Chapter 117

What is the difference.

Yin Fengzhan had occupied Nie Jinxuan's bed, so she had to go to Xiao Xiu's room to rest for the night.

Early the next morning, Nie Jinxuan got up, washed and dressed, and first ordered Zhongli to help bring the neighbors found yesterday to identify the body. Then she got into the carriage and headed straight for the palace!

However, this time, the person Nie Jinxuan was going to see in the palace was not Emperor Shuncheng in the Imperial Study, nor Consort Zhang in the Yongxin Palace, but Empress Duan in the Deyang Palace.

Deyang Palace, the residence of Empress Duan of the current Dongling dynasty. Compared to the elegance of Yongxin Palace, Deyang Palace had an indescribable majesty and grandeur!

At this moment, standing at the entrance of Deyang Palace, Nie Jinxuan took a deep breath, and after the eunuch's announcement, she walked in! But the moment she walked into the side hall of Deyang Palace, Nie Jinxuan was stunned, because at this moment, besides Empress Duan sitting in the main seat, there was someone else sitting beside her, and that person was none other than the Crown Princess, Zhen Xiao Lian.

Nie Jinxuan hadn't expected to run into Zhen Xiao Lian here. But she composed herself and stepped forward to bow to Empress Duan.

"Greetings, Empress."

"Oh, so it's you, I was wondering who it was... Rise."

Looking at Nie Jinxuan bowing before her, Empress Duan said in a loud voice. Hearing this, Nie Jinxuan slowly straightened up, and then she heard Empress Duan say:

"Alright, speak, you wouldn't come here for no reason. I imagine you have something to find me for today, what is it, speak~!"

Although Empress Duan didn't know why Nie Jinxuan had come today, she could tell that Nie Jinxuan definitely had a reason. Hearing this, Nie Jinxuan didn't stand on ceremony, nodded respectfully, and said slowly:

"Reporting to the Empress, I have come to disturb you today because there are some matters I wish to confirm with you..."

Nie Jinxuan replied neither humbly nor arrogantly. As she spoke, she paused and scanned the other palace servants in the side hall. Seeing this, Empress Duan naturally understood Nie Jinxuan's meaning, glanced at Xiangyi beside her, and saw Xiangyi nod in understanding, then dismiss the palace servants serving in the room.

In the blink of an eye, only Empress Duan, Xiangyi, Crown Princess Zhen Xiao Lian, and Nie Jinxuan remained in the side hall. At this moment, seeing that Zhen Xiao Lian hadn't left, Nie Jinxuan didn't say anything, pursed her lips, and looked up at Empress Duan.

"Reporting to the Empress, I have come to disturb you today because I wish to ask you about the incident at Zuixiashanzhuang, where you encountered Consort Tong in the garden and had a conflict!"

Without any unnecessary chatter, Nie Jinxuan asked straight to the point. Hearing this, Empress Duan raised an eyebrow and looked at Nie Jinxuan with a flash in her eyes.

"How about that? Are you suspecting me, Princess Consort of Prince Chen?"

"I dare not!"

"Dare not? Since you dare not, why say such things?"

At this moment, Empress Duan's voice remained calm, but it was instinctively oppressive. Hearing this, Nie Jinxuan frowned slightly and explained:

"Reporting to the Empress, I think you have misunderstood. But here, I can say with certainty that I know Consort Tong's death has nothing to do with you! Or rather, at the very least, you are not the culprit who murdered Consort Tong!"

Nie Jinxuan said this with certainty. As soon as she finished, Empress Duan's eyes flashed, and she slowly sat up straight in her seat.

"Oh? I truly didn't expect the Princess Consort of Prince Chen to trust me so much? That is truly surprising to me!"

In fact, for these past few days, Empress Duan had been quite frustrated. Because after Consort Tong's death, although Emperor Shuncheng hadn't accused Empress Duan of anything, because Empress Duan had long been at odds with Consort Tong, many people in the palace instinctively believed that Consort Tong had been murdered by Empress Duan!

