FBC – Chapter 354 Causing a Scene

“This object had poison powder on it. Yin Tao also had the same poison powder on her hands, which she brought in while eating.”

Gu Hua exhaled in relief. “The wooden hairpin appeared—that means it was the work of the female gardener. They don’t know that we’ve discovered the hairpin. Yi Yun took it away. When Yin Tao sees the hairpin again, she will definitely think it’s someone from the Empress contacting her and will naturally go to retrieve it. The hairpin was coated with poison, so she died from it because of betraying her master. This proves that Du Yun’s acting in that scene was effective.”

Zhou Zhilan had earlier asked Dong Qing and Dong Mo: “Yes. The people keeping watch said that today they saw her approaching Yin Tao’s courtyard, so they deliberately got close to her. She was probably afraid of being discovered, so she dropped the hairpin and left the residence in a hurry without taking it.”

Gu Hua nodded. “I guess Dong Qing and the others didn’t expect her to be so ruthless and act so quickly.”

A maid came to report: “Your Highness, a group of elders and young ones have come to the gate. They claim to be Yin Tao’s family and request to see her. They are making a loud commotion outside, saying that Yin Tao has become a concubine in the prince’s residence. They heard the good news and traveled from afar just to see her once and offer their congratulations. Seeing Yin Tao doing well will also put their minds at ease.”

Gu Hua’s expression darkened. “They arrived so quickly? They want to make a scene.”

Zhou Zhilan said, “In that case, report it to the authorities. If they want to stir up trouble, we will see it through. And immediately arrest the female gardener. This will also make them wary and prevent them from acting recklessly.”

Gu Hua nodded. “Good, that’s exactly what I intended. First, capture the female gardener. They’ll have no choice but to contact Du Yun. Send someone to handle it and simultaneously notify the prince so he can be prepared.”

The group had long been under strict surveillance. Upon the princess’s order, people in the residence immediately took action.

Meanwhile, Gu Hua and Zhou Zhilan made some arrangements and then led a large group of servants out of the main gate in a grand procession.

At the gate knelt seven or eight people, old and young, screaming and crying loudly. They didn’t look like people seeking relatives but more like mourners.

A crowd had gathered around. Most were scolding them, but a few were fanning the flames, hoping for chaos.

Zhou Zhilan immediately became furious. “How dare you! If you disturb Her Highness and cause her harm, don’t even think about keeping your heads!”

The group immediately stopped crying, all raising their heads, startled by the severe expressions of the prince’s residence staff. They looked at each other, too afraid to continue.

A servant brought a chair for Gu Hua, and she calmly sat at the gate.

Leading the group was an old man around fifty.

His eyes darted, and he prostrated himself, choking on his sobs: “Commoner pays respects to Your Highness.”

Those following him, old and young, also kowtowed.

Gu Hua smiled kindly and raised her hand. “Everyone, rise. The old ones, the young ones—traveling such a long way must have been exhausting.”

The old man hurriedly said, “Your Highness is kind and compassionate. Please allow this commoner to see my daughter Yin Tao. Once I see she is well, I can rest assured.”

Next to the old man, a woman of about thirty cried and wailed: “Your Highness, please have mercy and allow me to see the unfortunate Yin Tao.”

“Please, Your Highness, allow me to see my poor sister Yin Tao.”

“Please, Your Highness, let this commoner see my sister Yin Tao.”

Gu Hua couldn’t help but smile.

Yin Tao was an orphan, yet now suddenly she had parents and siblings appearing out of nowhere.

Gu Hua said with a smile, “Go ask what their relationship to Yin Tao is, record their ages, and have them sign and seal to prevent impostors.”

Dong Mo immediately took people over with paper and brushes.

The group’s expressions changed as they saw this, all looking at the old man.

The old man stiffened, but there was no turning back now.

Dong Mo asked questions, and he answered. Dong Mo had the servants record everything, having them sign one by one.

As soon as the signed documents were collected, someone in the residence immediately rushed out.

A maid hurriedly came out, panicked: “Your Highness, it’s bad!”

Gu Hua’s expression darkened. “Why the fuss?”

Zhou Zhilan scolded, “Don’t you understand the rules of the residence? Bring them and beat them thirty times.”

Immediately, two strong matrons dragged the maid inside.

The maid cried out: “Your Highness, I dare not anymore. I just saw someone dead and panicked, that’s why I reported it in haste!”

The seven or eight people at the gate all turned pale.

The old man immediately started crying: “My poor daughter…”

Zhou Zhilan shouted angrily, “Who told you that your daughter is dead? Did you know it from the start? Is that why you deliberately came to the gate shouting to see someone?”

The old man paused mid-cry.

“N-no, I thought…”

Zhou Zhilan ignored him and yelled inside: “Carry out the punishment!”

Clap clap clap…

Heavy blows on flesh were heard from inside, along with the woman’s agonized screams.

The seven or eight people outside wanted to continue shouting, but the terrible screams made them shrink back, silent.

Soon, the execution matrons came out to report: “Your Highness, it’s done. The person is almost out of breath.”

Gu Hua nodded slowly. “Mm, set it aside for now. Who did she say was dead?”

The matron replied, “Your Highness, they said Concubine Yin was poisoned to death.”

The old man looked up quickly and met the cold gaze of the bookshop owner hiding in the crowd, turning pale and forcing himself to shout:

“Your Highness, you cannot treat my poor Yin Tao this way! Even though she came from humble origins, she was pure and innocent! You cannot take such action while the prince is out of town!”

The woman began crying: “My poor child, why did you have to die like this? You had just started living a good life and had the prince’s favor—why did you attract jealousy?”

The others wanted to cry along but, meeting the fierce eyes of the Mu family members, they only dared to mutter in their throats.

Gu Hua seemed not to hear them, slightly surprised. “Poisoned? Who administered the poison?”

The matron hurriedly said, “Dong Qing and Doctor Shen investigated. They said she was poisoned by a wooden hairpin, one that a female gardener often carried. They have already sent people to arrest her.”

At this, the bookshop owner hiding in the crowd turned pale, looking around to make sure no one was arresting him.

But he couldn’t stay and hurriedly slipped away.

The owners of the commotion at the gate also disappeared, leaving the crowd dumbfounded.

Gu Hua saw a hidden guard nod at her. Dong Qing stepped forward quickly and whispered, “Caught her.”

Only then did Gu Hua say, “To dare commit murder in broad daylight at the prince’s residence, what audacity! Dong Mo, report it to the authorities.”

Dong Mo replied, “Yes.”

Immediately, a guard rode off to the government office.

The seven or eight people were terrified, staring at each other.

A woman tugged at the old man’s sleeve. He hurriedly said, “Yes, yes, report it to the authorities! We will go to the office to drum and cry for justice. The prince’s residence is abusing lives!”

They tried to run, but before they could step out, they were surrounded.

The old man panicked. “W-what are you trying to do?”

The woman screamed: “Are you trying to kill us too? Are you jealous of Yin Tao, killing her and now trying to kill her family?”

Buckets of dirty water were thrown directly at Gu Hua. The commoners watching could no longer tolerate it. Before the residence staff could intervene, they began cursing loudly:

“Where did these poor fools come from, scheming and cheating? They’re worse than prostitutes!”

“Nonsense! Your Highness is not unreasonable. You can tell just by looking at them that they’re scoundrels. Where did they come from? Such strangers!”