Chapter 338 Exhumation and Corpse Examination
Shen Cong frowned slightly, remained silent for a moment, and then shook his head.
“The men I sent did find a secret room in the artificial hill, but it had obviously been deliberately cleaned up and no useful clues were found.”
Li Nanke said, "A secret room? In other words, the Imperial Concubine may have discovered the secret in the secret room and pretended to be scared out of her wits in order to protect herself."
Wang Tongyun clenched her fists and murmured, "My aunt is insightful and strong-willed. What secret could she possibly have that would frighten her into pretending to be stupid?"
That secret must be horrifying and terrifying.
Shen Cong pursed his lips and remained silent.
Li Nanke glanced at his expression and whispered, "At this point, does Ninth Brother still insist on believing in His Majesty?"
There could be no one other than the Emperor who could have a secret room in the artificial hills of the palace, and who could frighten Consort Wang into pretending to be stupid.
If that person were Empress Xue, given Consort Wang's personality, she could definitely join forces with the Wang family to expose Empress Xue.
Only the emperor could frighten Consort Wang into feigning ignorance, so as not to implicate the Wang family.
Shen Cong must have thought of this principle before she did, but he simply refused to accept it.
Shen Cong clasped his hands together, twisting his slender fingers repeatedly, clearly indicating that he was extremely unsettled.
Li Nanke did not urge him.
Wang Tongyun, who was standing to the side, couldn't sit still any longer and stood up abruptly.
He looked at Li Nanke with a pale face, his voice trembling violently from shock.
"Ke'er, are you implying that the one who killed my aunt was... was... His Majesty?"
The last two words suddenly rose in pitch, carrying a hint of sharpness.
Li Nanke was so frightened that he quickly stepped forward and covered her mouth.
Shh! Keep your voice down, lest someone hear you.
Wang Tongyun gripped her hand tightly, distraught. "I don't understand. Why is this happening? His Majesty... why is he treating my aunt like this?"
"My aunt is carrying his child, how could he..."
Wang Tongyun cried uncontrollably.
Li Nanke didn't know how to comfort her, so he could only hold her hand in return.
"I can't say for sure what the truth is; we have too few clues right now."
After a long silence, Shen Cong suddenly raised his head, his face frighteningly pale, but his eyes were dark and deep.
"To find out the truth, we must investigate thoroughly."
Li Nanke: "But how can we investigate based on just these two blurry notes?"
Shen Cong said softly, "Actually, there is another way."
"What?"
He paused, then uttered two words: "Autopsy."
Li Nanke's expression changed, and he subconsciously looked at Wang Tongyun.
Wang Tongyun was so shocked that she stood up abruptly and blurted out, "No, this is absolutely not allowed."
My aunt was burned to death and suffered terribly; how can I disrespect her remains?
Wang Tongyun strongly objected, which surprised Shen Cong, who didn't say anything.
Li Nanke thought for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "The cause of the Imperial Concubine's death should be quite clear. Why does Ninth Brother want an autopsy? Has Ninth Brother discovered any other suspicious points?"
Shen Cong nodded.
"The Imperial Concubine was pregnant and about to give birth when she encountered an unexpected tragedy, and the imperial heir in her womb was also lost."
But I find it strange that my elder brother didn't mention setting up a longevity tablet or lighting an everlasting lamp for the imperial heir.
Li Nanke was slightly taken aback. "Could it be because the dragon heir hasn't had a chance to be born yet, so it's not appropriate to set up a memorial tablet?"
Shen Cong denied this claim.
"Given the Emperor's high expectations for offspring, he shouldn't have overlooked this matter. Moreover, the Ministry of Rites raised the issue, but the Emperor did not approve it."
That's very strange.
Li Nanke's face scrunched up, unable to figure out the key point.
Shen Cong added, "And the child is gone, but has anyone seen the child's remains?"
Li Nanke was taken aback.
"Isn't the child still in the Imperial Concubine's womb?"
