Chapter 225: The Death of Jiang Lian

Chapter 225: The Death of Jiang Lian

In the dead of night, Ling Feng braved the wind and snow, racing back to the capital on horseback, delivering the Nanyue jade token to Xiao Lingchuan.

"Your Highness, I intercepted this item from Princess Rui. After confirming, this is exactly what she dug up with her own hands from the lone grave of a Nanyue spy in Xuzhou."

Xiao Lingchuan stared at the jade token in disbelief, instinctively looking for that trace of red within the auspicious grass pattern in the lower right corner—a stain that had seeped into the jade's texture, left by his birth mother's blood.

Sure enough, the red was still there.

It was his mother's jade token!

"This jade token—did Jiang Yaozhen hide it in Xuzhou?"

Ling Feng shook his head. "It didn't seem that way. She wasn't sure exactly where it was buried; she hired several men to dig it out."

Xiao Lingchuan's expression darkened. If Jiang Yaozhen hadn't hidden it, then Jiang Shuning must have hidden it.

That meant that night inside the Southern Shuo camp tent, she had not only witnessed Hua Lian's tragic death but had also obtained this jade token from Hua Lian before that.

So, what exactly did Hua Lian say to Jiang Shuning?

That made her avoid him so relentlessly.

—

Jiang Yaozhen returned to the residence the next day.

The moment she stepped into the inner courtyard, Chun Hua immediately approached and lowered her voice to report: "Your Highness, while you were away earlier, the eldest miss came by. She treated Concubine Jiang's wounds, and yesterday, Concubine Jiang's maid went out and brought back some herbal medicine from the eldest miss."

After hearing this, Jiang Yaozhen let out a faint, almost imperceptible laugh.

"I was just thinking of how to deal with her, and she delivers herself right to my doorstep. Since she's so fond of flaunting her medical skills, I'll help her become 'famous' all over the capital."

She leaned close to Chun Hua and whispered a few instructions.

A hint of ruthlessness flickered in Chun Hua's eyes, and she bowed and withdrew: "Yes, I understand."

That afternoon, Jiang Lian's maid returned from outside the residence, carefully carrying a food container in her hands.

After the acupuncture and medication yesterday, Jiang Lian's condition had indeed improved a lot, but her wounds still throbbed with pain, robbing her of any appetite.

The maid took out a medicine jar from the food container and poured the medicine into a bowl that had been set out.

"Concubine Jiang, this medicine was personally brewed by the eldest miss. After taking it for a few days, you'll surely recover."

A genuine look of gratitude appeared on Jiang Lian's pale face: "If it weren't for you all, my wretched life would have ended long ago."

"Don't say that, Concubine Jiang," the maid said, bringing a spoonful of the medicine to her lips. "Hurry, drink it up—it won't be as effective once it cools."

Jiang Lian had only taken a few sips when a sharp pain suddenly exploded in her abdomen, and a burning, metallic taste surged into her throat!

"Pfft—"

A gush of blackish-red blood sprayed onto the snow-white bedding, a ghastly sight.

"Concubine Jiang, what's wrong?" The maid was terrified out of her wits. The bowl slipped from her hand and shattered with a clatter.

Jiang Lian grabbed the maid's arm with all her remaining strength, and with her last shred of energy, she screamed hoarsely: "The medicine… it's poisoned! Go… find… Big Sister…"

Before her voice faded, the door creaked open.

Jiang Yaozhen stood at the entrance, flanked by several guards, a look of feigned pity on her face as if watching a play with a predetermined ending.

She asked with feigned concern: "Concubine Jiang, what's happened to you? Could it be that you've been poisoned?"

In an instant, Jiang Lian understood everything. With the last of her strength, she raised a trembling hand and pointed accusingly at Jiang Yaozhen: "It's… you…"

Before she could finish, she collapsed onto the bed, dead with her eyes open, unable to rest in peace.

"Concubine Jiang!" The maid wailed heartbreakingly.

A mocking smile flickered across Jiang Yaozhen's face. She pointed sharply at the weeping maid and barked:

"Guards! Arrest this treacherous maid who poisoned her mistress! Send her immediately to the Court of Judicial Review for questioning! I want to know who ordered her to commit such a heinous act!"

The news of the Rui Prince's concubine's sudden death from poisoning spread through the capital like wildfire overnight.

