Chapter 475: Chapter 475: Another Person Dead
Mu Yan’s words made everyone look at him, “As long as everyone can prove their innocence, that will suffice. I was just with General Ye, which is enough to prove General Ye’s innocence.”
Ye Xiuhan nodded, “I can also testify that the Regent King was indeed with .”
Prince Xian’s wife, knowing she had just t with Prince Qi in private and feeling guilty, clung to Zhan Lan’s arm and said, “I was with the Imperial Aunt.”
Zhan Lan maintained a calm deanor, “It was a coincidence that I ran into Prince Xian’s wife while watching the river lanterns.”
Prince Xian imdiately defended himself, “Just now, I was using the restroom and saw Marquis Lin Yuan enter this room.”
Marquis Lin Yuan glared at Prince Xian and said coldly, “I am responsible for this family banquet, arranging everything ticulously. Which room haven’t I been to!”
His gaze turned to Prince Qi, “Prince Qi, why don’t you say where you were just now? I suspect you killed Si Yao!”
Prince Qi, already feeling guilty for eting Prince Xian’s wife in secret, tried to maintain his composure and said, “I was standing not far from the Imperial Aunt and Prince Xian’s wife at that ti!”
Emperor Qingwu listened to everyone’s statents and sneered, saying, “Each of you has an alibi. Are you suggesting that I killed the Grand Princess!”
Emperor Qingwu glanced at Mu Yan’s expression and said in a deep voice, “Alright, since Marquis Lin Yuan and Prince Qi are under suspicion, both of them will be temporarily confined to their residences until I investigate thoroughly!”
Emperor Qingwu didn’t want Marquis Lin Yuan to die and intended to use this as a delaying tactic to protect him for now.
Marquis Lin Yuan, knowing he was at fault and understanding Si Yun’s intention, had no choice but to obey.
Prince Qi felt extrely wronged, “Please, Your Majesty, thoroughly investigate. I have never been to that room.”
“I second that!” Marquis Lin Yuan shalessly echoed.
Emperor Qingwu looked at Ye Xiuhan, “General Ye, this is a family matter of mine. When you return to Beiyue, I hope you can say that Si Yao died of excessive grief over the late emperor’s passing.”
“Alright.” Ye Xiuhan didn’t care at all about how Si Yao died.
After all, she was a vicious woman who wanted to harm him and Zhan Lan, so her death was well-deserved!
An eerie atmosphere lood over the family banquet because of Si Yao’s death.
Emperor Qingwu lost interest and ordered the captain to steer the boat away from the shore.
Prince Xian’s wife looked at Prince Qi uneasily, calculating the ti they had been apart, realizing it was impossible for Prince Qi to have killed Si Yao.
But she couldn’t admit being with Prince Qi at the ti.
If she did, death would be her only fate.
Prince Qi cast a disappointed glance at Prince Xian’s wife, knowing she would never testify for him. In the end, this woman only thought of herself.
However, he had already retaliated against this woman who abandoned him!
Prince Qi felt disgusted seeing Prince Xian and his wife and went to the stern to feel the breeze.
Prince Xian darkly gazed at his wife and a faint, indiscernible smile appeared on his lips.
Not long after, soone shouted, “Prince Qi fell into the lake!”
“What?”
“Quick, save him!”
The eunuchs lit lanterns while the Imperial Army jumped into the water to rescue him.
But the night was dark across the lake, and they couldn’t find him.
Zhan Lan noticed Prince Xian’s wife was nervous, her hand tightly clutching a kerchief.
Half an incense stick later, Prince Qi was fished out of the water.
His face was ashen, and he lay on the deck soaked through.
“Quick, save him!” Emperor Qingwu commanded.
The Imperial Army pressed hard on Prince Qi’s body, but he was already cold and unresponsive.
Emperor Qingwu was shocked, for two people had died at this evening’s family banquet!
He began to feel that everyone around him was becoming unreliable.
Prince Xian’s wife was terrified, unable to look at Prince Qi’s corpse.
Si Yuzhang shook his head, “This Marquis has long said today’s matters are not so simple. Everyone sees, Prince Qi also died, and it wasn’t done by this Marquis.”
