12dz Chapter 140 The Background of the "Third Princess"
Chapter 140 The Background of the "Third Princess"
It was called an interrogation place, but in reality, Haiyu just found an empty room in the nearby palace and started the interrogation right away.
In the dead of night, no one expected the Crown Prince and Crown Princess to arrive at the scene, so the Xuanjia Army attacked them with even greater force than they had done to Princess Changning. The "Third Princess" was already half-dead and even somewhat incontinent, but she remained stubborn and refused to reveal any truth.
Because of her advanced age, Haiyu and the others went easy on her, but that didn't mean she suffered less than the "Third Princess," and thus revealed many secrets.
Haiyu took the confession, stamped with her bloodstain, to the "Third Princess" and threatened her with a fierce look in her eyes.
"Why bother? Even if you die for the person behind you, they might not remember your loyalty. They might even use you as a pawn."
Sweat, blood, tears, and even saliva mingled together, sticking to the "Third Princess's" hair. Her entire body was covered in sores that not a single piece of flesh was intact, and several of her teeth had been pulled out. Obviously, she could not bite her tongue to commit suicide.
Hearing Haiyu's words, he spat out a word of disdain and said weakly.
"If you're so capable... then kill me, don't waste your energy."
Upon hearing this, Haiyu picked up the salt water next to him and poured another ladleful on it. The "Third Princess" gasped in pain, but she was too weak to struggle. Her head hung low, and she lost the will to live.
The Crown Prince and He Lingyi arrived at this time.
As she entered, she happened to witness this scene. When the "Third Princess" looked up at He Lingyi, the kindness she used to show her was gone, replaced by a sharp ruthlessness and a hint of mockery.
Seeing this, the Crown Prince's face darkened, and he stepped forward half a step to block her view.
He Lingyi could feel the Crown Prince's care for her, and a warmth rose from her heart on this cold day. However, she was not some naive and innocent girl. She had done many evil deeds on her path of revenge, and her hands were stained with blood.
Therefore, he patted the prince's arm and said with a faint smile.
"Your Highness, do not worry. Now that I am here, I have nothing to fear."
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince turned his head to look at He Lingyi. Seeing that He Lingyi's face did not show any fear, he stepped aside and then looked at Haiyu and asked.
"Has the trial concluded?"
Hai Yu clasped his hands in greeting and stepped forward, but because he was covered in blood and the smell was too strong, he took two steps back before speaking.
"The old nanny's testimony is here, but this one refuses to speak even under the threat of death."
"He's a tough nut to crack."
The Crown Prince commented that the Third Princess was still dressed in fine clothes, but her face was different from before. He glanced at it and then looked at the confession before handing it to He Lingyi. Only then did they realize the arrangements that Prince Li had made in the capital over the years.
King Le was sent to his fiefdom at a young age and lived a peaceful and uneventful life.
However, he was accompanied by a self-important wet nurse who felt that King Li should have inherited the throne, but was unjustly sent to this desolate fiefdom to "imprison" him, so she began to stir up trouble in various ways.
After King Le came of age, they spread the prophecy that "when King Le rises, the world will be at peace," and thus their own spies were spread throughout Hengzhou, all in preparation for a rebellion.
The old nanny was just a pawn planted in the palace years ago, living a peaceful life. Who knew that more than ten years ago, a palace maid who claimed to be the confidante of the King of Li came to her door. On the surface, she had taken in a goddaughter and had taken good care of this goddaughter.
In reality, the old nanny was merely someone who followed orders. Later, her goddaughter faked her death and impersonated one of the aunts serving the Third Princess. After becoming familiar with everything about the Third Princess and Consort Qin, she killed the Third Princess and took her place.
He then followed the old emperor to the imperial palace and did the thing of adopting Tuanzi Cat, which was actually a way to spread the news of Tuanzi Cat being sent out of the capital.
After reading all this, the Crown Prince ignored everything else and asked a question with a cold expression.
"So all the princes and princesses in the palace who died young or from illness over the years were your doing?"
The question was directed at the Third Princess, who did not deny it.
At this point, the truth is revealed.
"An emperor who is both immoral and incompetent has been sitting on the throne for so long. His children are useless to keep alive. It would be better if they all died."
"Is that so? Incompetent and lacking in virtue? So in your heart, the virtuous and talented Prince Li is the ruler of this world. If the Emperor has no heir, he will have to find a successor from the royal family. When that time comes, you will have arranged for someone, and then directly put forward the virtuous and wise Prince Li, and he can rightfully ascend the throne and become Emperor."
"As for me, I should probably die because of the rumors of patricide and regicide, shouldn't I?"
The Crown Prince's words slightly broke the Third Princess's guard. She probably didn't expect that the secret she had guarded for so long would be revealed so easily. So she asked in an extremely wary tone.
Where did you learn all this?
"guess."
"I do not believe!"
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince snorted coldly, his eyes filled with mockery.
"Whether you believe it or not is none of my business, but your words have confirmed my suspicions. Haiyu, there's no need to interrogate them. To catch the thief, catch the king first. If the King Li they support is dead, no matter how stubborn they are, it's useless. Kill them."
"Huh? So fast?"
Haiyu never expected that the Crown Prince would figure out what he had been trying to uncover for so long, and even order him to kill Haiyu directly.
Killing a spy is nothing, but how will they explain it to Consort Qin?
As he was thinking, he saw a flash of cold light and a swift movement of a blade. Xuan Liu, who was beside him, had already made his move, severing his throat with a single sword strike.
The Third Princess died with her eyes wide open; she probably never imagined her final fate would be like this.
He Lingyi had witnessed firsthand what true authority and discipline meant.
"Let's go back."
When the Crown Prince reached out and pulled He Lingyi away, Haiyu was slightly taken aback, but quickly accepted the fact that the Third Princess was dead and the old nanny was no longer of much use. So he intensified his interrogation of the others, hoping to get a complete confession before dawn.
"Put it down, and we'll load it onto a truck and take it back to the capital later."
"Yes."
The cold wind was howling outside, and because we were on a mountain, it also carried the night cries of wild beasts, making people shiver.
The Crown Prince felt He Lingyi tremble, and with a frown, he asked.
"Were you frightened?"
He Lingyi shook his head and said with clear eyes, "I just think the Third Princess died too early. If we can find out her relationship with Chi Yunjing, then the Vice Minister's mansion can be wiped out."