Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 291 Choice
Li Cunxing mentally reviewed what Xiao Wenyi had just said.

Three days ago, Fu Hui was struck on the back of the head. He was seriously injured but did not see a doctor. Instead, he went to Junzitai in the East Market to stay. The next morning, someone secretly added datura to his tea, causing him to hallucinate and go into a frenzy. He ran wildly out of Junzitai and bumped into Ning Ci, who was riding by on horseback. He eventually collapsed and died.

Li Cunxing raised two points of doubt.

Who hit Fu Hui on the back of the head? And who added datura to the tea?

Xiao Wenyi slowly shook her head: "I don't know yet."

Fu Zheng suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice, "You just rambled on and on, but it was all nonsense. No matter what my son went through before he died, the person who ultimately caused his death was Ning Ci!"

"General Fu, do you still not understand what I mean? What really caused Fu Hui's death was the blood clot that had accumulated in his brain. Ning Ci just happened to appear at that time and became the scapegoat for this murder."

Fu Zheng didn't believe it: "You're talking nonsense! If Ning Ci hadn't hit my son with his horse, my son could still be saved!"

"The blood clot in Fu Hui's brain is too large and is already life-threatening. If he could be treated in time, there might be a glimmer of hope for his survival. Unfortunately, he has delayed seeing a doctor, missing the best time for treatment. In addition, he has been poisoned by Datura stramonium, which has caused him to become mentally deranged and his injuries to worsen. Death has almost become an inevitable outcome."

After saying this, Xiao Wenyi turned around, took the certificate from Xiao Wang, and presented it to the emperor for review.

"The autopsy results regarding Fu Hui have been fully recorded in this report. Your Majesty may summon the coroner for a review at any time if you have any questions."

After the emperor finished reading the certificate, he ordered it to be handed over to Li Cunxing. Only after Li Cunxing finished reading it was it passed on to Fu Zheng.

Fu Zheng frowned as he read the entire medical report word for word.

His fingers trembled slightly as he held the medical report. Although he was unwilling to accept it, the evidence was right in front of him, leaving him no room for further rebuttal.

Li Cunxing felt deep sympathy for his plight and gently comforted him, saying, "General Fu, please accept my condolences. The Dali Temple will definitely continue to investigate this case and catch the real culprit who killed Fu Hui."

Fu Zheng's eyes were bloodshot: "Even if Ning Ci wasn't the murderer, it's a fact that she hit my son with her horse. If she hadn't hit him, he wouldn't have died so quickly; he could have held on a little longer..."

In the end, he couldn't hold back any longer, and tears streamed down his face, soaking his clothes.

He hurriedly wiped his eyes, knelt down, pressed his forehead to the ground, and choked out, "Your Majesty, I deserve to die. I have been disrespectful in front of the palace. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

The emperor sighed softly: "You only have one son, Fu Hui. Now that he has been killed, you must be very sad. I have been your subject for many years and I understand your feelings. But it is too late now. The dead cannot be brought back to life. I hope you will take good care of yourself and not ruin your health by being too sad."

Fu Zheng knelt on the ground, sobbing softly, his broad shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

He said in a voice trembling with tears, "Thank you for your compassion, Your Majesty."

The emperor looked at Li Cunxing and asked, "How does the Crown Prince think this case should be handled?"

Li Cunxing knew this was a test from his father, and after thinking about it carefully for a moment, he said...

"The case is now basically clear, but we still need to investigate who injured Fu Hui in the back of the head and who put datura in his tea. I suggest that the Court of Judicial Review continue to investigate along the existing clues. We must not let General Fu's son die in vain!"

The sage nodded slightly, then asked, "And what about Ning Ci?"

Although Yan Ciwan is the defendant in this case, no one has given her a chance to speak since she entered the room. She is like a wooden stake, standing there quietly.

Hearing the Emperor's question, she quietly pricked up her ears. Li Cunxing said, "What General Fu said just now is not entirely unreasonable. Although Ning Ci is not the murderer, she did indirectly cause Fu Hui's death. She may be spared the death penalty, but she cannot escape punishment. I think she should be flogged fifty times and exiled to the border as a warning."

Yan Ciwan's fist hardened instantly. "Does this bastard even speak human language?!"
She was wrongly accused and imprisoned for three days. After finally clearing her name of murder, she still had to accept such severe punishment.

Is there any justice left in this world?!

Xiao Wang was very nervous. Fifty strokes of the cane were enough to paralyze an adult man. Even if Yan Ciwan had internal energy to protect her, she would definitely be injured.

He wanted to plead for Yan Ciwan, but Xiao Wenyi gestured to him with her eyes to keep quiet.

The emperor slowly said, "The punishment you mentioned is too severe for Ning Ci, a weak woman. However, General Fu's grief over the loss of his son does require an explanation. Let me think about it some more. Ning Ci stays. Everyone else may leave."

"Yes."

Li Cunxing, Xiao Wenyi, and Xiao Wang left one after another, while Fu Zheng remained kneeling on the ground, choking back tears.

"Tomorrow is the Crown Prince's wedding day. Your Majesty, I should lead the Left Jinwu Guard to clear the way for His Highness the Crown Prince and welcome him to the wedding. However, I have just lost my son and am in mourning. I am afraid that I will disturb the Crown Prince's happy occasion. I humbly request Your Majesty to grant me leave tomorrow."

"That's fine then. Go home and rest well. Come back to duty after you've finished handling Fu Hui's funeral. I still have many things to rely on you for in the future, so you must cheer up soon and don't keep me waiting for too long."

Fu Zheng kowtowed heavily: "Your humble servant obeys!"

After he left, only the Emperor and Yan Ciwan remained in the hall.

The sage looked down at the people in the hall and asked calmly.

Do you still remember what I said to you last night?

"I remember."

"A night has passed, now you can tell me your answer."

The sage's tone and demeanor were very gentle, showing great patience, but Yan Ciwan still remembered Li Cunxing's words from earlier—fifty strokes of the cane and exile to the frontier.

Even though she hadn't killed anyone, she still couldn't escape being blamed. She felt resentful and indignant. Why was she treated like this?!
But she is now just an ordinary citizen, and in this Hall of Thought and Politics, she doesn't even have the chance to speak up for herself.

At this moment, the only person capable of saving her from this dire situation is the saint before her.

He looked down at Yan Ciwan as if she were his rescuer and spoke to her in a gentle voice.

"Aci, what is your choice?"

Yan Ciwan clenched her hands in her sleeves, then slowly relaxed them. Her head, which had been hanging low, slowly rose. She looked at the man sitting high on the throne, a docile smile blooming on her face.

"I am truly honored that Your Majesty does not despise me and is willing to accept me, a wild child."

The difference in their social standing was too great; if she insisted on confronting them head-on, it would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock.

Since she couldn't win, she would pretend to submit for the time being, at least to fight for her freedom. She still needed to find her grandmother; she couldn't stay trapped in the palace forever.