Chapter 12: She Really Has A Ghost!
Hua Lin tirelessly applied life-saving medical skill for several days without rest, and only then did Yue Tang awaken from her coma.
She also learned that when she met with misfortune, the Former Emperor had already passed away, and Father King had also died in the palace. Afterward, she hid in the mountains of Luoyang to recuperate, and successively heard that the New Emperor had ascended the throne and court officials had changed.
The widowed sister-in-law single-handedly supported Prince Duan’s Mansion. She had been widowed half a year after marrying Yue Tang’s brother and had no children. A year later, with approval from the palace, she adopted an infant from the clan to continue the lineage of this branch of Prince Duan’s Mansion.
All these events happened so coincidentally that there was naturally a conspiracy.
But this conspiracy was not something the Marquis of Guangling could achieve single-handedly.
She wanted revenge, but she also needed to know what happened that night in the prince’s mansion, what happened in the palace, and how exactly Father King died.
Over three years, Wei Zhang traveled back and forth between the capital city and Luoyang with Xiao Huo. Finally, by her lifting He Xu’s face cloth at the time and seeing his facial features as this important clue, they locked the culprits onto the He Family and Zhang Family, and then followed the trail to uncover the Marquis of Guangling behind them.
On the surface, the Marquis of Guangling set up the killing scheme to seize power, and afterward got what he wished for, smoothly obtaining the position of Imperial City Department Envoy. It was reasonable and evidence-based, seamless. But his Du Family was already doomed, and in the capital city, the Shen Family, Chu Family, and Mu Family—one was the maternal home of the Successor Empress of the Former Emperor, one was the maternal home of Prince Duan’s Heir Apparent Consort, and the other was the family of the former imperial father-in-law who raised the Emperor for over ten years—which one was not stronger than the Du Family?
He actually had the audacity to strike at Prince Duan’s Mansion.
And where did the money he used to reward the He and Zhang Families come from?
Yue Tang’s first step in confirming revenge was to dig out the person behind the Marquis of Guangling.
But after three years, things had changed; the clues that were originally within easy reach had all been cut off.
Originally, there was only suspicion toward Prince Jingyang, without confirming how great the possibility was, but now that he suddenly appeared and inserted himself, it forced Yue Tang to seriously guard against him.
“Princess,” Huo Yun, who had been pinching her chin for half a day imitating Hua Lin’s usual manner, said at this time: “Actually, using Liu Shi’s influence to expose all the Du Family mastermind’s matters would be quite satisfying.
“I just don’t believe Prince Jingyang would dare to openly oppose the imperial court against all propriety and help the Du Family regardless!”
“What you said, your master and I have already discussed.” Yue Tang smiled faintly. “He wouldn’t dare, but I have no princess’s seal in hand, nor the qualification to enter the Imperial Clan Court to compare palm prints and fingerprints. If exposed, who would believe it?
“With their power, with a single word they could brand us as imposters of the imperial clan committing fraud. Guess how many people in the entire capital city would rush out to clean up the swindlers who defamed the prince’s mansion for them?”
Children born in the imperial clan have their handprints and footprints archived by the Imperial Clan Court and Ministry of Rites, and they record them once every year thereafter until age fifteen.
In case any doubts arise about bloodline, these top-secret archives would become the most powerful means of verification.
In addition, all princes, princesses, princes of commandery, and princesses receive a seal on the day of enfeoffment.
This seal must not leave the body from the moment it is obtained, and if it appears in any illegal or disorderly matter, it will be regarded as evidence of crimes.
Naturally, having it in hand is also powerful ironclad proof of identity.
After Yue Tang jumped off the cliff to survive that day following the signal Wei Zhang gave in the chaos of battle, it was Wei Zhang who later used the corpse of her maidservant Lin Xiuying to substitute for her.
To make it realistic, they not only left her Spirit Spring Sword, granted by the Former Emperor at age ten, under the corpse, but also hung that seal, along with the sachet, on A Xiu’s waist.
Prince Jingyang holds great power, and the marquis’s mansion now has considerable influence as well.
Yue Tang currently has no name or status. If she recklessly jumps out to accuse them, without Prince Jingyang even needing to act, the Du Family could strike at them in the name of executing swindlers, more than enough.
“I don’t understand. Since the Marquis of Guangling could do this, why did he fly into a rage upon hearing Liu Shi’s petition?” The youth’s face was full of confusion.
Yue Tang sighed: “Because they don’t want to cause unnecessary trouble from this. Any potential aftermath that can be dealt with in advance naturally doesn’t need to be dragged out. Moreover, the marquis’s mansion’s power hasn’t reached the point of being completely unrestrained.”
Huo Yun crossed her arms and fell silent.
The door was knocked on at this time. After several distinct yet slightly urgent knocks, in came a woman in her late twenties dressed in blue, carrying a vegetable basket.
“The Du Family is taking action over there. Do you know?”
Huo Yun stammered open-mouthed: “Aunt Lan, what news did you hear?”
Lan Qin walked up to Yue Tang: “After He Jianzhong returned from the marquis’s mansion, he immediately sent someone to the government office to withdraw the lawsuit. It’s also said he’s sending people onto the streets to find He Hui, ordering him to go to the prison immediately after the withdrawal procedures are completed to pick up Liu Shi.
“In just this short time, the person withdrawing the lawsuit is probably already at the government office.”
“Quite fast indeed.” Yue Tang paused as well. “This can only mean the Du Family fears exposure more than I imagined.”
She called to Huo Yun: “Come with me back to the He Residence right now. We’ll act according to plan and go to the He Family to wrap things up!”
……
Upon returning from the marquis’s mansion, He Jianzhong vented the anger he received onto He Hui and the butlers. He first arranged to withdraw the lawsuit, then to pick up the person after—ensuring Liu Shi did not live through this night!
Here he had just sent the people off when Madam He, hearing Liu Shi was to be picked up, started making a fuss again. She sent several waves of people to urge him to the main chamber.
He Jianzhong went over in anger and kicked over a stool as soon as he entered: “Can’t you calm down!”
Madam He froze, then waved away the servants, got out of bed barefoot, and walked up to him: “You’re taking it out on me? That medical woman outside is suspicious; she’s not normal!
“She keeps scaring me. It must be her who killed Xu’er. All these things must be her doing!
“How many times have I told you? Why won’t you listen?”
He Jianzhong said impatiently: “Family matters keep piling up one after another, too much to handle. How do I have time for your nagging?
“Besides, wasn’t that the person you praised repeatedly? Flip-flopping like this—you must really be crazy!”
“I’m not!” Madam He’s voice carried urgency. “Do you know? Yesterday she told me that after drinking the medicine, I wouldn’t see ghosts anymore. Listen to that! Is that something she should say to me?
“Also, she incited me to deal with Zhang Shi and stirred me up to accuse Zhang Shi as the murderer. Didn’t you notice?
“She’s suspicious; she really is suspicious!”
He Jianzhong shook her off and turned his back.
Madam He circled in front of him and said through gritted teeth: “She was recommended by Liu Shi!”
He Jianzhong had barely paid attention to the earlier words, but at this, his figure stiffened, and he finally turned around to face Madam He squarely.
The person was recommended by Liu Shi, and there was poison in Liu Shi’s room—could this medical woman have no issue?
With troubles arising one after another these past two days, keeping him from even closing his eyes, he hadn’t even thought to investigate within the residence behind closed doors!
Liu Shi dared to seize his handle to threaten him, and this medical woman she recommended caused trouble the day she entered the residence… The more he heard, the more suspicious it sounded.
