Under the Empress’s eager gaze, Emperor Jingming cleared his throat and straightened his posture, saying, “Of course. With me here, no evil spirits will exist, especially since the Fourteenth Princess is my daughter.”
Hearing Emperor Jingming’s assurance, Consort Xian and Consort Ning felt somewhat comforted.
The Emperor was the true dragon, the son of heaven, after all. There was nothing to fear.
Thinking this, the two consorts couldn’t help but glance at the Fourteenth Princess again.
The Fourteenth Princess’s eyes were wide open, seemingly filled with endless grievance and despair.
After her initial shock, Consort Ning felt a bit of pity for the Fourteenth Princess: this child died unjustly, surely she couldn’t rest in peace?
“Sister Xian,” Consort Ning asked coolly, “do you think the Fourteenth Princess can’t rest in peace and will only close her eyes when the person who instructed Xiao Dengzi to harm her is caught?”
Now that both she and Consort Xian were suspects, and she knew herself to be innocent, the one who harmed the Fourteenth Princess must be Consort Xian.
Consort Xian was truly formidable, able to kill the Fourteenth Princess and still shed crocodile tears while standing before her corpse. No wonder she could be so heartless as to abandon her son.
Consort Xian’s lips twitched slightly as she said mournfully, “Of course the Fourteenth Princess can’t rest in peace, having lost her youth and beauty. I only hope that His Majesty, in his wisdom, can soon find the one who harmed her…”
Did they think she would show weakness? What a joke!
The Fourteenth Princess suddenly opening her eyes was indeed terrifying, and her heart was still pounding, but no matter how scared she was, she couldn’t let these people catch her out.
A dead person opening their eyes was the subject of many folk tales. When you thought about it, it wasn’t so strange.
Consort Xian desperately tried to reassure herself. Being in the same room as the true dragon emperor, she found she wasn’t as afraid as she thought.
The Empress, listening to the verbal sparring between the two consorts, grew anxious.
Did the Princess Yan have any backup plan? If not, this seemed to be of little help in uncovering the true culprit.
At this moment, Pan Hai approached Emperor Jingming and whispered in his ear, “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is on her way here.”
Hearing this, Emperor Jingming worried that the Empress Dowager might be shocked. He coughed and said, “Alright, we’ve paid our respects to the Fourteenth Princess. Let’s go out now.”
“But the Fourteenth—” the Empress couldn’t look at Jiang Si, and in her urgency couldn’t find a suitable reason, momentarily at a loss for words.
Emperor Jingming’s mouth twitched.
He had thought the Empress was holding back some grand strategy to solve his worries, but it turned out nothing had happened at all.
As for the Fourteenth Princess suddenly opening her eyes, Emperor Jingming hadn’t thought it had anything to do with the Empress.
This child, the Fourteenth, she was unwilling to let go.
Emperor Jingming looked at the Fourteenth Princess with a heavy heart. He stepped forward, reaching out his hand, and said, “Fourteenth, rest in peace. Your father will surely see justice done for you—”
As soon as he finished speaking, the Fourteenth Princess’s eyes suddenly closed.
Emperor Jingming’s outstretched hand trembled in fright.
He had intended to close the Fourteenth’s eyes himself, but he hadn’t even had the chance!
Except for the Empress, who knew what was happening, both consorts turned pale.
Consort Xian could barely suppress her fear and wanted to flee the room.
If the Fourteenth Princess suddenly opening her eyes could be explained as a coincidence, her eyes closing again after Emperor Jingming’s words was somewhat terrifying.
Could it be that the Fourteenth Princess’s wronged spirit hadn’t dispersed and would come to seek revenge on her?
In her fear, Consort Xian couldn’t help but look at the bed again.
The lifeless body, the pale face, the chill so out of place in the summer heat.
All of this made her shudder.
She unconsciously took a step back.
Emperor Jingming coughed, trying to maintain his composure, and said, “Alright, the Fourteenth has heard us. Let’s go.”
Consort Xian thought to herself, “… Is His Majesty deliberately trying to scare me?”
