TGCFNM -Chapter 494 You Passed the Test

Once inside the palace, High Eunuch led the way, with Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin walking behind him, heads slightly bowed, looking very proper and obedient.

Ghost Scholar floated beside Chu Ling, his gaze coldly fixed on the eunuch’s neck, while also briefing her on the surroundings.

“The eunuchs and palace maids are obviously more cautious. Everyone seems withdrawn and tense. The Emperor must have been angry—those who serve him closely were probably disciplined,” Ghost Scholar said.

Bai Su floated over, circled around once, and then returned. “They don’t dare speak even a word of idle chatter. This time it must be serious.”

“Once you enter, act weary but focused. Be respectful yet concise when answering the Emperor’s questions—he doesn’t have time for unnecessary words right now,” Ghost Scholar instructed carefully.

Chu Ling blinked, signaling that she had memorized the instructions.

Soon, High Eunuch brought them to the place, but to Chu Ling’s surprise, the venue for the inquiry was the overgrown central palace courtyard.

Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin waited outside the central palace gate, and once they were announced, they bowed their heads and walked in.

High Eunuch led them to the hall outside the central palace. Chu Ling, however, glanced at the now-cleaned courtyard, raising an eyebrow slightly.

“Prefect Chu Ling pays respects.”

“Advisor Wan Sanjin pays respects.”

Chu Ling bowed her head, leading Wan Sanjin in, and carefully looked up. Behind the screen sat two people. She immediately knelt and kowtowed: “Your humble servant Chu Ling pays respects to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. May the Emperor and Empress Dowager be blessed with long life and prosperity.”

Wan Sanjin mimicked her movements with perfect form.

Fu Qingyu relaxed slightly, but then heard a gentle, elderly female voice behind the screen: “You recognized someone even from behind the screen?”

Chu Ling respectfully replied, “Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, I know Lord Fu, so before I entered, Lord Fu winked at us. That is how I understood.”

Fu Qingyu shook his head helplessly, a smile tugging at his lips.

The Empress Dowager also chuckled softly and tilted her head to the side: “Your servant seems quite slick-tongued.”

The Emperor’s expression was grim. He ordered the screen on his side removed and fixed a deep gaze on Chu Ling. “This time I sent you to Luozhou to investigate the case. How did it go? Speak up.”

Chu Ling raised her head slightly, then lowered her gaze respectfully. “Your Majesty, this time I traveled from Luozhou to Liangzhou, where I discovered people illegally selling stored grain, privately collecting tax grain, and amassing wealth on a large scale. However, because the case involves too many officials, I feared alerting the wrong people. After returning to the capital, I immediately handed the evidence to my mentor, Lord Lu, who organized it and presented it to Your Majesty.”

Ghost Scholar whispered softly: “Rest assured, proceed boldly. You’ve passed the test.”

In that instant, although the Emperor’s look of shock lasted only a moment, he had seen it—so Chu Ling was safe.

The Emperor lowered his gaze slightly, his expression still stern. “Qingyu, you explain to her.”

The Empress Dowager looked at the Emperor in surprise, then softly reassured him: “Where are there no worms? It’s a good thing we caught them this time.”

The Emperor replied quietly: “The Empress Dowager is right.” He then had the screen restored, as if out of sight meant out of mind.

Fu Qingyu bowed once to the Emperor respectfully, then turned to Chu Ling. “Lord Chu, the Emperor sent you here to handle the investigation concerning Empress Hexiao. After all, you were the one who uncovered the evidence.”

Chu Ling cupped her hands in acknowledgment, then, at Fu Qingyu’s signal, slowly rose and stood aside with Wan Sanjin.

Fu Qingyu then ordered the presentation of the evidence and gestured for Chu Ling to begin the trial.

Chu Ling cautiously glanced at the two people behind the screen, then looked around the room, noting that only Fu Qingyu was present. She realized that in this case, there was no culprit for her to judge.

