Chapter 75: May I Ask If Lord Qin Could Step Forward And Lend A Drop Of Blood?

Li Rong was stunned. After a moment, she cautiously asked, “You mean… it’s not accurate?”

“Completely inaccurate,” Pei Wenxuan replied directly. “I’ve tried it. As long as the bones have turned into skeletons, you can drop blood on any of them, and it will be absorbed.”

“Are you sure?”

“Do you remember the ghost ship case from the previous life?” Pei Wenxuan asked.

Li Rong thought for a moment and nodded, “I remember. There was a ship that docked at the shore, and it was full of skeletons. They said the ghosts were seeking their relatives and came back on their own.”

“I happened to be patrolling the coast at that time. When I heard about the case, I went to check it out. The ship had sailed out from the town before, then disappeared, and returned years later with everyone on board turned into skeletons. Relatives came to identify the bodies, but they could only rely on the blood-dripping method. It turned out that any drop of blood would be absorbed. I tried it myself and found that I also identified a relative.”

Pei Wenxuan laughed, “So I stopped believing in it. Just now, to be sure, I tested it again myself. Don’t worry, Qin Lin’s blood will definitely be absorbed.”

Hearing this, Li Rong felt relieved. She thought for a moment and suddenly remembered, “Where did you learn all these strange things? Like that egg before…”

Pei Wenxuan propped his head and smiled, “Is Your Highness very impressed with me?”

“Forget it,” Li Rong immediately changed her tone. “These are unorthodox methods. Don’t tell anyone, or I’m afraid someone will alert His Majesty and have a national teacher burn you as a demon.”

As Li Rong spoke, she got up to wash her hands. Before she could wash the dishes, Jinglan walked in calmly, “Your Highness, the people from the Ministry of Justice are here.”

Li Rong nodded, not surprised. Pei Wenxuan stood up and said calmly, “Your Highness, please rest. I’ll go.”

Li Rong responded, and Pei Wenxuan led the people out.

After Pei Wenxuan left, Jinglan approached with some concern, “Your Highness, there’s still no reply from the Eastern Palace. What if they want to conduct an autopsy…”

“It’s okay, don’t worry,” Li Rong waved her hand and smiled, “It’s not a big deal.”

Jinglan was stunned, but seeing Li Rong so calm, she said no more.

Pei Wenxuan led the people out. As soon as he stepped outside, he saw the place brightly lit. Pei Wenxuan smiled when he saw the visitor and raised his hand, “Oh, Minister Su, you’re here again?”

“Here on orders.”

Su Rongqing said calmly, “I hope to see Your Highness.”

“It’s late at night, don’t disturb Her Highness. You can talk to me.”

“Does the Prince Consort know that Qin Zhenzhen has resurrected?” Su Rongqing stared at Pei Wenxuan, “I am here on orders to inquire about Qin Zhenzhen’s burial arrangements.”

“Resurrection?” Pei Wenxuan showed a surprised expression. “Such a strange event?”

“Precisely because it’s so bizarre, I came to inquire with Your Highness,” Su Rongqing replied.

“This matter is indeed very strange,” Pei Wenxuan nodded, then raised his eyes. “But what does it have to do with our princess?”

“But the burial of Qin Zhenzhen was handled by Your Highness…” a servant couldn’t help but speak up. Pei Wenxuan laughed upon hearing this.

“So is she dead or alive?” Pei Wenxuan looked at Su Rongqing, asking seriously. “If she’s dead, this matter is something the princess would avoid, so how can you come and disturb her? If she’s alive, then she’s guilty of deceiving the princess. Shouldn’t you hurry and bring her back to apologize to our princess? What are you doing here?”

The servant was stunned by Pei Wenxuan’s questioning. Pei Wenxuan dusted off his sleeves and chuckled, “Minister Su, this isn’t your first time at the princess’s residence. Next time, please have the Ministry of Justice send someone else. You keep coming, and I’m starting to think you have ulterior motives.”

