Chapter 543 - The Palace Maid Who Died Gratuitously (2/2)

It was Ling Rui’er’s handkerchief.

The Empress turned around, a trace of anger flas.h.i.+ng in her eyes. She looked at Ling Rui’er unhappily and asked, “Rui’er, where’s your handkerchief?” If things went wrong today, it was all because of the stupid Ling Rui’er. How could she not be angry?

“Your Majesty, the palace maid poured some watermelon juice on my dress just now, and then I went to change my clothes. After that, the handkerchief disappeared,” Ling Rui’er said hurriedly. She didn’t know when her handkerchief disappeared, but her handkerchief had fallen into the palace maid’s hands.

“Yes. The palace maid deliberately poured watermelon juice on Third Sister just now because she wanted to steal the handkerchief from her. I wonder who ordered her to harm Third Sister.” Ling Yu beside Ling Rui’er suddenly had an idea and hurriedly explained for her. If someone found out that it was Ling Rui’er who had asked someone to kill the palace maid because of such a small matter, the girls of the Ling family would no longer have to marry anyone. No one dared to marry the girls of such a vicious family.

For her reputation, Ling Yu would not allow anything to happen to Ling Rui’er.

Her words reminded everyone. Only then did they realize that something like this had indeed happened. Perhaps the maid had really tried to frame Ling Rui’er. Otherwise, why would she have knocked into Ling Rui’er when she was standing well earlier? Furthermore, she had even wet Ling Rui’er’s clothes and caused her to change into a new set of clothes. During her absence, she had enough time to order someone to kill the maid. If the maid had really taken Ling Rui’er’s handkerchief first, it was really possible that someone had framed Ling Rui’er.

Or, someone wanted to frame King Chu behind her.

Suddenly, Consort Zhao came over with a slightly suspicious look on her face and asked, “What fragrance did you put on your handkerchief, Consort Chu?”

Indeed, the handkerchief was giving off a faint strange fragrance. Although it had been soaked in the water, it was still fragrant. Obviously, it was of a kind of superb fragrance.

This reminded Ling Rui’er. She hurriedly answered, “The fragrance I’m using isn’t of any ordinary kind. The Empress Dowager gifted it to me. It is said to be a tribute. I’m the only one in the entire Great Qin, who has it. There won’t be anyone else owning it.”

Ling Rui’er only wanted to prove that she was innocent this time, and she could not care less.

“Consort Chu, are you referring to the Longing Fragrance?” The interrogating eunuch’s eyes lit up and he asked immediately, “If yes, the fragrance won’t dissipate for a long time. It is said that it will last for 10 days, right?”

A strange look flashed in Ling Rui’er’s eyes. Then, she nodded forcefully and replied, “Yes, yes.”

“Consort Chu, do you think that if this fragrance will be left on other clothes once it contacted the clothes?” the interrogating eunuch continued to ask.

“This smell is very strong. As long as you touch it with your hand, it won’t dissipate in a short time,” Ling Rui’er responded with certainty.

“That’s great.” The interrogating eunuch squatted down in front of the body again, pulled the palace maid Fei Huan’s clothes, and sniffed it. After a while, he raised his eyebrows and said, “Your Majesty, this palace maid once hid the handkerchief in her arms. It seems that she stole the handkerchief from Consort Chu, but was a.s.sa.s.sinated later. And this handkerchief fell here on purpose.”

Ling Rui’er heaved a sigh of relief and scolded the palace maid Fei Huan harshly, “b.i.t.c.h, you really wanted to harm me.”

“Since the murderer has flipped the handkerchief, shouldn’t there be a scent on his body too?” the Empress asked coldly.

The eunuch raised his lips and nodded. “You’re right, Your Majesty. Since the handkerchief was left on purpose, the person must have touched it. Please order people to take the interrogating dogs, Your Majesty.”

“Go, pa.s.s down my order and have the guards bring the interrogating dog here.” The Empress nodded, as she swept across Mo Xuetong’s face with a cold smile in her eyes. The interrogating dog was especially used by the Ministry of Justice to investigate cases. Its nose was hundreds of times sharper than an ordinary dog’s. No matter who did it today, they would not end well.

Standing by the side, Consort Zhao looked down, but there was a deep sense of pride in the corner of her eyes, and her face unconsciously showed a bit of vicious smile. Although the matter was somewhat different from her arrangement, fortunately, it was still in her original direction.

After a while, a small interrogating dog was brought to the front of everyone. Several imperial guards stood on both sides and arranged for everyone to stand in two rows. The interrogating eunuch took the handkerchief to the dog’s nose and the dog sniffed it. Then he took off the handkerchief and let the dog smell these people one by one. When it smelled the second person, the interrogating dog charged at her. If the eunuch hadn’t reacted quickly and grabbed it, Ling Rui’er would have been thrown down.

Even so, she was so frightened that she almost couldn’t say anything.

She was the master of the handkerchief and had been taking it for a while, so of course, the scent on her body was strong. The eunuch pulled the interrogating dog back and continued smelling. Mo Xuetong was behind Ling Rui’er. She was held by Mo Ye and stood there quietly. The interrogating dog circled her twice and walked down.

Obviously, it meant that this had nothing to do with Mo Xuetong either.

The Empress who was standing in the middle frowned slightly. She looked at Mo Xuetong suspiciously.

The interrogating dog pa.s.sed by the feet of the crowd and sniffed from time to time. Everyone was nervous and afraid, especially for most of the people here were young ladies who were so scared that they were shaking. Suddenly, the interrogating dog barked and rushed toward a maidservant standing behind a lady. It bit the calf of the maidservant with sharp teeth and dragged the maidservant out tightly.

On both sides, the imperial guards who were ready to act pounced on the maidservant fiercely and caught her. They even took out all the things in her pockets and placed them in front of everyone.

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