Beaten to Death

Steam rose, mist swirling.

Xiao Qianyu sat in the bathtub with his eyes closed. Medicinal herbs that refreshed the mind were added to the water, as if every limb and bone had been soothed. His body felt slightly warm, and his spirit felt much more relaxed.

Seeing sweat bead on his forehead, Qinxin carefully approached with a towel to wipe it away, but was caught off guard when Xiao Qianyu suddenly opened his eyes.

Qinxin stammered, "Your Highness, this servant, this servant wishes to wipe your sweat."

What kind of eyes were those? Cold and icy, a single glance sent a chill down one's spine, devoid of any emotion.

Unfamiliar, so unfamiliar!

The Crown Prince's eyes were not like this before; they were bright and warm, his dark pupils seeming to be adorned with stars, making one's heart feel warm just looking at them.

Qinxin naturally wouldn't suspect that Xiao Qianyu had been possessed by someone else. He just felt heartbroken, believing that His Highness the Crown Prince had experienced a terrifying ordeal and suffered unknown hardships, which led to a change in his disposition.

Xiao Qianyu slightly closed his eyes, concealing the coldness within his gaze.

He thought that after receiving the plot concerning Shumo just now, he should quickly recall the original body's memories. He hadn't expected his mind to still be a complete blank.

The plot concerning Shumo was told from his perspective. It couldn't be said to be unhelpful to Xiao Qianyu, but it didn't describe how the original body was replaced as the Empress's legitimate eldest son from birth, who planned and arranged it, or how it was accomplished.

An Empress giving birth, with palace maids and wet nurses by her side, and guards and eunuchs outside guarding her tightly. Under such heavy palace restrictions, how could the legitimate eldest son be so easily swapped? It seemed unbelievable no matter how he thought about it.

What was the original body's true identity, and who were his birth parents? It remained a mystery to Xiao Qianyu.

He splashed the water, watching the droplets fall. Since the Three Judicial Offices' joint trial had conclusive evidence, they must have thoroughly investigated the cause and effect. It seemed he still needed to find an opportunity to personally review the case files to understand the whole story of the true and false Crown Prince.

According to typical plot development, the one who could manage to replace the protagonist's identity would definitely be the villain, most likely the False Crown Prince's family.

If there were no family members with vested interests, ordinary people wouldn't do such a thing, right?

Since the False Crown Prince had been captured, wasn't their conspiracy exposed?

Committing such a heinous crime that would lead to the extermination of nine generations, they must have already been caught and beheaded, their families annihilated.

He hoped not. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. As long as they opposed the protagonist, Xiao Qianyu wanted to unite and win them over.

Moreover, in typical worlds, supporting characters would at most swap a true and false princess or a true and false young master. Their methods were extraordinary; they went all out and produced a true and false Crown Prince.

Such a supporting character with vision and ambition—if he had the chance, he definitely wanted to meet them.

Xiao Qianyu commanded, "Send someone to the Ministry of Punishments and tell them that this Crown Prince wishes to see the case files from the Three Judicial Offices' trial. Have a copy transcribed and sent over."

Actually, there was no need to dwell on it. He was now the Crown Prince, undeniably protected by divine beings. To understand the case, he could simply have someone send it over.

Qinxin was delighted to be of use and immediately agreed, "Yes, this servant will go and do it now."

"Wait," Xiao Qianyu added, "if they refuse, ask if the mastermind behind the assassination attempt on this Crown Prince in the courtroom has been apprehended?"

"Assassination, assassination..." Qinxin began to tear up again, sobbing, "Your Highness, Your Highness, you have suffered."

Xiao Qianyu dismissed it, "Go and do it."

"Yes." Casually wiping the tears from his face, Qinxin prepared to leave.

"Wait a moment..." Xiao Qianyu suddenly called out to him.

Qinxin immediately stopped, looking at him expectantly. "Does Your Highness have any other instructions?"

Xiao Qianyu pondered for a moment before speaking, "Send word to the Ministry of Punishments that the Father Emperor decreed no torture that would harm my body. Yet, someone defied the imperial decree. Have them apprehend the one who defied it. If they cannot accomplish this within three days, do not blame me for causing trouble for them."

Based on the Emperor and Empress Yongchang's previous behavior, they indeed did not intend to torture or humiliate the original body. However, someone had done so privately. Xiao Qianyu would not be able to rest easy if this person was not found and dealt with.

To have tortured the original body and still expect to get away with it, what a dream they were having.

Qinxin sniffled, trying hard to hold back his tears, his lips almost bleeding from biting them.

When the ruler is insulted, the subject dies. The Crown Prince was trampled and humiliated; he truly wished he could have endured it in the Crown Prince's stead.

Xiao Qianyu thought for a moment and instructed, "Also, tell Shumo to have someone keep an eye on that traitor, the False Crown Prince. Report any abnormalities immediately."

Would the protagonist honestly wait to be executed in the autumn? Xiao Qianyu had his doubts.

Seeing that the Crown Prince had no further instructions, Qinxin quietly tiptoed out and ordered people to carry out his tasks.

He was just a bit timid and honest, but he was, after all, the original body's personal eunuch. After careful training, he still possessed capability.

A moment later, Qinxin returned to the bathing chamber and reported in a low voice, "Your Highness, this servant has already given the instructions."

Xiao Qianyu nodded, then asked as if casually, "Oh, right, what was that traitor's name again?"

Pity that he still knew nothing about the protagonist's name.

Qinxin knew this. He cautiously glanced at Xiao Qianyu's expression. "The traitor's original surname was Chu. Later, His Majesty renamed him and entered him into the imperial clan registry as Xiao Qinyi, with the character 'yì' meaning radiant."