funbook-pk Chapter 177 Too arrogant
Chapter 177 Too arrogant
Chu Qingyin's expression changed slightly as she tried to discern the truth from his expression: "Lord Lu, as the chief minister, you should speak with evidence."
She had her doubts about this matter, but since Pei Yuanling had already made a final judgment, she couldn't say anything more.
But now that Lu Zhiheng has brought it up again, it's hard not to think about it.
“Since I dare to say this, I naturally have evidence. If it weren’t for that assassination attempt, in which we both fell off the cliff, I wouldn’t have brought this up with you.”
Lu Zhiheng took out a wooden plaque from his sleeve and handed it over.
"I'm sure Consort Qiao is familiar with this. You'll know whether it's real or fake at a glance."
Chu Qingyin frowned.
Her sense of smell was naturally keen, and as soon as the wooden plaque was taken out, she smelled a faint scent of blood.
Upon receiving it, one discovers that the wooden plaque's original color was not dark red, but rather it had become this way due to being soaked in blood.
She instinctively tried to throw it away, but Lu Zhiheng suddenly grabbed her hand.
"Lu Zhiheng, you...!"
Before she could finish speaking, Lu Zhiheng raised the wooden plaque up to her face: "Consort Qiao, take a close look. Don't you find it familiar?"
Chu Qingyin finally recognized the familiar markings on the wooden sign.
Although the wooden plaque only has the number thirteen written on its surface, a simple totem is carved on the corner.
Although it is somewhat worn, a closer look reveals that it is shaped like a turtle.
"What is this?"
Chu Qingyin frowned, feeling a chill run down her spine in the sweltering summer heat.
She remembered that the eunuch who brought her poisoned wine in her previous life seemed to have similar symbols embroidered on the hem of his robe.
"I found this symbol on those assassins; it's the royal totem."
Lu Zhiheng has already made his point clear.
Upon seeing Chu Qingyin's astonished expression, he sneered, "Could Consort Qiao really be so naive as to think that the assassins only came in one group?"
Those assassins were clearly not targeting Pei Yuanling.
The two of them fell off a cliff, and the one who wanted to find them even more than Pei Yuanling was naturally the mastermind behind it all.
Their ultimate goal was to kill the two of them in the wilderness, so that they would never return.
Upon hearing this, Chu Qingyin's face turned deathly pale.
The wooden plaque in her hand felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, causing her arm to tremble slightly.
Lu Zhiheng has made his point so clear. If she still can't understand, then there's no need for her to think about revenge anymore. She might as well just lie down and wait to die.
"Could it be the Emperor..."
Chu Qingyin suppressed the turmoil in her heart, her eyes wide with fear.
She quickly covered her mouth before she could finish speaking, lest someone overhear her.
"Lord Lu! Do you know what you're saying?"
Chu Qingyin's expression grew increasingly solemn.
The assassination attempt has already been concluded; it was the Crown Prince Zhang Xian who made it up. Could Pei Yuanling possibly be deceiving me?
Seeing that the other party did not answer, she asked again: "Does His Majesty know about this matter?"
"His Majesty is certainly aware of this, but the Wang family is a centuries-old and powerful clan. Not to mention their complex and intertwined influence in the court, the eldest son of the Wang family holds military power and is stationed on the frontier. Why would His Majesty offend the Wang family for the sake of you alone?"
Lu Zhiheng's thin lips curved slightly, and his narrow eyes revealed a hint of mockery.
As the emperor, Pei Yuanling had many ways to find out the truth.
Even after he discovered the truth, he still dared not touch the Wang family. He merely gave them a minor punishment as a warning, fining them three months' salary.
After hearing Lu Zhiheng's words, Chu Qingyin became even more silent.
If those assassins were truly targeting him, and Pei Yuanling knew who the real culprit was, yet still tried to pin the blame on Crown Prince Zhang Xian in an attempt to protect the Wang family.
"Lu Zhiheng, are you really sure this was done by the Empress?" Chu Qingyin asked solemnly.
"Even if it wasn't made by the Empress herself, it's still inextricably linked to her."
Lu Zhiheng lowered his voice.
The wind rustled the leaves, making it difficult to hear his voice.
If it's not the empress, then it must be a member of the royal family.
Chu Qingyin remained silent, suddenly recalling the words Consort Shu had spoken when she died.
[Chu Qingyin, you gained His Majesty's favor, but so what? You're still dead, and even in death, you were a confused ghost!]
[You are the truly pathetic one.]
[I didn't kill you, but you'll never find the one who truly killed you in this lifetime.]
You'll never find the person who actually killed you in this lifetime!
The mournful voice of Consort Shu echoed in her mind.
Could it be that the person who sent someone to poison her was also the Empress?
No, that's impossible...
Empress Wang has always been dignified and virtuous. Even though I am so favored, I have never heard her say a harsh word to me. How could she want to kill me at that time?
As for the punishment I received last time, it was also the Empress Dowager's doing.
Although it was for Empress Wang's sake, it ultimately had no real connection with the Empress.
If she really poisoned me, then why did I fight to the death with Consort Shu in my previous life?
Now that Consort Chu is dead and Consort Shu, Wei Yiqiu, has committed suicide, she can't think of anyone else who would ultimately benefit besides Empress Wang.
Thinking of this, Chu Qingyin felt a chill run down her spine.
Empress Wang's kind, smiling face suddenly appeared in her mind.
She had already ascended to the position of Empress, so why would she still harm herself?
"Your Highness, now that things have come to this, have you thought it through?"
Lu Zhiheng stared intently at the woman in the green dress, who was lost in thought.
Chu Qingyin was momentarily dazed, the jade tassels by her ears swaying, and she did not notice the change in the other person's address.
She murmured, "Why? She's the empress now. Even if she kills us, what good will it do her?"
"Within these palace walls, the game of power is never governed by reason or emotion."
Lu Zhiheng stared at the stunningly beautiful face before him. "Although she has ascended to the position of Empress, that high and mighty position is never secure. The human heart, especially the heart of an emperor, is unpredictable. To consolidate her own position, or perhaps out of jealousy among women, aren't these all reasons to eliminate you?"
The man spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice deep yet each word resounding.
Upon hearing this, Chu Qingyin's eyes flickered repeatedly.
The lake surface rippled, and the shimmering light reflected on her cheeks, as if there were flowing light.
After a long while, she seemed to come to her senses, and looked up, saying, "Lord Lu, could you do me a favor?"
"What kind of help?" Lu Zhiheng asked.
"Ever since I entered the palace, I have often heard people mention the former Consort Chu. The reason I was favored was because my face resembled that of the Consort Chu."
She lowered her eyes, her delicate hands gently stroking her bright cheeks. "These days, I have also learned some things about the Consort from the old palace servants who served her, and I feel more and more that there are suspicious circumstances surrounding the Consort's death."
"Hmm? What's strange?"
“A proud person like Consort Chu would never commit suicide, so why would she choose to leave in such an undignified way in the Cold Palace?”
"You're not Consort Chu, how would you know what she's thinking?"
Lu Zhiheng suddenly interrupted her, his steady voice carrying a hint of inquiry: "Just a substitute, and now you're actually thinking of investigating the cause of the Imperial Concubine's death..."
He suddenly bowed down, his handsome face instantly looming large in front of her. "Consort Qiao, you are far too arrogant."