Chapter 167: The domineering Duke of Qin (1/2)
Chapter 167: The domineering Duke of Qin
Not only did the empress stand up, she walked to the crystal ice coffin and pressed down on the lid with a cold glare at Han Yunxi. “You murderer, I definitely won’t allow you to disturb Changping!”
Half the day had already passed for the one-day deadline. As long as night fell without Han Yunxi finding the true origin of the poison, she’d have to admit her guilt! The empress would rather delay her the whole way so she couldn’t do a thing.
Han Yunxi was already impatient. She’d had enough of this senseless blaming. By now, she could already sense that something was peculiar about the empress. The empress was Changping’s birth mother. It was understandable that she was pained over her daughter’s death, but her savage censure now was out of the the norm! Wouldn’t a mother want to know the truth? Why was she so convinced that I am the murderer?
Even if she believed it herself, she should find proof of it first! Long Feiye already told her on the way here that neither coroners nor poison experts were allowed to touch Changping’s body these five nights and five days. The empress had forbidden anyone from getting near.
“Esteemed empress, if you’re acting like this, I can only go back to the justice courts. However, please refrain from extorting confessions from me without any proof. This isn’t how the empress of a country should act!” Han Yunxi warned.
Many of the people present exchanged glances at each other, only just realizing that the empress had gone to the prisons to perform torture. Long Tianmo knitted his brows as he went forward to grab the empress.
“Muhou, Imperial Father’s already agreed to Imperial Qin Uncle’s terms. Just let her investigate.”
But the empress sprawled across the crystal ice coffin and started to wail her heart out. “No, how could I let hermurderer touch Changping again? As a mother, how would I explain things to Changping?”
Long Tianmo couldn’t persuade her and looked back at the empress dowager, who only looked at the empress in silence. The empress had given into her feelings, but the empress dowager was still clear-headed. She’d made her own investigations in the past five days and found that security was airtight on the night of New Year’s Eve. Her Peace & Wellness Palace was especially well-watched. The western wing of the palace was right by her palace, so it was basically impossible for any assassins to sneak in. They’d be even more hard-pressed to kill anyone without a trace.
Moreover, Changping was a princess whose social circle consisted of friends from influential families. People were too busy currying favor with her. Usually, they’d be the ones offending her instead of the other way around. How could she attract killers that way? And how could such a rare poison appear in the palace? Who would dare poison Changping?
After all her thoughts, it was still poisons expert Han Yunxi who held the greatest suspicion. Furthermore, she was the only person with enmity against Changping. What a Han Yunxi. I haven’t even drawn you to my side yet and you’ve killed my precious granddaughter first. I was truly wrong about you!
With the empress dowager keeping mum, the empress remained stubbornly sprawled over the coffin. None of the underlings dared to move her as time trickled by. Winter days were short, so it would be dark soon if they delayed.
Han Yunxi held her temper in check as she demanded, “Empress, are you going to move or not?”
The empress glared at her without a word.
Han Yunxi turned to leave. “Your Highness, please send chenqie back to the justice courts.”
Unexpectedly, Long Feiye looked at the empress, his voice cold. “Empress, just what are you afraid of?” Even he had noticed that something was off. With the empress’s usual personality, she wouldn’t kick up a row to this extent even if she was grieving. Now she had lost all the restraint befitting the imperial mother of a country.
The empress unconsciously released the coffin at these words. “I’m not!”
“Then open the coffin and check the body. There’s only half a day’s time left, what’s there to fear? Unless you’re worried that Han Yunxi will find some evidence?” Long Feiye kept asking.
His words caught both the empress dowager and Long Tianmo off-guard. The former slapped a table as she stood up.
“Duke of Qin, what do you mean by this? The empress is grieving for her daughter, but you not only show no sympathy, you even speak rudely! Aren’t you husband and wife pair going too far?”
Long Feiye slapped the table in turn, his cold eyes fixating on the empress dowager. “Your lordship used the late emperor’s command seal to get this chance, yet the empress is trying to bar the way. What does she mean by looking down on the previous emperor’s authority?”
Command seal?
At this, everyone present fell to their knees. Heavens, the Duke of Qin was angry. He even brought up the late emperor?
The empress was scared speechless and immediately retreated, falling to her knees. “Chenqie doesn’t dare! Chenqie absolutely doesn’t dare!”
The empress dowager stood in place, staring stricken at Long Feiye. For a while, she didn’t even know what to say. If she remembered correctly, this was her first time seeing the Duke of Qin angry. The cold and detached, unfeeling Duke of Qin had actually lost his temper and took out the late emperor’s command seal?
Just for the sake of a trifling Han Yunxi? A woman who had been forced onto him?
Do you favor her that much? Or are you just that generous?
While everyone was still in shock, Long Feiye issued a command. “Someone, open the coffin!”
At the same time, Han Yunxi was recovering her senses as well. She finally understood why she and Long Feiye could leave the prisons with ease. Her heart beat rapidly as she looked at his icy face. This isn’t a dream. Why is this man treating me so well?
“Han Yunxi, what are you spacing out for?” Long Feiye said angrily without a trace of kindness. His voice was always sharp, his attitude constantly cold.