Farewell Flower Festival

Qian Feng found out that the person who delivered dinner to Zhao Huan that day was Zhou Hua, which surprised him a little because the other party was one of Mu Tianling's subordinates.

When he arrived at Zhou Hua's house, his wife had already been murdered and the body was in the yard. Before he could go into the house to check what happened, a group of officials suddenly broke in and surrounded him. Without any investigation, they insisted that he was the murderer. It was obviously a trap.

"Your people didn't see who killed the person, so how can you conclude that Qian Feng is the murderer?" Mu Tianling also expressed doubts about the origin of the letter. "Did Lord Yuan know Zhou Hua before? Otherwise, he wouldn't trust you so much and ask you to send people to protect his wife?"

Governor Yuan said: "The people of the Nine Punishments Department have always known that I am impartial and will not show favoritism to anyone just because of their status."

Mu Tianling snorted and laughed, "Then wait until you have solid evidence before arresting him. I want to take him away now."

After the two men stared at each other for a few seconds, Governor Yuan smiled and waved his hand, asking the two officers blocking Qianfeng to make way. Mu Tianling walked over and drew out the sword of one of them, cut the rope tied to Qianfeng with one sword, and threw the sword back into the scabbard.

When Mu Tianling was about to take Qianfeng away, an official came to report that Chief Eunuch Xiao from the Inner Court had arrived.

"I almost forgot that I have already reported the poisoning to the emperor." Governor Yuan said.

Mu Tianling said: "Your Excellency is really eager to make achievements."

After Xiao Ting brought his men over, he informed the two that he would take over the investigation of the poisoning case and asked them to hand over all the authenticated physical evidence they had collected to him.

Governor Yuan handed over the confession written by Zhou Hua. After Xiao Ting read the contents of the letter, Governor Yuan mentioned Zhou's murder again, implying that Qian Feng was the murderer. Qian Feng recounted what happened after he arrived at Zhou Hua's house and swore that he was not the murderer.

After listening to the testimonies of both parties, Xiao Ting believed that Qian Feng's suspicion could not be completely ruled out, so he asked him to go back to the Inner Court for investigation later.

"I heard that Your Highness has captured a witness." Xiao Ting's sharp eyes swept towards Mu Tianling. Mu Tianling gave an order and asked one of his men to bring the person over. Then Fei Yu brought the person over.

As soon as he saw Mu Tianling, Zhou Hua was furious and tried to rush over like a madman, but was caught by Fei Yu.

"This is the steward Xiao from the palace. If you have any grievances, please tell us and he will take care of it for you." Governor Yuan said in a soothing tone.

Zhou Hua confessed in person that the mastermind behind the poisoning was Mu Tianling, who ordered everything. He also threatened him with his wife's life and promised that after the incident, he would arrange for the couple to leave the capital and would not let anyone trace him back. However, he did not expect the other party to go back on his word and want to kill him to silence him.

"If I remember correctly, you should be one of my subordinates, and I have never treated you harshly. Why do you want to frame me?" Mu Tianling said.

Zhou Hua sneered, "Your Highness, why do you have to pretend to be so hypocritical? Your Highness knows whether it is a false accusation or not."

Mu Tianling said: "If this was really my order, you wouldn't be here alive now."

Zhou Hua sneered and said, "It's just that your Highness was unlucky and failed to eradicate the problem completely."

"What nonsense!" Qian Feng angrily rebuked the other party's lies and questioned, "What good will it bring to you to frame His Highness?"

Zhou Hua stared coldly at Qian Feng, "You killed my wife, and you want to kill me to silence me."

"So you just abandoned your wife and ran for your own life?" Mu Tianling said lightly.

Zhou Hua frowned and said nothing.

Xiao Ting had Qian Feng and Zhou Hua brought back to the Inner Court for questioning. Before Zhou Hua was taken away, Mu Tianling asked him, "Don't you regret it?" Zhou Hua did not answer.

Xiao Ting made a gesture of invitation to Mu Tianling, "Since this concerns your highness's reputation, please follow me into the palace."

……

In the afternoon, Chaoyan heard news from Eunuch Wu that Mu Tianling was detained in the palace and the reason was related to Zhao Huan's poisoning.

Chaoyan thought that he must have been framed. Qianfeng and Feiyu did not come back to report the news, so they were probably detained in the palace. She wanted to go to the Jiuxing Division to find Captain Yu to find out the inside story, but she didn't know that Captain Yu was still guarding Zhao Huan in the Marquis's Mansion.

Eunuch Wu asked her to wait for news in the mansion while he went out to find out.

Not long after Eunuch Wu left, Han Lie came to visit, saying that he was passing by and came to see Zhao Yan, and brought her some snacks from Xinghuazhai. She didn't believe that he was just passing by, and said straight to the point, "Your Highness has been detained in the palace." She asked anxiously, "What's going on? Is it the Zhao father and son who framed them?"

Han Lie said, "It's not clear whether it's a frame-up or not, but," he paused here to keep people suspenseful, his fox eyes twitching with an intriguing smile, "How about this, I'll tell you what I know, and you have to treat me to a meal."

He could still afford a meal, so Chaoyan readily agreed. The next moment, he added, "I want you to cook yourself." Chaoyan thought about it for a few seconds and agreed.

Han Lie told her everything he knew.

First, someone poisoned Zhao Huan's food, and then Zhou Hua stopped Mu Tianling at the door of the Marquis' Mansion and admitted that he was the one who poisoned the food.

Governor Yuan of the Nine Punishments Department received a letter of confession in which Zhou Hua said that he was instructed by someone.

Qian Feng killed his wife and was caught on the spot by Governor Yuan's men.

The case is now being heard by the Inner Court.

"It's a trap, it's all a trap!" Chao Yan slammed the table angrily, as angry as a cat with its fur standing on end.

Han Lie looked at her angrily with interest and asked, "Little Lianzi believes in the Fourth Prince so much, what if it was really the Fourth Prince who ordered it?"

As soon as the voice fell, Chao Yan answered with three words, "Impossible." She drank a cup of tea in one breath, calmed down a little and asked, "When will His Highness be back?"

Han Lie said: "It depends on whether the emperor believes the Fourth Prince."

Chao Yan said: "The innocent are innocent. No matter whether others believe it or not, if you didn't do it, you didn't do it."

Han Lie smiled and said, "Little Lianzi is still too naive. Nothing is black and white, especially for a prince like the Fourth Prince who came out of the cold palace. He has to be on guard against being stabbed in the back at all times." At this point, he stretched out his tone meaningfully, "Even if it's the person next to you, you have to be on guard."

Chao Yan stared at his cunning fox eyes for three seconds and asked a soul-searching question, "Were you cheated of money and sex by the person next to you before?"

Han Lie chuckled and reached out to pat Chao Yan's head, but she quickly dodged. He withdrew his hand as if nothing had happened and said, "Since Xiao Lianzi wants to cook herself, I will help you go to the Marquis' Mansion to find out the situation." Chao Yan thanked him sincerely. Han Lie wanted to touch her head again, but still failed.