The punishment of the female imperial court

Chapter 286

Yu Qiansi calmly retracted the silver hairpin, the chain making a mocking, crisp sound.

Shang Fu straightened up, the candlelight flickering in his eyes.

“Don’t bother, Lord Yu,” he tapped on the exquisite serpentine patterns on the lock, “this lock is a masterpiece of the Mo family, you can’t unlock it. And this chain is made of black iron, and the person who made the chain even met you once before, Lord Yu.”

Indeed, the keyhole has a complex structure, and she doesn't have the ability to open anything from the Mo family.

Yu Qiansi recalled the young blacksmith she had once met.

It turns out that the trap had already been set back then.

"Speak, what exactly do you want?" She casually tossed the chains to the ground and began to look around the room.

Her gaze swept over the woman's boudoir, which had been converted into a prison cell. The screen was embroidered with butterfly and flower patterns, and the bronze mirror on the dressing table reflected half of Shang Fu's face. On the small table under the mirror, all kinds of cosmetic boxes were placed, along with candlesticks, making the corner by the window smell especially sweet.

Shang Fu followed her gaze, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the square ring.

The warm, smooth texture of the jade reminded him of the woman his uncle deeply loved.

Yu Qiansi's ruthlessness and composure are very much like that woman's.

Although she was in chains, she was calm and composed, not like a prisoner, but rather like a judge sitting high in the courtroom.

While pondering all those who had profited from the imperial tomb incident, Yu Qiansi inquired, "What did Ya Yin's savior reveal to you?"

Ya Yin was only dragged into this because she wanted to keep her savior's secret.

That savior must be someone connected to the truth about the Temple of Blessings. But Shang Fu definitely couldn't be that so-called savior.

Perhaps that person is Shang Fu's ally.

"Lord Yu, there's no need to waste your time testing me. There are many people in this Daming Palace who want to use you. There are also many who want you dead." Shang Fu spread his hands, looking just like a rogue trying to argue in court. "But I'm not afraid to tell you. Someone gave me a Sophora flavescens, which can only be found near the Hall of Prayer for Blessings. That's why I knew you had started investigating this matter."

After saying that, he shook his head with great regret.

"Unfortunately, that person was very secretive, leaving only the three words 'Lingyun Pavilion' besides the locust indigo grass."

At first, he thought Yu Qiansi had found the Qian family to help her. But after a lot of effort, he realized that something strange had happened on the day Yu Qiansi first entered Lingyun Pavilion.

Naturally, one would think of what Ya Yin did that day after that incident, and how she inexplicably felt grateful to Yu Qian Si.

Yu Qiansi recalled that after she and Boyi came out of the Prayer Hall that night, they did indeed notice someone hiding in the shadows.

The next day after leaving the palace, she saw that Qiu Yi's shoes, which had been humiliated, had indigo juice on them.

They all match up.

But is it really Qiu Yi?
Today, Qiu Yi seems eager for me to find out the truth as soon as possible, so why is she trying to obstruct me through Shang Fu?

"So, you found Ya Yin before me, firstly to clear your name, and secondly as a warning?"

The candlelight flickered, and Shang Fu, seemingly possessed, casually picked up a hairpin from in front of the bronze mirror and adjusted the wick. His movements were elegant, his eyes brimming with longing, making him resemble a frivolous and amorous playboy from a wealthy family.

"Indeed, just like the Imperial Guards, if someone breaks into the palace after curfew, the first arrow will fly into the sky, the second into the feet, and if that doesn't stop, the third will be fatal. That time, I gave Lord Yu a chance because of our acquaintance. The first arrow was a warning. It's a pity that Lord Yu didn't heed my warning. He even went to the Imperial Mausoleum and caused such a commotion with the Lan family."

The Lan family?

Yu Qiansi tentatively asked, "So, the Lan family is the second arrow?"

Shang Fu seemed to have thought of something amusing, and laughed heartily, "Of course not."

However, the Lan family's move surprised him quite a bit. It seems that the Lan family's plan was guided by a mastermind.

Shang Fu noticed that Yu Qiansi was looking at him like he was crazy, and pointed to the chains: "This is only the second arrow."

After saying that, he let out a long sigh, as if standing on a high place in the wilderness: "It's rare for someone to know my identity. I'm really happy today."

The faint sound of porridge cooking came from behind the screen. The steam, illuminated by the candlelight, cast bizarre shapes on the screen, like a lively play, or like countless human faces disappearing into the sky amidst screams and despair.

Shang Fu patted his forehead: "I forgot, I also prepared some fine tea for Lord Yu."

He took out a tea set from somewhere and placed it in front of the two of them.

He turned and walked behind the screen, his robes sweeping across the floor and stirring up fine dust. Yu Qiansi heard the soft sound of the bronze kettle hitting the stove stand, followed by the gurgling sound of water flowing into the kettle.

Shang Fu stepped out from behind the screen, carrying a boiling copper kettle in his right hand and lightly supporting the lid with his left.

The steam from the hot water blurred his face, and only the sound of his deliberately heavy footsteps echoed seven times on the blue bricks.

Amidst the billowing white mist, he sat cross-legged before the bronze mirror, forming a mirror-like confrontation with Yu Qiansi.

The steam rising from the boiling water as it was poured into the teacup distorted and blurred the reflections of the two people in the bronze mirror.

A few tea leaves floated in the whirlpool, much like the current situation.

"Lord Yu—" Shang Fu held the cup with both hands, suddenly abandoning all his playfulness, the aroma of tea swirling in his breath, "Is there anything else you wish to ask?"

After the rising steam, his eyes were clearer than ever before.

Yu Qiansi tapped the black iron chain lightly with her fingertips, making a rhythmic sound: "You were the one who forced Zhang Yilun to slander Boyi, weren't you?"

Shi Mo'er was originally someone found in the Ghost Market, not to mention that he had people watching Boyi at all times.

Most importantly, Bo Yi retrieved the knife given to him by the Feng family on his way to the imperial mausoleum. Only those who have been to the imperial mausoleum know the size of this knife.

But how did Zhang Yilun know the size of Boyi's knife?

Considering that Yuqian Mountain is also in the Ghost Market, the Ghost Market Lord behind the mask—Yun Zhongjun—becomes even more suspicious.

At that time, she asked Zhang Yilun who that person was.

Zhang Yilun glanced at the doorway and said, "It's too late."

It wasn't because the people from the Dali Temple outside the door were trying to force their way in.

Instead, the mysterious person was right beside them.

If he were to say it, their lives would likely be in danger.

Shang Fu must have known that she would ask Zhang Yilun again, which is why she killed him in Dali Temple prison.

"The hemlock in that herb was also your doing."

Although it was a problem, she was quite certain of it.

Shang Fu handed the fragrant tea to Yu Qiansi with both hands, a smile playing on his lips, as if he were listening to music in the Lingyun Pavilion.

Yu Qiansi lowered her eyes, and thinking of Zhang Yilun's death, the anger in her heart could no longer be suppressed. She suddenly raised her hand and knocked over the teacup. "What exactly do you want? What does the case from ten years ago have to do with you? Or are you working for some concubine in the palace? And why are you looking for the Yi family?"

Shang Fu's hands were scalded red, but he shook them off without a care, took out a new teacup, and refilled it.