The princess regretted it.

Chapter 308 Interrogation of Kidney Bean

A simple, unassuming carriage quietly stopped not far from the shop. The curtains were gently opened a fraction from the inside, and a burning gaze followed Xu's figure closely. That gaze was filled with attachment, longing, and unspeakable pain.

After Xu had finished selecting her items, she emerged from the shop, supported by her old woman, and slowly boarded her carriage. Just as she was about to draw the curtain and enter the carriage, she felt as if someone were watching her closely. She instinctively turned around and glanced around, seeing only pedestrians coming and going in the streets and alleys, some hurrying on their way, some stopping to chat. She didn't spot anyone suspicious.

She shook her head slightly, thinking to herself that perhaps she was too nervous and had misjudged the situation, so she re-opened the curtain and got back into the carriage. In fact, as she turned to look around, the curtain of the mysterious carriage suddenly closed the small seam, as if it had never been opened. The figure of the person inside was hidden in the darkness, and only the faint sound of suppressed sobs could be heard. The coachman tilted his head slightly to glance at the curtain. Without saying a word, he simply shook the reins gently, and the horses pulled the carriage slowly towards the outside of the city.

Inside the palace, the Health Preservation Hall was so quiet you could almost hear the dust falling, and the atmosphere was so solemn it was suffocating. Changsun Hongze, clad in a bright yellow dragon robe, stood tall but his face was filled with melancholy as he sat on the dragon throne at the head of the room.

Zuo Quan, the right commander of the Imperial Guard, and several other Imperial Guards stood in the hall in unison, clad in gleaming armor and sharp swords at their waists. Kneeling on the ground was a woman dressed as a palace maid. She lowered her head, her hair disheveled, and her body trembling uncontrollably.

Zuo Quan held a tray in both hands, his expression solemn, his voice loud and clear, as he reported the results of the investigation to the emperor: "Your Majesty, when I and others checked the palace of the Second Prince, we found that this palace maid had a new wound on the left back. I did not dare to jump to conclusions, so I immediately asked the imperial physician to come and check. The imperial physician diagnosed that the wound was indeed caused by a sharp weapon, and the edges of the wound were neat and not deep into the flesh. Afterwards, we searched her room carefully and collected a bloody palace dress and many precious ornaments, which are now placed on this tray. Your Majesty, please look, there is a very obvious smell of kerosene on this palace dress, and it is pungent when you smell it up close." As he spoke, Zuo Quan bowed slightly and raised the tray in his hand.

Eunuch Fuquan was quick-witted and quick-handed. He quickly ran forward and respectfully took the tray from Zuo Quan's hand. Then he turned around and walked quickly to the side of the emperor. He bent down slightly and presented the tray in his hands steadily in front of the emperor with both hands.

As the tray approached the emperor, a pungent, strong smell of kerosene eagerly penetrated his nostrils, causing the emperor to frown slightly. He glanced sideways, his gaze sternly sweeping over the items on the tray. Besides the bloodstained, odorous palace gown, he saw the jewelry Jin An had previously described in detail: an emerald bracelet, plump pearl earrings, and an exquisitely crafted gold hairpin.

The emperor snorted coldly, his gaze turned back, and instantly, like an icy sword, wrapped in endless majesty and anger, it pierced the kneeling woman below. His voice seemed to come from the Nine Netherworld, so cold that it chilled people: "You, raise your head, what's your name?"

The kneeling woman shuddered violently, as if frightened by the chilling aura. After a moment, she slowly lowered her eyes and raised them. Her face was haggard, her eyes red and swollen, revealing fear and despair. Her hair was disheveled and draped across her face. Her lips trembled slightly, but she couldn't utter a single word. She was like a lamb to be slaughtered, waiting only for her fate to come to her.

The woman trembled and stammered, "Your Majesty, I... My name is Yundou. I serve His Royal Highness the Second Prince." Her voice was so weak and almost inaudible with tears in it, but it was particularly clear in this silent health hall.

The emperor frowned, his eyes were colder, he stared at her closely, not missing any change in her expression, and continued to ask: "Yundou, is the fire in the imperial garden last night related to you? Where did the hidden weapon wounds on your body come from? And these properties, how could you, a mere palace maid, have them?" A series of questions came to Yundou like a machine gun, and every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting her heart.

Yundou's face turned pale, and she kowtowed heavily with a "thump." Her forehead instantly swelled red as she kept defending herself, "Your Majesty, please spare me, Your Majesty, please spare me! I... I'm innocent. That fire had nothing to do with me. This injury... this injury was... I accidentally bumped into something while sorting the Second Prince's weapons. It wasn't a hidden weapon wound. As for these valuables, they were... given to me by some nobles in the palace. I would never dare to do anything that would harm others!" By the end, she was sobbing uncontrollably, tears mixing with the dust on the ground, staining her cheeks. She looked particularly dull and innocent.

The emperor snorted again upon hearing this, clearly not believing her words. He turned to look at Zuo Quan and said, "Go, call the Second Prince to me."

Zuo Quan obeyed the order and quickly left the hall. A deathly silence fell, broken only by Yundou's suppressed sobs. The emperor's gaze was deep, as he pondered: This Yundou is close to the Second Prince, and has been implicated in so many suspicious matters. Does the Second Prince know anything about this? Or has he been kept in the dark by those around him? If the Second Prince is truly implicated in this matter, how should he be dealt with? A series of thoughts raced through his mind, leaving him distraught.

Soon, the Second Prince's eldest grandson, Yunji, hurried over. Even before he even stepped foot inside the palace, he sensed a subdued atmosphere. His heart tightened. Upon entering, he saw a palace maid kneeling on the ground. Suspicion welled up in his heart. Then, seeing his father's gloomy expression, he quickly knelt and saluted, "Your Highness, your son pays his respects."

The emperor did not let him stand up immediately, but said coldly: "Yun Ji, do you know this palace maid?" As he spoke, his eyes swept over Yun Dou.

Upon hearing this, Changsun Yunji looked up, following his father's gaze. He was startled. Wasn't that Yundou, who was beside him? How could she be here? And in such a state of disarray? But he remained calm and replied, "Your Majesty, I recognize her. She is Yundou, a maid in your palace. I wonder why your Majesty has summoned her?"

The Emperor's gaze was as sharp as a torch, staring intently into the Second Prince's eyes, as if he could see through him. "Last night, there was a fire in the Imperial Garden. I suspect it was related to her. She had injuries on her body, and blood-stained palace clothes and many valuables were found in her room. Are you aware of this?"

Changsun Yunji showed a look of astonishment, and quickly turned to look at Yundou, and asked loudly: "Yundou, is this true?" There was surprise and a bit of anger in his tone of voice at being implicated.

Yundou cried bitterly, shaking her head desperately, "Second Prince, I am innocent! I really didn't do anything. You must believe me!"