Volume 2 Chapter 18 - Danger Lurks! Courtroom Interrogation
The sudden death of the Crown Prince revealed the Empress Dowager’s involvement. She was first placed under house arrest and now imprisoned in the imperial dungeon. Within a day, the entire court was in turmoil due to the upheaval in the harem. The ministers, who should have returned home, dared not leave; even after standing all day, their legs felt numb, yet none were bold enough to take their leave. They stood in the imperial study, exchanging glances, unsure of how to express themselves!
Some turned their gaze toward the leading Lord De and the expressionless Gong Yuwei beside him, but neither made a sound, leaving everyone feeling more uncertain.
“The Emperor has arrived!”
“Welcome, Your Majesty!”
“Do not bow!”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Nothing could better describe their feelings than the lifeless and unenergetic gestures of reverence at that moment.
Long Yi sat behind the dragon desk with a stern expression, scanning all the ministers below. “You must all be well aware of today’s events. The Empress Dowager has conspired against the Crown Prince. The evidence is irrefutable, and her crimes are unforgivable. Discuss how to deal with the Empress Dowager!”
Everyone looked at Lord De, who bowed his head in silence. He had recently owed the Empress Dowager a favor, so he could not plead for her, but he also did not want to add to her troubles. The others understood his position and turned to Gong Yuwei, who quietly gazed at a fixed point, remaining silent.
Seeing no one speak for a long time, Long Yi barked, “What? Have you all gone mute?”
“Your Majesty!” The Minister of Rites trembled as he stepped forward, cupping his hands. “The Empress Dowager is the mother of the nation; we cannot casually condemn her. I implore you to think twice!”
Long Yi slammed his palm on the table. “Nonsense! If the emperor is punished equally with commoners, how can she, as the Empress Dowager, lack compa.s.sion and even harm a newborn prince? Such a venomous heart is unfit for the position of mother of the nation!”
“Your Majesty, forgive me!”
Long Yi glared at the kneeling Minister of Rites, his expression darkening. “Ministry of Justice! How should we deal with a concubine who has harmed the Crown Prince?”
“Replying to Your Majesty! Degrade her status, serve her a cup of poison, and prepare a white silk for hanging!”
Gong Yuwei’s hand holding the jade gourd trembled slightly, casting a cold look at the Minister of Justice, his gaze piercing. The Minister of Justice felt the chilling aura and couldn’t help but glance at him, only to find Gong Yuwei had turned his gaze away, showing no sign of emotion.
“Your Majesty!” Lord De finally spoke up. “The Empress Dowager should indeed face punishment for her crime against the Crown Prince, but this matter has unfolded in less than a day, and it feels too hasty. I fear there are details yet to be clarified. I respectfully request that Your Majesty thoroughly investigate the truth and announce it to the world before pa.s.sing judgment!”
Long Yi fell silent for a moment, then turned to Gong Yuwei. “Can you speak, Minister Gong?”
Gong Yuwei raised his eyes calmly. “According to the laws of Fengyu, a first-rank official must face a three-court trial before sentencing, which is then presented to Your Majesty for review, with punishment to be decided seven days later. For n.o.bles of the rank of marquis and above, it must be reviewed by the Three Dukes, with the Emperor in attendance, and once sentenced, according to the law, punishment is decided in one month. For a queen found guilty, a joint pet.i.tion from the Six Ministries and the Three Dukes must be submitted, listing her crimes and merits, which is then announced to the world before any punishment is carried out! The Empress Dowager does not fall under these categories; she stands above them. Since the incident happened less than a day ago, without the Six Ministries’ inquiry or the Three Dukes’ summons, such a hasty conviction is unreasonable!”
Other officials dared not speak out, but Gong Yuwei did, being the sole student of the Imperial Tutor, known for his strict adherence to rules. His words were perfectly appropriate for this situation!
Long Yi was momentarily at a loss for words, caught by Gong Yuwei’s legal argument; he truly had nothing to say!
“Since that’s the case, this matter will be overseen by Lord De. With Prince Xuan absent, Minister Gong and Lord Xiaoqin will a.s.sist. The Minister of Justice will fully cooperate with the investigation of this case!”
“We obey your orders!”
“Led by Lord De!” Zhao Yan’s eyes lit up but she hesitated, “Does that mean she’s doomed?”
