CHAPTER 112 — WHEN THE DEAD SPOKE THROUGH HER
The courtyard had fallen into a silence so taut it felt as though even the wind dared not stir. Every gaze was fixed upon Tang Ke Xin, waiting — hoping — for her next words. The Emperor, who had moments earlier worn the expression of a man resigned to disappointment, now watched her with a faint but unmistakable spark of expectation.
This girl…
She was not simple.
Not in the slightest.
Ye Lan Chen's face, pale with fear only moments ago, now brightened with fragile hope. He clung to it desperately, like a drowning man grasping at driftwood.
Ye Lan Jue, however, stood with his arms folded, his expression unreadable. But the cold heaviness in his eyes betrayed him. He was not merely tense — he was furious. Furious at the situation, furious at the trap, and furious — though he would never admit it — that Tang Ke Xin had thrown herself into danger for another man.
Tang Ke Xin inclined her head respectfully toward the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, may this humble servant ask a few questions of the palace maids?"
The Emperor nodded at once. "Ask whatever you must."
He wanted answers as much as she did.
Tang Ke Xin turned to the first palace maid — the one who had discovered the scene and reported it.
"You said that when you entered the chamber, you saw the Fourth Prince pressing down on Imperial Concubine Ning. Is that correct?"
The maid flinched, startled by the directness of the question, but nodded quickly. "Y‑yes, that is what this servant saw."
Tang Ke Xin's gaze sharpened.
"And was the Fourth Prince clothed at that time?"
The question struck the courtyard like a stone thrown into still water.
The palace maid's face flushed crimson. The other maids turned red as well, lowering their heads in embarrassment. Even Ye Lan Chen's ears turned scarlet.
Only Tang Ke Xin remained perfectly composed, her tone calm, clinical, and utterly unbothered.
Ye Lan Jue's eyes flicked toward her, a cold glint flashing within them.
She could ask such a question — in front of the Emperor, the princes, the consorts, and half the palace — without the slightest hint of discomfort.
It was impressive.
And infuriating.
The palace maid stammered, "Th‑this servant… did not see clearly. I did not dare look."
Tang Ke Xin did not relent.
"When you entered, did you see the Fourth Prince putting on new clothes or adjusting his garments?"
The maid shrank further, her voice barely audible. "Th‑this servant… did not dare look at the Fourth Prince. I was too frightened. After I entered, I called out instinctively. Soon after, the others arrived."
She paused, then added, "Xiao Xiang and Xiao Yu entered next. Then Elder Sister Qiu came. Xiao Xiang told Elder Sister Qiu to report to the Empress."
Tang Ke Xin's eyes narrowed slightly.
That detail was important.
People paralysed by fear did not think. They followed the first instruction given to them. Whoever spoke first often guided the entire reaction.
She turned to the next maid.
"What did you see when you entered?"
Xiao Yu trembled violently, but her answer matched the first maid's. "Imperial Concubine Ning was lying motionless on the bed. The Fourth Prince was pressing down on her. This servant did not dare look at His Highness's clothing."
Tang Ke Xin nodded, then shifted her gaze to Xiao Xiang.
"And you?"
Xiao Xiang swallowed hard. "This servant saw the same scene. But… this servant noticed that Imperial Concubine Ning had no clothes on. And the Fourth Prince… he seemed to react only after we entered. Only then did he put on his clothes."
A murmur rippled through the courtyard.
Tang Ke Xin watched the other two maids carefully.
As expected, Xiao Xiang's words jogged their memories. They nodded hesitantly.
"Yes… yes, the Fourth Prince seemed to put on his clothes afterwards."
Tang Ke Xin's mind moved swiftly.
Ye Lan Chen had been drugged.
That much was clear.
His sluggish reaction, his confusion, his inability to recall how he entered the chamber — all pointed to a short‑acting drug. One designed to leave no trace by the time help arrived.
And the person who framed him had been thorough.
