Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 373: Murder in the Mansion!

Inside the bridal chamber, Chu Yin heard Zhan Hui’s voice, slightly tinged with drunkenness, as he spoke to the wedding planner: "Leave us!"

Chu Yin’s hands clenched tightly around her wedding dress, her palms beginning to sweat.

She heard footsteps gradually approaching, and someone slowly lifted her bridal veil.

Chu Yin raised her eyes and saw Zhan Hui, his cheeks flushed. He gazed at her shy demeanor, which made her cheeks progressively warmer.

Zhan Hui’s breaths quickened as he looked at Chu Yin. "Yin’er, we are finally married!"

Chu Yin lowered her gaze, avoiding his eyes. Zhan Hui gently lifted her chin with his fingers, and Chu Yin shyly said: "We haven’t drunk the wedding wine yet."

Zhan Hui smiled, took Chu Yin’s hand, and they moved together to the table. Intertwining their arms, they picked up the wine cups and slowly drank the wedding wine.

The wine cup in Chu Yin’s hands was taken away by Zhan Hui, and in the next instant, her body was lifted into Zhan Hui’s embrace, eliciting a gasp from her.

Zhan Hui whispered in her ear, "Yin’er, last time I held back, but tonight..."

Chu Yin’s face flushed red as she was placed onto the bed, Zhan Hui’s kisses like soft raindrops landed on her lips.

Chu Yin’s heart beat faster as Zhan Hui untied her belt. She quickly pressed his hand down and said, "You mustn’t dislike my..."

Zhan Hui curled his lips into a smile, untied his own belt, and whispered into her ear, "No matter what you’re like, I’ll always love you."

Chu Yin shyly covered her eyes but sneaked a peek at Zhan Hui’s abs.

Zhan Hui pulled her hands away and teased, "Madam, are you feeling shy?"

Chu Yin placed her hand on Zhan Hui’s abs, each touch further igniting his desire. Pretending to be bold, she declared, "I am not!"

The tingling sensation sent Zhan Hui over the edge of his restraint, his body flaring up as if ignited by flames, becoming feverishly hot.

His breath tickled her ear as he murmured, "Madam, call me husband."

Chu Yin’s cherry-like lips softly yielded, "Husband..."

Zhan Hui’s eyes darkened with desire the moment he heard those two words, leaning down to press her beneath him.

His tender kisses left Chu Yin’s body weak and trembling.

"Madam, what’s this? Why is there a needle?" Zhan Hui’s voice was husky.

Chu Yin covered her chest and said, "If you dare dislike me, I’ll..."

Zhan Hui threw the needle pouch aside, leaning down over her, "Yin’er, you’re beautiful no matter what."

In the room, the candles flickered, shadows intertwined, the two lost themselves in ecstasy.

At dawn the next day, Chu Yin groggily felt Zhan Hui preparing to get out of bed. She opened her eyes and caught sight of him smiling at her. Embarrassed, she burrowed herself entirely under the blanket.

"Don’t look..."

Zhan Hui’s smile deepened.

Suddenly, a maid’s voice came from outside the door, "Young master, young madam, the lady of the house says you both don’t need to go pay your respects this morning; you may rest a while longer."

Zhan Hui sat by the bedside, lifted a corner of the blanket, and slipped inside. He said, "Sleep, I’ll stay with you."

...

In Prince Wei Mansion, the air carried the fragrance of sunlight on a crisp autumn morning.

The lotus flowers in fall had petals that were deeper in color and fuller.

A maid picking flowers by the lotus pond suddenly screamed upon spotting something floating in the water. She was terrified out of her wits, her shrieks waking Si Jun from his slumber.

Hei Yu coldly reprimanded, "Why are you shouting? Do you wish to die?"

The maid fell to her knees in fear, trembling uncontrollably as she stammered, "There’s... something in the lotus pond... something..."

After dressing, Si Jun stepped outside and frowned. "What’s the matter?"

