nucmednet Chapter 221 Interrogation and Confrontation!
Chapter 221 Interrogation and Confrontation!
Su Mowan jumped off the windowsill and landed in the courtyard. She looked around but didn't see anyone.
She frowned, then leaped onto the tall sycamore tree behind the window and looked out over the courtyard wall.
It was past noon, and there weren't many pedestrians on the street, but it was still a bit noisy. A few people happened to pass by outside the courtyard wall and curiously looked up at Su Mowan.
Su Mowan turned her head and saw eight people carrying a luxurious palanquin, which just disappeared around the corner.
Frowning, Su Mowan turned and strode towards the windowsill.
When Song Chuwen saw her return with a serious expression, he knew that she had not found anyone. So he did not ask any questions, but simply comforted her, "Now all that is needed is evidence. There is no rush."
Su Mowan was naturally anxious.
Not only is the Imperial Prison Temple dark and damp, but the person behind it might also make a move against Qingcheng while she's in prison.
She needs to pick Qingcheng up as soon as possible!
Xiao Xiao was clutching her neck, looking terrified, her face pale.
Liancheng, sitting next to her, was much calmer. Apart from a moment of panic when the hidden weapon flew over, he had long since regained his composure.
Su Mowan glanced at the two people's expressions briefly, then walked straight towards the wall, ignoring them.
There were two plum blossom needles, each about two inches long. They were shot into the wall, with about an inch of the needles embedded inside and about an inch protruding outside.
Su Mowan stretched out her fingers, pinched one of them, and slowly and carefully pulled it out. Fortunately, it didn't break.
"This...this hidden weapon is so long!"
Xiao Xiao exclaimed in surprise, suddenly feeling a chill on her neck again.
Su Mowan plucked only one, held it in her hand, and walked towards the table.
Song Chuwen frowned, took the plum blossom needle, and after a quick look, said with certainty, "It is a plum blossom needle. This is a small plum blossom needle, which is thin and long, while the large plum blossom needle is thick and short."
As Song Chuwen spoke, he walked towards the remaining plum blossom needle in the wall, and like Su Mowan, he stretched out his well-defined fingers and tightly pinched the exposed part of the plum blossom needle.
...It remained completely still.
A hint of surprise flashed across Song Chuwen's face, and he raised an eyebrow, seemingly finding it hard to believe. He had just watched Su Mowan pluck it, and it looked effortless to him.
Of course, the others didn't know he couldn't pull it out; they just thought he was touching it.
Song Chuwen exerted force with his fingers, but the plum blossom needle remained motionless, showing no sign of emerging.
He couldn't help but feel a little ashamed. Watching Su Mowan pull it out effortlessly, he secretly tried several times, but to no avail.
He simply withdrew his hand, put on an extremely serious expression, and walked to the seat behind the table.
"What did you find?" Su Mowan asked with a stern face before anyone could sit down.
"...It is a pair of small plum blossom needles."
After Song Chuwen sat down, he placed the needle in his hand on the table and said to Xiaoxiao, whose face had not yet recovered, "I might as well tell you that Yuge's death was not simple. She was hit by a plum blossom needle."
Xiao Xiao's expression changed drastically.
The needle just now was aimed at her, and Liancheng was sitting right next to her. The person who administered the needle did not target Liancheng, so it was clear that they had their eyes on her!
She certainly understood what Song Chuwen meant.
If she doesn't reveal everything she knows, then she'll be the next one to be killed by the plum blossom needles!
Seeing that her expression changed, Su Mowan said, "If you have something to hide, then you will have to bear the consequences yourself."
Xiao Xiao was so frightened by those words and her cold gaze that her heart skipped a beat and her eyelashes trembled.
Liancheng, who was standing nearby, seized the opportunity to say sarcastically, "As the saying goes, if you have a clear conscience, you have nothing to fear. If you insist that this matter has nothing to do with you, then we'll wait and see what kind of show will unfold next."
"I……"
Xiao Xiao hesitated, then noticed Song Chuwen's stern face opposite her.
She gritted her teeth, ready to confess her secret, when just then, a loud shout came from downstairs: "The eldest princess has arrived—"
The eldest princess?
Why would the eldest princess come at this time?
The people inside the room were all taken aback, wondering whether they should go out to greet the guest.
Su Mowan tilted her head slightly, about to ask Song Chuwen what to do, but saw a change in Song Chuwen's expression, which seemed somewhat unusual.
So, Song Chuwen didn't move, and Su Mowan naturally didn't move either. The two people opposite them didn't dare to make any rash moves either, and remained quietly sitting in their chairs.
Then came the sound of the headmistress bowing, and then the commotion came from upstairs.
Su Mowan noticed out of the corner of her eye that Song Chuwen's facial features looked unnatural.
The atmosphere suddenly became eerie.
A moment later, several footsteps approached, mixed with the voice of the headmistress, and another soft voice that was hard to hear clearly.
This must be the eldest princess.
Su Mowan had met the eldest princess once, on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. She vaguely remembered about 70-80% of the princess's appearance. At the time, the lighting was a bit dim, and she hadn't been staring at the princess intently; she had only given her a cursory glance.
Although her appearance was not very clear, she remembered the princess's overall demeanor very well.
This is why she has feelings for the eldest princess.
The group fell silent.
The eldest princess was coming from their room, and the headmistress led her over.
The footsteps grew closer, and Xiaoxiao and Liancheng on the other side had no choice but to stand up. Song Chuwen also frowned, seemingly hesitating whether or not to get up.
