The night was pitch black.
The cold moonlight shone on everyone’s faces.
By this time, it was already past midnight, but most people present had no trace of sleepiness. Only the half-grown children were slumped in the servants’ arms, asleep.
Two assassins were bound to long benches by the Crown Prince’s order, lying face up.
The Crown Prince rolled up his sleeves and took out a piece of paper as thin as a cicada’s wing from a water basin on the ground. The soaked paper was dripping water. He directly placed it on one assassin’s face.
The surrounding officials and noblewomen still didn’t understand what he was doing.
But Prince Gongxi had already understood and frowned disapprovingly. “Crown Prince Imperial Brother, our dynasty governs with benevolence. This method seems inappropriate…”
“This is an assassin who intended to kill Father Emperor. When dealing with such vicious and evil people, there’s no need to speak of benevolence.” The Crown Prince said, “Second Brother, join me.”
Prince Gongxi had no choice but to step forward and, together with the Crown Prince, apply the soaked paper to the two assassins’ faces.
At first, the two assassins didn’t know what was happening and even felt the water on their faces was cool and comfortable. But soon, they began to feel distressed.
Their noses seemed blocked. They desperately gasped for breath, getting only the tiniest bit of air, which completely failed to relieve the suffocating sensation.
“I promise you two: whoever confesses first will get a quick death.” The Crown Prince said methodically, “The stubborn one can properly enjoy this torture.”
The surrounding people finally understood what was happening.
So it was using paper and water to slowly suffocate someone. This process would take at least half an hour—truly unable to live, unable to die.
Many people discussed in low voices.
“The Crown Prince’s method is brilliant—it will surely make the assassins confess.”
“The Crown Prince has always been known for benevolence and kindness. How would he know methods for interrogating assassins?”
“This method, though bloodless, is extremely cruel…”
Yun Chu stood in the crowd, thinking of how the Crown Prince had frequently encountered trouble in her previous life, seemingly because his usual behavior didn’t match the image everyone knew.
The Crown Prince’s benevolence was a perfect image carefully crafted by the Empress, but the Crown Prince himself was actually just an ordinary person who would make mistakes, do some unconventional things, and slowly deviate from the prosperous path the Empress had paved for him…
Even though she had died early, she could guess that the Crown Prince must have been defeated.
Therefore, she had never considered having the Yun family support the Crown Prince…
“I’ll confess, I’ll confess!”
Under the gentle torture, one assassin finally couldn’t bear it and shouted in a muffled voice.
The Crown Prince’s face showed a smile as he personally removed the paper from the assassin’s face.
“That token was given to me by General Mingwei. He told us to use the token as a secret signal to coordinate and find the right opportunity to strike!”
The Crown Prince frowned. Among the many military generals at court, he only knew the names of first and second rank generals. General Mingwei—this was the first time he’d heard of him.
But he didn’t need to speak. Suddenly, there was a commotion among the outer guards, and then a man around forty years old was escorted forward.
“You are General Mingwei?” The Crown Prince smiled. “Want to taste this same treatment?”
As soon as he finished speaking, the man prostrated himself on the ground, weeping bitterly. “Your Majesty… this humble subject was coerced. This humble subject has elderly parents above and children below. Prince An’jing captured this humble subject’s mother and children. This humble subject had no choice—had to do Prince An’jing’s bidding, or else this humble subject’s family would be destroyed…”
“You’re spouting nonsense, slandering wildly!” Before he could finish, Imperial Consort De kicked him over and knelt below. “Your Majesty, Fourth Brother could never instigate anyone to do such treasonous things. He may be reckless, but regicide—even with ten times the courage, he couldn’t do it! Your Majesty, please investigate thoroughly and clear Fourth Brother’s name!”
The Crown Prince also knelt down. “Father Emperor, last time your son was gravely ill, the clues pointed directly to Fourth Brother. This time with the assassination, the evidence also points to Fourth Brother…”
“Last time, Your Majesty already determined that someone deliberately framed Fourth Brother!” Imperial Consort De hastily explained. “This time, it must also be this General Mingwei colluding with someone behind the scenes to frame my son. He must be lying. Interrogate him properly and the truth will surely emerge!”
Prince Gongxi raised his eyes and looked at General Mingwei kneeling on the ground.
General Mingwei slowly raised his head and met Prince Gongxi’s eyes. His throat couldn’t help but tremble.
He suddenly stood up and said frantically, “Yes, yes, I falsely accused Prince An’jing. This matter has nothing to do with Prince An’jing, and even less to do with my family. It was me alone who rebelled and attempted assassination. I am guilty, I deserve death! Your Majesty, this humble subject wishes to atone with death!”
Before anyone could react, he drew a guard’s sword from his waist and thrust it toward his own throat. Blood spurted, and he fell dead on the ground.
Imperial Consort De was so frightened her face lost all color. Then she screamed, “Someone, imperial physician, quickly save him! He can’t die!”
If he died, it would confirm Fourth Brother’s guilt.
The Empress said coldly, “Imperial Consort De, how the truth really is will be known once Fourth Brother is found.”
Imperial Consort De’s heart tightened, and an ominous premonition spread.
Before long, Chu Yi came galloping on horseback. “Reporting to Father Emperor, your son led people to search Yan Mountain once over but didn’t find Fourth Brother’s whereabouts. The people sent down the mountain inquired and learned that villagers saw a young man fleeing westward surrounded by dozens of people. When shown Fourth Brother’s portrait, the mountain villagers confirmed it was Fourth Brother.”
“No, impossible!” Imperial Consort De crawled on her knees to the Emperor’s feet. “Your Majesty, Fourth Brother is innocent. He couldn’t possibly do such a thing…”
The Emperor, who had been silent all along, suddenly stood up and kicked Imperial Consort De aside.
Xie Ping beside her was so frightened she froze completely.
In her mind, Imperial Consort De was already a supreme existence, so noble and arrogant before her, yet now she was prostrate on the ground, more lowly than dust.
She thought with some malice: who told Imperial Consort De to be so domineering? Now retribution has come.
But she also knew that if Prince An’jing’s crime of assassination was confirmed, her fate wouldn’t be any better than Imperial Consort De’s.
“Prepare the carriage—return to the palace!” The Emperor, suppressing his rage, flicked his sleeves and stood. He paused and said, “Third Brother, you continue to stay at Yan Mountain. Dig three feet into the ground if you must, but find him!”
Chu Yi accepted the order. “Yes, Father Emperor!”
“Second Brother, you lead people to Prince An’jing’s manor and search it thoroughly.” The Emperor said in a deep voice, “If this rebellious son has long harbored patricidal thoughts, evidence will surely be found!”
Prince Gongxi lowered his head, concealing the calculations in his eyes. “Yes, Father Emperor!”
The autumn hunting trip ended at the beginning of the hour of the tiger on the twenty-second of September.
The Emperor returned to the palace, with officials, noblewomen, and young ladies following behind the palace procession. By the time they reached the capital, it was nearly dawn.
Yun Chu and Xie Shi’an returned to the Xie family together.
As soon as they entered, Xie Jingyu came forward. “I heard someone attempted assassination at Yan Mountain. What exactly happened?”
“All evidence points to Prince An’jing.” Xie Shi’an’s face was gloomy. “If he had acted earlier, it would have been better, but he arranged for someone to assassinate the Emperor just one month after Eldest Sister married into his family… If the crime is confirmed, Eldest Sister will probably… Our Xie family will also be affected.”