Li Shimin quickly recounted the events of the previous night, concluding: “After your son entered the palace, he discovered that Little Six had issues and was about to apprehend him when Zhihong and Zhao Jin were knocked unconscious by someone. When your son was fighting with the black-clad figure, he felt a sharp pain at the back of his neck, then immediately lost consciousness. When your son awakened, he was already in this Mingse Residence, and His Majesty had already been killed. As for Princess Jinyang, she and her two maidservants were all drugged into unconsciousness, only awakening slightly earlier than your son, equally unaware of what transpired last night.”
Xin’an raised her tear-stained face, saying with grief and indignation: “Naturally you claim to know nothing—how else would you escape responsibility?”
“No.” Jixiang urgently interjected: “This servant can bear witness that we truly know nothing. When the princess awakened, Second Young Master was still unconscious—he couldn’t possibly have harmed His Majesty.”
Xin’an wiped her tears, saying: “You are Jinyang’s palace maid, naturally you would speak in Jinyang’s favor. I recognize this dagger—it belongs to Jinyang. Clearly, you killed His Majesty!”
Seeing her place such a grave accusation upon her own princess, Jixiang hastily said: “Nonsense! The princess and His Majesty are aunt and nephew—why would she harm His Majesty for no reason? It’s simply impossible!”
“Then how do you explain this dagger?”
“This…” Jixiang momentarily didn’t know how to respond. Before she could think of an answer, Xin’an had already continued: “Can’t answer, can you? Hmph, look at their disheveled appearance—clearly they couldn’t restrain themselves and were fooling around in the palace. When His Majesty discovered them, they flew into a rage from shame and simply killed His Majesty!”
“No!” Ruyi urgently protested: “The princess wasn’t fooling around with Second Young Master, and His Majesty wasn’t killed by them. Don’t make such slanderous accusations!”
Xin’an ignored her, looking tearfully toward Li Yuan: “Prince of Tang, I know Li Shimin is your son. If this were merely an ordinary matter, it would be fine, but what he has done now is regicide—an unpardonable crime that absolutely cannot be overlooked!”
Li Yuan said in a deep voice: “This prince understands. Rest assured, Princess—no matter who killed His Majesty, this prince will handle it with fairness and show no favoritism.”
Xin’an nodded, then pointed at Li Shimin and Yunyi, declaring sternly: “If that’s the case, then I ask the Prince of Tang to immediately execute this pair of adulterers to comfort His Majesty’s spirit in heaven!”
“No!” Li Jiancheng said while hurrying before Li Yuan, nervously saying: “Father, your son understands Shimin’s character. He has always observed propriety and would never commit improper acts, much less kill His Majesty. Your son believes there are hidden circumstances here and asks Father to investigate thoroughly!”
Xin’an stared at him with anger: “Does the Crown Prince mean to say that this princess has wrongly accused them?”
“Jiancheng doesn’t mean that, it’s just…” Before he could finish, Xin’an had already waved her sleeve dismissively: “If not, then that’s settled. His Majesty’s vengeance must be avenged. Prince of Tang, wouldn’t you agree?”
Li Yuan frowned without speaking. He naturally didn’t want to believe Li Shimin would commit regicide, but from the known circumstances, Li Shimin and Yunyi were undoubtedly the most suspicious. What exactly… was happening here?
At this moment, Yunyi stepped forward: “Although the dagger in His Majesty’s chest is mine, I was already unconscious before His Majesty entered, as was Second Young Master. We couldn’t possibly have killed His Majesty. Most likely, someone took advantage of Second Young Master’s and my unconsciousness to find the dagger, kill His Majesty, then frame us.”
Xin’an said with grief and indignation: “Even at this point, you continue lying through your teeth. Jinyang, do you have no conscience left?” She lowered her head and sobbed, then continued: “When His Majesty heard you were to be married, he emptied the national treasury to prepare your dowry, hoping you and Second Young Master would live together until old age. His wholehearted kindness was repaid with your heartlessness and cruelty!”
Seeing her adamantly insist that she had killed Yang You, Yunyi exclaimed emotionally: “I never thought of harming His Majesty, much less killing him. Someone orchestrated this to frame us!”
Xin’an sneered coldly: “Now that His Majesty is dead, you can naturally say whatever you please.” As she spoke, she looked down at Yang You’s unseeing eyes, murmuring: “Rest assured, Your Majesty. Fourth Imperial Aunt will never let those who harmed you escape justice. I will certainly seek this justice for you!”
After reaching out to close Yang You’s wide-open eyes, she stood up and once again addressed Li Yuan: “I ask the Prince of Tang to immediately order the execution of the murderers!”
“Absolutely not!” Li Jiancheng hastily said: “If it’s later proven that His Majesty wasn’t killed by Second Brother, then Father would have wrongly executed innocents. This…”
Xin’an stared at him with bloodshot eyes: “His Majesty was killed in Mingse Hall—everyone saw this with their own eyes. If not Li Shimin and Jinyang, then who else could it be? The Crown Prince has always been fair and just—surely you don’t intend to shield the murderers now?” Without waiting for Li Jiancheng to respond, she continued coldly: “Unfortunately… this time, even you, Crown Prince, cannot provide such protection!”
Li Jiancheng, having been thoroughly rebuked, said somewhat helplessly: “In any case, I don’t believe Shimin would kill His Majesty!”
While they were speaking, Yunyi had been rapidly pondering this matter, trying to find evidence to prove her and Shimin’s innocence. She actually did remember something: “Last night, after Ruyi and I had our evening meal, we fell unconscious. The food must have been drugged with sleeping medicine. Calculating the time, the evening meal should still be in the Imperial Kitchen, not yet taken out of the palace to be discarded. If we have the imperial physicians examine it carefully, we can determine whether what I’m saying is true or false.”
Her words immediately drew sarcastic retorts from Xin’an: “There are so many leftover meals in the palace daily, all mixed together. If we examine them as you suggest, wouldn’t it take a full day?”
Liu Hongji cupped his hands: “Prince of Tang, this matter involves His Majesty’s cause of death and the lives of Princess Jinyang and Second Young Master. This subordinate believes we should investigate carefully to avoid wrongly executing the innocent.”
Li Yuan shared this sentiment and immediately ordered: “Summon the imperial physicians to the Imperial Kitchen at once. Also, have the Six Palace Bureaus prepare His Majesty’s funeral arrangements!”
As Xin’an was about to speak, Li Yuan had already cupped his hands first: “I ask the Princess to remain calm. This subject also grieves deeply over His Majesty’s death, but this matter still has questionable points. If we don’t investigate clearly, we might wrongly accuse the innocent. Surely the Princess wouldn’t want to let His Majesty’s true killer escape!”
Xin’an stared at him for a moment, then said coldly: “Very well, let’s do as the Prince of Tang suggests and investigate this matter thoroughly, lest certain people harbor false hopes.”
“The Princess is wise.” As soon as Li Yuan finished speaking, Xin’an said again: “I want to personally watch the imperial physicians conduct their examination.”
Li Yuan knew she was worried he might secretly tamper with evidence, hence this request. He didn’t expose this, saying: “Very well, this subject will go with the Princess.” Then he said: “Zhaoren, Jiancheng, you two remain here and watch—don’t let anyone leave.”
Li Jiancheng acknowledged with a sound, saying: “Father, Shimin mentioned earlier that a palace servant named Little Six lured him into the palace. Why not send someone to investigate this person?”
Li Yuan nodded: “That’s also a lead. You’ll be responsible for pursuing it.”