Su Mowan wondered why Song Chuwen's expression was so strange, and couldn't help but wonder if he had some kind of relationship with the eldest princess.
He was quick-witted, but dared not ask aloud.
She had no choice but to stand up before Song Chuwen and said in a low voice, "Since it is the eldest princess who has arrived, I think we should greet her first and ask about the case later."
Song Chuwen nodded, then stood up and walked out from in front of the chair.
Just then, footsteps reached the door.
The headmistress called out "Lord Song" into the room, then said, "The eldest princess has arrived."
Then came the eldest princess's voice.
"I wonder if I have disturbed Lord Song's investigation?"
Her voice was gentle and melodious, very pleasant to listen to, just like the temperament she exuded, which made people feel comfortable.
Upon hearing this voice, Song Chuwen's expression became even more strange.
Seeing that his expression was really bad, Su Mowan gently tugged at the sleeve of his official robe from the side.
Song Chuwen then forced himself to say, "I was unaware of the arrival of the Princess. I have failed to greet you properly."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a figure appeared at the doorway.
With delicate features and arched eyebrows, her face lightly made up, her oval face was very pretty, her eyes were gentle, and every frown and smile revealed the gentleness of a woman from Jiangnan.
The eldest princess was dressed in dark blue silk today, a color that was originally a bit old-fashioned, but it made her look even more beautiful.
"I apologize for disturbing you. I was just passing through Qingchengfang today when I heard that Lord Song and Consort Su were investigating a case here, so I came out of curiosity to take a look. I hope Lord Song doesn't mind?"
As the eldest princess spoke, she didn't look at Song Chuwen, but smiled at Su Mowan.
Although Su Mowan was in a bad mood, she still returned a smile.
She always felt that the eldest princess was acting strangely towards her, just like Emperor Mo Yao. But she was certain that she didn't know the eldest princess.
Could it be because of the rumors circulating that the eldest princess is in love with her brother, Su Mobai?
Thinking of this, Su Mowan took a closer look at the eldest princess. The more she looked, the more she felt that the eldest princess was dignified and elegant, and that she was also a talented woman.
It's rare to find someone who is worthy of Su Mobai.
Su Mowan secretly compared the Seventh Princess with the First Princess and felt that although the Seventh Princess was lively and cute, the First Princess was more popular with the opposite sex.
Song Chuwen bowed his head and clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, his voice steady and calm: "If the eldest princess is interested, she may listen in for a moment."
"Then I'll go in."
The eldest princess wore a dignified smile, and even the way she walked exuded a royal air, which seemed natural.
Xiao Xiao and Lian Cheng both curtsied to the Grand Princess as she entered, saying, "Greetings, Grand Princess!"
The eldest princess glanced at the two of them indifferently, uttered a mere "hmm," and then walked towards Song Chuwen.
In fact, the eldest princess was about ten feet away from Song Chuwen, but Song Chuwen involuntarily took a step back, moved aside his chair, and bowed his head, saying, "Please sit down, eldest princess."
The eldest princess had a faint smile on her lips, but when she saw his movement, her expression froze. When she saw Su Mowan looking at her, she immediately concealed it.
She walked past Song Chuwen, gracefully approached the chair, then gathered her skirt and sat down with her back straight.
They really are people raised in the royal family; they are simply too elegant!
After Su Mowan finished her sigh, she saw the eldest princess, who had already sat down, gently sweep her gaze over her, and then...
They bypassed her and headed straight for Song Chuwen!
That look in his eyes seemed rather unusual...
Turning her head to look at Song Chuwen again, she saw that he kept his head down and avoided meeting the princess's gaze.
Clearly, he knew the eldest princess would look over, so he deliberately lowered his gaze.
At this point, Su Mowan couldn't help but doubt the so-called rumors circulating among the people.
These two... clearly have something going on.
Even Song Chuwen had moments of cowardice.
Su Mowan glanced at the two of them, but now was not the time for gossip, so she had to give up on the idea.
There were other chairs nearby, and Su Mowan consciously gave her chair to Song Chuwen, gesturing for him to come and sit down. Then she pulled over a chair and sat down at the very edge.
In this way, Song Chuwen sat in the middle, with Su Mowan and the eldest princess on his left and right respectively.
It was clear that Song Chuwen had become less at ease after the eldest princess entered, and even his imposing official demeanor had diminished considerably.
"Please continue, Lord Song," Su Mowan reminded him from the side.
The eldest princess also lowered her gaze, sat up straight, and looked directly at Liancheng and Xiaoxiao opposite her. Her gaze lingered on Xiaoxiao for a moment.
Xiao Xiao quickly lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.
Song Chuwen laid out his previous notes in front of him and said to Xiaoxiao, "Continue from before. Tell me everything you know, or I cannot guarantee your safety!"
"Yes Yes!"
Xiao Xiao clenched her fist and took a deep breath.
She glanced at Liancheng, then said guiltily, "I... I did speak ill of Qingcheng behind her back before. Last night, Qingcheng and Yuge got into an argument because of a man, and I stirred things up with a few words. But I just wanted Qingcheng to deflate Yuge's arrogance. Yuge has been so annoying lately!"
Liancheng let out a cold laugh.
"Are you jealous that she's about to be selected for the palace? So you want Qingcheng to have a fight with her to affect Yuge's performance?"
Xiao Xiao's eyes flashed, and she bit her lip, saying, "Yes, I didn't think too much about it at the time! I just thought they were just having a fight and would be fine afterward! Who knew, who knew..."
"Alright, stop pretending! I saw you carrying a pot of tea into Yuge's room right after Qingcheng came out!"