The Prime Minister’s Darling-Chapter 1509: Behind the Scenes Culprit (Second Update)

Chapter 1509: Behind the Scenes Culprit (Second Update) ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

Gu Changqing’s eyes were deep, "Turns out it’s not Consort Han."

Yes, they all thought that the mastermind behind this would definitely be the Crown Prince’s mother.

...

Wang Xu returned to Duwei Prefecture with the murderer, imprisoned the culprit in the dungeon, and then hurriedly went to report to the monarch.

The monarch had Zhang Dequan summon Consort Li, but Zhang Dequan returned only with news about her: "Your Majesty, Consort Li has hanged herself."

After obtaining permission from the monarch, Wang Xu borrowed an experienced coroner from the Punishment Department to carefully examine Consort Li’s body, confirming that she had indeed killed herself, rather than being strangled or murdered and then hung up posthumously.

The hard-earned clues were suddenly severed.

With the person gone, they could only start with Consort Li’s belongings and the people close to her.

After a whole night of severe torture for a confession, a young eunuch finally couldn’t bear it any longer, confessing that Consort Li had once ordered him to deposit a draft at the bank, totaling three thousand taels.

Consort Li’s annual salary was no more than three hundred taels. It would take ten years of saving without spending a single coin to amass such a sum. The problem was, she hadn’t even been there for ten years, and she had already spent a lot on tipping the servants and paying respect to higher-ranking consorts.

She herself was already living from hand to mouth; where could she have had any extra money?

The close associate of Consort Li, Worthy Consort Wan, became the first suspect.

Worthy Consort Wan cried injustices, stating that she had never given such an amount to Consort Li, but when the monarch tortured the palace maids and eunuchs close to Worthy Consort Wan, a young palace maid confessed the truth.

The silver was indeed given by Worthy Consort Wan, not a tael more or less, exactly three thousand.

"Your Majesty—" Worthy Consort Wan knelt on the cold, hard floor, the luminous white marble reflecting her tearful countenance.

The monarch sat on his chair, with Wang Xu and Zhang Dequan standing on either side.

The monarch spoke sternly, "Will you admit on your own, or shall I order a thorough investigation into your account books with the Mu Family?"

Worthy Consort Wan’s salary was not low, but she had many ways she spent silver. Without the Mu Family’s contributions, how could she come up with three thousand taels of silver at once?

Only then did Worthy Consort Wan honestly admit, "...Your servant...indeed gave Consort Li three thousand taels in banknotes...because she told your servant her father was sick... and urgently needed a sum of silver for treatment..."

The monarch asked coldly, "What kind of illness requires three thousand taels?"

Worthy Consort Wan, with a face full of grievance replied, "A bowl of bird’s nest costs a hundred taels. Is three thousand taels that much?"

Worthy Consort Wan, as the precious daughter of the Mu Family, had lived a life of luxury from a young age. She feasted on golden bird’s nests, while outside, one tael of silver could buy a pot.

She didn’t understand the hardships of the common folk; three thousand taels couldn’t just cure a few illnesses in a small Jiangyang County, that amount would be more than enough in Shengdu!

Doubtfully, the monarch asked, "Then why did you deny it just now?"

Choking with sobs, Worthy Consort Wan said, "Isn’t it because Consort Li got into trouble? Your servant normally had a good relationship with her and was worried about getting implicated, so I hurried to clear my connection with her."

The monarch looked at her intensely, a flash of ruthless light in his eyes, "Worthy Consort Wan, I do not believe you."

...

The next day before dawn, the entire Imperial Harem knew about Worthy Consort Wan ordering Consort Li to attempt to harm Shangguan Yun.

Worthy Consort Wan was sent to the Cold Palace, and the monarch originally wanted to strip her of her title, demoting her to Noble Lady, but it was Wang Consort who pleaded on her behalf that her position was temporarily retained.

Shangguan Yun was no longer the Princess, merely a commoner, and it was an attempted crime. Such punishment for an imperial consort was already considered extremely harsh.

Worthy Consort Wan wailed and screamed.

Wang Consort suggested that she endure the hardship in the Cold Palace for some time, and when the monarch’s anger subsided, she would find a way to get her out.

"Even the Empress didn’t come out after she went in, how could I?" At the entrance of the Sleeping Palace, Worthy Consort Wan cried breathlessly.

Wang Consort patted her on the shoulder in a comforting manner, "His Majesty is in a fury, just give me some time."

Worthy Consort Wan clung to Wang Consort’s hand desperately, "It wasn’t me... it really wasn’t me... Consort Wang, sis, you have to believe me..."