A nearby palace maid couldn’t help but remind her, “Your Highness! Speak quietly; the walls have ears!”
“I know!” Zhao Yan waved the maid away impatiently, lost in her own thoughts.
**In the Imperial Dungeon**
Leng Jiu had initially closed her eyes to rest but was startled awake by the sound of footsteps. She opened her eyes to see three prison guards approaching, directly opening the door to Ziyu’s cell and preparing to seize her!
“What are you doing?” Seeing them approach Ziyu, Leng Jiu immediately shouted.
The leader turned to her, expressionless. “We are ordered to interrogate the prisoner Ziyu!”
Leng Jiu didn’t believe it; they had just arrived to interrogate her so soon. The oppressive aura emanating from her was palpable as she glared at him. “Who gave you this order? Who gave you the authority?”
“From the Emperor!” The man, intimidated by Leng Jiu’s presence, flinched and dared not meet her gaze, turning to the other two. “Take her away!”
Leng Jiu was taken aback; there was nothing she could do. Meanwhile, Ziyu made no effort to resist as the guards restrained her. She turned to Leng Jiu, a calm smile on her youthful face, her eyes filled with serenity and courage. “Empress Dowager! You were right; I am too weak—weak enough to be easily extinguished. From this moment on, I will learn to become stronger. I don’t know how far I can go on this path, but at least now, I will survive and walk out of this dungeon with you, clear and innocent!”
Leng Jiu’s brows furrowed at her words, then she smiled. “Little girl! If you feel pain, remember that pain. The deeper it hurts, the clearer the memory, because it will teach you how to avoid such pain in the future!”
“I will remember!”
“Go!” The leader gestured, and the three took Ziyu away.
Leng Jiu didn’t watch them leave but slowly closed her eyes. She was all too aware of the darkness in the dungeon. With Ziyu gone, she would either die or be severely punished. This moment also revealed her own helplessness; despite her n.o.ble status, her fate was not in her hands. At this moment, she was still unable to take control—she was still too weak!
As the atmosphere shifted, Leng Jiu slightly opened her eyes and saw someone at the cell door pause. “Why are you here?”
Hua Jinzhi drew his sword, ready to break the lock, but Leng Jiu stopped him with a firm voice: “Don’t!”
Hua Jinzhi paused, looking at her with concern. “I can’t watch you suffer here. I’m here to take you away!”
Leng Jiu approached him. “If I leave like this, I’ll be bearing the blame for the crime!”
Hua Jinzhi grasped the sword, “Why bother with all that? If it comes to it, I can just give up this ident.i.ty and live more freely under another!”
Leng Jiu chuckled lightly, “Are you sure you’re not saying this out of self-interest?”
Hua Jinzhi pursed his lips and looked away, “What’s wrong with giving up the ident.i.ty of the Empress? It’s a constraint on your freedom, bringing so much trouble. It might be better not to have it at all!”
Leng Jiu reached out, took his hand, and pulled him closer, then gently placed her hand on his face. “I will never run away like a coward under a conspiracy, changing names and living secretly isn’t my style. If you want to help me, then help save that maid outside. If not, just leave!”
Hua Jinzhi was angered by her words, “What do you mean? Don’t you trust me?”
“It’s not about distrust; it’s about giving you a choice. It’s a matter of respect for you, so please respect my choice!” Leng Jiu said earnestly.
Hua Jinzhi glared at her, feeling frustrated. He had indeed considered escaping with her and giving her a new ident.i.ty so she would belong solely to him, untouchable by anyone else. But she saw right through him from the start, leaving him speechless. Now, even if he wanted to take her away, it was impossible, which infuriated him!
With a huff, he sheathed his sword and flew out of the prison. His lightness skill ensured that no one noticed him. After escaping, he circled around to the front entrance and mounted his horse, boldly knocking on the door.
“Who goes there?”
“Hua Jinzhi from the Lord De’s Manor!”
“Ah, it’s Young Master Hua! What brings you to visit so late?” The guard approached, trying to curry favor.
Hua Jinzhi kicked him aside in annoyance, “Do I need to report to you? Get out of my way!”
With that, he strode inside, moving so quickly that the guard had to jog to keep up. “Young Master! You don’t have a token; you can’t just walk around freely. This is troublesome!”
Hua Jinzhi impatiently pulled out a token from his pocket and tossed it over, “Open your eyes and see clearly!”
