The punishment of the female imperial court

The strong wind outside swept through the crowd, making the already packed house feel even more cramped.

"As I just said, the first cut, close to the heart, was not fatal. The second cut, a diagonal upward cut starting from the left front of the neck, was the fatal one."

Yu Qiansi tilted her head slightly, extended two fingers, pressed them on the left side of her neck, and gently stroked them backward.

The gesture, though gentle, sent chills down the spines of everyone present, as if those two fingers had transformed into sharp blades, grazing each person's neck.

"The bloodstains at the crime scene back then spread outwards from the victim and seeped into the floor. Even now, though covered by dust, they are still shocking."

Hearing this, Jiang Jiqing stood up. "Since it's right next door, why don't we go take a look?"

Some were surprised and resistant, while others were eager to try.

Jiang Jiqing smiled faintly, ignoring the people behind him, and went out the door first, turning left. Then everyone heard the sound of the wooden window being pushed open.

"There really is blood everywhere." The young emperor's voice rose slightly, with a trembling tone at the end, it was hard to tell whether it was fear or excitement.

Seeing this, the officials had no choice but to leave the house and go over to take a look.

Just as Yu Qiansi said, even after ten years of deep dust, it is still difficult to hide the tragic state of things back then.

One can even imagine the blood-soaked scene inside the room back then.

Only a fierce fight before death could leave such a mark.

Yu Qiansi lagged behind the others by a step, turned around and stepped out of the house. Standing on the corridor, she heard Jiang Jiqing's voice.

"This corridor is in disrepair and quite dangerous. Now that we've seen the site, let's go inside the Prayer Hall and have Lord Yu answer everyone's questions."

His tone was relaxed, with his usual naive demeanor.

It's as if all of this tonight is a fascinating game.

She stood behind the crowd, observing coldly, feeling a chill run through her body.

Bo Yi approached, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

"Are you ok?"

Yu Qiansi shook her head slightly and headed towards the main hall.

Light lamps and candles, charcoal braziers blazing.

After a quick cleaning, everyone stood inside the prayer hall.

Inside the building, the Buddha statues, draped in dust, gaze down with compassion upon the beings at their feet.

Yu Qian Si was the last to enter the main hall.

Behind her, the Imperial Guards stood in formation, guarding the main hall and the side halls.

At this moment, she had no mind to think about why Jiang Jiqing suddenly wanted to change places. She glanced around and saw no trace of Shang Fu in the main hall.

She suppressed her impatience and continued speaking after Jiang Jiqing gestured to her.

"In addition to the two stab wounds mentioned earlier, there were several intersecting, deep ligature marks on the inside of the deceased's two palms."

As Yu Qiansi spoke, she took out a piece of colorful silk thread from her sleeve. This was a piece of red thread that she had asked Granny Cui for when she was changing clothes with Empress Zheng.

After looping the thin rope around his neck, he flicked it gently, unexpectedly ensnaring the neck of a minister standing nearby. The man had been leaning against the brazier, head tilted to one side, looking listless and lost in thought.

A sudden chill ran down his neck, causing him to lean backward. Staggering, he regained his senses and slipped his hand into the thin rope, keeping it away from his throat.

That gave him the chance, and he shouted, "Help!"

The others were startled by this sudden turn of events and wanted to step forward to stop her, but when they saw that the woman's eyes, now devoid of a smile, were exceptionally gloomy, like those of a demon, they dared not approach and could only retreat while shouting at her.

"Yu Qiansi, how dare you murder a court official in front of the Emperor!"

“What are you afraid of?” Yu Qiansi suddenly let go: “I just want this gentleman to cooperate.”

The man slumped to the ground, panting heavily. "My lord, why don't you take a look at your own hands?"

Yu Qiansi looked down at her and whispered a reminder.

The man spread his hands, revealing several red marks from the restraints crisscrossing his palms, accompanied by a belated burning pain.

"You—!" He pointed at Yu Qiansi, his anger barely contained.

“Your Majesty,” Yu Qiansi said, not taking his bluff seriously, and turned to Jiang Jiqing, “I am doing this to clear up your doubts. If I had said it beforehand, it wouldn’t have had the same effect.”

Jiang Jiqing's smile froze. He was somewhat at a loss for words in the face of such blatant malice. He could only look away and reassure the crowd, saying, "Everyone, it's cold and the night is long. Why don't we let Lord Yu tell us about the events of ten years ago?"

The implication is that once the truth is revealed, the score can be settled later.

Yu Qiansi seemed completely unconcerned and continued speaking.

"Like this gentleman, the wounds on the deceased's palms are also similar to those from binding, with traces of struggle and tearing at the edges of the palms. The silk rope I used was the finest and strongest material I could find in the palace, yet it could only barely leave some red marks. But the marks on the deceased's palms are even finer than these."

Moreover, the bone is visible deep inside.

It is a kind of sharp and fine filament.

The murderer and the victim were locked in a fierce struggle, going back and forth.

If the murderer wanted to strangle the victim with such a weapon, he would have to exert force himself.

Therefore, she was certain that the murderer must have left similar traces on his hands.

"Whether the murderer intended to tie the victim to her or to strangle her, the same marks would be left on her body."

This is why the murderer left bloodstains when moving the furnishings in the outer room.

Because the murderer was also injured.

"Therefore, Empress Mingde, who has no injuries on her body, cannot be the murderer."

"Who is the murderer?"

Su Fengcha listened intently, his gaze turning to the solitary woman standing in the hall, his expression complex.

Although he disliked the arrogant woman's behavior for various reasons, he had to admit it.

She is indeed intelligent.

Unfortunately, excessive rigidity leads to breakage.

If she hadn't been so unconventional and arrogant, she wouldn't have been so disliked by the court officials.

"The murderer is right here."

Yu Qiansi's gaze swept over everyone present. "I checked the medical records of the Imperial Medical Academy from back then."

"After the incident at the Hall of Prayer for Blessings, martial law was imposed in the palace, and no foreign objects were allowed to be brought into the palace. Therefore, the murderer could only receive treatment at the Imperial Hospital."

"Back then, within a month of the incident at the Hall of Prayer for Blessings, only three people's medical records in the entire Daming Palace mentioned 'hand injuries.' Apart from one deceased concubine, the remaining two are here today."

Upon hearing this, Consort Shang tightened her grip and quickly said, "It wasn't me! I injured my hands while tending the flowers!"

"Yu Qian Si, how dare you!" Consort Shang angrily rebuked, "Are you deliberately trying to smear me because I questioned you just now!"

His hasty denial seemed to be an attempt to cover up the truth.

Yu Qiansi said leisurely, "Why is Your Highness in such a hurry? I told you, there is one more."

She turned around and looked at Consort Cao, who had been counting her prayer beads with her eyes closed, oblivious to everything around her. "You agree, don't you, Consort Cao?"

All eyes followed her and fell on Consort Cao of Ning Temple.

Even with her deep meditation, Consort Cao couldn't ignore the many frightened and suspicious gazes around her, and slowly opened her eyes. (End of Chapter)