MCSCPM -Chapter 93 The Interrogation

Chief Imperial Physician Zhang waited from noon until sunset. Nearly fainting from exhaustion, he finally saw the Emperor emerge from Xuan Palace, looking relaxed.

The steward eunuch hurried forward. “Your Majesty, Chief Zhang is still waiting here.”

Zhang, frail and weary, knelt shakily and bowed. “Long live Your Majesty, ten thousand, ten thousand times ten thousand years.”

“Rise,” Nangong Lin said, his mood far improved. “Considering your years of service in the palace, I won’t punish you today for intruding into Xuan Palace.”

As Zhang rose, he almost immediately knelt again, together with the steward eunuch, trembling so much that he nearly collapsed.

“Speak. What is it?” Nangong Lin asked, hands behind his back, chin lifted proudly as he looked over the palace. Zhang and the eunuch were baffled—how could the Emperor’s mood have improved so dramatically in just one afternoon?

But the mind of a sovereign is never for his ministers to guess. Swallowing with effort, Zhang said, “Your Majesty, at noon, Her Majesty the Empress suddenly fainted. Both I and Divine Physician Yin examined her separately, but arrived at the same conclusion.”

Nangong Lin’s patience thinned. “Speak quickly! Why the suspense?”

Zhang hurriedly poured out the rest. “Your Majesty, both Divine Physician Yin and I discovered that, besides the deadly ‘Three-Day Zhu’ poison, the Empress’s body contains two other different toxins!”

“What?” Nangong Lin snorted coldly. “Can they be removed?”

Zhang, ignoring the pain in his knees, fell to the stone floor and knelt again. “Your humble servant is powerless and has found no solution.”

“Why do I support you then?! Do you take your salaries only to do nothing?”

Seeing the Emperor’s anger, Zhang kept his head pressed to the floor, too afraid to rise.

The steward eunuch gently intervened, “Your Majesty, Chief Zhang and the others have already tried their best. In my humble opinion, it would be wiser to thoroughly investigate who poisoned the Empress so she may be saved.”

Nangong Lin glanced at Zhang, kneeling like a broken man, muttered “useless,” and mounted his dragon carriage.

The eunuch hurriedly helped Zhang to his feet. “Chief Zhang, the Emperor is troubled by palace affairs today. His tone was stern, but do not take it to heart.”

Tears streamed down Zhang’s cloudy eyes. “I am powerless and cannot ease Your Majesty’s burdens.”

“Do not speak so, Chief Zhang. Your decades of service are remembered. I will have someone escort you home to rest. Then, together with Divine Physician Yin, you may discuss how to purge the toxins from the Empress’s body.”

Zhang nodded gratefully.

Once the elderly physician was settled, the eunuch ran to catch up with the Emperor’s carriage. “Your Majesty learned much today at Xuan Palace! You look spirited!”

“Of course. That master of mysticism is truly skilled. I believe that with further practice, I will gain greatly.”

The eunuch smiled wryly, “Then the servants will also benefit from Your Majesty’s achievements.”

Being by Nangong Lin’s side for years, the eunuch knew how to please him. Watching the crimson sunset, the Emperor sighed and said, “You understand me best.”

The eunuch bowed, smiling faintly in the wind. “It is my lifelong fortune to serve by Your Majesty’s side.”

The Emperor reclined against the carriage and commanded, “The Empress cannot act for now. Among the elders of the palace, only Consort De is truly respected. Go to her palace and pass my orders: investigate the case of Second Princess Nangong Mei’er allegedly poisoning the Empress.”

The eunuch’s heart skipped. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

At Consort De’s palace, the eunuch happened to meet Nangong Chen paying respects. Knowing the eunuch’s status, he treated him with respect. The eunuch explained the matter, and though Consort De was slightly surprised, it was within expectation.

“Consort De, you are now the Emperor’s only trusted person. This concerns the Empress’s wellbeing. His Majesty ordered you to investigate thoroughly, even if it implicates the Second Princess.”

Consort De hesitated, glanced at Nangong Chen, received his confirmation, and agreed.

