All Heavens: From Joy of Life to The Great Feng Night Watchman

Page 552

"Take us to the place where Consort Fu died." Biao Biao's investigative approach was clear, and her purpose was also very specific.

She was like a proud little phoenix, enjoying the feeling of Huaiqing following behind her.

Seeing the arrogant, snarling figure of the woman in the fiery red dress, Huaiqing followed with a cold eye, confident that there would be an opportunity to retaliate.

The two princesses searched the spot where Consort Fu had landed for a long time but found nothing of interest. So they went up to the second floor of the pavilion to search for evidence.

Li Chang'an had told Biao Biao that the key point was the observation deck railing, but searching the room would make her seem more professional.

Therefore, Biao Biao arranged for palace maids and eunuchs to thoroughly search the room, appearing confident and prepared.

Biao Biao herself also searched the room carefully, checking the overturned stool next to the table, the cup of tea that no one had drunk from on the table, and the calligraphy and paintings that had fallen off the walls...

She expected that Huaiqing would be misled by her and become interested in the things in the room.

At the crucial moment, she pointed out that the key to solving the case lay in the railing of the observation deck, highlighting Huaiqing's miscalculation and which would surely dampen Huaiqing's arrogance.

However, to Biao Biao's disappointment, Huai Qing simply watched her performance with indifference, remaining motionless.

Frustrated, Biao Biao walked to the messy bed again. "Has this place always been this messy?"

The attendant in Qingfeng Palace replied, "Yes, the same thing happened before the Three Judicial Offices searched."

"If Consort Fu is being humiliated, she will surely cry for help. Did the palace maids and eunuchs serving in Qingfeng Palace hear anything?" Huaiqing suddenly asked.

When Biao Biao heard Huai Qing speak, she suddenly became inexplicably nervous and immediately asked, "Yes, what was happening at the time?"

Lin'an was very unhappy. Why did Huaiqing always act like he was taking over wherever he went?

The eunuch replied, "They heard nothing."

Huaiqing then asked, "I'll ask you again, when Consort Fu had her accident, were there any palace maids serving her in the pavilion?"

The palace maids and eunuchs looked at each other, too timid to speak.

“Those who conceal and fail to report will be punished the same as murderers.” Huaiqing’s voice was calm and composed, but almost all the eunuchs and maids of Qingfeng Palace knelt down and begged for mercy.

"Reporting to the Princess, Her Majesty enjoys drinking, and when she's drunk, she often beats and scolds the servants... so whenever Her Majesty drinks, we all stay far away..."

Biao Biao felt her limelight stolen when she saw Huai Qing asking such a serious question, but she couldn't get a word in edgewise.

Huaiqing looked at an older maid and asked, "You are Her Majesty's personal maid. I ask you, has Her Majesty always been like this?"

Upon hearing Huaiqing's words, the older palace maid began to tremble involuntarily, clearly very nervous.

"Her Majesty was fine a few years ago... but in recent years she likes to stand alone in the attic, I don't know what she's looking at..."

"When she drinks, she likes to recite poems that lament the passing of spring and the coming of autumn, especially those by Mr. Li Chang'an..."

"Alright! No need to say any more." Huaiqing immediately interrupted the palace maid.

Consort Fu was probably lonely because she had fallen out of favor. As for Li Chang'an's poems, they were loved by women in the capital.

But hearing this from the palace maid made it seem as if Consort Fu had some lingering feelings for Li Chang'an.

"Yes! Stop talking!" Biao Biao also put her hands on her hips and echoed.

Li Chang'an had told her the key to solving the case: it didn't matter whether she asked the palace maid or not, so Biao Biao was very confident.

Huaiqing glanced helplessly at Lin'an and continued to say to the older palace maid, "Everyone else, leave. You stay."

This older palace maid was Consort Fu's personal maid, so she should know some things, but probably dared not say them.

Just then, Lin'an suddenly turned to Huaiqing and said, "Huaiqing, what nonsense are you asking! You're just helping me solve the case!"

Huaiqing couldn't help but roll his eyes. When he asked these palace maids just now, the maids clearly looked like they didn't know anything.

"Then please continue the investigation, Your Highness." Huaiqing gritted her teeth and continued to watch her foolish younger sister solve the case.

Huaiqing knew that Lin'an was afraid that he would find some crucial evidence and steal Lin'an's credit.

"Hmph." Lin'an was overjoyed to see Huaiqing back down.

She continued, "There are only the three of us here. What is there to be afraid to say? Speak up now! If you don't speak, I have plenty of ways to make you talk!"

