At once, everyone present was startled by these words.
Especially Consort Yi, who was kneeling below. She had just escaped death and was finally beginning to relax, but upon hearing this, her expression instantly changed, and she raised her head to look at Xue Yan.
For something like this, she naturally had to send the palace maid she trusted most. The girl had been brought from her family home, had followed her since childhood, and was trained in martial arts. Unlike Taozhi, she did not follow her around openly in public, making her the most suitable candidate.
But Consort Yi had not expected that, in the darkness of night, Xue Yan’s eyes would be so sharp that he could even remember her appearance clearly.
She raised her head and saw Xue Yan calmly turn around and point toward a palace maid standing behind her.
“It should be her. She has a mole on her left cheek. There were fireworks on the upper floor last night, and Your son saw her clearly,” Xue Yan said.
The person who had tricked Jun Huailang into going out and pushed him into Taiye Lake was one of Consort Yi’s people, while Consort Yi was having a secret affair with the Lingtai Lang from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau—the very man who had predicted that there would be baleful energy today.
Now, the three people connected to this matter were all here. Everyone present could understand the connection without having to think too deeply.
At once, everyone’s expressions became difficult to read.
Especially Emperor Qingping on the seat above them. His expression changed, and his gaze immediately became sharp.
He had never imagined that his little white-flower-like consort could possess such methods.
If it was her person who had pushed Jun Huailang into Taiye Lake last night, then the harm done to the heir of the Jun family, the discord created between himself and Duke Yongning, and the claim that Xue Yan was the baleful presence struck by the heir of the Jun family… all of it had been orchestrated by this woman.
It involved both an imperial heir and the imperial court.
He had never expected that the woman who had caused him the least trouble would ultimately be the one to bring him the greatest trouble.
Along with his disbelief, a surge of anger rose in Emperor Qingping’s heart.
He had actually been toyed with by such a seemingly weak woman.
He looked at Consort Yi and demanded angrily, “Your palace maid?!”
Consort Yi’s tear-reddened eyes looked toward Emperor Qingping.
Her father had used retreat as a means of advancing, preserving her life while also taking the opportunity to demonstrate his loyalty before the Emperor. Originally, once this matter passed, even if she were confined to the Cold Palace, she would still have a chance.
Her child had already reached the age where he could enter the court. As long as he could ascend the throne, she would have something to hope for.
But if this matter were confirmed, it would mean that they had used the power of prophecy and occult omens to frame an imperial prince. She would have no chance of escaping death, and the Xu family would not be able to escape involvement either.
It concerned the struggle for the succession, which was another great taboo of Emperor Qingping.
If that happened, not only would she be unable to escape death, it would also implicate her imperial son and the entire Xu family. Her son would then have no possibility of ever making a comeback.
Consort Yi hurriedly shook her head.
“Your Majesty, this concubine knows nothing about this!”
She stubbornly refused to admit it. She figured that Emperor Qingping would have no way to do anything either. The matter of her secret meeting with the Lingtai Lang had been witnessed by everyone, and there was no way to argue her innocence. But what this palace maid had done last night could not be established based solely on Xue Yan’s word.
Sure enough, Emperor Qingping remained silent and looked toward Xue Yan.
“Did anyone else see her?” he asked.
That place had been secluded. There had only been Xue Yan and Jun Huailang there, and Jun Huailang was still unconscious. Moreover, even if Jun Huailang were awake, he had only exchanged glances with that palace maid once or twice. Most likely, he would not be able to recognize her.
Naturally, Xue Yan alone could not identify her as proof.
Yet Xue Yan was not nervous in the slightest.
He cupped his hands and said, “Father Emperor, your son did not remember incorrectly, but I have no other evidence. We can have this person taken to the Department of Caution and Punishment and deal with her from there.”
Consort Yi breathed a sigh of relief.
Her father was here. Naturally, he would know what to do.
Many of the officials and eunuchs in the Department of Caution and Punishment had connections to her family. If they wanted to quietly kill someone, it would be incredibly easy.
…This boy looks clever, but in the end, he is nothing special.
Emperor Qingping nodded at his words.
“Then do that,” he said.