The instigator, Jiang Yaozhen, changed into simple mourning clothes and wept bitterly before the chief of the Court of Judicial Review.

"Your Excellency! You must seek justice for me and the entire Rui household!" Her eyes were red and swollen, her expression mournful. "His Highness is still in prison, wrongfully accused, and now this tragedy has struck our household… This is clearly a plot to wipe us out!"

Her act was flawless, and the court's investigation seemed to produce 'ironclad evidence.'

Residue in the medicine pot tested positive for arsenic.

The maid who had administered the medicine was already terrified out of her wits, confessed that the medicine had been personally prepared and given by the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's residence, Jiang Shuning.

With witnesses and physical evidence all pointing to the same person, the case seemed airtight.

The Court of Judicial Review's chief, well aware of the suspicious nature of the case and knowing Jiang Shuning's importance to Prince Ning, informed Grand Consort Rong that very night.

"Impossible!"

Within Fulu Palace, Xiao Huaijin's face turned ashen upon hearing the chief's report. "If she wanted to harm someone, why would she use her own brewed medicine, leaving such an obvious trail? This is clearly a deliberate frame-up!"

Grand Consort Rong gently squeezed his hand and sighed. "Jin'er, I believe her too. But given the current situation… Prince Jing is keeping a close watch on Prince Rui's case. Every move the Court makes is being watched by the entire imperial court. Any sign of favoritism now would only give them ammunition."

The chief immediately bowed with a grave and concerned expression: "You are wise, Your Highness. At this critical juncture, I dare not show favoritism. Everything must be done according to the laws of Daye; the suspect must be detained pending trial."

Seeing Xiao Huaijin's displeasure, the chief quickly added: "Rest assured, Your Highness. Before the truth comes to light, I will personally make arrangements for Miss Jiang—a private room will be arranged to ensure her comfort and safety, without disturbance."

At these words, the tension in Xiao Huaijin's face eased slightly: "I appreciate your help."

When the officers of the Court arrived at the Jiang residence, Jiang Shuning had just learned of Jiang Lian's death from Ling Wu.

She suppressed the turmoil raging in her heart, and faced the officers carrying restraints with remarkable calm, though a profound grief lurked deep in her eyes.

"Miss Jiang, please forgive our intrusion," the lead officer said, his tone still courteous. "With the witnesses and physical evidence, we must request you come with us."

"I understand." Jiang Shuning nodded, her gaze clear as a mirror. "But before I am taken into custody, may I first go to the Rui Prince's residence to see Princess Rui?"

The officer recalled the chief's repeated instructions to treat Miss Jiang with leniency and respect, so he agreed: "…Very well. But please don't linger too long, Miss, so as not to make things hard for us."

Within the Rui Prince’s mansion, Jiang Yaozhen was leisurely sipping tea, her face showing none of the grief she had wept over before the Dali Court.

The moment she saw her, all the emotions Jiang Shuning had been bottling up exploded.

"Jiang Yaozhen!" she stepped forward, her eyes red with fury, "Jiang Lian was nothing but a pitiful soul, no threat to you at all! How could you be so insane as to murder your own cousin just to frame me?!"

Jiang Yaozhen slowly set down her teacup, looked up, and had a perfectly measured expression of confusion and sorrow.

"Sister, what are you saying? I don’t understand a word." She let out a soft sigh, "All I know is that you poisoned Concubine Jiang to death, and now you dare to slander me here? What a venomous heart you have!"

"You!"

Before Jiang Shuning could finish, Chun Hua snapped harshly, "Eldest Miss! You committed the poison yourself, and now you want to pin the blame on our Princess? Our Princess is truly unfortunate to have a sister like you!"

Chun Hua...

Jiang Shuning suddenly turned her head and stared at her, and in that instant, everything became clear.

It was her—she was the one who told Jiang Yaozhen that Jiang Shuning had been sending herbal tonics to Jiang Lian all this time!

"Chun Hua, you were part of the Jiang family too. What did Jiang Lian ever do to you that you would help this viperous woman murder an innocent person?!"

Faced with the accusation, Chun Hua’s face showed not a shred of guilt—instead, she curled her lips into a cold, vindictive smile.

"Eldest Miss, you are mistaken. Concubine Jiang never offended me. The one I have hated with all my heart, from beginning to end, is only you."