Deposed 9

Chapter 9. Interrogation

The spring shirt was thin, and a slight chill immediately seeped through the soft, loose fabric and onto the skin.

This method of peeling away layers, like stripping bamboo shoots, tested a person’s psychological endurance and willpower.

Especially for those Confucian officials who always paid lip service to propriety, righteousness, integrity, and honor, and…

Wei Zhao lowered his eyes, staring intently at the youth trapped in his arms.

…and for these pampered scions of the imperial family who had never suffered hardship, been wronged, or been offended.

“Hmm?”

Wei Zhao’s tone grew heavier.

The youth’s fan-like eyelashes trembled, and ripples spread across his starry eyes, as if he were flustered and at a loss. “This Prince does not understand what the Marquis is saying.”

“This Prince also feels deep sorrow for Eldest Brother’s poisoning. Why… why does the Marquis ask this Prince such a question?”

At this point, Mu Yun frowned.

“Could it be that in the Marquis’s eyes, this Prince is such a ruthless and cruel person who would even harm his own blood-related brother?”

Oh.

Wei Zhao raised an eyebrow with interest.

He thought to himself, ‘Aren’t you?’

Knowing that they were blood-related, who was it that harmed two imperial fetuses without even batting an eye?

“Your Lordship.”

A personal guard’s voice sounded outside the room, neither early nor late, “All the guests have been searched, and no traces of poison have been found.”

All the guests had been searched, leaving only…

Wei Zhao’s gaze returned to the little wolf cub in front of him, a cold and sinister glint flashing in his eyes.

Indeed, just as he had guessed.

Quite the act you’re putting on.

With a flick of his finger, the second hidden buckle of the jade belt was undone. The soft fabric, no longer constrained, cascaded open. The entire white jade belt was now hanging precariously from his waist, held only by the last jade hook.

Wei Zhao smiled gently, “Will Your Highness hand over the poison yourself, or will this subject have to search for it slowly?”

The youth’s eyes flickered slightly.

An invisible murderous aura spread through the confined space.

Just as Wei Zhao thought the little wolf cub in his arms was finally going to submit, the youth suddenly closed his eyes, his eyelashes trembling. With a “what’s done is done” attitude, as if he were both frightened and trying to maintain a brave front, he said, “Since the Marquis is convinced that this Prince is the culprit, then so be it.”

“This Prince has committed many evil deeds, one more won’t make a difference.”

“Hmph!”

…

Hmph… Hmph?!

This unreasonable attitude caught Wei Zhao off guard and made him want to laugh.

Wei Zhao smiled silently. No matter how fierce or ruthless, he was still just a fledgling cub who knew fear. If he hadn’t witnessed the future coldness and brutality of this little wolf cub, he probably wouldn’t have been able to be so ruthless.

Thinking this, Wei Zhao steeled his heart again. “Then please tell this subject in detail the process of poisoning. What poison was used? When was it administered? Where was the poison hidden? Were there any other accomplices? And most importantly—what was the motive for poisoning?”

He knew that if he didn’t take advantage of this opportunity to find solid evidence, this cunning little wolf cub would have countless ways to exonerate himself and then launch a fierce counterattack.

His blood surged, fiercely assaulting his remaining rationality. Fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his back. This was… a sign that it was about to flare up again. The youth shifted uncomfortably, bit his lip, and suddenly said irritably, “This Prince has forgotten. The Marquis can just use this Prince to close the case. This Prince… wants to return to the residence.”

“This Prince… wants to return to the residence…”

The youth repeated through gritted teeth. His heated breath lingered on Wei Zhao’s neck, causing a tingling sensation.

He had to change into a clean inner garment immediately. He absolutely could not lose his composure in front of Wei Zhao.

Wei Zhao once again keenly noticed that both the little Crown Prince’s body and emotions had undergone even more subtle changes.

The scent of the youth’s unique fresh fragrance mixed with the smell of alcohol permeated the air, gradually seeping into his nostrils. If one were to carefully discern, they would find that hidden beneath these two scents was another, less noticeable scent.

It was like a mixture of wine and a certain floral fragrance.

Wei Zhao finally fixed his gaze on the blue brocade fabric on the youth’s chest, which was damp with wine.