Just as Consort Yi breathed another sigh of relief, Xue Yan spoke again.
“Your son requests permission to personally interrogate this palace maid.”
Emperor Qingping looked at him.
Xue Yan calmly said, “Your son has seen this palace maid before and has had contact with her. There are things I wish to ask her myself. I am also afraid that something might go wrong in the Department of Caution and Punishment. If they use too much force and torture the prisoner to death, then there will be no witness left to contradict the dead.”
The words no witness left to contradict the dead lightly fell into the ears of Consort Yi and her father.
Anyone could hear that he was afraid they would secretly kill the prisoner, which was why he wanted to personally keep watch over her.
Emperor Qingping thought about it and agreed.
After all, if it were true, then this palace maid was the culprit who had framed the heir of Duke Yongning. If she died under unclear circumstances, he would have no way to explain it to Duke Yongning.
After all, there would still be occasions in the coming years when he would need to make use of him.
Xue Yan continued, “Your son would also like to ask Father Emperor to assign me some men.”
Emperor Qingping asked, “What do you need them for?”
Xue Yan glanced at Chancellor Xu, who was prostrating himself on the floor.
“I want to send people outside the palace to investigate whether this palace maid has any family,” he said lightly. “If she is being controlled by someone, then she certainly will not be able to tell the truth. That would make the interrogation much more difficult.”
Consort Yi stared at him in disbelief, her eyes widening.
That palace maid was a hereditary servant of the Xu family, brought from her family home. Naturally, her parents were also under her family’s control and took orders from her parents.
If something happened to this palace maid in the palace, the Xu family would naturally take control of her parents to ensure that she did not say anything she should not.
Yet all of this… had just been laid out plainly by Xue Yan before Emperor Qingping.
Back then, she had only thought that if this child were sent to Yan territory, he would certainly grow up into a barbarian in that desolate wilderness.
She had never imagined that she would instead raise a wolf.
Xue Yan turned his eyes to the side and calmly met her gaze.
Hearing this, Emperor Qingping felt that Xue Yan’s reasoning made sense. He looked at Chancellor Xu again and said, “Go ahead and do it. I will assign a squad of Imperial Guards for you to command.”
After all, it was Xue Yan who had made the request, and Xue Yan would be the one handling the matter. Emperor Qingping might as well let him do it. He himself also wanted to know whether the Xu family truly harbored such ambitions and had really planted spies in the palace.
Xue Yan received the order without either humility or arrogance and bowed to express his thanks. He glanced sideways at Jinbao, then led him out.
Behind him, Chancellor Xu, who was still prostrating himself on the floor, turned his head and looked at Consort Yi.
Now that they could not touch this palace maid, they did not dare touch her family either. To eliminate any possibility of an accident, they could only minimize their losses as much as possible to ensure the Xu family’s safety.
After being father and daughter for so many years, Consort Yi understood his meaning with just one glance.
She was going to be… abandoned by the Xu family.
Consort Yi’s legs went weak. She sank down onto her knees, and two clear tears suddenly slid down her cheeks.
——
The Department of Caution and Punishment did not use much torture before the palace maid obediently confessed.
She only said that Consort Yi had secretly become jealous of Consort Shu’s favor, so she had set her sights on Consort Shu’s nephew. She had sent the palace maid to push Jun Huailang into the water, merely wanting to teach Consort Shu a lesson.
And this matter had nothing to do with the Xu family or the Fourth Prince. It was simply Consort Yi acting out of jealousy and making a foolish mistake.
Xue Yan sat outside the prison cell and watched as the palace maid signed and sealed her confession. He then had the people from the Department of Caution and Punishment send the written confession to Emperor Qingping.
Before long, an imperial decree arrived. The palace maid was sentenced to death by chariot dismemberment, while Consort Yi was given a white silk sash to hang herself.
Xue Yan handed the imperial decree over to the Imperial Guards for execution, then rose and left the Department of Caution and Punishment.
The moment they left, Jinbao hurried after him.
“Master, why aren’t you continuing the investigation?” he whispered anxiously. “Her confession clearly has nothing to do with the truth, and you even allowed the Xu family to send someone in to pass her a message!”
