By the time Qin Ming returned to the Taiyin Palace with Meiyang and Mengtu, it was already late at night.
But the usually desolate and chilly palace gates were unexpectedly bustling with people.
The other ten members of the Zodiac and Lingyin were all there.
When they saw Qin Ming, they immediately came forward to greet him.
"Xiao Qinzi, how did you manage to extract the confession?"
"Xiao Qinzi, we all thought you were done for this time.
But somehow you always turn misfortune into fortune. You really are the Taiyin Palace's lucky star."
Lingyin squeezed through the crowd holding a freshly peeled, still-warm egg and brought it to Qin Ming's mouth.
"Here, eat it! You must be starving!"
Without saying a word, Qin Ming swallowed the egg in one bite.
Mengtu, walking behind him, pouted and teased:
"Hey! It wasn't just Xiao Qinzi who went out tonight—I did too! Ugh, my stomach's really growling!"
"And me! My delicate willow waist's about to waste away. And no one's peeling eggs for me to eat!"
The whole Zodiac group burst into laughter.
Even Lingyin's cheeks flushed with embarrassment from their teasing.
"Shoo, shoo! I boiled more than ten eggs in the yard. Go eat all you want."
Meiyang playfully sidled up to Lingyin, putting on a mock flirty expression and said coquettishly:
"I don't want those! I want the egg peeled by you, Lingyin. You have to feed it to me too.
Ahhh, that's the only way it tastes good!"
Just as Meiyang finished teasing, she turned her head—
Oh no! The rest of the Zodiac had already rushed into the yard, each grabbing an egg.
She panicked: "Hey! Leave me some! Don't take them all! I'm starving!"
Lingyin also hurriedly lifted her skirt and ran over.
"Only one egg each! Don't take Qin Ming's! I boiled two extra just for him.
Hey! Red Snake, you took three! Give one back!"
"Mengtu! Give me back my egg!"
Staring at the empty pot, Lingyin stomped her foot and pouted.
"You're all reincarnated starving ghosts! You even took Qin Ming's share!"
Qin Ming walked over and gently said:
"It's alright, Sister Lingyin. Didn't I just eat one? Besides, I'm not hungry."
Lingyin noticed Qin Ming's chest button was undone and reached out to fix it—
Suddenly! The sound of the palace's Eight Trigram Mystic Gate creaking open startled her, and she quickly withdrew her hand.
The Eldest Princess, dressed in black armor, stood by the window and said coldly:
"Little Qin, come here."
"Yes, Your Highness." Qin Ming jogged up the stairs to the eleventh floor.
He thought to himself:
Why is she still awake this late? This psycho princess hasn't gone to sleep?
Wearing armor in the middle of the night—ready to slay transmigrators at any moment?
She really is a battle maniac. Totally insane!
Qin Ming knocked on the door and entered, closing it behind him.
The princess sat at a white jade table, lit by a glowing fluorite lamp.
Next to the lamp was the Blazing Grass Qin Ming had given her.
"Tell me—how did you get the confession?"
Qin Ming described the interrogation method using the Prisoner's Dilemma.
Of course, he conveniently omitted the part where he revealed himself as a transmigrator and lured the greedy Taoist with bait.
The princess grew increasingly impressed as she listened.
"At first, your method didn't sound impressive. But the more I think about it, the more effective it seems.
The human heart is fickle—even if they agreed not to talk, once they're interrogated separately,
none can be sure the other won't betray them."
"Exactly, Your Highness. It's a psychological tactic—defeat them one by one."
The princess smiled, picked up the Drunken Immortal wine jug, and was about to pour a drink.
Qin Ming quickly stepped forward to take it.
"Allow me."
He poured a cup and placed it before her.
Unexpectedly, she pushed the cup toward him.
"It's late, I don't drink at night. This is for you."
Qin Ming: Huh? The tigress is being kind? Is the sun rising from the west?!
