Chapter 463: Turning the Tables
Chapter 463: Chapter 463: Turning the Tables
"Xiao Chengxuan’s Jade Pendant?"
Ye Chutang raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised.
’The Southern Hu Blade Men are all Death Warriors. They’re incredibly tight-lipped. Even with every interrogation method imaginable, it should be nearly impossible to get anything out of them. To think they’d find something belonging to Xiao Chengxuan on their bodies... it’s completely unexpected.’
"Yes!" Princess Qingyang took a deep breath, still unable to calm herself. "The investigation didn’t originally lead to him. After all, jade pendants are quite common, so at first, everyone just thought it was an ordinary object. But then, some official in charge of cataloging the evidence saw it and thought it looked familiar. That’s when..."
Ye Chutang considered this for a moment. "Has this been confirmed?"
"It’s been confirmed beyond a doubt! I reckon the Jade Pendant has already been sent to the palace by now. I just found out and rushed over to tell you immediately."
Everyone in the Capital City knew about the history between Ye Chutang and Xiao Chengxuan. It was fair to say that all her past suffering came from him.
And yet, Xiao Chengxuan had been allowed to live.
Anyone in her shoes would have found that hard to accept.
That was why Princess Qingyang’s first reaction upon hearing the news was to find Ye Chutang.
"What he did before was already outrageous. If he’s also connected to the Southern Hu Blade Men, then..."
Princess Qingyang didn’t finish, but Ye Chutang knew exactly what she meant.
’If this is proven true, Xiao Chengxuan is finished!’
’Forming factions to frame loyal officials could be excused as selfish ambition. But colluding with a foreign enemy? That’s a capital offense!’
’Never mind a Prince; even if he were the Crown Prince, he couldn’t escape a death sentence!’
Ye Chutang lowered her gaze and said nothing.
Princess Qingyang, however, couldn’t hold back. "Chutang, why aren’t you reacting? Aren’t you even a little bit curious about this?"
Ye Chutang looked up, met her gaze, and offered a faint smile.
"I know you mean well, but this matter is too important. It’s not something you or I can influence."
Princess Qingyang paused for a moment, then conceded, "...You have a point."
She tapped her chin, looking thoughtful. "Logically, it makes no sense. He’s the Emperor’s most favored Prince... but with things like this, who can really say?"
Ye Chutang was a little surprised. "You really think he’s capable of this?"
"Of course!" Princess Qingyang nodded emphatically. "Everything he did before was because he felt threatened by Prince Lie, wasn’t it? It’s not impossible that he lost his head in a situation like this."
Ye Chutang’s brow twitched.
’If Princess Qingyang thinks this way, then of course others will too. Especially at a time like this. A thorough investigation is unavoidable.’
Ye Chutang’s gaze lifted, and she looked off in a certain direction.
"Whether it’s true or not, I’m afraid this is going to stir up another storm..."
...
CRASH!
A piece of porcelain shattered on the ground with a piercing sound, sending shards scattering everywhere.
Consort Ru’s face was ashen. "Absurd! This is clearly a frame-up!"
The palace maids all dropped to their knees. "Your Ladyship, please calm yourself!"
"How can I calm down!"
It was rare for Consort Ru to lose her composure like this. She felt as if she were being roasted over a raging fire.
"No matter how reckless Cheng Xuan gets, he would never do something like this! This is obviously a frame-up!"
The moment she heard that Xiao Chengxuan’s Jade Pendant had been found on one of the Southern Hu Blade Men, she completely fell apart.
She knew all too well that this was an accusation Xiao Chengxuan absolutely could not bear.
If it stuck, he would be doomed with no hope of recovery!
She trembled all over. "Where in the world did this news come from!?"