The eunuch departed, leaving Consort De and Nangong Chen alone.

“Chen’er, if this case is handled well, do you think Father will release your sister?”

In the vast palace, with only his mother present, Nangong Chen’s eyes darkened. “No. My sister humiliated Father—like slapping him in the face. The scandal has spread everywhere. Father will likely choose a husband for her soon and marry her off hastily.”

Consort De shivered. “Chen’er, what should we do? She is your own sister!”

“Mother, don’t worry. For now, investigate the case your father entrusted to you.”

Consort De nodded. After a private discussion, she changed her palace attire and sent for the Elder Princess Nangong Xiaoxiao. “Inform her that I am investigating the Empress’s poisoning and that she is to serve as a witness at the Office of Penal Affairs.”

Shortly after, Consort De arrived at the Heavenly Prison.

“Nangong Mei’er, Consort De is here to interrogate you,” announced a robust female guard as she opened the prison door, dragging out the emaciated princess.

The chains and shackles clinked harshly in the silent prison.

Nangong Mei’er walked weakly, eyes vacant, like a walking corpse. Once the proud Second Princess of Xize, she had never suffered such humiliation.

“Mei’er, I heard you haven’t eaten or drunk in days?”

Consort De feigned concern, noting her cracked lips. “Your father told me to care for you. If you admit your crime, I will plead for leniency.”

Nangong Mei’er’s mind cleared slightly, and she lifted her head, smiling coldly. “I did not do it, and I will not confess.”

Consort De frowned prettily. “Why be so stubborn? Consort Sun was arrogant, defied the Empress, and poisoned her. When caught, she swallowed gold to kill herself. Do you think suicide avoids punishment?”

Nangong Mei’er’s voice rose. “My mother never did those things!”

Seeing the hatred and chill in her eyes, Consort De felt slightly uneasy. “Even if it wasn’t Consort Sun initially, the later poisoning was you, right? On that day, the Empress saw only you. You left Weiyang Palace, and the poison took effect immediately. If not you, then who?”

Nangong Mei’er turned away. “It was not me.”

Consort De laughed coldly. “A hard bone indeed, just like the Suns. Strong-willed, never yielding. I want to see how long you can last!”

“Guards! Torture her!” Consort De commanded. The nearby female officials immediately brought out the instruments.

Nangong Mei’er’s eyes widened. “You dare! I am the Second Princess of Xize! My mother fell, but the Sun family is not finished!”

The guards tied her to the post and whipped her with a long, hardened, water-soaked whip. Nangong Mei’er shivered but bit her lips, not making a sound.

Raised with love and care all her life, she had never known cruelty. Today, in the depths of the palace, she realized she was nothing more than a disposable pawn.

Her white prison gown was streaked with blood as the whip struck again and again. Eventually, she could resist no longer and fainted.

“Consort De, the Second Princess has passed out,” reported the guard.

“Oh? So frail? And already unconscious?” Consort De raised an eyebrow. “Do as you normally do with prisoners.”

The guard hesitated. “But… she is the Second Princess…”

“Hmph,” Consort De scoffed. “In this palace, aside from my ward, no one is a princess now.”

The guard shivered and obeyed.

Nangong Xiaoxiao, dressed for the occasion, arrived late and paused at the Office of Penal Affairs upon hearing the commotion. Gathering her composure, she entered the prison, seeing Consort De seated high above.

“Consort De, greetings. Sorry I’m late,” she said with a polite smile.

Consort De glanced at her, a sly smile on her lips. “Nonsense, I just arrived too.”

Nangong Xiaoxiao seated herself in the side seat, her eyes narrowing at the Second Princess, drenched in cold water, tied to the post. A chill ran down her spine.

Consort De, now the only surviving respected consort in the palace, was clearly using this as a warning.

Nangong Xiaoxiao shivered but smiled faintly. “Consort De, please continue the interrogation. I’ll just observe.”

Consort De looked at her, coldly smiling at her prudence, and lazily said, “Then continue.”