Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Chapter 84 A Two-Pronged Hunt! Bao'er's Cat Claws Expose a Spy, Liu Chengming Unearths Sec

Chapter 84 A Two-Pronged Hunt! Bao'er's Cat Claws Expose a Spy, Liu Chengming Unearths Secret Files from the Cold Palace

The twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month.

As the year draws to a close, Hangzhou is outwardly decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, but inwardly, two lines are simultaneously taut.

Inside the secluded room of Wanghu Tower, candlelight shone brightly.

Three newly delivered confidential files were laid out in front of Liu Chengming.

First document: Transcript from the Imperial Medical Academy archives

On the ninth day of the third month of the sixth year of Jinghe (612 AD), the deposed Empress Shen was examined. Her pulse was smooth and rapid, like pearls, indicating she was three months pregnant. Recorded by Imperial Physician Chen Jizhou.

Second document: Records of expenses for the Cold Palace from the Imperial Household Department

From April to June of the sixth year of the Jinghe era, the meals of the deposed Empress Shen often included medicinal herbs for preventing miscarriage (such as angelica and white peony), which were handled by the eunuch Wang Fu (deceased).

Third document: Night Watch Record of Shenwu Gate

On the night of the third day of the seventh month in the sixth year of Jinghe (11:45 AM), an old eunuch carrying the late Empress Dowager's token left the palace. He was hunched over and resembled Li Dequan. No carriage was checked.

Three sheets of paper.

Like three keys.

"She's three months pregnant..." Liu Chengming pointed to the line of text, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. "Shen Qingci was already pregnant when she was deposed!"

He suddenly stood up.

Pacing back and forth in the secluded room.

"The night of the third day of the seventh month...that was three days after the fire in the Cold Palace!" he murmured to himself. "Li Dequan left the palace with the late Empress Dowager's token—who did he take with him? Shen Qingci's body? Or...?"

He stopped.

He turned his head to look in the direction of Qihuang Garden.

"Night Phoenix's son is now one and a half years old. The timing... matches perfectly!"

All the fragments.

They came together at this moment.

The "Shen Family's Pure Words" in the late Empress Dowager's last will and testament.

Li Dequan's sudden appearance.

Ye Huang harbors a deep-seated hatred for the Liu family.

That age matches, appearance...

Liu Chengming suddenly remembered something.

"Someone come here!"

His trusted aide pushed open the door and entered.

"Investigate!" Liu Chengming's voice tightened. "The imperial physician and midwife who delivered Shen Qingci's baby, and... where is that child buried!"

"Young master, this..."

"Go quickly!"

His trusted confidant left in a hurry.

Liu Chengming sat down again.

Looking at those three confidential documents.

Suddenly he laughed.

His smile was chilling.

"Shen Qingci..."

"You're really back."

A fervor and ruthlessness flashed in his eyes.

"Alright."

"I didn't kill you completely three years ago."

"Three years from now... I will personally send you on your way."

At the same time.

Qihuangyuan Study Room.

Mo Shisan placed a thick booklet in front of Ye Huang.

"Miss, all the evidence of Liu Chengming's crimes in Jiangnan is here."

Ye Huang opened it.

Page after page.

shocking.

In the fifth year of the Jinghe era, he embezzled 30,000 shi of grain transported by the imperial treasury, causing famine in three counties north of the Yangtze River, resulting in the starvation deaths of more than 700 people.

In the sixth year of Jinghe, he colluded with the pirate "Black Dragon Gang" to plunder seventeen merchant ships and kill more than two hundred people to cover it up.

In the seventh year of the Jinghe era, in order to seize the tea mountains in Suzhou, they set fire to the village, burning forty-six tea farmers to death, and falsely reported that the fire had occurred.

From the eighth year of Jinghe to the present, smuggling salt, embezzlement, hiring murderers, framing...

Every single one.

They all have time, place, witnesses, and physical evidence.

There were even several testimonies with bloody handprints.

"Send it out." Ye Huang closed the booklet.

"Where should I send it?"

"The Censorate," Ye Huang said calmly, "send it anonymously. Under the name of 'Jiangnan Righteous Merchants'."

"Yes."

Mo Shisan put away the booklet.

I hesitated for a moment.

"Miss... there's something else."

"explain."

"Liu Chengming is investigating you," Mo Shisan said in a low voice. "He used the Liu family's connections in the palace to access the old files from the Imperial Hospital and the Cold Palace. Our people intercepted the copies."

Ye Huang raised her eyes.

"What did he find out?"

"Records of Consort Shen's pregnancy. And... the time when Eunuch Li left the palace."

Ye Huang remained silent for a moment.

Laughed.

"Faster than I expected."

"Miss, would you like to..." Mo Shisan made a "stop" gesture.

"No need," Ye Huang shook her head. "Let him investigate."

"But what if he confirms it..."

"So what if it's confirmed?" Ye Huang looked out the window. "He doesn't dare to say anything now."

Why?

"Because he wants to use this secret to blackmail me." Ye Huang's lips curled slightly, "Or... to sell it for a good price."

She stood up.

"Have someone keep a close eye on him. He'll definitely go and find out where Bao'er is 'buried' next."

"Yes."

---

BoA's Highlight Moments

That afternoon.

The kitchen of Qihuangyuan.

An unfamiliar helper quietly slipped into the room where the ingredients were stored.

He looked around.

He pulled a small paper packet from his pocket.

