Chapter 1617: The Dead Cannot Give Witness! (1/2)

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

”When did this happen?” Wang Chong sternly said.

”It was probably last night. When she was discovered by her maids, she had already committed suicide by hanging herself from a rafter. Shuhua Palace is already covered in white streamers and the burial preparations are being made. I only recently learned of this matter from my younger sister,” Yang Zhao said.

The younger sister Yang Zhao spoke of was naturally Consort Taizhen.

The Fifth Prince was involved in a royal scandal, and no matter what dynasty it had taken place in, it would have been vigorously suppressed. Not even the eunuchs in the Fifth Prince's residence knew the details. But Consort Taizhen had a special status, and this status meant that there was practically nothing in the harem that could escape her grip.

This was why Wang Chong had gotten in touch with Yang Zhao before coming.

Consort Taizhen was one of the people closest to the truth in a secretive place like the palace.

The carriage fell silent. Yang Zhao silently watched as Wang Chong closed his eyes and began to digest this shocking news. The Fifth Prince and Wang Chong had always been close, and now that Jade Consort Xiao had died, another crime had been added to Li Heng's record.

Wang Chong's investigation had also been placed in a dire state.

After a few moments of silence, Wang Chong asked, ”Just how was the matter between Jade Consort Xiao and the Fifth Prince discovered in the first place?”

Princes and consorts had special statuses, and even if they occasionally interacted, they would normally keep their distance. As for private affairs, they would be incredibly secretive and carry it out away from the sight of others, so such matters were not easily exposed. Wang Chong found the whole matter very suspicious, but the Fifth Prince's people only knew the end result and nothing about the details.

”You've asked the right person,” Yang Zhao said. ”This matter is a royal scandal, so everything has been concealed. Outsiders know nothing except that the affair happened, but I managed to learn the whole story from a few eunuchs who worked with Jade Consort Xiao.

”There's been all sorts of gossip regarding Jade Consort Xiao for some time, and there are even claims that they were seen, but no one took them seriously. But not long ago, a private letter was obtained from Jade Consort Xiao, apparently found on the clothes of one of her personal maids. Although many of the words had been washed away while in the laundry, it was still possible to make out a few scandalous phrases.

”This is a major taboo in the palace, and the Imperial Clan Court was immediately mobilized. They believed that it was Jade Consort Xiao's maid who had a relationship with someone and had inadvertently left a personal love letter in her clothes, but the maid said that this wasn't her letter, and that Jade Consort Xiao had even more of them. A consort was now involved, and the Imperial Clan Court did not dare to be negligent and immediately investigated.

”In the entire process, the Imperial Clan Court treated Jade Consort Xiao with utmost respect. After all, if they made a mistake, the Imperial Clan Court would be taking the blame. But to their surprise, they found a secret box in Jade Consort Xiao's bedroom, and they found within a personal jade token that the Fifth Prince had never shown to anyone else.”

”Jade token?”

Wang Chong trembled in shock and looked over.

”Mm! Besides the jade token, there was also a love letter personally written by the Fifth Prince.”

Yang Zhao sternly nodded and continued his story.

”When these two objects were discovered, everyone was dumbfounded. When I heard the news, I was also stunned. But the jade token was authentic. It was left behind by the Fifth Prince's mother, and I've gathered that no ordinary person could forge it.”

”How could this be?!”

Wang Chong's mind was in turmoil. He had naturally seen this jade token, and just like Yang Zhao had said, it never left the Fifth Prince's side. He had never imagined that it would be crucial evidence in this incident.

”…After that, the Imperial Clan Court harshly interrogated Jade Consort Xiao's maids, and they finally admitted the truth. And a keepsake from Jade Consort Xiao was also found in the Fifth Prince's residence, apparently a handkerchief that she had personally woven. The case was settled by then, causing a major stir. But Jade Consort Xiao's sudden suicide for fear of punishment last night still left many people shocked. Although the palace has tried its best to cut off the news, all sorts of rumors have gotten out. It probably won't be long until the entire matter gets out,” Yang Zhao gravely said.

The mood in the carriage was still and oppressive.

Wang Chong's heart was heavy.

Affairs in the harem were a major taboo!

A Prince having an affair in the harem was already enough to get him the death penalty.

And even worse was that, according to Yang Zhao, the Fifth Prince and Jade Consort Xiao had been privately meeting, and they had even been seen. Even though Yang Zhao said that these were rumors that no one believed, given what had happened, Wang Chong felt that there was an eighty to ninety percent chance that they were true.

But the truth was probably not what those witnesses had imagined.

With witnesses and physical evidence in Li Heng's token and love letter, the Fifth Prince would find it hard to clear his name.

And the death of Jade Consort Xiao was the final blow to Li Heng's case. The dead could not give witness.