Chapter 100: Disposition
“But, the Empress Dowager has advised you many times, and even personally brought you here. Doesn’t that contradict itself?” Liu Li interjected between them, speaking softly and delicately: “If this were a crime, why wouldn’t I have cleaned everything up? Why come out myself? Second Brother, calm down. Let us analyze it carefully!”
“No! That can only mean the Empress Dowager is innocent, and it is still related to you.” Liu Zhong looked at Liu Li coldly. “If the Empress Dowager had not summoned me back, would you have been so eager to kill my mother? If she had not brought me here, could you have faked your death as Shu Fei while burning to ashes?”
Liu Li looked both excited and nervous. Seeing Liu Zhong grow more and more furious, he sighed.
“For so many years, I have maintained affection with you and been kind to Shu Fei. Now, why will you not believe me once? Shu Fei’s body lies here. Her stab wounds are not fatal, and the technique and strength are all from a woman’s hand. Most importantly, she took poison. The black blood—does none of this explain anything?”
Liu Zhong returned to Shu Fei’s side, carefully examining everything, and indeed found some suspicious details. He looked doubtfully at the Empress Dowager and Liu Li. “What exactly have you done?”
“Second Brother, can’t you see? Shu Fei first took poison, then used the dagger to commit suicide. There must be something hidden in this! If you and I quarrel here, wouldn’t that be exactly what others want?”
Liu Zhong thought for a moment, at a loss for words.
Seeing this, the Empress Dowager felt displeased and quickly said: “The Second Prince has finally calmed down. Shu Fei is indeed strange. We cannot let her die unjustly. Since there are traces of poison, let us check it!”
“Summon the coroner!”
The coroner examined the body in public, and everyone gathered around, unwilling to leave.
“Shu Fei indeed has poison traces, like poison taken about an hour ago!”
“An hour ago?” Liu Li thought, suddenly recalling. “At that time, during the banquet, Shu Fei did not eat anything, but perhaps the wine had a problem?”
Liu Zhong was stunned, rejecting: “I drank a lot of that wine; nothing happened! Do you remember the exact time my mother drank? Is this premeditated? Now you have some excuses ready?”
“Second Prince, do not be agitated. Since it is not the wine, probably the cup is the issue. Bring the servant to fetch it; we will know after testing!”
The Empress Dowager instructed, and they carefully checked the wine vessels, but still found nothing.
“Empress Dowager, you still wish to protect this murderer?”
The Empress Dowager was stunned, speaking with embarrassment: “Everything has not yet been investigated. Do not get angry and suspicious; it will ruin the family harmony!”
“What harmony? Where did the harmony come from when you treat us?” Liu Zhong looked at Shu Fei, then stared at Liu Li with ill intentions. “You hypocrite, I trusted you so much, but you will not spare us mother and son! Tonight, either you die or I do!”
Liu Li was startled. Liu Zhong drew his sword and charged at him. Suddenly, Gao Hai blocked Liu Zhong’s move. After several exchanges, he snatched the sword from Liu Zhong’s hand.
“You two do not fight with swords. Listen to what this concubine has to say!” The Empress Dowager helped Liu Zhong up, sighing. “Shu Fei cannot lie here forever. She must be buried soon. Whether the truth can be found clearly, restore the Emperor’s innocence, and give the Second Prince justice. As the acting Guoyang Queen, I will naturally uphold the truth and severely punish the murderer. I hope the Second Prince will not be too extreme!”
“Can you guarantee that you will severely punish the murderer? If this murderer is the Emperor, what will you do?”
“The Emperor is the pillar of the state and my son. If he committed a great rebellion, this concubine would personally send him to prison. However, the Emperor has always been benevolent and loving, humble and courteous, and would never let us down!”
The Empress Dowager glanced at Liu Zhong and turned to leave, which greatly displeased Liu Zhong.
“Empress Dowager, now it is over? Letting evidence disappear and the murderer roam free?”
Liu Zhong grabbed the Empress Dowager, acting like a madman, eyes full of red veins.
“Investigating the case is important, but there is no evidence here. What do you want, Second Prince?”
