Chapter 235: Expose in front of the Emperor
After much thought, Su Nanqing felt that the only option was to expose the case in front of the emperor.
Now that so much time has passed, it is extremely difficult to collect evidence.
Besides, Zhaopin is under house arrest now, and she cannot enter Yaohua Palace, so she has no way of making them reveal any flaws.
She took off her plain skirt and changed into a Yang Fei-colored dress, which was Aunt Lan's favorite during her lifetime. With her hair full of pearls and jade, she walked step by step towards the Qinzheng Palace.
When they arrived at the Qinzheng Hall, after hearing Zhou Defu's report, Su Nanqing took a deep breath and looked up at the sky.
Aunt, I hope that if you are still in heaven, you will help your daughter to avenge you.
Su Nanqing usually dressed very simply and gracefully, but now she came in formal attire, which inevitably made Xiao Heng's eyes light up and he called out, "Jieyu Rou."
Su Nanqing slowly raised her eyes, and the gentleness between her brows, like the dark green mountains in spring, had completely faded, replaced by a sharp edge.
She lifted her skirt and knelt, performing a profound ceremony, her forehead touching the ground. Each word she spoke was slow and powerful: "I beg Your Majesty to investigate the loyal and treacherous, and seek justice for my deceased mother."
Xiao Heng was startled: "Jieyu Rou, the person you are talking about is your Aunt Lan?"
Su Nanqing nodded slightly and raised a handkerchief above her head. "When my aunt died, I found that she had been holding this handkerchief in her hand. The stitches on it were not made by my aunt, but she kept it in her hand until her death. This shows that this handkerchief must be a stolen item left by the murderer."
"I secretly investigated for a long time before I learned that the flowers on the handkerchief came from the Kingdom of Sangnan. Just a few days ago, I discovered that Madam Kong, who was by Concubine Zhao's side, was wearing a handkerchief exactly like mine, even the embroidery was the same."
As he spoke, the handkerchief was already in Xiao Heng's hands.
He looked at the flowers he had never seen before and pondered, "So, you suspect Madam Kong is the murderer of Aunt Lan?"
"That's right!" Su Nanqing looked up at Xiao Heng, his back straight.
"My aunt, since this is her first time in the palace, she would have walked very carefully. Even if she accidentally fell into the water, she would have screamed loudly. How could no one have noticed? Therefore, I believe that the marks on my aunt's neck were not caused by water plants, but... someone strangled my aunt to death before throwing her into the water..."
By the end of her speech, the corners of her mouth were trembling.
Xiao Heng lowered his eyes.
The death of Aunt Lan was already somewhat strange.
At that time, he had not found any clues, and he was very sad about Bai'er's illness, so he did not investigate further.
But I never thought that Lan would leave this evidence.
Zhao concubine......
Xiao Heng silently recited the name and slowly closed his eyes.
"Go and bring Concubine Zhao and her attendants."
After that, "Jieyu Rou, please get up first. If Aunt Lan's death is related to Madam Kong, I will definitely take care of it for you."
"yes."
About a quarter of an hour later, Concubine Zhao came in a dress of apricot blossom color, followed by Madam Kong, Liang Shan and others.
Concubine Zhao glanced at Xiao Heng and then at Su Nanqing.
When she met Su Nanqing's hateful eyes, her breathing stagnated and a sense of uneasiness surged in her heart.
She bowed and said, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."
Xiao Heng did not ask her to stand up, but his eyes as sharp as an eagle fell on Madam Kong.
"Madam Kong, I want to ask you, have you ever met Concubine Lan, the biological mother of Concubine Rou?"
Hearing this name, Madam Kong's heart beat like a drum. She forced herself to be calm and said, "Auntie Lan?"
She forced a smile and said, "When Aunt Lan came to the palace to accompany Concubine Rou to give birth, she stayed in Zhongcui Palace. I have never seen her before."
"Oh? Really? You better think before you answer."
The emperor's seemingly casual words shocked Madam Kong's heart.
She tried her best to conceal her flaws and said slowly, "Yes, I have never seen Aunt Lan."
Xiao Heng smiled coldly and threw the handkerchief on the ground, "Look at it, do you still recognize it?"
When Concubine Zhao touched the pattern on the handkerchief, she was surprised: "This... Madam Kong's handkerchief, how come it is in the hands of the emperor?"
After saying that, she turned to look at Su Nanqing, her heart becoming more and more anxious, and the blood color on her face gradually faded, leaving only a pale color.
Madam Kong was so frightened that she couldn't speak.
That night, after she returned to Chunxi Palace, she never used her handkerchief again.
After returning to Yaohua Palace with Zhaopin, he hurriedly washed and changed his clothes.
Because the clothes had come into contact with Lan, she immediately took them to the small kitchen and burned them.
How come I didn’t notice at that time that a handkerchief was missing?
She stroked the embroidery on the handkerchief, which was undoubtedly done by her own hands.
Could it be that when Lan was struggling that night, he took advantage of her inattention and let her tear off the handkerchief?
Seeing Madam Kong's horrified expression, Su Nanqing gave a terrifying smile: "Why...Madam Kong, are you recalling how you lost the handkerchief that night?"
She paused slightly, her dark pupils suddenly shrinking to the size of needles. "Still remembering...how did you kill my aunt?"
Madam Kong shuddered violently and tried to explain, "What do you mean, Miss Rou? This handkerchief belongs to me, but what does it have to do with Aunt Lan's death? I dare not take the blame for this murder."
Su Nanqing glared at her fiercely: "My aunt, before she died, she clutched this handkerchief tightly in her hand. She was telling me that she was murdered and wanted me to avenge her."
"My aunt has no grudge against you! Why do you want to kill her? Tell me!"
Madam Kong's body trembled uncontrollably, and she waved her hands hurriedly: "Master Rou, I am innocent. Who told you that I killed your aunt?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Heng said sternly: "Nonsense!"
"Since you have never met Lan, why is your handkerchief in her hand?"
"If this handkerchief was insignificant, why would Lan have held it tightly in his hand even after his death?"
"Madam Kong! How dare you murder my biological mother!"
"Your Majesty!" Zhaopin raised her pale face.
"Madame Kong had no grudge against Madam Lan, so why would she kill her? Could there be something else going on? For example... maybe someone deliberately took Madam Kong's handkerchief while she wasn't paying attention, then killed Madam Lan, put the handkerchief in her hand, and pinned the blame on Madam Kong."
Xiao Heng looked at Concubine Zhao with a cold expression, "If it is really as you said, then what is the motive of the perpetrator? If he wanted to harm Madam Kong, he would not have spared Madam Kong's life until now."
Zhaopin was speechless for a moment and froze in place.
Immediately afterwards, Xiao Heng's words were like a basin of ice water pouring down over her head.
"Princess Zhao, this matter...is it your will?"
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