Ning Chen fixed Yunniang with a half-smiling look. "Why should this prince agree to that?

How do you know you haven't just walked into this prince's trap by coming here? Prying your mouth open wouldn't be hard."

He pointed at Feng Qizheng and Pan Yucheng. "These two are both gold coats of the Inspectorate. Interrogation is what they do best. However tightly you shut that mouth, they can pry it open."

Pan Yucheng shot him a sideways look. Why does that sound a little off?

Yunniang had gone pale, but she smiled. "When this common woman decided to come to my lord prince, she had already made her peace with dying.

I know very well that in front of my lord prince I'm as lowly as an ant. One nod from my lord prince and I'd be ground to dust.

But all I want is to avenge my child, then get far away from all this trouble and live a decent life. Is that too much to ask?"

Something flickered in Ning Chen's eyes. "Fine. This prince agrees!"

Yunniang's eyes brightened a little. "My lord prince is a man of high standing, and his word is worth nine bronze tripods. This common woman believes you. And I ask all the generals here to bear witness for this common woman."

Ning Chen's mouth quirked. This Yunniang really was clever.

Asking everyone present to bear witness was a threat in disguise.

If he, Ning Chen, went back on his word, how could he ever lead troops again? Who would follow a man who ate his own words?

Ning Chen narrowed his eyes at her. "You do have your ways. But Zhang Tianlun and Kang Xiao aren't stupid either. They'll do anything to stay alive now. Why would they tell you where they're hiding?"

Yunniang said, "They didn't tell this common woman. This common woman followed them in secret and found them."

Ning Chen gave a cold laugh. "This prince has all these men under him, and in all these days they haven't found them. How did you? Are you telling me one…