464 Alive (1/2)
Caught unprepared, the Princess was shocked but did not show it on her face.
She stood up gravely, sweeping her gaze through the crowd before finally settling on the Dragon King. She knew what he wanted to hear as well as the true motive behind his move.
This was a test for her. Though she found it to be a little too early, she knew she must act decisively to demonstrate her loyalty and stance to the Dragon King.
Being a princess, no one would suspect her words and she was much more convincing than the former three witnesses. ”Last night,” she said calmly, ”I saw two people sneaking out of the palace.”
That was all that she said but it was enough to prompt speculations and discussions among the crowd. They did not know why the Princess said only these words.
Gu Shenwei nodded at her to show his respect and support. Then, he turned toward the elderly woman.
The elderly woman was almost squatting down on the ground because she had no confidence in what she was going to say.
”Are you done thinking about it? Tell us why you left that court maid pregnant with the king's child behind and run outside for help?” the Dragon King asked.
”I, I was terrified. I was so terrified. I was at a loss...”
”What did you fear?”
”I feared... the Dragon King.” The elderly woman's voice was barely audible when she mentioned his name.
”Speak louder,” the Dragon King ordered, unconcerned.
”I feared you,” the elderly woman said. She grabbed the clothes of the maid near her as if she would collapse to the ground at any time.
”Me? You didn't see the murderer's face. Why would you fear me?”
The elderly woman had reached the limits of her endurance. In her preparation for this interrogation, no one told her that she would be subject to such detailed questioning. Those smart people ought to have thought of this! Finally, she said, ”Ask him. It's his fault. He's the one who always said that the Dragon King would come and kill the pregnant woman. He influenced me...”
Upon hearing this, Gu Shenwei became more curious than angry. Meanwhile, the crowd outside fixed their eyes on the imperial guard, Ju Chi, who had his head lowered. He sat on the chair in low spirits, looking as if he had not heard the elderly woman's words.
During the interrogation, Gu Shenwei had spent most of his time observing Ju Chi. Yet, at this moment, he looked away and did not even continue questioning the elderly woman. Instead, he turned to the trembling maid and softened his tone when he said, ”I will now ask you some questions. Think properly about what you saw last night.”
”Ah?” The maid felt her body turn soft and she nearly flung the elderly woman who was holding onto her clothes to the ground. ”Yes, I will...”
”Are you sure that the dead woman beside you is the same pregnant woman you have been serving in the past few months?”
Gu Shenwei made his question in a loud voice, enunciating every word so that even the crowd outside could hear him. This caused the crowd to flood toward the exit. The guards had to spare a lot of effort before they could stop the crowd.
Evidently, the panic-stricken maid failed to grasp the hidden meaning behind Dragon King's question. She thought for a long while in a daze before replying, ”It was Hai Tang... There was so much blood... It was everywhere, even on her face. Oh, I... I didn't see her face... But the baby... How could it possible...”
The maid was completely lost in her thoughts. It was her expression, not her words, that ignited the crowd's endless imagination.
Once again, Gu Shenwei nodded at the Princess. He felt apologetic for keeping his own Queen standing for so long but his questions for her were almost over. ”When you saw two figures sneaking out of the palace, did you send your servant to follow them to figure out the truth?”
It was the first time the Princess learned the way the Dragon King dealt with matters and, like many people around him, she did not like his way of ambushing her. She would much prefer it if he had guided her beforehand or even just leave her a hint or two; at least, she would not be at a loss.
But she must now guess the Dragon King's true thoughts. That was part of the test, a very important part of the test.
”Yes.” Though she was nervous, her reply was solemn. ”I won't allow conspiracies to take place in the palace, so I must investigate it.”
”Did you figure it out?”
”Yes, I did.” The Princess was increasingly confident that she had correctly guessed what the Dragon King was thinking. However, she was still clueless about the outcome that he wanted.
”Did you find them?”
”Yes.”
”Can you bring them here?”
”Yes.”
The Princess thought it was a hint from the Dragon King, so she raised her head to look at the door on the left. Witnesses usually enter from that door.
”Bring them here,” the Princess commanded, though she was not sure whether two witnesses would come.
Dragon King nodded at her for the third time, this time with amiableness and friendliness. There was even a hint of satisfaction too. This meant that the Princess could take a seat for her mission was complete.
The Princess had claimed that she had seen two people sneaking out of the palace, but now only one entered from the door. She was a pregnant woman who was so flustered that she could not even stand firmly on her feet.
The elderly woman shrieked with fear when she saw the pregnant woman and subsequently fell to the ground unconscious. The maid also screamed, nearly fainting as well. She recognized the pregnant woman. ”Hai Tang!”