In just a short hour, the news of Mu Lingzhu’s death had shocked the entire city.
Many commoners, upon hearing that Mu Yunjin had killed Mu Lingzhu, rushed toward the direction of the Ministry of Justice to see for themselves. Along the way, some of the commoners had already begun to talk—
“These two sisters never got along, and now that the Princess of Ning has the Northern Ming Country backing her, she certainly wouldn’t take Concubine Mu seriously anymore.”
“But even so, that Concubine Mu was with child. She shouldn’t have been so ruthless.”
“Don’t jump to conclusions so early. Until the trial produces a verdict, no one can say for sure.”
“…”
The commoners speculated back and forth, with some already condemning Mu Yunjin in their hearts based merely on rumors.
At this moment, the entrance to the Ministry of Justice was packed with onlooking citizens.
…
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Mu Yunjin stood in the interrogation hall of the Ministry of Justice, a place that was not at all unfamiliar to her.
Chen Pu was currently ordering several coroners to examine Mu Lingzhu’s body. Seeing the aggressive arrival of the people from the Rong Prince Mansion, he instinctively glanced at Mu Yunjin, thinking to himself that this was another thorny case.
“Prince Rong, Princess Rong, Princess Ning, before the coroners’ examination results come out, please sit and have some tea.” Chen Pu dared not neglect these individuals, especially Mu Yunjin. Though she was accused of murder, her special status meant that before any results came out, he still had to treat her with respect.
After the case of Su Biqing, he had been left with a profound impression of Mu Yunjin, knowing that while this woman had a strong character, she was not a cruel person.
Upon hearing Chen Pu’s words, Prince Rong Chu Zhen waved his hand, his brow furrowed tightly. “I’m in no mood for tea.”
After speaking, he glanced at Mu Yunjin, who had already sat down and crossed her legs, and snorted heavily, “My royal brother is already on his way. This time, I will not be lenient!”
“That’s right. Although the Rong Prince Mansion has always been on good terms with the Ning Prince Mansion, this incident has already touched our bottom line,” Princess Rong Qin Shuning added in agreement.
Listening to the couple’s coordinated performance, Mu Yunjin let out a contemptuous cold sneer, her mockery toward Qin Shuning deepening.
She originally had no grudge against this Princess Rong, but after several incidents of instigation by Qin Muyue, this Princess Rong treated her like an enemy who had killed her father every time they met.
Going back and forth, Mu Yunjin estimated that even Qin Shuning herself didn’t know why she was specifically targeting her.
“His Majesty has arrived—” An announcement came from outside the interrogation hall.
Then they saw the Western Bright Emperor, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, walking in with hurried steps, his expression stern. After entering the door, before he could even speak, Prince Rong Chu Zhen rushed over and knelt.
“Royal Brother, Lingzhu has been brutally murdered, a death of two lives. You must give this subject justice!”
Qin Shuning knelt as well, wiping her tears.
The Western Bright Emperor had already heard about this matter from the Imperial Guards on his way here. At this moment, he felt a surge of anger about to erupt from his chest. He cast an angry glance at Mu Yunjin, who had already stood up.
He knew it, what Celestial Phoenix Star was descending to earth? It was an evil star.
But the current situation was not suitable for anger. The Western Bright Emperor had to suppress his anger and tried to look calmly at Chen Pu, “Are the examination results out yet?”
“Please be seated first, Your Majesty. This official will summon the coroners to the hall right away.” Chen Pu bowed slightly.
The Western Bright Emperor nodded and sat down in the main seat of the interrogation hall.
Originally, such a murder case wouldn’t require the ruler of a country to handle it, but this time it involved both the Ning Prince Mansion and the Rong Prince Mansion, and with Mu Yunjin’s current status as Princess Jinhua, it might even involve the Northern Ming Country.
The Western Bright Emperor felt a headache just thinking about it.
Soon, several coroners were summoned to the hall and bowed to the Western Bright Emperor and the others.
“Report the examination results,” Chen Pu sat next to the Western Bright Emperor, with a solemn face, feeling somewhat nervous in his heart.
A coroner nodded, stepped forward, and said, “We have carefully examined Concubine Mu’s body and found that she was indeed with child for more than a month. Also, there are many injuries on her body, bright in color, seemingly newly inflicted.”
“Continue,” Chen Pu said.
“These injuries do not threaten Concubine Mu’s life. What truly caused Concubine Mu’s death were the five bloody holes in her neck. These five holes, according to preliminary judgment, were caused by the five fingers of someone with profound inner strength penetrating through…”
After the coroner’s report, the Western Bright Emperor’s expression darkened as he looked at Prince Rong below, “Royal Brother, why do you insist that it was Yunjin who did it?”
Today is the eighth day of the month. Shuning goes to Shuiyun Temple every eighth day of the month to offer incense and pray for blessings. This morning it was raining outside, and Shuning’s health is not good, and she cannot withstand the cold. So I sent Shuning’s maid, Wanqiu, to offer incense and pray on Shuning’s behalf.”
“When Wanqiu returned from Shuiyun Temple, she looked somewhat flustered and told me and Shuning that she had met Lingzhu at Shuiyun Temple, who had gone to pray for her unborn child, and also Mu Yunjin. At that time, the two sisters seemed to have discussed an unpleasant topic, pulling and tugging at each other in a corner. Wanqiu also said that she heard Mu Yunjin threaten to kill Lingzhu.”
“After hearing this, Shuning and I, concerned for the safety of Lingzhu and her child, went out to find Lingzhu at Shuiyun Temple, only to find on the way…” Prince Rong couldn’t continue, his eyes reddening.
