Chapter 99 Lin Ruyi's End

Chapter 99 Lin Ruyi's End

"This is my indenture from back then, it's recorded with the slave trader."

Qinghe read aloud the information written on the indenture.

There are both witnesses and physical evidence.

Shen Nanzi said coldly, "Madam Hou, before you report me, I will first send you to the imperial prison."

Lin Ruyi seemed to have lost the strength to argue, and just watched helplessly as everything unfolded before her.

In her panic, she looked at Xue Qingning in the crowd as if she had seen a lifeline.

Xue Qingning noticed her gaze, pulled Zhang'er, who was kneeling beside her, over, and gently stroked his head with her hand.

The light in Lin Ruyi's eyes vanished instantly.

Just as Shen Nanzi was about to order Lin Ruyi's arrest...

"The Emperor has arrived—" the announcer outside suddenly announced loudly.

Everyone in the mourning hall automatically made way and prostrated themselves to welcome the emperor's arrival.

Shen Nanzi and Xie Yan also separated to the left and right, leaving a path for offering incense.

"No need for formalities!" The Emperor granted the honor of exempting people from formalities even before he stepped into the mourning hall.

"This is the Marquis's mourning hall. Respect for the dead is paramount. I have come to send off my loyal minister of Yunhan on his final journey."

Li Changshu quickly took the incense from the servant and personally delivered it to the emperor.

He accompanied the emperor to pay homage to the marquis.

After the emperor finished his ritual worship, he turned around, looked at everyone in the room, and prepared to leave.

Lin Ruyi suddenly knelt down at the emperor's feet, "Your Majesty, the Marquis was poisoned to death by the Princess Consort of Jing. I have witnesses and physical evidence. Please, Your Majesty, do justice for me."

She spoke quickly and urgently, as if afraid that the emperor would become impatient and leave.

The emperor was indeed somewhat annoyed, and he hated those who blocked his way to seek justice.

If you have a grievance, go to the magistrate of Luoyang. As the ruler of a country, he is busy with countless affairs every day, so how could he have time to deal with these cases?

However, today, at the county marquis's mourning hall, and given the heinous act of poisoning, which also involves the Princess Consort of Jing, the Emperor had no choice but to restrain himself and asked in a surprised tone:

"Such a thing actually happened?"

Seeing that the Emperor was willing to listen, Lin Ruyi knew that this was her last chance to bring down Shen Nanzi.

"Your Majesty," Lin Ruyi repeated her previous words with added embellishment, "please allow me to present the witnesses and physical evidence."

Shen Nanzi frowned. She really knew how to seize an opportunity and actually wanted to punish her on the spot.

As soon as Lin Ruyi finished speaking, three people came out and lay down on the ground.

Of the three, two were men, one elderly and one in his prime.

Another was a maidservant, dressed in mourning clothes, who was probably a servant in the Marquis's mansion.

"This humble subject pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

"This servant greets Your Majesty!"

Lin Ruyi pointed to Qinghe, who was standing behind Shen Nanzi on the left, and asked, "Tell me, where have you seen her before?"

The three men looked at Qinghe, who was dressed in a light blue shirt, and the oldest one recognized her first.

"Your Majesty, I am a night watchman, and I beat the drum in Gou'er Lane, Yongningfang, in the east of the city."

"That night, I heard screams and went over out of curiosity, only to encounter a woman."

"She was tall and ran out of the place where the accident happened very quickly."

“I was holding a torch at the time and could see clearly that it was this woman.”

Qinghe had not yet been summoned by the Emperor and could only endure it by staying by Shen Nanzi's side.

Shen Nanzi was in a heavy mood, but she still patted her arm to comfort her and tell her to calm down.

The second man, who was also disheveled, pointed at her and said:

"Your Majesty, I am a beggar. The weather has been hot lately, and there are many mosquitoes that have kept me awake. So I lay down in the alley on the side of the Marquis's residence and looked at the moon."

“The moonlight was quite bright at the time, and I could see clearly that it was this girl who climbed over the wall of the Marquis’s mansion right next to my feet.”

“The commoner was sleeping in the corner where the clutter was piled up. She thought the commoner was just a pile of clutter and didn’t notice him.”

