The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1148 - 1148 560 Heroic (Second Update)

Chapter 1148: 560 Heroic! (Second Update) Chapter 1148: 560 Heroic! (Second Update) However, considering she was the Emperor’s sister and one of the suspects behind the case, her attention seemed completely reasonable.

If Princess Xinyang were here, she would probably be even more concerned about the progress of the case.

Eunuch He thought so and respectfully answered her question, “Yes, ever since the case at Xianle Inn caused an uproar throughout the Capital City, it has been difficult for the Ministry of Justice to keep things under wraps. People always find ways to get some information out of the Ministry. Xianle Inn is no exception, and a maid from there even brought some snacks to visit the suspect.”

Princess Ning An asked, “What’s her name?”

Eunuch He glanced at Princess Ning An in puzzlement, then noting no change in the Emperor’s expression and how the Emperor indulged Princess Ning An, Eunuch He felt it inappropriate to deny her face.

Eunuch He said, “It seems her name was Lingling? Or maybe it was Jianjian? Something along those lines.”

Lingling, Hua Xiyao’s personal maid.

Princess Ning An asked again, “What did they talk about?”

Eunuch He replied, “This servant isn’t aware of the details, as the maid begged to speak with Hua Xiyao alone, and Minister Xing agreed to it.”

…

At the end of the Ministry of Justice Prison, there was a solitary cell distinct from the common ones; it resembled a secret room more, secured not only with an added iron door but also guarded by two sturdy jailers.

Flaming torches hung on both sides of the corridor, their leaping flames casting an imposing and solemn aura on the expressionless faces of the jailers.

The door to the cell was securely locked, and everything seemed peaceful, though the chaos stirred by the suspects inside told a different story.

Hua Xiyao was bound and seated on a chair, her hands and feet restrained by ropes.

Xiao Hen hadn’t lied.

Hua Xiyao indeed had woken up, and Lingling, the maid from Xianle Inn, had indeed visited.

And brought Hua Xiyao a bowl of “last meal.”

Hua Xiyao sneered, “You think by simply bribing a maid to poison me under the young master’s name, I would suspect the young master? Naive!”

Xiao Hen offered no opinion and looked at her, saying, “You place absolute trust in your young master, but I wonder if your young master has the same confidence in you?”

Hua Xiyao’s laughter shook her frame lightly, “Magistrate Xiao, Xiao Zongyuan, I hardly know what to call you. Do you really think the young master would be fooled? You underestimate the young master and are too arrogantly self-confident! From the moment you used Bai Kun’s identity to write a confession, the young master knew you had set another trap! Because there’s no one named Bai Kun among the young master’s people! Your tricks might deceive the common folk of the Capital City, but as long as I don’t reveal the young master’s identity, you can’t convict the young master!”

Xiao Hen’s expression remained unchanged by her words, “Bai Kun may be fictitious, but you, Hua Xiyao, are real.”

Hua Xiyao’s smile vanished, and she said coldly, “So what? I won’t confess! Nor will I betray the young master!”

Xiao Hen retorted, “Is it important whether you confess or not? If there can be one Bai Kun, there can be a second.”

Hua Xiyao’s brows furrowed, “What do you mean?”

Xiao Hen stopped short, flicked his wide sleeves, and pressed a mechanism nearby; a stone door slowly opened.

He took out a confession from within his robes, “Someone, this is Hua Xiyao’s confession.”

Hua Xiyao’s face changed, “You!”

Xiao Hen said indifferently, “In her own handwriting.”

Hua Xiyao trembled with rage, “You’re framing me again! Can’t you come up with anything new, Magistrate Xiao? Is this all you’ve got?”

“It doesn’t matter if a method is old or clichéd, as long as it is effective,” Xiao Hen handed the confession to a nearby jailer, “Deliver this to the Imperial Palace to His Majesty, tell him Hua Xiyao has confessed.”

Hua Xiyao cursed angrily, “Despicable! If you dare, kill me! Otherwise, once His Majesty interrogates me, I will say that you wrote the confession!”

“Then let’s make a bet that you won’t live to see the moment His Majesty interrogates you…” Xiao Hen raised his eyebrows as he looked at her, his gaze growing colder, “The murderer isn’t me.”

The jailer was Minister Xing’s trusted man, and immediately proceeded to the Imperial Palace upon receiving Xiao Hen’s instructions.

The jailer didn’t possess a token to enter the palace and could only gain entry after reporting to the Emperor and obtaining His approval.

The jailer bowed, “Please bother the two elder brothers to report to His Majesty for me. I’m here to deliver a confession, the prisoner from Xianle Inn has pleaded guilty!”

The significance of the case had been magnified, with Xiao Hen and Minister Xing repeatedly entering the palace, even a fool would see the Emperor’s earnestness regarding the case.