When Mu Yunjin and Chu Li arrived at the Court of Justice’s interrogation hall, a crowd of commoners had already gathered outside. Many of them cursed as they saw Mu Yunjin step down from the carriage.

Although these commoners deliberately lowered their voices out of fear of Chu Li, some offensive words still reached Mu Yunjin’s ears.

Mu Yunjin frowned, irritated at being cursed at for no reason.

Inside the interrogation hall, Chen Pu was seated at the magistrate’s bench.

To the side, Master Huaiyuan, Li Yingxuan, Li Mingzhong, including Madam Li and others involved in the case, had all arrived.

The atmosphere in the entire interrogation hall was both eerie and solemn.

Chen Pu’s expression wasn’t pleasant either. This case was extremely thorny, and he couldn’t afford to offend either side.

But he had already sent his men to examine the Buddha statue and search the Water Cloud Temple, finding no clues whatsoever.

Having Mu Yunjin come to the interrogation hall now was merely putting on a show for the commoners.

…

…

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Chen Pu flipped through the case files and officially began the proceedings.

“Princess Ning, have you ever seen the Buddha statue in the secret chamber of Water Cloud Temple?” Chen Pu asked straightforwardly.

Mu Yunjin nodded, “Yes, I have.”

“When did you see it?” Chen Pu continued.

“I saw it when I went to Water Cloud Temple with the palace ladies to pray for blessings a few days ago,” Mu Yunjin replied.

Upon hearing this, Chen Pu glanced at the case files, “At what hour did you see the Buddha statue? Was someone accompanying you, or were you alone?”

Around the hour of Si (9-11 AM), the Korean Prince from East Lin Kingdom was about to move the Buddha statue from the secret chamber. I went to the secret chamber together with Master Huaiyuan and two friends,” Mu Yunjin answered word by word.

Hearing this, Chen Pu turned to look at Master Huaiyuan, who was bound in chains, “Is what Princess Ning claims true?”

“Entirely true. That Korean Prince from East Lin Kingdom is still imprisoned in the secret dungeon of Water Cloud Temple,” Master Huaiyuan confirmed.

At this moment, a woman dressed in plain white clothes spoke up, her tone contemptuous, “Everyone knows Master Huaiyuan concealed his knowledge about the Buddha statue. Who knows if Princess Ning and Master Huaiyuan have coordinated their statements?”

With these words, all eyes turned to the woman in white.

Mu Yunjin looked over and saw that this woman carried herself with dignity. Her skin was as lustrous as jade, clearly someone accustomed to a life of luxury.

Looking at her for a while, Mu Yunjin found her somewhat familiar, possibly one of the former consorts of the Western Ming Emperor, though she couldn’t recall her name.

“Are you the one who claims to have seen me interacting with the Buddha statue?” Mu Yunjin crossed her arms, looking at the woman in white.

The woman in white looked disdainfully at Mu Yunjin and nodded, “That’s right. I saw you enter the secret chamber, and you were alone, without Master Huaiyuan or any friends you mentioned.”

“I”? (referring to herself as “the grieved one”)

Mu Yunjin calculated that besides Grand Empress Dowager Zheng and Empress Dowager Rui, only the Empress Dowager could refer to herself this way.

But this woman in white appeared to be only in her thirties—how could she already be an Empress Dowager?

After a pause, Mu Yunjin didn’t dwell on this question and continued speaking—

“At what hour and location did you see me? When you saw me enter the secret chamber, was anyone else with you who witnessed this? And how are you certain that I was alone in the secret chamber and that I had contact with the Buddha statue?” Mu Yunjin fired a series of questions.

Since the woman was lying, even the slightest scrutiny would reveal numerous holes in her story.

This woman was probably another scapegoat sent to the front lines.

Hearing these questions, the woman in white didn’t appear flustered. She answered one by one, “I saw you just before the hour of Si. After you finished speaking with Zhuang Yuyan, you went to Master Huaiyuan’s meditation hall. Master Huaiyuan was accompanying Empress Dowager Rui in offering incense at that time, so he wasn’t in the meditation hall. Also, the Korean Prince from East Lin Kingdom is your fabrication—he never appeared in the secret chamber, nor is he in Water Cloud Temple’s dungeon.”

“Everything I’ve said was witnessed by the palace maids and eunuchs accompanying me, as well as several noble ladies and talented women. If you don’t believe me, they can be summoned to confront you.”

After the woman in white finished speaking, Mu Yunjin knew she had come well-prepared.

Rong Min had likely already been rescued from the dungeon.

Now, with both sides presenting their accounts, each with evidence and reasoning, it was impossible to determine who was telling the truth.

Mu Yunjin only knew that once this matter arose, even if she were innocent, it would entangle her for some time.

Chen Pu had originally thought there would be a reversal when Mu Yunjin asked her a series of questions, but he didn’t expect Noble Consort Liu to be so formidable. Now he didn’t even know what to do.

By rights, he was trying his best to protect Mu Yunjin.

But at the moment, he couldn’t find a good solution.

After thinking for a while, Chen Pu secretly gave Chu Li a pleading look.

Sitting to the side, Chu Li seemed not to notice Chen Pu’s glance, keeping his face tense and saying nothing.

Due to her special status, Li Yingxuan had been seated throughout the proceedings despite being a suspect. Now she spoke up, “Noble Consort Liu, you’re mistaken. After meeting Miss Zhuang, I was with Princess Ning the entire time. We went to the Buddha Hall to offer incense and pray for blessings until black-clad assassins rushed into Water Cloud Temple…”

“The Emperor is also aware of the assassination attempt, and Magistrate Chen should know about it too.”

