Chapter 658: This wangfei is nothing but magnanimous (1/2)

Han Yunxi didn’t bribe Cao Tong, so wasn’t she afraid of him exposing the truth? Ning Cheng was very curious as well. He knew Cao Tong didn’t accept bribes and was certain that Long Feiye was the true killer behind the scenes, so where did Long Feiye and Han Yunxi find the resolve to go through with the autopsy?

After Empress Xue died, Chu Tianyin had found many coroners to determine the cause of death, but all in vain. Just what was the real murder method? Was Long Feiye and Han Yunxi so certain that Cao Tong wouldn’t find the truth?

In the end, Ning Cheng’s gaze rested on Han Yunxi’s back as his lips curved into a wicked grin. Even when her form was swallowed up by the crowd, his eyes still lingered in her direction. He had disguised himself amongst the crowd with a few of his retainers, all of whom were equally bewildered. His Highness Duke of Ning had many things to take care of, so why did he rush here without stop in the last two days just to be present at Yaoshui? The Ouyang Trade Consortium had called him multiple times regarding Ning Jing’s marriage affairs, but he’d ignored them in favor of this. It wasn’t like he could publicly show up here. What was the difference between witnessing it firsthand or hearing reports back in the palace?

—

Empress Xue’s body was resting in a courtyard at the end of an alley. Duanmu Yao wouldn’t expose it to outsiders, so all unrelated personnel were left to wait outside the doors. Ning Cheng and his retainers silently slipped away from the crowds so they could stand vigil on the surrounding roofs instead. The empress’s corpse lay in the center of the courtyard in a special coffin. Duanmu Yao stood at its head, her face pale and expression grieved. She dearly regretted the fact that she hadn’t come down from the mountain in time to save her mother. She trusted her father’s love for imperial mother, that he would find a chance to save her instead. And yet reality had proved that father still loved his own country most of all.

The Chu Clan were the chief culprits of imperial mother’s death. After she ascertained Han Yunxi’s guilt and took care of her, she wasn’t going to spare any of the Chu, either—including Chu Qingge!

Under the watchful eyes of those present, Duanmu Yao carefully lifted the cover of the coffin. Besides Long Feiye, everyone else stepped forward to take a look. The Duke of Qin wasn’t afraid of corpses, but he disliked the whole affair. Empress Xue had been dead for almost two months now. If not for the chilly temperatures and a special medicinal brew used to preserve her body, she would’ve been covered in adipocere by now.

Although precious drugs had been used to maintain her countenance and prevent smells or liquefaction, the body had long deformed. Her face and hands exhibited classical signs of livor mortis, hinting at the state of rot beneath the skin. Only experts could tell how much she’d started to decompose.

Cao Tong only glanced at the body before a helpless look rose to his eyes. He was in no rush to examine the corpse, but asked, “Princess Duan, can this one take another look at that acupuncture needle?”

“Of course!” Duanmu Yao carefully handed it over. “There’s still poison on its tip, so be careful.”

Cao Tong scrutinized the needle and asked, “What kind of poison is this?”

Before Duanmu Yao could answer, Han Yunxi spoke up. “Scorpio Poison. Touching it won’t have any ill effects as long as it doesn’t pierce through the skin.”

Duanmu Yao gave a cold snort. “You sure remember it well!”

Han Yunxi couldn’t be bothered to argue back. Duanmu Yao wouldn’t believe her words, anyways. She had invited Cao Tong here just so the coroner could speak in her place.

“Where was this needle found?” Cao Tong asked next.

“At the bottom of her foot,” Duanmu Yao knew that much from Chu Qingge’s reports.

“So, Princess Duan believes that Empress Xue died from poisoning?” Cao Tong asked next.

“Yes, from the poison of this very needle from Han Yunxi!” Duanmu Yao didn’t forget to blame the girl at every chance, almost as if she’d witnessed the murder happen firsthand.

Cao Tong nodded, then asked, “Princess Duan, this one is unfamiliar with poisons, so I brought a specialist with me. Can we let him in?”

Cao Tong’s reputation and public praise preceded him, so even though it was Han Yunxi who’d invited him here, Duanmu Yao still trusted him implicitly. She agreed to the request without a second thought. The poison specialist inspected the needle, then Empress Xue’s foot, and said, “This is Scorpio Poison. Victims afflicted with the toxin will die without a doubt within three steps.”

“Han Yunxi, do you still want to play coy?” Duanmu Yao immediately raged.

Han Yunxi only gave a snort of contempt and didn’t say a word.

The poison specialist hastened to explain. “Princess Duan, there are two things that this one can ascertain. One, the poison on the needle is Scorpio Poison, and two, esteemed empress’s foot was indeed pierced and poisoned by this needle. However, whether or not she really died from Scorpio Poison, this one…”

He shot a helpless glance towards Cao Tong, who waved a hand and indicated that he should withdraw.

“Great Coroner Cao, what…do you mean by this?” Duanmu Yao asked.

“Princess Duan, esteemed empress has passed away for a long time…there’s no meaning to examining her body anymore,” Cao Tong said mildly. His tact implied things that everyone listening could understanding.

There was only a point to examining a corpse within seven days of death. Empress Xue’s body might have been preserved with medicine, but it was still pointless to check her corpse now.

“Princess Duan, judging from the present evidence, esteemed empress had a high possibility of death by poison. But there’s no way to perform a more thorough investigation. Thus, this one is unable to draw any final conclusions,” Cao Tong finished.

Duanmu Yao knitted her brows. “What did you say?”

Cao Tong was as earnest as ever. “Princess Duan, esteemed empress was poisoned, but this one cannot guaranteed that she died from poisoning. I ask Princess Duan to consider thrice before maligning an innocent while sparing the true culprit!”

Duanmu Yao’s expression turned complicated. She shot a doubtful glance towards Han Yunxi, who didn’t speak and allowed her to stare. After a while, she exploded. “What’s so uncertain about this?! The evidence is as solid as a mountain! She was the one who did it!”

“Yes, yes, yes, so it was me! I’ll admit it, how’s that?” Han Yunxi suddenly said impatiently.