Chapter 660: It’s too late for Duanmu Yao to repen (2/2)

Cao Tong checked the time before he grew hesitant. “Princess, this one is still looking for the cause of death. There’s still time, so this one will try his best.”

Over two hours had already passed, but he still couldn’t find a clue. How was he supposed to find any other signs of proof? Duanmu Yao grew incensed. Cao Tong, what kind of words are those? Why can’t you find the cause of death? Just what kind of ‘World’s Number One Coroner’ are you supposed to be?!

“Princess Duan, take a look yourself. There’s no sign of injury or illness anywhere on esteemed empress’s body,” Cao Tong explained.

“If it was that easy to find, would we need to invite you in the first place?” Duanmu Yao shot back.

Cao Tong had no choice but to shut up. This wasn’t the first time he’d ran into such a situation, but it was the first time under such pressing circumstances. He had to seize the time while it was there. Han Yunxi was observing the body as well, feeling bewildered. She had eliminated the possibility of any physical wounds, but it didn’t seem poisoned, either. Was a sickness to blame?

In some situations, illnesses caused deaths in ways that even modern medicine could fail to track within a short time.

“Princess Duan, this one can confirm that esteemed empress didn’t die from an outside force or poison. The only possibility left is that she wasted away on sickness. I don’t know if esteemed empress had any chronic ills during her lifetime?” Cao Tong asked.

“My imperial mother was always healthy. Occasionally she’d catch a chill, but it definitely wouldn’t sicken her to death! Someone must have moved against her instead!” Duanmu Yao grew agitated. Although she’d left her mother for a long time, she still exchanged letters with her frequently. She understood the woman’s situation very well.

“Princess Duan, this one won’t eliminate the possibility that someone used esteemed empress’s illnesses against her. If we want to find the cause of death, I’m afraid that…” Cao Tong didn’t finish the sentence. After all, they were dealing with the body of Western Zhou’s empress. Emperor Kangcheng had been negotiating nonstop with the Chu Clan barracks and Prince Regent Ning to return the corpse and hand over the murderer.

Ironically, her death made her more important that her life ever did!

“You’re afraid of what? Just say it!” Duanmu Yao cried.

Cao Tong was still hesitating when Han Yunxi spoke up. “Afraid that he’d have to dissect the corpse, probably.”

From what she understood of ancient autopsies, most of them were limited to examining the surface of the body. The fact that Cao Tong could even pinpoint illness as a probable cause of death was already a surprise for his time.

“Impossible!” Duanmu Yao refused without a second though. She could accept the body dissolving away into blood and water, but never the thought of cutting it up! She would never allow her imperial mother to endure such humiliation after her death!

“Princess Duan, if we don’t dissect the body, we may never be able to find the cause of death,” Cao Tong said helplessly.

“And will you absolutely find it if we do?” Duanmu Yao challenged coldly.

Cao Tong admitted honestly, “I cannot guarantee that.”

Duanmu Yao shot him a venomous glare, but she was already too exhausted to argue any further. She knelt in front of Empress Xue’s body as tears poured dwn her face.

She regretted it! Utterly and completely!

She shouldn’t have trusted Chu Qingge’s lies or made such a loud racket that it was impossible to retreat!

Imperial mother’s corpse was going to disappear any time now. What was she supposed to bring back to imperial father as an explanation? She had been hoping to use Celestial Mountain’s strength to pressure the Chu Clan and Duke of Ning to get to the bottom of her mother’s death. Then she’d bring her remains back to Western Zhou.

But how could she have any face to return now? Everything had been ruined by Chu Qingge!

Cao Tong didn’t lose heart just because he couldn’t find anything. His attitude was serious and focused as ever. “Princess Duan, although it’s impossible to determine esteemed empress’s exact cause of death, we can at least prove that it wasn’t Qin Wangfei who killed her. The Chu Clan framed Qin Wangfei as a murderer. Their intentions merit consideration.”

“Besides them, who else could it be? Chu Qingge, Ning Cheng! You and this princess are now irreconcilable!” Duanmu Yao gritted her teeth. She expected that Chu Qingge was probably laughing at her right this moment.

Cao Tong didn’t pass any judgment, nor did Han Yunxi move further to explain herself. Just like that, Duanmu Yao determined that the Chu Clan were the true culprits of her mother’s death. She dearly wished that none of this had happened at all, or that she could just be a little smarter and see through Chu Qingge’s schemes. Unfortunately, reality laid before her eyes.

Suddenly, a strange sound issued from the corpse. In a flash, Empress Xue’s body melted into blood and water, leaving not a single bone behind.

“Imperial mother! Yao Yao was unworthy to you! I’m sorry!” Duanmu Yao burst into wails as tears streamed down her face.

Although Han Yunxi knew the truth, she still couldn’t sympathize with the girl. Perhaps it’s better that Empress Xue left this way instead of being tormented any further.

Meanwhile, the true culprit stood right next to her side. He stood with his hands folded behind his back, his eyes nothing but icy cold like a heartless spectator removed from the proceedings.

Han Yunxi grasped his hand and said in a low voice…