When Consort Chen had her accident, the Emperor was in a very bad mood. At this critical moment, Consort Mei accidentally fell into the water and drowned. The Emperor had no interest in asking about it and said that she died in an accident. No one from the Suchang Marquis's Mansion reported that they suspected that Consort Mei was murdered and asked the Emperor to investigate. So they just buried her directly.
Seven years have passed, and only now do they suspect he was murdered and want to exhume the body for an autopsy. Isn't this a slap in the face to the emperor?
However, the emperor was already used to being humiliated by his own son.
After a moment's hesitation, the Emperor granted his request.
It's getting late, and there's no time to go to the imperial mausoleum. After leaving the palace, Xie Jingyan asked Chen Feng to inform the Minister of Justice that he would be taking a coroner to examine corpses tomorrow. He didn't specify who would be examined, but only asked the Ministry of Justice to make preparations and wait at the city gate tomorrow.
The next day, Xie Jingyan returned home after court, changed into a brocade robe, and went to the city gate. Not only were there coroners waiting there, but also the Minister of Justice and the Vice Minister.
The Minister of Justice is so clever. He must be no ordinary person to alarm Prince Ling and make him personally lead people to examine the body. How could the Minister of Justice not accompany him?
The Minister of Justice is impeccable in both his conduct and his work.
Without delay, the group headed straight for the imperial mausoleum.
The closer they got to the imperial mausoleum, the more shocked the Minister of Justice became. After all, those who could be buried in the imperial mausoleum were not ordinary people. Who was Prince Ling trying to test?
When Xie Jingyan arrived at Consort Chen's tomb, the Minister of Justice was startled, thinking that Xie Jingyan was going to perform an autopsy on Consort Chen. Fortunately, Xie Jingyan was only there to pay his respects. After paying his respects, he went to Consort Mei's tomb.
The Minister of Justice had just breathed a sigh of relief when he learned that the person to be examined was Consort Mei—
The Minister of Justice, "...???"
The Vice Minister of Justice, "...???"
How could it be an autopsy for Consort Mei?
Consort Mei has been dead for seven years.
Even if she hasn't completely turned into bones by now, there's probably not much left. Besides, Consort Mei drowned, so these symptoms can't be detected in the remains. Is there any need for an autopsy?
Although they had doubts, neither the Minister of Justice nor the Vice Minister of Justice said anything. Prince Ling was not the kind of person who would cause trouble for no reason. Examining Consort Mei's body required the Emperor's approval. There must be a reason why they went to such great lengths to persuade the Emperor. As his subjects, they simply followed orders.
After entering the mausoleum, they found Consort Mei's coffin and opened it.
Just as everyone had guessed, Consort Mei was nothing but a pile of bones; a quick glance revealed nothing to examine.
The bones were intact, with no signs of fracture or poisoning.
Out of caution, the coroner still took Consort Mei's remains out of the coffin, placed them on a mat, and carefully examined them one by one.
Xie Jingyan, watching from the side, asked, "Have you found anything?"
The coroner shook his head.
The Minister of Justice looked at Xie Jingyan and asked, "Does Prince Ling suspect that Consort Mei did not die by drowning back then?"
Xie Jingyan asked, "Is it possible that he died from poisoning?"
The Minister of Justice said, "It shouldn't be. If someone died from poisoning, their bones would turn black, making it easy to identify."
Although Xie Jingyan had prepared himself for the possibility of returning empty-handed before he came, he was still somewhat disappointed when he found nothing.
The remains were still on the straw mat. Xie Jingyan said, "Put them back."
The coroner complied.
Start with the skull, then put the bones back into the coffin one by one.
When the coroner placed the needle on the sternum, he saw a short needle as thin as a hair in the coffin. He had seen this needle before; it was the one who examined Physician He's body.
The Minister of Justice asked Xie Jingyan to leave, but just as Xie Jingyan turned around, the coroner's voice came, "Wait."