The guard took the token, looked it over a few times, and suddenly felt speechless. “Young Master, this is the Lord De’s token; it’s useless in the prison!” He looked up with a troubled expression, but Hua Jinzhi had already disappeared inside.
“Isn’t this Young Master always causing trouble?” The guard had no choice but to follow him in, realizing that this little troublemaker was not someone to offend. He couldn’t figure out what Hua Jinzhi was doing in the prison at such an hour.
Leng Jiu didn’t know how Hua Jinzhi had saved Ziyu, but shortly after he left, Ziyu was brought back. When Leng Jiu saw Ziyu, who was barely conscious, her heart tightened in disbelief. Hadn’t it only been a short time?
“Ziyu!” Leng Jiu called out anxiously. If she hadn’t felt Ziyu’s breath, she might have doubted if she were alive. What had happened to cause those b.l.o.o.d.y marks on her back?
“Empress Dowager!” Ziyu spoke weakly, turning to Leng Jiu with a faint smile. “I’m fine; I can hold on!”
“But what happened to you? You just got taken out; how could you be so badly injured?”
Ziyu lowered her gaze slightly, her face revealing a coldness. “They wanted my life, dragging me out to torture me, trying to kill me directly!”
“Heh!” Leng Jiu suddenly smiled, but her smile was icy and fierce. She raised her hand, brushing the ring that Leng Yue had given her, and spoke into the air: “Bring those top-quality healing medicines and tell Lu Chang that if he fails this time, I will personally chop him up!”
There was no answer, only a breeze pa.s.sing by.
Before long, a package of medicine was thrown into Leng Jiu’s cell. She picked it up, took a hairpin from her hair, and used it to unlock the door to Ziyu’s cell, then entered with the medicine.
Seeing Leng Jiu come in, Ziyu widened her eyes in surprise. “Empress Dowager! How did you get in?”
“Why ask so much? Save your energy!” Without looking up, Leng Jiu started to unfasten Ziyu’s clothes.
Ziyu was taken aback. “Empress Dowager! I’m injured; let me do it myself!”
Leng Jiu pressed her down gently, “Enough! You’re still talking about being strong at a time like this; I don’t mind you at all!”
“Empress Dowager!” Ziyu lay on the ground, tears that she had been holding back now falling freely. When she had been beaten moments earlier, she gritted her teeth, her heart as hard as stone. But now, facing Leng Jiu, she felt like a child, vulnerable and wronged. Although the Empress was not much older than her and held a lofty status, at this moment, she felt a warmth and closeness, as if being cared for by an older sister.
Leng Jiu ignored her, tearing off Ziyu’s clothes to reveal her bloodied back. Leng Jiu’s eyes flickered, and she gently applied the medicine. Her gaze was calm and cold, devoid of any emotion, reflecting her true anger. Unlike Long Yi, who might rage uncontrollably, Leng Jiu’s anger was a chilling calmness that could be terrifying. No one knew when her fury would erupt or how fearsome it would be.
Leng Jiu rarely got angry. In her previous life, she had only lost her temper a few times. Yet, in less than half a year of her rebirth, someone had managed to provoke her. Good; it had been a long time since she had felt the desire to take revenge!
Lowering her gaze, she applied the last bottle of medicine to Ziyu’s wounds and carefully helped her put her clothes back on, saying calmly, “Get some rest; I’ll take care of everything else.”
For the first time, Ziyu boldly grasped Leng Jiu’s hand and smiled shyly. “Empress Dowager! Even though I’m in pain, I feel it’s worth it. I will definitely leave this place with you and become someone powerful, so no one can bully me again!”
Leng Jiu squeezed her hand. “I’m waiting for that!”
After locking the cell door again, Leng Jiu returned to her own cell, leaning against the wooden bars, pretending to rest. No one knew what she was thinking!
In the dead of night, a guard entered carrying a quilt and a food box. He knocked softly on Leng Jiu’s cell door and whispered, “Miss Jiu!”
Leng Jiu looked up, nearly failing to recognize him. “Xiao Qian! What are you doing here?”
Xiao Qian glanced around and said, “The Prime Minister ordered me to bring you food and a quilt!”
Leng Jiu felt warmth in her heart upon hearing this. She got up and approached, feeling a bit puzzled. Did Gong Yuwei tell Xiao Qian about her ident.i.ty? But he didn’t seem to act like it!