With a sigh of helplessness, Wang Consort said, "My believing you is useless, His Majesty must believe."

Zhang Dequan urged, "Worthy Consort Wan, please."

Worthy Consort Wan glared fiercely at Zhang Dequan, "You cur!"

Usually everyone would call her Worthy Consort Wan, but now that she was about to enter the Cold Palace, not even ’Consort’ preceded her name!

A luxurious palanquin carried by four men passed by the entrance of Worthy Consort Wan’s Sleeping Palace. On the palanquin, the majestic Consort Han gave a slight wave to the accompanying eunuchs.

The footsteps came to a halt.

Consort Han and Consort Wang were among the earliest to serve by the sovereign’s side, both grandmothers by now, but thanks to proper care, appeared to be just over forty.

She looked at Consort Wan with a smile that was not quite a smile, "Oh, Consort Wan, are you leaving?"

At the decline of Consort Wang’s favor, she had brought the legitimate daughter of the Mu family into the palace as her own support. Losing Consort Wan was like losing an arm to Consort Wang.

Consort Wan glared at her furiously, stepped forward, and pointed at Consort Han, "It must be you! You framed me! You killed Li Pin! It was you! All of it was you!"

Consort Han raised her chin, laughing mockingly, "You’d better say that to His Majesty. If His Majesty also thinks it was me, I won’t need an imperial edict to pack my bags and move to the Cold Palace to join you."

"You!"

Consort Wang shook her head at Consort Wan, signaling her to stay calm.

Consort Han flicked her handkerchief casually and looked ahead with a bland tone, "Bring more blankets. I hear it’s cold in the Cold Palace."

Consort Wan felt like she was going to explode with anger, but anger was useless now. She had been condemned to the Cold Palace by this despicable Han!

Zhang Dequan urged again.

"Please wait a moment, Eunuch Zhang," said Consort Wang politely, giving a bag of gold to Zhang Dequan.

Zhang Dequan accepted it, whispering, "A quarter of an hour, no later. I still have to report back to His Majesty."

Consort Wang nodded and soothed Consort Wan earnestly for a while.

Consort Wan dabbed her tears with her handkerchief, her eyes red, "Consort Wang, my sister, please take care of the Sixth Prince. That vile woman is cruel and ruthless; she dared to harm me like this, I’m worried she might do something to the Sixth Prince."

The Sixth Prince, the Imperial Harem’s only minor prince, the sovereign’s youngest son.

Consort Wang held her hand, speaking earnestly, "I understand, I will take him to Xianfu Palace and ensure no one has the chance to hurt him. Listen to me, once you’re in the Cold Palace, you mustn’t lose your temper."

Consort Wan was led away by Zhang Dequan.

Consort Wang sent her own eunuch to the Imperial Academy to pick up the Sixth Prince after school.

On her way back to her Sleeping Palace, she encountered Consort Han, who was admiring flowers in the Imperial Garden.

Consort Wang gave Consort Han a cold look, "You’ve really gone too far this time."

Consort Han looked her deep in the eyes and laughed mockingly, "Ha."

...

As dawn barely broke, news of Consort Wan’s disposal reached the National Master Hall.

Shangguan Yun was still not awake.

In the room, three people sat facing each other, Xiao Hen, Gu Jiao, and Gu Changqing.

"Didn’t expect it to be Consort Wan who took the fall," said Gu Jiao, "that’s indeed the Han family’s style of doing things."

They all love making others take the blame.

"The adversary is formidable," said Gu Changqing, referring not to military might, but to cunning and scheming.

If only one family member was like this, it wouldn’t be frightening, but if every single one was as shrewd, no wonder they retained their position as the number one family.

"This is good," said Xiao Hen.

There wasn’t an ounce of fear in his heart; on the contrary, there was a bizarre yearning in his blood for power struggles and contests.

This must be the feeling Gu Jiao had whenever she met a worthy opponent.

The only difference was that Gu Jiao simply loved the competition, while he was more sinister—he wanted to play dirty, the kind that doesn’t even spit out the bones.

The Han and Wang families were the two biggest fish. If the Han family wanted to swallow all the fish, then let them have their fill.

No major family was innocent. When the Xuanyuan family was annihilated, and the Princess was persecuted, each of the prestigious families had stabbed a knife.

He did not sympathize with Consort Wan.

Just like back then, no one sympathized with Xuanyuan Hanyan when she was sent to the Cold Palace.

"The Han family is a fine blade," Xiao Hen looked down, caressing the knife in his hand, "let’s hone this blade to be even sharper."