Ji Youzhi was a regular visitor to the Celestial Prison. Whenever he came, the prison guards wouldn’t ask many questions. They would directly open the cell door and lead him to Xie Si.
In the innermost cell of the Celestial Prison, Xie Si sat on a pile of dry straw. His head was down, and his entire body was trembling.
He just couldn’t understand how he, someone who always had such strong self-control, could suddenly lash out.
And that Princess from Nanjiang, hadn’t she just arrived in the Capital City?
Why did she know so much?
How could a princess from the Nanjiang royal court be so vicious?
Saying such cruel and filthy things?
Xie Si just couldn’t figure it out.
Footsteps echoed from the corridor, along with the obsequious voice of a prison guard.
"Lord God Hunter, Xie Si is locked in the cell ahead," the guard said.
Xie Si looked up towards the end of the passage and was surprised to see Ji Youzhi carrying the Eldest Princess.
Xie Si quickly stood up and walked to the cell door. He stretched his neck to look behind Ji Youzhi. Seeing no one else there, he let out a heavy sigh of relief.
"Open the door!" Ji Youzhi ordered the prison guard upon reaching the cell.
The guard complied and opened the door. Ji Youzhi then instructed, "Leave, and don’t let anyone in."
"Yes, sir," the guard replied and left.
"Greetings, Eldest Princess, Lord God Hunter?" Xie Si, being a scholar, greeted Xiaosuisui and Ji Youzhi with a cupped hand salute.
Xiaosuisui generously said, "No need for formalities."
Xiaosuisui looked around. Not seeing the beautiful lady she was looking for, she asked, "Brother Xie Si, didn’t the beautiful lady come?"
Xie Si shook his head. "No." Then he asked, "Why do you ask, Eldest Princess?"
Xiaosuisui said, "After the beautiful lady found out you tried to assassinate the Princess of Nanjiang, she went out to save you. She hasn’t come back for a long time, so I came out looking for her."
"Where did she go? Wasn’t she with you in the Palace? How would she know I was in trouble?" After this barrage of questions, he emphatically added, "I did not try to assassinate the Princess of Nanjiang!"
Xiaosuisui blinked. Brother Xie Si had asked so many questions at once; how should she answer?
"You tried to assassinate the Nanjiang Princess. News of that would certainly reach the Palace first. Miss Pan’Er and Suisui were already in the Palace, so it’s not surprising they knew about it immediately!" Ji Youzhi interjected, explaining on behalf of Suisui.
"I did not try to assassinate the Nanjiang Princess!" Xie Si emphasized once again after hearing Ji Youzhi.
"You did. My Third Aunt even saw it," Xiaosuisui said, causing Ji Youzhi to frown.
"Did your Third Aunt really see it?"
Xiaosuisui nodded. "Third Aunt told the beautiful lady herself in the back garden."
Hearing Xiaosuisui’s words, Ji Youzhi no longer doubted and fixed his gaze on Xie Si.
"What else do you have to say?"
Xie Si lowered his head and muttered.
"I didn’t mean to stab her; she provoked me. The things she said were infuriating. I had clearly kept my temper under control.
I don’t know what happened. Suddenly, I felt the scissors on the desk, and I couldn’t control my hand and stabbed her.
I really didn’t mean to kill her! Besides, I didn’t even know she was the Nanjiang Princess!"
Xie Si’s face was filled with regret, remorse, and self-blame.
In Ji Youzhi’s experience, these expressions did not seem feigned.
"Xie Si, His Majesty has ordered me to personally handle your case. Tell me everything that happened, from beginning to end!"