Chapter 448 - 446: Consort Fang’s Dilemma (Part 2)

Chapter 448: Chapter 446: Consort Fang’s Dilemma (Part 2)

Because the fire at the nearby Full Moon Building hadn’t been completely extinguished, the scene was filled with a strong smell of smoke, and since those two government officials had been standing at a distance from the crowd, nobody noticed the stench of rot from the two heads.

Now the two heads appeared before their eyes, and the nauseating, overpowering smell spread out.

Everyone almost simultaneously covered their noses and mouths, taking a step back.

Xu Jing glanced at Sanye, whose face was on the verge of collapse, and said calmly, "You cannot claim not to know from where we found these two heads, right? Initially, the consort hid them on her belly. Since she was in a separate carriage, and fresh heads only have a bloody smell without much else, she wrapped them tightly in cloth and used a large amount of perfume to mask the scent, making it hard for others to discover.

Furthermore, worried that the blood might stain and reveal something, the consort wore very bright dresses during those days.

After all, who would suspect that a pregnant woman would blatantly hide a head on herself?

Then, after the main group set off, Consort Fang seized the opportunity at a remote location, saying she needed to use the restroom."

In such a wilderness, even the emperor can only solve his needs on the spot.

Even if General Han sent someone to accompany Consort Fang, since she is a woman, the guards could only wait at a distance.

Consort Fang took advantage of that moment to dispose of the heads nearby and then returned to the group as if nothing had happened.

Xu Jing chuckled lightly and said, "We asked the guards who were responsible for watching over Consort Fang, and they told us where she had said she needed to relieve herself. Then, Governor Zhang sent people to search each location, and it didn’t take much effort to find the two heads.

The guards who were around the consort said that only the consort ever went to those places where she relieved herself, and no one else!

Who else could have had the opportunity to dispose of the heads there but you, Consort Fang?"

Seeing Consort Fang completely lose her composure, collapsing onto Sanye, Xu Jing continued, "Though the heads are no longer with you, a shadow remains in your heart, so you still habitually use very strong perfume, and you stopped wearing bright dresses because this time, it was Princess Ling who died, not just a common servant. Wearing such bright clothes would be inappropriate!

Yesterday, you told us you genuinely didn’t want anyone else to be harmed, and I believe you, because deep down, you’re terrified, wondering when you’ll be forced to hide another head!"

Everyone looked in disbelief at Consort Fang and her servant.

With evidence and testimony at hand, no matter how unbelievable, no one doubted its truth anymore.

Nanny Lu, with a suddenly grim face, exclaimed sharply, "What the hell is going on here? Consort Fang, did you orchestrate these murders yourself?"

"No! I didn’t! I... I did nothing!"

Consort Fang seemed cornered, finally crying out, "I did take those two heads, but I did nothing else!

I... I was forced!"

Seeing her finally admit it, Xu Jing said, "Consort Fang, at this stage, it’s in your best interest to come clean about everything."

Consort Fang naturally realized this too.

She bit her lip hard, tears streaming down her face, and said, "All these things... someone was threatening me to do them, but... but I don’t know who that person is.

I would occasionally find a note in my room, my carriage, or even my food box, instructing me what to do and how to do it."

Beside her, Sanye, realizing they couldn’t keep it hidden anymore, quickly pulled several folded notes from her sleeve pocket and handed them to Xu Jing, "Yes, we... we really knew nothing. These were things we were forced to do, and these... these are the notes the consort received..."

Xu Jing took the notes from Sanye and saw there were three. The first instructed Consort Fang to go to the two murdered maids’ room in the morning and hide the heads on the table in her belly before finding an opportunity to dispose of them.

The content of the second note was similar to the first.

The last one should be the one received before Princess Ling incident occurred.

The content was somewhat peculiar, simply instructing Consort Fang to visit Princess Ling’s room after dinner that night and stay for at least the time it took to brew a cup of tea.

Consort Fang cried as she explained, "That day, when I went to Princess Ling’s room, they... they were already dead! I was terrified but didn’t dare leave immediately. I had to stay in the room for the time specified on the note before leaving.

Fortunately, that time, the killer didn’t force me to hide the heads again, or else... or else I would have completely broken down..."

Xu Jing handed the notes to the approaching Governor Zhang and asked, "If these notes are real, why did you comply with the killer’s demands? Consort Fang, do you know such behavior is considered an accessory to the crime under the laws of Great Chu?"

Nanny Lu seemed quite annoyed, gritting her teeth, "Oh, come off it with the threat nonsense! Who knows if you’re actually the murderer and just trying to divert our attention!"

Consort Fang shook violently, desperately shaking her head, "No, I really didn’t kill anyone! The reason I followed the killer’s instructions is because... because..."

Consort Fang paused, suddenly closing her eyes in agony, "The killer knows a secret about me. I was pregnant before, but the child... wasn’t Prince Ling’s..."

Beside her, Sanye couldn’t help but exclaim, "Oh, Consort!"

However, despite usually appearing delicate, Consort Fang was resolute in critical matters. She waved her hand to silence Sanye, choking with sobs as she continued, "Before marrying into the Prince Mansion, I discovered I was pregnant. What could I do? I could only brace myself and marry, pretending that the child was Prince Ling’s.

But the child was prematurely born in the eighth month. Afraid others would notice something was wrong, I hid the child and pretended I was still pregnant. But soon after, courtiers came, saying we were to be taken to the Western Capital...

The night before leaving Qi State, I found a letter in my room. The letter... revealed all my secrets and said that if I didn’t want them to be publicly known, I had to do as instructed..."

The exposure of this matter would be nothing short of ruinous for her life, but compared to being framed as a murderer, especially for killing Princess Ling and Prince Ling, it seemed a lesser issue now.

So it was, so it was!

Though shocked, all present were trusted aides of General Han and Governor Zhang. Xu Jing had gathered everyone earlier and had Governor Zhang clear the scene, allowing them to remain composed.

But if Consort Fang wasn’t lying, who then, was the murderer instructing her?!

Xu Jing suddenly raised her gaze towards Consort Fang and asked, "If that’s the case, why did you later say Princess Ling was in a good mood that day because she was returning to the Western Capital to see her family? I don’t see that mentioned in the notes."

Consort Fang paused, "Because... I heard when Governor Zhang interrogated Dongyang and Nanny Lu, that’s what they said, so I just repeated their words..."

Governor Zhang originally interrogated them one by one, leaving Consort Fang for last, due to her noble status.

Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but cast suspicious glances at Dongyang.

Dongyang had gone in before Consort Fang.

If Consort Fang found Princess Ling and her attendants dead when she entered, the person responsible could only have been someone who entered before her.

Dongyang seemed flustered under the scrutiny, but Nanny Lu grimly stated, "What are you looking at Dongyang for?! Do you think Dongyang’s the murderer? I’ve watched Dongyang grow up, and I don’t believe she’d kill.

Actually, there’s something... I lied about. The day I entered Princess Ling’s room, she and her attendants were already dead... I truly believe Consort Fang is the murderer!"

Consort Fang’s eyes widened in panic, "I didn’t! Don’t slander me with false accusations!"