Just as he was about to pour it into the water tank—

"Meow!"

A sharp meow!

A tabby cat pounced down from the beam!

A claw scratched his hand!

"Ah!" the helper cried out in pain.

The paper package fell to the ground.

Powder was spilled out.

"Meow—!" The tabby cat arched its back, its fur stood on end, and let out a low growl of warning.

"You beast!" the helper gritted his teeth and raised his foot to kick.

"stop!"

Jinshu rushed in upon hearing the noise.

Upon seeing the powder on the ground, his expression changed drastically.

"What are you doing?!"

The helper turned to run away.

However, he was tackled to the ground by the guards who rushed over upon hearing the commotion.

---

Fifteen minutes later.

Ye Huang looked at the packet of powder.

Physician Chen has examined it.

"It's 'Intestinal-Severing Powder.' It's colorless and odorless when mixed with water, and the effects begin after half a day. The abdominal pain is excruciating, and the intestines perforate and the person dies within three days."

Jinshu trembled with fear: "If it weren't for Bao'er's cat..."

Ye Huang looked at Bao'er, who was squatting to the side.

The little guy was holding the tabby cat and talking to it softly.

"Bao'er," Ye Huang asked softly, "how did the cat know he was a bad person?"

Bao'er looked up: "Mao Mao said that he smells... just like those bad guys from last time."

"What does it taste like?"

"The taste of blood," Bao'er said earnestly, "and... the taste of fear."

Ye Huang felt a chill run down her spine.

A person who has killed someone.

They would smell of blood.

Animals... can smell it.

"From today onwards," she ordered, "all the cats and dogs in the garden will be 'in charge' of Bao'er. She will patrol daily and immediately alert anyone who discovers anything unusual."

She paused.

He looked at Mo Shisan.

"Tell the 'Bird Department' to include the trained sparrows and pigeons in the patrols. I want this park to be completely leak-proof, both in the sky and on the ground."

"yes!"

---

The Capital: Nangong Ye's Imperial Desk

Three days later.

Lin Ruhai, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, knelt outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

He held the thick book of incriminating evidence in his hands.

He had been kneeling for an hour.

Inside the hall.

Nangong Ye sat behind the dragon desk.

What was laid out in front of him was a copy of that booklet.

He flipped through the pages one by one.

His expression grew increasingly grim.

"Liu Chengming..." he murmured the name.

The salt smuggling case.

He already knew.

But on this booklet...

There was also murder.

set fire.

Colluding with pirates.

They even...harmed ordinary people.

"Your Majesty," Xuan Ying appeared silently, "I've investigated. Most of the evidence in the register is authentic. There are a few old cases that were suppressed back then."

Nangong Ye closed his eyes.

"The Liu family... are truly my good subjects."

He opened his eyes.

Look out of the hall.

"Let Lin Ruhai in."

---

Lin Ruhai entered the hall.

Kneel down.

"Your Majesty, the evidence against Liu Chengming is irrefutable. We beseech Your Majesty to issue an order for his arrest and interrogation!"

Nangong Ye remained silent for a long time.

"The booklet... will remain with me for now."

Lin Ruhai was taken aback: "Your Majesty?!"

"I have my own plans." Nangong Ye waved his hand. "You may leave."

Lin Ruhai wanted to say something more.

But looking into the emperor's cold eyes...

In the end, they bowed their heads.

"I... obey your order."

They left.

The hall returned to silence.

Nangong Ye stared at the booklet.

Suddenly, he asked, "Xuan Ying."

"Your subject is here."

"You said..." his voice was low and hoarse, "who sent these pieces of evidence?"

"I do not know. But the messenger was very familiar with the Liu family's power in Jiangnan. They must have been lying low for many years."

"Having been lying low for many years..." Nangong Ye smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Does Shen Anbang have any old subordinates in Jiangnan?"

Xuan Ying was taken aback: "Lord Shen's former students and officials were all over Jiangnan, but after the Shen family's incident..."

"Investigate," Nangong Ye interrupted him. "Investigate the source of these pieces of evidence. And... the person who delivered the letter."

"Yes."

Xuan Ying withdrew.

Nangong Ye sat alone in the hall.

Looking at the three characters "Liu Chengming" on the booklet.

A complex expression flashed in his eyes.

then.

He believed in the Liu family.

Shen Qingci was dismissed.

just now……

The Liu family presented him with such a "grand gift".

"Qingci..." he whispered, "If you have a spirit in heaven...would you laugh at me?"

No one answered.

Only a draft through the room.

It was bitterly cold.

The twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Lunar New Year's Eve.

Liu Chengming received the last secret report.

"My lord, we've found out." The confidant's voice trembled. "The coffin of the 'son of the deposed empress' who was buried in the imperial mausoleum back then... was empty."

Liu Chengming's hand trembled.

The teacup fell to the ground.

Crushed.

"E-empty?"

"Yes. The eunuch in charge of the tomb said that it rained heavily on the day of the burial, and when the coffin was lowered into the ground... it was incredibly light."

Liu Chengming slumped into his chair.

a long time.

He burst into laughter.

I laughed so hard that tears came out.

"Nangong Ye, oh Nangong Ye... you've been completely played by a woman!"

He wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes.

His eyes turned crazed.

"Shen Qingci..."

You now have two choices.

"First, marry me. The Liu family can guarantee the safety of you and your child, and even... help your son ascend the throne."

"second……"

He stood up.