Chapter 166: The Duke of Qin’s heavy price (2/2)
“Zhen only gave her a day’s time. If the Duke of Qin can’t provide proof of Han Yunxi’s innocence by tonight, Zhen will convict Han Yunxi as the murderer immediately!” Emperor Tianhui said icily.
One day…
The empress never expected such an arrangement to exist. What could Han Yunxi do in just one day? The corpse had been laid out for five days already, and she’d refused all coroners to see it within that time, much less anyone who tried to get close to Changping. Right now, there were absolutely no clues for Changping’s death! Meanwhile, Han Yunxi had been locked up the entire time. Although there was no conclusive evidence to convict her, although she refused to confess, this time limit was enough to ensure her death!
After thinking things through, the empress stood up in excitement. “Your Majesty is wise and brilliant! Many thanks to Your Majesty! Changping will be able to die content soon!”
—
When the empress returned to Earthly Peace Hall[1], she immediately summoned Qian mama[2], who was in charge of household affairs. After dismissing the other court ladies, she asked in a low voice, “Did you take care of that thing?”
“To reply niangniang[3], your servant took care of it last night. Besides your servant, no one else knows.”
Within the five days following Princess Changping’s death in the western wing of the palace, another person had lost her life. There was no injury, wound, or illness, but she died just like that, making everyone uneasy. Everyone was saying that the Duke of Qin’s estate hadn’t poisoned Princess Changping; instead, there was something dirty in the western wing. But the empress suppressed all news of the affair, so none of the servants dared to say a word. Even the empress dowager was unaware of this matter. Everyone could guess that the empress had steeled her heart and seized the opportunity to have Qin Wangfei die this time!
Last night, the empress had ordered her to take care of a certain item that was wrapped up tight. Its size wasn’t very big, but it was very heavy, though Qian mama had no idea what it was.
“Have you taken care of the body?” the empress asked again.
“I’ve disposed of it and a new person’s come to take her place,” Qian mama replied honestly. It was relatively normal for one or two court ladies and eunuchs to die within the palace. Taking care of them was a simple matter.
Only then did the empress exhale in relief. She looked at the skies outside and fell into silence. Qian mama couldn’t help but find her conduct strange. Still, when she considered that she’d just lost her daughter, it didn’t seem so odd after all. She didn’t dare disturb her anymore.
—
Right now, it was around noontime, and the weather was filled with bright sunshine.
“A day’s time?” Han Yunxi almost spat out her water at these words. She stopped her steps and looked at Long Feiye with furrowed brows. “Your Highness Duke of Qin, how are you sure I’ll be able to find the truth within a day?”
But Long Feiye only coldly replied, “It’s not that your lordship distrusts you, but that you should simply die in a straightforward way if you’re destined for death. It’ll cause less trouble for your lordship.”
“You!” Han Yunxi was gloomy. She’d taken this man as an angel, but realized her eyes were bad. He was an evil demon!
Of course, Han Yunxi didn’t know anything about the command tablet. She only thought that it was no wonder Emperor Tianhui agreed for her to investigate otherwise. But Long Feiye’s words had merit. She was hard-pressed to escape death in the prisons with the empress’s attitude. Long Feiye could protect her once, but not ten times.
The one day time limit was a gamble with her life.
Seeing Han Yunxi’s silence, Long Feiye glanced at her disdainfully from the corner of his eye. “If you regret it, you can go back.”
Han Yunxi snorted in contempt, her smile more brilliant than the sun. “Since this wangfei’s already come out, I won’t be planning to return! Let’s go, take me to see the body right now!”
After being shut up for five days, Han Yunxi’s complexion was ashen and devoid of blood. Her body was abnormally weak as well, but she radiated a forceful splendor beneath the sunlight. Long Feiye’s gaze rested on her face for a long time without moving away.
Han Yunxi, your lordship paid a heavy price this time. Don’t disappoint your lordship!
Long Feiye and Han Yunxi arrived at Flowing Splendor Hall at midday, the place where Princess Changping’s body was being kept. The empress dowager, empress, and Long Tianmo all hurried over when they heard the news. The wintry temperatures, combined with a crystal ice coffin, had preserved Princess Changping relatively well. However, the body had already undergone livor mortis, allowing the poison to fully manifest.
Although Princess Changping had caused her no end of grief and harm while she was still alive, seeing her corpse lying here at the prime of her life still made Han Yunxi unhappy. She stood for a while before saying, “Open the coffin.”
The empress had been looking hostilely at Han Yunxi the entire time. Now she jumped up from her seat in protest. “Don’t you dare!”
-o-
[1] Earthly Peace Palace (坤宁宫) – Kun is the female/earth principle in the Eight Triagrams, Ning is “peaceful, tranquil.”
[2] Qian mama (钱嬷嬷) – Qian is a surname that also means “copper coin, cash.”
[3] niangniang (娘娘) – a form of address for an empress or imperial concubine.