Song Yue gently tugged at Zhao Yunke's sleeve, and he turned around and bent down slightly.
"No matter what happens today, don't get involved. This has nothing to do with you," Song Yue said in a low voice.
Zhao Yunke frowned.
On second thought, I understood.
A large part of this situation is aimed at me.
The other party's goal is to drag me into this mess.
Song Yue came out and looked at Pei Zhao: "Young Master Pei has repeatedly slandered the Duke of Jingguo's mansion. Especially in the past half month, he has acted like a madman because of the lost Princess Zhennan. He kidnapped Grandmother in order to force her to tell him something..."
"Then why did the person suddenly die?" Pei Zhao asked in return.
"Speaking of which, I would like to ask Prince Pei why you kidnapped my grandmother. There were quite a few people who saw you push my second aunt and take her away."
Song Yue finally understood that this group of people were just trying to cause trouble and had even planned ahead: first, to prevent the marriage from happening, and second, to ruin their reputation.
"With so many guests coming and going at the Princess's Mansion, why would Grandmother come to you to complain? Everyone knows that after my second sister, Song Yao, married you, she suffered greatly. She was taken back to the Prince's Mansion by the Princess of Zhennan herself and died suddenly not long after. Grandmother hates the Prince's Mansion of Zhennan too much to bear."
Song Yue raised her chin and said in a deep voice, "Grandmother was fine for three years in the manor, and the Fan family would visit her from time to time. How come she suddenly became weak after being kidnapped by the young master?"
Pei Zhao's expression changed slightly.
"Young Master Pei!" Song Yue's face darkened. "What exactly is your intention in publicly slandering the Duke of Jing's mansion today?"
"Smack!" The Prince of Zhennan struck Pei Zhao hard with his staff: "You worthless wretch, explain yourself now!"
Pei Zhao winced in pain, another bloody welt appearing on his back. He gritted his teeth and explained, "These are all just one side of the story. Why don't we ask the imperial physician and the coroner to take the old lady's pulse? We can find out the cause of her death immediately, and then the truth will come out."
Song Yue's pupils contracted slightly.
The old lady did indeed die of poisoning; once her pulse was taken, the truth would surely be revealed.
“That’s a good idea.” Zhao Zhiyan suddenly spoke up, looking down at Song Yue from the steps: “If the Grand Madam really died of anger, then Prince Pei will kowtow to her today to apologize and forgive her.”
Conversely, if she died not from anger but from poisoning, it would mean that the Duke of Jingguo's mansion did indeed poison the Dowager Lady.
It's even possible that, just as Pei Zhao said, in order to keep the Grand Madam alive, they deliberately waited until Song Zhen and Song Yue got married before killing them.
That's too cruel of the Duke of Jingguo's mansion.
Song Yue felt a tightness in her chest.
She couldn't understand why, after they had been able to coexist peacefully, Zhao Zhiyan had suddenly sided with the Prince of Zhennan's mansion overnight.
The two did not get married, and it was not their fault.
Why can't Zhao Zhiyan reflect on his actions?
Meeting Song Yue's dark pupils, Zhao Zhiyan walked down the steps step by step, his eyes gentle: "Little girl, you have a fiery temper but a simple mind. Don't let yourself be taken advantage of without realizing it. I'm helping you."
These words were practically pointing directly at Zhao Yunke and naming him.
"It's not difficult to get confessions from the Fan family, but some things should be left unsaid," Zhao Zhiyan advised.
If forced to confess, someone in the Fan family will definitely succumb to the torture and reveal something.
A hint of anger flickered in Song Yue's eyes.
"Physician Li's medical skills are superb. If he were to examine the patient, everyone would be convinced of his abilities," Zhao Zhiyan said.
Verification?
Song Yue was unsure of herself.
All she knew was that the Grand Madam had been poisoned at the Prince of Zhennan's residence, but unfortunately, they were now speechless and powerless to refute it.
“The person is already dead, yet you insist on investigating. Isn’t this making people uneasy?” Tao’s voice came from inside the door. She came out in a white dress with red eyes from crying, and said unhappily, “The Zhennan Prince’s Mansion is going too far. They don’t even let go of the people who have passed away.”
“I do not agree with what the Duchess said. It is rumored that Zhao’er angered the Grand Madam to death. This is no small crime. If we do not clarify this matter, how will the Zhennan Prince’s Mansion save face?” The Zhennan Prince said with a stern face, “The Third Miss broke into the room to take people away, covered up the truth, and threatened my two innocent grandsons, scaring them into illness. I have not yet settled this score.”
“Everyone has their own version of events; only an investigation can verify the truth,” Zhao Zhiyan said.
Tao's expression suddenly turned ugly.
Silence fell over the room.
Other officials who came to offer their condolences also dared not speak recklessly, for none of those present today could be offended.
Song Zhen suddenly cleared his throat and stepped forward: "Since the Eighth Prince is certain that what Prince Pei said is true and insists on investigating, then let's do as the Eighth Prince wishes and investigate."
Zhao Zhiyan frowned and looked at Song Zhen, sensing Song Zhen's hostility.
They have no conscience.
Have you forgotten that if it weren't for me, Song Zhen would still be an adopted son in the Prince Shen's mansion, and he wouldn't have the glory he has today?
“Prince Jing, I am not biased towards anyone,” Zhao Zhiyan explained.
Song Zhen twitched the corner of her mouth but did not offer any explanation.
"Princess."
Everyone bowed.
Princess Jia Hua emerged from the house behind her, dressed in a light-colored long dress. Her gaze swept across the room and landed on Zhao Zhiyan: "Investigate? How exactly?"
Zhao Zhiyan turned his gaze toward the Prince of Zhennan.
The Prince of Zhennan stepped forward: "Naturally, we must investigate the cause of the Grand Madam's death."
"The Dowager Lady was my mother-in-law. How could I allow her to be disturbed even in death?" Princess Jiahua's tone was sharp. "If the truth is revealed, how will the Prince of Zhennan give an explanation?"
Before the Prince of Zhennan could speak, Pei Zhao raised his chin and said, "If I am wrong, I am willing to kneel in front of the mourning hall for thirty days to observe mourning. In addition, I request to be deposed as the heir apparent and never enter officialdom or the army in this life."
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
