Lin Qingge, feeling that something was amiss, struggled to stand up.
She wanted to leave this troublesome place, but her curiosity drew her closer to the bed.
The Eastern Ying envoy's attire worn by the person on the bed and the familiar mask stunned Lin Qingge.
What she found even more unbelievable was the gaping bloody wound on the person's chest.
Good heavens.
This person must be thoroughly chilled, no wonder there was no rise and fall of the chest.
If she wasn't mistaken, the wound on the deceased's chest looked like a fatal blow from a sharp weapon like a dagger.
Wait!
A dagger?
Lin Qingge, her head spinning, strained her neck to look at her hands.
She felt completely awful…
What was even worse was hearing footsteps outside the door.
And judging by the sparse sounds, there seemed to be quite a few people approaching.
In a flash, Lin Qingge made her choice between waiting to be caught and fleeing.
She didn't possess the peerless Qinggong of Ye Shenxiao.
Moreover, since someone had clearly set a trap for her, they must have made thorough preparations.
If she left now, she would not only be branded as a fugitive fleeing from justice, but she would likely be apprehended not long after.
Therefore, she could only try her best to turn the unfavorable situation around.
With this thought, Lin Qingge thrust the dagger in her hand into the hand of the deceased on the bed.
Next, she used a handkerchief found on the deceased to wipe away the bloodstains on her hands and the floor, then tucked the bloodied handkerchief into her boot.
Having done this, she hastily lay back down in her previous position.
Closing her eyes, she feigned unconsciousness.
"It's here, this servant just heard a scream from this direction!"
The next moment, the room door was shoved open forcefully from the outside.
Soon, a startled scream from a woman rang out:
"Ah—!!!
N-no, this is bad!
Someone's dead!"
Lin Qingge, in sync with the scream, pretended to stir and wake up.
"Strange, why am I here?"
"Lord Lin, this Prime Minister is also very curious as to why you are here."
Prime Minister Shangguan, walking ahead, asked the still-shocked maidservant beside him, "Who is resting in this room?"
"Replying to Prime Minister Shangguan, it is the Crown Prince of the Eastern Ying country."
"You scoundrel Lin Jingxing, how dare you attempt to murder the Crown Prince of Eastern Ying!
Guards, seize this murderer of the Eastern Ying Crown Prince, Lin Jingxing, for this Prime Minister!"
"Wait a moment!"
Lin Qingge said as she got up from the floor, "Prime Minister Shangguan, you are being too hasty in branding me a murderer without verifying the identity of the deceased or examining the scene.
Furthermore, I was drugged with a迷烟 (mí yān - soporific smoke) on my way to find my sister, and when I opened my eyes, I was already here.
Tell me, how could someone who was unconscious have committed murder?
Moreover, as everyone saw at the banquet earlier, the Eastern Ying Crown Prince was highly skilled in martial arts, while I am merely a weak scholar with no strength to even tie a chicken.
How could I possibly have killed the Eastern Ying Crown Prince with a single strike?
Additionally, if I were truly the murderer, upon pulling the dagger from the Eastern Ying Crown Prince's chest, I would inevitably be splashed with blood.
Yet, I am not only free of bloodstains, but I don't even have the murder weapon.
In conclusion, the murderer of the Eastern Ying Crown Prince is definitely not me, but someone else!"
"Hmph, utter nonsense!
In this Prime Minister's opinion, you clearly committed the act and, finding nowhere to hide, feigned unconsciousness to cover your tracks!"
"Prime Minister Shangguan, the bloodstains on the deceased's chest have already congealed into a dark red hue, indicating that the deceased has been dead for at least the time it takes an incense stick to burn.
With that amount of time, I can confidently say that it would have been more than enough for me to not only leave the palace but at the very least leave this room and clear myself of suspicion."
However, no matter how many doubts Lin Qingge raised, Prime Minister Shangguan stubbornly reiterated in a loud voice:
"Complete fabrication!
Guards, seize this murderer Lin Jingxing for this Prime Minister!"
"I'd like to see who dares?!"
A cold and piercing female voice echoed from the doorway.
