HLnovel Chapter 84 The Truth Revealed
Chapter 84 The Truth Revealed
That was truly a brilliant move!
Chen Xun had roughly figured out the ins and outs of the matter. If he hadn't caught the little eunuch in the imperial kitchen, he was afraid that the matter might not have been investigated so quickly.
However, he hadn't thought about it carefully before, and didn't realize that during his mission to investigate, it was as if an invisible rope was pulling him forward.
It was as if the truth had been presented to him; he could see it without much thought.
But who is the person who drove all of this?
What was that person's purpose?
After leaving the Shenxing Division, Chen Xun led his men to Shuhua Palace and detained Zhou Baojin.
Seeing the horde of guards rushing in, Wei Yiqiu's legs went weak and she almost fell. Fortunately, the palace maid next to her caught her quickly.
Wei Yiqiu caught her breath and, forcing herself to remain calm, pointed at Chen Xun's face: "How dare you! Who gave you permission to step into my Shuhua Palace and snatch someone?"
"Your subordinate is here on imperial orders to arrest Zhou Baojin. I have disturbed Your Majesty. Please forgive me!"
Upon hearing that it was the emperor's decree, Wei Yiqiu's hand slumped down, and her imposing manner weakened: "Why does Your Majesty want to take Zhou Baojin away? What...what crime has he committed?"
"This is confidential, and I cannot disclose it to you."
As Chen Xun spoke, he gestured to the guard beside him.
The guards immediately seized Zhou Baojin and took him away.
"Zhou Baojin!" Wei Yiqiu couldn't help but call out.
Zhou Baojin turned around, shook his head at her, and looked at her with a resolute expression.
Then he turned his head away, refusing to look at her again, and let the guards escort him away.
After they left, Wei Yiqiu immediately summoned the palace maid Yinqiu and instructed her, "Now you are the only one left who has served me since the time I was a prince. I have a task for you to complete. If you succeed, I will never forget your kindness."
"Your Majesty, there's no need for this. I would go through fire and water for you without hesitation," Yinqiu said firmly, kneeling on the ground.
"it is good."
A hint of satisfaction flashed in Wei Yiqiu's eyes. He turned around, pulled a letter from the pile of books on the table, and handed it to Yinqiu: "Go find a guard in the palace named Liu Chengqin immediately and give him this letter. He will find a way to deliver the letter to my father."
"This servant understands!" Yinqiu took the letter and ran outside without delay.
As Wei Yiqiu watched Yinqiu's departing figure, her serious expression finally eased considerably.
As long as Father receives the news, he should rush back to the capital.
No matter what mistakes she makes, Pei Yuanling will let her off the hook for the sake of the Wei family.
***
Zhou Baojin, who was escorted by Chen Xun all the way to the Zichen Palace, confessed to instructing the eunuch to poison Consort Chu.
"This matter was decided by this servant without authorization and has nothing to do with Consort Wei."
Looking at the eunuch kneeling below, neither humble nor arrogant, Pei Yuanling sneered: "What a loyal servant! The evidence is conclusive, yet you still dare to lie through your teeth. Do you think I would believe you and believe that this matter has nothing to do with Wei Yiqiu?"
"Your Majesty, the evidence points to me. It was I who falsely conveyed Consort Wei's decree and plotted to poison Consort Chu."
Zhou Baojin looked at Pei Yuanling with a calm expression, showing no sign of being wronged.
Seeing his determined expression, as if he were ready to sacrifice himself for his master, Pei Yuanling's anger intensified: "You dog slave, do you think I dare not kill you?"
As he spoke, he kicked the man a full ten feet away.
Zhou Baojin clutched his chest, lay on the ground and spat out a mouthful of blood, but did not beg for mercy in the slightest: "This servant deserves to die ten thousand times, I beg Your Majesty to grant me death."
"you!"
Enraged, Pei Yuanling grabbed the longsword from the waist of a nearby guard and thrust it at Zhou Baojin.
"Your Majesty!"
No sooner said than the Empress's voice came urgently from outside the palace.
