Chapter 162: Those Who Offended Her

As expected, Chi Nie is truly a genius, and his way of trying a case is quite unique!

"So the three of them were lying?" Chi Nie raised an eyebrow as he looked at the three women, a deep smile in his eyes that was actually a freezing, merciless sneer, causing all three of them to involuntarily shiver.

Yet how could they possibly defend themselves?

Yun Zui was not a corpse now; they could no longer just spew random lies. They were completely doomed...

They had dug a grave for themselves and jumped right into it!

"Could it be that when they claimed to have dined with me, I supposedly even set a time limit or something? Are they trying to cozy up and claim a connection with me?" Yun Zui remarked, showing no mercy in her words.

Chi Nie had a sudden urge to stroke Yun Zui's head. How could this dead woman be so terribly adorable? Every single sentence she uttered was so sharp and merciless!

Yet he loved it immensely!

"It is not about cozying up; it is about lying. Their true intention was to frame this Prince for murdering you," Chi Nie stated calmly.

Yun Zui was taken aback.

As for Dou Saiqi and the other two, their complexions had already shifted from pale to almost matching the whiteness of flour!

Their faces had completely drained of all color!

Only the officials of the Court of Judicial Review grew increasingly spirited. It seemed the truth of the matter was gradually coming to light!

"Tell me in detail..." Yun Zui felt as though she had missed out on something quite amusing.

"I shall summon someone to recount it for you." With that, Chi Nie clapped his hands.

Immediately, two guards dragged forward a person covered in blood.

Dou Saiqi and the other two instantly looked over, catching sight of the very maid Chi Nie had earlier pretended to admire being dragged across the ground.

It was obvious that the maid had been subjected to torture, and extremely cruel torture at that. Both of her legs appeared to be crippled, her hands hung limply, her body was stained with blood, and her expression was one of sheer terror and agony.

"Isn't this the maid who supposedly delivered your message, Prince Nie, telling me to come to the Prince's Estate immediately?" Yun Zui recognized her.

Chi Nie raised an eyebrow and said, "However, while I did wish for you to arrive by noon, I had a note slipped into your pastry rather than sending any verbal message. She was an impostor."

Upon seeing the miserable state of the maid, Dou Saiqi and the other two began to tremble slightly.

Might they too be reduced to such a state shortly?

Although they possessed prominent backgrounds, they had attempted to frame Chi Nie, and since Chi Nie cared nothing for their status or authority, he would undoubtedly show them no mercy!

"I see," Yun Zui nodded, indicating she understood. She then turned directly to the maid and asked, "What did the Prime Minister's wife and the other two instruct you to do?"

Earlier, the maid's heart had been pounding with wild excitement, believing she might have truly caught Chi Nie's eye and could secure a position in the Prince's Estate. Never had she expected that upon arrival, she would be locked in a room and interrogated relentlessly. When she refused to speak initially, the interrogation escalated into brutal torture!

That torture had made life feel worse than death, so she had confessed to everything. Being dragged out now was surely meant for her to confess before the officials of the Court of Judicial Review.

She also knew that even if Dou Saiqi the Prime Minister's wife, Yun Chang the General's wife, and imperial concubine Yun Yao joined forces, they might still be no match for Chi Nie. Thus, she resigned herself to her fate, feeling a sense of pity for the three of them. They should never have set themselves against Yun Zui; otherwise, the one who would deal with them was Chi Nie himself!

Unwilling to endure any further torment, she honestly confessed: "They ordered this humble servant to falsely convey a message from Prince Nie, luring you to the Prince's Estate. Furthermore, they commanded me to pose as your personal maid. This humble servant was merely following orders and had no other choice. I never harbored any malicious intent to harm the Dowager. I beg the Dowager to plead with Prince Nie to spare my life!"

Yun Zui frowned as she looked down at her. Now she knew how to beg for mercy, yet she had willingly participated in deceiving her from the very beginning!

Though she had grown suspicious in the end upon realizing she was being followed, she found it very difficult to forgive those who had wronged her. Besides, she was hardly soft-hearted...