44You bastard, what explanation do you have?!
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Chapter 44 You bastard, what explanation do you have?!
Consort Xian said, "This was personally written by Wei Xingchen after Your humble servant sent someone to interrogate him!"
Consort Xian was quite clever.
She actually knew that this confession was sent by Shen Yulou, but if he were to hand it over, it would lack authority.
For her son's revenge, Consort Xian could only claim she interrogated him herself for greater credibility.
Shen Yulou also breathed a sigh of relief; indeed, none of the women in this deep palace were to be underestimated.
Emperor Ren said coldly.
"Consort Qing, how do you explain this?"
Consort Qing was also a bit flustered at this time, "Your humble servant has been wronged! This is Wei Xingchen framing me!"
Emperor Ren's face was exceedingly grim; he looked at Shen Yulou and asked.
"Minister Shen, you are in charge of investigating this matter, do you have any leads?"
Shen Yulou said, "Your Majesty, Your humble servant also learned from Wei Xingchen's confession that Consort Qing was the mastermind behind this.
However, it is indeed possible that Wei Xingchen is framing her, and Your humble servant does not have conclusive evidence, so I have not yet reported it."
Emperor Ren narrowed his eyes, a faint killing intent emanating from him; the oppressive aura of an emperor was truly suffocating.
"Besides the confession, have you found any other investigative results these past few days?"
Shen Yulou said, "Your humble servant found out that the Prince died of lead poisoning, and it was chronic, long-term poisoning.
Your humble servant learned that the Prince had a bad habit of biting the end of his writing brush when he wrote.
When Your humble servant went to investigate, I found that all the brush handles the Prince used had been discarded; I asked the Imperial Household Department, and they were also unaware."
A fierce glint suddenly flashed in Emperor Ren's eyes.
"Consort Qing's younger brother deals in the Four Treasures of the Study, so Consort Qing has always been in charge of the Four Treasures of the Study within the palace.
Consort Qing, how dare you!"
Consort Qing's face changed dramatically, "Your Majesty, Your humble servant has been wronged!"
Hu Jianye also became a bit nervous, "Your Majesty, this matter is clearly a frame-up; please reconsider!"
Just then, a eunuch outside shouted.
"Noble Consort seeks an audience."
The Emperor frowned; why had Noble Consort come as well?
Everyone turned to look, only to see the graceful, charming Noble Consort approaching elegantly.
"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty."
Emperor Ren said, "Yun Shu, why have you come?"
Noble Consort said, "Your humble servant heard that Your Majesty is investigating the Prince's matter, and Your humble servant has some things here that might provide some clues."
Emperor Ren was stunned for a moment, "What clues does Noble Consort have?"
Noble Consort said, "When Your humble servant was waiting for Your Majesty in the Imperial Study earlier, I happened to encounter The Twenty-Fifth Prince, and Your humble servant borrowed a brush from him; now I find that this brush is different from what we usually use."
Consort Qing's face changed dramatically; she looked up, and instantly her face turned ashen!
Emperor Ren took the brush and examined it, finding that the end of the brush handle was actually a piece of lead.
Emperor Ren gripped the brush tightly, furious, and slammed the brush hard onto Consort Qing.
"Bitch! How do you explain this?"
Consort Qing was flustered, "Your humble servant doesn't know, Your humble servant has been wronged!"
Hu Jianye also quickly spoke up for Consort Qing, "Your Majesty, Noble Consort is kind-hearted and would never do such a thing."
"Shut up!"
Emperor Ren was enraged, "Whether she did it or not, This Emperor will decide!"
"Send Consort Qing to the Cold Palace! A decision will be made after the Prince's case is thoroughly investigated!"
Consort Qing's face was as white as paper, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty…"
Alas, no matter how Consort Qing cried out, Emperor Ren never looked at her again.
After Consort Qing was taken away, Hu Jianye was heartbroken, gritting his teeth and saying.
"Your Majesty, Shen Yulou murdered My Son, please punish him!"