Xie Jingyan turned around, and the Minister of Justice asked, "What's wrong?"
The coroner picked up the short needle and said, "This was found on Consort Mei's chest. She most likely died from this short needle, just like Physician He."
The short needle is very small; it's difficult to spot in a dimly lit tomb when you hold it in your hand.
Even for someone skilled in martial arts, Xie Jingyan had to take a couple of steps closer to get a clear view.
Chen Feng said, "Master, it is indeed exactly the same as the short needle that killed Physician He..."
But Imperial Physician He was silenced by Empress Song because he revealed that she was pregnant. How could Consort Mei also have died at the hands of Empress Song?
The prince suspects that it was Empress Wei, the birth mother of the eldest prince, who plotted against Consort Chen, and that it should be Empress Wei who wanted to kill Consort Mei to silence her.
Chen Feng felt like his brain wasn't working properly.
Not to mention Chen Feng, Xie Jingyan also found it strange. Xie Jingyin had sown discord back then, and the eldest prince was afraid that he would find out what was written on that note. He suspected it was related to his mother's case. If his guess was correct, Xie Jingyin not only knew that his mother was killed by Empress Wei, but also had evidence in his possession.
Could it be that the evidence was obtained from Consort Mei?
Even so, Empress Song had no reason to kill Consort Mei. Consort Mei was alive and could serve as a witness for her. Empress Song would not only not kill Consort Mei, but would also help her.
Xie Jingyan looked at the Minister of Justice, "What is the Minister of Justice's opinion?"
The Minister of Justice said, "Your Highness is investigating Consort Mei. This reminds me of an old incident. Seven years ago, the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief Liu Zhengfeng impeached the Earl of Suchang for embezzling disaster relief funds. His Majesty ordered a thorough investigation. After more than a month, it was found that the Earl of Suchang had not embezzled any funds, and the so-called evidence was fabricated. Less than two months after this incident, Consort Mei accidentally fell into the water and drowned in the palace..."
If the Minister of Justice hadn't mentioned it, Xie Jingyan would have been completely unaware that such a thing had ever happened in the imperial court.
Xie Jingyan asked, "Whose man is the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief?"
“The man of King Cheng.”
King Cheng and the deposed Empress Song were having an affair. To some extent, King Cheng's people could be considered to be the deposed Empress Song's people.
The Right Vice Censor-in-Chief impeached the Earl of Suchang for embezzling disaster relief funds, which caused a great uproar. In the end, not only was the matter not investigated, but it also proved that the Earl of Suchang was loyal to the court. This matter seemed very strange, and it was highly likely that Consort Mei was blackmailed by the deposed Empress Song in order to save her brother.
After all, at that time, Consort Mei followed Empress Wei's lead. Empress Song, through Consort Mei, plotted against Empress Wei, and Empress Wei was not on guard. After her mother's incident, Empress Wei also died a few months later, and the position of Empress eventually fell into the hands of Empress Song.
The fact that the Minister of Justice brought up this old matter at this juncture clearly indicates that he suspects Consort Mei did something for the deposed Empress Song, and was ultimately killed by the deposed Empress Song to silence her.
However, this is just their speculation. To find out the truth of what happened back then, they would have to pry open the mouth of the deposed Empress Song.
After leaving the mausoleum, Xie Jingyan went to the palace to see the emperor, accompanied by the Minister of Justice.
The Emperor was reviewing memorials when Xie Jingyan entered. The Emperor asked, "What did you find when you opened the coffin and examined the body?"
Xie Jingyan said, "In Consort Mei's coffin, they found the short needle that killed Imperial Physician He to silence him. She must have been hit in the chest and fell into the lotus pond. She struggled a few times before she died and was determined to have drowned."
The Emperor's brows furrowed deeply. "Why did the deposed Empress Song kill Consort Mei?"
"We'll have to ask her in the Cold Palace," Xie Jingyan said.
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