Chapter 144 Self-Inflicted Chaos
A storm raged in Liu Ruolan's heart.
Although she immediately chose to pretend to be deaf and dumb after discovering that her husband had become Huo Yunzhan, in order to maintain her position as the wife of the Marquis of Yongning and avoid becoming a widow, she turned the tables on him.
But this doesn't mean she had no feelings for Huo Yunting, with whom she had been married for nearly two years.
Huo Yunting was gentle and mild-mannered. Although he didn't have the fiery passion to treat her, he was still respectful and considerate.
Compared to Huo Yunzhan's calculating affection, Huo Yunting's gentlemanly demeanor was what she missed most.
The thought that the gentle and refined man might have been killed by his own brother made her heart feel as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, causing her so much pain that she could hardly breathe.
With their own thoughts, the group arrived in a grand procession outside the residence of the Minister of War.
At the foot of the stone steps in front of the mansion, a man dressed in tattered soft armor and covered in blood was surrounded by the mansion's guards. He was holding a broken sword tightly in his hand, and his eyes were wary and stubborn. He was none other than Huo Yunting's confidant, Nan Zhu!
Shen Qingci paused when he saw him, and immediately said, "That's right, this is indeed Nan Zhu, the personal bodyguard of Marquis Yongning."
"Your Highness!" When "Nan Zhu" saw Shen Qingci, it was as if she had seen a savior, and her eyes instantly shone with hope.
Shen Qingci immediately raised his voice and asked, "Nanzhu! You just said that the Huo brothers killed each other and that the Shen family was framed. What exactly do you mean by that?! Today, you must explain yourself clearly in front of everyone!"
Upon hearing this, "Nan Zhu" showed a look of grief and indignation. He glanced around at the noble ladies and officials around him, and said in a hoarse but firm voice, "Your Highness! The one who died in battle on the western frontier was not General Huo Yunzhan, the one who conquered the west! It was my master, Marquis Huo Yunting of Yongning!"
"Your subordinate and the Marquis experienced together the ambush and conspiracy set up by Second Master Huo Yunzhan! Your subordinate witnessed with his own eyes that my master... died tragically under Second Master's butcher's knife! Afterwards, Huo Yunzhan impersonated my master and escorted the coffin back to the capital!"
These words shocked everyone present!
Old Madam Huo had already rushed forward. Hearing this, she trembled with anger. Pointing at "Nanzhu's" nose, she retorted in a shrill voice, "You're talking nonsense! That's my own son! Do you think I can't tell who's who?"
"Furthermore," her eyes turned sharp and malicious, "more than three months have passed since this incident. If you were truly loyal to your master, why did you only appear today? And why didn't you return to the Marquis's residence to report the news first, instead of running to the entrance of this crowded and gossipy banquet to spout nonsense?"
"This is clearly... this is clearly a conspiracy you conspired with that bitch Shen Qingci to deliberately set up!"
Nan Zhu clutched her bleeding chest, raised her bloodshot eyes, which were filled with disappointment and pain: "Didn't I go to the Huo family? I did!"
"A few days ago, in the dead of night, I risked my life to escape back to the capital, and the first person I went to see was you! Madam! I told you everything, begging you to seek justice for my lord! But what did you do?!" he asked vehemently. "Not only did you not believe me, but you immediately ordered my arrest!"
"I realized your intentions, that's why I risked my life to escape!"
“These days, I have been hiding. Today, I heard that the Regent's Consort is attending a banquet here. I know that Your Highness is kind-hearted and has no grudge against my Marquis. I also heard about what happened to you at the Huo family some time ago. I know that you are also a victim of Huo Yunzhan impersonating Huo Yunting. That's why I rushed over here in a hurry, hoping to ask Your Highness to give my master justice.”
"You're making baseless accusations!" Old Madam Huo exclaimed angrily. "Since you claim to have evidence, then produce it!"
She was certain that Nan Zhu couldn't produce any evidence, and she became even more arrogant, shouting, "You can't produce any, can you?! This is all a conspiracy by that bitch Shen Qingci!"
Upon hearing this, Nan Zhu merely gave a cold laugh.
He slowly took out the notebook, which was already soaked in blood, from his bosom, held it high, and was about to hand it to Shen Qingci: "Your Highness, this is my Marquis's daily record of his life. It details the entire process of how he was plotted against and killed by Huo Yunzhan. Please take a look!"
When Madam Huo saw that familiar, blood-stained booklet, she was instantly struck dumb!
Her mind went blank, and without thinking, she screamed:
"Impossible! This thing...didn't you already give me this thing last time? I...I saw it turn to ashes with my own eyes! Where did you get this one from?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she suddenly realized she had spoken out of turn and quickly covered her mouth tightly, her eyes filled with fear and regret!
It's too late.
Shen Qingci had been waiting for this moment!
She turned her head sharply, her clear phoenix eyes fixed on Old Madam Huo, her voice as cold as ice in the dead of winter: "Last time... I already gave it to you? You... you even saw it turn to ashes with your own eyes?"
"Madam, didn't you just say with absolute certainty that Nan Zhu had never come looking for you?"
The surrounding guests immediately erupted in commotion, their gazes towards Old Madam Huo filled with suspicion and disdain.
Old Madam Huo clenched her teeth, knowing she had no way to defend herself, and could only try to salvage the situation by saying, "He...he did come to see me before!"
"But I knew immediately that his nonsense about brothers killing each other and switching identities was false! I know my own son best! That's something that could never happen!"
"Since it's fake, then I will naturally deal with this treacherous villain who spreads rumors and intends to stir up trouble!"
"Oh?" Shen Qingci laughed, but the laugh was full of endless mockery. "So, what the old lady means is that you never checked the truth of what he said, nor did you look at the evidence he presented. Just because you 'thought' it was fake, you burned the evidence directly? And you even arrested and dealt with the person in private?"
"He slandered an official of the imperial court! Shouldn't he be punished?" Old Madam Huo roared, her voice trembling with fear, before sternly ordering the guards behind her, "Men! Seize this imposter on the spot!"
"Let's see who dares!"
Shen Qingci suddenly stepped forward, blocking "Nanzhu's" path. She slowly pulled out the white jade hairpin from her hair, its tip icy cold, pointing directly at everyone!
"If it is merely a matter within the Huo family, I, the Princess Consort, have no say in how Old Madam Huo decides to handle it, nor can I interfere."
“But,” her voice suddenly turned sharp, filled with an undeniable authority, “this matter concerns the death of my deceased husband, and the injustice done to my entire Shen family! This princess is determined to take charge!”
"Old Madam Huo's actions are really suspicious."
"Regardless of whether it's true or false, or whether what he said is true or false, at least we should investigate thoroughly before making a decision, right?"
"It's utterly baffling that Old Madam Huo is so eager to arrest someone without even investigating."
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