When the news of Concubine Lian's being framed to death spread throughout the harem, the whole harem was in an uproar. After all, such a case of murdering an imperial concubine had never happened before. The concubines were all worried about their own safety.
In the Qianqing Palace, Dongfang Yi was staying with Helian Qi. She told Helian Qi all her speculations and also mentioned her suspicion of Yaoji.
After listening, Helian Qi couldn't help frowning. He was full of annoyance. He never expected that the woman from the Southern Neighboring Country was still trying to stir up trouble. So he ordered the secret guards to investigate.
Sure enough, they found out that she had been constantly communicating with people outside the palace. They intercepted a letter. Although there was no important information on it, it could prove that she was in touch with people from the Southern Neighboring Country.
So he rushed to the Lanfang Garden. After half a month, he came here for the first time and saw that woman.
When Yaoji saw the people coming, she bowed respectfully, but there was a bit of uneasiness in her heart. She had already heard that the truth about Concubine Lian's murder had been exposed. She thought her plan was foolproof, but unexpectedly, it was still seen through.
"Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty and the Empress," she said.
Helian Qi sneered in his heart. He felt a bit disdainful of her calmness.
"What is this?!" He waved the intercepted letter out. It was the one through which she had communicated with the Southern Neighboring Country.
But the look of surprise on her face only lasted for a second. Then she regained her composure. With a bit of sorrow in her eyes and her eyebrows tightly knitted, she said, "Yaoji just misses her hometown, so she wants to ask about the news of her family."
She was so calm because she knew there was nothing excessive in that letter. So what was there for her to be afraid of?
Dongfang Yi stared at the woman in front of her without blinking. She was so calm that she didn't show the slightest bit of nervousness. An ordinary person would think she was upright.
But Dongfang Yi wouldn't be easily deceived. She immediately asked, "I heard from the maids that Concubine Yao has been getting quite close to Concubine Lian recently. Now that Concubine Lian has been framed to death, what's your opinion?"
After hearing this, Yaoji's expression froze for a moment. It seemed that she didn't expect the woman in front of her to ask so directly. So she pretended to be calm and replied a bit sadly, "Your servant is extremely sad. Your Majesty and the Empress must catch the true culprit who framed her!"
Her calm and composed appearance left Dongfang Yi speechless. Her behavior was really flawless. Thinking of this, she couldn't help frowning and looking at the man beside her.
"Don't communicate so secretly. I'm not an unreasonable person," he suddenly said. Then he turned around and left. Dongfang Yi followed closely.
Yaoji stared at the disappearing backs in front of her without blinking. A victorious smile appeared on her lips. She sneered in her heart. Did they think such a small threat could do anything to her? Without evidence, whatever they did would be in vain.
On the other hand, Dongfang Yi let out a long sigh after walking out. Then she said to the man beside her, "This Yaoji is not a simple character. She didn't show the slightest change in expression even under such coercion."
After hearing this, Helian Qi sneered, "It doesn't matter. A fox will show its tail sooner or later."
Then he reached out and scraped the tip of the woman's nose in front of him and added, "Don't we still have a clue about the snake?"
Hearing this, Dongfang Yi clapped her hands. A sudden inspiration flashed in her mind. Right! Since they couldn't see through Yaoji, they could start investigating from the snake's tooth mark to find out where this snake came from. Once they found the snake, they would find the murderer.
"But do you know what kind of snake is so venomous that it can kill an adult overnight without leaving any trace?!" She scratched her head and said a bit confusedly.
In her impression, after a poisonous snake bit someone, there would always be obvious blue and purple marks left, unless it was a non - venomous snake, which would leave no trace after biting.
After hearing this, Helian Qi opened his mouth and replied in a deep voice, "The Western Region Glass Rattlesnake."
Dongfang Yi had never even heard of the name of this snake, so she listened carefully as he explained.
It was said that this kind of snake only grew in the Western Region. After the mother snake gave birth to the baby snakes, it would turn into ashes. The baby snakes were often taken away by snake - lovers from the Western Region or other ethnic groups and were mostly used for secret assassinations. Because of the law that the mother snake would die, this kind of snake was very precious.
It was extremely venomous. The moment it bit someone, the secreted venom could make the person unconscious. Then the person would lose their life in a coma without any pain. So this snake was also called the "Euthanasia Snake", creating the illusion of euthanasia.
The wound of the person bitten by it was almost negligible, but the venom would enter the body and corrode the internal organs. This snake had a strong blood - thirst. After smelling the blood, it would attack actively. After being full of blood, its whole body would turn scarlet, looking extremely strange.
After hearing this, Dongfang Yi was also full of shock. She never expected that there was such a vicious thing in the world, and it was hidden in the current imperial palace.
Because it was so precious, Helian Qi was sure that the murderer wouldn't be willing to destroy it. So he regarded it as the next investigation clue.
"I didn't expect you to know so much," she said with a raised eyebrow, and there was a hint of admiration in her tone.
After hearing this, Helian Qi curled his lips and laughed a few times. Then he rubbed her hair and said, "Silly girl."
The two of them talked and laughed as they rushed towards the Qianqing Palace.
Then they began to formulate a plan on how to catch the snake. According to Dongfang Yi, since the snake was blood - thirsty, the best way was to use blood to lure it. Helian Qi also agreed with this very much.
At the same time, he sent the secret guards to secretly observe the movements in the Lanfang Garden. As long as there was any sign of trouble, they should come and report immediately. Once they found the snake, they mustn't act rashly, but should follow it to find its owner.
After the plan was completed, the two of them felt more at ease. At least they weren't being kept in the dark anymore. Even if the final murderer wasn't Yaoji, it must be someone with evil intentions. It would be a good thing to get rid of them all.
"Helian Qi, being the empress is really tiring!" Dongfang Yi stretched and said.
Helian Qi's mouth stiffened for a moment. How could he not know that there were too many involuntary things in this harem.
"So what does Dong'er want to do?" He asked in a deep voice, not wanting the person beside him to detect his emotions.
It was not known whether Dongfang Yi sensed his strangeness. She replied, "Tiring as it is, I just want to stay by your side now!"