Princess Ata became furious upon hearing these words and couldnāt help but point her finger at Ji Youzhi.
"You... you stop slandering me! I was just strolling around and happened to enter that shop to look at some textiles. Then he rushed out like a madman trying to assassinate me.
So how is it that now, Lord God Hunter, youāre making it sound as if I tried to kill myself?"
Ji Youzhi retorted without hesitation, "Whether Iām slandering you or not, donāt you know in your own heart, Princess Ata?
Yesterday, men from the Divine Hunter Office visited the shops near the silk emporium. According to them, you didnāt visit any other silk shops along the way, Princess Ata.
It seems your entourage headed directly for that silk emporium. Thatās one inconsistency."
Upon hearing Ji Youzhiās words, Princess Ataās already pale face turned even more bloodless. She mumbled,
"I... I didnāt go to other shops. Is it not allowed for me to simply... simply... simply dislike those other shops?"
"Allowed! Of course, itās allowed. But on your first day in our Capital City, you visited no fewer than ten cosmetics shops near the posthouse, yet you didnāt clear out any of them. Why then did you clear out only the silk emporium by West Forest Lake?"
Princess Ata was speechless for a long moment, her body trembling slightly as she said,
"Yes, I intentionally went to that shop and deliberately cleared it. I also deliberately spread those rumors about Xie PanāEr.
But I never expected that Xie Si would attack me with scissors, almost costing me my life!"
Princess Ataās admission was remarkably frank, which genuinely surprised Ji Youzhi.
"Speak! What is your scheme? Why did you frame Xie Si like this?"
"I havenāt schemed anything. I simply wish to meet His Majesty, the Emperor of Great Han, to tell him that Nanjiang has no true intention to rebel. I want to ask him not to dispatch troops to Nanjiang, so our two nations can continue to coexist peacefully."
Her words were evasive, completely missing the point. If I were to think about it from another angle, what Princess Ata meant was that she wanted Great Han and Nanjiang to continue their amicable relationship. This implied upholding the treaty the two nations, Great Han and Nanjiang, had signed ten years ago. So, when she said ācontinueā...
Ji Youzhi pondered for a moment and finally grasped the underlying meaning of Princess Ataās words.
"Continue to coexist peacefully... you mean you want to maintain the treaty that Nanjiang and Great Han signed ten years ago!
To put it bluntly, you donāt want to negotiate and sign a new treaty. Thatās why, as soon as you arrived in the Capital City, you submitted a petition to meet His Majesty, the Emperor of Great Han.
But you didnāt expect His Majesty, the Emperor of Great Han, to shelve your petition, so you acted out of desperation and targeted Xie Si!"
Ji Youzhi finally understood Princess Ataās motive for deliberately provoking Xie Si.
"I... I can only say thatās part of it. I am desperate to see His Majesty, the Emperor of Great Han, for a far more important reason."
"What reason?" Ji Youzhi pressed.
Princess Ata pressed her lips together tightly, saying nothing.
"Why arenāt you speaking? Must I resort to interrogation techniques on you?"
Ji Youzhiās gaze was fixed intently on Princess Ataās eyes.
Princess Ata shivered violently. She opened her mouth, but still, nothing came out!
"Princess Ata, I advise you to honestly tell me what you are plotting. Otherwise, I will have you locked up in Great Hanās Celestial Prison, and you will experience Great Hanās eighteen forms of torture!"