"H-he... he wanted us to help him reclaim the throne. He said the throne of Dali Kingdom had always been his, and Duan Zhengming had stolen it from him." Y-you... I... Lin...
Lin Xuan said, "So Commander Yang was killed by him?"
"Yes..." Li Quan nodded tremulously. "Crown Prince Yanqing went to Old Yang first. Though Old Yang still cherished their old ties, he now served the ruler and refused to be drawn into this treasonous whirlpool again."
"The Crown Prince... the Crown Prince wanted to kill a chicken to warn the monkeys, and he also hated that iron had failed to become steel... No, that's not right. He was telling me that this was the fate of traitors."
"He... he threatened me. He said that if I didn't obey, Old Yang's fate would be mine. When I saw Old Yang's collapsed chest... I was afraid! I was truly afraid!"
Lin Xuan sneered inwardly. Duan Yanqing certainly had his methods, frightening these old subordinates who had long lost their courage out of their wits.
"What about Duan Yu? Is the heir of Prince Zhennan being held here?" Lin Xuan asked the most crucial question.
"He is... he is." Li Quan answered with a shudder. "The Crown Prince captured a pale-faced scholar two days ago. He was Prince Zhennan's son."
"He handed that scholar over to me for safekeeping, saying he had a use for him and wanted to make him... make him utterly disgraced. The Crown Prince ordered me to lock him in the secret chamber beneath the rockery in the rear courtyard and guard him closely. I wasn't to let him escape."
At this, a sharp glint flashed through Lin Xuan's eyes.
Well, well. Duan Yu had been imprisoned right under everyone's noses.
Duan Yanqing was ruthless indeed, locking