Qian Xingzhi thought she could extract more important information. "You were intimate with the Third Prince, sharing his bed for years, and that's all you know?"
"Nothing, nothing! Apart from siphoning profits from Full Moon Tower, the Third Prince didn't concern himself with much else. The business about the Tenth Princess was something he let slip when drunk." Bai Sen was clearly on the verge of a breakdown. "Please, my lord, let me live."
Qian Xingzhi was quite satisfied. "I have no grudge against you, so of course I'm willing to let you live."
She stepped aside to make way for Yin Tan behind her. "I'm done with my business. Now it's your turn with him."
"What… what does this mean?" When Bai Sen saw Yin Tan clutching a hairpin, he was scared out of his wits. "You promised me! You can't go back on your word!"
In truth, Bai Sen knew very well that in this prison, he was like a fish on a chopping block—being butchered was only a matter of time. But reason was one thing, instinct another.
Bai Sen was shackled; struggling was futile. Yin Tan tilted his face to the side, exposing his slender neck, and gestured with the hairpin. "My mother died from anger because of you. A life for a life—it's only natural. Master Bai Sen, you taught me that."
Qian Xingzhi did not watch what happened next. Everything was left for Yuan Mo to handle.
She arranged for Yin Tan to be settled in Qian Mansion, told him to wash up and rest well, and then headed to the Third Prince's mansion to deliver a distorted work report.
"Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered all Full Moon Tower people to be reduced to criminal slaves and serve in the palace. Except for two male performers who died during transport, the rest have been registered in the criminal slave registry."
The Third Prince praised her repeatedly. "Good, good, good. Saving their lives is the priority. I'll figure out the rest. Which two performers died?"
"I believe they were called Bai Sen and Yin Tan," Qian Xingzhi pretended not to know. "The jailer said they died of a sudden illness."
At the mention of Bai Sen's name, the Third Prince frowned. "A pity… well, it's nothing serious."
Taking her leave, Qian Xingzhi immediately sped on horseback to Lu Mansion. A once-in-a-thousand-years piece of gossip—it would be a shame not to share it.
Qian Xingzhi had noticed a pattern: whenever there was a court session or she needed to put on airs, Lu Yu always found ways to wear various white garments.
At this moment, Lu Yu was leisurely sipping tea and playing chess. "What earth-shattering news has you in such a hurry?"
Qian Xingzhi tried to calm herself. "Big brother, this is truly earth-shattering. I bet right this time."
Lu Yu was intrigued by Qian Xingzhi's demeanor, but he kept his composure, pretending to be calm. "Stop beating around the bush. What is it?"
"First, tell me: which consort is the Tenth Princess's mother?"
Lu Yu tried hard to recall. He finally remembered that the Tenth Princess was the little princess whose full moon ceremony was ruined by the assassination attempt—truly unlucky. "I think she's the child of Noble Consort Xia, His Majesty's new favorite last year, but she's fallen out of favor this year."
Qian Xingzhi waited until Lu Yu took another sip of tea before exclaiming excitedly, "Big brother, do you know? The Tenth Princess is the Third Prince's!"
Lu Yu spat out his tea, coughing until tears came. "Cough… what?"
"Bai Sen said it himself," Qian Xingzhi explained the whole story to Lu Yu. "It might not be a confirmed fact, but it's worth investigating. Though I'm not sure what use it will be."
Lu Yu stood up from his chair in shock. "Qian Xingzhi! This… why are you so excited about this?!"
Qian Xingzhi gave him a look that said 'you're hopeless.' "Such court secrets aren't easily heard. Of course I'm excited. Who knows if it might come in handy one day?"
The atmosphere had just calmed. Lu Yu took another sip of tea to steady himself, then heard Qian Xingzhi add:
"I knew it—His Majesty at his age could still father a princess. Turns out it's not his daughter but his granddaughter."