PDLP Chapter 21 Death is not a pity
Chapter 21 Death is not a pity
When Xu Jiaojiao woke up, it was already past noon.
The familiar main house of Shi Nuan Ge comes into view.
She got up lazily and yawned leisurely.
Ouch, the wound on my shoulder really hurts!
However, since she has returned to Shi Nuan Pavilion, it means that the self-inflicted injury scheme has worked. So, the next step is to catch her like a turtle in a jar...
Lianye entered the room and saw that she was already awake. She immediately went to serve her: "Master, Physician Zhang said he thanks you and that he really likes the Wuling Ginseng."
Xu Jiaojiao smiled and said, "I'm glad you like it..."
Mingqian Academy.
After everyone left, Zhao Yunzheng took a short nap.
Even while lying in bed, he could always faintly smell the scent of cooling beads, which made him restless.
He couldn't sleep because the people who went to investigate the Sichuan aconite powder hadn't returned yet.
He felt distressed when he thought of how Lianye carried Xu Jiaojiao out of the dark room.
Her face was so pale, her thick hair was wet with tears of grievance, and the tear stains on her cheeks had not yet dried.
Pitiful and pathetic...
……
Millennium House.
Chen Xi knelt before Zheng Antong: "Consort Zheng, please save me! If the Prince finds out that I bought the aconite powder, I'm doomed!"
Zheng Antong fiddled with the bright red nail polish on her fingernails, frowning impatiently: "What's the panic! Does taking aconite powder mean you're going to poison him? Xu Jiaojiao can take realgar to make summer-cooling incense beads for the prince, so you can naturally take aconite powder to make medicinal meals for the prince!"
Chen Xi was slightly taken aback, then suddenly realized: "Your Highness is absolutely right! I still have some aconite powder in my room, I'll prepare a medicinal meal when I get back!"
The thought that the prince had confined him to his quarters for Xu Jiaojiao filled Zheng Antong with rage.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of ruthlessness flashing within them: "The truth is still unclear, and the Prince has confined Xu Jiaojiao to the Stone Warm Pavilion. You must know, the Stone Warm Pavilion is a remote and desolate place; hardly anyone goes there normally..."
Before Zheng Antong finished speaking, Chen Xi understood the deeper meaning behind his words.
She tentatively asked, "Does the concubine mean... to leave no evidence against her?"
Zheng Antong's smile didn't reach his eyes: "How can you call it 'dead men tell no tales'? This was clearly suicide out of fear of punishment..."
Seeing the viciousness in Chen Xi's eyes, Zheng Antong's smile deepened.
After Chen Xi left, Tao Xiang nervously stepped forward and asked, "Master, this Chen Xi is really stupid. I'm afraid that if her secret is exposed, she will implicate you."
As soon as she finished speaking, a kind-smiling but shrewd old woman walked out from behind the curtain: "Our master is under house arrest. Not even a fly can get into Millennium Courtyard. How would our master know what's happening outside?"
Hearing the wet nurse's voice, Zheng Antong laughed happily like a child: "What the wet nurse says is absolutely right, I don't know anything at all..."
The old woman smiled kindly and bowed to Zheng Antong, saying, "This old woman greets Your Highness, the Concubine."
Zheng Antong quickly helped her up: "There's no need for such formalities between wet nurses and me. My mother went to great lengths to bring you in, so please help Tong'er!"
The old woman patted Zheng Antong's hand, which was supporting her, with affection: "This old woman will do her utmost to offer advice and suggestions to Your Highness..."
……
As night deepened, Zhao Yunzheng, feeling troubled, sat at his desk reading a memorial, but after only a few glances, he tossed it aside.
I can't concentrate on it, I simply can't concentrate!
At this moment, Shadow One returned with the people who had investigated Chuanwu San.
Zhao Yunzheng rubbed his temples: "Have you found out who received the Sichuan aconite powder?"