That was…

Wei Zhao frowned slightly. Just as he was about to make a judgment, he heard a “thud.” The soft body he had trapped in his arms suddenly slumped down without warning.

***

“What? His Highness, the Crown Prince, was also poisoned? And with the same poison as the First Prince?”

The guests, who had just been searched and were gathered in the hall complaining about the rudeness of the soldiers brought back by the Marquis of Dingbei, were about to lose their minds when they heard this news.

Although they dreamed of removing that former Crown Prince from the position of heir apparent, it was definitely not in this way, where they were burning themselves in the process.

Which brainless idiot was so impatient!

“What do we do now? We really can’t explain ourselves no matter how hard we try.”

The situation was spiraling further and further out of control. Even the Second Prince, Mu Xiao, sat in his seat with a dark expression, not saying a word. The Fourth and Fifth Princes were also huddled together like drenched birds, looking at each other and then at the others.

One bold individual couldn’t resist and made a throat-slitting gesture with his hand, tentatively asking, “Marquis of Dingbei, could it be that you…”

After all, everyone in the Great Mu Dynasty knew that you and the Crown Prince have a grudge. It would make perfect sense if you took advantage of the search to seek revenge. Yes, it made perfect sense.

“Nonsense!”

Wei Hong, who had been accompanying the unconscious Mu Jue in the inner hall, now emerged. He first sternly rebuked the Ministry of Works official who was spouting nonsense, then asked Wei Zhao in a cold tone, “Since His Majesty has entrusted the case to you, what do you plan to do next?”

The tone was clearly accusatory.

Wei Zhao was used to it. He didn’t answer Wei Hong immediately. Instead, he clapped his hands towards the outside. Two eunuchs in green robes entered, each wearing a wooden tag engraved with the character “Cheng” on their waists.

“These two are the eunuchs who serve His Majesty closely in Chengqing Hall. I specifically asked Chief Eunuch Wang to leave them behind.”

Wei Zhao met Wei Hong’s gaze, “Next, these two eunuchs will search this Marquis and Grand Secretary Wei. After our innocence is proven, this nephew, as the chief investigator, can continue his duties. This will prevent anyone from suspecting that this nephew is abusing his power for personal gain and deliberately harming the Crown Prince.”

The Ministry of Works official who had been rebuked by Wei Hong immediately shrank back in fear.

All the guests attending the banquet today, including the Crown Prince and the other princes, had been searched, except for the First Prince’s mentor, Wei Hong, who had been in the inner hall the whole time. Everyone refrained from saying anything due to Wei Hong’s status as the head of the Grand Secretariat, but they were indeed dissatisfied. Now that Wei Zhao had taken the initiative, everyone admired his methods.

They had long heard that these two, uncle and nephew, were at odds, and treated each other like enemies when they met. Now it seemed that the rumors were indeed true.

Everyone thought that Wei Hong would lose his temper on the spot. Unexpectedly, he merely said with a stern face, “It is only proper.” Without even looking at Wei Zhao, he straightened his robe and followed the eunuchs to a nearby room. About an incense stick’s worth of time later, the two eunuchs reappeared in the hall and announced the results of the search: “No poison was found on the Marquis of Dingbei or Grand Secretary Wei.”

“Now can you tell us what to do!”

Wei Hong adjusted his robe, entered the hall, and continued to question Wei Zhao in a deep voice.

This was the question that everyone present was concerned about. For a moment, dozens of gazes were fixed on Wei Zhao, who followed behind.

Wei Zhao quickly fastened his bracers and smiled loosely, “This Marquis will send people to escort everyone back to their residences. Until the case is cleared up, everyone should stay at home and not go anywhere.”

In other words, everyone was to return to their own homes and be under house arrest.

That official from the Ministry of Works, Li Chun, wanted to say something, but his colleague quickly gave him a look to shut up.

Be content with what you have. We’re lucky. It is said that there weren’t enough imperial physicians, so the Crown Prince was taken directly to the Marquis of Dingbei’s residence on the next street for treatment. Whether he can be cured is another matter, but he definitely won’t come out unscathed. Just thinking about it is quite tragic.