Xiao Qian opened the cell door and placed the items inside. Rubbing his hands, he said, “I didn’t expect you to be so close to the Empress Dowager. But don’t worry; the Prime Minister will definitely rescue you!”
He glanced furtively outside and added, “I have to go. Just endure a little longer. The Emperor has ordered the Lord De, the Filial Lord(Lord Xiao), and the Prime Minister to investigate this case together. Once your innocence is proven, you’ll be fine!”
After locking the door, he sneaked out.
Leng Jiu couldn’t help but smile. So, Gong Yuwei had indeed called her a favored one, and it was fortunate that Xiao Qian was a bit naïve, truly believing it.
Bending down, Leng Jiu opened the food box. It contained two layers; the meal wasn’t extravagant, but it was warm and enough for two. The quilt was small but made of fine cotton, feeling warm to the touch. There were no extra words or fuss, but this small gesture conveyed his feelings, and more importantly, it rea.s.sured her. Neither Hua Jinzhi nor Gong Yuwei questioned whether she was to blame; in their hearts, they chose to trust her unconditionally. This warmed her heart significantly.
She took the quilt and covered Ziyu with it, waking her to eat before returning to her own spot, resting to regain her strength. She didn’t feel anxious; she had faced tougher situations before. The next time she was in prison wouldn’t be anything special! However, she didn’t sleep deeply, remaining alert. If someone dared to harm Ziyu in the cell, they would surely dare to come for her as well; she couldn’t let that happen.
Sure enough, in the middle of the night, a strange aura descended, filled with murderous intent. Leng Jiu’s eyes remained lowered, her hand pressing against the bracelet given by Long Yue Li.
“Whoosh!” Before Leng Jiu could act, a dart flew out. The attacker clearly hadn’t expected someone skilled to be guarding this place. Silent and swift, the dart struck his shoulder. He clutched it, about to flee, but was kicked down by another person. Two more darts shot out, this time sealing his fate.
As the body fell, another person caught it, laying it down silently.
Leng Jiu recognized the newcomer and raised an eyebrow. “I had forgotten that the Hua family excels not only in lightness of foot but also in throwing darts!”
Xiangming clapped her hands, glancing at Leng Jiu and noticing she was unharmed. She let out a small sigh of relief. “As long as the Empress Dowager isn’t hurt, I can relax. I’ve brought a few people to hide in the shadows, so you don’t have to worry about anyone plotting against you. You can sleep peacefully!”
She effortlessly lifted the corpse from the ground. “I’ll take my leave now!”
Then she flew off, carrying the body.
Leng Jiu smiled lightly, amused by the girl!
Before long, Leng Jiu indeed felt several presences descending lightly. If it weren’t for Xiangming’s warning, she might not have noticed. She couldn’t help but marvel at the Hua family’s skills.
Not long after, several female prisoners were brought into the prison. Leng Jiu felt her eyelids twitch; although she didn’t remember their faces, the stiff expressions were unmistakably those of the maids from Hua Jinzhi’s hidden residence. It was clear they had been sent by Hua Jinzhi to protect her.
With a soft laugh and a sigh, she finally felt at ease and lay down on the gra.s.s to sleep. This time, she figured no one would be able to kill her!
In the early hours, Leng Jiu sensed movement. It seemed a guard was sneaking over, but before he reached the cell door, he immediately became a corpse, carried away without her ever seeing his face. She just blinked and went back to sleep!
“All dead?” As dawn broke, a voice of surprise echoed through the Furu Palace. Who else could it be but Hua Yuxuan?
Zhao Yan hadn’t slept well the night before, and her face showed signs of fatigue. “Three batches of a.s.sa.s.sins went, but none succeeded, and now we can’t even find the bodies!”
“They’re all useless!”
Zhao Yan looked at her coldly. “One was an a.s.sa.s.sin I bought from the jianghu, who has never missed a target; several were from my Zhao family’s old guard, but they were rescued by the young master before they could kill that maid. There were also two from the Lin family’s side branches who struck during the early morning when everyone was relaxed, yet they vanished as well. If these people are useless, I honestly can’t find anyone who isn’t; you might as well do it yourself. I believe the Lord De’s household has the power, and surely the favored concubine’s people aren’t useless!”
