When the truth is laid bare, many would choose not to believe it.
Imperial Concubine Zhen did the same. When faced with the raw truth, she convulsively denied it. Accusing Yan Huisheng of deceiving her, she claimed it was a simple feat for the Crown Prince to fabricate lies and deceive her.
Yan Huisheng remained calm in face of Imperial Concubine Zhen’s anger and accusation. He looked at her faintly and said, "If Your Highness it not willing to believe it, there’s nothing I can do."
Imperial Concubine Zhen clutched the scroll. She wanted to shred it, to destroy it, hoping that turning it into ashes would negate what she had read. But her trembling hands took long to just rip one corner of it.
At last, she slumped to the floor, murmuring through her tears, "Is it true? Is it really true? What about Duan Xiao?"
Yan Huisheng fielded the question, "When Zhang Ping first contacted Duan Xiao, he offered him wealth and glory. Duan Xiao, who had lived in poverty and feared he would never rise, accepted Zhang Ping’s offer to set you up in a scheme. Later, when you entered the palace, Zhang Ping delivered everything he promised, allowing him to live a lavish and luxurious life. Duan Xiao became the first strategist under Zhang Ping, and even received a promise that he would be made a Marquis once all was accomplished."
Imperial Concubine Zhen let out a sharp laugh, and her laughter was so intense that it brought on tears.
Yan Huisheng said, "I doubt Your Highness would not know that all these years in the court, the Pingxi General’s mansion in Jibei is full of wives and concubines, his family is prosperous and his children abundant. You might still believe that it was your choice, blaming no one but yourself and allowing him to lead a fruitful life. But you are oblivious to the fact that to him, you are nothing but a tool for power. Zhang Ping exploited her weakness, prompting her to sell you off for glory, and took advantage of your own weakness, your willingness to sever ties with your biological father and go to extreme lengths for your beloved- to step into the palace and become his pawn."
As Yan Huisheng spoke, he let out an appreciative sigh, "Zhang Ping, a simple military officer, plotted so devastatingly well beyond my imagination."
Imperial Concubine Zhen wiped her tears and slowly regained her composure. In an expressionless voice she said, "Zhang Ping isn’t the one to be feared, it’s his shrewd wife. Everyone knows of Zhang Ping, but few know about his wife and her formidable capabilities."
Yan Huisheng squinted at her, "His wife is from the Qinghe Cui family?"
"Yes, she is the concubine-born daughter of the Qinghe Cui family." Imperial Concubine Zhen continued, "She has another identity, she is the cousin of the Duke’s wife from Duke Residence, though born out of wedlock."
"The Qinghe Cui family is prominent, even for Zhang Ping, a military officer, marrying their concubine-born daughter will not bring him disgrace." Yan Huisheng remarked.
"Indeed, it’s the opposite of disgrace. She’s extremely capable." Imperial Concubine Zhen pressed, "Have you looked into her, Your Highness?"
Yan Huisheng shook his head, "In this short time of just over a month, my investigation only looked into the connections between Zhang Ping and Your Highness. I hadn’t looked into his wife yet."
"She hates the Qinghe Cui family and her cousin, the Duke’s wife, apparently because of the deceased Duke." said Imperial Concubine Zhen, "I do not know the rest, you could have your men investigate further."
Yan Huisheng nodded, "I will."
Imperial Concubine Zhen continued, "I guess you’ve already searched my palace, there’s nothing more I can say. I left no room for myself, and therefore, left no incriminating evidence implicating Zhang Ping on my side. During the Emperor’s investigation, I remained silent because there was truly nothing I could say."
"Your Highness can write a statement." Yan Huisheng suggested, "Even though there is no evidence, you can identify him in court and testify that all your actions were directed by Zhang Ping. Otherwise, wouldn’t you think that letting Zhang Ping go so easily is too much of a boon for him?"
Imperial Concubine Zhen looked at Yan Huisheng, "So, will you spare my life?"
"I will spare the life of the royal heir in your womb." Yan Huisheng corrected, "I have always been benevolent towards my brothers."
Imperial Concubine Zhen burst into laughter again, "Do you know why Zhang Ping fears you the most, Your Highness? What he fears is your benevolence. You hold the world in your hand, you’re calm and composed, and none can compete with your reputation and benevolence. Even the Emperor resents this trait of yours, which is why he allowed Zhang Ping to exploit the situation to his advantage."
"Your Highness must have known, that I have been patient for all these years." Yan Huisheng responded, "Benevolence is a double-edged sword."
"Right, you are too tolerant, which is why Zhang Ping used me as a pawn." Imperial Concubine Zhen then addressed Su Rong, "When I first received his message, I didn’t understand why he specifically targeted you, a concubine-born girl from Jiangning County. Until later when I understood that anyone who can trigger chaos should be eliminated, especially someone with the identity of a Nanchu Princess."
