Chapter 899: Li Yuzhu & Mu Yuanxiu Extra (10)_2

The people from Prime Minister Bei’s faction dared not speak anymore.

Since even Prime Minister Bei was speechless, what could they possibly say?

The Little Emperor was terrified, looking around helplessly at everyone.

"Guards, take Prime Minister Bei to the Ministry of Justice for thorough interrogation!" Grand Tutor Fei shouted loudly.

"Let’s see who dares to arrest me!" Prime Minister Bei regained his composure, glaring angrily around.

In the past, no one would have dared to arrest him.

But today, with matters involving Empress Hui, no one dared to speak up, fearing they’d invite trouble upon themselves.

Mu Yuanxiu and Grand Tutor Fei had secretly made arrangements.

Grand Tutor Fei dispatched several palace guards familiar with the palace to guard the entrance of this small garden.

He shouted coldly, and four palace guards immediately came forward, tied up Prime Minister Bei, and dragged him away.

Grand Tutor Fei then turned to the Little Emperor and said, "Emperor, Prime Minister Bei has confessed, and we must investigate his accomplices next!"

The Little Emperor, still frightened, stammered, "I leave everything to the Grand Tutor’s judgment."

"I will certainly handle the case impartially!" Grand Tutor Fei vowed with a bow.

.

Prime Minister Bei was led away.

But Mu Yuanxiu and Grand Tutor Fei did not let the other ministers leave.

At the exit of this Plum Garden, many palace guards were stationed.

No one understood why there were so many guards.

Grand Tutor Fei also ordered someone to summon the Imperial Physician, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, and the forensic doctor from the palace.

Like the others, they were all shocked to see the female corpse here, and the sight of Mu Yuanxiu only added to their astonishment—was the palace about to change control?

After examination by the Imperial Physician and the forensic doctor, it was concluded that Empress Hui had indeed been poisoned to death.

However, due to the passage of time, they could not determine what poison had been used.

Mu Yuanxiu calmly stated, "I know it was Nanny Ying, who served Empress Dowager Hui, who poisoned her with oleander leaves."

Someone exclaimed in surprise, "But Nanny Ying has been missing for years."

Mu Yuanxiu explained, "She didn’t disappear; rather, she died in a well on the west side of the Jinhua Courtyard in Furong Palace. There was a box containing poison on her body, which could still be found. It was a copper box carved with hibiscus flowers."

"Go investigate!" Grand Tutor Fei ordered the guards.

People exchanged glances, wondering how Mu Yuanxiu knew this.

Soon, a palace guard returned carrying a female corpse, "Reporting to Grand Tutor, a female corpse was indeed found in that dry well, with an identification badge identifying her as Nanny Ying. The copper box with hibiscus carvings was also found."

Seeing Nanny Ying’s skeletal remains shocked everyone even more.

Empress Dowager Hui had claimed that Nanny Ying had stolen palace treasures and escaped, even sending people to capture her. Yet, she was dead in the palace?

Mu Yuanxiu addressed everyone, "I suppose you’re all curious why the late Empress’s remains are in this Plum Garden, and why Nanny Ying, who was said to have escaped, was found in the dry well of her palace."

"Your Highness, what is the cause of this?" someone asked.

"Very well, I will make everything clear. Grand Tutor Fei?" Mu Yuanxiu looked at Grand Tutor Fei.

Grand Tutor Fei instructed two palace guards, "Bring the person here!"

The two guards responded and withdrew.

A moment later, they returned with a cloaked figure with a masked face.

The person seemed to have their mouth gagged, constantly making muffled sounds, trying to speak but unable to do so.

"Bring them forward!" Grand Tutor Fei commanded sternly.

The two guards pushed the person in front of Mu Yuanxiu.

The masked person looked around, their eyes emitting sparks of anger.

The people were astonished; why did these eyes look so familiar?

"Who is this?" Duke Qing’an asked, puzzled.

"The former Consort Hui, now Empress Dowager Hui!" Mu Yuanxiu tore the cloth off Empress Dowager Hui’s face and removed her cloak’s hood.

"What? Em... Empress Dowager?" Everyone’s eyes widened in shock.

Wasn’t Empress Dowager Hui leading the troops to attack Zhao Country?

Why was she here?

Or did the battle with Zhao Country end in defeat?

People looked at each other.

