Capítulo 1597: Chapter 1604: Cai Wei Investigates (5)
Cai Wei said faintly, “Empress Dowager, you are overthinking this. I am simply discussing the matter as it stands. Yu’er suffered such a tragic fate, and my heart is also heavy with grief. It is precisely because of this grief that I must ensure the real murderer is caught to avenge Yu’er—not merely rely on subjective assumptions to randomly accuse someone and convict them, allowing the true culprit to roam freely while an innocent person suffers wrongful accusations!”
Empress Dowager Mo sneered coldly, “What cunning rhetoric, Mu Caiwei. Are you trying to shield your younger sister from her crimes? She’s not the murderer? Then who is? Go ahead and catch them and show me!”
“I will find the murderer, Empress Dowager. Just you wait and see!” Cai Wei said with firm resolve.
“Find the murderer? Is it the real murderer you’ll find, or someone to take the blame for your younger sister?” Empress Dowager Mo mocked sarcastically, her tone unbelievably harsh.
Cai Wei ignored the Empress Dowager’s venomous words and said solemnly, “Not only will I find the murderer, but I will also uncover indisputable evidence and present it before the Empress Dowager.”
“I don’t have time to wait!”
Empress Dowager Mo cried out hysterically, “It was your younger sister who killed Yu’er! You can’t deny it! Either you find out who is really responsible before nightfall, or your younger sister pays for the crime.”
Hearing such unreasonable words from Empress Dowager Mo, Cai Wei was utterly taken aback. Nangong Yi subtly gave her a look, and under the guise of sipping tea, he whispered while lowering his head, “Imperial Mother has lost some of her reason; don’t take her words to heart.”
Cai Wei understood and bowed respectfully, “I understand, Empress Dowager. Please rest for now. I will go and see how the investigation at Duke Li Guo’s place is progressing.”
Nangong Yi promptly said, “I’ll go with you!”
Empress Dowager Mo, restless and unwilling to stay behind, decided to follow them. Nangong Yi, aware of her unstable emotions, didn’t stop her; if she wanted to come along, he let her follow.
The crime scene was a little more than a mile away from the palace in a small stream amidst the mountains. Upon arrival, they once again witnessed the site where Yu’er had met her tragic end. Empress Dowager Mo covered her mouth with a handkerchief, crying uncontrollably.
Cai Wei had no time to cater to the Empress Dowager’s emotions. She inspected the stone that had struck Nangong Yu to death and measured the distance between the stone and the creek bank. She couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.
“The bank is more than two meters away. Even if Fei’er used all her strength, she couldn’t possibly have pushed Nangong Yu this far! Bring Lan’er here; I have some questions for her.”
Lan’er was brought over. Duke Li Guo and Mo Ziqi, having heard that the Empress Dowager was personally handling the investigation, also joined. Lan’er, aware of the relationship between Madam Mo, whom she’d implicated, and the Empress Dowager, knew the gravity of the situation and dared not lie. Seeing Cai Wei, her first reaction was to think that the Empress Dowager had come to punish her. Falling to her knees, she endlessly kowtowed to Cai Wei, saying, “Please spare me, Empress Dowager! I’ve already disclosed everything I know; I wouldn’t dare tell any lies!”
Cai Wei cast her a brief glance and said faintly, “I trust you wouldn’t dare. Now, recount everything that happened last night for me again. Leave no detail out—try missing something, and see what happens!”
“Yes, I wouldn’t dare omit anything. I will speak honestly…”
Lan’er trembled as she meticulously recounted the events of the previous night. When she described Fei’er placing her hand on Nangong Yu’s back while speaking with her, then pushing her down afterward, Cai Wei smiled nonchalantly. Suddenly, she raised her hand and touched the back of Bai Zhi, who stood by Empress Dowager Mo’s side.
Bai Zhi was startled, instinctively stepping aside out of fear, unsure of what Cai Wei intended to do. Everyone else also looked at Cai Wei in surprise, not understanding why she was touching a maid.
Cai Wei seemed to anticipate their confusion and calmly said, “Just conducting a test—to see whether the behavioral patterns within the field of psychology I am familiar with hold true.”