Chapter 359: Shocking Secret (4)

The two didn't say anything else and walked out of the silk weaving house together. Gu Yun remained silent. Zhuo Qing laughed softly: "Did you think of something?"

Gu Yun shook her head and replied: "That Imperial Concubine was close to the Empress, so why would her personal maid attack the Empress? The death of Qiu Lan seven years ago is suspicious, and perhaps it also has something to do with this case. First find Hui Jun and interrogate her, there should be progress."

Gu Yun always felt that the clues left by this case seemed quite a lot, but it was like a buried line, leading them in one direction. However, Gu Yun was not too confused or irritable. When investigating a case, she was not afraid of many clues, but afraid of no clues. She could always find a breakthrough from them.

When the two arrived at the Heavenly Prison, it was already evening. The guards saw two women walking over and immediately stepped forward, speaking unkindly: "Who are you? The Heavenly Prison is a heavy place, idlers are not allowed to approach."

"Presumptuous." The old eunuch sent by Gao Jin stepped forward and shouted loudly: "These two are the wives of Prime Minister Lou and General Su. They are here to investigate the case by imperial decree. Why don't you call your Master Zhang out."

Hearing Prime Minister Lou and the General's Mansion, the guard's arrogance immediately dropped a large section, and he hurriedly nodded and said yes, running in to report.

Gu Yun and Zhuo Qing looked at each other, both feeling quite helpless. Sure enough, in this palace, nothing was more important than "identity."

After a while, a tall man walked out from inside. Seeing them, he immediately greeted them, speaking very politely, or even flatteringly, "So it's the two Mistresses, this subordinate was rude, rude."

Gu Yun didn't exchange pleasantries with him and said: "I want to see a female prisoner named Hui Jun."

"Hui Jun?" Zhang Chenyang frowned, slightly hesitant, "This..." There were so many prisoners in the Heavenly Prison, how could he remember the names? It was just that he really knew this Hui Jun. Ten days ago, Consort Qing came to see that woman once, so he had some impression. That woman had been locked up for six or seven years, why were so many people thinking about her now?

Seeing the doubt and delay in his eyes, Gu Yun said coldly: "We can't see this person?"

"No, no, no." Zhang Chenyang waved his hands repeatedly. Not to mention that they were the sisters of Consort Qing, whom he couldn't afford to offend, he couldn't afford to offend Prime Minister Lou and General Su even more. Zhang Chenyang hurriedly smiled: "Naturally, you can see her, but she has been crazy since she was locked up, and this subordinate is afraid of scaring the two Mistresses."

Having walked for a day, Zhuo Qing was a bit tired and said coldly: "Just take us to see her."

"Yes, yes." Zhang Chenyang didn't talk nonsense anymore and took them to a cell in the depths of the Heavenly Prison, pushing open the heavy iron door.

Gu Yun pressed Zhuo Qing's shoulder and said: "I'll go in first." Judging from Zhang Chenyang's meaning, Hui Jun might be crazy, so it was better not to let Qing take risks.

Gu Yun walked into the cell and found that the cell was very dark, with only a small window that could let light in. It was already evening outside, and the cell was so dark that she could barely see things. Gu Yun vigilantly watched the surroundings. After adapting to the darkness, she found that there was no one in this cell at all. Just as she was about to question Zhang Chenyang, he poked his head out and pointed to the depths of the cell, replying: "Two Mistresses, just ask in this room, she is in the room inside, separated by wooden railings, it's safer."

Following the direction Zhang Chenyang pointed, Gu Yun found that there was indeed another cell behind the wooden railing, but the cell was too dark and very quiet, so she hadn't noticed it.

Hearing that they were separated by wooden railings, Zhuo Qing also walked in and said to Zhang Chenyang, who was standing outside the door full of curiosity: "You go out first."

Zhang Chenyang smiled awkwardly and nodded: "Yes."

After the people outside the door left, Gu Yun and Zhuo Qing looked at the cell that was completely swallowed by darkness. They just stood there, but there was no movement in the dark. Zhuo Qing looked at Gu Yun suspiciously, asking silently, is there really someone inside?

Gu Yun nodded, she heard the extremely suppressed breathing in the corner. Pulling Zhuo Qing away from the wooden railing, Gu Yun walked toward the dark place and called in a low voice: "Hui Jun?"

Because of this call, heavy breathing immediately came from the darkness, not knowing if it was because of fear or surprise. But she could only hear the restlessness in the dark, but couldn't see anyone.

Gu Yun thought about it, took out the silk handkerchief from her sleeve, and asked: "Have you seen this silk handkerchief?" To let the person inside see clearly, Gu Yun specially walked to the small window where the light could shine in.

The moment Gu Yun unfolded the silk handkerchief, she expected that the person in the darkness couldn't remain indifferent, but she didn't expect that as soon as the silk handkerchief was unfolded, a black shadow immediately rushed out from the dark, and a hand like a reed stick reached through the railing, trying to grab the silk handkerchief in her hand.

"Who are you—"

The hoarse voice was as harsh as being crushed by a wheel. The woman who was lying behind the wooden railing had an abnormally pale face, her body was thin and clearly malnourished, her hair was dry and sparse, and her bloodshot eyes stared straight at the silk handkerchief in Gu Yun's hand, as if her eyeballs were about to pop out.

