"The Emperor has arrived—"
At this moment, a soft and long announcement pierced the air, and everyone immediately dispersed to both sides and knelt on the ground.
The Emperor of Chu walked over with a solemn expression.
After the newlyweds had their wedding ceremony, he set out for the palace to handle official business. Unexpectedly, halfway through his journey, he was hurriedly asked to return by the guards from the Third Prince's Palace.
How could something like this happen on the wedding day?
At the feet of the emperor, is this a contempt for his majesty?
Everyone was panicking: "Your Highness!"
The King of Chu walked through the crowd and went straight inside. Seeing the bride lying on the ground in the room, a stern look appeared on his brows:
"Who did this?"
Chu Haoyue replied hesitantly:
"Father, before the incident, my ninth brother came to the bridal chamber. I don't know why a man like my ninth brother suddenly came to the bridal chamber..."
Chu Li replied:
"I came here to look for Chu Hongyan. Many people saw me at that time."
Chu Xiling held the bride's body, his eyes red and his expression grief-stricken.
The eldest prince and his party stood aside, watching the fun as it had nothing to do with them.
Qin Muyu cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince has no reason to murder the Third Prince's wife. She has always been friendly with others and never made enemies."
Everyone knows this.
Chu Haoyue asked back: "Then wasn't the Ninth Prince responsible for the Seventh Prince's matter? Or was it the General's Mansion who did it?"
Qin Muyu frowned.
The Fourth Prince may seem gentle and modest, but his words are as sharp as knives. Every word is sharp and sharp, and one can easily fall into a trap if one is not careful.
"Everyone has seen what the Seventh Prince did, and the Emperor has seen it clearly. I dare not speak nonsense, but I dare to guarantee with my life that the Ninth Prince is innocent!"
Chu Li looked at Qin Muyu with a complicated expression.
Qin Muyu gave her a reassuring look.
The two men's eyes met, and this scene was captured in a pair of dark eyes, calm and cold.
The two people stood together, trusting each other and protecting each other. In Chu Dichi's opinion, it was actually a bit funny.
Xiao Yexing asked: "What are you laughing at?"
He said nothing.
The fourth prince and the ninth prince each held an opinion.
The Fourth Prince had always been on good terms with the Third Prince, so when something like this happened, he was naturally the first to stand up and speak out. However, Qin Muyu was particularly partial to the Ninth Prince, and the two sides spoke fiercely, with everyone listening in confusion.
Both sides have a point.
They believed in the Ninth Prince, but they could not deny the fact that the Ninth Prince had been to the bridal chamber and had contact with the bride, so everyone was undecided and didn't know which side to believe.
Qin Muyu's unconditional protection caught Chu Li's eyes, and what she remembered all the time was his back as he ran away that day.
Complex thoughts.
"General Qin, you really don't have to do this for me..."
"Ninth Prince, I have been studying beside you since childhood and I understand your character. Even if everyone in the world doubts you, I will not be one of them."
Chu Li's lips twitched: "You..."
Chu Dichi watched the scene of the two people's deep affection with cold eyes, his smile also cooled a little, and finally spoke:
"Xiao Ye Xing."
"You don't look stupid, so how did you teach your nephew to be like a pig?"
Xiao Yexing: “?”
It’s okay to scold his nephew, but why are you scolding him too?
He almost laughed out of anger, "A murder case happened, and you can prove your innocence just by talking? What an idiot."
I really don't know what Chu Li sees in him.
At this time, Chong Feng came running over and quickly reported:
"Master, we have found out that there is an abandoned courtyard behind the mansion. A female corpse fell into the sewage well. I think it is the maid mentioned by the Ninth Prince who had entered and left the bridal chamber before."
"You," Chu Dichi pointed at him, "go over there and tell General Qin the news in person."
"yes."
Chong Feng nodded in understanding and walked into the main courtyard.
When he saw them arguing fiercely, he said:
"Your Majesty."
"I found a female corpse in an abandoned sewage well in the backyard." He spoke to the emperor and looked at Chu Li.
Everyone was slightly surprised.
Female corpse?
The King of Chu raised his hand and pointed at the four guards, "Go check."
When Chu Li saw Chong Feng, he naturally knew that the master behind him was the Regent. He looked around the crowd and saw Chu Dichi standing at the outermost layer of the crowd.
Qin Muyu also saw it.
When their eyes met, he saw the Regent smile from a distance of more than ten meters.
He opened his thin lips, and the mocking look in his eyes made Qin Muyu's throat tighten.
Under his nose, there was an indescribable sense of embarrassment...
