TRBDM -Chapter 169 Interrogating Zhao Jingrui

The two of them arrived at the Eldest Princess’s residence.

“Greetings, Your Highness the Eldest Princess.”

“Greetings, Imperial Elder Sister.”

The night before, Zhao Lingchen had been busy in the western suburbs until past midnight. After returning, her insomnia flared up again, and she only drifted into a hazy sleep at dawn.

She hadn’t seen Xie Yu for several days. Already simmering with anger, and now deprived of sleep, her expression remained icy throughout the day.

Seated in a rosewood armchair carved with auspicious patterns, she propped her forehead with one hand. In her gaze were three parts disdain, three parts arrogance, and three parts sharp severity.

“Bring Zhao Jingrui here.”

“Yes.”

Soon, the guards escorted Zhao Jingrui in.

Zhao Jingrui had white bandages wrapped around the left side of his chest. His face was paler than a ghost’s.

He was so weak he could barely stand, but when he saw Jiang Yuelin and Zhao Jingheng, he forced himself to straighten, lifting his chin so as not to lose face.

“Fifth Prince,” Jiang Yuelin said, “by His Majesty’s order, I am thoroughly investigating the poisoning at Qingfeng Palace. Following the clues, we traced them to your residence in the western suburbs.”

Zhao Jingrui gave a cold snort. “Spare me the nonsense. There’s no need to repeat what’s already happened. Lord Jiang, your life is truly tough. Even the explosives couldn’t kill you. Quite enviable.”

Although Jiang Yuelin had lost an arm, he could still stand and move without any hindrance to his speech or conduct.

By contrast, a single sword strike from Zhao Lingchen had nearly cost Zhao Jingrui half his life. Even breathing caused him pain.

Now that everything had fallen apart—his life, his title as a prince, his dream of returning to the northern frontier—Zhao Jingrui had nothing left to lose.

Why should he listen to the Grand Court of Judicature’s nonsense?

Jiang Yuelin did not engage him about the explosion.

“Fifth Prince, the case has not yet been fully investigated. The Court has not reached a verdict. Proper procedure must be followed. Please cooperate.”

The wound in Zhao Jingrui’s left chest throbbed fiercely. Though he forced himself to stand upright, his back was already soaked with sweat.

“Fine. I admit the lethal pellets were prepared by me, and I administered the poison as well. Kill me or flay me—do as you please.”

Jiang Yuelin said, “Since Your Highness has personally confessed, I won’t elaborate further. I have a few questions. Why did you poison the Tenth Prince?”

In truth, they had their suspicions. Perhaps Zhao Jingrui had acted under the orders of the Third Prince, Zhao Jingyan. After all, Zhao Jingyan had prior offenses.

Ever since the Tenth Prince had gained “His Majesty’s” favor, more and more people had grown hostile toward him.

The Emperor’s health was failing, and the matter of succession was urgent. Under the surface, countless forces stirred, each wanting to emerge as the final victor.

It was common knowledge that the Fifth Prince had aligned himself with the Third Prince. Thus, the Third Prince ordering the deed was the most likely motive.

Yet Zhao Jingrui glared viciously at Zhao Jingheng and said through clenched teeth, “I hate him. I wish he were dead!”

With that single sentence, he completely cleared Zhao Jingyan of suspicion.

Zhao Jingheng asked, “Fifth Brother, I recall we’ve never quarreled. Why do you hate me so much that you would even seek my death?”

“I simply can’t stand your hypocritical act. Just like your mother—so aloof and pure on the surface, yet utterly nauseating.”

Zhao Jingrui’s sudden mention of Consort Shu struck directly at Zhao Jingheng’s most sensitive nerve.

“Zhao Jingrui, what do you mean by that?!”

“What do I mean? I mean your mother only pretends to be as elegant as a chrysanthemum. In truth, her schemes and methods are first-rate.”

Zhao Jingheng’s knuckles cracked loudly. He could keep a low profile. He could refrain from fighting for power. But he would never tolerate anyone slandering Consort Shu.