Everyone was starting to waver. The witness testimony was too convincing; both of them had personally witnessed the face of the Princess Consort's bodyguard.

In this light, Princess Jing will also be convicted.

The third maid spoke up: "Your Majesty, this servant...this servant was on duty in the Marquis's courtyard that night."

"My lord... has already fallen asleep, and I am dozing off by the door outside."

"I just felt... a pain in my neck, and just as I woke up from the pain, I... fainted again."

"I woke up again by... the doctor giving me acupuncture, and that's when I learned that the Marquis had already passed away."

This woman was timid as a mouse. After saying just a few words, her body trembled like a leaf, and she stammered in panic.

She looked at Qinghe with fear in her eyes and said, "The moment I opened my eyes, this was...this face."

This is absolutely perfect! There are witnesses all along the road, and everyone can identify Princess Jing's guards.

Lin Ruyi produced evidence: a silver needle about the length of a finger. Judging by its thickness, it was hollow in the middle and used to hold venom.

“These are the silver needles they used to poison the Marquis. I have had a doctor examine them, and they match the toxins in the Marquis’s body.”

"It was accidentally left behind when she poisoned the Marquis."

The evidence is clearly somewhat weak, but with three witnesses, it is sufficient to convict Princess Jing of a crime.

The Emperor pinched the back of his hand with his fingers, clearly suppressing his anger. He frowned and asked Shen Nanzi with a weak expression, "What do you have to say?"

The situation was extremely unfavorable for Shen Nanzi; her fingers were interlaced, and her thumb pressed down hard.

She has not yet discovered Lin Ruyi's assassination attempt, but Lin Ruyi is extremely well-prepared, with every single detail pointing directly to her.

It even includes the assassination case in Dongcheng, making it seem more realistic.

They would stop at nothing to frame her.

Qinghe whispered from the side, "Your Highness, it's all nonsense. I didn't see anyone that night."

Shen Nanzi knew, of course, that even the assassination attempt was a pretense she staged to attract Xie Yan.

Now, they are being used by Lin Ruyi, and this matter is inextricably linked to Xie Yan.

Shen Nanzi glared fiercely at Xie Yan. She was too exhausted to think about anything else; getting out of danger was the most important thing right now.

If you were to get pecked in the eye by an eagle, it wouldn't be worth it.

Just as Shen Nanzi was racking her brains, Xie Yan suddenly stepped forward and said to the Emperor, "Father, leave this matter to your son!"

Xue Qingning's eyes lit up in the crowd.

Lin Ruyi's eyes shone even brighter as she looked at Shen Nanzi, already feeling confident of victory.

Shen Nanzi didn't look at Lin Ruyi, but instead heard Xie Yan's voice, and her delicate eyebrows furrowed.

Look up at him!

He wanted to help Lin Ruyi.

Yes!

The county magistrate was a member of Prince Jing's faction, so it seemed perfectly reasonable for him to come to the rescue of his supporters.

The Emperor nodded. "Granted."

Xie Yan, dressed in a crimson official robe, stood tall and straight. He slowly stepped forward and looked at the trembling maid, demanding, "Raise your head and let me see you."

The young maid timidly raised her head, her eyes wide and unfocused, filled with fear.

Xie Yan's eyes were sharp, his aura imposing, and his voice cold: "Are you afraid your fate will be like that of a water buffalo?"

The maidservant shuddered instantly, her eyes filled with unconcealed terror.

Lin Ruyi seemed not to have understood Xie Yan's intentions, and still warned, "Cui'er."

When she said this, the maid named Cui'er trembled even more violently.

"You've seen it all. Liars never end well. If you tell the truth now, I can spare your life," Xie Yan said coldly, his words resounding.

"Prince Jing, are you threatening my maid?" Lin Ruyi stopped her, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"Could it be that you just randomly find a few people and think you can frame Princess Jing for murder?" Xie Yan's voice was unhurried, indicating that he did not want to negotiate with Lin Ruyi.

Xue Qingning's eyes were filled with shock.

Xie Yan turned to the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, I request that Lady Hou not interfere during my questioning."

