Imperial Husband Chapter 5

Li Shiyun was momentarily stunned. "Jin'er, speak."

"Father, your son believes that Concubine Zhou is innocent in the matter of the poisoning of mother and myself. I implore you to investigate clearly and not let the true culprit escape."

As Li Jin said this, he glanced at Liang Wenliu.

Liang Wenliu's back immediately stiffened.

Why is he looking at me like that? Does he know something? No, that's impossible. I've been very careful all these years and never used intermediaries. Besides, he's only six and has been raised secluded in Gu Rulan's courtyard. He couldn't possibly know. I must be overthinking it.

Li Shiyun frowned. "Jin'er, the physical evidence was found in Zhou Xiaoru's courtyard. Do you have any basis for saying this?"

Liang Wenliu seized the opportunity to say, "Third Young Master, this humble concubine knows you find it hard to believe Concubine Zhou would do such a thing, but the evidence at this stage cannot be false. By defending Concubine Zhou like this, may I ask how the Princess Consort resting in the netherworld would feel—"

"Silence! Did I permit you to speak?"

Being interrupted by his own concubine, the coldness in Li Shiyun's eyes intensified.

Liang Wenliu's face suddenly turned pale. "Uh... This concubine misspoke. I beg Your Highness for forgiveness."

"Hmph." Li Shiyun snorted coldly, his gaze immediately returning to Li Jin without even a glance at Liang Wenliu. "Jin'er, continue."

"Yes, Father." Li Jin nodded, then continued, "The reason your son believes this is because I know Concubine Zhou breaks out in itching all over her body upon touching tung wood. How could she possibly use tung wood to make dolls? Furthermore, as mother loved using zither made of tung wood, your son has some understanding of it. If I'm not mistaken, the tung wood used for those two dolls is clearly new wood. Yet, mother and I have been poisoned for several years now. Your son thinks that if Concubine Zhou were truly behind all this, she would not be foolish enough to leave such obvious evidence."

Seeing a turn in events, Zhou Xiaoru quickly cried out tearfully, "Your Highness, did you hear that? This truly was not done by your concubine. I have been wronged!"

Li Shiyun was silent for a moment, then immediately ordered, "Bring the mansion's carpenter here."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The guard acknowledged the order and quickly left.

Shortly after, the carpenter brought to the Changqing Hall carefully examined the tung wood dolls and concluded the same as Li Jin—the tung wood was indeed new.

This caused a huge stir.

This reversal initiated by Li Jin stunned everyone present. Liang Wenliu, who had been feeling triumphant, panicked, her body trembling slightly involuntarily.

Li Shiyun was furious. "Investigate! Dig three feet into the ground if you must, but find out for me who has the audacity not only to harm the Princess Consort but also to use the trick of framing an innocent party."

Wei Shiwan gently reminded him, "Your Highness, since this matter is unrelated to Concubine Zhou, should we not..."

Li Shiyun immediately understood. "Mm, release them."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Overjoyed, Zhou Xiaoru pressed down the still-furious Li Yanchen, and they both kowtowed to Li Shiyun to express their gratitude.

"Concubine Liang, why has your face suddenly turned so pale? Are you alright?" The moment Li Jin uttered these ill-timed words, everyone present simultaneously looked at Liang Wenliu.

Liang Wenliu's expression froze, and a sense of foreboding arose within her. "Tha... Thank you for your concern, Third Young Master. This concubine merely has a slight chill and is feeling unwell."

"Is that so? Then Concubine Liang is very thoughtful towards my mother. I remember before mother and I fell ill, you personally made a zither and gifted it to mother. Ah, now that I mention it, I recall the zither you gave mother was made of tung wood—"

Liang Wenliu's pupils constricted, and she interrupted, "Third Young Master, this concubine did not harm the Princess Consort. Why are you falsely accusing me without reason?"

"Concubine Liang overinterprets. I was merely thanking you for giving mother the zither. I never said you harmed mother."

"Uh..."

Liang Wenliu was stumped, cold sweat involuntarily breaking out on her forehead.