Hua Yuxuan, hearing her sarcasm, shot her a cold glance but didn’t respond. She wasn’t foolish; the Zhao and Lin families made up nearly half of the guards in the prison. If they couldn’t succeed, it meant someone was secretly protecting that wretched girl! Hua Jinzhi! Thinking of her bewitched brother made her heart ache. Who was she doing this for?
Hua Yuxuan’s face turned fierce, and she slammed her hand on the table. “Tian Xuan!”
A shadow fell before her. “My lady!”
“Go kill Leng Jinghua. Tonight, I want to see her head!”
“Yes!”
Zhao Yan’s eyes widened in shock as she took a long time to recover. Had she really just seen a person? That speed was like a ghost! Turning to look at the determined Hua Yuxuan, she finally understood: this woman was completely obsessed. To kill Leng Jinghua, she would stop at nothing. Zhao Yan couldn’t fathom what issue the perfectly fine Empress Dowager had caused her.
The trial was set for the next day, meaning Leng Jiu would have to stay in prison for one more day. However, this day wasn’t too difficult. Food was provided, and there were people protecting her from the outside. Ziyu’s injuries had been treated promptly, showing no signs of infection or fever, and she had regained some strength today!
With nothing to do, Leng Jiu chatted with Ziyu about modern women becoming officials and self-sufficient. Ziyu listened intently, her gaze growing more determined, but Leng Jiu was lost in thought about the events of the next day!
That night, unable to sleep while leaning against the wooden bars, Leng Jiu pondered palace affairs and the upcoming spectacle. Suddenly, she heard sounds of combat outside. Although faint, she recognized them clearly, lifting her gaze toward the noise, a sarcastic smile crossing her lips. “They haven’t given up yet!”
Although there was no solid evidence, she knew who was behind her framing. In the De Concubine’s palace, with such tight security, only a fish slipping through the net could enter; no one but Lin Feng, the captain of the Imperial Guards, could manage that. It was likely he acted on Zhao Yan’s orders, who now seemed to be under Hua Yuxuan’s influence.
Lin Feng and Zhao Yan had no personal vendetta against her, but Hua Yuxuan did. For her brother and for herself, she wanted nothing more than to get rid of her. These two were clearly being manipulated by Hua Yuxuan, who must have seized on their weaknesses, forcing them to obey her commands!
“Hua Yuxuan!” Leng Jiu sighed. Why did she insist on being so clueless when she didn’t even want to deal with her at the moment?
A whiff of blood filled the air, and Leng Jiu looked toward the source, seeing Xiangming clutching her shoulder as she stumbled against the cell door.
Leng Jiu narrowed her eyes slightly. “What did you encounter?”
Xiang Ming wrapped a piece of cloth around her shoulder and took a deep breath before saying, “It’s a skilled a.s.sa.s.sin. We’ve lost three men, but you need not worry; he was also severely injured and won’t be able to a.s.sa.s.sinate again!”
Leng Jiu looked at her shoulder, biting her lip in silence. Xiang Ming paused to endure the pain before using lightness skill to fly away, clearly in a hurry to deal with her wounds.
In just two days, news of the Empress Dowager’s plot against the prince spread throughout the capital and quickly across the country. Even three-year-old children in the capital now knew that the Empress Dowager of Fengyu had a heart like a serpent and was responsible for the death of the young prince. It wouldn’t be long before tales circulated about the Empress Dowager’s name being used to quiet children’s night cries!
Of course, those were just rumors. Today was the first day of the court hearing, marking the first trial of an Empress Dowager in history—a truly sensational event. Many scholars and talented individuals flocked to witness it, eager to write timeless essays.
The venue was set in the Grand Hall of the Ministry of Justice. Lord De, Lord Xiao, and the Grand Minister sat at the top. Behind them, the beaded curtain designated the emperor’s seating area, and below them were the six ministers. This spectacle was rare in history.
Lord De nodded to the spot where Long Yi was seated, and after receiving a signal, returned to his central position. He raised his hand to strike the gavel, declaring, “Bring the defendant to the stand!”
“Bring the defendant to the stand!”
The command echoed as several soldiers escorted the defendant into the hall.
Everyone’s gaze turned toward the entrance, where two soldiers led a woman in. She bowed her head, obscuring her appearance, but her steps were unsteady, clearly indicating she had been injured. Furthermore, she was dressed in the attire of a palace maid, so she couldn’t possibly be the Empress Dowager.
