Chapter 332: 334. Chapter 334: Overnight Investigation

334. Chapter 334: Overnight Investigation

At Feng Xuanrui's age, he already understands many things.

Feng Xuanshang thought for a moment, then said without concealment: "Where you were digging, you uncovered a skeleton."

Although he had some guesses in mind, when he actually heard it, Feng Xuanrui inhaled sharply, his eyes widened, and he pointed at that direction: "That…that…that…"

He wanted to ask something, but for a moment he didn't know how to phrase it.

Seeing him like that, Feng Xuanshang nodded lightly and said warmly: "Don't worry, Uncle Wang has already sent a letter to the palace; someone will come to investigate and will clear the person's innocence."

What Feng Xuanrui was truly worried about wasn't this.

However, he couldn't articulate what he feared, and after a moment of thought, he honestly lay back down.

Feng Xuanshang was amused by his demeanor, flipped through the storybook he had brought, and asked with a smile: "Alright, Xiao Liu, what would you like to hear?"

Feng Xuanrui thought for a moment and chose one of the books.

Feng Xuanshang's gentle tone rose quickly.

Feng Xuanrui was actually very sleepy, but he forced himself to stay awake, hoping for a result he was curious about.

Now the result was out; although his heart was uneasy, in the end sleep overcame him, and after a short while, accompanied by the low murmur of reading, he fell asleep.

Seeing him asleep, Feng Xuanshang sat for a while longer, then got up to extinguish the lamp, instructed the servants to keep watch so the two children wouldn't have any mishap, and then had a palace attendant carry the lamp out.

Feng Xuanshang already knew that the Crown Prince had brought people over; he had to make an appearance here.

So, after soothing the two children, Feng Xuanshang hurried toward the Northwest corner.

The Crown Prince arrived with the Jingzhao Prefect's forensic examiner and top investigators from Da Li Si, aiming to identify the skeleton's identity as soon as possible.

If it is Princess Yangyang…

That would also settle one of their concerns.

If not, it's nothing.

Over the years, disappointments have been many, and another wouldn't bother them.

When Feng Xuanshang passed by, the forensic examiner was still examining.

Age, gender—those are easy to determine; the pubic bone and other positions differ, making them fairly distinguishable.

But for more details, various studies are needed, even procedures like steaming.

Watching the examiner's movements, Feng Xuanshang felt his scalp go numb.

After he went over, he first presented his respects to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince curled his lips slightly, raised his hand in a subtle gesture, and after a brief exchange between the two brothers, everyone turned their attention back to the examiner's work.

The Da Li Si representatives were still at the pit at this moment.

They would not let even the slightest evidence slip by.

Thus, in the dead of night, the lanterns lit around the pit were all still digging.

Feng Xuanshang had already had suspicions, and now the Crown Prince's grand mobilization made it clear something was afoot.

It might even be that it's truly Aunt Princess Yangyang.

Back then the Su clan's nine families were slaughtered, and Cangzhou's lands were almost swept clean, yet they never found the aunt's remains.

If the one before us truly is, that would be a good thing, right?

Thinking of that possibility, Feng Xuanshang's breathing tightened.

But not a hint showed on his face, and he didn't say another word, lest the final outcome be otherwise and disappoint everyone again.

The forensic examiner toiled for most of the night and then delivered the final result.

"The woman's age is roughly between twenty and thirty; my personal judgment places her under twenty‑five. However, the skeleton has been exposed for a while, many determinations may be inaccurate, so the age range is broadened a bit."

"She had given birth; judging by the pelvis, it appears to have been a difficult delivery."

"She had taken medication for a long time before death, causing severe discoloration of the ribs. Those drugs aren't necessarily poison; they could be due to poor health requiring long‑term medication, or they could be harmful drugs—this can no longer be verified."

"The little finger bone is outside because of improper handling; it was crushed by the box's edge and fell out. The person who buried it likely didn't notice, so …"

……

Prince Qi listened, his expression growing darker.

The Crown Prince's complexion also turned unpleasant.

These pieces of information…

All match.

Princess Yangyang indeed died in childbirth back then.

Of course, this was the Su family's report to Jing Cheng.

At that time, the succession struggle had ended, His Majesty had ascended the throne, and was clearing out the various factions.

Regarding the information the Su family submitted, though sorrowful, there was little doubt.

Naturally, because the Su family colluded with the Late Emperor's concubine faction, investigating them was inevitable.

Not long after, Princess Yangyang's trusted maid, wounded, fled back to Jing Cheng and brought back the princess's true cause of death.

Prince Consort Su Leng had long had a beloved; seeking to marry Princess Yangyang was driven only by profit, compounded by the Late Emperor's concubine faction's scheming.

After cooperation among the parties, the final outcome was produced.

Cangzhou was remote; after Princess Yangyang married there, it truly was a place where the heavens were high and the emperor was distant, and no one could intervene.

Su Leng initially pretended, but not long after, unwilling to wrong his beloved, he stopped pretending outright.

Su Leng brought his beloved back to the manor, treating her as the true young lady of the Su household, and the servants also regarded her as such.

At that time, the succession struggle in Jing Cheng had reached a fever pitch, and Princess Yangyang was also pregnant.

She didn't want her royal brother to worry about her situation, so she reported only the good news, not the worries.

However, Princess Yangyang wasn't a fool; she also had preparations in secret.

If the situation turns out wrong, they will certainly have to report the Su family's matter to Jing Cheng.

Princess Yangyang was forced by Su Leng and her beloved into an early delivery and then a difficult birth, ending in one corpse and two deaths.

The child's skeletal remains were found years ago, and the Emperor carefully gave them a burial.

Although the child carried half Su family blood, it was ultimately the child that Princess Yangyang risked her life to bring into the world, so it should still be properly buried to let the princess be at ease.

Princess Yangyang had already made arrangements: if she were to die unexpectedly, she would have a trusted maid take the evidence back to Jing Cheng!

Evidence of the Su family colluding with the consort faction, and evidence of the Su family colluding with foreign tribes in Cangzhou.

Princess Yangyang divided these into four copies and handed them to four trusted maidservants.

Of the four, three died on the road fleeing back to Jing, and only one maid, who escaped back to Jing Cheng against all odds, reported the evidence and the princess's condition to the newly enthroned His Majesty!

With the ready evidence and the death of his own sister, His Majesty is not at all lenient in dealing with the Su family.

However, after the Su family discovered the matter was exposed, they secretly hid the corpse of Princess Yangyang.

They would rather have all nine clans wiped out cleanly than reveal a single word about the princess's corpse!

At that time, the consort faction in Jing Cheng had already been purged.

However, some remnants may still exist, so they gave the Su family a hand, hiding the body in the Royal annex, concealed right under the eyes of the royal crowd!

If these bones truly belong to Princess Yangyang, then the Su family really are murderers and heartless.

Da Li Si is still investigating the details, hoping to find something for comparison and thereby infer the identity of the bones.