C6 The Woman Hidden in the Harem

"Just say what you're told. Why all the unnecessary chatter? Whether I become a lackey or not is none of your business," the woman snapped, spitting out another mouthful of blood.

"If I'm going to die anyway, why should I tell you anything?" she retorted coldly.

Feng Wuqing scratched his head. "You make a point, but it's not the same. If you talk, at least I'll make it quick for you. Either way, it's better than suffering like this, right?"

The woman stayed silent, feeling dizzy from being hung upside down for so long, not to mention enduring the torture.

Seeing her reluctance, Feng Wuqing tried to reason with her again. "Do you think staying silent makes you loyal? If people find out you betrayed your own country by leaking military secrets and faking orders, do you think they'll spare you?"

The woman sneered, "The country's already fallen. Who cares about that?"

Feng Wuqing sighed and shook his head. "True, but don't forget, there's still the princess. Princess Mingyue is engaged to our Crown Prince. For his sake, she won't be harmed."

At this, the woman's body trembled violently, her eyes widening in fear. Her breathing became rapid, as if she'd just heard something terrifying.

Feng Wuqing noticed the opportunity and quickly continued to persuade her:

"You might not know this, hiding in the basement all this time, but the entire royal family of Yan Country has been wiped out. The only one left is Princess Mingyue, and in seven days, she'll be returning with the army to Ximu. Now, imagine if she finds out that you're the mastermind behind all this, and that you sent your son out of the palace before the city fell, while the one executed outside was just a decoy."

At this point, Feng Wuqing fell silent, but the implication was clear to the woman.

After a long pause, she bit her lip and nodded:

"Alright, I'll tell you, but you must agree to one condition."

Seeing her willingness to talk, Feng Wuqing was overjoyed.

"Sure, sure, go ahead. As long as it's not sparing your life, I'll agree to anything."

The woman silently curled her lips into a slight smile:

"My request is simple. I want you to ensure my son's safety. I don't expect him to be rich or powerful, but at least he should have enough to live on and be safe."

"This!" Feng Wuqing turned to look at the Crown Prince behind him.

The Crown Prince was silent for a moment, then said two words:

"Three times."

The woman looked at Feng Wuqing, puzzled.

Feng Wuqing quickly explained:

"The Crown Prince means he'll help your son three times, or if your son makes a mistake, he'll spare his life three times."

The woman let out a deep sigh of relief. Her initial demands were intentionally high, expecting to negotiate down, so receiving such a promise from the Crown Prince of Ximu was more than satisfactory for her.

In these turbulent times, Ximu is one of the three most powerful kingdoms. Some even claim that Ximu's strength has already surpassed that of the continent's ruler, the Holy Empire. It's only a matter of time before they take over.

That's why she trusts the Crown Prince's promise.

"Alright, I'll tell you. The item you're looking for isn't with me. Three years ago, during Princess Mingyue's birthday, the King of Yan placed it in the pendant of a necklace and gave it to her."