Chapter 28 I Saw Spring Return (Part 5) "The Crown Prince is incompetent."...
Liang Lu paused for a moment, then took a breath and said, "...Your Highness, Grand Secretary Cao has already entered the palace."
Yan Chao's thoughts gradually returned. He calmed himself down, got up and was about to leave when he turned to Deng Xun and said, "Take men to the Cao family immediately."
Deng Xun bowed with his sleeve and said, "Your Highness understands." He looked up at Yan Chao and asked, "Is Your Highness going to see the Emperor now?"
Yan Chao nodded slightly, but offered no further explanation. At this point, even if the emperor didn't summon her, she had to be present. There were some circumstances Cao Ying was unaware of, and she feared he might act impulsively.
She encountered Ji Weixian on the way, who was also walking towards her. Ji Weixian bowed and said with a worried expression, "His Majesty is in a rage and was just about to summon you. Your Highness, please be careful."
She nodded, a heavy feeling settling in her heart. Cao Fu's sudden death was of unknown cause. Yet, she still lacked any certainty or confidence.
When she entered the palace, Cao Ying was already weeping so bitterly that he was almost fainting. Cao Fu was his eldest son and his most beloved son. Now, he had been suddenly murdered. The white-haired man had to send off his black-haired son, and his heart was breaking.
Yan Chao had never liked Cao Ying, but seeing him like this, he couldn't help but be slightly moved. His eyes flickered slightly, but he still performed the proper greeting.
The emperor waited silently until she finished her curtsy, then coldly asked, "Given the current situation, what does the Crown Prince think is the best course of action?"
"Your subject is investigating and will certainly give Grand Secretary Cao and Physician Cao justice."
“Fairness? His Highness the Crown Prince said the same thing a few days ago. Now, is this fairness what subjects are left to die without knowing why?” Cao Ying couldn’t help but shout, his voice already a little hoarse, his eyes red, and his face full of anger.
She lowered her eyes and said softly, "Please accept my condolences, Your Excellency."
Cao Ying stared at her stiffly for a long time, finally realizing her rudeness but feeling helpless, she could only turn to the emperor, bow her head, and weep, "Your Majesty..."
The emperor sat at the head of the table, instructed Ji Weixian to help Cao Ying up, and then offered him a seat, gently comforting him.
Yan Chao knelt in the hall, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke: "Your subject has given his orders..."
Before she could finish her sentence, a teacup flew straight at her. Her breath caught in her throat, and she instinctively tried to dodge, but knowing she couldn't, she closed her eyes and simply ducked to avoid it. The moment her forehead hit the ground, the teacup struck her shoulder blade and hurtled behind her.
The emperor could see through her cunning, and his expression grew increasingly grim. He abruptly stood up and strode over to her.
Yan Chao heard him slowly utter four words: "The Crown Prince is incompetent."
A chill ran down her spine.
The emperor looked into the void and asked him, "Does the Crown Prince understand the principle of 'a life for a life'?"
The assassin was the son of a cabinet minister, a fifth-rank official in the court.
Before she could reply, the emperor continued, "If you can't find out the truth, then there's no need to investigate further. I can replace you."
Yan Chao's heart sank, but he insisted, "Please give me three more days, Father, and I will definitely find out the truth."
"Your Majesty, my son's body is not yet cold... I beg Your Majesty to do justice for me!" Cao Ying knelt down again, tears streaming down his face.
The emperor paused for a moment, then issued a decree: "The Ministry of Justice will conduct a joint trial tomorrow morning. I will determine the outcome then. The Crown Prince should handle the matter accordingly, and it is best not to disappoint me."
She felt two gazes fixed on her, her fingertips trembled slightly, and she kowtowed to receive the decree: "Your subject obeys the decree."
.
Cao Ying followed her out of the main hall. After bowing before parting, he said with a mixture of grief and melancholy, "I hope Your Highness will give my son justice and not be deceived by villains, so that the murderer may go unpunished."
