Chapter 777: Another Kill Accomplished
Yu Sangning had seemingly confessed everything she could. Her interactions with Ding Jue ended there. As for why they left the room immediately after entering, it was because both heard noises and feared being implicated, hence their swift departure.
Why this person who looked exactly like His Majesty was in this manor, Yu Sangning had no idea. She truly didn’t know, so there was no need for pretense—her eyes held no evasion.
The Youning Emperor sent people to verify Yu Sangning’s statements, and they largely matched the facts.
The Youning Emperor wanted to hear Xiao Changmin’s defense: "I grant you an opportunity to prove your innocence!"
Prove his innocence! How could it be that easy?
Xiao Changmin already knew he was trapped in an inescapable net, with no room for struggle. The more he struggled, the tighter the bindings would become.
Despite this realization, Xiao Changmin couldn’t just wait for death. Flustered, he didn’t know where to begin and could only blurt out all his suspicions and doubts.
"Your Majesty, I only saw this person today. That day, I truly lost my senses after taking the pill, accidentally causing Lady Yu to miscarry. That drug can bewitch the mind!
After waking, I was still dazed. Upon learning this drug came from Ding Jue and that Lady Yu had private dealings with him, I suspected they were having an affair. I believed Lady Yu used Ding Jue’s drug to harm me, wanting a clean break from our marriage to be with him!
Knowing they had an appointment today, I went specifically to catch them in the act. If I had known about this person, how would I dare to openly bring so many people to expose them?
Your Majesty, Lady Yu is spouting nonsense! She deliberately plotted against me!"
The Youning Emperor gave Xiao Changmin a deep look—a gaze like a vortex in the darkness, seeming to devour one’s very soul.
Whether Yu Sangning and Ding Jue had illicit dealings was easy to investigate. Moreover, everything was a trap set by Ding Jue under orders, with all necessary traces left behind.
Before Yu Sangning’s miscarriage, the two had no prior contact. The drug indeed came from Ding Jue, and how he obtained it was consistent with what he told Yu Sangning. The drug itself only surfaced several days after Xiao Changmin’s divorce...
"Your Majesty, this... this drug is merely an aphrodisiac... it... it cannot cause hallucinations..." Ding Jue stammered in his own defense.
The circulated drug had been altered by Shen Xihe, who modified the prescription, replacing the datura component with other herbs. Thus, it no longer caused hallucinations but was purely an aphrodisiac.
Unless one had senses as sharp as hers, even if both versions were placed before someone like Yu Sangning—who had made the pill—she might not notice the difference in appearance or scent without careful comparison.
The Youning Emperor didn’t need to find experts to verify this; he only had to ask those who had obtained the drug from Ding Jue.
These young nobles moved in the same circles—scions of influential families, even among the esteemed, there were inevitably a few debauched ones. Ding Jue’s Scent pill had gained much favor, with dozens, if not hundreds, of users. With so many insisting it didn’t cause hallucinations, how could Xiao Changmin’s claims hold up?
Therefore, that day, he hadn’t lost his senses at all—he had simply favored his concubine over his wife and harmed Yu Sangning!At this moment, Yu Sangning began weeping and wailing as she pleaded her innocence: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty must uphold justice for your humble servant! How could His Highness slander me like this? His Highness was indulging in pleasure first, while I received news of my father's death afterward. How could I possibly have foreseen that I would receive such tragic news that day? On ordinary occasions when His Highness favored his concubines, have I ever made any fuss?
Since I cannot predict the future, how could I possibly set up a scheme to harm His Highness? His Highness is shifting blame and slandering me. What face do I have to continue living in this world?"
As she spoke, Yu Sangning stood up and rushed toward the palace pillar. Yet the guards in the hall seemed to be under some immobilizing spell—none moved to stop her.
Contrary to expectations, Yu Sangning couldn't hesitate now. Without slowing her steps, she could only gamble with her life!
However, just as she was about to crash into the pillar, something flew out from the shadows and struck her ankle, causing Yu Sangning to stumble sideways. She fell heavily to the ground, missing the pillar entirely.
"What disgraceful behavior!" the Youning Emperor roared angrily. "Are you threatening me?"
Yu Sangning, feeling as if a weight had been lifted, crawled on the ground. Her lips were bleeding, but she had no time to compose herself. She quickly knelt properly: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, your humble servant is incapable of defending myself. I could only use my frail body to prove my innocence. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"
As she spoke, she began sobbing and choking softly.
Here we must mention that although Yu Xiang had taken his own life, he had created the false appearance of being killed by Shen Yungan. Only in this way could he avoid explaining how Shen Yungan obtained the Military Tally and transfer orders.
The Youning Emperor and others were too far away to intervene directly. The matters at Min River were extensively complicated, and local officials with any connections in the court who could obtain information remained tight-lipped. There wasn't even enough time to retrieve the bodies, let alone investigate the true cause of Yu Xiang's death.
Moreover, with the severe storm that day, any evidence that could have been examined had long been submerged.
Thus, in everyone's eyes, Yu Xiang had died an unnatural death during that storm. Before the storm arrived, neither Yu Xiang nor Xiao Changyan could have predicted what would happen next—otherwise, how could they have been so thoroughly defeated?
Therefore, it was absolutely impossible for Yu Xiang to have secretly sent messages back to the Yu residence. The notion that Yu Sangning could have known about her father's death early and set up such a scheme was untenable.
Naturally, Yu Xiang had his own secret methods. Even Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong only speculated after Yu Sangning's miscarriage that Yu Xiang might have secretly sent a message before his death.
Xiao Changmin's defense appeared weak and unconvincing.
"I will be the judge of right and wrong!" the Youning Emperor coldly glanced at Yu Sangning.
Just at that moment, Liu Sanzhi returned and presented the investigation results.
After reading them, the Youning Emperor directly threw them at Xiao Changmin's forehead!
Xiao Changmin repeatedly claimed he had never seen this person, but the pleasure house belonged to him, and someone there had indeed received this guest!
Beneath the pleasure house were secret chambers with traces of people being confined!
Many in the capital had seen His Majesty, since the Emperor often rode from the palace to Hibiscus Garden, and it wasn't strange for commoners to see him. However, women long kept in pleasure houses, who never went out, active only at night, had never laid eyes on the Emperor.
Xiao Huayong simply had this person avoid those who had seen the Emperor and visit the pleasure house for a night of pleasure. This was to verify Ding Jue's testimony and corroborate the authenticity of Ding Jue's subsequent contact with Yu Sangning.
Ironclad evidence was laid before Xiao Changmin, leaving him no room for excuses. Many could see that there was someone else behind this matter—someone who had manipulated Xiao Changmin, Yu Sangning, and Ding Jue like puppets. But what could be done about it?This person merely discovered that Xiao Changmin had been secretly cultivating such an individual with the intent to commit treason, and sought to expose it. As long as it could be proven that this person was indeed groomed by Xiao Changmin, Xiao Changmin's path would come to an end.
The Youning Emperor confined Xiao Changmin to the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs without immediately announcing the punishment. As for Yu Sangning and Ding Jue, they were naturally deemed innocent.
(End of Chapter)
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