“Lord Pei, even if it’s just to provide clues, please let us see the princess,” the servant beside him said, holding back his anger. Pei Wenxuan shook his head and simply said, “No.”

“You are looking for Qin Zhenzhen. Please search for her properly. Look for the living on the streets, look for the dead in the cemetery. If you think Qin Zhenzhen is in the princess’s residence, apply for a search warrant from the Dali Temple. Without a search warrant, why come to the princess’s residence and cause trouble?”

“Leave!”

Pei Wenxuan shouted and turned to walk back, saying to the door, “Close the door.”

After speaking, Pei Wenxuan went straight back inside.

Li Rong was eating breakfast when Pei Wenxuan entered. Li Rong was a bit surprised and looked up, “So soon?”

“Yes,” Pei Wenxuan maintained a smile. “They were just some insignificant characters. I said a few words and they left. Have you finished eating, Your Highness? We need to prepare for court. Have you finished writing the memorial?”

Upon hearing about writing the memorial, Li Rong felt a headache. She cautiously glanced at Pei Wenxuan, “Um, Pei Wenxuan.”

Pei Wenxuan drank tea and pretended not to hear.

Li Rong extended two fingers, tugged at Pei Wenxuan’s sleeve, and gently shook it, “Lord Pei?”

Pei Wenxuan felt very pleased hearing this and looked up with a smile, “What can I do for Your Highness?”

“I’ve always heard that you are eloquent and can write memorials effortlessly. It’s getting late, and the matter of Qin Zhenzhen needs to be addressed. What do you think…”

“I understand Your Highness’s intention,” Pei Wenxuan nodded and looked at Li Rong. “But if I help you write the memorial, what will you give me in return?”

“What do you want in return?”

Pei Wenxuan smiled, leaned in, and tapped his cheek lightly.

“Your Highness?”

Pei Wenxuan smiled and said, “If you move an inch closer, I’ll have the memorial ready for you within a quarter of an hour.”

Li Rong laughed at this.

“The night is still too short, and the Prince Consort hasn’t had enough dreams,” she said, lightly patting Pei Wenxuan’s cheek. “Sleep a bit more, okay?”

After saying this, Li Rong snorted and got up to go to the desk.

She thought, “I’ll write it myself. What am I afraid of?”

Li Rong struggled at the desk for a while, while Pei Wenxuan leisurely drank tea, ate breakfast, and read a book.

By the time Pei Wenxuan finished his breakfast, it was time for court, and Li Rong still hadn’t finished writing the memorial. She had to continue writing it on the carriage.

Writing a memorial required careful wording, and Li Rong pondered over each word. By the time they arrived at the palace, she still hadn’t finished.

Li Rong gave up, resigned to finishing the hastily written memorial and planning to explain it to Li Ming privately in the Imperial Study. After all, no one else would see it.

Holding the memorial, Li Rong walked with Pei Wenxuan beside her, who occasionally glanced at her with a smile.

Li Rong ignored him, fuming internally.

When they reached their positions, Pei Wenxuan accompanied her to the front. Li Rong said coldly, “Prince Consort, go to your place. I don’t want to stay with you.”

Pei Wenxuan laughed, “Your Highness has quite a temper.”

Li Rong stared straight ahead, ignoring him. Pei Wenxuan laughed for a moment, then pulled out a memorial from his sleeve and handed it to Li Rong.

Li Rong slapped it away, “Don’t give me things randomly.”

“Don’t want it?”

Pei Wenxuan waved the memorial, “Are you sure you don’t want it?”

Li Rong looked at him, snatched the memorial, and whispered, “Go quickly.”

“Now that you’ve taken my memorial, you owe me.”

Pei Wenxuan turned and laughed, “Your Highness, I’ll keep a tab.”

Without giving Li Rong a chance to respond, Pei Wenxuan walked back to his position, greeting people with a smile along the way.

In the court today, everyone had different expressions, as the matter of vengeful spirits committing murder was too eerie.

Some people didn’t believe it, but more did.

As soon as Pei Wenxuan returned to his position, everyone crowded around to ask about it, while Li Rong stood alone, with no one daring to approach her.