Gong Yuwei tensed when she saw the woman being dragged in, but relaxed upon recognizing her clothing, maintaining her composed demeanor in the elevated seat.
“Who is below the court?”
“I am Zi Yu, a first-rank maid from the Weiyang Palace!” Zi Yu knelt on the ground, struggling to lift her body, her clear gaze meeting Lord De’s with a crisp voice, each word firm and powerful.
Surprised that a mere maid would speak so boldly, Lord Xiao slammed the table, “You insolent servant! You are currently under suspicion; how dare you act so arrogantly in court!”
Unfazed, Zi Yu retorted, “I am only responding to Your Highness. Where is the arrogance?”
Lord Xiao narrowed his eyes, “You, a lowly servant, who gave you the audacity to refer to yourself as ‘I’ in front of two grand n.o.bles?”
“The Empress Dowager gave me that right!” Zi Yu straightened her back. “I am a maid of the Empress Dowager; I was born for her and will die for her. The Empress Dowager has bestowed this upon me; from today onward, I need not address anyone else as a servant, only her!”
Lord Xiao scoffed, “The Empress Dowager can barely protect herself; how can she bestow such honors?”
Gong Yuwei coldly interjected, “Today is a trial; if Your Highness wishes to argue with a maid, you may do so elsewhere. Also, I must remind you, the case is still under review and has not yet determined guilt. Please do not speak in a disrespectful manner; the Empress Dowager has not been stripped of her t.i.tle—she is still the Empress Dowager!”
“Hmph!” Lord Xiao shot a disdainful glance at him, falling silent.
Lord De, unfazed by Zi Yu’s t.i.tle, asked sternly, “On the eighteenth day of this month, between the hours of Yin and Mao, where were you?”
“That night, it was my turn to keep watch, and I was guarding the Empress Dowager’s inner chamber!”
“Someone saw you enter the Grand Prince’s chamber, and two guards testified that you bribed them. What do you have to say for yourself?”
“I did not go; that person was not me and requires no explanation. As for the two guards, Your Highness should ask them why they are framing me!”
“You’re being evasive!” Lord Xiao sneered. “Don’t think that just because you have the Empress Dowager’s favor, you can lie at will. Lord De brother, let’s apply torture; I don’t believe she won’t confess!”
Zi Yu held her head high and laughed coldly, “Such great power from Lord Xiao! I was warned the night before entering the prison; do you wish to see the whip marks on my back? If Lord Xiao wishes to kill me here, I am but a small maid—there is truly nothing I can say!”
Lord Xiao was furious, about to shout, but Lord De kindly reminded him, “The emperor is still present!”
Reluctantly, Lord Xiao had to hold back for now, but he was already determined to make things difficult for Zi Yu.
Lord De turned to Gong Yuwei, “What do you think should be done now?”
Gong Yuwei gripped a jade gourd under the table, slightly raising his gaze. “The princ.i.p.al culprit is the Empress Dowager; this maid is merely an accomplice. It would be better to directly prosecute the Empress Dowager. As long as the evidence is conclusive, she cannot evade responsibility!”
Lord De nodded and struck the gavel. “Bring in the suspect!”
This time, it was Leng Jiu who walked in, dressed in simple silk robes. Her hair was merely styled up, without any adornments, yet it did not diminish her n.o.bility or beauty. She walked gracefully, her expression calm, a hint of a smile playing on her lips, her eyes cold yet sharp.
As she entered the hall, Leng Jiu glanced at the three men seated there, her smile deepening slightly. “Lord De, Lord Xiao, Grand Minister, do you require this widow to kneel?”
Lord Xiao was about to speak but was preempted by Lord De. “The Empress Dowager’s status has not been revoked; I dare not accept her reverence. The Empress Dowager may stand and respond!”
Leng Jiu’s gaze swept over Zi Yu, and the two exchanged a knowing smile before she turned to Lord De. “May I ask, Your Highness?”
Lord De looked at Leng Jiu, who was so calm and unafraid, and felt a bit unsettled, recalling the letter he received from Hua Yuxuan the previous night. Nevertheless, as a n.o.ble(Duke), he had to maintain his composure despite the turmoil within. “Someone witnessed the maid Zi Yu enter the Grand Prince’s inner chamber at the third watch of the eighteenth day of the twelfth month and suffocate the Grand Prince. What does the Empress Dowager have to say about this?”
