Chapter 327: The person that Emperor Tianhui fancies (2/2)

If Long Feiye could gain the support of Western Zhou’s Chu Clan, he’d have even more counters against Emperor Tianhui!

Meanwhile, Han Yunxi was still digesting the empress dowager’s words when Emperor Tianhui spoke up. “Muhou, Miss Chu’s poison skills are consummate. Erchen has confidence in her skills.”

Han Yunxi felt even more confused by these words. What were the empress dowager and Emperor Tianhui playing at?

Now it was Chu Qingge’s turn to speak. Her voice was cold. “Esteemed empress dowager, the poison found in Noble Consort Xiao’s quarters indeed match the one that killed Noble Consort Yun, but it’d take an entire bottle to take someone’s life! There’s still half a bottle of poison left here. It’s obvious that someone was trying to frame Noble Consort Xiao!”

Han Yunxi darted a glance at the poison in question and recognized it as red-hued Snowpenny.1 As Chu Qingge said, only a entire bottle was capable of causing fatal effects. It was definitely fishy that there was still half-full bottle here.

“Miss Chu, do you mean to say that I’ve framed Noble Consort Xiao?” the empress dowager said bluntly.

On the side, Noble Consort Xiao was kneeling with the servant girl who’d given testimony. Neither of them made a sound. Chu Qingge was a type that kept aloof from politics. If not for their differences in status, she wouldn’t have spared the empress dowager a second glance. She already despised the old woman for her actions at the birthday banquet.

“Qingge doesn’t dare. Qingge only speaks the truth,” Chu Qingge replied simply.

“Yunxi, what say you?” the empress dowager turned to ask Han Yunxi.

Though Han Yunxi had no idea what the empress dowager and Emperor Tianhui were planning, she did have a clear motive: to save Noble Consort Xiao.

“There’s definitely something strange about this half-full bottle of poison.” Compared to Chu Qingge’s accusations of framing someone, Han Yunxi was more prudent with her words. This made her seem more intelligent as well. The empress dowager felt pleased to hear her words, but Chu Qingge disdained the reply and gave a light snort.

“Scaredy cat,” she muttered.

Han Yunxi didn’t mind and asked with a smile, “Esteemed empress dowager, do you want to hand the case over to Yunxi?”

“Of course. If there’s anything strange, a thorough investigation is needed. We cannot allow the true culprit to go unpunished and frame an innocent person!” the empress dowager said righteously.

“Then, irrelevant parties should…” Before Han Yunxi finished, Emperor Tianhui spoke up.

“Muhou, since it was Miss Chu who discovered the discrepancy, Zhen thinks she should take the case instead. Zhen would like to see Miss Chu’s poison skills firsthand as well.”

Han Yunxi couldn’t help but suspect whether Emperor Tianhui had eaten some sort of love potion from Chu Qingge. Why was he leaning in Chu Qingge’s favor? But after observing him for awhile, Han Yunxi realized that Emperor Tianhui was looking at Chu Qingge with a different sort of gaze. She could hazard to guess what was going on, but she wondered if Chu Qingge had noticed anything.

“Emperor, this is…” the empress dowager was about to protest, but Chu Qingge cut in.

“Esteemed wangfei, how about this? We’ll both do our own investigating and see who figures it out first!”

“Heheh, that’s a good idea! Then that’s exactly what we’ll do,” Emperor Tianhui couldn’t wait to agree.

A cold smile flickered past the empress dowager’s eyes before she said, “Since that’s what the emperor says, you can go on with your independent investigating.”

Han Yunxi was in a bad mood. Chu Qingge had already failed before her twice, but why wouldn’t she give up? Did she think this was all a game? What was there to compete over? If it wasn’t Noble Consort Xiao’s life at stake, she wouldn’t want to join in at all!

Chu Qingge saw that Han Yunxi didn’t reply, so she hastened to ask, “Esteemed wangfei, what do you plan to do if I find out the truth first?”

“Whether or not Noble Consort Xiao is innocent and Noble Consort Yun can die in peace all depends on finding out the truth. If you can uncover the mystery, the empress dowager and His Majesty will naturally reward you. What else do you want?” Han Yunxi asked seriously.

Chu Qingge was left speechless. However, she recovered quickly enough. Even if this gamble had no chips or rewards, she could squash Han Yunxi underfoot as long as she found out the truth first! Han Yunxi’s poison skills were already renowned across Tianning Country and all of Cloud Realm Continent. As long as she could beat Han Yunxi, her fame would spread as well.

“Qin Wangfei, how about we set a time limit of three days?” Chu Qingge asked.

“As you like,” Han Yunxi didn’t care either way.

Meanwhile, Duanmu Baiye had been observing Emperor Tianhui’s gaze the entire time. If the man really did fancy Chu Qingge, then his mission to apologize for Duanmu Yao’s actions should go very smoothly. Chu Tianyin was paying attention to Emperor Tianhui as well. Though he detested his little sister’s stupid actions, he realized it might not be a bad thing if she stayed in Tianning!

Because of the three-day time limit, both Han Yunxi and Chu Qingge were arranged to stay at the palace for the convenience of investigating the case. After Long Feiye got wind of the news, he immediately sent Zhao mama to wait on Han Yunxi, telling her to always stay by her side. The first day started with Chu Qingge and Han Yunxi commencing their respective investigations at Noble Consort Yun’s quarters. Meanwhile, Emperor Tianhui made his way to the scene as soon as he adjourned his imperial court session…