AUBTN -Chapter 271 Continuing the Investigation

“Right about half a month before the Empress’s grand wedding.”

“Zhao Mingxiu suddenly died of a sudden illness in the middle of the night!”

“Zhou Wenhai immediately ordered his men to transport the body out of the city overnight and bury it hastily, not even giving him a proper coffin.”

Lu Yan slammed the dossier shut. A cold, murderous glint flashed through his eyes.

“What a perfect act of silencing the dead—no witness, no evidence!”

“Borrowing a womb, replacing the truth with falsehood… Zhou Wenhai, what an elaborate scheme you’ve woven!”

Two days later, deep into the night.

Inside an abandoned side hall in the northwestern corner of Taichen Palace.

Four shadowy figures quietly gathered under the cover of darkness.

Su Hewan carefully took out a oil-paper bundle from her sleeve and opened it.

Inside was a small amount of dark brown medicinal residue.

“This was scraped from the bottom of Zhou Ruoyun’s medicine jar when her personal maid wasn’t paying attention.”

Under the faint glow of a flint, Su Hewan pointed at an unremarkable plant root fragment.

“This isn’t some ordinary pregnancy tonic at all!”

Her voice was cool and resolute in the night air.

“I checked the palace pulse records and medical archives, and combined them with my knowledge of ancient texts. This substance is called Illusion Pregnancy Seed. It grows in the miasma forests of the far south and is extremely rare.”

Shen Jue raised an eyebrow, looking at her with interest.

“Oh? And what does it do?”

Su Hewan took a deep breath and said word by word:

“When a woman takes this drug, she will quickly experience severe nausea, vomiting, and cessation of menstruation.”

“Most terrifying of all, it alters the flow of blood and qi in the body, making the pulse feel smooth and bead-like—identical to a true pregnancy pulse!”

When Yu Qing heard this, her eyes widened like copper bells as she sucked in a sharp breath.

“Holy crap! You’re saying Zhou Ruoyun isn’t even pregnant?”

“Damn, this plot is getting more and more sci-fi! Ancient times had fake pregnancy drugs too?”

“So this whole thing is a complete, total scam!”

Yu Qing lowered her voice, but the shock in it was impossible to hide.

“What is she even trying to do with a fake pregnancy?”

“Is she planning to magically produce a baby out of thin air ten months later?”

Su Hewan carefully rewrapped the medicinal residue and tucked it deep into her sleeve.

Her gaze was especially clear in the darkness.

“This is exactly Zhou Wenhai’s brilliance—and his most vicious move.”

“Ten months is enough time for far too many things to happen.”

“The first possibility: Zhou Ruoyun suffers a ‘miscarriage’ a few months later, and the blame is pinned squarely on the Empress Dowager or us, allowing them to completely topple their political enemies.”

“The second possibility: Zhou Wenhai has already arranged a pregnant woman in advance, calculated the timing precisely, and on the day of delivery, swaps the child in a classic case of ‘the civet replaces the prince.’”

“No matter which it is, the Zhou family is already in an unbeatable position.”

After hearing Su Hewan’s analysis, a chilling, dark light flickered in Shen Jue’s eyes.

“Zhou Wenhai that old fox really stops at nothing.”

“If they want to play games, then we’ll play along with them properly.”

Lu Yan let out a cold snort, his sharp facial features appearing even more severe under the dim firelight.

“Paper can’t wrap up fire. If it’s fake, it will eventually show its flaws.”

“No matter how powerful the Zhou family is, they can’t possibly be flawless.”

He turned his head, his deep gaze settling firmly on Yu Qing’s slightly flushed, excited face.

“You and Miss Su are in Chaofeng Palace—you’re essentially in the tiger’s den.”

“From here on out, you must both be extremely careful.”

“Besides your daily duties, continue observing in secret and see if you can uncover any other hidden key clues.”

Shen Jue also stepped forward. His tall frame blocked the night wind that seeped in from one side, shielding Su Hewan.

“Deputy Commander Lu is right.”

“Wanwan, always prioritize your own safety above everything. If anything goes wrong, send word to me immediately.”

“Remember this—no imperial power or grand ambition is worth even a single strand of your hair.”

His usually soft, almost androgynous voice now carried an unquestionable dominance and deep affection.

Su Hewan felt a warmth in her heart and nodded earnestly. “Don’t worry. Ah Qing and I know what we’re doing.”

Yu Qing patted her chest confidently. “Exactly! When it comes to acting, I’m a professional!”

After finishing their discussion of serious matters, the night grew even deeper.

“It’s getting late. If we don’t go back soon, that expressionless palace maid is going to get suspicious,” Su Hewan said, tugging at Yu Qing’s sleeve.

The two nodded and turned, preparing to slip quietly back to the Chaofeng Palace.

The moment they turned—

Shen Jue and Lu Yan exchanged a glance.

It was a look shared between men—perfectly in sync, yet carrying a certain predatory edge.

The next second—

“Huh?”

“Ah!”

Two barely audible exclamations rang out from the corner at the same time.

A gust of wind swept past!

Before Su Hewan and Yu Qing could even react, two irresistible forces seized their wrists!

Shen Jue and Lu Yan, in perfect coordination, each grabbed one of them and pulled them into two different dark, hidden corners inside and outside the side hall.

Outside the side hall, behind a jagged rockery.

Su Hewan only felt the world spin for a moment before her back was pressed against the cold, rough stone.

Before she could steady herself, a tall, imposing figure closed in on her like a mountain bearing down.

A familiar scent of cold plum blossoms mixed with the dangerous aura unique to the man instantly enveloped her completely.

“Mmph!”

Just as she was about to speak, all her words were swallowed by a sudden, urgent, burning kiss.

Shen Jue kissed her fiercely.

His tongue forcefully parted her lips, yet beneath the dominance was an overwhelming greed and longing.

His hand tightened around her slender waist, as if he wanted to melt her into his very bones and blood.

“Shen… Shen Jue…”

Kissed so intensely, Su Hewan was dizzy, almost deprived of air.

Both amused and exasperated, she pushed hard against his solid chest.

Taking advantage of the moment he paused to breathe, she shot him a reproachful glare and whispered, “Have you lost your mind? What are you doing!”

“This is the imperial palace! The Empress Dowager and Zhou Wenhai’s spies could pass by at any moment!”

Shen Jue not only refused to let go, he rested his chin against the crook of her neck.

Like a large, aggrieved dog abandoned by its owner.

“Wanwan.”

His low, hoarse voice carried a hint of a soft, almost pitiful tone that made one’s heart tremble.

“Ever since you moved into the palace, I’ve been alone every night in the garden estate.”

“This life feels like years have passed—it’s unbearably lonely.”

“All I can think about is you. I can’t even sleep.”

The feared Eastern Depot chief was now here, acting pitiful in front of her.

Su Hewan couldn’t help but laugh softly, reaching up to pinch the bridge of his high nose.

“The mighty Chief Shen… how can it be as exaggerated as you say?”

“It is true.”