Just now, he was only concerned with believing Chu Li wholeheartedly, but ignored the fact that in such a situation, his own belief was so slim. Only by finding definite evidence could he help Chu Li escape.
Soon, two guards carried a wet female corpse and placed it outside.
Covered with white cloth.
For fear of breaking taboo, they dared not bring it in.
Emperor Chu said directly: "Bring him in, let the Ninth Prince see if it is this person."
"yes."
When the female corpse came in, everyone looked timid and took several steps back. Many timid women even covered their mouths and noses, turned their heads away, and dared not look.
On the wedding day, which was so joyous, the bride died of poisoning.
They felt sorry for the third prince.
Who did it?
Who is against the third prince?
"Xiaojiu, go check it out."
"Yes, Father."
Chu Li lifted a corner of the white cloth and saw a face that had turned pale from being soaked in water. The stench from the well was pungent, and the clothes on the body were wet, which were exactly the clothes of a maid.
It's her.
The maid who entered the bridal chamber and gave candy to the child.
"That's the man, Father."
The coroner quickly came up with the answer during the autopsy:
"Your Majesty, there are no external injuries on this person, nor are there any signs of poisoning in his body. The cause of death is drowning. It seems that he committed suicide by jumping into a well."
No one commits suicide for no reason.
Except, with evil intentions.
The King of Chu said in a deep voice: "Tell the Dali Temple to come here and investigate today's incident."
At this point, Chu Li’s suspicion can be cleared.
As for the Third Prince’s Consort who died in vain…
"Gracefully bury the Third Prince's wife... Xi Ling, please accept my condolences."
Chu Xiling hugged his beloved woman, crying until his eyes were red. He looked so distraught that he had forgotten to kneel down and reply.
That dazed look made many people feel uncomfortable.
well.
Such an important wedding day, but such a misfortune happened.
The third prince is so pitiful.
The King of Chu personally took care of this person. After the people from the Dali Temple arrived, he dismissed all the guests and had the maidservant thoroughly investigated.
All scattered.
Before Chu Li left, Chu Haoyue gave her a gloomy look, as if he was unwilling to let her go.
Chu Li glared back.
"you--"
"I'm sorry to disappoint my fourth brother. I'm leaving now."
She refused to give in.
I will not offend others unless they offend me.
Even though she is always kind and gentle and doesn't fight or argue, not everyone can step on her.
Leaving the backyard, Chu Dichi was outside. Looking at his calm demeanor, it seemed that he was waiting for her.
Chu Li hesitated for a moment, but still walked over:
"Uncle."
Chu Dichi looked over and looked her up and down, "Are you okay?"
Chu Li pursed his lips.
He helped with the investigation and helped her get out of the situation, otherwise, who knows how much more nonsense would have to be said.
Why should he help her?
She whispered, "That maid should be blamed, but unfortunately, there is no evidence, and I don't know who killed the Third Prince's wife."
"Just now, I saw that the third brother was in a state of dismay, with red eyes from crying..."
So pitiful.
She felt uncomfortable.
When I spoke to the Third Prince's wife before, I could tell that she was a very gentle woman, and her voice was like the trickle of water, moistening everything silently.
"Pitiful?"
Chu Dichi suddenly wanted to laugh: "Born in a royal family, I only grow older, but not smarter."
In a place full of open and secret struggles and conspiracies, mercy is the most useless thing.
Chu Li pursed her lips, disagreeing with what he said:
"Don't you think it's cruel? Or is it that someone like the Emperor's uncle, who has been on the battlefield for a long time and has seen through killing and life and death, naturally cannot understand the feelings between the Third Brother and the Third Prince's Consort."
Chu Dichi sneered and said:
"That maid committed suicide. Why do you think she was willing to do so?"
Chu Li had lived in the palace for so many years and was used to seeing the women in the harem vying for favor. He could roughly guess what was going on:
"Either, she had something in the other party's hands and had to die; or, the other party offered enough conditions for her to be willing to sacrifice her life."
If it is the former, what important evidence could a maid have?
It seems to be the latter.
"Master." At this time, Jingying came over quickly, "I have found the address of the maid's family."
Chu Dichi: "Go and have a look?"
Chu Li bit her lower lip lightly: "Okay."
The two turned around and walked out. When Qin Muyu came over, he saw the two of them leaving side by side. He opened his mouth, but couldn't shout out...
-
On the outskirts of the city, there stands a group of short and dilapidated houses. These are the residences of poor people. They are very crowded and messy, and the atmosphere of life is everywhere.
"That's it, master." Jingying instructed.
