Chapter 92: Traces

"I've already said that it was my admiration and love for the County Lady that led me to behave so differently from before. Why is the County Lady speculating like this?"

"Well, since words aren't enough, let's take a look at the traces at the scene." Qian Deng gestured to Ling Tianshui and stomped on the wooden corridor. "A heavy and large box that could hold a living person, left under the wooden corridor for so many days, is bound to leave traces. Moreover, you have to open the box every night to feed and clean up Shangluo. With so much movement, do you think there won't be any clues left?"

Yan Penglai's expression finally changed slightly, and his lips, which were the color of peach and apricot, also faded a little.

Ling Tianshui has always been decisive and swift. He quickly went up the corridor to check for any traces.

The nails elsewhere have rusted and become dull, but there are only four or five wooden boards in a certain section that have new nails. They are hidden among the boards and are not noticeable, but a closer look reveals that they are very different from the other boards.

Qiandeng nodded to Ling Tianshui, who grabbed the edge of the wooden board and lifted it up with force.

The powerful force lifted up the wooden planks and nails, revealing the wooden beams underneath that were placed above the water.

In order to stabilize the wooden corridor, wooden piles are driven into the water below. Triangular supports are set on the piles to support the wide horizontal beam and hold up two small beams three feet apart. Wooden boards are then laid on them to form a winding corridor on the water.

At this time, the wooden boards were removed, and the situation under the small beams and above the horizontal beams was immediately exposed.

On the beam covered with old dust, there was an area where the dust showed obvious signs of being dragged and rubbed.

"This ash mark was touched very recently, probably left within the past few days. Judging from the shape of the bump..." Ling Tianshui carefully examined the drag marks of varying lengths and thicknesses on the ash mark and gestured. "The object placed here is square and angular, about three or four feet square. It's most likely a wooden box."

As soon as these words were spoken, all the gentlemen present looked at Yan Penglai and examined him in disbelief.

Shangluo's eyes widened, and he murmured in confusion and astonishment: "Is it... is it Brother Penglai who knocked me out and hid me here?"

Ji Linyou asked impatiently, "Then why did Shangluo appear under the carriage of the princess's mansion, and why did Princess Changyi take him away?"

"Of course it was Master Yan's meticulous arrangement. Otherwise, how could Princess Changyi know so quickly that Mingjiu had returned to my backyard? And why would Master Yan have specifically let Yu Niang from the Music Bureau overhear his argument with Princess Changyi, allowing me to take timely precautions and deal with the infiltrator from the Princess's residence?"

Xue Xiyang, the informant, was stunned. "The county lady is saying that what Yu Niang heard in the princess's mansion was arranged by Yan Penglai, deliberately letting her hear it so that she could pass it on to us?"

"Yes, after stealing Lord Meng's 'Dream Sleeping', he first used it on Mingjiu when he entered the Princess's residence, and then used it on Shangluo several times. He's incredibly familiar with the medicinal properties, so how could he let it slip at this crucial moment? Moreover, he just happened to allow the relevant person to pass on the plan to us."

Mingjiu was shocked when he heard this: "What? He was at the princess's residence when I went to kill the horse?"

Ji Linyou was even more shocked: "What? He was the one who used the incense to help us that night?"

"Lord Yan confessed to us that he stole the 'Dream of Sleep' after the princess's death in order to frame Prince Mingjiu. But judging by the footprints, you stole the incense before Princess Gao's drowning. Of course, he stole it not to help you, but to help the princess. This suggests that Lord Yan had already planned to frame Prince Mingjiu long before the princess's death, specifically stealing his shoes to infiltrate and leave a trace."

Screeching Eagle was puzzled: "But, I ran wet when I went to kill the horse that day?"

Ji Linyou testified, "Yes, Prince Mingjiu did go there at the last minute and almost couldn't find the princess's bedroom. How could Yan Bucheng have predicted this and helped him charm everyone in the room?"

"I've already said that the person Lord Yan wants to help isn't Prince Mingjiu, but Princess Gao," Qian Deng replied without hesitation. "Don't forget, that night, not only did someone sneak into Princess Gao's mansion and kill horses, but a theft also occurred. The princess's favorite jewelry, along with the gold foil and pearl flowers used to frame her, and the duck-cheek fur coat that was burned in Zheng Raoan's house, all disappeared."

"I didn't steal it!" Mingjiu was still furious when talking about this, and immediately shouted.

"The culprit wasn't the prince. The stolen jewelry was recovered from the Changyi County Princess's fleeing carriage. Considering Princess Gao's order not to investigate after the items were lost, it's clear the princess stole the items. Young Master Yan helped her light a spellbinding incense in the palace. While everyone was unconscious, they secretly packed up the items, wrapped them in duck fur, and hid them in a secret compartment in the carriage."

Qian Deng said this, then turned around and saw Yan Penglai with his eyes downcast and silent. He asked, "Lord Yan, I wonder if my guess is correct?"

"The county princess is incredibly intelligent and foresighted." Yan Penglai bowed his head and replied calmly, "Now that things have come to this, it's safe to speak out. Due to unforeseen circumstances at court, the princess packed up a batch of jewelry to support the courtiers' families. Because the noise was too loud, she was worried about being discovered, so she asked me to burn incense in the palace. Who knew Prince Mingjiu would sneak in, which facilitated his actions?"

Mingjiu said angrily: "This prince is so powerful, do I still need your help?"

Cui Fufeng pondered the logic of everything and brought the topic back to the topic: "So, why did Lord Yan deliberately leak the Princess's Mansion's plan to the County Lady?"

"Of course, it was to inform me so that I could prepare to fall into the trap."

Ji Linyou scratched his head: "But I don't quite understand. So... Yan Penglai is not only working for the Princess's Mansion, but is also deliberately helping us?"

"Yes, because Lord Yan needs an opportunity to conceal his mistake and extricate himself from this vortex." Qian Deng pointed to the broken wooden corridor and explained, "Since the incident with Princess Gao, the palace has strengthened its defenses, and Lord Yan couldn't find a chance to send Shangluo out. However, I was in trouble in the mountain mausoleum, and Lord Yan judged that Mingjiu would not let it go, and I would definitely help him clear his name. So he seized the opportunity to inform Princess Changyi, and together with her, he set up a plan to sneak into the palace to catch the thieves and seize the stolen goods. And just after the group of people who sneaked into the backyard led us to Xiliuwu, while the ladder for sneaking in had not yet been removed, he could mobilize other people to come here and move the hidden boxes out.

"Everything happened just as he predicted. Princess Changyi even invited the Crown Prince along. With everyone gathered in the front yard, who would have noticed what was happening in the backyard? Shangluo was escorted out, his box strapped to the bottom of the carriage. While we were fighting in the front yard, the carriage quickly returned to the Princess's residence. And so, the final link was closed. You were successfully cleared of the charges, and you put the blame on the Princess's residence."

After these words were spoken, the Reflection Pool fell into complete silence.

After a long moment, Ji Linyou finally asked, "Then...why did Yan Penglai go to such great lengths to hide Shangluo, and then painstakingly set up a scheme to get Shangluo to move out, and then come back again?"

Qian Deng said coldly, "You should ask Mr. Yan himself about this."

Yan Penglai didn't answer, but just stood by the pool and turned to look at Shangluo.

Shangluo leaned weakly on Ji Linyou's shoulder, his eyes red and he opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

The ripples of the Reflection Pool made Yan Penglai's face appear light and dark, and his tightly pursed lower lip lost its color.

"It's me...I'm sorry Shangluo."