Clothes removed.
Scratches added.
Scene staged.
The perfect scandal.
Tang Ke Xin's voice cut through the murmurs.
"When you entered, was Imperial Concubine Ning already dead?"
The maids exchanged glances.
Xiao Ying nodded first. "Yes. This servant was too frightened to look at the Fourth Prince, so I stared at Imperial Concubine Ning. She did not move. She made no sound."
Xiao Yu echoed her. "This servant also believes she was already dead."
Xiao Xiang added firmly, "Imperial Concubine Ning was definitely dead."
Tang Ke Xin exhaled softly.
"Then I can say with certainty that the Fourth Prince and Imperial Concubine Ning did not have that kind of relationship."
Imperial Concubine Ming's eyes widened. "Why?"
Every gaze turned to Tang Ke Xin.
She spoke calmly, her tone steady and precise.
"If Imperial Concubine Ning had been alive during such an act, her skin would have retained elasticity, and her muscles would have shown signs of contraction. But once a person dies, the body loses these qualities. I examined her carefully. There were no signs of post‑mortem strain."
A hush fell over the courtyard.
Even Ye Lan Jue's expression shifted — surprise flickering beneath the cold exterior.
Tang Ke Xin continued, her voice gentle but firm.
"In other words, if the Fourth Prince had truly been doing such a thing, Imperial Concubine Ning's body would show clear abnormalities. It does not."
Imperial Concubine Ming's lips curled.
"That could simply mean the palace maids interrupted him before he succeeded."
Tang Ke Xin turned to her, her gaze cool.
"In that case, Imperial Concubine Ning would have reacted. She would have struggled. She would have screamed. And the Fourth Prince, startled, would have fled."
She paused.
"But he did not flee. He did not even react."
Imperial Concubine Ming's face tightened.
Tang Ke Xin pressed on.
"Furthermore, if the Fourth Prince had been conscious, he would have noticed that Imperial Concubine Ning was already dead. No man — not even the most depraved — would continue such an act with a corpse."
A ripple of discomfort passed through the crowd.
Imperial Concubine Ming's voice rose sharply. "Perhaps he did not realise she was dead!"
Tang Ke Xin smiled faintly.
"Exactly. He did not realise it. Because he was drugged."
Her words fell like stones into still water.
The Emperor's eyes widened. The Empress gasped softly. Ye Lan Chen stared at her as though she were a lifeline.
Ye Lan Jue's jaw tightened.
Tang Ke Xin continued, her tone crisp.
"The Fourth Prince's delayed reaction, his confusion, his inability to recall how he entered the chamber — all point to a drug. A short‑acting one. By the time we arrived, its effects had faded."
Imperial Concubine Ming scoffed. "This is all speculation. Where is your evidence?"
Tang Ke Xin's expression did not change.
"Imperial Concubine Ning did not die from ravaging," she said quietly. "She died from suffocation."
A collective gasp swept through the courtyard.
Tang Ke Xin's gaze swept across the palace maids.
"And she was suffocated with a pillow."
Imperial Concubine Ming's face drained of colour.
"How do you know?" she demanded. "How can you be certain?"
Tang Ke Xin's smile deepened — cold, sharp, and utterly confident.
"Not only do I know she was suffocated with a pillow," she said softly, "I also know who killed her."
The courtyard erupted in whispers.
Even the Emperor could not contain his shock.
"You… you already know who the murderer is?"
Tang Ke Xin met his gaze steadily.
"Yes."
Imperial Concubine Ming's voice cracked. "Impossible! You were in the room for only a short time. How could you possibly know?"
Tang Ke Xin's eyes gleamed.
"Because," she said, her voice soft but carrying through the courtyard like a bell,
"Imperial Concubine Ning told me."
Silence.
Absolute, breathless silence.
Every face turned pale.
Every heart pounded.
And Tang Ke Xin stood at the centre of it all — calm, composed, and terrifyingly certain.