"Yes, Your Majesty. I previously reported the Baojitang case to the Emperor. The Emperor said that since this matter involves Baojitang, Your Majesty must be very concerned. Therefore, he sent me to Liuyue Palace to report to Your Majesty."
As Wu Shang spoke, he was still moved by the Emperor's thoughtfulness. Although the Emperor was cold, domineering, and composed, he was very affectionate towards the Empress.
Hai Ling smiled upon hearing Wu Shang's words. Ye really understood her thoughts. Indeed, this matter involved Baoji Hall and Zhaoyang Prince's Mansion, so she was naturally concerned and wanted to know who had killed the old woman's son to harm Baoji Hall. Hai Ling waved for the palace maids and eunuchs in the hall to leave. She did not want any information to leak out and affect Wu Shang's judgment.
"Please have a seat, Lord Wu."
Wu Shang sat down and then carefully reported the case to Hai Ling.
"I was ordered by Her Majesty the Empress to investigate Xiao Hong of the Zhaoyang Prince's residence. Who knew that Xiao Hong had been murdered in her room? Normally, it would be a case of no one knowing the cause of death, but Xiao Hong was the maid of Princess Zhaoyang, Xi Yan. So even though Xiao Hong is dead, Princess Zhaoyang cannot escape responsibility. Therefore, I took her back to the Ministry of Justice. However, because Xiao Hong is dead, Princess Zhaoyang refuses to admit that she instructed Xiao Hong to do anything. I have no way to get Princess Zhaoyang to admit that she instructed Xiao Hong to poison that family."
Hai Ling nodded, then frowned. It was indeed Xi Yan's doing, but now that she had killed the maid Xiao Hong, there was no way to prove it.
The next person, Lord Wu Shang, continued, "I previously reported this case to His Majesty, and His Majesty instructed me on a method that would allow Princess Zhaoyang to confess to instructing Xiao Hong to poison someone and to reveal the truth about Xiao Hong's murder."
"What method?"
Hai Ling became interested. She was just thinking of ways to get Xi Yan to confess, but unexpectedly Ye Dao had a solution.
Wu Shang reported: "His Majesty's intention is to starve Princess Zhaoyang for two days. When she is dizzy from hunger, then use the excuse of a soul. Princess Zhaoyang is already delirious from hunger. If Xiao Hong's soul appears, she will surely be so frightened that she will confess everything."
Hai Ling nodded after listening to Wu Shang's words. "That's right, this idea really makes it easy for people to confess what they've done."
"Alright, you can handle this. If Princess Zhaoyang confesses, send someone to the palace to deliver a message to me."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Wu Shang rose, and seeing that the Empress had nothing more to say, he excused himself and left Liuyue Palace to deal with the case.
In the palace, Hailing had some free time. Mingzhu had married her brother Ji Shaocheng as she wished, and Princess Zhaoyang was imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice. Now that she had some free time, she decided to do what she had promised Xi Liang.
"Mei'er, go to the Cang Prince's residence and bring the Cang Prince's wife to the palace for me."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Shi Mei went out and ordered the eunuch to go to the Cang Prince's residence to bring the Cang Prince's wife to the Empress. The eunuch obeyed the order and went to the Cang Prince's residence to fetch her. Hai Ling waited in the palace. Around noon, the Cang Prince's wife was brought into the palace. As soon as the Cang Prince's wife entered Liuyue Palace, she greeted the Empress with trepidation and caution, not knowing why the Empress had ordered her to be brought into the palace.
"This humble woman greets Your Majesty the Empress."
"Get up," Hai Ling waved for Princess Cang to rise, then stepped down from her high seat and helped Princess Cang to sit down on one side of the hall. Princess Cang looked at the Empress's kindness and felt both excited and apprehensive. The Empress had specially invited her to the palace, so there must be something to say. Princess Cang wondered what it was. Then she thought of her daughter. She hadn't expected that her daughter was on good terms with the Empress, and that the Empress had even recognized her as her sworn sister and bestowed upon her the title of Princess Qinyang.
This is an immense blessing for the Cangwang Mansion, but why did the Empress bring her into the palace? Logically, it should have been her daughter who was brought in.
Princess Cang's expression remained uncertain, which Hai Ling noticed, and her smile grew even more gentle.
“Princess Consort Cang, don’t be uneasy. The reason I brought you to the palace is actually for Liang’er’s marriage.”
Upon hearing the Empress mention Xi Liang's marriage, Princess Cang breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that the Empress intended to arrange a marriage for Xi Liang. If that was the case, then so be it. The Empress had been exceptionally kind to Xi Liang, taking her in as her sworn sister and bestowing upon her the title of Princess Qinyang. Therefore, the chosen marriage partner would certainly not be too bad.