The investigator placed a list in front of Zhao Yunzheng: "I checked the records of the pharmacy in the manor and found no one who had taken aconite powder. However, I found a record at the pharmacy on Zhuque Street of a manor where servants purchased aconite powder three days ago."
Zhao Yunzheng glanced at the list quickly and saw a familiar name.
Chen Xi?
After a brief recollection, Zhao Yunzheng remembered Chen Xi.
Yesterday, she identified Xu Jiaojiao!
Yingyi, who was standing nearby, also reported the information he had found to Zhao Yunzheng: "After Lianye said yesterday that Concubine Xu did not use the water in the water vat to make pastries, I went to Shi Nuan Pavilion and searched all the ingredients used to make butterfly pastries."
The poisoner put the poison in the flour, and Shi Nuange's last trip to the warehouse to collect flour was three days ago.
Following the clues, the subordinates continued their investigation and discovered that Chen Xi had also visited the storeroom three days prior, and that Concubine Xu had received the flour after she left.
Zhao Yunzheng's breath hitched.
Xu Jiaojiao was indeed framed!
These facts alone are not enough to convict Chen Xi, nor are they enough to clear Xu Jiaojiao of suspicion.
Zhao Yunzheng pondered for a moment: "Continue to collect witness testimonies and physical evidence, and make sure Chen Xi has no way to deny it."
Shadow One didn't quite understand.
Based solely on the information gathered, it is certain that Chen Xi administered the poison.
Given his master's usual behavior, Chen Xi is already a dead man, so why is he so determined to find evidence this time?
He couldn't help but ask, "Master, Chen Xi dared to plot against you, why didn't you just have your subordinates deal with her?"
Zhao Yunzheng's expression softened slightly: "Chen Xi's death is not a pity, but I need to clear Xu Jiaojiao's name so that she doesn't have any reason to be criticized."
Ying was stunned.
Is Your Highness being too fond of Concubine Xu?
Thinking of Xu Jiaojiao, Zhao Yunzheng felt a warmth in his heart: "Take Rongyang Pills with you and come with me to Shi Nuan Pavilion."
At that time, Xu Jiaojiao was leaning against the soft footstool looking at her sketchbook.
Seeing that it was already getting dark, Lianye stepped forward and said, "Master, I've cooked some porridge. Would you like to have some?"
After the prince was poisoned, the master has not eaten anything for two days.
Seeing her master's face growing paler and paler, Lianye was both anxious and heartbroken.
However, Xu Jiaojiao seemed oblivious to her hunger, engrossed in her sketchbook without looking up: "No, I can't eat."
"You're a dying man, it's no wonder you can't eat," Chen Xi's smug voice rang out, startling both Xu Jiaojiao and her servant.
Outside, Chen Xi overheard the conversation between Xu Jiaojiao and the other person, and felt extremely pleased.
It seems that Xu Jiaojiao knew her death was imminent, which is why she was so worried that she couldn't eat.
The sadder Xu Jiaojiao was, the happier Chen Xi was.
She strode open the door, a mocking smile playing on her lips: "Xu Jiaojiao, you..."
Before she could finish speaking, Chen Xi was slightly taken aback when she saw Xu Jiaojiao holding a sketchbook and looking at her with disdain.
Xu Jiaojiao is already facing imminent disaster, how dare she be so leisurely? Shouldn't she be breaking down in tears, making a scene about dying?
Chen Xi forced a laugh: "Xu Jiaojiao, you're practically dead, how can you still be in the mood to look at sketchbooks?"
Xu Jiaojiao chuckled nonchalantly, "Life is short, so enjoy each day as it comes."
Chen Xi scoffed, "Stop pretending to be calm. Xu Jiaojiao, you're actually panicking, aren't you? Because you can't produce any evidence that you didn't poison her!"
If I'm not mistaken, at the latest tomorrow, you'll be dragged away and beaten to death!
Xu Jiaojiao chuckled, about to retort, when she saw Zhao Yunzheng appear at the entrance of Shi Nuan Pavilion with his men...