The Emperor's face had turned almost imperceptibly pale, and his voice was heavy, as if he were spitting it out with force, "Granted."

Lin Ruyi's face was as white as gray.

Xie Yan asked the maid, "Did the Lady of the Marquis threaten you to lie, and that if you didn't comply, she would take away something important from you?"

The maid was trembling all over.

"The Emperor is here, and this will be your only chance in this life," Xie Yan said coldly. "If you miss this opportunity, your chances of survival are zero."

Upon hearing this, the maidservant instantly collapsed to the ground, glancing at the water buffalo beside her.

“This servant deserves to die. The Lady of the Marquis ordered me to lie, or my whole family will be executed.”

The other two were not frightened and immediately knelt down to beg for their lives.

"I was coerced."

"I was bribed."

These words elicited a sigh of sorrow in the mourning hall.

Upon hearing the results, the Emperor's forehead was already damp with a thin layer of sweat: "I will leave this matter to Prince Jing. I will return to the palace now."

Everyone watched the emperor leave.

In the crowd, Xue Qingning stared at Xie Yan with icy eyes, her expression one of shock.

The light in Lin Ruyi's eyes dimmed again. She couldn't understand why Prince Jing would help Shen Nanzi.

Shen Nanzi was also somewhat puzzled upon hearing this.

She turned to look at him!

What is he doing?

Lin Ruyi is a member of Prince Jing's faction, so why is he helping her instead?

Shen Nanzi scrutinized him with the same eyes one would use to look at an enemy.

Xie Yan met her gaze and immediately looked away, "No need to investigate!"

As soon as he spoke, everyone looked at him.

What does this mean?

"The poison in the Marquis's residence was administered by the Marquis's wife herself!"

Everyone was shocked when Xie Yan finished speaking.

What an incredible story! The Marquis was actually murdered by his wife!

Shen Nanzi also turned her head in disbelief, not understanding his intention.

Lin Ruyi wanted to speak, but then she caught a glimpse of Xue Qingning touching Zhang'er's head again.

She was so frightened she dared not breathe.

Xie Yan looked at Lin Ruyi with indifferent eyes, "The assassins at the Pingyang Marquis's residence came from the Illusion Pavilion."

"I have found your accounts with the Phantom Pavilion."

Xie Yan took out a receipt. "Here is a silver note for five thousand taels. It confirms that you personally withdrew it from the bank."

"Such a large transaction is not difficult to investigate."

"If you have any objections, I can ask the manager of the money shop to verify it!"

"They can even have the Phantom Pavilion's contact person identify you!"

Prince Jing always speaks with reason and evidence, and once he takes action, the enemy is powerless to retaliate.

Unlike Princess Jing, he was not prepared; the mute witness was waiting outside to receive orders.

With that said, the Lady Hou's guilt was essentially sealed.

Lin Ruyi looked at the familiar banknote receipt, and the light in her eyes dimmed again.

Xie Yan then said, "Why do I say that the Marquis's death was caused by the Marquis's wife!"

Xie Yan glanced at the coffin behind him, then looked away. "I rushed over as soon as I received news of the Marquis's passing yesterday."

"When I learned that the Marquis had passed away without pain, I dismissed the Marquis's wife and had the imperial physician take his pulse and examine his seven orifices and his body."

"It has been confirmed that the poison that the Marquis was poisoned with is the same as that of the Phantom Pavilion."

After saying that, Xie Yan took out a wooden box about the width of a thumb.

Shen Nanzi's eyes darkened, just like the wooden box containing ambergris.

"The two toxins are identical, and this one originated from the Phantom Pavilion."

"Among all the people in the Marquis's mansion, only the Marquis's wife has any connection with the Illusion Pavilion."

"And her status as the matriarch made it the easiest place to strike."

"She killed the Marquis because she knew that Zhang'er had no hope of inheriting the title of heir, but she never expected that she had another purpose, which was to frame the Princess Consort of Jing."

The cause and effect are reasonable and logical, and the motive for murder is sufficient.

Another fact was already laid bare before her, and Lin Ruyi had long since run out of things to say.

Her gaze was fixed on her son, Zhang'er, her eyes filled with reluctance and worry.