Consort Qing's downfall was all Shen Yulou's fault; if Shen Yulou were to be safe and sound today, he would be restless!
Emperor Ren said coldly, "Minister Shen, do you still have a way to prove your innocence?"
Shen Yulou said, "Yes! Lord Hu said Your humble servant poisoned the Imperial Uncle, Your humble servant requests an autopsy for the Imperial Uncle; whether it was poison or not will be clear at a glance.
If the Imperial Uncle died of poisoning, Your humble servant is willing to accept the blame!"
Emperor Ren said, "Good! This Emperor grants it! Tonight, we must get to the bottom of this matter!"
Half an hour later, Hu Chen's body was sent into the palace, and several old eunuchs and professional coroners prepared to perform an autopsy on Hu Chen in the morgue.
Emperor Ren, Shen Yulou, and others watched nearby.
Emperor Ren's expression was very cold; the events of today made him extremely angry.
If the Prince had died of illness, he could still accept it.
But to die from palace infighting, this truly made him furious.
The reason they framed Shen Yulou was that they were afraid he would uncover the Prince's case; it was utterly preposterous!
After dissecting the body, several coroners carefully examined it and said.
"Your Majesty, no signs of poisoning were found in the Imperial Uncle's body."
Hu Jianye's face changed dramatically, "This is impossible!"
A cold smile played on Shen Yulou's lips; if it were poison, it would be easily detected.
Hu Chen's true cause of death was respiratory failure caused by cephalosporin encountering alcohol, not ordinary poisoning.
Although acetaldehyde would also be produced in the body, the silver needle used for detecting poison could naturally not detect acetaldehyde now.
Emperor Ren said coldly.
"Hu Jianye, what else do you have to say?"
Seeing the enraged Emperor Ren, Hu Jianye suppressed the anger in his heart.
"This old subject has nothing to say!"
"Get out."
Although Consort Qing had been sent to the Cold Palace, she had not yet been executed, so there was still a chance for things to turn around.
Hu Jianye had also not received any punishment, indicating that Emperor Ren probably wasn't planning to move against the Hu Family.
Hu Jianye said, "This old subject takes his leave," then gave Shen Yulou a cold look; at this moment, Shen Yulou was already a dead man in his eyes.
After Hu Jianye left, Emperor Ren pinched the bridge of his nose and said.
"Minister Shen, the Prince's matter can be investigated in a few days; Princess Naxing is the priority now, do not delay."
Shen Yulou nodded, "As you command."
...Returning to the Wet Nurse Department, Qin Guiru and Tao Hong were waiting anxiously in the hall.
Seeing Shen Yulou return, both were overjoyed.
"Are you alright?"
Shen Yulou shook his head, "I'm fine, Tao Hong, come with me to Consort Qing's chambers."
Tao Hong followed Shen Yulou out in a hurry; along the way, Tao Hong learned what had happened.
She was shocked.
"Lord Shen, did you really… kill the Imperial Uncle?"
Shen Yulou smiled, "Guess?"
"I don't dare to guess."
Tao Hong pouted, a little worried.
"Oh, right, didn't Consort Qing go to the Cold Palace? Why are we still going to her place?"
"To see The 23rd Prince."
The 23rd Prince, named Zhao Ying, was Consort Qing's son.
He broke his leg after being stepped on by a horse when he was young, becoming lame.
Otherwise, Zhao Ying, with his literary and martial prowess, was one of the best among the princes and had a very good chance of being made crown prince.
Logically, a twelve-year-old prince should have moved into the Prince's Residence, but because Zhao Ying was special, Consort Qing strongly requested that he remain in her chambers.
Although Consort Qing had entered the Cold Palace, the Hu Family had not yet fallen.
Shen Yulou, to establish a firm footing, could just make use of the Hu Family's power.
Arriving at Consort Qing's chambers, Zhao Ying was still asleep, unaware of what had happened in the palace.
Tao Hong came to the door and announced.
"Your Royal Highness, Your Majesty has sent an imperial physician to examine your leg.