Chapter 53: Corpse

Zhao Xuerou asked, "What is the meaning of this? A corpse has appeared in your room, and you mean to tell me you knew nothing about it?"

Lin Chuyan's face was full of utter confusion, looking entirely genuine. Without a moment's hesitation, she retorted, "How is that possible? How could there possibly be a corpse in my room?"

"I fell asleep early last night and only just woke up at this moment."

"I have no idea what has happened. How could a corpse possibly be in my room?"

"Just who lacks such basic decency to frame me in this manner? This is truly despicable!"

"If I ever find out who is trying to harm me like this, I will certainly not forgive them..."

Her face was etched with unmasked anger and twisted features, completely devoid of her usual poised elegance and delicate, otherworldly grace.

Clearly, she had been angered to her core.

The moment Zhao Yurou heard this, she knew her foolish daughter was indeed completely in the dark.

So how had Princess Huai'an's corpse ended up in the room?

When had it appeared?

And who had placed the body there?

All of this remained completely unknown.

A massive mystery lay right before her eyes, yet she could neither comprehend it nor do a thing about it.

She could now distinctly sense an invisible hand quietly reaching toward the Lin family, relentlessly harming its members in an attempt to drag every single one of them into the abyss of death.

Leaving them unable to break free.

That hand seemed to possess boundless strength, step by step, ensuring they could not escape their doom.

That force appeared determined to devour every member of the Lin family completely, not even leaving a single bone behind...

Who on earth was it?

Who could it be?

She kept asking herself in her heart.

Yet she remained entirely without a clue.

Pulling her thoughts back, Zhao Yurou's mind grew somewhat calmer, and she let out a gentle sigh.

Since Lin Chuyan was also unaware of the corpse's existence, it was likely that someone had taken advantage of when she and her maidservant were fast asleep to deliberately frame her.

Realizing this, Zhao Yurou felt considerably less frightened.

She quickly turned her head and explained to Shen Xuanzhi, "Lord Shen, this foolish girl of mine knew nothing about the corpse, nor did she know that the body was actually Princess Huai'an."

"This is clearly a malicious frame-up!"

"Besides, Chuyan is Princess Huai'an's study companion and her own maternal cousin; she would never harm the princess or commit such a suicidal, vicious, and shameless act."

By this time, Shen Xuanzhi had already roughly inspected all the external injuries on Princess Huai'an's body.

There were not many external injuries; the fatal wound was primarily centered around her throat.

It could already be confirmed that Princess Huai'an had died of homicide.

With a cold expression, he retorted, "Just now, Madam boldly claimed it was the corpse of a sick maidservant. Yet now you change your tune—are you trying to shirk responsibility?"

"First you say one thing, and then another. Which of Madam's words am I supposed to believe?"

"Madam had better give some serious thought to how she will explain all this to the Emperor and the Noble Consort De!"

"This..."

Zhao Yurou was left speechless by the rebuke.

The panic and unease she had just managed to suppress rushed back to her heart.

Lowering her head and mustering her patience, she continued her explanation.

"It's just that... just now, the princess's corpse was face down, and it was hard to see clearly in the room. I genuinely thought it was a maidservant's body, which is why I had the matrons put it in a sack, intending to have it taken out for a proper burial."

"I was only acting out of good intentions, thinking to resolve the matter quickly, which is why I made such a decision..."

"This... all of this is a misunderstanding!"

"As for where the corpse came from... I implore Lord Shen to investigate thoroughly and restore justice to the Lin family!"

"My Lin family members are all loyal and honest folk, and we would never dare commit such a heinous act against a royal princess. I beg your lordship to put in a good word for us and speak kindly on our behalf..."

She signaled the maidservant beside her with her eyes to quickly present the bribe money. "Please accept these silver taels as a token of respect for your lordship and the officers for tea. I hope you will graciously accept them!"

Shen Xuanzhi refused the offer flatly and without mercy, his expression turning even gloomier as the trace of a smile he wore earlier vanished entirely.

In a flat tone, he continued to pressure Zhao Yurou, "Madam's statements are entirely contradictory."

"Moreover, they are one-sided claims unworthy of any belief. Until the cause of the princess's death is thoroughly investigated, the members of the Lin family remain the prime suspects."

"As for Madam's claims of a frame-up, that is nothing more reckless guesswork without a shred of evidence."

"If Madam has any further excuses to offer, you can go before the Emperor and Noble Consort De and explain yourself clearly there."

"This official only acts according to the law and will faithfully report everything I have seen and heard this morning to the higher authorities."

At that moment, two bailiffs carried over a brand-new stretcher, layered several times with precious fabrics.

This was to preserve the minimum dignity owed to a princess of the realm.

Working together, they placed Princess Huai'an's corpse upon it, and the bailiffs summoned two palace maids to tidy up the late princess's appearance so as to avoid incurring punishment before the Emperor.

They then covered the body with a white cloth, preparing to take it back to the Court of Judicial Review while awaiting the Emperor's instructions.

Just then, a bailiff came running hastily, followed by a large contingent of imperial guards in a state of strict readiness.

At the very front walked a chief eunuch from the Emperor's side.

The eunuch stepped forward and shouted in a loud, resonant voice, "An imperial edict!"

Everyone immediately dropped to their knees in salute, shouting, "We your subjects (subject's wives) receive the decree!"

Raising his voice further, the eunuch proclaimed, "Summon the Minister of Punishments, the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, the Assistant Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Noble Consort De, and all relevant persons involved to appear before the Emperor at Zhaoyang Palace at once!"

"Your subjects obey the decree! Long live the Emperor!"

After rising to their feet, the entire group proceeded in the direction of Zhaoyang Palace.

Lin Aaodong and Lin Aaosong had also hurried over by this point, squeezing themselves into the crowd.

Both men hung their heads low, looking like frost-bitten eggplants, completely wilted.

Old Madam Lin's funeral rites were not yet concluded, Lin Chaoyao's suspicions had not yet been cleared, a better physician had not yet been found for Lin Chaoxuan's legs, and Lin Chaosheng and Lin Chaoge remained missing.

Yet now, an even greater disaster had befallen them: Princess Huai'an's corpse had been discovered right in Lin Chuyan's room, caught red-handed early in the morning by Shen Xuanzhi, the Assistant Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

It was as if the Lin family had poked a hornet's nest; misfortunes arrived one after another, nearly crushing the two brothers and leaving them gasping for breath.

Though other matters still afforded some room for maneuver, this affair concerning Princess Huai'an—even though they knew they were likely being framed—left them utterly defenseless and with no way out.

Lin Aaodong walked dejectedly with his head bowed, feeling as though all his strength had been drained from his body. Every step he took felt as heavy as a thousand jun.

His eyes were dark and churned with sinister ripples, as if they could swallow a person whole.