I Have A Qi Fortune Altar-Chapter 702 - 449: Ancestral Worship Ceremony!_2

Jingtai frowned:

"An accident? Is that your answer?"

"Yes." Chen Yuan nodded respectfully and continued:

"The Noble Consort often admired the moon alone on the attic, forbidding the maids to follow. On the day she fell into the water, the sky was dim, perhaps the night was too dark, and she carelessly missed her step and fell,

As for the two maids... they had previously received orders from the Noble Consort not to rashly ascend to the attic and disturb her elegance. I surmise that this is why the Noble Consort fell to her death."

"Anything else?"

Jingtai asked indifferently.

From the cryptic words Chen Yuan provided, it had already been indicated that the Noble Consort died during an affair, and this incident had been ongoing for quite some time.

However, it seemed he was still not satisfied.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Yuan knew he must still reveal something to Jingtai, or else he would appear somewhat negligent in his eyes, and so he said:

"I also detected a faint scent of Dragon Fragrance Ink on the Noble Consort’s body, but given that the Noble Consort was also quite skilled in painting and calligraphy, this is not out of the ordinary."

Having said this, Chen Yuan had basically disclosed most of the clues, pointing directly at several Princes in the palace. To say more would only reveal Sima Ke.

He estimated that with Jingtai’s intellect, he would be able to infer some things.

Jingtai’s gaze was very calmly fixed on Chen Yuan, and the atmosphere inside the Imperial Study Room seemed to have completely solidified. An immense pressure instantaneously enveloped Chen Yuan intangibly.

If it were not for his somewhat measured composure, he would have already panicked under this pressure and revealed everything, which would not only draw Jingtai’s ire towards him but also leak the matter of the harem access token.

A mere minister, threatening the Noble Consort to obtain a token for free access to the harem. What could he be up to?

Any prudent mind would know Chen Yuan’s thoughts were improper.

It wasn’t that Chen Yuan deliberately shielded Sima Ke; in fact, he would have been happy to see that man dead, but the situation was laid bare before him, and he could not act. If he did, he would become entangled as well.

Moreover, holding this dirt on the man, if there was any scheming in the future, it would be good to control him.

Only, he felt he probably wouldn’t need to rely on this individual...

After a long while, Jingtai slowly withdrew his gaze and said indifferently:

"We understand."

"Since this matter has been conclusively dealt with, there is no need for further investigation. Execute all the maids around the Noble Consort as a warning to others. Also, have the Noble Consort’s body properly entombed..."

Jingtai slowly sat down, his fingers tapping continuously on the tabletop.

"Your servant obeys the decree."

Chen Yuan bowed his head in assent.

It is just a pity for those two maids. Even though they cooperated fully in discovering the truth, they still had to die. Because sometimes the truth isn’t important, and it’s even less significant than the Royal Family’s dignity.

Now reflecting on it, perhaps the other maid, who had never begged for mercy from the very start, had already anticipated her fate, so she remained silent, no matter the torture.

"In a few days, the Ancestral Worship Ceremony will take place. After dealing with this, Chen, you should go back and start preparing," Jingtai said flatly.

"Yes, your servant obeys the decree."

"You may withdraw."

"Your servant takes his leave."

Chen Yuan let out a sigh of relief, his gaze fixed on the floor, and he slowly left the Imperial Study Room.

About ten breaths after he left, Jingtai’s eyes locked on the teacup in front of him and he asked softly:

"What do you think of Chen Yuan’s words, Minister Cao?"

Cao Zhengxian promptly said:

"Commander Chen is trustworthy in handling matters. Since he says so, it must be... an accident that led to the Noble Consort’s death."

Jingtai scoffed:

"The scent of Dragon Fragrance Ink, Minister Cao, who in the Imperial Palace has the privilege to use Dragon Fragrance Ink?"

Cao Zhengxian naturally knew what Jingtai was implying and said in a low voice:

"Perhaps someone intentionally set her up."

The logic Chen Yuan understood, how could Cao Zhengxian not know?

His position in the Imperial Palace was very high, an official of many dynasties, but when it comes to the Royal Family’s scandals, it is natural to avoid them if possible.

Jingtai: "Chen Yuan is a clever man."

Just as Chen Yuan had guessed, was Jingtai truly unaware of the problem with the Noble Consort’s death?

No, he was aware.

He not only knew, but he also knew it was definitely a scandal, which is why he ordered Chen Yuan not to publicize it and why his suspicions had already fallen on a few Princes, especially... Sima Ke.

For an Emperor, investigating some affairs would be extraordinarily easy.

But he still pretended ignorance.

The purpose, much like what Chen Yuan had previously surmised, was firstly to silence the gossip, secondly to avoid publicity, and thirdly to see if Chen Yuan was a man who understood the implications.

If he truly exposed a Prince’s scandal with the Noble Consort, it would prove Chen Yuan was not a clever man, lacking... the awe due to the Imperial Family.

Such a person, no matter how talented, is not worthy of the court’s cultivation.

Fortunately, Chen Yuan knew what mattered, outlined the fundamentals of the case, and did not mention any scandal, leaving the decision in his hands.

Such a person, if well nurtured, could become a fine steed for the Sima Family in the future.

"Commander Chen is indeed clever,"

Cao Zhengxian agreed.

"What do you think... about betrothing Pingyang to Chen Yuan?" Jingtai said, his eyes flickering.

Winning over Chen Yuan and cementing his loyalty to the Sima Family could best be achieved by making him a part of the Royal Family, even better than giving him titles and honors.

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