When the court session began, Li Ming inquired about the day’s matters. Without Li Rong having to step forward, many officials immediately began to discuss the case of Qin Zhenzhen’s murder.

Li Ming frowned upon hearing this, “Such a mysterious matter… What do you all think should be done?”

Hesitantly, Li Ming suggested, “How about having the monks from the Temple of National Protection recite scriptures in front of Qin Zhenzhen for three months to dispel the resentment?”

This suggestion made everyone look at each other, realizing that Li Ming wanted to cover up the case by having monks recite scriptures.

Xie Lanqing stepped forward respectfully, “Your Majesty, Confucius did not speak of strange phenomena. The matter of Qin Zhenzhen’s resurrection needs thorough investigation. When Miss Qin was placed in the coffin, it was handled by Princess Pingle. Whether she is dead or alive, only the princess knows. I believe this matter should be investigated thoroughly.”

Li Ming paused upon hearing this and turned to Li Rong, “Pingle, what do you think?”

“If Minister Xie says not to investigate, wouldn’t that be throwing mud on me for no reason? To know if Qin Zhenzhen is dead or alive is simple, just open the coffin and conduct an autopsy, right?”

“Since Your Highness agrees, that’s even better.”

Xie Lanqing calmly said, “Why don’t we go now? The Ministry of Justice has prepared the coroner, and with the supervision of the officials, we can see who is in the coffin.”

“Wait…” Li Chuan hurriedly spoke, but Li Rong, not waiting for him, raised her voice, “Alright, Father,” she looked at Li Ming, “What do you think?”

Seeing Li Rong’s confidence, Li Ming hesitated for a moment and then nodded, “You all go. I will wait here for the results.”

Li Rong saluted and then walked down to Xie Lanqing, raising her hand, “Minister Xie, please.”

“Your Highness, please.”

Xie Lanqing led the officials out, while Pei Wenxuan waited for Li Rong. The two of them walked out alone, and Li Chuan hurriedly approached, walking beside Li Rong, anxiously saying, “Sister, the Ministry of Justice has detained all the coroners. I couldn’t find anyone. We’re in trouble now.”

Li Rong patted Li Chuan’s hand calmly, “Don’t worry, I have it under control.”

“Don’t do anything rash,” Li Chuan said anxiously, “There are so many people watching.”

“Rest assured, Your Highness,” Pei Wenxuan smiled, “The princess knows what she’s doing.”

Hearing Pei Wenxuan’s reassurance, Li Chuan looked at the two of them suspiciously but finally felt a bit more at ease.

Li Rong maintained her composure and got into the carriage with Pei Wenxuan. The officials headed to the outskirts in a grand procession.

When they arrived at Qin Zhenzhen’s grave, Xie Lanqing ordered, “Dig.”

The diggers found the soil somewhat loose with the first shovel. “Minister Xie, someone has tampered with this grave,” they reported.

Xie Lanqing’s expression remained unchanged, “Continue.”

Li Rong smiled and fanned herself, while Li Chuan’s heart raced. Soon, the grave was dug up, and the coffin was opened in front of the officials. A foul odor emanated, causing most people to step back. Pei Wenxuan lightly covered Li Rong’s nose with a scented handkerchief. Li Rong took it and glanced at him, “You have everything, don’t you?”

“Knowing we were coming, I prepared in advance,” Pei Wenxuan whispered. Li Rong nodded.

Xie Lanqing instructed the coroner to examine the body. The coroner, wearing special gloves, inspected the skeleton in front of everyone.

After the examination, the coroner respectfully reported, “Minister Xie, this skeleton matches the characteristics of Miss Qin. It should be her.”

“Characteristics can be faked,” Xie Lanqing said calmly, “Examine it again.”

The coroner hesitated and looked at Qin Lin standing among the crowd, “For further examination, we may need the cooperation of Miss Qin’s blood relatives.”

The coroner then bowed to Qin Lin, “Lord Qin, may we have a drop of your blood?”

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