Chapter 167: The domineering Duke of Qin (2/2)

By now, the crystal ice coffin had been uncovered. Han Yunxi gave a start, neglecting the matter of her palpitating heart in favor of immediate examination. She’d already organized her thoughts on the way over. Her first step was to determine the place of poison. That would help her figure out the poisoning method, since the location of poison usually pointed to how the poison was incurred.

This was the first and most crucial step.

Han Yunxi crept closer and started up her scanners for a thorough examination. Her careful scanning revealed the important detail she’d missed in that night’s chaos! The position of the poison was none other than Changping’s hand, where an injury had gotten infected. In other words, no one had poisoned her. Changping’s hand had a wound that touched the origin of the poison!

Han Yunxi was secretly thrilled. She knew that the security on New Year’s Eve was too tight for any killers to charge in. Back then, she’d ran over as soon as she heard a crash, but hadn’t seen any other person. In addition, all the windows in that room had been shut! Nobody had poisoned Changping; she’d touched it herself by accident. She hadn’t walked more than a few steps before it took effect, causing her to knock into the rack and creating the crash. Then, when she ran over, she saw her dead body on the ground.

With such a delightful discovery, the entire matter had turned far more simple. After all, if an assassin had really dropped by, it would be nearly impossible to track them down now. She’d be ruined instead. But something like accidental poisoning only needed her to find the source. For an old hand like Han Yunxi, this was beyond easy.

Right now, everyone’s attention was focused on Han Yunxi. She secretly snuck a peek a Long Feiye before going back to her work. The source of poison could be divided into two types. One came from natural sources, such as toxic flora or fauna, while the other were man made poisons, such as pills or toxic drugs.

Upas poison was a rare type of toxin that was typically found in the south. Even fewer people knew of its existence, so how did it show up in the palace? Feeling uncertain, Han Yunxi took some samples of dried blood from Princess Changping’s hand and did a chemical analysis. Five days had already contaminated the corpse with various impurities, so it’d be impossible for a normal poisons expert to come to any conclusions. Luckily, Han Yunxi had her most considerate friend, the detoxification system, to help.

Still, the results shocked her. She never expected that to be the source of the poison! That was a little too unbelieveable! Han Yunxi hid her amazement as she retreated from the body, taking off her gloves and washing her hands clean. By now, silence had suffused the entire room. Everyone had watched just then but didn’t see Han Yunxi do a thing. In truth, she really hadn’t done much beyond getting some blood particles with her acupuncture needle.

Did this count as examining the body? What did she even find?

Seeing Han Yunxi’s unpleasant complexion, the empress dowager was first to speak up. “Han Yunxi, did you find anything?”

The empress looked over with nervous eyes. Han Yunxi looked at both the empress dowager and empress without a word, before turning to Long Feiye. “Take me to the western wing of the palace.”

Long Feiye rose to leave with Han Yunxi without asking any more questions, leaving a room full of uncertain people.

“What does…she mean by this?” the empress dowager whispered unhappily.

The empress held a complicated expression in her eyes and didn’t reply. Long Tianmo spoke under his breath, “Imperial Grandmother, let’s all go have a look.”

—

Han Yunxi’s expression turned serious as she entered the western wing of the palace. She looked around her surroundings as if searching for a certain object, but quickly withdrew her gaze to head directly for the room where they’d found Princess Changping’s body.

By now, Long Feiye had turned curious and asked, “How is it?”

“The source of the poison should be right inside this palace,” Han Yunxi said seriously. By the time she’d made her rounds around the room, the empress dowager and party had already arrived. Because she hadn’t lowered her voice, they heard her every word.

Long Tianmo was the most agitated one. “Imperial Qin Aunt, what did you say?”

“The source of the poison is still in the palace. If it’s not here, then there’s definitely something wrong!”

Seeing this, even the empress dowager was stunned. Could Han Yunxi have been falsely accused? “Then seek it out!” she said coldly. By her side, the empress suddenly trembled, causing Long Tianmo to catch her.

“Muhou, are you all right?”

Han Yunxi darted a glance at the empress, still feeling that she was acting strangely. But right now, she had no time to think of why. “Summon Changping’s servant Shuang Hong to come,” she said simply.

“What exactly are you planning to do?” the empress dowager was anxious.

“Esteemed empress dowager, don’t be alarmed. Before night falls, Changping will definitely rest in peace,” Han Yunxi said mildly.

These words further convinced the people present that she’d discovered something. The empress dowager curled her lips before speaking, “Very well, I’ll be waiting!”

But the empress was staring fixedly at Han Yunxi without realizing that she was clenching her teeth. Her entire body had turned taut with tension. Long Feiye stroked his chin expressionlessly by one side, taking in the empress’s reactions.

After Princess Changping had died, Shuang Hong had fallen ill. It took a long time before two other court ladies supported her over. Seeing Han Yunxi, Shuang Hong was filled with hate as well. Though she kneeled, her eyes held nothing but anger.

Yet Han Yunxi squatted down to asked her word-by-word, “Shuang Hong, what did you bring out of the room on the night of New Year’s Eve when Princess Changping told you to fetch something?”

Han Yunxi was convinced that it hadn’t taken long for Changping’s poison to react. The source of the poison had to be in this room. Yet when she’d looked around on New Year’s Eve, she hadn’t found anything. Today was still the same, so the item must have been taken away. At these words, the empress’s legs collapsed beneath her as she fell paralyzed in Long Tianmo’s arms. Shuang Hong hadn’t even made a move to speak.

“Muhou! Muhou, what’s happened to you?” Long Tianmo exclaimed.