The maid trembled and replied, "Your Highness, there’s... there’s a corpse in the lotus pond!"

Si Jun’s expression darkened instantly. Hei Yu followed him to the edge of the pond.

Looking from a distance, there was indeed a body floating on the surface of the lotus pond, appearing to be a woman.

Si Jun furrowed his brows, thinking back to yesterday’s banquet.

Even with Hei Yu accompanying him, leaving the mansion unattended, there should have still been Death Guards patrolling the grounds. Could someone have infiltrated his mansion and committed murder?

Soon, the Death Guards retrieved the corpse from the pond. Si Jun only glanced at it briefly before his gaze turned icy cold.

The commotion in the mansion brought Zhan Xuerou and Bai Lu rushing over.

The woman’s body now lay on the ground, her soaked skirts pooling on the floor. Her hair clung to her face, which was pale as paper, her lips tinged purple.

Bai Lu shrieked in horror, "Ah, Meng Ling!"

Zhan Xuerou’s legs weakened with fright, while Qiuyue swallowed nervously, feeling chills all over.

"Was Meng Ling murdered or did she fall into the water herself?" Si Jun directed his question at Hei Yu, who was inspecting the body.

Hei Yu examined the corpse calmly and responded, "Master, there are wounds on her body; it appears she struggled fiercely. She likely died sometime yesterday."

"Yesterday?" Si Jun’s eyes darkened further. Yesterday, he and Zhan Xuerou had attended the banquet, leaving Bai Lu behind in the mansion.

Si Jun looked toward Bai Lu and asked, "You were here yesterday; someone was killed. How did you not notice?"

Bai Lu adamantly insisted, "I didn’t!"

She stared at the corpse, nausea rising in her stomach, barely managing to suppress the urge to retch.

Moments later, Bai Lu couldn’t hold back anymore and gagged audibly.

Feeling uneasy, Bai Lu pleaded, "Your Highness, this lowly one has a weak stomach. May I leave?"

Hei Yu suddenly discovered something lodged in Meng Ling’s mouth.

After donning special gloves, he extracted the item. Si Jun frowned as he examined the object: a pink pearl earring. He turned to Bai Lu and demanded, "Isn’t this your earring?"

Si Jun had seen Bai Lu wear it before, as she often favored pearls.

"No! It’s not mine!" Bai Lu was petrified, her earring being in Meng Ling’s mouth seemed inconceivable.

Suddenly, she turned to Zhan Xuerou and accused, "It must be her! Meng Ling was her maid; she must have framed me on purpose!"

Zhan Xuerou, still standing in shock, immediately broke into tears at Bai Lu’s words.

She dropped to her knees, crying out, "Your Highness, I did not do it! Yesterday I was with you the entire time, and I went to bed as soon as we returned. I had no idea Meng Ling was dead!"

Her tearful eyes pleaded as she continued, "That maid rarely came to my room these days. I haven’t seen Meng Ling for several days now. Qiuyue even told me that Meng Ling often visited the Princess’s chambers!"

Zhan Xuerou’s words left Bai Lu speechless.

Bai Lu knew Meng Ling had been alienated by Zhan Xuerou and had come to her seeking favor.

While Meng Ling was still technically Zhan Xuerou’s maid, she had secretly become Bai Lu’s spy.

Thus, Bai Lu had no valid rebuttal against Zhan Xuerou’s claim.

With tears streaming like falling blossoms, Bai Lu knelt before Si Jun’s feet, imploring, "Your Highness, it was Meng Ling who sought me out, saying the concubine was difficult to get along with, and she hoped I would transfer her to my courtyard. However, I never agreed to her request! I have no idea how she ended up dead!"

Thinking quickly, Bai Lu added, "Perhaps Meng Ling stole my belongings and, burdened by guilt, accidentally fell into the lotus pond! Or perhaps Zhan Xuerou deliberately framed me!"

Zhan Xuerou stopped crying, her expression remaining innocent as she said, "Your Highness, please deliver a just ruling."