323 Witness

Yu Niaoniao did not know Xiao Juan’s complicated feelings at all. She kicked off her shoes and socks, knelt on the bed, and massaged his back hard.

She worked for a long time before stopping. By then, she was sweating profusely from exhaustion, and her face was flushed.

“Okay, you can turn over.”

Xiao Juan did not move.

Yu Niaoniao reached out and patted his back. “Why aren’t you moving?”

Xiao Juan could not say anything.

After being massaged by Yu Niaoniao just now, he actually felt something uncontrollably. There was a reaction below his abdominal cavity.

If he flipped over now, she would immediately notice his abnormality.

He couldn’t afford to be embarrassed.

Yu Niaoniao looked at her claws and remembered how hard she had exerted just now. She could not help but worry.

“Don’t tell me you suffered internal injuries from my massage?”

Xiao Juan was indeed about to suffer internal injuries.

He replied in a muffled voice, “I’m fine. Go get my clothes.”

“Oh.”

Yu Niaoniao got out of bed, put on her shoes, and went to get his clothes.

While she was gone, Xiao Juan quickly turned around and pulled the blanket over his lower body.

Yu Niaoniao went to wash her hands. When she returned with the clothes, she saw that Xiao Juan had already sat up. She did not think too much about it and handed the clothes over.

Xiao Juan put on his clothes. “It’s getting late. Go to sleep.”

“Yeah.”

Yu Niaoniao got into bed, climbed over Xiao Juan, and lay down inside.

Xiao Juan gave her half of the blanket.

After she covered herself with the blanket, Xiao Juan turned around and blew out the candle on the low bedside cabinet.

The room was enveloped in darkness. Everything returned to silence.

Yu Niaoniao was indeed tired. She closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep.

Xiao Juan could not fall asleep.

His body’s reaction could not subside for a while.

He felt uncomfortable holding it in, so he lifted the blanket and sat up.

Yu Niaoniao woke up. “Where are you going?”

“I’m thirsty. I’m going to get some water.”

Xiao Juan did not light the lamp and got out of bed in the dark.

He walked to the table, picked up the teapot, and gulped down all the cold tea.

The cold tea flowed down his esophagus and into his stomach as it finally suppressed the heat.

He returned to the bed and lay down again.

At this moment, Yu Niaoniao was still sleeping soundly and did not notice the man’s abnormality. When she woke up the next day, she found that there was no one beside her.

Yu Niaoniao was already used to this.

She quickly washed up and went to Mirror House to look for Xiao Juan after breakfast, but she realized that he was not there. After asking, she found out that Xiao Juan had entered the palace early this morning.

Xiao Juan entered the palace to request to open the coffin and perform an autopsy.

But he was too late. Someone entered the palace before him to see the emperor.

This person was Wei Liao of the Sky Wolf Guards. He reported the results of his recent investigation to the emperor.

When Xiao Juan appeared, the old emperor had already heard Wei Liao’s report.

The old emperor did not even look at Xiao Juan. His gray eyes stared at Wei Liao as he asked in a low voice.

“You’re saying that Imperial Concubine Yue died in childbirth because Empress Wen secretly poisoned her?”

Wei Liao replied, “That’s right!”

“This is no small matter. Do you have any real evidence?”

“I have a witness. This person is Empress Wen’s palace maid, Wang Xue.”

The old emperor immediately ordered someone to summon Wang Xue.

Soon, WangXue was brought to the emperor.

She knelt on the ground, her thin body trembling, her eyes filled with fear.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

The old emperor looked down at her as if he was looking down at a small ant that he could crush at any time.

“Tell me everything you know. If you lie, I’ll tear you into pieces!”

Wang Xue trembled even more.

She spoke with difficulty.

“Your Majesty, Her Majesty and Imperial Concubine Yue were pregnant at the same time.

Everyone said that Imperial Concubine Yue’s child was definitely a prince.

At that time, Imperial Concubine Yue was already favored. If she gave birth to a prince, the empress was worried that her status and the fetus in her stomach would be affected.

“So the empress took the risk and asked me to bribe Imperial Concubine Yue’s nanny to secretly poison Imperial Concubine Yue’s daily food.”

The old emperor’s face was dark, and his eyes contained monstrous anger.

He swept the teacup off the table and scolded sternly.

“You bitch! How dare you harm Imperial Concubine Yue and the imperial heir? Men, drag her down and execute her!”

Wang Xue was so frightened that her eyes rolled back and she fainted.

Because his emotions were fluctuating too much, the old emperor felt dizzy and his body swayed twice.

Wei Huai’en stepped forward to support him and quickly took out a pill. He fed it to the old emperor with warm water.

“Your Majesty, please calm down. Don’t let your anger affect your health. This bitch is a very important witness. If she dies, no one will be able to accuse Empress Wen of her crimes. Please spare her life for the time being.”

After the old emperor took the medicine, his breathing gradually stabilized.

He pushed Wei Huai’en away and took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

“Lock Wang Xue up in the Punishment Division and keep her under strict supervision.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Wei Huai’en called over two Imperial Guards and dragged the unconscious Wang Xue down.

The old emperor leaned back in his chair, his expression was unreadable.

It was a long time before anyone heard him speak.

“Call Empress Wen over. I have something to ask her.”

Wei Huai’en knew that this matter was no small matter. He did not ask the young eunuch below to run errands for him. Instead, he personally went to the Fengyi Palace.

The Fengyi Palace was still as cold and cheerless as before.

Empress Wen sat at the head of the table. Her thin and pale face was pale and she was shrouded in a gloomy aura.

She asked Wei Huai’en.

“Why did His Majesty suddenly think of seeing me?”

Wei Huai’en said respectfully, “His Majesty said that he has something very important to ask you in person. Please follow me to his study immediately.”

Empress Wen said, “Since the emperor wants to see me, I’ll go over now.”

The palace maid helped her stand up. Another palace maid took a cloak and put it on her.

“Your Majesty, it’s cold outside. You’re weak. You have to wear more clothes. Don’t fall sick from the cold.”

Empress Wen asked calmly, “You still haven’t found Wang Xue?”

When Wei Huai’en heard Wang Xue’s name, he lowered his head slightly to hide the dark glint in his eyes.

The palace maid shook her head. “Not yet.”

Empress Wen said, “Continue searching. After we find her, tell her to stay in the house and not run around. I have something to tell her when I come back.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The palace maids sent Empress Wen out of the Fengyi Palace.

Empress Wen rode the phoenix carriage to the door of Shang’s study.

Wei Huai’en helped her into the study.

When she entered, she realized that there was someone else in Shang’s study besides the emperor.

Xiao Juan and Wei Liao greeted her.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Empress Wen just glanced at them indifferently.

She pushed Wei Huai En’s hand away and bowed to the old emperor sitting behind the desk.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

The old emperor looked at her steadily with an extremely complicated gaze.