Of course, these people wouldn't say it openly, but Empress Duan, despite being the Empress of a nation and in charge of the harem, couldn't stop the mouths of the masses! Therefore, when the palace servants reported that Nie Jinxuan had come to find her today, Empress Duan had assumed Nie Jinxuan was also here to question her!

It was just that Empress Duan hadn't expected Nie Jinxuan to mention Consort Tong's matter, yet be so certain she wasn't the culprit, which was completely unexpected!

Empress Duan was very surprised. At this moment, seeing Empress Duan's reaction, Nie Jinxuan pursed her lips and said:

"Reporting to the Empress, I do not trust you, I only trust the evidence. And the existing evidence proves that the culprit who murdered Consort Tong has nothing to do with you, so naturally, I would not suspect you!"

"Oh, so that's how it is... Very well, since you've said so, I am curious. Since you are not suspecting me, why ask about the dispute between me and Consort Tong? Could it be that the dispute between me and Consort Tong is related to her murder?"

"Reporting to the Empress, whether it is related or not, I do not know yet. Only after you tell me the truth can we distinguish one from the other!"

Facing Empress Duan, Nie Jinxuan's expression remained unchanged. At this moment, Empress Duan narrowed her eyes and looked at Nie Jinxuan quietly...

For a time, the side hall of Deyang Palace fell into silence. After a long while, Empress Duan, who had been staring at Nie Jinxuan, moved her eyes and said in a low voice:

"Very well, since you've said so, I will believe you... Ask, I will tell you the truth!"

"Yes! Thank you, Empress!"

Bowing again, Nie Jinxuan instantly composed herself and asked earnestly:

"May I ask, Empress, why did you go to the garden that day?"

"There was no reason, I just wanted to walk."

"Then did you know you would run into Consort Tong there? Or, to put it more bluntly, did you go there because you knew Consort Tong would be there?"

"Heh... of course not!"

Empress Duan laughed coldly and refuted Nie Jinxuan's words, then continued:

"I should say, I knew the exact opposite. Consort Tong never liked going to the garden, let alone the garden at Zuixiashanzhuang, she rarely went to the gardens in our harem! And it was precisely because of this that I went that day! Because as you know, I have always had a grudge against Consort Tong, and since it was the Spring Sacrifice, I naturally wouldn't lower myself to her level."

Empress Duan said it quite bluntly. Hearing this, Nie Jinxuan's eyes flashed.

"So, you must have been very surprised to run into Consort Tong in the garden that day!"

"A little! However, it didn't matter. She is just a small fourth-rank Consort, even if she has the Emperor's favor, she wouldn't dare to be presumptuous before me! I just didn't expect that for some reason, Consort Tong acted like she had grown thorns that day, not only taking the initiative to talk to me but also being disrespectful... So, in the end, I ordered her to reflect in her room!"

Empress Duan said proudly, and as she spoke, she leaned back elegantly.

"So, that's what happened that day. I didn't touch Consort Tong with a single finger. If you don't believe me, Princess Consort, you can confirm it with others. There were many people in the garden that day who can testify for me!"

"You are too serious, Empress. I believe what you say is true! However..."

Lowering her head, Nie Jinxuan responded, but then changed the subject.

"However, may I ask, Empress, did you notice anything different about Consort Tong that day?"

"Different? What do you mean by that?"

"Uh... just anything different from usual, the way she spoke, her makeup, every aspect, anything different... May I ask if you noticed?"

"Uh... this..."

For a time, Empress Duan was stunned by Nie Jinxuan's question, then frowned and hesitated. At this moment, Xiangyi, the palace maid standing beside Empress Duan, said in a low voice:

"Uh... please forgive this servant for speaking out of turn, but hearing the Princess Consort say this, I do remember something..."

"Oh? What is it? Speak freely!"

"Yes... this servant went to the garden with the Empress that day. I remember Consort Tong was wearing very bright clothes that day, much more eye-catching than usual. Her voice was slightly lower than usual..."

