CMWKSD -Chapter 209 Words That Shocked Everyone

Everyone woke up early that morning in a daze.

They saw Jiu Yue walking in from outside the encampment, talking as she walked with Shao Qing.

Behind her, glaringly obvious, followed four people wearing golden eagle masks.

Several officials’ legs went weak on the spot.

Jiu Yue’s eyes shot over in an instant. Her thin lips parted slightly, a faint smile flickering in her eyes. “See? Aren’t they here now?”

Ying Sansan and the others hadn’t wanted to reveal their identities.

But Jiu Yue had said that since they were already exposed, they might as well show themselves openly.

What’s more, at a moment like this, Jiu Yue needed to borrow the authority of Emperor Fengyuan—to flaunt power under another’s banner.

Eagle Eye was the sharpest blade in the emperor’s hand.

Now, that blade could also be wielded by Jiu Yue.

She didn’t need to do anything at all—just having Eagle Eye appear in masks was enough.

Her authority was instantly established.

Jiu Yue raised her hand. “Start with the few who just fell down.”

Ying Sansan nodded.

Before long, people from the Court of Judicial Review brought them over.

Jiu Yue sat upright in the seat of honor.

Ji Yiqing stood to the side, recording everything.

Officials from the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue were racking their brains, trying to recall the backgrounds and official achievements of those being questioned.

There was no helping it—no documents had been brought, no case files, no records at all.

But Jiu Yue said she wanted to question them, and she wanted to do it immediately.

She gave them no time to prepare.

Everyone was caught completely off guard.

Being able to recall anything at all was already impressive.

The Ministry of War and the Court of Judicial Review conducted the interrogation jointly.

Ji Chaomian, naturally, was one of the representatives of the Court of Judicial Review.

He glanced at Jiu Yue.

Her combat power was high, but she wasn’t fond of using her brain.

This round of questioning might well end with nothing to show for it.

They had no documents, no materials.

Let alone evidence.

How were they supposed to pry open these people’s mouths?

Especially when two of them were already fourth-rank officials.

They’d been in office longer than Ji Chaomian had been alive.

Inside the tent, only the angry shouts of the interrogated official echoed, filled with embarrassment and fury.

Jiu Yue sat lazily in the highest seat.

One hand propped on the table, her fingertips lightly tapping against it.

Her gaze never left him.

As the official spoke, his words gradually began to falter.

Jiu Yue…

That look of hers made him feel like an actor standing on a stage.

As if he were performing a whole show for her.

Yet those clear, lucid eyes seemed to see straight through everything.

In truth, aside from knowing a name, Jiu Yue knew almost nothing about this Ministry of War official.

She didn’t even have an entry point.

But the people from the Court of Judicial Review were different.

They hastily collected what little information they had and were about to step forward to hand it to Jiu Yue.

After all, everyone knew Jiu Yue’s temperament.

They assumed she shouldn’t be interrogating at all—she should be lashing out with a couple of whips, forcing a confession through torture.

Ji Chaomian had just stood up.

Jiu Yue’s brows curved as she looked at Official Wang. “We’re just chatting. Why are you so agitated?”

Official Wang’s brows knitted coldly. “Your Highness, this old minister respects you as a commandery princess—”

Jiu Yue didn’t play by the rules at all and didn’t wait for him to finish.

She spoke rapidly, “How many years have you been in the Ministry of War, Official Wang?”

“Twenty… more than twenty years.”

“Oh. Then what do you usually do there?”

Official Wang’s eyes rolled slightly.

Jiu Yue didn’t let him answer and immediately asked again, “The bandit suppression in Pingtai County—do you know about it?”

Official Wang blinked.

Jiu Yue let out an “oh,” dragging out the tone, sounding as if she knew it all by heart. “So you do know?”

“Then which link were you responsible for? Selecting people? Dispatching them? Issuing orders?”

“Oh, selecting people!”

Official Wang’s pupils shrank slightly, and he pressed his lips together. “I… I didn’t—”

“What do you look at when selecting people? Household registry? Appearance? Height? Skin color? Facial features?”

“Oh, appearance.”

……

Jiu Yue’s questions came one after another, like she was asking and answering herself.

From the moment Jiu Yue asked the first question, Ji Yiqing had begun writing furiously.

In no time at all, he had filled several pages.

Ji Chaomian took a look and froze in surprise for a moment.

He hurriedly joined the recording team as well.

The others didn’t understand what Jiu Yue was doing, asking and answering on her own.

But as her questions grew more numerous, cold sweat began to pour down Official Wang’s face.

“What’s in the mountains?”

“Where did the people sent there all go?”

“Private troops?”

Jiu Yue was still smiling, cheerful and relaxed, when she lightly tossed out a sentence: “So it turns out you’re plotting rebellion.”

Thud, thud, thud.

Rows upon rows of people dropped to their knees inside the tent.

Official Wang had already collapsed onto the ground.

He clearly…

Clearly hadn’t said anything at all.

So why had Jiu Yue, with just a few questions, gotten closer and closer to the truth?

In the end, she directly deduced the entire truth.

Official Wang lay limp on the ground.

“Monster… monster!”

The officials from the Court of Judicial Review exchanged glances.

This interrogation method of Jiu Yue’s wasn’t unfamiliar to them.

But even among the top interrogators of the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice, only a few could observe subtle expressions and infer the truth.

And even then, it usually required repeated questioning, over and over again.

Someone as fast and decisive as Jiu Yue was rare.

Moreover, this trip hadn’t even been intended to handle cases.

So none of those officials skilled at reading micro-expressions had been brought along.

Who would have thought that Jiu Yue would give them such a demonstration?

This ability to infer from subtle expressions wasn’t called that in modern times.

Jiu Yue had learned it specifically in Dark Moon.

During missions, she always encountered people.

She needed to judge as quickly as possible whether someone was lying.

That way, she could determine the target’s whereabouts and complete the mission at maximum speed.

So everything she learned was practical, hard-earned skill.

When Official Wang called Jiu Yue a monster—

Ji Yiqing scrambled up from the ground and kicked him hard.

It made Jiu Yue laugh.

“What are you so angry about?”

Ji Yiqing panted heavily. “There are plenty of people in this world who can read subtle expressions. You had a guilty conscience—without answering, it was already written all over your face, and you still dare slander the Commandery Princess?!”

Official Wang was quickly dragged away.

No one had expected that Jiu Yue, with nothing at all—

With nothing but her mouth—

Would directly expose two people.

Jiu Yue’s head was full of black lines.

Who said she had nothing?

Dark Moon Pavilion had picked up bits of information here and there.

And she herself had painstakingly followed threads and pieced things together, alright?

Still, it was worth being relieved over.

Dozens of people had already been interrogated.

Her mouth was dry from all the talking.

And only two had been found.

It was almost time to prepare lunch.

Jiu Yue really didn’t want to continue.

She questioned too fast—before long, the documents piled up in front of Ji Yiqing.

The next person brought in was a salaried official from the Court of Judicial Review, sixth rank.

Jiu Yue clicked her tongue twice.

Then she called out, “Big brother.”

Suddenly calling his name in such a solemn and serious setting—

No exaggeration.

The moment Ji Chaomian heard that “big brother,” his scalp exploded.

Everyone cast covert glances at Ji Chaomian.

Then they heard Jiu Yue say softly, “How is it, being a salaried official?”

Ji Chaomian’s eyes flew wide open. He truly felt weak all over.

He had always known Jiu Yue spoke astonishing words.

Who would have thought she could be this astonishing?!