The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 518 - 485: Case Closed. What Reward Do You Want? (Part 2)
Except for a pair of eyes that could still be opened to look at others, from head to toe, the woman’s skin was almost completely covered in severe burns.
The two young men had little experience, and it was the first time they had seen such a sight, so it was inevitable they were frightened.
However, they remained relatively composed, not showing it too clearly.
Zhao Xi was the first to recover, asking Lu Pingzhou, "Is she the witness you mentioned?"
Lu Pingzhou nodded, "Your Highness can ask her anything you want to know."
Zhao Xi hesitated, "She’s so badly injured, can she still speak?"
Before Lu Pingzhou could answer, the woman spoke, her voice hoarse beyond belief, "I’ve held on this long, waiting for you. Just speak your mind, I don’t have much time left."
Song Yuanbao brought a chair, and Zhao Xi sat down conveniently, his gaze falling on the woman’s disfigured face, "Who are you?"
"Qiu Shuyue, the Duke’s concubine."
"Are you... a member of the Su Family?"
"Yes, and no."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Let me tell you a story."
The woman on the bed was Aunt Qiu, and as she recalled the past, her eyes reddened, "More than twenty years ago, before Duke Su became Prime Minister, he was an imperial envoy dispatched to Guangnan by the court. The local officials, in an attempt to curry favor, intended to present him with several beauties. That day was the eve of my sister’s wedding. She went out briefly and was mistakenly taken away. When she returned, she was publicly rejected by her fiancé’s family, and my sister became the laughingstock of the entire Guangnan Prefecture.
Our parents were furious and wanted to drive her out. My sister, heartbroken, intended to hang herself. I couldn’t bear it, so I drugged her unconscious and took her place to be expelled. I was sixteen that year, a young lady who had never suffered hardships, now homeless and destined to face all sorts of difficulties.
One day on the street, a man in black wearing a bamboo hat approached me, asking me to deliver a letter. I asked him if I delivered the letter, would I get a meal. He assured me that if I came back alive, I wouldn’t go hungry for the rest of my life.
I was terrified at the time, but I had no money left. If I missed this chance, I’d likely starve to death soon.
So, I mustered the courage to deliver the letter, and ended up with three knife wounds on my body. With sheer willpower, I escaped, and when I finally reencountered the man in black, all I could say was to ask if he could give me something to eat first, and then I passed out.
That man in black was my future master. He kept his promise, fed me a good meal once I woke, and took me back with him.
Following my master, I gradually learned that he led an elite team of Hidden Guards, fiercely loyal to the Empress Dowager, tasked with eliminating enemies of the Emperor.
My joining was unusual; after all, being a girl made physical strength a weakness for a Hidden Guard, so the Empress Dowager played to my strengths and sent me to the Western Regions to learn other skills.
The year I returned, I learned that less than two months after I left, my sister was found pregnant. She came to the Capital but didn’t dare to seek out the man, choosing instead to secretly give birth to the child alone.
My sister was young and beautiful; even dragging a child behind her, there were many men who still coveted her. Several of them even tried to... Later, my sister fell ill, and fearing nobody would care for her daughter, she ruthlessly sold her to a brothel, and she herself soon died of illness.
I was infuriated and wanted revenge for my sister, so I redeemed the child. It so happened that the Empress Dowager was at odds with Su Xiang, giving me more reason to infiltrate the Su Family, so I approached them claiming kinship.
After that, I suppose I don’t need to say much; you can guess. I was simultaneously executing my mission and avenging my sister, throwing the Su Family into chaos. Even the fire at the Duke Mansion that disfigured Su Yaoqi was partly my doing, not to mention this time’s annihilation case. Those Thunder Shocks, I planted them."
At this point, she looked up at Zhao Xi, "The Su Family brewed the Forbidden Incense, intending to send it to the palace for the Empress to wear and thus control the Emperor. They had long committed the crime of treason. My actions were merely acting on behalf of heaven."
Upon hearing this, Song Yuanbao appeared shocked, having thought Duke Su was merely shameless and thick-skinned, but never expecting such venomous intentions, attempting to control the Emperor with forbidden incense. How audacious, how ambitious!
Compared to Song Yuanbao, Zhao Xi was much calmer.
"Three questions," he said. "First, are you and your sister twins? Second, the technique for making Thunder Shock has long been lost. Even if you learned something in the Western Regions, how did you manage to plant three bombs at the Duke Mansion undetected? Third, how much of what you say can I believe?"
Qiu Shuyue anticipated Zhao Xi’s skepticism and silently chuckled, but as soon as she moved her lips, it tugged at her wounds, causing her to break out in a cold sweat from the pain.
"My sister and I were the renowned beauties of Guangnan Prefecture. If His Highness doesn’t believe me, you can have someone check the Qiu Family records from over twenty years ago in Guangnan. As for planting the bombs, having been trained as a Hidden Guard, naturally, I have methods. I won’t elaborate on the details, I’m too tired and lack the energy. As for the last question..."