Mu Yunjin folded her arms, listening to Prince Rong Chu Zhen’s words, biting her lip. She looked toward the Western Bright Emperor and said, “But this morning when I woke up, there were servants from the mansion who came to report that Mu Lingzhu was lying injured at the gate of the Ning Prince Mansion, and there were many commoners who saw it.”
“Summon Wanqiu to the hall,” Chen Pu spoke, then looked at Mu Yunjin again. “Does Princess Ning have witnesses to prove that Concubine Mu fainted at your gate this morning?”
“Yes, many servants in the Ning Prince Mansion saw it,” Mu Yunjin replied.
“The servants in the mansion will naturally cover for you. How can their words count!” Qin Shuning glanced at Mu Yunjin, her tone angry.
“Then how can the words of the servants from your mansion count?” Mu Yunjin retorted, glaring at Qin Shuning.
Since this woman wasn’t going to be quiet and feared nothing but world peace, she would grant Qin Shuning her wish. The earlier example of Su Biqing wasn’t profound enough!
Soon, Wanqiu was summoned and knelt in the center of the interrogation hall, her body trembling.
“Tell us honestly what you saw at Shuiyun Temple,” Chen Pu spoke.
Wanqiu knelt, glanced at Prince Rong Chu Zhen and Qin Shuning, pressed her lips together, and said, “This morning, this servant went to Shuiyun Temple…”
Wanqiu’s words were consistent with what Prince Rong had said earlier.
“When this servant was at Shuiyun Temple, I saw Princess Ning grab Concubine Mu’s neck, and at that time, Concubine Mu’s neck was bleeding…” Wanqiu added.
Mu Yunjin glanced at Wanqiu, “Did you see me strangle her to death at that time?”
The chilling tone made Wanqiu tremble involuntarily. She frowned tightly and shook her head, “At that time, Princess Ning did not kill Concubine Mu. She left together with Prince Ning, and later Concubine Mu left alone…”
“That matches up then. Mu Yunjin was afraid of attracting attention by killing someone in Shuiyun Temple, so she first left with Prince Ning, and then after Lingzhu left, she followed Lingzhu and killed her on the way, only to be caught in the act by us…” Qin Shuning added.
“If we examine carefully now, there should still be traces of Lingzhu’s blood in Mu Yunjin’s fingernails.” Qin Shuning sneered.
After hearing all these words, the Western Bright Emperor had almost determined in his heart that the murderer was Mu Yunjin, but Chen Pu beside him appeared exceptionally calm.
“Princess Ning, do you have anything else to say?” Chen Pu looked at Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin could sense Chen Pu’s attitude toward her and felt a bit grateful. She raised the corner of her lips in a smile and looked at Wanqiu, “How did you go to Shuiyun Temple this morning?”
“By carriage, of course. It was raining, and besides, I was going to pray on behalf of my lady,” Qin Shuning answered for Wanqiu.
“So you went by carriage!” Mu Yunjin folded her arms, touched her face, and thought for a moment. “Although both the Rong Prince Mansion and Shuiyun Temple are outside the city, a round trip would take at least more than an hour.”
“Can you tell me, at what time did you see me and Mu Lingzhu struggling?” Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow.
Wanqiu was stunned for a moment, “Around the hour of Si (9-11 AM).”
“Are you sure?” Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow, her face calm.
Wanqiu dared not look directly at Mu Yunjin and only glanced at her lightly. She bit her lip and nodded, “It was the hour of Si.”
“That’s strange then. Mu Lingzhu was killed around the hour of Wu (11 AM-1 PM). You were still at Shuiyun Temple at the hour of Si. Did you grow wings and fly back to report the news?”
“The place where Mu Lingzhu was killed is not far from Shuiyun Temple. Logically speaking, if you left at the hour of Si by carriage to return to the Rong Prince Mansion, it would take nearly an hour. You would arrive at the Rong Prince Mansion close to the hour of Wu, and during this time, you would still need to tell Prince Rong and Princess Rong about what happened at Shuiyun Temple.”
“Then Prince Rong and Princess Rong would take a carriage out and happen to catch me killing Mu Lingzhu around the hour of Wu…”
“May I ask, what precious material are the carriages of your Rong Prince Mansion made of, to be so fast?”
Mu Yunjin’s simple and clear words almost instantly turned the tables. With even the timing not matching up, they still dared to falsely accuse her of murder.
“Wanqiu, did you remember the time wrong out of fear? You returned to the mansion just after the hour of Si. At that time, I was still playing chess with the prince in the garden!” Qin Shuning spoke up, her eyes somewhat dark.
Hearing this, Wanqiu immediately looked at the Western Bright Emperor and Chen Pu, kowtowing, “This servant is guilty. This servant remembered the time wrong. This servant encountered Princess Ning and Concubine Mu at the hour of Chen (7-9 AM) and returned to the mansion to report at the hour of Si.”
“I’m sorry, but at the hour of Chen, I was sitting in Master Huaiyuan’s meditation room drinking tea with His Highness. I have witnesses who can prove it,” Mu Yunjin spoke mockingly, curling her lips.
“By the way, Princess Rong won’t say that I bribed Master Huaiyuan, too, will she?” Mu Yunjin looked at Qin Shuning.
Qin Shuning had already cursed Mu Yunjin countless times in her heart. What was originally a sure thing, she could easily resolve. What was in this bitch’s head to make her so bulletproof!
“But all the Imperial Guards we sent saw that only you were present at the scene, the body was still warm, and there were blood traces in your fingernails. If you say this is just a coincidence, it’s too far-fetched,” Qin Shuning said.
At this moment, a guard walked in from outside—
“Reporting to Your Majesty, there are two elderly men outside who claim that while out chopping wood, they witnessed Concubine Mu being killed…”