Chapter 1620: Eunuch Yins Threat! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
In another world, Wang Chong had heard all sorts of rumors about what went on in the palace. As an outside official, it was not his place to interfere in the palace's affairs, but he couldn't just ignore what was going on right in front of him.
”Heheh, that's exactly your style. Relax; the Great Tang's King of Foreign Lands has spoken, so they naturally won't have bad lots in life. Just leave everything to me.”
The two of them soon entered Shuhua Palace.
The main hall was mostly empty, with many objects having already been moved out. Upon entering, the two immediately spotted the golden coffin in the center of the hall. The coffin was made from Phoebe Zhennan wood and was covered in carvings of vermillion birds that indicated the esteemed status of its occupant.
Maids and eunuchs were kneeling in front of the coffin, dressed in white mourning clothes as they bitterly wept.
Wang Chong could only sigh as he looked at the coffin.
In every dynasty, the War of the Princes was always the cruelest of affairs, and in this struggle, Jade Consort Xiao had ended up as an innocent sacrifice.
Wang Chong walked over, lit two sticks of incense, bowed, and then placed the incense sticks in the burner in front of the coffin.
After doing all this, Wang Chong questioned some maids about the events of that day, but these maids basically knew nothing.
Wang Chong then looked through Shuhua Palace, which had a simple elegance that set it apart from the other palaces. And there was a faint scent of incense in the air that came from burning incense for so long that the smell seeped into the surroundings. It was calming.
On the bookshelves were Buddhist texts like the 'Diamond Sutra' and the 'Ksitigarbhasutra'.
Other than that, Wang Chong also found an incense burner and a shrine consecrated to the Buddha. The sight of these things made Wang Chong even more certain that Jade Consort Xiao was that person who had become detached from life, abstaining from meat and chanting sutras. Someone of her personality was even more unlikely to have an affair with the Fifth Prince.
A maid recognized Yang Zhao and immediately began to tearfully plead Jade Consort Xiao's case. ”Her Highness never argued with anyone in the palace. She spent every day chanting sutras and abstaining from meat, regarding relationships between men and women with extreme indifference. How could she have a secret love affair with the Fifth Prince? There must be some misunderstanding!”
The two couldn't help but feel grief upon seeing this display.
”Let's go!”
Wang Chong raised his head and mentally sighed, and then he left Shuhua Palace with Yang Zhao.
”What do we do now?”
In the carriage, Yang Zhao turned to Wang Chong.
They couldn't get into the Imperial Clan Court, and Jade Consort Xiao's palace had turned up nothing. Their investigation was at a standstill and Yang Zhao didn't know what to do.
”There's no need to worry. While heaven's net has a wide mesh, nothing can escape it! There must be clues within the inner palace!”
Wang Chong had an unprecedented resolve in his eyes. After visiting Shuhua Palace and seeing what sort of person Jade Consort Xiao was, he had become even more determined to investigate this matter, not just for the Fifth Prince, but for Jade Consort Xiao as well.
The two fell silent as the carriage rolled forward, but suddenly, a voice came from up ahead.
”Is this the King of Foreign Lands?”
It was a hoarse and elderly voice, like two zither strings being rubbed together. Neeeigh! The two horses drawing the carriage cried out in fright and came to a sudden halt.
”Hmph!”
Wang Chong coldly laughed as if he had sensed something. He exited the carriage, followed by a confused Yang Zhao.
But after a momentary daze, Yang Zhao realized who had stopped the carriage and instantly paled, his pupils constricting into pinpricks.
Eunuch Yin!
Yang Zhao was a prolific socializer and had gotten to know almost everyone in the palace. He had instantly recognized this eunuch who followed the First Prince like his shadow.
Yang Zhao had met him several times and had always known him to be an extremely taciturn man. Like ice that had been frozen for ten thousand years, he was always hidden in the darkness.
If there was one eunuch in the palace that Yang Zhao didn't want to offend, it was unquestionably Eunuch Yin. To Yang Zhao, this man was a poisonous snake. While his mouth was closed, he made no sound, but when he opened it and bit down, one only had death to look forward to.
More importantly, Eunuch Yin was the First Prince's chief eunuch. For him to appear while the two were running around the palace and investigating the case made the First Prince's intentions all too obvious.