Furious, Zhao Jingheng grabbed Zhao Jingrui by the collar. “If you dare say another word against my mother, don’t blame me for forgetting our brotherly ties.”

His grip was powerful, pressing against Zhao Jingrui’s throat bone and making it hard for him to breathe. In an instant, Zhao Jingrui’s face flushed red.

“Tenth Imperial Brother.”

Zhao Lingchen, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly spoke.

Zhao Jingheng’s jaw tightened. After a brief struggle, he loosened his grip.

“Cough, cough, cough—!”

Air rushed back into Zhao Jingrui’s lungs, and he coughed violently.

His chest was already wounded. Every cough was like tearing the injury open again. By the time he caught his breath, the wound had split apart; fresh blood seeped through the white bandages, spreading into a large crimson stain.

Zhao Jingrui collapsed to the ground, barely clinging to life.

“Zhao Jingrui, you poisoned Tenth Imperial Brother. There must be another reason. Do not drag the late Consort Shu into this. I have heard that years ago Consort Shu and Consort Ling had a quarrel—but such a minor dispute could never be your motive for murder. Stop stalling. Tell the truth.”

Zhao Lingchen’s sharp gaze made Zhao Jingrui shudder.

“It was Third Imperial Brother who ordered me,” Zhao Jingrui suddenly said, shifting the blame onto Zhao Jingyan. “He couldn’t stand that Father favors Zhao Jingheng. He feared Zhao Jingheng would become the heir to the throne, so he told me to kill him.”

Had Zhao Jingrui named Zhao Jingyan from the very beginning, everyone might have believed him. But after everything that had just happened, his sudden accusation only aroused suspicion.

Jiang Yuelin asked, “Do you have any evidence that the Third Prince instructed you?”

“No. He told me in person. There’s no evidence.”

Jiang Yuelin found the matter questionable. He could not draw conclusions so hastily. Further questioning would not yield the truth, so he changed the subject.

“Where did you obtain the formula for Duoming San?”

Zhao Jingrui replied, “My mother brought many books back from the Northern Frontier. I found it by accident in the lining of one of those books.”

“Is that so?” Jiang Yuelin said. “Summon the coroner—and his senior brother.”

The coroner and his poison-obsessed senior brother entered.

“Is it possible that the formula for Duoming San was hidden inside a book from the Northern Frontier?”

“Reporting to Lord Jiang: the formula for Duoming San is a top secret. To this day, no one has ever seen it. Such a formula would certainly be concealed in an exceptionally secure place. It could not possibly be casually tucked inside a book.”

The senior brother had spent years searching for rare poison formulas—especially the mysterious Duoming San, which fascinated him the most.

He had searched from Lingnan to the Northern Frontier without finding the slightest trace. Who would have thought that someone in the capital would possess its recipe?

Jiang Yuelin nodded and continued, “Fifth Prince, you had better confess truthfully. How exactly did you obtain Duoming San?”

Zhao Jingrui clenched his teeth.

The poison had indeed come from the Northern Frontier—delivered to the capital through secret channels by Northern spies.

That, he would never reveal.

If his private dealings with the Northern Frontier were exposed and the Emperor flew into a rage, sending Dachong’s troops to attack the Northern Frontier, he would become a sinner in their eyes.

Though he had failed to complete the Northern Frontier’s mission, he would never let a single word slip from his mouth.

“I found it in a book. Purely by accident.”

He stubbornly stuck to his story.

In truth, poisoning Zhao Jingheng had been nothing more than a test—to see the effectiveness of Duoming San.

Once he perfected the poison, he could silently eliminate the other princes one by one.

He hated all the people of Dachong.

Unfortunately, the Northern Frontier lacked the strength to invade the Dachong Dynasty, so Zhao Jingrui had endured for many years.

The first time the formula was successfully prepared, he could not resist testing it on Zhao Jingheng. He had not expected the prince to be so fortunate—Jianxi had taken the poison in his stead.

Zhao Jingrui burned with hatred. Had he known someone in Qingfeng Hall tested the food for poison, he might as well have used it on Zhao Jingyan first—killing one would have been worth it.