Proud Feather

Chapter 152 Incense Ash
Lü Chan could not explain it.

She took a deep breath, bowed her head and knelt down: "Father, everything I have said is true, and the maids around me can testify to it. When I went there, there was no one there, and I did not see this person."

The emperor gazed at her and said slowly, "She is a servant woman brought from your family."

Yes, this maid was sent by the Lü family, and anyone would assume she is her confidante.

Although Lü Chan was mentally prepared, she still felt a chill run down her spine. The trap was simple and ingenious, but it held a crucial clue, leaving her speechless.

No one suspected that the maidservant sent by Lady Lü was her confidante. With one or two witnesses arranged, it was only natural to pin the blame on her. She may have a clear conscience, but who would believe her?
It takes more than a day or two to plant someone in the Lü residence and then send them here. Ah Ling is right, the Eastern Palace is not safe; she has always been part of someone else's schemes.

A jumble of thoughts raced through her mind, but Lü Chan tried her best to appear sincere: "I have never been close to this person since she entered the Eastern Palace. Moreover, after the Crown Prince left, I personally witnessed Father Emperor's heartbreak. Consort Shu's pregnancy may be able to soothe Father Emperor's grief over the loss of his son. I will only feel happy for the Crown Prince and have no reason to harm Consort Shu. I hope Father Emperor will investigate this matter thoroughly."

These words were undeniably sincere, and the emperor fell silent.

Yes, what reason would the Crown Princess have to harm Consort Shu? The Crown Prince is already gone, and if it's about the little grandson, there's still the Second Prince ahead of her! Whether Consort Shu gives birth to the little prince or not, it won't affect her.

However, human nature is unpredictable, and all the clues point to the truth.

“Father, I don’t believe my sister-in-law would harm my mother either,” Chu He said. “Could there be a mistake? Perhaps my sister-in-law did something unintentionally that made this servant hold a grudge and deliberately frame her.”

The emperor glared at him; even when speaking up for someone, he was missing the point. Right now, this servant woman was defending the Crown Princess, and there were other witnesses proving her testimony was false!

Chu He realized this in a moment and quickly changed his words: "Perhaps the eunuch misjudged. Didn't he say that he couldn't see clearly from a distance? It might be someone whose clothes are similar."

The emperor still ignored him; his rebuttal was too weak.

Chu He finally stopped awkwardly and looked at Lü Chan apologetically.

Lü Chan sneered inwardly and ignored it.

"Crown Princess, is there anything else you want to say?" the Emperor asked again.

Lü Chan replied, "Your subject truly did not do it. I beg Your Majesty for mercy. Once Consort Shu awakens, she will surely clear your subject's name."

The incident happened suddenly, and we can only delay for now. Ah Ling said she would leave it to her, but she hasn't returned yet. What's going on with this maid, and where did the eunuch come from? We need time to investigate these things.

The Emperor nodded: "You may stay in the palace for now! Send Jin'er back to the East Palace. If you are worried, you can ask A'ling to look after her for the time being."

Lü Chan had no objection: "Yes, Your Majesty, I will obey your decree."

Let's leave it at that for now. This matter can only be settled once Consort Shu wakes up.

Upon hearing this, the emperor realized that Chu Ling was not in the palace, which explained why it had been so quiet earlier.

"Where's A-Ling?" he asked those around him.

Chu He frowned. He knew perfectly well how close his younger sister and sister-in-law were, so her absence was truly strange. Could it be…?

Before he could make a guess, Chu Ling's voice rang out from outside the hall: "Father, I'm here."

As she spoke, she strode into the palace gate, her presence radiating coldness.

Seeing that she was wearing a cloak and clearly hadn't come from indoors, the emperor asked, "Where have you been? Do you know what happened?"

“Father, please forgive me,” Chu Ling bowed his head in greeting. “When I heard that Consort Shu had an accident, I was worried that someone was lurking in the palace and endangering your safety, so I went to investigate.” Hearing this, the emperor’s brow relaxed slightly, and he finally smiled. “I know you are very filial, but this matter has been mostly investigated, so you don’t need to go to so much trouble.”

"Really?" Chu Ling looked surprised. "Was it an accident or was it deliberate?"

The emperor glanced at it, and a palace maid from Nanming Palace immediately leaned in and quickly recounted the events to her.

As expected, Chu Ling looked surprised and blurted out, "This isn't right!"

The emperor thought she was going to defend Lü Chan, but Chu Ling unexpectedly said, "How could Consort Shu have just been provoked? It was clearly someone's doing this on purpose!"

As soon as these words were spoken, all eyes in the hall turned to them.

Although the evidence points to the Crown Princess, the possibility of an accident cannot be ruled out due to the imperial physician's testimony. How could the princess's words push the matter to an even more serious level? If someone has intentionally tried to harm the imperial heir, it is a capital offense!
"Ah Ling, what did you say?" The emperor frowned.

Chu Ling replied, "Father, I have found some things. Please examine them."

After saying that, Qingcha walked in carrying a bowl.

Chu Ling lifted the lid, revealing what was inside.

Sun Shouquan reached out to take it, but Chu Ling stopped him. She personally carried the bowl to the emperor.

The emperor looked closely and was puzzled.

"Paper ash? Ah Ling, what do you mean by that?"

Chu Ling fanned the air with her hand: "Father, can you smell it? This isn't ordinary paper ash; it must be talisman paper."

The emperor took a closer sniff and indeed detected a faint fragrance, unique to yellow paper.

Chu Ling took the chopsticks and gently picked up one of the slightly intact pieces, on which faint marks were visible.

"Look, there are words on it."

The ashes had been stepped on and most of them were broken. Only a faint trace could be seen in this piece, but what could still be written on the talisman?
The emperor was furious: "Who did this? How dare they do such a thing in the palace!"

Talismans and paper money, all that mystical stuff, isn't that just witchcraft? From ancient times to the present, the imperial palace has always been a place where witchcraft and sorcery are strictly forbidden; they don't even allow burning paper money during the Qingming Festival!
"Father, please calm your anger." Chu Ling handed the bowl back to Qingcha and said, "When I heard that Consort Shu had an accident, I had people search the area. They finally found these ashes under a tree behind the side hall. Judging from their appearance, they must have just been burned. You see, the timing is perfect, and the location is so close to Consort Shu. What else could it be but deliberate? What a coincidence!"

"Excellent!" The emperor's gaze sharpened as he swept over the concubines in the hall, and he roared, "Who did this? Show yourself to me!"

The concubines were startled and lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

Seeing that things were going badly, Consort Xian had no choice but to step forward: "Your Majesty, I am guilty; I failed to notice..."

Now is not the time to concern ourselves with such matters. The emperor was furious and glared at her fiercely: "Consort Xian, did you do it?"

The Consort Xian was so frightened that she knelt down with a thud and cried out, "It wasn't me! How could I have done such a thing? Your Majesty, please investigate!"

The emperor was just venting his anger on someone, then looked at the others and asked, "And you?"

Amidst the panic of the concubines, Chu Ling spoke up: "Father, don't worry, I have a way to find this person."

(End of this chapter)