Stay calm, she must stay calm.
Emperor Jingming walked a few steps before stopping to warn everyone, “Don’t let the Empress Dowager know about the Fourteenth’s unusual behavior. We don’t want to worry her.”
They had just walked out when they encountered the Empress Dowager.
“Mother, why have you come?” Emperor Jingming asked.
The Empress Dowager looked at Emperor Jingming and smiled bitterly, “With such an incident, did you think I could rest easy? Have you found out anything?”
Emperor Jingming’s face darkened, “I will order Pan Hai to investigate through the night, looking into who Xiao Dengzi has been in contact with recently, as well as all his connections over the years. No matter the cost, we must find out who was behind this!”
As he spoke, he glanced at the two consorts.
The Empress Dowager nodded, “Indeed, we can’t let this go easily. However, Your Majesty has many state affairs to attend to. Don’t exhaust yourself over this matter and harm your health.”
“I understand, Mother. Please return to Cining Palace now. If you were to tire yourself, I would be even more worried.”
Hearing Emperor Jingming’s words, the Empress Dowager nodded in agreement.
After seeing off the Empress Dowager, Emperor Jingming looked at the sky and said coldly to the two consorts, “You may return to your palaces for now. Be ready for my summons at any time.”
Consort Ning was indignant.
His Majesty truly thought her the culprit. When the truth came to light, she would see how to vent her anger.
Consort Xian, on the other hand, curtsied properly and said, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
As soon as she spoke, she turned pale and began to gasp for breath.
Emperor Jingming silently warned himself not to be soft-hearted. He said to the Empress, “I will dine in Kunning Palace. Seventh Prince and his wife, you stay and eat with us. After the meal, help Pan Hai continue the investigation.”
With Emperor Jingming’s arrangements, the Empress almost thought he already knew Jiang Si had a plan. His arrangements were too thoughtful.
After a hasty lunch, the Empress dismissed the servants and hurriedly asked Jiang Si, “Seventh daughter-in-law, didn’t you say you had a way to test which of the two consorts was behind this?”
Emperor Jingming looked at the Empress in surprise, then glanced at Jiang Si, “What’s going on?”
Jiang Si put down her teacup and said frankly, “Inviting Consort Xian and Consort Ning to see the Fourteenth Princess one last time was my idea.”
“And this could reveal which of them was behind it?” Emperor Jingming recalled the consorts’ reactions but didn’t notice anything unusual.
Was his eyesight not as good as his daughter-in-law’s?
Jiang Si smiled, “Of course not, but it could plant a seed of fear in the heart of the true culprit behind the scenes.”
Emperor Jingming’s eyes lit up, and he asked eagerly, “What else do you have planned?”
“My method is somewhat daring.”
“Please, speak freely!”
“If we implement it, it might terrify the two consorts—”
Emperor Jingming’s mind flashed to the image of Consort Xian on the verge of collapse. After a moment’s hesitation, he gritted his teeth and said, “It’s fine!”
Consort Ning was strong and healthy, so that was not a concern. If Consort Xian was scared to the point of illness and was innocent, he would just have to compensate her more.
The troublemaker must be caught, even if there were some sacrifices.
Having received Emperor Jingming’s approval, Jiang Si didn’t beat around the bush anymore. She said word by word, “Today, Consort Ning said something right: those with a clear conscience need not fear ghosts knocking at their door. But what if a ghost did come knocking tonight?”
Emperor Jingming rubbed his face and looked to the Empress for help.
Was his mind slow? Why could he understand every word Jiang Si said individually, but put together, he couldn’t make sense of it at all?
The Empress quickly said, “Seventh daughter-in-law, please explain more clearly.”
“This matter will need to trouble the Fourteenth Sister again…”
After hearing Jiang Si’s full explanation, Emperor Jingming fell silent for a while before making his decision, “Let’s do it. Only by catching the mastermind will the Fourteenth be able to rest in peace. If she knows in the underworld, she will understand.”
Night fell quickly, and the clamor of the day faded away as the imperial palace grew quiet.