The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 125p2

Chapter 125: Taken Home by the Princess Part 13(2)

When Steward Chen was brought in, Tao Ning had briefly reviewed his life, which was simple and uncomplicated.

He had been a eunuch serving in the palace, demoted to the retreat after the concubine he served was disgraced and sent to the Cold Palace, his connections to the palace severed.

He had no family or friends in this world. The concubine he served was punished for harming another concubine, a deserved punishment, and neither of them had any connection to An Ning.

So, his claim of killing her out of dislike seemed plausible.

But why kill her now, after so many years?

And after the failed attempt, he acted as if nothing had happened, even walking past An Ning without any change in his demeanor.

This puzzled Qin Yang and Cui Hong. If it weren’t for the two eunuchs’ testimony, no one would have suspected Steward Chen.

Why would a high-ranking eunuch bother with a low-ranking palace maid?

Tao Ning asked, “So, after I was punished and developed a fever, my roommates asked the kitchen for a pot to brew medicine, and they said you agreed, with several cooks and eunuchs present, you can’t deny this.”

“And you poisoned my medicine the second time they brewed it.”

With the first crack in his defense, Steward Chen gave up, suddenly becoming audacious: “Yes.”

He hadn’t thought much of the maid’s skills, assuming it was just some childish concoction, but she had almost cured An Ning.

The Young Master didn’t want her alive, afraid of information leaking, so he naturally wouldn’t let her live, even as a mindless invalid.

Only the dead could keep secrets.

Tao Ning interrupted his thoughts: “Alright, let’s say you had planned this for a long time, determined to kill me. Since you poisoned me, why did you have me moved to the shed and then come to kill me personally in the middle of the night?”

She pointed at the old scar on the back of his left hand: “Before I lost consciousness, I saw a scar on the attacker’s left hand.”

Steward Chen, his secret exposed, instinctively tried to hide his hand in his sleeve.

He remained silent.

Tao Ning: “That day, when His Majesty and the princess were admiring the flowers in the rain garden, worried I might say something, you approached the princess to pay your respects, but you performed a court lady’s curtsy, your right hand covering your left.”

“You can’t claim that after decades as a eunuch, you suddenly forgot you were a man and thought you were a court lady, can you?”

Cui Hong said at the right moment, “I did notice that and was puzzled. I thought he was simply nervous and forgot, but he came from the palace, he wouldn’t make such a mistake.”

Improper etiquette was also punishable. He had been a eunuch for decades, even serving the previous emperor, how could he be so nervous as to forget the proper etiquette?

Steward Chen’s tone turned defiant: “Because I thought you were dying too slowly.”

This made Qin Yang frown, looking at Steward Chen like he was a dead man.

But there was still one question. Cui Hong said, “There’s still something unclear, Your Highness, Miss An. I interrogated Chen Lin’s colleagues and subordinates, they all claimed he was with them almost the entire night, discussing His Majesty’s visit. He only left once, complaining of stomach pain, but returned quickly.”

Tao Ning helpfully explained, “Grand Historian Cui, I visited the shed a few times and discovered a hidden path leading to Steward Chen’s residence, a path only someone familiar with the retreat’s layout would know. If he ran, it would only take him a short time to go back and forth.”

Cui Hong suddenly understood: “I see.”

A guard discreetly left the room, following the princess’s silent command to investigate.

Tao Ning spread her hands: “That’s why I was left on the ground all night, he needed an alibi.”

Turning to Steward Chen, she continued, “You said you killed me out of personal grudge, poisoned me, then worried I wouldn’t die, so you decided to finish the job yourself.”

Steward Chen remained silent. Everything she said matched his actions perfectly, as if she had witnessed them firsthand.

But it didn’t matter anymore, he didn’t intend to live, a quick death would be a mercy.

However, her next words shattered his hopes.

Tao Ning: “But ‘Cold Embrace’ isn’t a common poison. Historical records show it first appeared during the previous dynasty, when the emperor wanted to secretly eliminate a general without leaving any trace, so he had someone develop this poison. Within three days, the general died of a high fever.”

“There are so many poisons in the world, but ‘Cold Embrace’ is rare. You’re just a eunuch in the imperial retreat, where did you obtain it?”

Steward Chen was unlucky, encountering Physician Xu, who was interested in rare and unusual poisons, and recognized it as “Cold Embrace.”

But even without Physician Xu, Tao Ning would have connected it to the previous dynasty, it was inevitable.

Steward Chen’s lips moved, his mind reeling from the relentless questioning, unable to speak.

He wanted to claim he obtained it by chance, denying everything.

But everything he had done seemed to be known to her, as if she had seen it with her own eyes, and he was afraid that anything he said would be used against him.