"It is entirely up to Your Majesty to decide."
When Princess Cang spoke, Hai Ling nodded. Princess Cang trusted her, but she wondered what Princess Cang would think if she said that Liang'er was going to marry into the Southern Ling Kingdom. Hai Ling thought to herself before speaking.
"If I were to arrange for Xi Liang to marry into the War King's Mansion in the Southern Ling Kingdom, what would the Princess Consort of Cang think?"
Princess Cang was taken aback at first, then seemed somewhat unable to react. Marrying into the War King's Mansion in the Southern Ling Kingdom, she remembered that the War King had once saved Xi Liang's life. Now, Xi Liang was being asked to marry the War King. Princess Cang was not a fool to have been able to maintain her position as Princess Cang. How did the Empress know the War King? This idea must have been Liang'er's. She wanted to marry the War King of the Southern Ling Kingdom, so she asked the Empress for a favor.
Princess Cang cautiously asked, "Was this Xi Liang's idea?"
Hai Ling smiled at her. "The Princess Consort of Cang is indeed clever," she nodded. "She likes the War King Ruan Xiyin of Nanling Kingdom, so she wants to marry into Nanling Kingdom. Actually, I wanted her to marry someone from Beilu, but it was her idea. She likes that person, so I granted her wish. I just don't know what the Princess Consort of Cang means by this."
“From a mother’s perspective, she is my daughter, and she is so young. I am reluctant to let her marry so far away. But from a woman’s perspective, it is not easy for a woman to find a man she loves. I should grant her wish,” Princess Cang sighed deeply, then looked at Hai Ling: “A son grows up and is no longer under his mother’s control. Everything is up to Your Majesty the Empress to decide.”
Let her marry if she wants to. She doesn't want her to have any regrets. When you love someone, you naturally want to be with them. She only hopes that the person she wants to marry will cherish her.
Chapter 116 west Yan is Slain, Assassins Appear [Full Text, Hand-Typed, VIP]
At Liuyue Palace, Hailing told Princess Cang about marrying Xiliang to Nanling Kingdom. She thought it would be difficult, but Princess Cang agreed. Hailing knew that Princess Cang felt sorry for Xiliang and hoped that Xiliang would marry someone she liked.
"Very well, since Princess Cang has made her decision, then go back and prepare. I will immediately send someone to write a letter to the Emperor of Nanling Kingdom, and later I will send two officials from the court and some guards to escort the princess to Nanling Kingdom."
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress's decree."
Princess Cang accepted the order and left Liuyue Palace. She returned to the Cang Prince's residence and told Xi Liang about the matter. Xi Liang was very happy and grateful that Princess Cang did not stop her. She was indeed a good mother.
By evening, everyone in the Cangwang Mansion knew that Xi Liang was going to marry into the Nanling Kingdom, specifically the War King Ruan Xiyin. Some in the Cangwang Mansion were happy, while others were sad. Everyone started preparing Xi Liang's dowry.
The Xi family has no shortage of money, so the dowry was very generous, which is no problem.
In the days that followed, all was peaceful in the palace. Hailing recuperated in Liuyue Palace, but news did get in from outside the palace.
The Shadowless Pavilion has been active in various countries, robbing many wealthy and powerful officials. Soon, people in various countries were alarmed and learned that a Shadowless Pavilion had emerged in the world, known for robbing corrupt officials. Many corrupt officials were terrified, and they increased the number of guards in their mansions. For a time, people were in a state of panic and tension.
Hailin was very satisfied with the result; Wuyinglou had finally achieved some small success.
The jewelry and jade artifacts stolen by Wuyinglou will not be used for the time being. As for the gold and silver, they will be melted down again in the furnace and will not be the original silver.
Three days later, Wu Shang, the Minister of Justice, entered the palace to report on the case of Princess Xiyan of Zhaoyang.
"Your Majesty, Princess Consort Xiyan of Zhaoyang has confessed that she instructed her maid Xiaohong to poison the patient who entered Baojitang. Later, when she heard that the Ministry of Justice had taken over the case, she became afraid and killed Xiaohong."
"That damn bitch woman."
Hai Ling's lips curled into a cold smile. Thinking of the old woman she had seen earlier, she couldn't help but feel sorry for her. The most heartbreaking thing in the world is for a black-haired person to send off a white-haired person. It is the most tragic thing in the world. As for Xiao Hong who was killed, she brought it on herself. Who told her to do such a beastly thing for her master?
"What are the attitudes of the Prince Zhaoyang's Mansion and the Western Mansion towards this matter?"
The woman who was arrested is the principal wife of Prince Zhaoyang's mansion and a young lady from the West Mansion. Surely these two families won't remain indifferent.