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Suddenly, her voice turned cold again:
"This interrogation method you described is impressive—but it's not something we've used in Dayan before.
Where did you learn it?"
Qin Ming had long known that this princess was suspicious and meticulous, so he was prepared.
He pulled out the simplified-character book Police Case Records from his sleeve.
Flipping to the page where he had faked the handwriting and inserted the Prisoner's Dilemma story.
"Your Highness, when I was studying their simplified script, I came across this story.
I found it interesting and remembered it—never thought I'd use it today."
The princess didn't know many simplified characters, but she could roughly understand the strategy described.
She nodded and set the book aside.
Qin Ming breathed a sigh of relief.
Good thing I planned ahead!
The princess had finished asking her questions.
She seemed to want to start a conversation, but couldn't find the words.
They sat in silence for five full breaths.
Qin Ming finally broke the tension:
"Your Highness, it's already late. You should rest."
She raised her left arm and pointed at the untouched dishes on the table.
"Lingyin brought these over earlier, still warm. I don't want to eat. Take them away."
The food looked untouched.
She didn't have dinner again?
"Your Highness, perhaps you should eat a little."
"I've no appetite." Her expression turned somber.
Qin Ming remembered the night when she spoke in her sleep.
She mentioned that she and the Third Princess helped the Empress kill their brother.
But afterward, the Empress turned on them—forcing the Third Princess to become a nun.
He hesitated for three breaths before gently saying:
"May I say something, though I don't know if I should?"
"Then don't."
Qin Ming: …|ʘᗝʘ|
Seriously? That's not how this dialogue is supposed to go!
Sighing, he picked up the four dishes and one soup and was about to leave.
Suddenly the princess called out:
"Come back! Speak."
She's insane!
This woman absolutely needs treatment—daily injections until she's cured!
"I said speak. What were you going to say?"
"Your Highness, my mother once told me:
'Don't punish yourself for someone else's mistake.'"
Princess Han Yuexi suddenly looked up, cold light flashing in her eyes.
"What do you mean by that? What do you know?"
Qin Ming's instincts kicked in fast.
No way I'm telling her I overheard her sleep-talking. That's a death sentence.
"Your Highness, I just figured it must be related to a disagreement with the Empress.
I saw you two argue that day!
When I accompanied you to the Fire Hall this morning, the Empress was being totally unreasonable.
No matter what the conflict is, it's all her fault.
You shouldn't let her mistakes weigh on your heart—it's not worth it!"
The princess looked utterly shocked.
She took a few steps toward Qin Ming.
"Xiao Qinzi, you're very bold—to insult the Empress of Dayan. That's a capital offense."
"I know, Your Highness. But you won't report me."
"Oh? Why not?"
"Because that would be beneath you.
Our Taiyin Palace's Princess is noble and elegant—how could she bow to someone so unreasonable?"
The princess burst into laughter.
It was the first time she'd heard someone dare to insult her sister.
"Your Highness, you should rest. I'll take my leave."
Qin Ming's stomach growled loudly.
The four dishes and soup looked incredibly appetizing.
He needed to get to his room and dig in.
"Wait!"
The princess was suddenly full of energy and beckoned.
"Bring the food over. I suddenly feel like eating."
Qin Ming: …
Seriously?! You were the one who said you didn't want it! I was all set to eat!
People always say a woman's face is like June's weather—changes in an instant.
Now I finally believe it!
Qin Ming brought the dishes back to the table and handed her the chopsticks.
"Your Highness, please enjoy. I'll take my leave."
"Leave? Who said you could leave? Sit."
"Huh?"
"I said sit."
"Oh…"
The princess sipped the soup gently.
"You seem a bit uncomfortable."
"Would Your Highness prefer the truth or a lie?"
"What's the difference?"
"If it's a lie, I'd say you're so stunning that being this close makes me nervous and uneasy."
"And the truth?"
"The truth is… I'm a little scared."
Pfft— The soup nearly shot out of her nose.