Capítulo 757: Chapter 757: Revealing the Truth Hearing Princess Consort Yu’s words, Leng Yu Yan couldn’t help but shake her head. This moment was crucial for bringing Baili Wenyi and the Imperial Concubine to justice, and she really didn’t have the spare time to explain her relationship with Xiaoshan. Leng Yu Yan shifted her gaze back to the Imperial Concubine, her expression solemn, “Care to guess what we found in the foundation of the Prince’s Mansion?” The Imperial Concubine, startled by her words, thought for a moment. Those people had been dead for too long, and she didn’t believe that the girl in front of her could discover anything significant, so she spoke harshly, “Speak if you wish to speak. Even though I’ve been sent to the cold palace, the Emperor hasn’t punished me yet. Do you, a person from a neighboring country, really think you can interrupt the official proceedings of the Nandian Royal Family?” “Emperor Nandian, esteemed ministers, since yesterday afternoon, I, along with Prince Zhengrong from your country, have been investigating the Prince’s Mansion.” Leng Yu Yan then turned and bowed to Baili Shuo, immediately clasping her fists and looking around. “The Prince’s Mansion has been neglected for many years. Apart from the dilapidated buildings, due to Nandian’s southern geographical location causing a musty smell in the furniture and buildings, there are two suspicious points. One is that the vegetation inside the Prince’s Mansion grows overly robust, and another, more crucial one, is the faint smell of corpses inside.” Upon hearing this, many ministers puzzled, “A smell of corpses? What could be the cause?” Baili Zhengrong said, “Upon detecting such an unusual odor, we immediately dug up the area of the Prince’s Mansion to a depth of three feet and indeed made a significant discovery.” A minister stepped forward and said, “Prince Zhengrong, Princess Tiancheng, please speak plainly!” “In the foundation of the building, the empty grounds, and beneath the flowerbeds of the Prince’s Mansion, we found human skeletons. What surprised me the most was that most of the flesh was not decayed, and the clothes they wore were not damaged. It’s precisely because so many corpses were buried underneath the Prince’s Mansion that the vegetation above flourishes so unusually,” Leng Yu Yan said gravely, then asked, “Can you guess where these people came from?” Suddenly, the hall erupted in discussions. Leng Yu Yan spoke sternly, “In recent days, I’ve inquired among the older palace maids and eunuchs in the palace. Although they don’t know the true cause of the princes’ premature deaths, they did mention that, not only did the princes die young, but many eunuchs and palace maids mysteriously disappeared prior to that. Now it appears that these individuals didn’t vanish but were poisoned by the Imperial Concubine, and they were wearing the exact garments of palace maids and eunuchs.” “Nonsense!” the Imperial Concubine retorted fiercely, “What evidence do you have that I poisoned those people? Even if I did, burying them under the foundation of the Prince’s Mansion, how is that related to the princes’ premature deaths?” A cold glint appeared in Leng Yu Yan’s eyes as she spoke gravely, “Don’t be impatient, just listen to me slowly. There exists a poison that when reacting with the human body, can exert its maximum toxicity. Not only that, but this poison also has a preservative effect, thus allowing the corpses to remain undestroyed for a long duration. This poison causes relatively minor harm to adults but is particularly harmful to children.” She paced slowly in the hall, gradually revealing the Imperial Concubine’s plots— “Eighteen years ago, shortly after giving birth to Baili Wenyi, severe childbirth injuries rendered the Imperial Concubine incapable of having more children. Since then, she began plotting to ensure the Nandian throne fell to her daughter. This might explain why Baili Wenyi has considerable insights in civil and military strategies and in state governance, for she was nurtured by the Imperial Concubine as the successor to the Nandian throne.” “At that time, the Nandian Emperor already had several princes. The Imperial Concubine suggested imitating Tiansheng by constructing a mansion for princes, allowing princes reaching the age of enlightenment to reside there, thus cultivating the future heirs of Nandian.” “During the initial construction phase, the Imperial Concubine poisoned many palace maids and eunuchs and used their corpses as containers for the poison, burying them underneath the Prince’s Mansion during its construction.” “Ever since then, all princes who resided in the Prince’s Mansion successively died young, and the cause lay there!” “The toxins produced from the corpses being used as containers for the poison killed many young princes. This form of poisoning left no traceable evidence on the princes’ bodies, which marked the cleverness of the Imperial Concubine’s plan.” “That container could function over a long period of time underground at the Prince’s Mansion, and no matter how many children Emperor Nandian would eventually have, once they moved into this residence, the consequence would be the same.” Upon saying this, Leng Yu Yan sharply turned around and glared at the Imperial Concubine, “As for evidence, the most direct proof is the poison found within your chambers.” At this point, Baili Zhengrong commanded the Imperial Physician to step forward. Holding a vial, the Imperial Physician bowed and reported, “Emperor, this poison was indeed found inside the Imperial Concubine’s palace, and its toxicity matches what Princess Tiancheng described. We also found this poison in the bodies of the deceased.” Baili Shuo harshly shouted, “What more do you have to say, you poisonous woman?” Baili Wenyi kept kowtowing continuously, “Father Emperor, mother couldn’t even bear to step on an ant on normal days, how could she poison so many eunuchs and palace maids to harm the princes? Please, Father Emperor, investigate thoroughly, there must be some other conspiracy involved!” The Imperial Concubine, realizing her situation was dire, resignedly straightened up and scolded Baili Wenyi, “It’s all because of you, if you had been born a boy, why would I need to scheme so hard!” Baili Wenyi was shocked; her mother, who had cared for her in every possible way, actually resented her for not being a son! A cold sneer rose in Leng Yu Yan’s heart, the Imperial Concubine said this to protect Baili Wenyi and tried to extricate her completely. With that in mind, she spoke lightly, “Does the Imperial Concubine wish to save Princess Wenyi? The buried bodies at the Prince’s Mansion are unrelated to her, but the subsequent assassinations of many princes were all orchestrated by Baili Wenyi.” Realizing the depth of her mother’s love from Leng Yu Yan’s words, Baili Wenyi was moved. Like today, she outwardly told the Father Emperor that she wanted to persuade her mother to confess her past misdeeds, but her real intention was to meet her mother in the cold palace. As for making her mother confess, she could simply declare afterwards that her mother had only suffered and never harmed anyone. What she hadn’t expected was Leng Yu Yan’s swift actions, even sensing what others couldn’t and knowing clearly the poison her mother habitually used. The Imperial Concubine kowtowed violently towards Baili Shuo, “When the event happened, Wenyi was so young, and even if there were assassinations of other princes afterwards, it was all my doing. The responsibility for these deeds lies solely with me, and has nothing to do with Wenyi! I implore the Emperor to treat Wenyi well, and not let my actions ruin her entire life!” Leng Yu Yan applauded, “The Imperial Concubine is wise and smart, taking all the blame upon herself to protect Baili Wenyi.” Baili Wenyi demanded angrily, “You say so much, but what evidence do you have that proves I killed my own brothers?” Right then, Ye Yiheng arrived with his men. The guards from Tiansheng East Palace dragged in a line of people with their arms bound behind their backs, tied with a hemp rope like a string of grasshoppers, and led them into the hall. Seeing these people, Baili Wenyi’s eyes widened in shock. These people were the ministers she had met with the previous night. Ye Yiheng said indifferently, “Emperor Nandian, these are key figures from the Imperial Concubine’s faction. I believe that after rigorous interrogation, we will obtain substantial findings.” Startled, Baili Wenyi leapt to her feet and rushed towards Ye Yiheng, “I have already returned to the palace as you said. Why do you treat me this way?”