Mu Yuanxiu removed the cloth from Empress Dowager Hui’s mouth, "Consort Hui, come and recognize the two people you killed!"

Empress Dowager Hui had already seen the remains of Empress Hui, and upon seeing another set of remains beside her, she understood that the past was finally uncovered.

She couldn’t comprehend how Mu Yuanxiu knew.

"I do not recognize them! How dare you treat the Empress Dowager like this, it’s insubordination!" She still relied on her past authority, scolding the ministers around her sternly.

If this were the past, a proclamation from her might have had ministers speaking on her behalf.

But today, she was under control, and damning evidence was found against her, making it difficult for her to rise again.

In the realm of Imperial Power, ability is the highest authority. Evidence is merely a veneer.

And today, the sole son of the late Emperor, Mu Yuanxiu, was that "authority."

Those who recognize the times are wise.

No one paid attention to Empress Dowager Hui.

"You refuse to admit it, so I’ll speak!" Mu Yuanxiu glanced at the two sets of remains, sneering, "Back then, you were envious of my mother’s status as Empress, maneuvered yourself into the palace, but soon after, you encountered problems with your health. The Imperial Physician found that you could not bear children! Driven by jealousy, you deliberately incited the then-head of the guards, Shi Mo, to initiate a coup, causing chaos in the palace. My mother disappeared, and during the turmoil, I was forced to flee the Imperial Palace. You told outsiders that I had died in the rebellion and that my mother had fled with Shi Mo. The truth was, you had Nanny Ying by your side kill my mother, and Shi Mo was your man! Is it not so?"

"Nonsense!" Empress Dowager Hui sneered.

"Then let me prove your guilt!" Mu Yuanxiu took out a stack of letters and documents from his sleeve, "Here are the letters you wrote to Shi Mo, and a diagnosis written by Doctor Wu twenty years ago. Doctor Wu wrote three copies of the diagnosis, one was archived by the Internal Affairs Bureau, one was given to the late Emperor, who had it kept by his people, and the last was secretly sealed in the Imperial Hospital. You killed Doctor Wu to silence him and confiscated the Imperial Hospital’s copy, but you didn’t expect that the diagnosis would be archived in multiple files, did you?"

He handed the stack of letters and documents to Duke Qing’an, "Duke Qing’an, you may review them with everyone."

Duke Qing’an took them, flipping through the pages.

The others gathered around to read them too.

Soon, everyone looked at Empress Dowager Hui.

"Consort Hui, do you have anything to say?" Duke Qing’an no longer addressed her as Empress Dowager, following Mu Yuanxiu’s example by using her former title, Consort Hui.

Because the title of Empress Dowager was one she bestowed upon herself.

With the Emperor’s demise and the sole heir missing, she supported a young prince from the Royal Family to ascend the throne and became the regent, taking the title of Empress Dowager Wen De.

Grand Tutor Fei sneered, "Consort Hui, your letters to Shi Mo stated everything clearly! In my opinion, you were the one having an affair with Shi Mo, correct?"

Empress Dowager Hui’s expression changed dramatically, "Nonsense, impossible, you treacherous ministers and thieves, how dare you disrespect the Empress Dowager! You should be subjected to capital punishment!"

"We request the Emperor to issue a decree to strip the Empress Dowager of her title and banish her to the Cold Palace!" Several ministers bowed to the Little Emperor, speaking loudly.

"We request the Emperor to issue a decree!"

The Little Emperor was petrified, knowing nothing. He was just a child!

He stammered, not knowing what to say.

"How dare you! Your throne was granted by me, and you dare to decree punishment for me?" Empress Dowager Hui glared at the Little Emperor, looking fierce and malicious.

The Little Emperor muttered in fear, "I, I..."

"Guards, take away these guilty consorts who killed the former Empress, orchestrated a coup, and nearly caused the death of the late Emperor’s sole heir! Detain them in the Prison!" Duke Qing’an proclaimed loudly.

Empress Dowager Hui was dragged away.

"I am the Empress Dowager! What you are doing is treasonous, you traitorous ministers and thieves! I will not forgive you!"

Her unwilling voice grew louder and louder, but no one paid her any mind.

.

The news of Empress Dowager Hui murdering the former Empress and killing two others to cover up her crimes quickly spread throughout the Imperial Palace and the Capital.