Chapter 972 Handwriting
Yuwen Yuan's expression hardened again. He paused for a moment, then said, "Continue."
Chu Ruoyan said, "So, someone put this lid in the medicine containing clove powder beforehand, and it became contaminated with clove dust and smell. The first time, because the amount used was small, Yuan Gan's condition improved slightly after taking the medicine, but after only one night, he developed an aversion to cloves, cried incessantly, and even had convulsions."
"..."
"This time, the mastermind increased the dosage, intending to kill Yuan Gan!"
Yuwen Yuan asked in a deep voice, "Who is it?"
Upon hearing him speak, Chu Ruoyan fell silent, while Shang Ruyi raised her head and solemnly met Yuwen Yuan's grave gaze, saying, "The ones who did these things are the ones who framed me for having an affair with Sun Xianyue. Their purpose is to get Father to confine me so that they can take advantage of this time to deal with Yuan Gan!"
"..."
Yuwen Yuan's brows furrowed even more.
He pondered for a moment, his heavy breathing gradually easing, and said, "You say that what happened before was a frame-up, but how do you prove it?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Liu Yu and Tu She'er, who had just left to search for evidence at Qianqiu Palace, returned. Tu She'er was carrying a large stack of Xuan paper. Liu Yu stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the evidence that Princess Qin mentioned is here."
Yuwen Yuan said, "Bring it here."
Tushe'er immediately placed the stack of Xuan paper in her hand on the table in front of him. Yuwen Yuan looked down and saw that it was the paper that Shang Ruyi used to practice calligraphy. On it were some poems and ancient texts that she had created or copied in recent days. Her brushstrokes were graceful and elegant, and they were all exquisite pieces of calligraphy.
Even with a heavy heart, Yuwen Yuan sighed inwardly.
But after reading two pages, he immediately looked up at Shang Ruyi and asked, "What kind of evidence is this?"
Shang Ruyi said, "Father, a few days ago I practiced calligraphy and calmed my mind in the Qianqiu Palace. All the characters I wrote were arranged and placed by Tu She'er, and the order in which she arranged them was according to the date I wrote them. The earliest ones were placed on top."
"oh?"
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Yuan looked down at the top of the list, which was the poem "Zhongsi" from the Book of Songs.
The brushstrokes are soft, but this softness reveals a stiffness, as if the strength and determination in the heart have been forcibly suppressed. So even though it is deliberately soft, the brushstrokes still reveal a bit of rigidity.
Yuwen Yuan flipped to the second page, which was a copy of "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu.
This one looks much more pleasing. The brushstrokes are vigorous and the ink is rich. Just by looking at it, you can feel a sense of bravery and killing intent. It is said that one's handwriting reflects one's personality, or more likely, one's heart. When copying military strategy, one's mind is filled with images of war and the fierce spirit of conquering thousands of miles. It is inevitable that one's brushstrokes will carry such a murderous aura.
but--
Yuwen Yuan frowned slightly and looked up at Shang Ruyi, seemingly still not understanding what the evidence was. Shang Ruyi said softly, "In fact, the first one that I actually wrote, just as I told Father Emperor that night, has already been stolen."
"..."
"That one says 'No Clothes'."
Yuwen Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly.
Now he understood why the brushstrokes of the second "Zhongsi" were so awkward. It was because he had just finished writing the first one, and the surging emotions in his heart had not yet subsided. When writing the second one, he inevitably carried that emotion with him, so it was awkward. But when he wrote the third "Military Strategy", it became smooth again.
And this—
Shang Ruyi said, "I would like to ask Father to bring out that so-called letter that I wrote to Sun Xianyue again so that we can compare them."
Yuwen Yuan's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately said to Liu Yu, "Go."
Liu Yu dared not delay and hurriedly turned to leave, but Shang Ruyi immediately said, "When you go to get that letter, please also bring the other piece of evidence from that night, the piece of clothing that Sun Xianyue left in the backyard of Qianqiu Palace."
Liu Yu was taken aback, turned to look at her, then looked at Yuwen Yuan, who said, "Go."
Liu Yu hurried off and returned shortly with the two items.
Shang Ruyi said, "The evidence is here; Father will know it at a glance."
In fact, Yuwen Yuan already had a general idea in his mind. He took the letter from that night and read it again. After reading it, he looked up at the people in the hall, his scrutiny deepening.
Han Yuhui, who was standing to the side, kept her head down and her face looked a little pale.
The somber atmosphere made Zhang Yuping somewhat uneasy. She forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty, what is wrong?"
Yuwen Yuan calmly said, "The handwriting that Princess Qin wrote at the beginning was vigorous and powerful, and it is indeed very similar to the handwriting on this letter to Sun Xianyue."
That's not—
"However, this is the handwriting of Princess Qin when she first started practicing calligraphy a few days ago."
As Yuwen Yuan spoke, he flipped open the thick sheet of Xuan paper and took out the last one. However, his expression was somewhat awkward. Zhang Yuping, who had been serving him, glanced down at it and immediately exclaimed "Oh!" before turning her face away.
The people in the hall were all somewhat surprised, wondering what she had seen.
Shang Ruyi's face flushed slightly at this moment, but he still raised his head and solemnly said, "This poem was written by your son when he missed the King of Qin. His state of mind is quite different from before, so the handwriting has also changed. Please investigate, Father."
Yuwen Yuan didn't speak, he just nodded slightly.
Even without Shang Ruyi saying it, he could tell what kind of mood this poem full of spring was expressing. He could also tell at a glance that when Shang Ruyi wrote this, his mood had softened. His writing was gentle, with faint traces of practice between the characters. The flowing lines conveyed a lingering and tender feeling, full of the tenderness of young lovers.
Shang Ruyi said, "I hope Your Majesty will investigate thoroughly. When I wrote this last piece of calligraphy, it was on the day that I supposedly sent that letter to Sun Xianyue, inviting him to meet at Qianqiu Palace. If it was indeed the letter I wrote, and it was for a private meeting, my handwriting should look like this piece of calligraphy, and it should not look like it did a few days ago."
"..."
"Unfortunately, the person who stole the words did not know that he simply took advantage of the time when we were exterminating termites and I was leaving with everyone to avoid the stimulation of bamboo vinegar. When the Thousand Autumns Palace was empty, he casually took the calligraphy I had written, which was placed on the top floor, and imitated the handwriting on it to write the letter that was intended for secret communication."
At this moment, Han Yuhui suddenly said, "But who can prove that the princess's calligraphy was indeed stolen?"
"..."
"This seems to be nothing more than the princess talking to herself from beginning to end."
Yuwen Yuan glanced back at her without saying anything, then looked at Shang Ruyi, who smiled faintly and said calmly, "Of course, someone can prove it."
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