They're just short of naming Meng Tingke.
Yan Chaowei nodded slightly: "Don't worry, Your Excellency. Even if you don't trust me, you should at least trust the Three Judicial Offices."
Cao Ying choked, replied "Yes," and then took his leave.
She stood there, gazing into the distance. The same palace walls, the same setting sun—she had seen them countless times. Every time she watched the sun dip below the horizon, a strange sense of oppression would rise in her chest, and it was especially intense now.
She was so lost in thought that she didn't even notice when Lan Huaien arrived beside her.
"The sunset is infinitely beautiful, but it's only a short time before dusk," he exclaimed dramatically, seemingly unintentionally. Seeing Yan Chao turn his head, he consciously took two steps back and bowed.
Yan Chao's heart skipped a beat, and he asked in surprise, "What are you doing here?"
"I just happened to be passing by... Is Your Highness returning to the Eastern Palace?"
“No,” Yan Chao didn’t avoid him this time, and continued after a pause, “I’m going out of the palace.”
Lan Huaien raised an eyebrow slightly and pressed on, "Let me guess... is Your Highness going to the Court of Judicial Review or the Ministry of Justice? Lord Deng has not yet returned to his post. If it's the Ministry of Justice... you're going to see Meng Tingke, aren't you?"
Yan Chao was surprised that he could guess correctly. His expression changed slightly, but he regained his wary look. Knowing that he would definitely have more to say, he was about to turn around and leave, but then a thought suddenly flashed through his mind: perhaps it wouldn't hurt to listen.
What are you trying to say?
That is an admission.
Lan Huaien didn't answer her question, but instead asked, "Does Your Highness think that going to see Lord Meng now would be more harmful or beneficial?"
She paused for a moment, then said, "Thank you for the reminder, Your Excellency. I have thought it over carefully."
He smiled, then breathed a sigh of relief. He took a few steps closer, handed her the note from his sleeve, and whispered, "Take care, Your Highness."
With no one around, Yan Chao opened the note after Lan Huaien had walked away. It contained two words:
Lu Xun.
.
Yan Chao left the palace quickly, riding straight to the Cao family. On the way, he ran into Deng Xun and his entourage who were on their way back.
Deng Xunyi had not expected her to suddenly leave the palace with a group of people behind her. Before he could dismount and pay his respects, Yan Chao stopped him, saying, "Let's talk about it when we get back."
Due to the urgency of the situation, the Court of Judicial Review had not received any prior notice of the Crown Prince's arrival, so when they entered the government office, they found it in complete chaos. Officials rushed to pay their respects, but were all turned away at the door; the order was simple: no formalities required.
"How is Cao Fu?" Yan Chao had no time to drink his tea, his eyes fixed on Deng Xunyi.
He shook his head: "It's been examined. It was caused by the severity of the wound. We've thoroughly questioned the doctor from the Cao family about the medicine he received, as well as the servants who have been taking care of him these past few days. There are no other abnormalities."
That would rule out the possibility that someone might attack Cao Fu again after he returned home.
Deng Xun frowned slightly, opened his mouth, and said, "There's one more thing."
"you say."
"Your Highness, the five assassins have been found. Four are dead, and one is seriously injured. In the house where they were hiding, a land deed was found bearing Meng Tingke's name. The assassin has confessed that he was indeed the mastermind behind it all."
Deng Xun glanced at the Crown Prince's expression and felt a pang of regret. He calmly told her, "...Now, apart from Meng Tingke's denial, all the other evidence points to him, and the evidence is irrefutable. He cannot deny it."
He paused for a moment and then said, “Your Highness, you still don’t believe me. I understand that you respect and admire Grand Tutor Meng Wen, but Meng Tingke is not the same person he is now. After experiencing such a major event, he will not remain unchanged. He is honest, but too cowardly to dare to take action. He also timidly admitted to the jade talisman, but his methods are really clumsy.”
