Xin’an smiled secretly to herself, saying coldly: “Prince of Tang, what more do you have to say? Or have you forgotten the words you spoke when supporting His Majesty’s enthronement? Shall I repeat them for you?”
Xin’an’s aggressive manner caused a flash of severity to pass through Li Yuan’s eyes as he said in a deep voice: “This prince remembers very clearly.”
“In that case…” Before Xin’an could continue, Li Yuan had already spoken: “Li Shimin is suspected of killing His Majesty—immediately escort him to the imperial prison. As for Princess Jinyang, she is equally under suspicion—confine her to Mingse Hall. After the truth is ascertained, we shall decide accordingly.”
Upon hearing this, Xin’an’s expression immediately changed drastically as she blurted out: “What does this mean? Everything has already been investigated clearly—both had a hand in killing His Majesty and should immediately be…”
“This prince does not need the Princess to instruct him how to conduct affairs.” Li Yuan abruptly interrupted her unfinished words. Meeting his gaze, Xin’an opened her mouth but ultimately dared not speak further.
“Take them away.” Following Li Yuan’s words, Li Shimin along with Duan Zhihong and his companion were all escorted away. As for Yunyi and the others, they were placed under house arrest in Mingse Hall, forbidden to step outside.
After glaring hatefully at Yunyi, Xin’an followed Li Yuan out. Yang You’s body was also carried away. This young emperor, who had just celebrated his fourteenth birthday, had ended his brief life in the Great Prosperity Palace…
Yang You’s funeral followed all the imperial protocols. The death knell tolled one hundred and eight times throughout the palace, spreading across all of Chang’an City, including the Prince of Tang’s mansion.
Lady Zhangsun silently counted each successive toll of the death knell. When the final one fell, her heart jumped violently. One hundred and eight times—this was the protocol only sounded when an emperor died.
She knew the death knell would never be rung carelessly, but His Majesty was only fourteen years old and healthy, with no reports of illness. How could he have died so suddenly? What exactly was happening?
Xiuzhu had also heard it, asking puzzledly: “This death knell… could His Majesty have died?”
“It should be so.” Saying this, Lady Zhangsun said: “Xiuzhu, go see if my husband has returned from court. If he has, help me go see him.” Li Shimin attended court daily and should know what this death knell was about.
“Yes.” Xiuzhu acknowledged and left. After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, she slowly walked back in, saying nothing and simply standing silently to one side.
Lady Zhangsun found this strange and called: “Xiuzhu? Xiuzhu?”
Only after being called twice did Xiuzhu react, saying blankly: “Miss, you called me?”
“Yes.” Lady Zhangsun looked at her puzzledly: “What’s wrong with you? You look like you’ve lost your soul.”
Upon hearing this, Xiuzhu hurriedly forced a smile: “This servant is fine, nothing’s wrong!”
Lady Zhangsun looked at her suspiciously: “By the way, has my husband returned?”
Xiuzhu’s body trembled as she said in a panicked manner: “The master, he… he… hasn’t returned yet. This servant will check again later.” Then she added: “Miss, are you tired? Shall this servant help you to bed to rest?”
Lady Zhangsun frowned: “Have you forgotten I just took an afternoon nap?”
Xiuzhu uncomfortably smoothed the loose hair by her ear, laughing dryly: “Oh yes, this servant actually forgot. My memory is getting worse and worse.”
Lady Zhangsun instinctively felt something was wrong with her and probed: “Xiuzhu, are you hiding something from me?”
Upon hearing this, Xiuzhu hurriedly waved her hands: “No, this servant isn’t hiding anything from Miss.”
Her reaction made Lady Zhangsun even more certain of her suspicions: “What exactly has happened? Speak quickly!”
“Nothing, nothing has happened at all.” Despite saying this, Xiuzhu unconsciously gripped her clothing tightly, her eyes darting around, not daring to meet Lady Zhangsun’s gaze.
Lady Zhangsun watched her for a while, then suddenly rose with her slightly protruding belly and walked toward the door. Seeing this, Xiuzhu hurriedly blocked her path, saying nervously: “Miss, where are you going?”
“If you won’t tell me, I’ll have to go out and ask myself.” Upon hearing this, Xiuzhu became even more flustered, blocking the doorway: “There’s truly nothing wrong. Miss, don’t overthink things. Outside… A’niu and the others are trimming the plants. Miss, if you go out, you’ll surely get covered in grass. It’s better to stay indoors.”
Lady Zhangsun stared at her: “You’ve been by my side since childhood—for ten years. Whether you’re telling the truth or lying, I can tell at a glance.”
“Miss…” Before Xiuzhu could continue, Lady Zhangsun had already said coldly: “Move aside!”
Xiuzhu, remembering what she had heard earlier, dared not comply: “This servant truly isn’t hiding anything from you. Just stay peacefully indoors and rest quietly. Don’t overthink things!”
Her response was still the same two words as before: “Move aside!”
Facing Lady Zhangsun’s resolute attitude, Xiuzhu didn’t know what to say. After a long while, she sighed: “Yes, this servant is hiding something from you, but it’s all for your good and the child in your womb. Why must you insist on knowing so clearly?”
Her words made Lady Zhangsun’s heart jump as she blurted out: “Is it related to my husband?”
“Yes.” Xiuzhu responded instinctively, then realizing her mistake, hurriedly corrected herself: “No, it has nothing to do with the master—no connection at all.”
Seeing Xiuzhu’s behavior, Lady Zhangsun became even more certain of her suspicions and insisted on going out. Seeing she couldn’t hide it, Xiuzhu had no choice but to say: “Alright, this servant will tell you, but you must promise me that for the sake of the child in your womb, you absolutely cannot get too agitated.”
After Lady Zhangsun agreed, Xiuzhu said: “His Majesty was found dead in Mingse Hall this morning.”
“Mingse Hall?” Lady Zhangsun asked puzzledly: “Isn’t that Princess Jinyang’s palace? How could His Majesty have died there?”
“His Majesty’s death wasn’t from accident or illness—he was murdered. Worst of all, the master was also in Mingse Hall at the time.” At this point, her voice carried a note of indignation.
“My husband? Didn’t he go to court? How did he end up in Mingse Hall?” Faced with Lady Zhangsun’s question, Xiuzhu’s voice carried barely concealed anger: “The master didn’t go early in the morning at all—he was in Mingse Hall the entire night.”
“What?!” Lady Zhangsun, who had just sat down, suddenly stood up, her chest heaving with shock. Come to think of it, ever since Chu’yi had come to report last night that someone was seeking an audience outside the mansion, she hadn’t seen Li Shimin again. She struggled to steady herself: “Where did you hear this?”
“There was no need to inquire—the entire mansion is spreading the news that the master killed His Majesty. Now the master has been thrown into prison. They say the situation is very unfavorable for the master, and if evidence can’t be found to prove his innocence, he might very well…” Xiuzhu paused for a long moment before struggling to voice the final words: “be executed!”
Lady Zhangsun’s vision went black. Xiuzhu hurriedly stepped forward to support her: “All this is still uncertain. Perhaps by tomorrow they’ll discover the master is innocent. Miss, you promised this servant you wouldn’t get too agitated—think of the baby.”