Underneath The Moonlit Night

Chapter 47 - Hidden Realms of Truth

***Content Warning: This chapter contains a slight depiction of non-consensual rape. Please be advised.***

Prince Ming Zhe immersed himself in the documents and reports detailing the missions and tasks he had assigned to his shadow assassins during his absence. Amid the bureaucratic affairs, thoughts of Qing Yi's behavior lingered in his mind. Placing the documents on the table, he swiveled around, addressing the shadow assassin he had summoned to his chamber for a personal debrief.

"Is that everything you have to tell me?" the Prince inquired, fixing his gaze on the kneeling shadow assassin.

"That sums up the main points, Master," the shadow assassin replied, maintaining a respectful posture.

"Is that right?" Prince Ming Zhe smirked, advancing toward the assassin. "It seems Jun Lang had a different tale to share. If you're going to lie, Su Ju, perhaps you should have coordinated your scripts beforehand," he remarked, leaning down closer to Su Ju, who remained knelt with her head bowed.

Su Ju lowered her bow slightly, "My apologies, Master. It seemed I might have missed a few details here or there, but I can assure you there are no lies in my words, nor is there a script. If you still doubt me, you can summon Jun Lang, and we'll address it together right here, right now," Su Ju responded, her voice unwavering and confident.

Prince Ming Zhe fell into silence, contemplating Su Ju's unwavering assurance. He had tried to test her honesty with a bluff, yet her account aligned precisely with Jun Lang's report from the previous day. Satisfied with her consistency, Ming Zhe strode back to his table crowded with reports.

"Rise," the prince ordered. Su Ju gracefully obeyed, bowing slightly to acknowledge the prince's command, then stood upright, hands clasped behind her back, exuding confidence.

Ming Zhe settled into his seat behind the table. "I heard Qing Yi has relatives living in the Northern region. A sister, in fact."

Su Ju nodded, maintaining a poised posture. "Correct. An older sister."

Glancing at Su Ju with suspicion, Ming Zhe continued his interrogation. "You've been friends with Qing Yi since childhood?"

"Yes, sire," Su Ju affirmed.

"And did you know he has an older sister?" Ming Zhe probed further.

"I did," Su Ju responded succinctly.

Ming Zhe, still skeptical, pressed on. "You never mentioned this to me."

"You never asked, sire. Plus, Qing Yi's older sister lives far from Khufu's jurisdiction in the Northern region. There isn't anything significant to report about her except when Qing Yi went to visit her. My task is to observe Qing Yi and report back to you, and that's exactly what I did," Su Ju replied with unwavering honesty.

Ming Zhe's smile revealed a blend of confidence and lingering suspicion. He had always regarded Su Ju as an exceptional spy, dependable in carrying out assigned tasks. The commitment both Su Ju and Jun Lang made to the Oath of becoming shadow assassins, abandoning their former identities to embrace a covert existence and pledging loyalty solely to their Master, had always been a cornerstone of trust for Ming Zhe. However, when it came to matters involving Qing Yi, Ming Zhe held a thread of uncertainty.

He pondered whether Su Ju and Jun Lang would maintain their loyalty to Qing Yi despite the solemn Oath they had taken. Ming Zhe couldn't help but question if their allegiance might waver. Up to this point, the verbal reports from both Su Ju and Jun Lang harmonized with those of other assassins, offering a measure of reassurance. Yet, the uncertainty lingered, as Ming Zhe remained mindful of the intricate dynamics involved, especially when matters of the heart were concerned.