their footsteps silent, it seemed they would vanish without a trace.
Or so they thought.
A movement of this scale would naturally create some disturbances.
Yet, no matter how much noise they made, the prison guards appeared completely oblivious.
Their patrols conveniently avoided the escape route altogether.
It was clear—
Someone on the inside had orchestrated this.
Jiang Yue stood silently, watching as the Heavenly Dao Sect members disappeared into the darkness.
She said nothing.
"Still think I'm lying?"
Su Qing leaned back, watching her with amusement.
Jiang Yue did not respond.
By now, it was obvious who the real betrayer was.
And it made sense.
The sect had no criminal background.
By turning in the rebels, they could gain the Empress's favor and even earn rewards.
Logically speaking, this was the best possible move for them.
But… something didn't add up.
When Fifth Elder had been captured, her reaction had seemed far too genuine.
Could she have been unaware of the betrayal?
If so, why had she come to warn Jiang Yue—only to be captured alongside her?
Su Qing observed Jiang Yue's internal struggle and smiled faintly.
He didn't need her to fully believe him.
He only needed to plant the seed of doubt.
With that, the fragile alliance between the rebels and the sect would inevitably crumble.
Compared to even the most tenuous historical coalitions, their trust was even weaker.
Without external support, the Heavenly Dao Sect would lose all its backing.
At the same time, he could further solidify his own pawns in their place.
Two birds, one stone.
He truly was a genius strategist.
—
Outside the prison.
In a secluded area, the rescued members of the Heavenly Dao Sect still looked dazed.
The reality of their escape felt almost surreal.