Leng Jiu raised her eyes. “If someone truly saw it, why did they not stop it? Zi Yu is merely a woman; even if her opponent was also a maid, a single scream would have summoned countless guards and palace staff. Why did they simply watch as the Grand Prince was suffocated by Zi Yu?”
“You are evading the question and changing the subject!” Lord Xiao interjected sternly.
Leng Jiu’s cold gaze swept toward him, her smile unwavering. “Although Lord Xiao is of the same generation as I, I am the Empress Dowager. You must address me as ‘Your Majesty.’ If your tone is too harsh, considering my current status, it seems I could still hold Lord Xiao accountable for disrespecting the royal family!”
Lord Xiao was momentarily at a loss for words, his face flushed as he glanced at the beaded curtain behind him, unable to respond.
Lord De had evidently antic.i.p.ated her response and remained composed. “Bring in the matron, Li!”
Before long, an elderly matron entered. She glanced at Zi Yu, then knelt before Lord De, her forehead touching the ground. “Old servant pays her respects to Your Highness!”
Lord De pointed at Zi Yu. “On the eighteenth day of the twelfth month, at the third watch, did you see her?”
“Replying to Your Highness, it was indeed her!”
“Bang!” Lord De slammed the gavel again, his voice growing more intense. “Then why did you not call for help and merely watch as the Grand Prince was killed?”
The matron trembled slightly. “I intended to call for help, but someone covered my mouth and nose and held a knife to my throat, leaving me unable to move. I could only helplessly watch the prince be harmed. I am guilty!”
“If someone discovered you, why were you not immediately killed?”
“He attempted to kill me, but just then, a physician entered, which frightened him into fleeing. I was able to escape with my life!”
While her reasoning seemed a bit forced, it was still plausible, and her expression did not suggest deceit. Lord De turned to Leng Jiu. “What does the Empress Dowager have to say?”
Leng Jiu glanced at Gong Yuwei and then smiled as she turned back. “Lord De, if you have any evidence, you might as well present it all at once. Once they finish, I will explain to you one by one, so you don’t have to ask me individually and tire yourself out!”
Lord De regarded her deeply before instructing the remaining witnesses to be brought forth. The first to step up were two guards. “We pay our respects to Your Highness!”
“State your testimonies!”
“Replying to Your Highness! The two who committed suicide due to fear were our colleagues. The four of us shared a room and had a good relationship. After the Grand Prince was born, they were a.s.signed to guard him—one inside the palace and one outside. On the sixteenth day of the twelfth month, Zhou Qiang told us he received a significant reward and planned to take us out for drinks during the next shift!”
“We can testify! We even saw his money pouch, containing two hundred taels of silver. We had always suspected the source of the money, but never antic.i.p.ated that such events would transpire just two days later!”
“Do you have any other testimonies?”
“None!”
Lord De waved his hand slightly. “Bring in the next batch!”
This time, two old maids entered, kneeling as they introduced themselves.
“I am Tian, a cleaning maid from Weiyang Palace.”
“I am Hu, also a cleaning maid from Weiyang Palace.”
Leng Jiu raised an eyebrow. “So all the maids from Weiyang Palace have arrived!”
“What did you see that day?”
“Replying to Your Highness! We start cleaning the outer hall of Weiyang Palace every morning at the Mao hour. That day, I woke up two quarters earlier because I was a bit hungry and went to find something to eat. Just after putting on my clothes and stepping outside, I saw Zi Yu returning. I thought it was odd at the time, but shortly after, the news spread that she had murdered the Grand Prince!”
“Nonsense! When did I ever leave?” Zi Yu glared at the two maids, insisting that she had stayed inside the inner hall the whole time. How could they claim to have seen her returning from outside?
“Zi Yu!” Leng Jiu called to her, stopping her. “Let them finish.”
Zi Yu withdrew her gaze. “Yes.”
Leng Jiu flicked her fingers. This was the kind of situation where, upon investigation, one finds more than expected—so many small fish had snuck into her Weiyang Palace, even these inconspicuous maids dared to rise up and bite her. Truly ridiculous!