Chu Li walked into the crowded and dim passage, which was filled with broken baskets, tables, chairs and bamboos.
We came to a dilapidated little loess house.
Just as I was about to knock on the door and go in, I suddenly noticed something, "Someone's here!"
Jingying reacted faster. He drew his sword and kicked the door open. Amidst screams and chaos, he captured a masked man holding a knife.
The man realized what was happening and bit his tongue to commit suicide.
He died instantly, and it was impossible to guard against him.
"Master, I was negligent!"
Chu Li pulled down his veil, revealing a strange face. And looking at the blood flowing from the corner of his mouth, he knew there was no hope.
In the small house, there was only an old man, a middle-aged couple, and several young children hugging each other in fear, trembling with fear.
Chu Li stood up and said:
"It's all right now."
"But you should know in your heart why this man came to kill you, right?"
The middle-aged couple turned pale in panic.
Just now, if these people had not come to rescue them, they would all have died here.
The middle-aged woman trembled and said, "We don't know this person, but, but... half a month ago, Ah Xiang suddenly took 200 taels of silver notes home. I wonder if this money brought about the disaster that killed her?"
Ah Xiang was their daughter and a servant in the Third Prince’s mansion.
Chu Dichi stood at the door, brushing the dirt off his sleeves, frowning and saying:
"Take out the banknotes."
"Yes, yes."
They didn't dare to say a word and took out two large-denomination silver bills, which were very well collected, from the gaps between the bricks under the bed.
Silver bills with a face value that is too large will have the issuing bank and font size marked on them.
Chu Dichi shook off the dust on the banknote and glanced at the mark on it.
"Tsk, Royal."
"What?"
Chu Li was surprised. He snatched it away and saw the exclusive royal mark. His expression suddenly darkened.
It was someone from the royal family who bribed Ah Xiang and poisoned the Third Prince's wife...
Now that the incident has happened, people have been sent specifically to kill and silence the witnesses.
Unfortunately, the man had bitten his tongue to commit suicide, so it was difficult to find out anything.
She suppressed the complicated feelings in her heart and immediately said, "A Xiang is dead. She poisoned the Third Prince's wife and then committed suicide by jumping into a well. I'm afraid it will be difficult for her body to return to the family. If you want to survive, you'd better move out of the imperial capital as soon as possible, the farther the better."
After saying this, he placed the banknote on the table, turned around and left without even looking at their shocked, horrified and stunned expressions.
Even though they were already on the street, Chu Li still felt heavy in his heart.
Who could have done this?
"I'm going to show you something interesting."
The man's sudden words made Chu Li stunned for a moment: "What?"
Watching him walking towards the other end of the long street, she bit her lower lip, thought for a moment, and followed him.
They actually came to a funeral supplies store...opposite.
From a distance, one could see a quiet and gentle-looking woman with rosy eyes entering the funeral shop. Her tearful and sorrowful appearance was surprisingly similar to that of the deceased third prince's wife.
The funeral shop owner consoled her: "Miss, please accept my condolences..."
Chu Li looked at her and asked, "Who is she?"
"Lu Zhaoyang, the elder sister of the Third Prince's wife Lu Mengdie."
Lu Mengdie was born out of wedlock.
The two sisters have the same father but different mother, so naturally they have some similarities.
Judging from Lu Zhaoyang's appearance, he came to buy coffin and incense paper for his concubine sister.
"What did you bring me here for?"
Chu Dichi looked at her calmly, "Look at the silver hairpin with a double crabapple petal on her head. It was given by the Third Prince."
"What?"
Chu Li cried out in astonishment, "The twin flowers have the meaning of being intertwined and united. The Third Prince married Lu Mengdie as his concubine, so why would he give Lu Zhaoyang a twin flower?"
Moreover, when Lu Mengdie died, she saw with her own eyes that the Third Prince cried so hard that he lost his soul.
He obviously loves Lu Mengdie so much.
Chu Dichi said, "Why don't you think about it? The Third Prince is not of high birth, and his mother is just a minor noblewoman. If he marries the daughter of the current left prime minister, he will be too powerful for a while, and will definitely attract attention."
"Why not marry a concubine and then get rid of her? This way, you can save the woman you truly love and use this incident to benefit yourself?"
Chu Li thought deeply about his words and his expression changed slightly.
Before, she always felt sorry for her third brother.
If a man's wife died on his wedding day, how many ordinary people could bear it?
But now listening to Chu Dichi's words, she felt that she was really naive.
I never expected...
The Third Prince's love for the Third Prince's Consort is just pretend.
His true love was the eldest daughter of the current left prime minister—Lu Zhaoyang.
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