Huanzhu Time Travel: Yan Luo's Unbreakable Love in the Yong Dynasty

Xiao Yanzi's face flushed red with anger, wishing she could make the Vice Minister of Rites speak immediately. She turned to look at Hongli, her eyes filled with anxiety and helplessness.

Hongli frowned slightly, stepped forward, stared at the Vice Minister of Rites, and said in a stern tone: "As an official of the court, you do not think of serving the country, but dare to collude with the Shadow Pavilion and try to disrupt the palace banquet. What is your crime? If you confess the truth, I may be able to give you a lighter punishment."

The Vice Minister of Rites trembled slightly, but kept his lips tightly closed and remained silent.

"Your Majesty, why waste your breath arguing with him! Watch how I pry his mouth open!" Little Swallow said, raising her sword as if to strike.

The Vice Minister of Rites turned pale with fright and instinctively shrank back, but still managed to keep quiet.

“My dear consort, do not act rashly.” Hongli stopped Xiaoyanzi. “Interrogation requires strategy; we cannot rush things.”

At this moment, Liu Hong stepped forward and said softly, "Your Majesty, Princess, this villain is so stubborn. We might as well plan this carefully. Perhaps we can find some people or things he cares about to force him to submit."

Hongli nodded: "Miss Liu Hong is right. Su Peisheng, go and investigate the family of this Vice Minister of Rites, and see if there is anything we can use to help them."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Su Peisheng accepted the order and immediately led his men away.

A short while later, Su Peisheng returned and reported: "Your Majesty, the Vice Minister of Rites has a young son whom he dotes on. He is currently at home."

A thoughtful look flashed across Hongli's eyes: "Bring his son here."

"Your Majesty, isn't this... a bit too cruel?" Little Swallow said, feeling a pang of pity.

“My dear consort, this is a last resort. In order to stop the Shadow Pavilion’s conspiracy and protect the safety of more people, we have no other choice,” Hongli said.

Soon, the son of the Vice Minister of Rites was taken to the estate. The little boy looked no more than seven or eight years old, his face filled with terror. Seeing his father tied up there, he couldn't help but cry out, "Father, Father!"

When the Vice Minister of Rites saw his son, a flicker of panic crossed his eyes, and he shouted, "Let him go! Come at me!"

Hongli looked at the Vice Minister of Rites and slowly said, "If you reveal the Shadow Pavilion's conspiracy, I will immediately release your son and ensure the safety of your family. Otherwise..."

The Vice Minister of Rites hesitated, looking at his son with a struggle in his eyes.

"Daddy, I'm scared..." the little boy said, crying.

"Speak up, stop being so stubborn!" Little Swallow urged from the side.

The Vice Minister of Rites gritted his teeth and finally spoke: "I said... the Shadow Pavilion plans to poison the food and drinks at the palace banquet. Once the Emperor and his ministers are poisoned, they will storm into the palace and take control of the situation."

"Who is the mastermind behind this?" Little Swallow pressed.

"I don't know... I was only responsible for arranging the poisoning of the food and wine; I really don't know anything else. The people of the Shadow Pavilion have always been mysterious; I have never seen their leader," said the Vice Minister of Rites.

"Do you think we'll believe you?" Liu Hong sneered.

"I'm telling the truth! I really don't know who's behind this!" the Vice Minister of Rites said hurriedly, his eyes filled with fear.

At this moment, the man in black suddenly burst into laughter again: "Hmph, do you think you can get anything out of him like this? How naive! Even if he does tell you, it will only be the tip of the iceberg."

Little Swallow glared at the man in black: "How much do you know? Speak up!"

The man in black stopped talking and just looked at everyone defiantly.

Hongli frowned: "It seems this guy is even more difficult to deal with than the Vice Minister of Rites. Take them back to the palace, lock them up in the dungeon, and keep them under strict guard."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" the Imperial Guards responded in unison, taking the man in black, the Vice Minister of Rites, away.

Upon returning to the palace, Hongli and Xiaoyanzi immediately summoned their ministers to discuss countermeasures.

"Now that we know they're going to poison the food and drinks, we should strengthen our inspections of them to ensure nothing goes wrong," a minister said.

“That’s right. At the same time, we must strengthen the guards throughout the palace and not give the Shadow Pavilion any opportunity to take advantage of us,” another minister echoed.

“But we can’t rest easy until the mastermind behind the Shadow Pavilion is found,” Xiao Yanzi said.

“My dear consort is right. We must continue our investigation and not overlook any clues,” Hongli said.

"Your Majesty, should we issue a notice among the people offering a reward for clues about the Shadow Pavilion?" Liu Hong suggested.

Hongli pondered for a moment: "It's worth a try. Perhaps there are people among the common people who know the secrets of the Shadow Pavilion. With a generous reward, there will surely be brave men."

So, reward notices were posted all over the streets and alleys of the capital. However, several days passed, and no useful clues came in.

"How could this happen? Is there no way to find out who's behind this?" Little Swallow asked, somewhat frustrated.

"My beloved consort, do not lose heart. The Shadow Pavilion has been hidden for many years and wields immense power. It is indeed not easy to find the mastermind behind it all. We cannot give up; we must continue to think of ways," Hongli comforted her.

Just when everyone was at a loss, Xiao Dengzi rushed in: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, a mysterious person outside the palace is requesting an audience, saying that he has important clues about the Shadow Pavilion."

Hongli and Xiaoyanzi exchanged a glance, a hint of surprise flashing in their eyes.

"Quickly, invite him in!" Hongli said.

What clues will this mysterious figure bring? Will the mastermind behind the Shadow Pavilion soon be revealed? Everything remains to be seen…

This chapter concludes here. Stay tuned for the next chapter.