Yan Chao calmed his mind, his eyes fixed on the tightly closed door in front of the hall. He felt as if he too was locked up by something, trapped inside and unable to get out.
"But he wasn't the only murderer, and the person who left the dagger has not yet been found..."
"Is there still time?" Yan Chao suddenly asked, startling him for a moment. Then he heard her say, "Meng Tingke is already in the Ministry of Justice prison. The Ministry of Justice will hold a joint trial tomorrow morning. His Majesty and Grand Secretary Cao want the results."
A chill suddenly ran through her. Meng Tingke's fate was probably already sealed, but the situation with Xiao Jiu was still unclear.
Deng Xunyi suddenly realized what was happening and was somewhat incredulous: "Is the result they want just Meng Tingke alone?"
But the truth is clearly not just that.
"Of course not, it's just that we want to convict one person first. I don't know if there are other hidden stories behind this. Everything in this case seems extremely simple so far, but there is still darkness behind it."
The emperor was agitated and naturally hoped to close the case as soon as possible.
"So, Your Highness's meaning is..."
"Since the clues end with the knife-wielder, everything else is a mystery. I have an idea, and I'll have to trouble you, Shaoqing, to accompany me tonight."
Deng Xunyi was puzzled, but still replied, "Your Highness is too kind. This is my duty."
.
Yan Chao didn't see Meng Tingke, but she saw Xiao Jiu first. When she brought him out of the prison, he was already on the verge of death. Although she had given Liang Lu instructions later, Xiao Jiu was still covered in wounds.
Xiao Jiu had been locked in a dark cell for several days, and when he was dragged out, he was surprised to see daylight in the interrogation room. He frowned, not used to it, and used his sleeve to shield his eyes from the light, thinking that he had never had such bright and glaring light during any of his previous interrogations.
He forced his eyes open and was immediately stunned. The Crown Prince was there, as well as Deng Xunyi, whom he did not recognize, and a minor official recording his testimony beside him.
He suddenly couldn't hold on any longer, and the tears he had been holding back for several days burst forth. With all his might, he crawled along the chains, trying to get closer to Yan Chao.
A jailer immediately restrained him from behind.
"Your Highness, if you believe me, I... I really didn't do anything..."
Yan Chao was reviewing his past confessions three times. They were just a few simple sentences that had nothing to do with the case.
"You said you met with Meng Tingke because you wanted to visit your sister who married into the Meng family?"
"Yes..." Xiao Jiu's voice was somewhat urgent, eager to explain something, but when it came to her lips, she didn't know what to say.
"The first time was outside the Li residence. Why didn't you tell me then?"
When she left, Xiao Jiu didn't say a single word.
Xiao Jiu said, "Your Highness, this is such a trivial matter. I didn't expect things to go wrong afterward, so I didn't think it was necessary to report it to you..."
Yan Chao frowned: "So when you told me you were leaving the palace, you had already planned to visit your sister?"
"yes."
"But you said you didn't see your sister. What happened at the lantern festival the second time?"
"I truly didn't expect Lord Meng to be there at the lantern festival, so I intended to plead with him. But Lord Meng seemed particularly impatient at the time, so he refused me, and that was the end of it..."
"Then let me ask you again, was the first encounter a coincidence?"
"Yes...it seems so. Lord Meng was passing by in a hurry, and I went up to stop him."
A person hurried past, and Deng Xun's eyes darkened.
"You've served in the inner court for years, how could you recognize Meng Tingke? Also, you said earlier that you only learned of your sister's marriage to the capital that day. You were following me the whole time, who told you the news?"
Xiao Jiu's breath hitched. After a moment's thought, she said in a hoarse voice, "It's...it's Granny Ying. This morning she told me that she overheard news about my elder sister when she left the palace last time, and suddenly remembered it that day, saying that since she was leaving the palace, she could go and see her..."
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