Shen Cong said, "But the Consort's body was almost completely burned. How could the child still be in her womb? Logically, the child should have a small skeleton."
The two looked at Wang Tongyun almost simultaneously.
When the incident happened that night, the Wang family members were the first female relatives to enter the palace and come into contact with the Imperial Concubine.
Wang Tongyun opened her mouth, then stammered, "When we entered the palace, my aunt had already been dressed and changed into her burial clothes. I heard that His Majesty himself changed her clothes."
Although our family is heartbroken, we dare not inspect my aunt's body without permission; that would be a grave offense.
Seemingly fearing that Shen Cong might actually arrange for an autopsy, Wang Tongyun emphasized this point once.
“An autopsy is absolutely out of the question. Even if my grandfather were here, he would never agree to it.”
As soon as he finished speaking, three soft knocks sounded at the door.
Tap, tap, tap.
Shen Cong looked alert. "Who?"
Erfeng's voice could be heard outside.
"Your Highness, the Right Chancellor has arrived."
The door was pushed open, and Wang Youxiang, wearing a black cloak, slipped in.
The cloak was torn off, revealing an old, sunken face with all the white hair at the temples.
In just over two months, the Right Chancellor lost both his wife and daughter. If it were an ordinary person, they would have been unable to bear it.
Wang Tongyun quickly stood up and bowed, looking somewhat at a loss.
"Grandpa...Grandpa, what brings you here?"
Wang Youxiang waved his hand, signaling his granddaughter to get up.
Then he looked at Shen Cong, his deep-set eyes twitched, and he bent down.
"Your Highness, I agree to an autopsy!"
"grandfather!"
Wang Tongyun stared wide-eyed in disbelief, "You... Aunt... Will she be unable to rest in peace in the afterlife?"
The Right Chancellor Wang looked sorrowful. "She's already gone. As her family, we were already sorry for not going to the palace to save her immediately when the Prince told us about her plea for help."
If she were to be murdered again without any justice, and I couldn't get her the justice she deserved, I would be unworthy of being a father!
Wang Tongyun's tears streamed down her face.
"grandfather."
Wang Youxiang reached out and rubbed her head, his voice softening slightly.
“You are a good child, and your aunt’s love for you is not in vain. Go home, and leave the rest to me and the prince.”
Li Nanke looked at Shen Cong.
Shen Cong nodded slightly. "You should go back first. If you linger any longer, it will get dark, and that's not safe."
He paused, then added a sentence.
"Don't worry, I'll let you know when I have any news."
Li Nanke and Wang Tongyun left.
Shen Cong secretly had Er Feng bring Gui Liu into Xiangguo Temple.
Even though it was late at night, the lights were still on in the courtyard where the imperial concubine's coffin was kept.
This is an ever-burning lamp lit for the Imperial Concubine.
The chanting monks had just left, and only the Imperial Guards were patrolling outside the courtyard.
Shen Cong disguised Gui Liu and Wang Youxiang as servants, and they tiptoed into the courtyard, avoiding the patrolling imperial guards.
Erfeng was outside keeping watch.
Shen Cong and Wang Youxiang each offered incense.
Wang Youxiang stroked the coffin, tears wetting his long robe.
“Daughter, I can’t let you die without knowing why. I have no choice but to reopen the coffin and examine the body. If you have a spirit in the afterlife, please appear in my dreams and tell me who killed you, okay?”
Wang Youxiang muttered a few words before making way for Guiliu.
Gui Liu skillfully opened the coffin and began to examine it.
Shen Cong stood side by side with Wang Youxiang.
Shen Cong said, "If the Right Prime Minister cannot withstand it, he can wait outside for a while."
Wang Youxiang's hands hung at his sides, clenched into fists but still trembling slightly, but his sunken eyes stared unblinkingly at the coffin.
The sound was almost squeezed out from between his teeth.
"No, I want to see it with my own eyes."
As soon as he finished speaking, a surprised voice suddenly came from inside the coffin.
"Huh?"
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