So It's Him, But Why?

Hongyue lowered her line of sight and gradually retreated away as the Crown Prince moved closer to the scene. It appeared like her father had some strange plans for her and this Crown Prince. Feeling on guard, Hongyue reflected for a short minute. This general probably wanted to kill her off and have the prince witness it, but why?

Shortly a physician hurried to join the scene. The old physician started examining the dead body with rough movements before he turned to the general. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face.

"It resembles to be poisoning...these are indications of a rare poison, I believe. However, I don't detect any poison inside the body," The doctor exclaimed, confused. This was unlike anything he saw, what else was he to say?

The general glanced warily at his daughter. He also felt like something wasn't right, but he wasn't all that convinced.

"Poisoning? Are you sure?" He questioned carefully.

"This body exhibits symptoms of poisoning, yet it also holds marks of a strong attack. Her body is scorching hot. Even more than a high fever, however, her skin isn't burned, so I can't assume it was a magic attack. Likewise, I can't assume it's poison either. I cannot conclude anything at the moment, please give me more time."

The doctor's answer was more than unsettling. The general turned to Hongyue, "My daughter, did you see anything?"

Hongyue hung down her head, softly answering obediently, "No, but that servant dropped this gold piece when she died."

The general widened his eyes and quickly took away the gold. He was more than just shaken at the sudden appearance of the money.

"Are...you su-" He faltered, finding himself unable to articulate.

"Oh? Isn't this a gold piece gifted to you from my father's treasury?" The Crown Prince intervened. The prince flipped his wrist, swinging his fan open. The silver trimmed fan covered a smile that began to arc up. His eyes sparkled in excitement. He only came out today to chat with the General over matters of recent warfares. Who would have thought he'll see such a show occurring?

"Thi-"

"How can it be in a dirty servant's hand? Do you not put my father, the Emperor, in your eyes anymore?!" The crown prince challenged the general with his curt words.

"It's a misunderstanding! Perhaps the servant stol-" The general tried to defend himself.

"Oh, so are you saying your manor filled with grade three soldiers can't even guard a single gold piece?" The Crown Prince condemned, his eye seemed to burn into the general's head.

Hongyue frowned.

For an extra person to watch the show, it wasn't such a big deal. It's just that, the person in question, kept interrupting her play. It was becoming unquestionably irritating.

What did he want out of this?

Gently testing the water, she tilted her head and carefully spoke, "Father, our treasury is carefully protected by such strong guards. Could it be that the servant was a spy? But if she is, Concubine Mei [The concubine who targeted Hongyue] was the one who brought her in. Should we get her here to explain?"

The general stood frozen at her words.

When was this girl so clever with her words?

Hongyue smiled lightly.

Based on the fact all the servants were so eager to passionately scream the news of her supposed death was no easy task. After all, even dogs needed permission from their owners to bark so ferociously. So this was no doubt, her father's scheme.

Not to mention, the gold pieces the servant had been gold personally bestowed by the Emperor to those who fought bravely. To see it in the hands of a meek servant with such low power was somewhat strange. That is, of course, if the gold was willingly handed over by the owner himself.

So, in short, the general.

Still, it couldn't explain exactly what his goal was. Moreover, the Crown Prince seemed to be dragged into it as well. Considering that it's gotten to this point, why not add another person to the disorderly confusion. Concubine Mei was a jealous person, and those were the people easily controlled by others.

Hongyue speculated the reason the concubine always savagely thrashed out at her was probably because she was spurred by her husband's over-doting affection toward a motherless daughter.

Nevertheless, the concubine couldn't have been entered Hongyue's courtyard so effortlessly every day without outside help, especially since an ill child like her should have high-grade guards. As a general and as a father, he couldn't have missed all the injuries on a 16-year-old child even if the old Hongyue concealed them from him well.

Unless, of course, the general wanted the concubine to torture his own daughter. Though, to suddenly speed things up to pronounce her death was odd. That would shift the whole story to another direction.

Hongyue gazed at the servant's corpse, her breath stilled.

A wicked smile made its way to her pale face.

Oh my, it's starting to get fun.