The woman's fierce appearance did indeed intimidate the palace maids, as there were many cruel methods used in the palace.

The older palace maid hesitated for a long time, but finally made up her mind, "Your Highnesses, please take a look."

The palace maid turned around and squatted down, pulling out a large wooden chest from under the bed, and taking out a small wooden box from under a pile of old clothes.

She placed the small wooden box between the two princesses with both hands, and then remained silent.

"What's in here?" Biao Biao asked curiously.

She couldn't understand why the palace maid didn't mention it if it was something important.

However, this shouldn't be anything important, because Li Chang'an didn't mention it.

The palace maid remained silent, simply bowing her head and holding the wooden box high in the air.

Seeing the size of the wooden box, both princesses were puzzled. What could it be that was hidden so well?

Lin'an turned to look at Huaiqing, who stared at her defiantly, as if to say, "Aren't you the one investigating the case? Are you scared?"

"Hmph." Biao Biao snorted lightly, then took the wooden box and opened it. Anyway, since Li Chang'an didn't provide anything, it wouldn't be important.

A jade treasure appeared in the box, its large head smooth and crystal clear, and the outline of the green jade was so realistic that even the blood vessels were extremely lifelike.

Biao Biao picked up the thing, looking puzzled. "What is this strange thing? It's so ugly."

Huaiqing didn't recognize it at first, but after seeing what it looked like, it didn't seem so unfamiliar.

When she, like Lin'an, placed her hand on it and touched it, her pupils instantly contracted, and her beautiful face flushed red.

Its shape and outline are exactly the same as the weapon that often clashed with the princess!

It's just a size smaller.

Chapter 337 Huaiqing is knowledgeable and worldly-wise

Qingfeng Hall.

Huaiqing suddenly understood why the palace maid hadn't raised her head or dared to speak the whole time.

She had never seen this kind of thing before, but she had never been exposed to it.

Huaiqing and Li Chang'an's relationship is naturally understood.

Seeing Huaiqing's strange expression, Biao Biao was still completely bewildered.

Huaiqing couldn't help but smile. He could tell from Lin'an's expression that he was in the lead in terms of his relationship with Li Chang'an.

Huaiqing remained calm and composed, saying, "Alright, put it back. We understand."

Biao Biao was extremely anxious and asked urgently, "What...what do you know?"

She knew that asking this question would make her seem ignorant, but she was genuinely curious and wanted to find out the answer.

Huaiqing dismissed the palace maid, and the older maid left the pavilion with a sigh of relief.

"Don't ask anymore, this item should be unrelated to the case." The more Huaiqing said this, the more unconvinced Biao Biao became.

“I’ve memorized the shape of this thing. Even if you don’t know, someone else will,” Biao Biao said resentfully.

"Ahem!" Huaiqing coughed twice, wondering if Lin'an would ask Li Chang'an.

That won't do. We can't let that little fool ask Li Chang'an. Wouldn't that be helping our rival in love to deepen their relationship?

"Lin'an, come closer, and I'll tell you."

Lin'an, which had initially held the upper hand, was quickly taken back into Huaiqing's hands.

Huaiqing whispered an explanation in Lin'an's ear, and Lin'an was speechless after hearing it.

She stammered, "Heavens! Heavens! Consort Fu actually kept such a thing hidden away, how shameless! Oh dear..."

As she spoke, she tossed the wooden box into the trunk, her face flushed and wary.

She turned around and found that Huaiqing had returned to his normal expression, calm, confident and poised.

Biao Biao suddenly felt a chill, and an ominous premonition rose in her heart. "Huaiqing! How...how did you know?"

"Heh." Huaiqing chuckled dismissively. "I'm just well-informed."

Well-traveled and knowledgeable? I've seen it all in Huaiqing!

Who has she met?! She has no shame!

She felt a chill run down her spine. Where had she seen this before...?

There was a long silence.

Biao Biao finally regained her composure. "No wonder Consort Fu drove away the palace maids and eunuchs after drinking. Doesn't this further prove that she and the Crown Prince have no affair? If they did, why would they need this?"

Huaiqing continued, "The case file also states that Consort Fu was not violated before her death."

Next, Biao Biao went to the observation deck and checked the broken railing joints. Sure enough, it was just as Li Chang'an had said.

"The railings here have been tampered with. It's likely that Consort Fu leaned against them, but she didn't know they had been tampered with, so she fell down."

"So, the Crown Prince was framed! The prime suspect is the ultimate beneficiary!"

The implication is that it refers to either the fourth prince or the empress.

Huaiqing calmly said, "Don't jump to conclusions. Let's continue the investigation and draw conclusions only after we have evidence."