Chapter 1193: Chapter 1190: Interrogation
Chapter 1193: Chapter 1190: Interrogation
But now, she simply had no way to investigate, nor could she afford to.
“It indeed is my husband’s belt,” Ye Muyu pursed her lips, fearing Empress Lin might misunderstand, she added, “But today, my husband wore his official robes.”
“Madam, did anything unusual happen when you were with Lord Chu?” Empress Lin’s attitude toward her didn’t change, but there was an added touch of worry in her expression.
“No,” Ye Muyu shook her head, her brows and eyes serene, recalling the details, there truly was no issue.
“You may go rest for now, later when the Emperor arrives, I fear you will still face questioning. Don’t worry, just speak the truth.” Empress Lin did not vent any anger on her, instead, she soothingly comforted her a few words and then turned to enter back into the hall.
Ye Muyu silently followed her in.
There was not much of a wait.
Emperor Xuanming graced Kunning Palace with his presence.
Observing the Emperor sitting at the top, while Empress Lin and Noble Consort Qi were eagerly explaining the situation, Emperor Xuanming looked towards Ye Muyu and asked, “Lady Chu, do you recognize this belt as Minister Chu’s?”
Knowing she couldn’t avoid it, Ye Muyu knelt down obediently, “Answering the Emperor, it should indeed belong to my husband.”
“Lady, you are not certain?”
“Please summon my husband, Your Majesty, so that the truth may come to light soon.” Ye Muyu performed a kneeling salute, her expression respectful.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xuanming raised his eyebrow, “Lady, do you believe that Minister Chu has been wronged?”
“I dare not lie, this morning my husband came to the side hall wearing his official robes, this belt could not possibly appear in the palace, I beseech the Emperor to see the clear truth.”
Noble Consort Qi raised her eyebrow, “Lady, are you suggesting that this palace has slandered you? Everyone saw it was found in the garden.”
“I dare not,” was all she dared to say, yet it wasn’t an admission of the Noble Consort’s words.
“Summon Minister Chu,” commanded Emperor Xuanming.
Chu Heng, having just left the palace, had returned to the yamen and was dispatched back in by someone from the palace, drawing the attention of Duke Zheng and the Qi family who had been closely monitoring him.
Shortly thereafter, Chu Heng kneeled inside the hall, his tone calm yet clear as he narrated, “Your Majesty, while coming to Kunning Palace, I fell in the garden and had to change my clothes.”
“While changing, I realized my belt was missing, not wishing to delay, I donned my official robes outside and continued on to Kunning Palace to see my spouse, yet I have just left the palace gate and have not had the chance to change back into my own clothes.”
Emperor Xuanming narrowed his eyes, “He Dequan, take Minister Chu down for inspection.”
Chu Heng followed He Dequan away.
Ye Muyu watched him anxiously, Chu Heng, before leaving, gave her a reassuring look, and her heart instantly settled.
It wasn’t long before He Dequan returned, giving Emperor Xuanming a confirming answer.
Chu Heng came back in, seemingly unaffected.
“Minister Chu, you said that the belt was lost before entering Kunning Palace?” Noble Consort Qi, with a smirk that was not quite a smile, asked, “Is there a witness?”
“Responding to Your Majesty, I remember the eunuch who guided me as well as the eunuch who appeared in the side hall.”
“The guiding eunuch is called He Kailai, the one in the side hall is called Xiao Luzi.”
Emperor Xuanming then ordered He Dequan to investigate, and as Chief Eunuch, He Dequan was quick to act; it wasn’t long before he got clear results, “Reporting to Your Majesty, there is no eunuch named Xiao Luzi in the palace.”
He was also quite puzzled, reasoning that with so many eunuchs in the palace, the name Xiao Luzi should be common, yet there should be such a name according to the records, and he realized that someone from within the palace must have interfered.