Chapter 520: Just Admit It
Prince Jing Mansion.
The door to the study was pushed open, letting in a gust of cold wind.
Xiao Chenglin, who was sitting behind his desk reading, coughed twice.
The door was quickly shut. The man glanced at the brazier, then immediately knelt.
"I was negligent. I forgot to have them add more charcoal before I left."
Xiao Chenglin waved his hand. The candlelight made the youth’s delicate and handsome face appear even paler. The hint of illness in his features made him seem fragile and breakable, which was all the more captivating.
"It’s nothing. I’ve grown used to it over the years."
Although he was a Prince, he was far from favored. Without the protection of his mother’s clan and plagued by his own poor health, he had never lived a comfortable life.
Even charcoal was conserved whenever possible.
"How are things with Third Brother?" he asked, looking up. His eyes were as clear as glass beads, betraying no emotion. "I hear he’s awake?"
"Yes. Prince Lie has awoken, and Wang Chang, the one who secretly poisoned him, has been captured and sent to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation."
"Then we should have a result soon."
The corner of Xiao Chenglin’s mouth twitched, as if in a smile. "Third Brother’s timing is impeccable."
"Your Highness, you—"
"I’m fine." Xiao Chenglin shook his head. "The Wazhen Mission will soon arrive in the Capital City, and with Father Emperor in a coma, someone needs to step up and take charge. I lack the experience. Third Brother is more suitable than I am."
The kneeling man hesitated. "It won’t necessarily be Prince Lie, will it? He may be awake, but his body is still extremely weak..."
Xiao Chenglin suddenly laughed.
"You don’t know my third brother. He’s a ruthless man who doesn’t even care for his own life when he’s fighting a war. A person like that wouldn’t be stopped by a broken arm or leg from doing what he wants. Why should I be so tactless as to fight with him over such a small matter?"
"How can this be a small matter? With His Majesty in a coma, everyone is watching—"
"Didn’t you just say it yourself? Everyone is watching. The slightest mistake would be a monumental crime."
Seeing that Xiao Chenglin didn’t want to discuss it further, the man said no more.
"I understand."
Xiao Chenglin nodded. "You may go."
"Yes."
Just as he turned to leave, Xiao Chenglin called out to him again.
"By the way, has there been any movement from the Dingbei Marquis Mansion today?"
The man shook his head. "None."
Xiao Chenglin sounded incredulous. "The one from the Ye Family was attacked in the street, and he’s made no move at all?"
The man thought for a moment. "Didn’t he already have those assassins thrown into the Shuntian Prefecture? He doesn’t need to appear personally for such matters."
’True. Just because he didn’t leave his home doesn’t mean he hasn’t taken action.’
Still, Xiao Chenglin felt something was off.
After a long moment of contemplation, he still had no answer, so he put it out of his mind.
"Never mind. You may go."
"Yes."
The door opened a crack, then quickly closed again.
Xiao Chenglin looked out the window, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
’Tomorrow, the Capital City is going to be lively.’
...
The next morning, Ye Chutang went to the palace as usual.
The difference this time was that the palace had sent people to escort her, accompanied by the Imperial Guard.
Ye Chutang wasn’t surprised by this and readily went along.
As soon as she reached the entrance to the main hall, Ye Chutang heard the Eldest Princess’s furious roar from the side hall:
"Bring that Zhou Kangxue to me at once! I will interrogate him personally!"
Ye Chutang paused.
However, a sharp-eyed palace attendant had already spotted her and hurried over with a beaming smile.
"Second Miss Ye! You’ve arrived! Please, come in!"
Ye Chutang glanced toward the side hall. "This... That’s where the Eldest Princess discusses state affairs with the Cabinet. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to go over, would it?"
The attendant’s smile grew even more eager. "The Eldest Princess gave a direct order! She said that if you came to the palace, you were to be brought in immediately!"
Ye Chutang no longer demurred.
The moment she entered, before she even had a chance to bow, the Eldest Princess beckoned for Ye Chutang to come to her side.
"Chutang, come here."
Ye Chutang glanced to the side. Besides several Cabinet Ministers, Fan Chengzhuo was also present.
A few sheets of paper were scattered beside the Eldest Princess. Ye Chutang’s brief glance told her they were likely testimonies.
They were spattered with flecks of blood.
’It seems Fan Chengzhuo delivered them.’
But his expression was rather grim.
Then, the Eldest Princess handed the papers directly to Ye Chutang.
"Chutang, take a look at this!"
Ye Chutang hesitated for a moment.
"This is—"
"This is Wang Chang’s confession! He said he was instructed by Zhou Kangxue to secretly poison and harm Prince Lie!" The Eldest Princess was livid. "I want to ask that Zhou Kangxue myself just why he did it!"
’Zhou Kangxue?’
Ye Chutang blinked.
She wasn’t surprised by the name, but she hadn’t expected Wang Chang to break so easily. He had confessed everything in a single night.
Ye Chutang took the confession and read it carefully.
It was written in black and white. After being rejected twice in a row, Wang Chang had grown to resent Zhao Xuanping. It was then that Zhou Kangxue approached him, promising to have him promoted to the Imperial Hospital if he did as he was told.
Zhou Kangxue’s plan was to first tamper with the medicinal herbs, preventing Prince Lie from recovering.
Over time, everyone would inevitably grow suspicious of Zhao Xuanping.
At that point, Zhou Kangxue would fight to take over Prince Lie’s treatment from Zhao Xuanping. Once Wang Chang stopped his meddling, Zhou Kangxue would resume giving the prince the proper medicine.
When Prince Lie recovered, the credit and fame would fall to him.
In the end, Zhou Kangxue had concocted this venomous plot for the sake of his own "future" and "reputation."
The Imperial Hospital was no stranger to scheming, but to gamble with Prince Lie’s health! It was outrageously audacious!
No wonder the Eldest Princess was furious.
Soon, Zhou Kangxue was brought in.
He had been on duty at the Imperial Hospital when he was suddenly dragged away. He struggled the entire way, shouting in fury.
"What do you think you’re doing?! Who gave you permission to arrest me?! You’ve got some nerve! I—"
Two guards shoved him straight to the ground.
Before Zhou Kangxue could erupt in anger, he looked up and saw the Eldest Princess and all the Cabinet Ministers.
His heart leaped into his throat, and all his previous arrogance vanished without a trace.
"E-Eldest Princess? Was it you... you who had them..."
The Eldest Princess had no patience for his nonsense. She cut him off and demanded in a cold voice:
"Wang Chang says he poisoned Prince Lie under your orders! Do you confess or not?!"
Zhou Kangxue looked as if he’d been struck by lightning.
He was about to instinctively deny it when he suddenly saw the confession in Ye Chutang’s hands.
’That’s... that’s—’
Zhou Kangxue was incredulous. "He... He said that?!"
The Eldest Princess sneered. "If you wish to confront him yourself, that can be arranged!"
Zhou Kangxue’s lips trembled as he almost instinctively looked toward Fan Chengzhuo.
Fan Chengzhuo turned his head and shot him a cold glance.
"The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Justice conducted the interrogation jointly. The confession is sound. You might as well admit it!"