Hearing the familiar voice, Lin Qingge looked towards the source with delighted surprise.
Upon seeing the face that was almost identical to his memory, a hint of disgust flashed in Prime Minister Shangguan's eyes. He made a perfunctory gesture of cupping his hands in greeting and said,
"So it is the Empress.
However, the imperial harem has always been forbidden from interfering in political affairs. If the Empress intends to obstruct this matter, it might be in violation of the ancestral teachings of the Great Xia Kingdom, wouldn't you agree?"
"Then, if I personally inquire into this matter, would that also be a violation of the Great Xia Kingdom's ancestral teachings?"
"Your Majesty?!"
As if surprised by the Emperor's appearance, Prime Minister Shangguan clearly faltered, and his tone softened slightly.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Lin Jingxing murdered the Eastern Ying Crown Prince. The evidence and witnesses are all present. I humbly request Your Majesty to order his immediate execution, so as to provide an explanation to the Eastern Ying delegation."
"How many times have I said it, this humble official is innocent! How can there be both evidence and witnesses?
May I ask Prime Minister Shangguan, with which eye did you see me kill that person?
And for what reason would I, of all people, kill the Eastern Ying Crown Prince?"
"Hmph, this Eastern Ying Crown Prince proposed marriage to your sister at the banquet earlier. You were upset and followed him here, and then killed him."
Upon hearing this, Lin Qingge was so amused she almost laughed:
"If we were to follow Prime Minister Shangguan's logic, I have long found Prime Minister Shangguan disagreeable. Wouldn't that mean Prime Minister Shangguan has been killed by me countless times already?"
"Quibbling!"
"It's merely the death of an Eastern Ying dog, why make such a fuss?"
Upon hearing Leng Ningyue's words, Prime Minister Shangguan retorted without hesitation:
"Hmph, womanly benevolence!
This matter concerns diplomatic relations between two countries, how can it be dismissed with a single sentence?"
Leng Ningyue did not look at Prime Minister Shangguan, but coldly scanned the surroundings, "Are all those who are aware of this matter present here?"
Not receiving an answer, Leng Ningyue continued:
"Since the matter cannot be resolved peacefully, let us simply erase it completely."
With that, she removed a hairpin from her hair.
Prime Minister Shangguan, feeling a chill from the soles of his feet rush straight to the crown of his head, couldn't help but shout:
"Shangguan Wan'er! What is that look in your eyes?
This Prime Minister is your father, do you intend to commit patricide?"
"Shangguan Hong, no matter what you have done to me and my mother in the past, I can let it go. But you made a mistake by targeting someone you shouldn't have!
I used to regard you as if you were dead, but now you can truly die!"
After saying this, Leng Ningyue slowly raised her hand, but was stopped by Lin Qingge.
"Um, Empress, please remain calm, remain calm."
Knowing that her Sister Ningyue was not joking but genuinely intended to kill everyone present to silence them, Lin Qingge earnestly advised her, while a sense of indescribable emotion welled up in her heart.
Even if her Sister Ningyue were to stand against the entire world, she would undoubtedly stand firmly by her side.
"Ahem—"
The new Emperor cupped his hand into a fist and placed it by his lips, clearing his throat twice to forcefully assert his presence.
Seeing everyone look at him, he finally spoke with a stern face:
"Although Lin Jingxing is suspected, there are still many suspicious aspects to the scene.
Prime Minister Shangguan, you are advanced in age, and it is not advisable to overexert yourself.
Guards, go and summon Prime Minister Feng."
Before long, a figure dressed in crimson rushed in from the doorway.
However, it was not Feng Qingchen who arrived, but Yan Tinghao, who looked extremely anxious.
"My lord, they say you killed the Eastern Ying Crown Prince?"
"Constable Yan, wait a moment, there is blood in this room."
Lin Qingge, remembering this simpleton's hemophobia, hastily tried to stop him, but Yan Tinghao nonchalantly shook his head.
"My lord, what time is it? A little bloodstain is nothing… *Gag*… *Gag*…"
Yan Tinghao, who had been indulging in the feast earlier, promptly vomited all the delicious food he had consumed onto Prime Minister Shangguan beside him.