Ignoring Feng Qingchen’s constipated expression, Lin Qingge continued, “I am now more curious as to how many connections and hidden assets Prime Minister Shangguan amassed to set up such a grand scheme? Oh, and where is the maid named ‘Qiao Yue’? I haven’t seen her since I left the room.”
“Qiao Yue is dead.”
“What?!” Lin Qingge’s eyes widened in disbelief at Leng Ningyue’s response. “Seeing as you were taking so long, I dismissed those incessant women and went to find you. However, I couldn’t find you anywhere. Instead, I found Qiao Yue’s lifeless body behind the house.” Leng Ningyue’s brows furrowed deeply as she spoke. “Because I was worried you might act rashly on your own, I specifically asked Granny Yu for a maid who knew martial arts before the banquet began. That maid was Qiao Yue. According to Granny Yu, Qiao Yue’s skills were not bad. Even so, she was killed with a single blow, which suggests the murderer must have possessed formidable martial arts skills.”
“I caused Qiao Yue’s death.” Lin Qingge lowered her head in self-blame. She had initially thought Qiao Yue was another pawn in Prime Minister Shangguan’s scheme, otherwise, why would she have coincidentally disappeared? Now, she realized her thinking was too narrow. Qiao Yue had likely met her demise by the time she had finished changing.
“Although you might not like to hear this, I am actually fortunate that I asked Granny Yu for someone back then. Had Qiao Yue not blocked that blow, it’s possible it would have been you who died.” Leng Ningyue grew more fearful as she spoke, her gaze as cold as ice, as if she wished to rip Shangguan Hong to shreds.
Fearing that Leng Ningyue might storm out to commit murder, Lin Qingge tugged at her lips. “Uh, well, I am perfectly fine, couldn’t be better! But Qiao Yue died because of me. Other than providing compensation for her family and holding a memorial service for her, I truly cannot think of any other way to make amends…”
Seeing Lin Qingge’s once bright eyes dimming, Leng Ningyue comforted her, “No matter how much you blame yourself, Qiao Yue cannot be brought back to life. So, besides taking good care of her family, you must also take good care of yourself. The greatest tribute to her now is to find the true killer. And only you can do that!”
Looking at the two individuals gazing at each other with a profound connection, the new emperor cleared his throat again, forcefully reasserting his presence. “Lord Lin, how did you appear in the Eastern Ying Crown Prince’s resting chambers?”
“Replying to Your Majesty, I was drugged and woke up at the scene of the crime.”
She had to admit, the scheme was incredibly brilliant. Every step was perfectly coordinated. Without the Grand Emperor’s jade pendant gifted by Elder Su, she would have almost certainly been imprisoned. Thinking of this, Lin Qingge slapped her thigh. “If my changing clothes in that room was the first link in the chain, then the real trap must have been set much earlier! In other words, the maid who poured wine for me and the ladies who came to toast Her Majesty the Empress were not mere coincidences.”
“Prime Minister Feng!” Feng Qingchen, called upon by the new emperor, promptly stood up to accept the order. “Yes, Your Majesty. I shall go investigate immediately.” With that, Feng Qingchen strode out.
Thus, only Lin Qingge, Leng Ningyue, and the new emperor remained in the room. Seeing that there were no outsiders, Lin Qingge’s upright spine curved as she lazily sank into a chair, asking with confusion, “However, how did Prime Minister Shangguan know that I was actually disguised as a man?”
“Prime Minister Shangguan couldn’t possibly know that you were disguised as a man. So, is there a possibility that Prime Minister Shangguan initially intended to deal with you as a woman? After all, you, being bestowed the title of Princess Changle and having the Empress’s backing, are far more of a threat than Lin Jingxing, a mere fourth-rank official of Shuntian Prefecture. Or perhaps, Prime Minister Shangguan originally intended to frame Lin Jingxing but couldn’t find him. Therefore, he had to shift his target and frame you, his sister, as a murderer. In this way, Lin Jingxing, as the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, would certainly not stand idly by. Who would have thought that in the end, it was you, who had changed back into male attire, who fell into the trap?”
Listening to the new emperor’s somewhat pale and forced analysis, Lin Qingge’s doubts only grew. Because in either case, her cross-dressing was likely exposed. However, judging by Prime Minister Shangguan’s aggressive questioning earlier, he hadn’t mentioned it at all, suggesting he was most likely unaware. But if Prime Minister Shangguan didn’t know she was a woman, how could he have orchestrated the maid to spill wine on her, the Princess Changle? So, was there someone else behind this entire plot? And for someone capable of such a meticulous plan, the first person who came to Lin Qingge’s mind was one individual.
“I want to know, was that person who died actually the Eastern Ying Crown Prince himself?” Understanding Lin Qingge’s implication, Leng Ningyue frowned. “I only caught a fleeting glimpse and didn’t look too closely. But based on my understanding of that person, ‘he’ wouldn’t die so easily.”
“Although I don’t know who Her Majesty the Empress is referring to as ‘he,’ that Eastern Ying Crown Prince is indeed an acquaintance.” Seeing Murong Bai appear at the doorway, Lin Qingge raised an eyebrow. “An acquaintance?”
“Lord Lin, you would never guess it, but we’ve seen the face beneath the Eastern Ying Crown Prince’s mask before. I can give you a small hint: Wolong Villa.”
Upon hearing those familiar four words, Lin Qingge’s mind suddenly lit up. “Are you referring to Manor Lord Long’s fourth disciple, Su Mo?”
“As expected of you, Lord Lin.” However, upon receiving confirmation, Lin Qingge’s brow furrowed even deeper. “Coroner Murong, are you certain the deceased was not disguised?”
“Certain. Not only was there no disguise, but no bone reshaping or skin alteration either. It was indeed the same Su Mo we saw at Wolong Villa.”
“Were there any scratches on the Eastern Ying Crown Prince’s body?”
“The deceased had multiple scratches on his back, and a hairpin puncture mark on his shoulder. While these marks are very fresh, the color of the wounds suggests they formed one to two hours ago. Therefore, it is certain that the deceased was the Eastern Ying Crown Prince who appeared at the banquet.”
“This…how is this possible?” Feeling as if her throat was being constricted by an invisible hand, Lin Qingge took several deep breaths. At this moment, she still couldn’t believe that Fu Xun, a member of the Dawn, was dead? “No, I still need to see for myself!”
“Lord Lin may not believe in my professional capabilities, but that old scoundrel Shangguan Hong is guarding the entrance. I doubt he would allow Lord Lin, who should be confined here, to leave easily.” Hearing Murong Bai’s words, Lin Qingge’s eyes lit up, and she immediately had an idea. “I may not be able to, but this Princess can!”