"Who are you!" While shouting, the woman clawed at Gu Yun.

Although she looked terrifying, Gu Yun didn't take a step back, but she was a bit headache now. This person's eyes were unfocused and her behavior was manic, and her mental state should be abnormal. The difficulty of interrogating such a person was not small and very likely to have no harvest. A slight weight on her shoulder, Gu Yun turned her head, Zhuo Qing blinked at her and laughed: "Let me come."

Gu Yun nodded, handed the silk handkerchief to Zhuo Qing, and after confirming that she was standing in a position where she wouldn't be grabbed by the woman, she quietly retreated to the side.

"Hui Jun, calm down, we have no malice, just want to ask you a few questions." Qingfeng's voice was still cold, but the tone was gentle, and the speed was very slow.

The woman still stared at the silk handkerchief in Zhuo Qing's hand, rushing and bumping crazily, turning a deaf ear to Zhuo Qing's words.

Zhuo Qing frowned slightly. It looked like a psychogenic mental disorder. Zhuo Qing put away the silk handkerchief. Losing the source of stimulation, Hui Jun finally turned her gaze to Zhuo Qing, but those eyes were still gloomy and straight. Zhuo Qing seized the opportunity, met her gaze, and continued to say in a soothing voice: "You recognize this silk handkerchief, right? Is it the Imperial Concubine's handkerchief?"

The two looked at each other. Gu Yun could feel that Hui Jun seemed to have calmed down a bit, but didn't answer Zhuo Qing's question.

"Do you know Yiyue?"

Zhuo Qing continued to ask. Hui Jun's hollow black eyes were still staring at her, her mouth moved slightly, but there was no sound.

The sky was getting darker and darker, and no one spoke anymore. The cell was so quiet that only Hui Jun's slightly heavy breathing could be heard. Gu Yun leaned against the wall and waited quietly.

"What did you go to the Empress's palace to find that year?" After a long time, Zhuo Qing's voice rang out again. Compared to before, her voice was no longer gentle, faintly revealing a sense of control.

"Find a letter..."

The hoarse voice was pressed very low.

"What letter?"

"Letter..." Hui Jun muttered, thin sweat seeping out on her forehead.

"What does the letter say?" Zhuo Qing concretized the question. Hui Jun had already calmed down, but at this moment she started to be restless again, her hands hanging by her sides clenched into fists, her pale face full of horror, "No... that's a secret, a secret... if you say it, you will die!"

Another secret? Gu Yun tightened her arms slightly and continued to listen.

Hui Jun's emotional fluctuations were intense. Zhuo Qing immediately changed the question, "Did you find the letter?"

"Found it." Hui Jun answered this question very quickly.

"Where is the letter now?"

"In... in..." Hui Jun didn't know what she thought of, and her deep black eyes were once again stained with crazy colors, her voice so loud it was like screaming, "Blood... so much blood! Red! Red... red red!"

"Hui Jun?" Zhuo Qing still wanted to say something, but Hui Jun suddenly squatted down, curled herself up, held her head with her hands, and shivered, saying over and over: "I don't know, I don't know anything, don't kill me, don't kill me!"

Zhuo Qing suddenly took a step back. Gu Yun hurriedly stepped forward to support her. Zhuo Qing looked very exhausted and shook her head, saying: "She won't be able to ask anything like this, let's go."

Gu Yun looked at the woman who had shrunk into the corner and could only nod, supporting Zhuo Qing out of the prison.

Outside, it was already late, and the cool autumn wind was blowing slowly, accompanied by a few wisps of faint floral fragrance. Both of them let out a long sigh, spitting out the stuffy and turbid air in their chests. The unpleasant smell and dim light in the prison were oppressive.

Having been busy all day, Zhuo Qing was a bit physically exhausted. Gu Yun supported her to walk to the palace gate, and while walking, asked: "Can Hui Jun's situation be cured?"

Zhuo Qing was silent for a while and sighed: "It will take a lot of time. In the current environment, she will only get worse and worse."

Gu Yun recalled and organized Hui Jun's reactions and words just now, trying to extract clues from them, "Her situation, how much of what she said is credible?"

"I tried to hypnotize her just now, but the effect was not very good. In her situation, she wouldn't lie. However, there are many logical confusions or things she imagined in her words, which can easily mislead you."

Gu Yun nodded and said the basic results of the investigation these days and her own speculation, "Yiyue's death and Hui Jun's madness are both because of the 'secret'. And it should be a secret related to the Empress. The key point may be in a letter."

"Another secret." The two looked at each other and smiled.

On that side, Zhuo Qing and Gu Yun left the palace, and on this side, Ruyi had already reported today's movements to Qingfeng, "Mistress, Prime Minister Lou's wife and Miss Qing went to the silk weaving house this afternoon, and then went to the Heavenly Prison, staying for half an hour before coming out."

Qingfeng listened quietly, and after a long time, said: "You go down."

"Yes." Ruyi nodded and retreated.

Their movements were faster than she expected. Qingfeng's hand gently stroked the warm jade that never left her body, but there was no temperature in her eyes. Just keep investigating like this, don't let her down.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 360 =====