The other maid trembled slightly and spoke up. “I live with Hu. I can testify that when she returned that day, she mentioned how strange it was for Zi Yu to be out so early. At the time, I didn’t think much of it, but within two hours, the news of the Grand Prince’s murder broke. Now, in hindsight, it seems quite the coincidence!”
Lord De turned to Leng Jiu. “Now, we have a string of witnesses, and the weapon used to kill the Grand Prince was a blanket found beside him, which counts as material evidence. What does the Empress Dowager have to say?”
Gong Yuwei clenched the jade gourd in his hand, feeling anxious. Today’s testimonies were all unfavorable to her. Though these witnesses were of little significance individually, together they could very well seal her fate!
Leng Jiu smiled but remained silent. The person she was waiting for hadn’t arrived yet. No matter how she explained, it would make no difference. Speaking more would only be futile.
The entire courtroom fell into an eerie silence due to Leng Jiu’s quiet demeanor. Just as Lord Xiao was preparing to mock her, a figure dressed in crimson leisurely strolled in. His steps were unhurried, his sleeves swaying with each movement. His expression was frivolous, and his long, narrow eyes lifted slightly. “I take one trip back to my fief, and have I missed all the fun?”
As he spoke, he walked in, lazily twisting a thumb ring on his left hand.
Lord De’s face turned serious. “Prince Xuan! This is a courtroom!”
Long Yueli’s gaze briefly swept over Leng Jiu, then at Long Yi behind the curtain, before finally landing back on Lord De. “This is the first time I’ve heard of a courtroom trial for an Empress Dowager, and yet the Empress Dowager is standing while others sit. Truly eye-opening!”
“Prince Xuan!” Lord De’s face darkened. “The Empress Dowager is accused of murdering the Grand Prince, and the evidence is clear. All that’s left is for her to sign and seal the confession. Are you trying to shield her with your jesting?”
Long Yueli turned to Leng Jiu, pretending to be shocked. “The Empress Dowager murdered the Grand Prince?”
Leng Jiu looked at him but did not answer his question. Instead, she offered a faintly cold smile. “So Prince Xuan is still alive? I haven’t seen you these past few days and a.s.sumed you’d died somewhere. I was just about to send someone to find your grave. After all, you are this widow’s royal uncle, and I should pay my respects!”
Long Yueli acted as if he didn’t understand the meaning behind her words, raising an eyebrow mischievously. “I recently took in a new beauty and haven’t had enough of her tender charms yet. How could I bear to die so soon?”
Leng Jiu scoffed, turning her head away. “True! They say a plague can linger for a thousand years, and a scourge like you, royal uncle, how could you not live a thousand years?”
Long Yueli felt a pang at her remark, realizing she was cursing him, but he let it slide. “Rather than exchanging insults with me, perhaps the Empress Dowager should think about how to return to the palace. This Ministry of Justice hall feels too grim for my liking.”
Others might not understand the deeper meaning behind their exchange, but Gong Yuwei knew all too well. He lowered his eyes in quiet sorrow, knowing he couldn’t intervene or stop them. Even though it pained him, he had no choice but to turn a blind eye to it, silently swallowing his heartache.
Lord De, well aware of Long Yueli’s unruly nature, knew there was no reasoning with him. He gestured to the Minister of Rites, who was responsible for keeping records. “If the Empress Dowager cannot produce evidence of her innocence, then she should sign and seal the confession.”
Leng Jiu watched as the Minister of Rites brought over the doc.u.ments. She smiled slightly and raised her eyes to meet Lord De’s. “I haven’t even said a word yet, Lord De. How are you so sure I won’t be able to produce evidence of my innocence?”
Lord De gazed intently at her. “If the Empress Dowager has proof, present it now. I will, of course, ensure justice is done.”
Leng Jiu’s gaze drifted past Long Yueli toward the entrance. She brushed her sleeve lightly. “Since you’ve arrived, why not show yourself?”
“I knew nothing could escape the Empress Dowager’s notice!” A familiar voice echoed, followed by the appearance of Eunuch Lu, who had been missing for some time. He gracefully flicked his duster and bowed deeply to Leng Jiu. “This servant was late to save you. I beg the Empress Dowager’s forgiveness!”
—
**Author’s Note:**
The dragon demon has been released, but it still seeks torment, haha! Eunuch Lu is back! I wonder if anyone dislikes him? Spoiler alert: there’s going to be serious payback for all the grievances the female lead has suffered these past few days, haha!