Liu Zhong took two steps to the door, blocking the way, staring at Liu Li viciously. “Shu Fei’s palace is over there. All places she went should be thoroughly checked, and the bedroom is the most crucial. If time drags on, someone will destroy evidence. Why don’t we all go look now?”
The Empress Dowager smiled gently, then pretended to be very hesitant. “This? I am afraid it is inappropriate!”
Liu Li walked between them. “It is fine to go, lest you both think it is me!”
Liu Li led Gao Hai in front, Liu Zhong and the Empress Dowager following. Shu Fei’s body was carried by a group of people to the mourning hall, and other palace servants had dispersed.
The Empress Dowager looked at Liu Li’s back, secretly happy: Emperor, how confident you are? The clear ones are clear? Hmph, I will use Shu Fei’s death today to pull you down from your throne!
The courtyard of Shu Fei was half burned, but the bedroom was intact, only emitting a smoky smell.
The three walked in. Servants and guards stood in two rows, their gazes roaming around the room.
“May I ask permission from the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to examine closely!” Liu Zhong said angrily.
The Empress Dowager nodded, her eyes seeming to say: You better check carefully!
“Second Brother, please!”
After saying that, he also followed Gao Hai to patrol and check the room. There seemed to be no suspicious points, except for the dust on the furnishings. Everything else looked the same.
Suddenly, there was a crisp sound in the air. Liu Zhong smashed a vase. The vase fell to the ground and shattered into many pieces, attracting attention and shocking.
“This vase was the one Shu Fei liked the most. Second Prince, you sent it to your mother in advance!” The Empress Dowager said deliberately.
Hearing this, Liu Zhong stopped his actions, squatted down to examine the vase carefully. The fragments were normal, but the things inside the vase were strange: a bunch of sticky, glue-like substances wrapping a paper ball.
“What is this thing?” Liu Zhong asked in surprise.
“Second Brother, be careful!” Liu Li came over. “Second Brother should still ask the eunuch to study it. What if it is poisonous?”
The Empress Dowager sighed softly: “This concubine looks at this and it does not seem poisonous, but it looks like”
“Like what?” Liu Zhong stared fixedly, speaking coldly: “Does the Empress Dowager also think this thing is weird?”
Liu Li saw Liu Zhong about to reach out and took it, worrying. “Second Brother, be careful. Let the palace servants do it!”
“Haha, why are you so nervous?” Liu Zhong gave Liu Li a cold glance, stubbornly prying the glue-like substance, taking out the paper ball, ignoring Liu Li’s concern. “This thing seems to be letter paper. It seems to be useful!”
The Empress Dowager smiled slightly, curiously asking: “What is it?”
“This is”
Liu Zhong became more excited, looking at Liu Li angrily, standing up with hatred, holding the letter paper in his hand. “You all look carefully. This is the Emperor’s letter. Now, with both person and object evidence complete, see how you explain it!”
“Second Prince, isn’t this a misunderstanding?” Liu Li came over, carefully looked at the letter, startled. “How is this? How could my letter be here? I have never written letters to Shu Fei. Why is the handwriting exactly the same?”
“Second Prince, calm down!” The Empress Dowager stopped Liu Zhong, staring at Liu Li fiercely. “Your Majesty, what is the matter? Why does your letter say these rebellious words? It was you who instructed Shu Fei to take poison, meet, and set fire!”
Liu Li was speechless, heartbroken. “Mother, do not you believe your son?”
The Empress Dowager hesitated, clutching the letter tightly.
Gao Hai frowned and said nothing, then muttered: “Imitating handwriting is a common trick of palace traitors. Could it be?”
“This?” The Empress Dowager opened the letter again, confirming repeatedly.
Liu Li sighed, speaking softly to Gao Hai: “This time, it may not be simple. Do not be rash. If it becomes a grudge of others, I am afraid I cannot protect you!”
The atmosphere was a bit awkward. Liu Zhong’s thoughts were the most intense. He looked at the crowd, eyes full of grief and murderous aura, then quickly suppressed it.
“Empress Dowager, clear evidence and object evidence are here. Continuing to investigate will surely convict someone. Even the Son of Heaven committing a crime is the same as commoners. Please do not disregard the North Hu Laws!”