Pei Yuanling paused, the tip of his sword pressed against Zhou Baojin's neck, so close that the skin could be faintly seen to be cut by the sharp weapon, with blood seeping out.
Zhou Baojin was just a hair's breadth away from being killed by a single sword strike.
"Why has the Empress come?"
Pei Yuanling coldly sheathed his sword and returned it to the scabbard at the guard's waist.
Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that a gray-robed eunuch was being escorted behind Empress Wang.
"What's going on?" Pei Yuanling frowned, glancing at the gray-robed eunuch who was bound hand and foot.
"Your Majesty, I heard that you are investigating the murder of Consort Qiao, so I wanted to share your burden. Therefore, I sent people to thoroughly investigate the people who have entered and left the palace recently and the records of the purchase of supplies, and I actually found some clues."
As she spoke, Empress Wang turned to look at Lin Qing on the side.
Lin Qing understood, and immediately leaned forward, grabbed the gray-robed eunuch's hair, and forced him to raise his head: "Your Majesty, please look, this man is Li Chengqing, the eunuch in charge of purchasing for the palace. He was later promoted to head of the imperial kitchen by Consort Wei. It was he who bought the poison outside the palace for Consort Wei, intending to harm Consort Qiao."
Upon seeing this, Zhou Baojin, who was standing to the side, finally showed a hint of panic in his previously lifeless eyes.
Pei Yuanling saw this and already understood the situation.
"Not only that, I have also discovered that the poison that Consort Chu took was also purchased by this dog servant at the behest of Consort Wei."
Empress Wang stepped forward and walked to Pei Yuanling's side, her tone indignant: "How innocent Sister Chu was! When she was isolated and helpless in the Cold Palace, she was still cruelly harmed by Consort Wei."
The Empress sighed with a look of sorrow and even picked up an embroidered handkerchief to wipe the corner of her eyes.
Pei Yuanling watched quietly, his expression indifferent, without saying a word.
However, that Wei Yiqiu dared to repeatedly plot against his beloved, and this time, he would certainly not forgive her.
"Bring Consort Wei here immediately!"
Once the emperor is angered, there is no turning back.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Baojin's eyes dimmed as if a lamp had been extinguished.
Since that's the case, let's fight to the death!
The thought occurred to him, and he abruptly scrambled to his feet, snatched the sword from a nearby guard, and thrust it at the gray-robed eunuch—
"what!"
"Quick, stop him!"
The crowd gasped in shock and were about to rush forward to stop him when they saw Zhou Baojin raise his knife and kill Li Chengqing with a single blow.
"Zhou Baojin, the evidence is conclusive. Do you think this will help Consort Wei escape punishment? Don't be naive," Chen Xun shouted angrily from the side.
"It doesn't matter. At least this servant has dragged all those who betrayed Your Majesty into hell."
Zhou Baojin smiled, and without waiting for Chen Xun to step forward, he took the knife, held it to his neck, and committed suicide, blood splattering everywhere.
When the news reached Feixue Palace, Chu Qingyin was copying Buddhist scriptures for her deceased child.
"Your Majesty, I've heard that Consort Wei is the mastermind behind the plot to harm you and Consort Chu!"
Kang Luhai rushed in from outside, not even bothering to bow, and was panting heavily.
Chu Qingyin's hand paused abruptly, the ink slowly sliding down the tip and dripping onto the rice paper, spreading into a blot. A perfectly good piece of calligraphy was ruined in an instant.
Wei Yiqiu, it really is her, it really is her!
Her grip on the pen tightened unconsciously, her fingertips pressing against her palm, leaving red marks, yet she remained seemingly oblivious: "How will Your Majesty decide this matter?"
Noticing her unusual behavior, Kang Luhai asked worriedly, "Your Majesty, are you—"
"It's alright, please continue."
"Consort Wei is still in the palace at the moment, and we do not know what the final decision will be," Kang Luhai said truthfully.
A cold glint immediately appeared in Chu Qingyin's eyes.
Pei Yuanling, are you going to let her off the hook again this time?