C48 Part3

....

Shen Zhiyan said:

"Concubine An met Sun Yumei by accident, and she died unjustly.

The same is true for Xiaolu, who was killed without premeditation.

Concubine An shattered Sun Yumei and Xiaolu's viscera with her palm attack, beat them to death, and threw them into the Luo River and Xiaoyue Pond.

Their deaths were displayed to make an illusion of fish cannibalism."

Murong Ci added:

"She chose the locations in the Luo River and the Xiaoyue Pond in the Palace.

The purpose was to cause panic among both the people in the Palace and Luoyang City, and made everyone believe in the prophecy of that Ballad.

Concubine An, I believe this Prince's speculation isn't wrong, right?"

Concubine An's face was like a bleak and desolate winter, as if everything was withered, killed and now dying.

"What caused the wounds on the face and arms of the deceased Sun Yumei and Xiao Lu?"

Murong Yu asked in a deep voice.

"This Official and Your Royal Highness have already checked and confirmed this.

Although the wound caused by a cat's mad bite was somewhat similar to the wounds of the two deceased, it was not a cat.

We went to the East Market and bought a White Rabbit, a Little Monkey and a Giant Rat, and used these three little creatures for verification."

Shen Zhiyan replied.

"The Giant Rat is a small animal only found in the Western Qin Country.

It is somewhat similar to a mouse, but it is not like a common rat.

In recent years, many wealthy people in Beijing like to keep pets, and the Cat, White Rabbit and Little Monkey are all common pets.

Those rich and wealthy people got tired of playing with common ones, so they turned their attention to the Giant Rat and bought it to raise it as a pet."

Murong Ci continued,

"The White rabbit, Little Monkey, and Giant Rat are all docile pets.

They usually don't hurt or bite people.

However, when they are stimulated from outside, their temperaments can change drastically, especially the Giant Rat."

Concubine An's cold and dead eyes flashed slightly.

Murong Yu was interested in hearing about the Giant Rat,

"How do you make the Giant Rat bite fiercely?"

Murong Ci chuckled coldly,

"This Prince asked the shopkeeper, whether there was a way to lure the Giant Rat into madness.

He told me that there is a kind of fruit in the West Qin State called "hemp fruit".

After the Giant Rat smells it, within a short time, it will change its temperament and bite people fiercely.

This Prince and Shen Zhiyan have verified at the Dali Temple that hemp fruit also affects the White Rabbit and Little Monkey, but it affects the Giant Rat the most.

It bit a big pork thigh and scarred it, and the bite wounds were extremely similar to those wounds found on the arms and faces of the two deceased."

Shen Zhiyan said clearly:

"Concubine An made the two unconscious first, and then let the many crazy Giant Rats bite them while the two were still alive.

This created the illusion of Cannibal Fish feeding on humans."

Master Gu Huai stroked his short black beard and nodded,

"But how did Concubine An get the Giant Rats and the hemp fruit?"

"This Prinnce is assuming that it was a common routine for Concubine An to go to and from the Imperial Palace and the Spring Wuyuan Courtyard, otherwise she would not go out of the Palace to kill."

Murong Ci looked at Concubine An again,

"Concubine An, your arrangements were brilliant and perfect.

As for clues, don't you want to know why this Prince suspected you?"

"Your Royal Highness claimed to have solved these mysteries and murders, and I want to know why.

But Your Highness seems to have no evidences to prove that I arranged these things and killed people."

Concubine An said with her gentle, calm and hoarse voice.

"You really didn't leave any clues.

So far, the only clues that this Prince and Shen Zhiyan have found are three silver-gray hairs."

Murong Ci raised her eyebrows lightly,

"Well, Concubine Bai and Concubine Mo were killed by you, and at that time, when she was dying, Concubine Bai pinched one of the silver-gray hairs that fell from your head.

Besides, you also left one on their bed.

The third one was found on Xiao Yin's body.

However, this Prince didn't suspect you at first, because you wrapped your head and face, and I don't know that your hair is silver-gray.

You cover it well."

"This is as they say,

※'The way of Heaven is fair, but the guilty won't be able to escape it. You can't run from the long arm of the law!',

that's what it is...."

Shen Zhiyan concluded.

※※ (N.B.) This is a famous quote and idiom from Chapter 73 of the Chinese Classic book "Tao Te Ching (The Taoist Classic) by Laozi (Lao Tzu 老子)" , that recites the principles of law and justice rules stated by the Heavens.

Shen Zhiyan is the Vice-Minister of The Dali Temple, a minister of law and justice, seeking the truth, so of course he knows and makes a quote to this book.

The Chapter in question recites:

"Those who have the courage to dare will perish.

Those who have the courage not to dare will live.

Of those two, one is beneficial and one is harmful.

What Heaven detests, who knows why?

Even the sage considers it difficult.

Heaven's Way does not contend,

Yet it certainly triumphs.

It does not speak,

Yet it certainly answers.

It does not summon,

Yet things come by themselves.

It seems to be at rest,

Yet it certainly has a plan.

※Heaven's net is very vast.

It is sparsely meshed, yet nothing slips through."

And this last line here is the one Shen Zhiyan quotes!

※※

"You want to convict me only with three silver-gray hairs?"

Concubine An sneered mockingly.

"Relax and don't be restless.

This Prince promises you to give you a "big gift" later."

Murong Ci's eyes flashed, shining brightly,

"This Prince speculated that you won't kill people again after the 'Cannibal Fish' layout.

After all, the purpose of this whole game was to point to the Royal King, the Prince Regent, making everyone suspect him and be wary of him, and making him trapped in this whirlpool of rumors.

Everyone would think that the last sentence of the Ballad, "Jade(Yu) Steals the County", was referring to him after all...

Everyone would believe that he would kill the Emperor and usurp the throne, right?"

Concubine An didn't answer, but the corners of her lips moved slightly, and the smile was mysterious and unpredictable.

Although she didn't answer or deny it, everyone regarded her as acquiescence.

When the other people heard the words "killing the Emperor and usurping the throne," they were all shocked and horrified.

Murong Yu, that had been listening silently and as beautiful as always, then spoke up,

"These past few days, this King has heard a lot of rumors and suffered a lot of strange stares.

I see, it turned out that it was all "thanks to" Concubine An."

This topic was too awkward and sensitive.

Master Gu Huai changed the topic at the right time,

"Didn't Concubine An kill Concubine Zhao as well?"

Shen Zhiyan replied:

"Concubine Zhao's death case should have nothing to do with Concubine An.

Thus, this matter will be discussed separately."

Murong Ci stared at Concubine An and her gaze suddenly became fierce,

"Concubine An, the truth is, you tried to assassinate the Emperor Father because you wanted to avenge 'someone'...."

....

------------

END of CHAPTER 48 PART 3

.....................to be continued