Chapter 339: Self-blame
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Meng Xizhou led the Eagle Guards to track Yunque and pursued her all the way out of the Imperial Capital.
They found an overturned carriage by the official road ten miles outside the city.
The carriage was empty and there was no sign of Yunque. There were signs of a struggle beside the carriage. It looked like a bad fight.
Meng Xizhou left two people beside the carriage while the others continued to follow him.
They followed the tracks until they found Yunque in the dense bushes.
Coincidentally, Yunque was being pressed to the ground by a masked man.
Her mouth was firmly covered by the man, and she could not call for help. She could only stare at the man in front of her in wide-eyed horror.
Meng Xizhou shouted sternly, “Stop!”
When the masked man realized that someone was coming, not only did he not stop, but he also drew his dagger and slit Yunque’s throat.
In an instant, blood splattered all over him.
Yunque twitched in pain, and her legs kicked desperately.
Meng Xizhou did not expect this person to be so bold. Apart from being shocked, he became even angrier.
He drew the saber at his waist and quickly attacked the masked man!
The other Eagle Guards also drew their sabers and surrounded the masked man to prevent him from escaping.
The masked man let go of Yunque and jumped up to fight Meng Xizhou.
After an intense battle, the masked man was at a disadvantage.
He was cut in the arm. The pain slowed him.
Meng Xizhou kicked him again and sent him flying.
The masked man fell to the ground in a sorry state.
The other Eagle Guards immediately swarmed forward, preparing to take him down.
The masked man did not dodge. He took out the poison hidden in his sleeve and threw it into his mouth.
Meng Xizhou knew that something was amiss but it was too late for him to stop it.
The masked man swallowed the poison and grimaced. He looked like he was in pain. The cloth covering his face was stained red by the blood he spat out.
Soon he could not take it anymore and fell straight to the ground with his eyes open.
An Eagle Guard stepped forward to check and found that the masked man was no longer breathing.
Meng Xizhou had no choice but to place his last hope on Yunque.
He took out the Golden Creation potion he carried and poured it on Yunque’s wound. He wrapped her wound with a silk handkerchief.
The conditions were limited now, so this was all he could do. Meng Xizhou picked up Yunque and comforted her.
“Hang in there. I’ll take you to a doctor now.”
Yunque reached out with difficulty and handed over a bloodstained silk handkerchief. Her bloodless lips opened and closed as if she were saying something.
Meng Xizhou lowered his head and leaned his ear over.
He heard the girl say, “I’m not Yunque. I don’t want to die.”
Meng Xizhou perked up. She was indeed not Yunque. Duke Lang and the Princess Consort’s guess was right!
Now, as long as she was brought back, she could testify against Noble Consort Shu.
He ran all the way back to the Justice Department.
Meng Xizhou kicked open Lo Pingsha’s residence and roared at the top of his lungs.
“Little Lo! Save this girl. Don’t let her die!”
Meng Xizhou had caused too much commotion, so much so that Yu Niaoniao and Xiao Juan were alarmed.
They arrived at Lo Pingsha’s residence in time to hear him speak in an almost heartless tone.
“She lost a lot of blood. Shee’s dead.”
Meng Xizhou stood by the bed, sweating profusely. His chest and hands were covered in blood.
He was breathing hard. “How is that possible? She just spoke to me. She said she didn’t want to die.”
Lo Pingsha repeated it expressionlessly.
“She’s dead.”
Xiao Juan walked over and placed his finger under Yunque’s nose.
“She’s indeed no longer breathing.”
Meng Xizhou seemed to have lost all his strength and sat on the ground. He looked at the motionless Yunque on the bed and muttered in disbelief.
“How did this happen?”
Thinking of what had just happened, Meng Xizhou became angrier.
He clenched his fists and slammed them against the ground. His tone was filled with hatred and self-reproach.
“We were so close to catching Noble Consort Shu! It’s all my fault. I’m too useless. I couldn’t catch the assassin or save Yunque’s life!” Yu Niaoniao got someone to help Meng Xizhou up.
“Little Meng, you’ve done your best. Go take a shower and rest.”
Meng Xizhou was helped out.
However, he quickly ran back.
“Your Highness, Princess Consort, I forgot to give this to you just now!” As Meng Xizhou spoke, he handed over a blood -stained silk handkerchief.
Yu Niaoniao took the silk handkerchief and looked at it.
This was just a very ordinary white silk handkerchief.
The only thing worth noticing was the two small words embroidered on the corner of the silk handkerchief.
But because it was stained with blood, the two words could not be seen clearly.
Yu Niaoniao ordered someone to bring cold water.
She soaked the silk handkerchief in cold water and added soap juice to rub it gently.
Soon the blood was scrubbed clean.
By the time Yu Niaoniao took the silk handkerchief out of the water, the words on it had become verv clear.
Yu Niaoniao read the two words:
“Anlan. ”
Xiao Juan was deep in thought. “It sounds like a woman’s name.”
In the Dayan Dynasty, silk handkerchiefs were very personal items. Women usually did not wear silk handkerchiefs with someone else’s name embroidered on them.
Yu Niaoniao guessed, “This should be her original name.”
This guess coincided with Xiao Juan’s.
He immediately said, “I’ll go to the palace now.”
After Xiao Juan entered the palace, he went straight to the Imperial Attendant Division.
There were records of all the palace maids and eunuchs in the palace in the Internal Affairs Division. Xiao Juan ordered someone to check all the roster. In the end, the heavens did not disappoint. They really found a palace maid called Anlan.
This palace maid was a third-grade palace maid in the Crystal Spring Palace. She was in charge of serving tea, water, and cleaning.
Xiao Juan went to the Biquan Palace to meet Empress Dowager Deng, hoping to see Anlan.
Queen Mother Deng seemed to have expected him and reacted very calmly.
“Anlan was seriously ill. I was afraid that she would spread it to others, so I got someone to send her out of the palace.”
Xiao Juan asked, “Since Anlan is from the Crystal Spring Palace, why is she in the Startling Palace? Moreover, she claims to be Yunque?”
Empress Dowager Deng said indifferently, “Is there such a thing? I don’t know what’s going on. If you want to know, just ask Anlan herself.”
“Anlan is dead.”
Queen Mother Deng’s expression did not change. “I see. That’s a pity.”
Xiao Juan continued, “Anlan is only a third-grade palace maid. Without the permission of the higher-ups, she doesn’t have the guts to run to the Startling
Palace, let alone rashly replace Yunque’s identity.”
Empress Dowager Deng frowned slightly, showing some dissatisfaction. “Are you suspecting that I harmed Anlan?”
Xiao Juan lowered his head. “I wouldn’t dare. I’m just puzzled. I hope to get the right answer from you.”
Empress Dowager Deng said, “As the Empress Dowager, how would I know about a small palace maid? No matter how many times you ask, I’ll say the same thing. I don’t know..”
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