Jixiang was already present by this time. Upon hearing these words, she spoke mockingly: “Didn’t Princess Xin’an previously insist that it was my princess who killed His Majesty? Are my princess and His Majesty not connected by blood?”
Princess Xin’an was rendered speechless by her retort. Additionally, with Li Yuan present, she dared not be too presumptuous and could only seethe inwardly while secretly exchanging glances with Li Jiancheng.
Meanwhile, Imperial Physician Li had already taken scissors and carefully cut off the small piece of fabric from Yunyi’s clothing that was stained with blood, soaking it in water that Ruyi had brought. Then he used a small knife to scrape off the dried blood scab from the gold bracelet, placing it in the same bowl of water. After completing these tasks, he took out a small porcelain bottle from his medicine box and used his little finger to sprinkle some fine powder into the water.
“This is medicinal powder that can dissolve dried blood. Once the blood dissolves, we can determine whether the blood on the gold bracelet belongs to His Majesty.” As he spoke, the originally dried blood began to gradually dissolve. The blood drops that had been absorbed into the clothing also floated out, becoming two small blood pearls again, like two crimson lovesick beans. Seeing these two blood drops, everyone held their breath. Whether Princess Xin’an was the murderer or not depended on whether these two drops of blood would fuse.
While everyone was distracted, Li Jiancheng secretly glanced at Princess Xin’an, his eyes showing faint reproach. Princess Xin’an knew he was blaming her for being careless, but she remembered clearly that she had indeed washed the bracelet along with everything else that day. Even if there were bloodstains, they should have nothing to do with Yang You. These two drops of blood absolutely could not fuse.
However, just when Princess Xin’an thought nothing would happen, the two drops of blood that had been “keeping to themselves” slowly merged together, becoming one blood drop!
Seeing this scene, everyone was in uproar. All eyes focused on Princess Xin’an, who stared fixedly at the blood drop suspended in the water, her complexion looking worse than if she had seen a ghost in broad daylight. She muttered: “Impossible, this is impossible!”
Yunyi’s eyes showed distinct hatred: “Xin’an, it really was you who killed His Majesty and framed me and the Second Young Master!”
Princess Xin’an’s body shuddered, then she forcefully swept her sleeve and shouted: “No, I didn’t kill His Majesty!”
Yunyi said solemnly: “The facts are right here. You cannot deny them. Someone, arrest her!”
“I am a princess of the current dynasty. Let me see who dares to be insolent!” Princess Xin’an glared fiercely at the guards who wanted to arrest her after hearing Yunyi’s words. After being shouted at like this, the guards truly didn’t dare to step forward.
“Princess?” Jixiang spoke with sharp sarcasm: “From the day you killed His Majesty, you were no longer a princess, but a criminal who deserves to be executed by a thousand cuts!”
“I said I didn’t kill His Majesty!” After this hysterical shriek, Princess Xin’an walked to Imperial Physician Li and pointed at him: “It was you, it must be you colluding with Yang Yunyi to harm me together!” Then she continued: “That powder… right, it must be that powder causing mischief!”
Imperial Physician Li’s expression was displeased: “This minister has not colluded with Princess Jinyang, nor have I harmed anyone. As for that powder, I said its only function is to re-dissolve dried blood. If this blood doesn’t belong to the same person, it absolutely cannot fuse. This blood indeed belongs to His Majesty…”
“You’re lying!” Princess Xin’an harshly interrupted his words. “In any case, I didn’t kill His Majesty. Don’t even think about pinning false charges on me!”
Although Li Jiancheng was secretly annoyed by Princess Xin’an’s carelessness, at this moment, he had to protect her. Otherwise, if she got into trouble, he would also find it difficult to escape.
Thinking this way, he said to Li Yuan: “Father, although the blood-bone kinship verification method is recorded in books, this blood fusion is the first time we’ve seen it. It may not be credible, and moreover…” He glanced at Yunyi and Imperial Physician Li but didn’t continue.
Yunyi certainly understood his meaning and said: “If the heir doesn’t believe it, you can drop blood into the bowl and see whether your blood will fuse with it.”
Imperial Physician Li continued: “That’s right. Blood from different people or those not closely related cannot fuse. If the heir has doubts about my blood verification method, please feel free to test it.”
“Father?” Li Jiancheng asked for Li Yuan’s opinion. After the latter nodded, he had someone bring a long needle, pierced his middle fingertip forcefully, and squeezed out a drop of crimson blood into the water.
After this drop of blood entered the water, no matter how Imperial Physician Li shook it, it did not fuse with the previous drop. It was as if there was an invisible barrier between them.
This result made Princess Xin’an’s face turn deathly pale. Her bloodless lips opened and closed, not knowing what she was saying. Li Jiancheng’s expression also didn’t look good.
Yunyi’s eyes were cold and stern: “Xin’an, what more do you have to say now?!”
Princess Xin’an didn’t acknowledge her, only stared fixedly at the two unfused drops of blood in the bowl. The next moment, she suddenly grabbed the twisted gold bracelet from the table and said unconsciously: “It shouldn’t be like this. I clearly washed it. It couldn’t possibly still have blood on it.”
Hearing these words, Li Yuan’s hands tightened as he stared at the bewildered Princess Xin’an and said grimly: “So you’re admitting that His Majesty was killed by you?”
Princess Xin’an’s body trembled. Coming to her senses, she frantically waved her hands: “I never said such words, and I… didn’t kill His Majesty. It has nothing to do with me!”
Li Yuan said indifferently: “Since you didn’t kill His Majesty, why did you wash this twisted gold bracelet for no reason? Why would His Majesty’s blood be stained on your bracelet? I remember that although you touched His Majesty’s body that day and got blood on your clothes, your hands were never bloodied.”
“I… I…” Princess Xin’an frantically twisted her fingers, not knowing how to answer. Just when Li Shimin was about to be executed, such an incident suddenly arose. What was she to do?!
Li Yuan’s gaze swept over her and landed on Lülǐ beside her, saying coldly: “Speak. Was His Majesty killed by your master?”
Lülǐ hastily knelt down: “This servant knows nothing. Tang King, please spare my life!”
Li Yuan said expressionlessly: “I’ll ask you one more time. Was he killed by your master?”
“This servant truly knows nothing.” Lülǐ was so anxious she was about to cry. She tried to calm herself down: “The princess never said anything to this servant, but there is one thing that was indeed… somewhat strange.”
Princess Xin’an, afraid she would say something disadvantageous, shouted harshly: “Lowly servant, if you dare help Jinyang harm me, I won’t spare you!”
Lülǐ was frightened by her words and shrank back, not daring to speak. Li Yuan glared coldly at Princess Xin’an and said to Lülǐ: “Just tell the truth. With me here, no one can touch you.”
His words made Lülǐ feel somewhat relieved, and she said tremblingly: “Usually, the princess always sleeps until the hour of the Rabbit before getting up, but on the day His Majesty had his accident, she was already up at the hour of the Tiger. She also dressed and groomed herself, then said she had business with His Majesty and asked this servant to help her go to Daxing Palace. You were there for what happened after that, My Lord. You know everything.”
Li Yuan nodded slightly: “May I ask, Princess, what business did you have when you went to see His Majesty that day?”