Liu Zhong knelt, kowtowing repeatedly.
“According to what I said, the Son of Heaven’s handwriting no one dares to imitate. This is a crime of association! Not only the handwriting on the letter, but also the dragon seal. How did this come about?”
Liu Li was stunned, unable to explain clearly. The dragon seal had always been in his custody, hard for ordinary people to see.
“Third Brother, what explanation do you have?!”
“Mother! Second Brother!”
Liu Zhong pushed Liu Li away. “I am no longer your second brother!”
Seeing this, the Empress Dowager sighed repeatedly, angrily: “Your Majesty, you truly disappoint your mother!”
“Your son has absolutely not done this. It is a misunderstanding. Believe me!”
Liu Zhong glared at Liu Li, and even drew his sword. “You do not deserve to be called Emperor. You cold-blooded killers should die. How can you match my North Hu’s Son of Heaven identity?! Today, no matter how you handle it, I will avenge my mother!”
Gao Hai fought several rounds with Liu Li and Liu Zhong. Finally, the Empress Dowager stopped them. “Stop it. This concubine has her own verdict. Your Majesty has committed a huge mistake, unforgivable. Transmit this concubine’s imperial decree.”
“Wait!”
A man’s voice suddenly came from outside the room. Liu Gonggong walked in quickly. “Empress Dowager, wait!”
“Liu Gonggong?” The Empress Dowager was angry and anxious, her eyes almost popping out. “What are you doing here? You were supposed to recuperate, why insert yourself here?”
“Old slave comes to restore the Emperor’s justice and the world’s justice.” Liu Gonggong looked at Liu Zhong. “This matter is half due to Shu Fei and half due to me. We two together caused a great mistake. I know what was in the vase, and the letter was also written by me. I love to imitate, and the Emperor’s handwriting is beautiful, so”
“Where did the dragon seal come from?”
“Old slave served the Emperor for many years, naturally had opportunities to contact it!”
Liu Zhong did not believe it, asked doubtfully: “How could it be you? What did you write this for? And why reveal it now?”
The Empress Dowager bit her teeth, glaring fiercely at Liu Gonggong. “You served the Emperor loyally, how could you trap him in this situation? Could it be that the eunuch’s heart is too urgent, wanting to take all the blame?”
Liu Gonggong shook his head. “Empress Dowager, clear sight! This letter is yellowed, the seal also has an old feel. It must have been designed long ago. Old slave remembers once being controlled in mind, writing rebellious words, but never knew where the letter went. At that time, I thought it was a dream.”
Gao Hai was overjoyed, could not help but speak out: “It seems someone set up a bureau. Could control minds and implicate the Emperor must be a demon, perhaps the Black Bird Lake from the previous period.”
“Shut up!” The Empress Dowager glared at Gao Hai. “If Gao Da Ren speaks nonsense again, this concubine will give you the post of guarding the lake!”
Liu Li pulled Gao Hai over, speaking softly: “This matter may not be simple. There might be chaos in the court, intending to alienate the imperial family. Please, Empress Dowager, investigate clearly!”
Liu Zhong snorted coldly. “I still have doubts!”
“Second Prince, please ask. Old slave’s crime will definitely be borne. Do not blame the wrong brother!”
The Empress Dowager had nothing to say, only Liu Zhong kept asking, and Liu Gonggong answered fluently.
“You?” Liu Zhong pointed his sword at Liu Gonggong. “You are a minister of two reigns. Is this how you treat North Hu? Since you confessed, I will kill you!”
The Empress Dowager walked to Liu Gonggong’s side. “No! Although he has made mistakes, he should not die. Shu Fei’s case still has suspicious points. Perhaps there is indeed an outsider designing it. We cannot panic!”
“What does the Empress Dowager want to do?”
“Second Prince, you stay in the palace, investigate the case well, restore justice to the world. Liu Gonggong was designed but informed the truth in time. Merits and faults offset, confined to the Heart View Pavilion, no summons allowed to leave. The Emperor was framed but also has faults and errors, afraid it will be hard to convince the world, so dismiss the Emperor’s title, imperial edicts, and the power of life and death, and repent well until the truth is clear!”