Jinbao was practically dying of impatience.
Xue Yan glanced at him indifferently.
“Consort Yi is dead.” The corner of his lips curled slightly. “That is enough.”
Jinbao still felt unwilling to accept it and followed behind Xue Yan, muttering under his breath.
“You shouldn’t have told them your entire plan right in front of them!” he whispered. “If you had secretly investigated her, you definitely would have found something! What a pity, sigh…”
Xue Yan raised an eyebrow.
Have I been acting too kind these past few days? Why does this servant seem to have grown quite a bit bolder?
“You’re noisy,” Xue Yan said calmly, turning his eyes to the side.
Jinbao could only shut his mouth and silently follow behind him.
Xue Yan withdrew his gaze.
Naturally, he had needed to say those things. He had deliberately waited until Chancellor Xu entered the hall before identifying that palace maid precisely so that he could say all of those words for Chancellor Xu to hear.
The Xu family was enormous, deeply established, and possessed an extremely wide network of connections. Forget one squad of Imperial Guards—even if he were given three times as many, they would not be able to uncover anything in a short period of time.
He had deliberately said those things in front of Emperor Qingping precisely to frighten them.
They had already lost face before Emperor Qingping and were flustered and dejected. On top of that, such a major matter had been discovered. They would certainly no longer dare to gamble.
Even if there were only a fifty-fifty chance that they would be discovered, they would not dare take the risk.
Consort Yi was now merely a commoner who had been stripped of her title and confined to the Cold Palace. She was already of little use to the Xu family.
What remained now was only that small bit of father-daughter affection between her and Chancellor Xu. But Chancellor Xu held the highest position in the court. Naturally, he would not risk the slightest harm to the Xu family for the sake of such familial affection.
And all Xue Yan wanted was Consort Yi’s life.
She had dared to lay a hand on Jun Huailang, which had already crossed his greatest taboo. Although he currently had little power or influence, using the forces of various sides to take her life was still not difficult.
At the thought of Jun Huailang, Xue Yan suddenly stopped walking.
From the time he had gone to the Buddhist hall yesterday to copy scriptures until now, he had not even gone to see Jun Huailang once.
He had only heard last night that Jun Huailang’s fever had gone down. But at that time, he had to personally remain in the Buddhist hall so that Jinbao could naturally and logically catch those two people.
…He should go see him.
For some reason, Xue Yan suddenly felt a strange sense of shyness, like someone returning to his hometown after being away for a long time. He even inexplicably thought of that moment in the water last night… that unavoidable touch.
Whatever the reason, his own lips had touched the other person’s lips.
This thought made Xue Yan’s mind belatedly explode with heat, burning even the tips of his ears until they were scorching hot.
It had been somewhat… improper, after all.
This wolf cub raised in the wilderness had never known what propriety was. Yet now, for some inexplicable reason, such a thought had suddenly popped into his head.
He quietly cleared his throat and looked toward Jinbao, painstakingly pretending to appear completely unconcerned.
“Where is the heir now? Has he awakened?” he asked with forced composure.
He had probably come out of his fever last night, so he should be awake by now. He simply did not know what state he was in.
Xue Yan did not know what he should say when he saw him either, but he desperately wanted to see him.
He wanted to see whether Jun Huailang was truly safe and sound, and personally let him know that the people who had harmed him had already been dealt with.
But Jinbao suddenly became hesitant.
“The heir… has gone back.”
Xue Yan froze.
“What?”
Jinbao cautiously glanced at his expression.
He had now gained two or three parts of understanding of this living King of Hell, and he knew even better what that living Bodhisattva meant to him.
“This…” Jinbao finally forced himself to say it. “Before sunrise today, His Highness the Heir’s fever went down. Madam Duke Yongning insisted on taking him home. His Majesty and Her Ladyship Consort Shu did not stop her, so…”
Jinbao swallowed.
“…His Highness the Heir has already left the palace and returned home.”
As he spoke, he secretly glanced at Xue Yan.
Sure enough, the upward curl at the corners of this living King of Hell’s lips—the one he had thought he had hidden so well—slowly, bit by bit, drooped downward.