Recalling the events of that day, Xiangyi spoke in a low voice. Hearing this, Nie Jinxuan hurriedly asked again:

"And her face? Was there anything different about her face?"

"No... her makeup was just a bit heavier, and there was nothing else... By the way, I felt her speech was much more refined than before, although she was being disrespectful, she quoted classics, which I found strange at the time. Because although Consort Tong had amazing dancing skills, her talent was not presentable, which is no secret in the palace, so hearing Consort Tong say that that day felt quite strange..."

Xiangyi said, then glanced at Empress Duan beside her, and then Empress Duan echoed:

"Hmm, if you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten, it really was like that..."

Pursing her lips and recalling the situation at the time, the Empress nodded, but then looked up at Nie Jinxuan.

"How about it? Do you feel something is wrong, Princess Consort?"

"Reporting to the Empress, I am just investigating the events of that day in detail to find clues. But the clues are still very limited, so I cannot draw a conclusion yet."

"Oh, so that's how it is..."

Responding slightly, Empress Duan narrowed her eyes...

Afterward, Nie Jinxuan spoke a few more words with Empress Duan and then turned to leave. After Nie Jinxuan left, Crown Princess Zhen Xiao Lian didn't stay long and also left.

In the blink of an eye, only Empress Duan and Xiangyi remained in the side hall. Only then did Empress Duan's face darken.

"Xiangyi, what do you think the Princess Consort of Prince Chen came here for today?"

Empress Duan spoke in a low voice, then glanced at Xiangyi beside her. At this moment, Xiangyi frowned and said in a low voice:

"It's hard to say! But one thing is certain, what the Princess Consort of Prince Chen said should be the truth, she shouldn't be targeting you, Empress!"

"Hmm, I saw that too. It seems she is really different from that woman in Yongxin Palace. I originally thought they were in the same boat, but now it seems this Princess Consort of Prince Chen is quite interesting... But tell me, if she wasn't targeting me today, what was the meaning of those questions? I feel a bit confused?"

"Uh... this servant can't say, but I feel that as long as it's not targeting you, Empress, why should you care? After all, if the Princess Consort of Prince Chen really catches the true culprit, wouldn't that be a good thing for you, Empress?"

"Hmm, that makes sense!"

Hearing Xiangyi say this, Empress Duan nodded and slowly closed her eyes...

Leaving Deyang Palace, Nie Jinxuan looked calm on the surface, but her heart was in turmoil.

Because, just now from Empress Duan, Nie Jinxuan had learned a very important clue, that is, the person who had the dispute with Empress Duan that day was likely not Consort Tong, but...

But could such a thing really happen in this world?

However, it was too early to say these things. Only after waiting for those villagers outside the city to confirm whether Bi Yao was the Bi Yao they knew could she make a final judgment!

Nie Jinxuan thought to herself and quickened her pace... But just then, a familiar soft call came from behind her.

"Princess Consort of Prince Chen, please stay!"

The pleasant voice and gentle tone, Nie Jinxuan knew who it was without turning around. Nie Jinxuan paused and turned to look at Crown Princess Zhen Xiao Lian, who was walking over from behind.

"Is the Crown Princess calling me? May I ask what important matter you have?"

Nie Jinxuan didn't want to say much to Zhen Xiao Lian, so she spoke straight to the point. Hearing this, Crown Princess Zhen Xiao Lian didn't seem surprised, stepped forward, and said slowly:

"There is no important matter, I just wanted to talk to the Princess Consort of Prince Chen..."

"I see, then since the Crown Princess has no important matter, I will take my leave."

Saying this, Nie Jinxuan turned to leave. Seeing this, Zhen Xiao Lian hurriedly called out to stop her.

"Please wait, Princess Consort of Prince Chen, actually, actually I do have something I want to say to you! That is, regarding the previous incident, I hope the Princess Consort of Prince Chen hasn't told anyone else..."