Ghost Scholar reminded her, “Speak quickly. Just proceed as usual.”

Chu Ling relaxed slightly and pointed to the arranged evidence. She began, “According to the information I have gathered, I first went to the imperial villa and found this Golden Camellia on a desk in a place about to collapse.”

“This Golden Camellia is exquisitely crafted, lifelike, but when the petals are twisted, they can be separated. In the separated portion, there is a hollow space containing traces of black residue, which closely resembles some kind of powdered medicine.”

Fu Qingyu added, “I have already investigated this powder. It is made from bloodthirsty gu worms, a species that feeds on human essence, gradually weakening the mind day by day, yet leaves no trace detectable by ordinary means.”

Hearing this, Chu Ling thought, well, they’ve named the gu worms directly, and she continued: “This Golden Camellia proves that the death of Empress Xiao was the result of foul play.”

Bang! Behind the screen, a teacup was knocked to the ground. The Emperor ground his teeth and said in a low voice, “Continue!”

Chu Ling caught Ghost Scholar’s reassuring glance and went on, “Subsequently, I discovered a hidden compartment in one of the halls in the inner palace. Inside were a blood-written letter, a porcelain vial, and a secret document.”

After speaking, Chu Ling looked at Fu Qingyu.

With a solemn expression, Fu Qingyu said, “Lord Chu has not seen the evidence and therefore may not know: the blood-written letter was written by the Empress herself. She discovered that someone in the palace meant harm to the Emperor, but knowing her time was limited, she wrote the letter hoping to deliver it to His Majesty. The vial contained poison made from gu worms, identical to the Emperor’s health elixir. The secret document also contained evidence discovered by the Empress.”

Chu Ling’s face showed grief, and her nose tingled. “The Empress could never have imagined that someone close to her would betray her and hide the evidence.”

Her grief was genuine because the one who betrayed Empress Xiao was none other than the Emperor himself. And as for the so-called evidence—it was merely fabricated based on what was known to have happened.

Everyone spoke of the deep love between the Emperor and Empress, yet no one expected that even after Empress Xiao had been dead for so long, she could be dragged out and used once more.

Fu Qingyu bowed to the Emperor. “According to my investigation, the one who betrayed the Empress was Concubine Lian, who is also Prince Qi’s biological mother.”

Chu Ling was momentarily shocked, then quickly lowered her head, saying nothing further.

At this moment, the Empress Dowager spoke slowly, sighing softly, “I remember that after Consort Tao bore a prince, the Empress’s health declined. The one sent to serve the Empress in repayment, Concubine Lian, was originally Consort Tao’s personal maid, wasn’t she?”

The Emperor responded heavily with a nod.

The Empress Dowager continued with a tinge of regret, “Back then, the Tao family held military power, and with Consort Tao giving birth to a prince, their arrogance only grew. It seems that the Empress’s illness was inseparable from the Tao family. Later, when the Empress passed away, the Tao family seized the opportunity to force a palace coup.”

Fu Qingyu respectfully said, “Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, the secret letter indeed contained correspondence between the Tao family and Consort Tao plotting the coup. When the Empress discovered it, she sent Concubine Lian to warn His Majesty. Unexpectedly, Concubine Lian took murderous action and poisoned the Empress.”

“Poor Empress, she could not warn His Majesty before her death. Concubine Lian, fearing exposure, took her own life to follow the Empress, and was honored with a lavish burial and posthumous title by His Majesty.”

The Emperor suddenly kicked over the screen in front of him, his face ashen. “Bring Prince Qi to me!”

Chu Ling lowered her eyes, her thoughts in turmoil. Although palace maid Gui had said it was Concubine Lian who acted, she felt that something was off, though she could not put her finger on exactly what.

However, Fu Qingyu and Chu Yue’s plan was succeeding. Prince Qi was about to be captured, and Heir Xiao’s fate was sealed.