Hearing this, Noble Consort Liu laughed coldly, “Yes, there were indeed black-clad men, but after they appeared, they were all silenced without causing any disturbance. Who can guarantee that they weren’t people sent by Princess Ning to stage a show?”

“In any case, you have your witnesses, and I have mine. I trouble Magistrate Chen thoroughly investigate this matter.”

“Everyone knows that since entering the palace, I have stayed in my chambers worshiping Buddha all day, rarely participating in palace activities, and having no interaction with Princess Ning. There is no reason for me to frame Princess Ning like this.”

“However, this is now a major incident involving the lives of the Great Emperor and Empress Dowager Rui. I am merely stating what I saw and know to facilitate Magistrate Chen’s investigation.”

“If the investigation ultimately proves that I have wronged Princess Ning, I will present myself with a white silk rope and atone with my life.”

Noble Consort Liu’s speech was so righteous that the commoners outside cheered, expressing their support for her claims.

Indeed, in the eyes of the commoners, Noble Consort Liu’s words were well-reasoned. Combined with Mu Yunjin’s history of causing trouble, most commoners instinctively accepted Noble Consort Liu’s version.

Mu Yunjin laughed coldly, looking at Noble Consort Liu, “A white silk rope to atone for your life—I’ll remember these eight words.”

Noble Consort Liu returned a smile.

“And this new Empress, poisoning Empress Dowager Rui, is equally guilty of a heinous crime,” Noble Consort Liu reminded Chen Pu again.

After speaking, she was helped up by a palace maid beside her, “I must return to the palace to handle the Great Emperor’s funeral affairs, so I cannot stay any longer. If needed, Magistrate Chen can summon me at any time.”

With these words, Noble Consort Liu left the interrogation room.

Chen Pu had expected Mu Yunjin and Chu Li to take some action, but the two remained perfectly still by unspoken agreement, allowing Noble Consort Liu to leisurely exit the Court of Justice.

Chen Pu had no choice but to look at Chu Li.

Chu Li nodded slightly to Chen Pu.

Chen Pu immediately understood and slapped the table, speaking, “Since both sides have their testimonies, this court needs to verify each claim. During this period, Princess Ning Mu Yunjin is confined to the Ning Princedom residence and may not step outside, to facilitate the next summons.”

After speaking, Chen Pu carefully glanced at Chu Li again.

“Magistrate, our Xuan is certainly innocent too. Please also search carefully for evidence to clear our Xuan’s name.” Madam Li, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up.

Her daughter Xuan had truly suffered much misfortune. Shortly after becoming Empress, she was first kidnapped, then framed for poisoning…

Had she known this would happen, it would have been better for her daughter to marry into an ordinary family.

Chen Pu had a headache. This mess had all fallen on his shoulders, and he couldn’t please either side.

“That’s all for today. Court dismissed!” Chen Pu said, then quickly stood up and left.

……

In the carriage returning to the princedom, Mu Yunjin made a decision.

“I’ll go to Tiansheng Continent tomorrow. You stay here to handle the funeral arrangements for Western Ming Emperor and Empress Dowager Rui,” Mu Yunjin said.

With early July approaching, since Elder Murong had calculated this timing precisely, it must be beneficial for them. If they missed this opportunity, who knew when the next chance would come?

She was tired of dealing with these villains.

If she wanted to live a peaceful life, these people must be eliminated!

Moreover, with the time bomb that was Cold Yuan still existing, she couldn’t be careless. She had to eliminate the threat as soon as possible.

Chu Li took Mu Yunjin’s hand, frowning slightly, “I will go with you.”

“No, if you don’t participate in the Western Ming Emperor’s funeral affairs, people will gossip about you. They might say we’re fleeing due to guilt,” Mu Yunjin refused firmly.

“Huan’er, what do we care about the opinions of others?” Chu Li asked Mu Yunjin, his eyes filled with determination.

Mu Yunjin was startled, her thoughts drifting to the past…

Indeed, there was a time when the world also couldn’t tolerate her and Si Qing.

Now that she lived a second life, why should she still care so much about others’ opinions…

This was just like her—often thinking too much, being too concerned about too many things, and consequently forgetting the essence of many matters.

This was probably the aspect of herself she disliked the most.

……

Upon returning to the princedom, they found it surrounded by imperial guards, both inside and out. The security was so tight that not even a fly could escape.

As soon as Mu Yunjin returned to her chamber, she began packing her things.

The phoenix-tail whip, the Heaven God’s command, the black jade hairpin, East Lin Kingdom’s military token, and other useful items—she carried all of them close to her body.

Chu Li walked to the side, opened a hidden compartment in the wall, took out a brocade box, and removed a bracelet given by the ruler of South Court from it. The small bells on it rang crisply.

“Take this too,” Chu Li said, handing it to Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin looked at the bracelet, somewhat confused, “What’s this for?”

Chu Li smiled lightly, held one of the bells, and shook it near Mu Yunjin’s ear.

Mu Yunjin was startled, “This bell makes no sound?”

With a sudden realization, Mu Yunjin immediately understood. She grabbed the bell and examined it carefully, discovering that something was stuffed inside.

A gift from Yun Guangyao, hidden so secretly—could it be… the Snow Soul Pill?