The young master in red paused, his sword blade leaving only a shallow cut on the neck of the man in black. The latter's face paled, his entire body stiffening in fear.
The young master in red turned to look at Lin Qinghe and You Rong. This turn of his head allowed Lin Qinghe to see his features clearly – exceptionally handsome, with a more delicate, almost feminine beauty.
"Why keep him alive? Wouldn't it be easier to just kill him?" the young master in red asked with a hint of displeasure.
Lin Qinghe, pulling You Rong along, walked up to the young man in red. After catching her breath, she said, "I have my reasons for keeping him alive. I want to force him to reveal the mastermind behind this."
Upon hearing this, the man in black's expression changed drastically. Just as he was about to bite down on the poison hidden in his teeth, the young master in red was faster. He kicked the man in the face, sending him crashing to the ground, spitting blood. Along with the blood, a poisoned tooth also came out.
With his arms crossed, the young master in red walked up to the man in black and stepped on his head. He glanced at the dislodged tooth and sneered, "Hiding poison in your tooth, wanting to commit suicide the moment you're asked about your master – truly a loyal dog."
The man in black grit his teeth, his bloody lips trembling. "You... kill me!"
Lin Qinghe quickly interjected, "No! He can't die!" If this sole survivor were to die, how could they possibly have evidence to expose the masterminds, Consort Xiao and You Jing, behind this!
The man in black grumbled defiantly, "You can give up hope. Even if you kill me, I won't reveal anything!"
Lin Qinghe frowned. She had heard that death warriors possessed extraordinary willpower, often enduring torture to their death without divulging a single piece of information.
Just as Lin Qinghe was contemplating how to make the man in black reveal the mastermind, the young master in red let out a cold laugh. He produced a white porcelain bottle from his robes, bent down, pried open the man in black's mouth, and poured its contents in.
The man in black's face contorted. "What... what did you feed me?!"
The young master in red smirked. "Nothing too exotic. Just a poison my master developed. But don't worry, it won't kill you. It will only make you wish you were dead."
"You..." The man in black's face paled. The next moment, he began writhing on the ground, screaming in agony, "Kill me! Kill me..."
Lin Qinghe and the young master in red remained unmoved. When the man in black attempted to bite off his own tongue, the young master in red effortlessly prevented him.
In unbearable pain, the man in black finally broke. "It... it was Consort Xiao. Consort Xiao ordered me. She said I had to take the lives of Prince Rong and his consort today, no matter what! Give me the antidote, please, give me the antidote..."
The young master in red looked at Lin Qinghe expressionlessly, his eyes asking for her opinion.
Lin Qinghe remembered that he had just tried to take her life, so she wasn't about to be merciful. She scoffed, "Endure it for now. If you confess truthfully before His Majesty later, I will naturally give you the antidote."
Seeing this, the man in black tried to commit suicide again. The young master in red drew his sword, severed a vine, and used it to bind the man before tossing him aside.
The young master in red approached Lin Qinghe and offered her a porcelain bottle from his robes. "Here's the antidote. Take it. I've completed my master's instructions, so I must leave now... I really don't know what that old man is thinking, he never used to meddle in court affairs before..."
Lin Qinghe belatedly realized something. The master the young man in red mentioned seemed to be Feng Jingtian, and his red attire... She recalled system information indicating that the female lead, Ye Qingyan, was known for her striking red attire and was a flamboyant and beautiful woman. Could this young master in red actually be... Ye Qingyan?!
Lin Qinghe's eyes widened in shock. She looked the young man up and down incredulously. But despite his exceptionally handsome, almost androgynous appearance, his voice and Adam's apple, and his attire all indicated that he was undeniably male!
Lin Qinghe blurted out in astonishment, "You... you are Feng Shenyi's final disciple, Ye Qingyan?!"
As soon as she spoke, the young man in red's expression flickered. He muttered, "That old man, always blabbing my name to everyone..."
Lin Qinghe was stunned. He really was Ye Qingyan. The female lead of this world had somehow turned into a man??? Su Dan Novel Network. Did this world have a penchant for male-male romance for You Rong???
Ye Qingyan didn't answer Lin Qinghe. He tossed her the antidote, said, "I'm leaving," then lightly tapped his feet and leaped onto a tree, his figure moving swiftly and disappearing into the dense forest.
After Ye Qingyan left, Lin Qinghe's doubts sprouted like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, one after another. Why had Ye Qingyan become a man? Was the system faulty, providing inaccurate information? Or was it a random reward, a way to reduce the difficulty of the mission in this world?
Lin Qinghe rack her brain but couldn't come up with an answer. You Rong tugged at her sleeve, indicating that someone was coming. Only then did she snap back to reality.
The soldiers at the front rushed over, cupped their hands in a salute, and anxiously asked, "Consort, Your Highness... What exactly happened?"
Lin Qinghe lowered her gaze, feigning a look of panic and fear. "Quick! Someone inform His Majesty! There are assassins in the hunting grounds! Assassins..."
"What?! Assassins in the hunting grounds! Quickly... protect His Majesty!"
The soldiers descended into chaos. The leading general, with a portion of his soldiers, rushed towards the Emperor's location. The remaining soldiers escorted the near-death man in black and escorted Lin Qinghe and You Rong to a tent outside the hunting grounds.
While waiting for the Emperor and his entourage to return, Lin Qinghe recalled the numerous assassins who had died in the hunting grounds, and the accompanying soldiers who had all been killed. The Emperor would surely inquire. If she mentioned Ye Qingyan, it might implicate Feng Jingtian. If people knew Feng Jingtian was treating You Rong, You Jing and Consort Xiao would be even more desperate to kill You Rong. How could she conceal this?
Lin Qinghe pondered for a moment, her gaze falling on You Rong. She pulled You Rong aside and said, "Your Highness, what I'm about to tell you now, you must remember. When facing His Majesty later, you must say exactly what I tell you, understood?"
You Rong seemed still shaken, tightly gripping Lin Qinghe's clothes. He nodded, "This King... This King understands."
After briefing You Rong, Lin Qinghe walked up to the man in black and nudged him with her foot, warning him, "Don't play any tricks before His Majesty. Confess everything truthfully, and this Consort will guarantee your life. Otherwise... this Consort will not only ensure you don't die easily, but will also make you wish you were dead!"
The man in black, lying on the ground, trembled all over, staring at Lin Qinghe with sheer terror. He felt that this woman was even more terrifying than the young man from before.
The man in black nodded, and Lin Qinghe hummed with satisfaction. Just then, the tent flap was lifted, and the Emperor, his face grim, walked in, followed by You Jing, whose expression was unreadable.
Lin Qinghe quickly bowed with You Rong.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Greetings, Father Emperor."
The Emperor glanced at You Rong, his eyes narrowing slightly. He said gravely, "No need for formalities. What is going on? Where are the assassins? Who ordered him to carry out this assassination?!"