Su Rong countered, "Isn’t it because the Queen of Nanchu initiated contact with him, proposing a partnership and promising great rewards, that he had you attempt to kill me?"
"Perhaps!" Imperial Concubine Zhen said, "I didn’t ask. Over the years, I simply did whatever he asked. Isn’t that ridiculous? All for the sake of a man."
Su Rong indeed found it amusing, but she didn’t nod along with her. Instead, she said, "Your master was thinking about you before he died."
Imperial Concubine Zhen was emotionless, "The mother of this Palace was killed by his enemy. When I was a child, every family I was fostered with was murdered. Later, he would throw me into a pile of beggars disguised as one every time he went on a mission. As I gradually grew up and my beauty could no longer be hidden even by beggar’s clothes, he hid me in the mountains, sometimes leaving for half a month. This Palace lacked love since childhood, there was a poor scholar who was kind to me, so poor that he could hardly put food on the table. He finally managed to sell a painting, but because I liked a hairpin, he gritted his teeth, spent silver and bought it for me. What reasons did I have not to love him?"
Su Rong nodded, "Those severely deprived of love, when someone finally loves them, even if it means like a moth to a flame, they accept it."
Imperial Concubine Zhen said: "So, this Palace doesn’t hate Duan Xiao, but despises that I am a daughter of assassin, resenting him for giving birth to me. Even if he later retired from his life of violence and hides his identity, what does it have to do with this Palace? This Palace doesn’t need him anymore."
Su Rong didn’t speak again.
Yan Huisheng ordered the person behind him, "Officer Li, have someone bring a pen, and have the Imperial Concubine write a confession."
The Minister of Justice immediately ordered someone to fetch paper and pen.
Soon, someone brought the paper and pen.
Just as Imperial Concubine Zhen was about to take them, Su Rong made a move, grabbed the person offering the pen, breaking his arm at once. The man cried out in pain and the pen fell to the ground.
This sudden turn of events frightened the Minister of Justice, he looked at Su Rong, "What is this, Lady Su Qi..."
Su Rong threw the man to the ground and stepped on him, speaking to the Minister of Justice: "There’s poison on the pen."
The face of the Minister of Justice changed dramatically.
Indeed, as soon as she finished speaking, the man’s mouth and nose began to bleed black blood, instantly killing him. The hand holding the pen had begun to turn black and rot.
Su Rong glanced at it and said, "This poison is deadly. It’s called ’Soul Attractor’. It’s made from a mixture of astral feathers and corpse powder, causing the victim’s skin to rot upon contact. The poison spreads through the blood, and within a tea’s time, black blood pours from every orifice. Even if a Daluo Golden Celestial came to save you, it would only delay the inevitable. The soul would still be apprehended by the gods of death, and even the body would decompose completely".
The Minister of Justice turned pale, immediately knelt down, "Your Highness, it’s due to my poor control. I have clearly cleaned up the Ministry of Justice, but who would have thought there could be fish slipping through the net. I was afraid that something might happen to the Imperial Concubine in the Ministry of Justice, so I personally delivered the daily dishes after having them checked for poison. Who would have thought that such a thing could happen today, especially in the presence of the Crown Prince. This could cost me my life."
Yan Huisheng remained silent.
The Minister of Justice was almost crying, "My abilities are limited, Your Highness, please forgive me".
Finally, Yan Huisheng spoke, "Officer Li, you can offset your errors with meritorious deeds. Go and investigate now, anyone who is connected with this man, should be brought to justice."
"Yes." The Minister of Justice immediately got up from the ground and hurried away with a trembling body.
Yan Huisheng looked at Imperial Concubine Zhen. Seeing that she seemed unsurprised, he said: "I shall send someone to fetch some paper and pen."
Imperial Concubine Zhen emotionlessly said: "In the bottom section of the couch in the Emperor’s study room, there’s a hidden compartment. It contains the evidence about Zhang Ping you are looking for. He had always contacted this Palace through Duan Xiao."
Yan Huisheng suddenly laughed, "So when the Lady mentioned ’nothing’, it was actually to leave some room for General Pingxi, even knowing that it was his plotting that led you to such a situation. It seems that I should thank General Zhang for trying to assassinate the Lady today. Otherwise, I would never have been able to obtain this evidence."
After all, as Crown Prince, he could not go rummaging through the Emperor’s study, let alone search his couch.
Imperial Concubine Zhen numbly said: "How could this Palace not leave any evidence? After all, even if I fooled myself, living in the palace for such a long time, I should understand how fickle human hearts can be."
She just didn’t want to admit it unless she was pushed to the limit.
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