Shocking! Five men are in love with the same woman!

Lu Yanqing looked at her with great concern and asked, "Are you alright?"

There was a clear concern in his voice.

Ling Yan smiled slightly and said, "It's alright."

Lu Yanqing felt relieved and turned to look at the man who was now trembling.

The voice was cold and stern as it asked, "Continue."

The man, covered in blood, was in excruciating pain, yet dared not utter a word of reproach for the person who had struck him.

He could only endure the excruciating pain and tremble as he replied, "My lord, that's all I know. I'm not... a core member. I'm only responsible for... training these women... and sending them out. As for the rest... I know nothing."

Seeing that he didn't seem to be lying, Lu Yanqing believed him.

That's probably all he knows.

However, the Zhou family, which was the Empress Dowager's maternal family, had long since declined. Although it was a marquis's mansion, it was only a nominal shell.

Only two members of the clan held official positions in the imperial court, and both were minor officials.

The rest are all good-for-nothings who are good for nothing and can only loaf around and wait to die.

Therefore, he did not believe that a family like the Zhou family could accomplish such a thing on their own, and so meticulously.

They have been doing this for four years, and it is happening all over the country, and no one has noticed anything amiss during these four years.

If he hadn't found out by chance, he doesn't know when he would have been discovered.

Therefore, there must be someone behind the Zhou family.

His heart was filled with turmoil, and he told Lingyan everything.

Upon hearing this, Ling Yan, who had been calm and composed all along, suddenly flew into a rage and exclaimed, "Damn it!"

Four years!

Four whole years!

Thousands of women were trafficked and given away as toys.

Thousands of women have been forced to separate from their families. One can only imagine the despair and breakdown they must be experiencing, and the heartbreak their families must be feeling.

These women's lives were ruined, they were deprived of their freedom and dignity, and they were manipulated like tools.

These people, just to achieve their own goals, are willing to harm so many women.

Apart from those who had already been sent away, the fates of these rescued women who have returned home are now quite different.

Let alone in this era, even in modern times, many women who are trafficked and return home cannot survive and are mentally unstable, eventually committing suicide.

They had lost all hope in life and did not want to live numbly and painfully, so they could only choose to end their own lives.

In ancient times, chastity was of paramount importance.

Even if a woman only stays out for one night, she will be accused of being impure and losing her virginity, let alone if she has been trafficked for so long.

How will they live when they go back?

Not every parent is indifferent to reputation; many parents do care.

They have already suffered a severe emotional blow. If their families blame them and say hurtful things, how will they cope?

Just thinking about these things made her tremble with anger again, her hands clenched into fists, and her chest heaving rapidly.

Seeing her like this, Lu Yanqing gently took her hand and pried it open inch by inch.

Then, in a low voice, he said, "They didn't leave any evidence. This one witness alone can't do anything to the Zhou family."

Lingyan naturally understood.

How could one person possibly bring down the Empress Dowager's family?

If this one thing won't work, what about the others?

Xiao Muyao has been investigating the Zhou family and collecting evidence of their crimes for some time now. He should have made some progress by now, and we should see the results soon.

They won't live much longer either.

The Zhou family was merely a pawn.

Lingyan tends to think that the master behind them is a prince.

Selling these women at high prices is undoubtedly a way to make money.

What kind of activities require accumulating wealth?

Maintaining an army, buying horses, and manufacturing weapons all require a large amount of money.

Besides amassing wealth, they also cultivated relationships with these officials and wealthy businessmen, not only to get close to them but also to gather information.

Who needs to control information about these officials?

Her first thought was of Emperor Jingzhao, and the princes who wanted to compete for that position.

But she became even angrier after she guessed it.

Since this was done by a prince, and given how much Emperor Jingzhao values ​​his children, this prince will certainly not be in danger of losing his life, and may not even face severe punishment.

As long as he does not openly plot rebellion and does not offend Emperor Jingzhao, the emperor will spare his life no matter how angry he is.

But why?

Why should he be allowed to commit crimes and still live a good life just because he is a prince?

How should we account for the suffering of these women? How can it be brought to an end?

But it doesn't matter. We can't kill him openly, so we can do it secretly.

Those who traffic women must die!

She absolutely refused to allow him to still be alive and well in this world!

However, we still need to investigate who this prince is.

She could have Lu Yanqing and Xiao Muyao investigate simultaneously, using a two-pronged approach; she refused to believe they couldn't find out.

She felt that Emperor Jingzhao was also at fault in this matter.

It was clear that everyone from civil and military officials to ordinary people, and even people from other countries, knew that the next emperor would definitely be Xiao Muyao.

Everyone was satisfied with him, including Emperor Jingzhao, in terms of his status, abilities, character, and conduct.

It was also clear that he shared the same opinion as everyone else: he favored Xiao Muyao.

But he simply refused to make Xiao Muyao the crown prince.

Don't know why.

This is why these princes always had hope in their hearts, and always felt that they still had a chance.

That's why they fought tooth and nail for this position, it was incredibly fierce.

Emperor Jingzhao had over thirty sons, and among them, probably more than a dozen had designs on him.

He's just like Emperor Kangxi, raising his son like a poisonous insect!

In the Qing Dynasty, it was a struggle for succession among nine sons; in the Great Zhao Dynasty, it will likely be a struggle for succession among more than a dozen sons.

Lingyan was both angry and helpless.

I wonder what these emperors were thinking.

Suddenly, Lu Yanqing's voice interrupted her thoughts.

He assured her, "I know you are very angry and furious, so I will investigate thoroughly, find out who is behind this, and give you and these poor women an explanation."

Ling Yan's fierce aura dissipated somewhat.

What good will it do for her to be angry and upset now? What's done is done.

All she could do was find out who was behind it all and kill him to avenge these women.

So she nodded and put the matter aside for the time being, no longer thinking about it in depth.

Seeing that she was no longer angry, Lu Yanqing finally felt a huge weight lifted from his heart, and his worried expression disappeared.

Then, he gently took her hand and they walked out of the interrogation room together, back to his office barracks.

He also ordered the people inside, who were covered in blood, to be disposed of.

He has told everyone he needed to know, and he is of no further use to anyone else, so it is time for him to go to hell.

at this time.

In the barracks.

Lu Yanqing and Ling Yan sat facing each other.

The two looked at each other, their eyes sparkling with a unique understanding and eagerness that needed no words to express.

Lu Yanqing's lips curled into a charming smile as he softly asked, "I wonder if Your Highness still has enough strength?"

Ling Yan understood his meaning almost instantly.

A captivating smile bloomed on her face as she replied, "Of course."

Lu Yanqing's smile became even more captivating, as if it could steal one's soul.

He slowly stood up, his eyes fixed on her with unwavering intensity, and walked towards her step by step until he was behind her.

Then, he gently bent down, brought his lips to her ear, and asked in a deep, magnetic, and sexy voice, "Want to do something a little more exciting?"

Ling Yan's smile deepened, and she turned to look at him with a suggestive expression, saying, "Okay!"