Ninth Imperial Glorious Phoenix Chapter 804

Chapter 804: Killing Without Blinking

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Among the second-tier maids, a slender woman stood up, looking panicked and pale. "It's me."

Yuwen Chu gestured for her to come forward. "I heard you were the last person Su Ju saw?"

Cuinong came with Mingzhu's marriage. She was a child of the Fu family and had always been quiet and diligent. Her popularity was not bad either. Seeing her being brought out, several people felt sorry for her. She hesitated for a moment, trembling as she said, "Yes, but Your Highness, I swear, I had nothing to do with Su Ju's death! I was just delivering some newly arrived rose pollen to Su Ju." After speaking, she desperately kowtowed, knocking her forehead until it bled.

"Who gave you the rose pollen?" Yuwen Chu glanced at Ye Xiu, who immediately arranged for someone to retrieve the box of rose pollen from Su Ju's room.

"It was distributed by the Wangfei." Cuinong looked at Su Mei. "Su Mei said the Wangfei had said that everyone should have some."

Su Mei, gritting her teeth, said, "Indeed, that's what happened. Su Ju always wanted some."

Yuwen Chu remained noncommittal and looked at Su Mei and Su Lan. Without waiting for his question, Su Lan had already explained, "Su Ju was the best at sewing. She made a pair of shoes for Zhuang Zhuang, but he was mischievous and got oil stains on them after just one day. Washing them off didn't work. Wanfei said it was a pity to throw them away, so she asked to embroider something to cover them up. I went to deliver the shoes."

Su Mei then said with a hint of grievance, "I originally shared a room with Su Ju."

Everyone, except Zheng Momo, who had not seen Su Ju and was completely innocent, looked very innocent, but where there's a mastermind, there must be accomplices. Yuwen Chu smiled faintly. "I know you all feel wronged, but the deed has been done, and I have no choice. You are all loyal servants. I believe you would all be willing to die for the Wangfei, right?"

Cuinong and Qingqian burst into tears, while Su Lan remained expressionless and silent. Su Mei covered her face and sobbed softly, and Zheng Momo, sitting upright, frowned without saying a word.

Yuwen Chu gestured for Cuinong to be taken away. "Since you were the last person to see Su Ju, your suspicion is the greatest. So you'll be the first."

Cuinong was dragged to the door, clinging tightly to the door frame and screaming, "I'm innocent! Your Highness, I'm innocent! Su Ju took her own life, she made a mistake and couldn't bear it. Why blame me?"

Yuwen Chu raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. You, a second-tier maid, were not in the rear chamber when the incident occurred, and then you were detained separately until recently when you were brought into this room. How would you know that Su Ju took her own life?"

A panic appeared in Cuinong's eyes. She looked around and suddenly pointed at Su Lan, shouting, "She told me!"

Su Lan was surprised but immediately looked at Yuwen Chu. "Your Highness, I didn't."

Yuwen Chu remained noncommittal. "Take Cuinong away."

After a short while, Cuinong's severed head was brought in.

Not long after, a bloodied head was presented. Several second-rank maids huddled together, and Qingqian let out a scream before fainting on the spot. Although Su Lan's face looked grim, she calmly held the trembling Su Mei. Zheng Momo helped Qingqian up, her lips tightly pressed together. 

Yuwen Chu scanned the crowd coldly, then pointed at Qingqian. "Wake her up with water." 

Soon, Qingqian was doused with cold water and woke up. Yuwen Chu asked indifferently, "You were the first to discover Su Ju's incident. What do you have to say now?" 

Qingqian's teeth chattered as she looked desperately at Su Lan. "Sister Su Lan, I've followed you since I was a child. I've always done whatever you said. Please save me." 

Su Lan sneered and turned to Zheng Momo. "Momo, these past few years, I've not managed the affairs of the Wangfei quarters but focused on taking care of Zhuang Zhuang and Millet. You've had full control of the Wangfei’s rooms. What more could you be dissatisfied with?" 

Zheng Momo sighed. "Su Lan, don't be like this." 

Su Lan shook her head, giving up on arguing with her. "Your Highness, you said you wanted us to be loyal to the Wangfei and that I should die. I have nothing to say about that. But I refuse to accept this crime. At most, the Wangfei can be blamed for negligence. She would never do something so foolish. Please, see the truth." 

Yuwen Chu remained expressionless and signaled for Qingqian to be taken out again. "Behead her." 

After a while, Qingqian's head was brought in. 

The strong smell of blood filled the room, making people feel nauseous. Fu Lin really did vomit. He had never witnessed such a scene before. These maids had grown up in the Prime Minister's mansion, and he knew them well. They were beautiful and skilled at dressing up. Though they were maids, they had never suffered much. Each of them was vibrant and lively. But now, with just a word from Yuwen Chu, a living life could be taken away. Without even considering material or personal evidence, he decided their fate with ease. Fu Lin couldn't stand it.

Yuwen Chu didn't mock Fu Lin but stopped to wait for him. Fu Lin emptied his stomach and mouth, feeling extremely bitter. "Uncle..."

Yuwen Chu had a chair brought over for him and said lightly, "You can't handle this. How will you manage the Fu family in the future?"

Fu Lin bowed his head, unable to speak.

Yuwen Chu then slowly scanned the room and asked, "Do any of you have anything to say?"

Everyone remained silent. He smiled, "It seems I overestimated you all. Your Wangfei pleaded with me for your sake, but not one of you is willing to die for her. Are you all trampling on the Wangfei’s sincerity? Or do you all just want to die?"

A second-tier maid named Luyu suddenly stood up, pointing at Su Lan. "It's her! I saw her and Young Master Fu Zhan talking by the corner gate that day. Young Master Fu Zhan even gave her something, a sachet!" Then she added, "Sister Su Lan, don't blame me. I don't want to die. I have no siblings, only a widowed mother. If I die, my mother will starve."

Su Lan’s face turned pale. "Young Master Zhan did indeed approach me before, asking me to plead with the Wangfei, but I refused and didn't accept anything from him. If I've done anything wrong, it's not informing the Wangfei about this matter. But throughout the year, there are many people from both inside and outside the clan trying to get favors from the Wangfei. It's not possible to tell her everything."

She spoke the truth. Fu Lin couldn't help but want to plead for her, but Yuwen Chu said without lifting an eyelid, "Take Su Lan away."

Su Mei rushed to hug Su Lan, crying uncontrollably. "Your Highness, Su Lan isn't like that. She would never betray anyone, especially not the Wangfei. She has taken such good care of the young master and young miss. Please spare her, Your Highness."

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