This was precisely Tao Ning’s intention: “You can’t explain where you got the ‘Cold Embrace,’ you’re hiding something. What’s your connection to His Majesty’s assassination attempt? Who is the mastermind? Where are his accomplices?!”

He had fallen for her trap. Her purpose wasn’t to investigate An Ning’s survival.

Countless thoughts and faces flashed through Steward Chen’s mind, years of planning couldn’t be ruined by him alone.

Steeling himself, he suddenly found the strength to break free from the guards and lunged towards the wall.

He was determined to commit suicide.

But this only confirmed his guilt. Qin Yang gave the order, and several guards rushed forward, pinning him down.

Qin Yang: “Stop him!”

Tao Ning quickly stepped aside, avoiding the struggle: “Be careful, he might bite his tongue.”

With a crack, a guard instinctively dislocated his jaw, then his arms and legs as well.

Steward Chen was completely immobilized, drooling and writhing on the ground.

He looked at Tao Ning, who was observing coldly, in disbelief. In his memory, An Ning was a timid girl who never even lifted her head, how could she be so sharp-tongued?

He wondered if she was also in disguise, but dismissed the thought, his mind a mess.

Noticing Tao Ning’s gaze, her young face with a faint smile, her eyes indifferent, the unusual contrast sent a chill down his spine. Then a guard knocked him unconscious.

Leaving the prison, the rain had finally stopped.

But the doubts in Qin Yang’s heart only grew stronger, everything still unclear.

This wasn’t a simple assassination attempt. She had suspected many people, then eliminated them one by one, none of them fitting the profile.

The only remaining possibility was a new faction she hadn’t noticed before, plotting in secret for years, waiting for this moment.

Glancing at Tao Ning, who was staring at the rain-soaked flowers under the eaves, listening to the dripping water, her eyes bright, Qin Yang paused.

Sharp and composed in the prison just now, she now looked like a playful young girl, easily distracted by beautiful things.

As if sensing Qin Yang’s gaze, she turned around, her voice clear: “Your Highness, do you have any instructions?”

Qin Yang looked into her eyes: “What are your thoughts on what just happened?”

Tao Ning did have some thoughts. After a moment of hesitation, she said, “I do have a few ideas.”

She held up a hand, her thumb and index finger pinching together, indicating her ideas were very small.

Qin Yang couldn’t help but smile: “Tell me.” She was quite curious.

Tao Ning smiled sheepishly: “Your Highness, it’s almost noon, I’m hungry.”

Qin Yang’s smile faltered, then widened: “I didn’t realize it, but I’m also hungry.”

For Qin Yang to admit she was hungry was rare, and Cui Hong looked at Tao Ning with a hint of admiration.

Lunch should be ready at Linlang Palace, but they didn’t get to eat.

Just as they arrived at the gate, a eunuch announced that His Majesty had awakened and requested the princess’s presence.

Tao Ning, who thought she had smelled food, had to follow the princess again, her expression dejected. Qin Yang, noticing this, stopped the group.

Qin Yang instructed, “I remember there’s peach blossom cake today, Cui Hong, bring me a portion.”

Cui Hong: “Yes, Your Highness.”

Soon, Cui Hong returned with a paper-wrapped package and handed it to the princess.

Qin Yang took it, and the group headed towards the emperor’s bedchamber.

After walking for a while, she casually handed the package to Tao Ning: “Forget it, I don’t like such sweet things, you can have it.”

Tao Ning, unexpectedly receiving a warm pastry: “…”

The emperor was pacing anxiously in his bedchamber. Seeing Qin Yang arrive, his eyes lit up.

Chongxi hurried forward, leaving his attendants behind: “Elder Sister, you’re finally here! I heard that the eunuch who died yesterday was actually in disguise, is that true?”

Qin Yang, her sleeve being tugged, tried to pull it back, disliking reprimanding the emperor in public.

So she nodded: “Yes, the maid An Ning noticed something amiss and removed his disguise, revealing a different face.”

Chongxi’s face was full of fear, and he quickly asked, “Who was he? Did you find out his real name?”

It was impossible to find out in such a short time, so Qin Yang naturally said no.

Chongxi, however, became anxious: “Elder Sister, replace all my attendants and check again for any accomplices! The thought of someone trying to assassinate me makes me uneasy, I can’t sleep!”

Qin Yang comforted him: “Don’t worry, Your Majesty, I’ve already investigated, your bedchamber is safe.”

Chongxi looked around. This retreat wasn’t his familiar palace, everything felt strange, and he truly regretted coming here.

He asked, “Really?”

Qin Yang nodded: “Absolutely, I wouldn’t deceive Your Majesty.”

Reassured by Qin Yang’s words, Chongxi relaxed, his pale face regaining some color.

He nodded repeatedly: “With Elder Sister’s assurance, I feel safe.”