Someone had died.
The Fourth Prince’s face was dark with fury, while Princess Leyang staggered and collapsed to the ground. The onlookers felt a chill run down their spines—no one had expected the situation to escalate to the point of summoning the Black Armor Guard. But faced with Cang Lang’s declaration, no one dared to object.
The incident in the prayer hall was clearly a setup. At this point, whoever tried to stop the investigation must be hiding something.
The Black Armor Guard arrived swiftly. The thirty guards who had accompanied Tangning into the mountains immediately sealed off the front and rear gates of Lingyun Temple. Within less than an hour, the thunder of hooves and the glow of torches surrounded the entire temple.
All the guests were escorted to the main hall and separated into two groups.
Abbot Xindeng was also summoned, seated at the front of the hall alongside Liaowu and several warrior monks. Nearby were Princess Ji, the Fourth Prince, Princess Leyang, Old Madam Fu, Rong Yue, and Tangning.
The hall was eerily silent.
After a moment, a Black Armor Guard emerged from the rear chamber and reported to Cang Lang: "Commander Cang, the three individuals have been examined. They were indeed poisoned with 'otter bone toxin.'"
"Otter bone toxin?" Old Madam Fu frowned.
"It's an extremely potent aphrodisiac," the guard explained. "Otters are lustful by nature, and when deprived of a mate, they cling to trees until death. This drug is vicious—once ingested, the victim must engage in intercourse to survive. Moreover, the perpetrator mixed henbane and datura pollen into the temple’s lamp oil and incense, inducing hallucinations and numbing the senses."
The crowd murmured in realization.
"No wonder," someone whispered. "When the prayer hall doors were broken open, Sun Yi didn’t even react—as if he couldn’t hear the commotion."
Princess Leyang shrieked, "I told you my son was framed!!"
The Black Armor Guard ignored her and continued, "However, only the Fourth Prince’s consort and Sun Yi were poisoned with otter bone toxin. The dead man was drugged with a more common aphrodisiac called 'Trembling Beauty.' Traces of it were also found on the consort."
"This substance isn’t rare—it’s often used in brothels and pleasure houses to enhance arousal."
The hall erupted in whispers.
"Two different drugs? Why would someone use both?"
"One would’ve been enough to ruin someone—why complicate it?"
Princess Leyang turned deathly pale at the mention of Trembling Beauty . She blurted out, "Now that it’s clear my son was framed, I’ll take him back to the capital—"
"The investigation isn’t over yet. Why the rush, Princess?" Rong Yue said coldly.
Qian Qiyue, standing behind Tangning, muttered, "Sounds like a guilty conscience."
Tangning glanced at the ashen-faced princess before asking the guard, "Was the dead man’s identity confirmed?"
The guard bowed respectfully. "County Princess, we’ve conducted an autopsy. Though an adult, he was slender and bore numerous whip marks and scratches. We also found this hidden in his clothing."
He handed an object to Cang Lang, who examined it. "A token from Chun’en Lou ."
The crowd stiffened.
Chun’en Lou? That was the capital’s most infamous male brothel.
Operating a brothel in the capital required official approval, and its workers—bound by indenture—were rarely allowed to leave. This token served as their identification.
The onlookers recalled the dead man’s delicate features, his slender neck, and the way Sun Yi had been atop him without seeming out of place. So he’d been a male courtesan?
"How did such filth enter Lingyun Temple?!" Princess Ji snapped.
The monks looked equally disturbed. Abbot Liaowu said gravely, "While our temple does not discriminate, none of these individuals were invited to tonight’s ceremony."
"The abbot speaks the truth."
Cang Lang held up a thick ledger. "Due to the large crowds during the Yulan Festival, Lingyun Temple recorded every guest—including their attendants. We’ve cross-checked the registry and found that aside from the victims, only Princess Leyang’s entourage is missing one person."
The guard added, "Princess, where is your tall maidservant?"
All eyes turned to her.
Princess Leyang stiffened, then snapped, "I disliked the temple’s food and sent her to fetch better food from the city!"
"Really? What’s her name? When did she leave? Where did she go?"
"I—"
"Your carriages are still here, along with all your drivers. Did she walk back to the capital?" Cang Lang’s voice dripped with sarcasm. "Surely the princess isn’t so cruel as to make a servant trek down the mountain for a meal?"
Princess Leyang’s face whitened. "What does it matter to you?!"
"It wouldn’t—except a male prostitute just died under mysterious circumstances, and you’re the only one missing a servant. Was he the 'maid' you brought?"
"Nonsense!!"
Princess Leyang panicked. She had wanted to ruin Tangning’s reputation—but now the entire hall suspected her .
"I’ve never seen that man before! And my son was the victim tonight! How dare you slander me!"
"Then explain this," Rong Yue cut in coldly. "The moment the doors opened, you accused Tangning of shamelessness as if you already knew who was inside."
"I—I—"
"And when you saw Tangning standing outside with the abbot, you exclaimed, 'It was supposed to be her!' What did you mean by that?"
Princess Leyang’s mouth opened and closed like a fish. She had been too eager to humiliate Tangning how could she have known the girl wouldn’t be inside? Her shock had betrayed her.
Sweat beaded on her forehead as she dug her nails into her palms.
Rong Yue pressed on mercilessly. "Why won’t you answer? Dozens of witnesses heard you. Or will you claim I misheard?"
"Rong Yue don’t go too far"
"Too far? I’m only seeking the truth."
Seeing the princess tremble, her lips quivering and her face ghostly pale, Rong Yue sneered.
"Your evasiveness speaks volumes. Were you plotting against my Tangning only to incur divine retribution and suffer the consequences yourself?!"
You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
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