She paused, "If I’m not mistaken, His Highness has been sent by imperial decree, right? You need a real culprit, you need to close the case swiftly so the Emperor will regard you with admiration, and I can help you achieve that task."
Before Zhao Xi could reply, Qiu Shuyue continued, "Of course, if you wish to take the time to verify, I don’t mind. After all, what I’ve said contains no falsehoods and can withstand scrutiny. However, I fear I won’t live that long. Once I’m dead, there will be no living witness, and even if you hold evidence, you won’t be able to explain it to everyone."
Zhao Xi didn’t respond, instead turning to glance at Song Yuanbao, as if seeking his opinion.
Song Yuanbao said, "I only have one question: why are you at the Lu Family?"
Qiu Shuyue quickly exchanged a glance with Lu Pingzhou before sighing, "When I was at the Duke Mansion, I had some dealings with Sixth Miss Su Dai. The day the Duke Mansion incident occurred, I barely managed to escape and found myself with nowhere to go and desperate for treatment, so I had no choice but to seek help at the Lu Family, where Sixth Miss took me in."
There was no memory of anyone named Su Dai in Zhao Xi’s mind, and he looked at Lu Pingzhou, puzzled.
Lu Pingzhou calmly explained, "She’s the concubine of my eldest son, Lu Yanbin."
This made everything seem reasonable.
No wonder Lu Pingzhou had previously said Qiu Shuyue was of the Empress Dowager and yet not, because her actions in destroying the Su Family were not merely executing an order from the Empress Dowager but also avenging her sister.
In the future, the dossier could obscure the link between Qiu Shuyue and the Empress Dowager, changing it to her being sold to the Western Regions by traffickers and returning years later to avenge her sister, which would make perfect sense.
Seeing him lost in thought, Qiu Shuyue spoke, "Has Your Highness made a decision?"
Zhao Xi’s voice was slightly grim, "Since you’re the Empress Dowager’s person, you must understand the consequences once your crimes are confirmed."
With her great vengeance achieved, Qiu Shuyue had no further attachments, and she nodded, "Your Highness, proceed with the process; I would die without regret."
...
When leaving, Zhao Xi stood at the entrance of the Lu Family for quite a while without moving.
Song Yuanbao asked him, "What are you thinking about?"
Zhao Xi replied, "Thinking about the case."
"Isn’t it already clear?"
"I’m thinking, this case..."
"Hasn’t it already been cleared up?"
"I’m thinking, Su Family dared to secretly refine Forbidden Incense. If it hadn’t been discovered early, there’s no telling what disaster that incense might have caused if sent into the palace and worn by the Empress, with the Emperor being controlled. The Su Family is truly audacious and ambitious."
...
Within five days, Zhao Xi settled the case according to judicial procedures, gathering witnesses and evidence to resolve it. The Merchants Association revered him, praising the Eldest Prince as a young genius to anyone who would listen.
Qiu Shuyue was found dead, having died peacefully.
When the prison guards carried her body out, Zhao Xi made sure it wasn’t left in a common burial ground for wild beasts to devour.
With the case resolved, Zhao Xi went to the Emperor Guangxi to report.
Emperor Guangxi was genuinely surprised, as the Young Prince quickly brought closure to the case, which prompted him to see his son in a new light. However, the case was already concluded and he did not intend to question further, as the evidence convinced everyone.
Looking at his son’s calm face, Emperor Guangxi asked him, "What have you achieved, my son, what have you learned?"
To Zhao Xi, the tone was slightly deep, "You said you are under the Empress Dowager, you must know once your crime is established how severe the consequences will be."
With her great wish fulfilled, Qiu Shuyue had no regrets about dying. She said, "Your Highness, just follow the procedure; I will die without regret."
...
When leaving the place, Zhao Xi stood at the main gate of the Lu Family for a long time without moving.
Song Yuanbao asked, "Haven’t we already figured everything out?"
"Yes, but I’m wondering, this case--"
"If it hasn’t been discovered earlier, I doubt anyone would have managed to resolve it so clearly," Song Yuanbao interrupted, nudging him forward as he spoke, "The Su Family dared to secretly make forbidden incense... If it hadn’t been stopped in time, it would’ve only taken a few scents before they controlled the Emperor, such audacity requires immense ambition, right?"
...
Within five short days, Zhao Xi processed the case as per the legal procedures, gathering testimonies and evidence that convincingly settled the matter. The staff at the Ministry of Justice exalted the Eldest Prince, praising him as a young prodigy to anyone willing to listen.
Zhao Xi went to report the matter to Emperor Guangxi after the case was concluded.
Emperor Guangxi was genuinely astonished, as the Ministry of Justice had resolved the case within days. Yet, since it was concluded, he didn’t feel the need to question further, as the evidence was convincing enough for everyone.
As he looked at his son’s calm face, Emperor Guangxi inquired, "So, my son, what have you earned?"
赵熙音色略微沉声,"既然你是太后的人,应该知道一旦罪行落实,将会带来怎样的后果."
邱淑月报仇雪恨,已经无所顾忌,她只道,"殿下只管按照流程走,我死而无憾."
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