Chapter 35: The Dog Emperor's Puchi
Yun Zhao never expected that before his "blessing" of being a favorite in front of the emperor could even warm up, he was poured cold with a basin of ice water called "harem infighting".
A palace maid's shrill scream broke the tranquility of the early morning - someone drowned in the artificial lake in the imperial garden!
When the body was salvaged, it had been swollen and deformed by water and was unrecognizable.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Imperial Guards frantically investigated for most of the day before they could barely confirm from the clothes and accessories that the deceased was actually Concubine Wang, who had a very low presence.
She was the beauty presented to him by the prefect of Xiangyang in the year Xiao Jin ascended the throne. After being given the title of a talented person, she merged into the sea silently like a drop of water.
The atmosphere in Yanying Hall was solemn.
Xiao Jin's face was as gloomy as water, and he pointed his finger at Su Mingli. "Noble Concubine Su! You assist the Queen Mother in managing the harem, yet someone mysteriously dies, and you're the last to know?! You're guilty of dereliction of duty and mismanagement. What is your punishment?!"
Su Mingli fell to her knees with a thud, tears streaming down her face. "Your Majesty, please calm down! I was indeed guilty of negligence, and I am willing to accept the punishment! But...but the most urgent task is to find the real murderer who murdered Concubine Wang, to comfort her soul in heaven!"
Luo Mei, her capable maidservant, also kowtowed hastily, her voice filled with just the right amount of fear: "Your Majesty, please understand! Your Majesty has only been in the palace for a short time, and you haven't yet met all the other women in the harem. This Concubine Wang...you've never even met her!"
Xiao Jin's brows were furrowed, impatience practically written across his face. He glanced at the beautiful women kneeling on the ground below him and said coldly, "Zhang Fuan! Send an order to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Justice. Within three days, I want to know who the murderer is! If we can't find out..." His voice suddenly turned cold, "All concubines, demoted one rank, and fined six months' salary!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall erupted in chaos! Cries, wails of defense, cries of injustice rose one after another, creating a chaotic mess.
[Shut up! All you do is cry and scream! You can't even prove your innocence? Find the murderer!]
Yun Zhao's head hurt from the noise and he complained madly in his heart.
[On the surface, it seems that Su Mingli is being held accountable for dereliction of duty, but it's clear that someone is setting this up!]
[But the dog emperor's trick is quite vicious... The murderers are only one or two at most, so he's punishing everyone? Brilliant! Now, to avoid being demoted and fined, these women have to bite each other and keep each other under surveillance!]
As expected, Concubine Zhang Wanru, eager to show off, was the first to speak out. "Your Majesty! Concubine Wang has always been a solitary person, timid and quiet, never making enemies. How could she have been murdered? In my opinion, she must have slept restlessly at night, taken some tranquilizers, and then wanted to go to the lake to relax. The effects of the drugs took effect, and she lost consciousness, which is why she fell into the water!"
Yun Zhao was practically stunned by this "divine logic": "Idiot! This incident has even reached the Emperor, proving the coroner has already ruled it a homicide! The unconsciousness-inducing drugs left in the stomach are irrefutable proof! And he fell into the water? If everyone were as "innocent" as you, this harem would have been peaceful long ago!"
The look in Xiao Jin's eyes when he looked at Zhang Wanru was so full of disgust that it almost overflowed.
Su Mingli wiped the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief at the right moment and gently reminded her, "Sister Zhang, you might have forgotten... The coroner has confirmed that Concubine Wang was pushed into the water from behind. There is indeed residual drug in her stomach. It's not... it's not as simple as a slip."
Zhang Wanru seemed not to understand and remained stubborn. "Then...then maybe she took a tranquilizer and wanted to go to the lake to clear her head, but the drug took effect and she accidentally slipped and fell."
[What a logical genius! I'm impressed!] Yun Zhao's inner villain was already kneeling on the ground with his hands on his forehead.
At this moment of absurd laughter and laughter, a seemingly inconspicuous little palace maid who had been kneeling in the corner suddenly rushed out. With a deliberately trembling voice, she pointed at Yun Zhao and shrieked, "Your Majesty! This servant...this servant saw it with my own eyes that day! It was Aunt Yun Zhao! She spoke to Concubine Wang by the lake! This servant saw it with absolute clarity!"
Boom! This accusation was like thunderclap from a clear sky!
Everyone's eyes instantly focused on Yun Zhao!
Zhang Wanru, as if grasping at a lifeline, immediately turned the gun around, pointed it at Yun Zhao, and shouted, "You bastard, Yun Zhao! Concubine Wang has no grudges against you in the past or present, so why did you do such a cruel thing?!"
[I killed someone? Ha! Even the dog emperor would laugh if he heard that!]
Yun Zhao sneered inwardly, but remained remarkably calm. She even took a half step forward, staring pointedly at the palace maid who had accused her. "Oh? You said it was me? Very good. Then I have three questions for you. Please answer them clearly in front of His Majesty and the other ladies!"
Her voice was clear and resounding:
"First, motive! I'm just a maidservant in front of the emperor. I have no connection with Concubine Wang. How would killing her benefit me? Why would I do something that harms others and does not benefit myself?"
"Second, time! You keep saying 'that day,' but which day exactly? The day before yesterday? The day before yesterday? Or even earlier? What's the exact time? Please be clear!"
"Third, the location! There are three artificial lakes in the Imperial Garden. Which one did you see me by? Were Concubine Wang and I standing or sitting when we talked? How far away were we? Was there anyone else around?"
Three questions, clearly organized and to the point!
The young maid's face turned pale, her eyes flickering, and she stammered, unable to answer a single word: "Your servant... Your servant... was, it was the evening before yesterday... at... at... by the largest lake..."
"By the largest lake?" Yun Zhao pressed on. "The area surrounding the largest 'Yingyue Lake' is wide open. Evening is when palace maids sweep and guards patrol, and there's a constant flow of people coming and going! Since you saw it so clearly, who were the maids sweeping the area? Which team of guards were on patrol? Who was the leader? Tell me, so His Majesty can send someone to investigate!"
"I... I..." The little palace maid was completely panicked. She collapsed to the ground and trembled like a sieve.
“Puff—”
A clear laugh broke the tense silence in the hall!
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound in disbelief - they saw Xiao Jin on the throne, actually... couldn't hold it in and laughed out loud!
Although it was only a very short sound, he immediately put his fist to his lips and tried to cover it up with a cough, but the slightly raised corners of his mouth and the smile that flashed in his eyes were real!
Throughout the Yanying Palace, you could hear a pin drop! The concubines were all dumbfounded! When had they ever seen the emperor laugh?
Especially in such a "heavy sadness" occasion!
Zhang Fuan, worthy of being the most astute person in the imperial court, immediately stepped forward and said in a loud voice, "My lords, I am sorry to trouble you! This matter is complicated. Please return to the palace and rest. Imperial Concubine Su, Imperial Concubine Zhang, Imperial Concubine Li, and Concubine Liu, who shares the palace with Concubine Wang, can stay."
Yun Zhao almost lost his composure. He suppressed his laughter and prepared to follow the crowd out of this dangerous place.
"Yun Zhao," Xiao Jin's voice had returned to its usual coldness, but he stopped her. "You will assist Concubine Su in investigating this case within three days. I demand a definitive conclusion. Zhou Si," he glanced at the silent commander of the Imperial Guards, "The Imperial Guards will be at your disposal and fully cooperate."
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