Xie Yan then took out another letter and handed it to Li Changshu, who was standing next to him.

"This is the will of the Marquis, which he asked me to give to you."

Everyone in the Marquis's mansion was shocked; the Marquis had actually left a will.

Lin Ruyi, however, seemed not to hear her and kept her gaze fixed on Zhang'er's face.

Li Changshu took the letter and pulled out the will inside.

I was moved to tears while reading the contents.

Xie Yan said, "Lord Marquis has long known that Lady Marquis intended to kill him."

"Lady Hou has been pressuring the Marquis to write a will, making Zhang'er the heir."

"The Marquis seemed to have wavered at one point, but then he thought of the hardships that the mother and son had endured."

"But the Lady of the Marquis's murderous intent was too obvious, and the Marquis was extremely disheartened."

"Make a will and entrust it to me for safekeeping."

Xie Yan looked at Lin Ruyi and said, "You have no sincerity towards people, yet you expect them to give you their all."

"Lin Ruyi, you ruined Zhang'er's position as heir yourself, so you have no one to blame but yourself!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Ruyi burst into tears of regret.

He mocked himself, saying, "Everything I did and sought was for Zhang'er, but now all my efforts have been in vain. I can only blame the fact that time waits for no one and my fate is unkind."

The truth has come to light.

The crowd was buzzing with discussion as Shen Nanzi led the mute and Qinghe away.

Looking at the letter, Li Changshu said to Xie Yan, "Father still entrusted this Marquis's mansion to Changshu. Prince Jing, Changshu is extremely grateful."

Xie Yan said softly, "This is what you deserve; you are the eldest son by birth."

“When the Marquis was bedridden, you served him without complaint. The Marquis’s heart is not made of iron.”

"No matter how lovable Zhang'er is, he is only a six or seven-year-old child and is powerless to support the entire Marquis's mansion."

"From now on, this Marquis's mansion will depend on you!"

"Thank you, Prince Jing. I will certainly live up to your expectations."

"I will spare that maid's life."

"I understand the long book."

Lin Ruyi's gaze fell on Zhang'er, and Xue Qingning picked up Zhang'er and walked to her side.

Xue Qingning glanced at Wuying, who put down his longsword and took a few steps back.

Xue Qingning handed Zhang'er to her, saying with a hint of affection, "Hold the child!"

When she handed Zhang'er to Lin Ruyi, she lowered her voice and comforted her in her ear.

"Though the matter was not accomplished, you have done your best. For Zhang'er's future, you can rest in peace!"

Lin Ruyi looked at her and said, "Second Imperial Consort, I believe you. Please keep your promise."

Xue Qingning patted away the non-existent dust on her white mourning clothes.

He replied almost in a whisper, "The Marquis's mansion will eventually belong to him."

Outside, a bolt of lightning tore through the air, emitting a blinding light.

Then a thunderclap resounded, seemingly splitting the sky.

As Lin Ruyi was being escorted out of the Marquis's mansion, a torrential downpour began outside.

The rain was so heavy it was overwhelming, like a curtain of rain, that you couldn't see anything more than ten feet away.

Shen Nanzi was also left under the eaves of the Marquis's residence.

Lin Ruyi turned to look at her and called out, "Shen Nanzi, come here! I'll tell you a secret."

The two were only three feet apart. Shen Nanzi looked at her and said, "Just say what you have to say!"

Lin Ruyi finally returned to normal, the intense emotions in her eyes faded, and she looked like a pitiful woman who had lost everything.

"A dying man's words are good."

“I am working for the Second Princess Consort, so Xie Yan is looking for a scapegoat for her.”

She then said with a smile, "Shen Nanzi, you won't have a good ending either."

"Those who like Xie Yan are destined for a bad end."

Shen Nanzi leaned closer, afraid that Lin Ruyi wouldn't be able to hear her because of the loud rain outside.

"Then let me tell you a secret: I haven't liked him for a long time!"

"Therefore, I, the princess, will not become unhappy."

Inside the gates of the Marquis's residence, Xie Yan stopped in his tracks.

Wuying's oil-paper umbrella nearly collided with Prince Jing.

Raindrops pattered all around, like a silent wall.