Chapter 530: The Final Accusation
Fan Chengzhuo couldn’t help but ask, "Lord Lu?"
Zhang Qian explained, "Lu Yu. Lord Lu."
Dead silence.
The Black Cavalry Guard were legendary in the Capital City, so of course, the name of Lord Lu Yu was just as renowned.
But they had always operated in the shadows. Only this time, to protect Ye Chutang, had they openly revealed their identities.
The Eldest Princess still had Lu Yu’s testimony from last night right beside her!
’But... but Zhang Qian said... he even went to see Wu the Fourth in person?’
’It was true that Lu Yu had faced the assassin, but he shouldn’t know who Wu the Fourth was!’
’Wasn’t Wu the Fourth the mastermind? And wasn’t he only captured at his home this morning?’
’So how on earth did Lu Yu manage to "confront" him?’
’And what was that about "not being able to withstand it"? Even a fool could guess that Lu Yu had likely interrogated the man himself!’
’The methods of the Black Cavalry Guard... How many people in the world could possibly withstand them?’
Zhang Qian also sensed the delicate atmosphere and felt rather awkward.
But what could he do!
’Who would have guessed that no sooner had Zhao Chengyin left, Lu Yu would show up at the door again?’
Fan Chengzhuo frowned, finding the situation utterly preposterous. "How outrageous! What gives him the right? It’s not his place to handle this matter!"
The sheer arrogance!
Zhang Qian said quickly, "Mr. Fan, please don’t misunderstand. I was present when the two of them were questioned. In fact... I was the one who personally conducted the interrogation. Lord Lu merely acted as a witness."
"You!"
Fan Chengzhuo was furious.
’He was clearly twisting the facts!’
’Who did he think Lu Yu was? When Lu Yu is involved, it’s a wonder he didn’t end up interrogating Zhang Qian too! A witness? What a joke!’
’Absolutely ridiculous!’
Just as he was about to say more, Zhao Chengyin cut in—
"That’s excellent news! Second Miss Ye holds an important post, yet someone dared to openly attempt to assassinate her in the Capital City. It’s utterly vile! The Eldest Princess is paying close attention to this case and has urged us to uncover the truth with the utmost speed. Thanks to Lord Lu’s considerable help, not only have we successfully identified the mastermind, Wu the Fourth, but we have now also obtained his testimony! With this, we can finally give Second Miss Ye the justice she deserves!"
His impassioned speech successfully silenced Fan Chengzhuo.
He shut his mouth, a cold sweat breaking out on his back. ’How could I forget? The Eldest Princess is here!’
’She’s the one who personally ordered this investigation. Never mind the process; the result is what matters, and this is the result she wants!’
’If I jump in now, I’d just be asking for trouble!’
Fan Chengzhuo finally fell silent.
Zhao Chengyin immediately shot Zhang Qian a look. "What are you waiting for? Present the testimony to the Eldest Princess for her review!"
’What’s gotten into Zhang Qian? He’s usually so composed. Why is he being so hesitant and awkward today?’
Zhang Qian glanced down at the document in his hands and took a deep breath.
"Yes!"
Without further hesitation, he presented it with both hands.
The Eldest Princess reached out, took it, and turned to the first page.
As she read, she remarked, "It seems you managed to get quite a lot out of him..."
Suddenly, her voice trailed off. She frowned, her eyes fixed on the words in the document.
Ye Chutang, standing to one side, couldn’t clearly see what was written.
But one name still jumped out at her, clear as day.
—Xiao Lansi!
Ye Chutang’s eyelid twitched.
She impassively drew back her gaze, no longer looking at the testimony.
What was actually written on it no longer mattered. The very appearance of Xiao Lansi’s name said more than enough.
The others noticed the Eldest Princess’s odd reaction but didn’t understand its cause.
Seeing her remain still for a long moment, Chen Songshi prompted, "Eldest Princess? Is there something wrong with the testimony?"
’The Eldest Princess has seen her share of shocking events. What in the world could be written in there to make her react like this?’
The Eldest Princess didn’t answer. She simply turned to the second page, her eyes scanning down the lines.
In the vast hall, the only sound was the rustle of her turning the pages.
Chen Songshi had a nagging feeling that something was wrong. He was about to speak again but stopped when he saw the cold indifference in the Eldest Princess’s expression. His heart skipped a beat, and he held his tongue.
Taking the hint, everyone else also remained silent.
Only Xiao Lansi felt a faint sheen of sweat break out on her forehead.
She stared at the document in the Eldest Princess’s hands, a burning anxiety churning in her chest.
More than anyone, she desperately needed to know what was written inside!
Time had never passed so agonizingly slowly.
After what felt like an eternity, the Eldest Princess finally finished reading.
She closed the document and slowly exhaled.
Then, she looked at Xiao Lansi.
Her eyes, though world-weary, were still sharp and revealed no emotion. They were like the surface of a frozen lake—biting and severe.
She spoke in a cold voice.
"Wu the Fourth has identified you as the one who secretly contacted him. You promised him a great reward to hire assassins and attack Chutang. The time, the place, the details—it’s all written here, clear as day."
"Yuhe."
It was rare for the Eldest Princess to address her directly by her title.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
...
The revelation was earth-shattering.
Everyone was stunned into place by those few words, unable to process what they had just heard.
’What did she mean?’
’Was the Eldest Princess saying that in his testimony, Wu the Fourth had truly confessed that Xiao Lansi was behind everything?!’
’Then... didn’t that mean—’
"Ha!"
Xiao Chengxuan was the first to react.
"I knew it! You arranged all of this beforehand! All to kill two birds with one stone!"
A twisted, triumphant smile spread across Xiao Chengxuan’s face.
"You said I had no proof? I didn’t! But now, here it is! I accused you and you denied it. Now that he’s saying the same thing, what are you going to do?!"
Xiao Lansi’s mind went blank.
The blood in her veins seemed to freeze solid. The moment she heard those words, it felt as if her circulation had stopped and her heart had leaped into her throat—
’How could this be?!’
’She had been so careful, leaving no evidence behind! And that Wu the Fourth—how could he have confessed everything so completely?!’
Fan Chengzhuo hadn’t expected this turn of events either, and he began to panic.
"Eldest Princess, that Wu the Fourth is a slippery character! His words can’t necessarily be taken as truth!"
Xiao Chengxuan sneered as if he’d heard a joke. "What? So many people have identified her, and that’s still not enough to convict her?"
Zhou Kangxue!
Wu the Fourth!
Those two had no connection to each other, yet both had, independently, pointed the finger at Xiao Lansi!
This was ironclad proof!
Fan Chengzhuo was rendered speechless, unable to think of a better rebuttal.
Everyone was still filled with utter disbelief.
They looked at Xiao Lansi as if she were a complete stranger, someone they had never met before.
Everyone had thought Princess Yuhe was a gentle soul—timid, docile, and obedient. Whenever they met her, she always spoke in soft, hushed tones, a shy smile on her face.
Who could have imagined that she was the one behind it all?!
After a long silence, Xiao Lansi raised a hand and gently wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
Then, she lifted her head. All emotion had drained from her face, which, though sorrowful, was still undeniably beautiful.
She gave a slight smile, her tone surprisingly soft and light—
"Since Your Highness has already decided I am to blame, what else is there for me to say?"