Prince Xian’s face was serious, and he said nothing.
The boat docked, and suddenly a dozen Imperial Army mbers rushed from the shore.
They surrounded Prince Xian, one of them pointing a sword at him.
“What are you doing!” Prince Xian glared angrily.
Emperor Qingwu also felt puzzled, “I didn’t order you to arrest anyone, what are you doing?”
He didn’t think arresting Prince Xian was wrong, but not knowing was indeed wrong!
These Imperial Army troops weren’t listening to his commands at all.
Emperor Qingwu looked at Mu Yan.
Mu Yan’s gaze was on Zhan Lan, who spoke boldly, “Your Majesty, the murderer of Prince Qi has been found.”
Prince Xian’s body trembled.
“Imperial Aunt, what do you an by this?” Emperor Qingwu was already in a bad mood, but he also feared Zhan Lan, so he added the words, ‘Imperial Aunt.’
“Why don’t you tell us, Prince Xian?” Zhan Lan looked at Prince Xian.
Prince Xian coldly snorted and began to argue back, “I was with the Princess all along; how could I have killed Prince Qi!”
Zhan Lan locked eyes with him, “The Princess once wavered between you and Prince Qi but ultimately chose you. When you discovered her ongoing affair with Prince Qi, you were driven to kill.”
Hearing Zhan Lan’s words, Prince Xian suddenly felt short of breath.
Zhan Lan continued, “You poisoned the Princess. When Prince Qi embraced her, he got poisoned too, and you watched in the dark. Prince Qi fell into the lake because of the poison. If you don’t believe it, we can have it examined.”
Prince Xian’s wife was stunned. She hadn’t expected that her clothes were poisoned, refusing to believe that Prince Qi died because of her.
“Impossible, why wasn’t I poisoned?” Prince Xian’s wife, at this point, had nothing left to lose.
Zhan Lan confidently replied, “Because Prince Xian already gave you the antidote beforehand. The powder is also on your body. If you don’t believe it, we can have it checked.”
Zhan Lan’s words were clear; Prince Qi and Prince Xian’s wife had physical contact, which led to the poisoning.
“The poisoned person would feel weak and powerless, so that’s why Prince Qi suddenly fell into the lake.”
Zhan Lan continued to analyze, “Think about it, everyone. Even if Prince Qi couldn’t swim, he should have at least struggled in the water.”
Zhan Lan’s analysis left everyone speechless; yes.
A normal person would struggle if they fell into the water. If they couldn’t struggle, it must an they were paralyzed.
Prince Xian continued to refute, “The fireworks were loud; perhaps we didn’t hear Prince Qi’s cries for help! Imperial Aunt, why are you targeting ?”
Mu Yan’s eyes bore deeply into him, “Apologize to my Princess!”
Under Mu Yan’s gaze, Prince Xian involuntarily apologized to Zhan Lan, “Imperial Aunt, I was wrong to collide with you just now.”
Mu Yan said coldly, “Conspiring to murder a prince is a serious cri, you’d better co clean!”
Prince Xian lowered his eyes, staying silent.
Si Yuzhang squinted his eyes, realizing that he wasn’t the only killer tonight; Prince Xian was not an easy foe either!
Si Yuzhang then suggested, “Let’s have soone check. If Prince Xian’s wife’s clothes are tested, the truth will be revealed.”
Prince Xian glared fiercely at Si Yuzhang, his Imperial Uncle was truly a malevolent, sinister figure!
Prince Xian’s wife remained dumbly in place, at a loss.
Just as Emperor Qingwu was about to speak, Zhan Lan said, “There is still so residual powder on Prince Xian’s wife’s neck, whether it’s perfu or poison, I don’t know?”
Prince Xian imdiately looked at his wife’s neck, surprised at Zhan Lan’s attentiveness to notice such a detail.
Zhan Lan noticed sweat beginning to appear on Prince Xian’s forehead, and her cold gaze fixed on him, “Prince Xian, why are you sweating on such a cold day? Besides killing Prince Qi, there is sothing else you haven’t confessed to!”
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