NOVEL NEXT Chapter 173.1: Ruthlessness
In the room, after listening to Yao Ye’s disclosure of the information behind those slave traders, Xiao Li’s brows furrowed tightly.
After a while, Xiao Li sighed with a tone of melancholy.
“So it’s indeed the Yun Lan Sect…”
“Hm?” Upon hearing Xiao Li’s words, Yao Ye suddenly paused, “Did you already know?”
“Saying ‘already know’ isn’t accurate. To be precise, I only speculated like this before. After all, I couldn’t find any evidence to make a judgment.”
Xiao Li said so, feeling the jade arms of Qing Lin around her waist finally relax.
She reached out and gently supported Qing Lin’s petite body, letting her lie down on the bed and covering her with a blanket. She gently patted Qing Lin’s head, then sat down opposite Yao Ye and continued.
“The Jia Ma Royal Family issued a decree long ago prohibiting the slave trade. If the Jia Ma Empire really intended to manipulate the slave trade, then the existence of this decree would be redundant.”
“Moreover, if this matter were to be exposed, it would be a significant blow to the image of the Royal Family. Not only would the hatred of the Snake-People towards the Jia Ma Empire increase, but even the citizens of the Jia Ma Empire would develop distrust towards the Royal Family. Although the profit from the trade of the Snake-People is considerable, for the Jia Ma Royal Family, it is completely not worth it.”
“If it’s not the Royal Family, then it can only be another force.”
“And the only force within the Jia Ma Empire that can disregard the authority of the Royal Family to such an extent and make the Jia Ma Empire turn a blind eye to this matter is the Yun Lan Sect.”
Listening quietly to Xiao Li’s analysis, Yao Ye’s suspicion grew deeper.
Xiao Li had already speculated that the unknown assailants behind the attacks on the Snake-People tribe belonged to the Yun Lan Sect. Her words only served as confirmation of her speculation.
At this moment, Xiao Li looked at Yao Ye with a solemn expression and spoke again.
“However, what I said earlier still stands.”
“Even if this is information confirmed by the Royal Family, it doesn’t help in the conflict between the Snake-People and humans this time. It cannot erase the inherent impression of the Jia Ma Royal Family in the eyes of the Snake-People.”
“Why is that?” Yao Ye looked puzzled at Xiao Li. “With the trust you and the Snake-People have built, if you tell them everything, they will surely understand!”
Seeing Yao Ye’s anxious expression, Xiao Li remained silent for a moment, then spoke slowly.
“Your Highness Yao Ye, please answer me two questions.” Xiao Li raised her hand and gently raised a finger. “First, can you produce evidence that all these things were orchestrated by the Yun Lan Sect?”
“Of course!” Yao Ye replied without hesitation. “The Royal Family has compiled all the evidence of the Yun Lan Sect’s crimes over the years! There may be some omissions, but there is absolutely nothing that wrongfully accuses the Yun Lan Sect!”
Yao Ye said so confidently. However, Xiao Li shook her head slightly.
“Your Highness Yao Ye, the evidence I’m talking about is not those words written on paper, but real evidence that the Snake-People can see and believe in.” Xiao Li raised an eyebrow lightly, looking at Yao Ye. “Do you have such evidence?”
Yao Ye fell silent instantly at Xiao Li’s words.
At the same time, she immediately understood Xiao Li’s meaning.
Although it was said that these were the evidence compiled by the Royal Family over the years, ultimately, they were just words on paper.
Anyone could write words, but the credibility behind those words depended on the credibility of the power behind them.
In the Jia Ma Empire, the information released by the Royal Family was not doubted by the citizens because they trusted the Royal Family.
But for the Snake-People, the credibility of the Jia Ma Royal Family was not so high. These so-called pieces of evidence had no credibility in their eyes, even if the content written on them was true.
As Yao Ye realized this, Xiao Li raised a second finger.
“Secondly, is the Yun Lan Sect a force belonging to the Jia Ma Empire?”
“…Yes.”
After a moment of hesitation, Yao Ye nodded in the end.
No matter how many crimes the Yun Lan Sect has committed, it is ultimately a sect of the Jia Ma Empire, and this is an indisputable fact.
“So, Your Highness Yao Ye, please consider this from a different perspective. If you were a member of the Snake-People Tribe, would you believe it if one day the Jia Ma Royal Family, who had been turning a blind eye to the slave trade, suddenly came forward and said that the previous attacks on the Snake-People by the Jia Ma Empire were all orchestrated by the Yun Lan Sect and had nothing to do with the Royal Family?”
“…”
This statement from Xiao Li once again left Yao Ye speechless.
Indeed, how could they believe that?
Unless the Snake-People were a bunch of fools who believed everything they were told!
At this moment, Yao Ye finally understood why her grandfather had never been able to resolve the matter with the Snake-People.
The Royal Family couldn’t control the Yun Lan Sect, which was secretly attacking the Snake-People.
And in the eyes of the Snake-People, the Yun Lan Sect and the Royal Family were one and the same. Even if they knew it was the Yun Lan Sect doing, the Snake-People would still believe it was with the tacit approval of the Royal Family.
In this incident, the Royal Family didn’t have any chance or position to explain.
Yao Ye had sneaked out of the palace because she couldn’t stand the silent attitude of her grandfather towards the Snake-People’s affairs, hoping to find a way to resolve the matter.
She had thought that by telling Xiao Li what she knew, the situation could be resolved easily.
But now it seemed she was too naive.
In the end, her risky trip with Qing Lin had achieved nothing.
Thinking of this, Yao Ye couldn’t help but feel despondent.
And naturally, Xiao Li noticed Yao Ye’s inner turmoil, smiling slightly.
“There’s no need to feel so disheartened, Your Highness Yao Ye. Your information has indeed been very helpful to me, confirming my previous speculation and, aside from that…”
Xiao Li glanced at Qing Lin lying on the bed, and Yao Ye also saw the tenderness and reassurance in Xiao Li’s eyes.
“Whether it’s seeing Qing Lin or Qing Lin seeing me, both of us feel much more at ease. For this alone, I am very grateful to you.”
Hearing Xiao Li’s words, Yao Ye felt slightly relieved.
Then her expression turned bitter, and she lowered her head in front of Xiao Li’s puzzled gaze, speaking softly.
“I’m sorry about your brother…”
“I could have told him everything I knew, but because of his engagement with Nalan Yanran, I began to suspect him, and I kept delaying it until it was too late.”
“By the time I wanted to speak, there was no opportunity.”
“If I had spoken earlier, we could have come directly to you here, and he wouldn’t have sacrificed himself.”
“I’m truly sorry…”
Yao Ye’s words left Xiao Li slightly stunned, then a hint of understanding flickered in his eyes.
Ah, so that’s how it is.
Qing Lin and Yao Ye came to the Snake-People’s territory with Xiao Yan.
But in that case, Qing Lin and Xiao Yan’s visit to the Snake-People’s territory should have been approved by Xiao Ding.
Thinking of this, Xiao Li rubbed her temples with a headache.
She knew her sister’s temperament too well. With Xiao Yan’s accident, Xiao Ding would definitely think that she had caused Xiao Yan’s death.
Now Xiao Ding probably has lost her rationality.
What a headache…