Chapter 99 Framing (2/2)
After a while, the imperial guards brought three servant girls to the Hall. ”Your Majesty, these servants have touched the Pipa tonight. Xi'er normally keeps this instrument. The maid, Xi'er gave this Pipa to Que'er because of the imperial dinner tonight. Que'er wiped the Pipa and then gave it to Yun Xi, Lady Ming's servant. Yun Xi brought the Pipa here.”
Emperor Ning narrowed his eyes as he studied all three servant girls who were on their knees. ”All of you! When did you touch the Pipa? Was there a witness? Think it through!”
The servant in the middle immediately answered. ”I'm Xi'er. I am responsible for the storage of this Pipa. I wiped the instrument for the imperial dinner tonight and then gave it to Que'er. All the servants in Imperial Treasure House can testify on my behalf. After I gave the instrument to
and agreed to do it.”
”Really?” Yun Shang walked to the eunuch and took the silver. After checking it for a while, she curled her lips and spoke to Emperor Ning. He had been sitting on his seat and watching this inquisition and accusation exchange with a mysterious expression. ”Father, I want to ask the eunuch a few questions.”
”Go on.” Yun Shang called forward several servant girls, and asked them to stand in a line. Then she turned and spoke to the eunuch, ”Since you said my servant asked you to replace the lots, please identify the servant from those who stand before you.”
The eunuch was dumbfounded but he raised his head to look at the servants. They seemed to be similarly dressed. Suddenly, he saw a servant in pink point at another pretty servant secretly. He gnashed his teeth and made his decision. He stood and pointed at the pretty servant, ”It's her! She is the one who asked me to do this.”
Yun Shang turned to the servant and asked the eunuch with a smile, ”Her? Are you sure?”
The eunuch immediately nodded and said, ”I'm sure.”
Yun Shang turned and looked at the Empress, ”Your Majesty, this is pure slander! He said that I sent your servant, Xiu Xin, to instigate him to do evil.”
The Empress gnashed her teeth and seemed exasperated at his words, ”That's nonsense!”
Yun Shang smiled, ”He is talking nonsense. But I have found something interesting. There is the smell of plum blossom on this silver. Does it mean that this eunuch also went to Meiying House?”
Yun Shang gave the silver to Master Zheng who then passed it to Emperor Ning. Emperor Ning smelled the silver and furrowed his brows, ”It is the smell of plum blossom! Guards, seize these two and strike them hard. I need their confession right now. I want to know who has the guts to malign the Princess!”
Prince Jing stood and stated, ”Your Majesty, let me handle this. There is no need to beat them. I'm good at extorting confessions. How dare these two denigrate the Princess? I will show no mercy toward them. Guard, give me the needles!”
Everyone was dumbfounded, 'Needles?' 'What does he want needles for?'
A guard working for Prince Jing brought a box of needles to the Hall. The crowd gasped as they realized that the needles were longer than standard embroidery needles. They looked terrifying all by themselves. What would the Prince do with these? The crowd shuddered. Prince Jing curled his lips, ”Do it!”
Two guards took out needles from the box and pierced them between the nail and the finger of the servant and the eunuch. Everyone in the Hall shivered all over again. Two heartrending cries escaped from the lips of the servant and eunuch. It is said that the nerves of the fingertips are linked with the heart. Prince Jing was indeed merciless.
But this was just the beginning. The guards pierced ten needles into their fingers separately, and then brought two basins of water into the Hall. The guards put the hands of the servant and eunuch into the water. Their ear-piercing and agonized screams froze everyone again. Their faces looked as pale as death.
”This is saline water. How are you feeling now? If you still keep your mouths shut, I will change the saline water to chili water.” Prince Jing walked to the servant and the eunuch with a vicious smile.
Everyone was shocked by his words, and their faces were ghostly pale with fright.
”I...I will...I will confess. Prince Jing, please spare my life. I was...” Que'er spoke in a gravelly voice as if she was suffering from extreme pain. But she fell to the ground before she was able to share her confession.