WFWC Chapter 109

The Whole Family Went Crazy After Reading My Mind Chapter 109: The Ji Family Insists on the Third Prince

Bei Hengyuan’s usually calm face cracked at this moment.

He suddenly looked at Emperor Yu at the head of the table, his eyes filled with panic.

His father, his good father, who always looked at him with a guilty look, had actually beaten a witness to death right in front of him. Didn’t Eunuch De say that he already suspected Gu Fanmu was behind it? Why beat someone to death? And beat someone to death in front of him, wasn’t that blatantly making others believe that he was the one who did it?

Just now, he saw Emperor Yu wink at the two of them. He thought that he believed him and was just signaling the two not to beat the person to death, just to scare them. Who knew that he was signaling the two to secretly kill him.

He had always thought that his good father owed him something. At this moment, he only felt that his father was so heartless.

Emperor Yu felt a sense of foreboding as soon as he met Bei Hengyuan’s disappointed eyes.

The witness was dead, and Ji Linfeng became extremely agitated. “It was you! It was you who poisoned my father! I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for the Ji family!”

Ji Linfeng knelt on the ground with a thud, and the three officials behind him helped Ji Yushu to kneel as well.

“Shut up!” The death of the palace maid caused Emperor Yu to panic instantly, and he jumped up from his chair. It was clear from Bei Hengyuan’s eyes that his father had deliberately had the witness killed, leaving him unable to defend himself.

Was he willing to sacrifice his son to appease the Ji family?

Ji Linfeng sneered inwardly, thinking: Today’s events are already clear-cut. If this dog of an emperor still wants to use the same methods as before to deceive the Ji family, don’t blame the Ji family for being cold-blooded and ruthless.

Prime Minister Lu was truly worried for Ji Linfeng. Anyone with eyes could see that Emperor Yu was trying to cover up for the Third Prince. But he kept adding salt to Emperor Yu’s wounds. How could anyone not be angry?

Bei Hengyuan suddenly coughed violently until he coughed up blood. “Father, this is truly not what I did. You, you must believe me, your son.” Bei Hengyuan nearly fainted, but he stubbornly maintained his composure.

“Quickly, summon the imperial physicians!” Emperor Yu frantically ordered the imperial physicians to be summoned.

Two imperial physicians rushed over, one examining Bei Hengyuan, the other examining the blood-covered palace maid. The former was overcome with anger, the latter beyond saving.

The person was truly dead.

Because of Xiaozhu’s death, Emperor Yu was furious. He only wanted to teach her a lesson, but he never expected her to die after only ten or so strokes.

Emperor Yu was extremely angry and ordered the imperial physicians to examine the palace maid thoroughly to see if she had any other illnesses or had ingested anything abnormal.

After a thorough examination, it was determined that she had been beaten to death. Now, the Third Prince had no way to defend himself.

Emperor Yu had nowhere to vent his anger, so he took it out on Imperial Physician Hu.

“A quack! Utterly a quack! This person was clearly ill; otherwise, why would she have died after only a dozen strokes? Guards, drag him away and beat him to death! Send someone else!”

“Spare me, Your Majesty! Everyone’s constitution is different, Your Majesty!” Physician Hu knelt and begged for mercy.

Upon hearing this, Bei Hengyuan’s face grew even colder.

Emperor Yu’s actions were nothing more than a cover for his murderous motives; he wanted to cut off his escape route. Back then, regarding the Ji Yushu incident, he had secretly warned the Second Prince that the Ji family were loyal subjects and held considerable prestige among the people. They could only be appeased, not touched.

Now, with the Ji family in trouble again, he couldn’t appease the people without taking some measures.

Imperial Physician Hu was being held captive, and Emperor Yu signaled another physician who had come with him to examine the palace maid. The result was still that she had been beaten to death. Emperor Yu nearly fainted.

These beasts! He had made it so obvious, yet they still couldn’t diagnose that she died of illness. They were utterly foolish.

“You die too!” Emperor Yu roared, kicking the imperial physician.

The Empress and the Crown Prince exchanged a glance secretly before stepping forward to plead, “Your Majesty, a single imperial physician’s diagnosis might be considered a misdiagnosis. But if both have the same result, they could truly die from the beating.”

Emperor Yu was now truly in a bind, glaring fiercely at the Empress and the Crown Prince. One was his wife, the other his son—couldn’t they see his predicament?

He was furious!

Ji Yushu seized the opportunity, earnestly pleading, “Your Majesty, the matter is clear. Please seek justice for the Ji family.”

Emperor Yu was enraged, looking at the Ji family as if they were already dead. Ji Linfeng, with his sharp eyes, noticed this and clenched his fists.

Dare to touch the Ji family, and I’ll overthrow the dynasty!

The Empress and the Crown Prince also sensed Emperor Yu’s displeasure with the Ji family, their faces filled with worry.

Emperor Yu suppressed his anger, twisting the truth: “Do you two really believe the one-sided account of a mere palace maid?” Today was to appease the Ji family; if he were to lose his temper, it would truly have a negative impact. He had no choice but to suppress his anger and speak.

Why wouldn’t they believe her? The woman was arrested by Eunuch De, and everyone heard the testimony. How could it be false?
Ji Yushu didn’t speak, using silence to express the Ji family’s dissatisfaction. The murderer had been found, yet they still claimed there was something amiss. Wasn’t this making a fool of the Ji family?

So, if it wasn’t a member of the royal family, anyone could be the murderer?

Laughable!!

Emperor Yu’s expression was as cold as ice. He directly concluded: “The words of a palace maid cannot be entirely trusted. Therefore, I believe there are still many doubts in this matter. Let’s stop here for today and discuss it again later when we find other evidence.”

No matter how Emperor Yu tried to defend him, Bei Hengyuan saw it as merely stalling for time. He already harbored resentment towards him.

When the emperor said he would discuss it later, then he would. No one else could object; otherwise, it would be questioning the ruler of the country.

Emperor Yu’s actions were similar to how he handled the Ji Yushu leg injury incident years ago. The evidence then also pointed to the Second Prince, but he, concerned for the royal family’s reputation, deliberately distorted the facts, chilling the Ji family’s hearts.

Did Emperor Yu not know that the more he covered for Bei Hengyuan, the more people would suspect the Third Prince?

Who would want to implicate a sickly prince?

Bei Hengyuan’s expression was incredibly unpredictable.

Mu Cheng had no idea the poison had been switched. If the Ji family didn’t want to suspect the Empress, they had to suspect Mu Cheng and eliminate him. Then the matter would be over.

But now, the situation had spiraled out of control.

No matter what, today’s situation was a dead end for him. Whatever he said, the Ji family would believe he was the mastermind. The Ji family was after him. Could it be that the Ji family had really discovered he had poisoned him?

This rumor either came from the Ji family or from the Crown Prince.

What he thought was a perfect plan had instead pushed him into a cage. Now, everyone around him was an enemy, and even his father, who had always cared for him, had become ruthless.

Bei Hengyuan lowered his head, and no one could see the layers of murderous intent in his eyes.

Emperor Yu rubbed his temples, his head aching. He belatedly realized that his actions seemed to favor the Third Prince, and even the Crown Prince and Empress’s expressions towards him had changed.

The witness was dead, but the investigation continued. However, the Ji family seemed convinced that the Third Prince was the mastermind, and the desolate look on their faces as they left, a look of utter despair, almost made Emperor Yu vomit blood.

Even if it were later discovered that Gu Fanmu was responsible, a large portion of the population would believe that this was a deliberate act by the imperial family to defy public opinion.

Because the witness was dead, any further explanation would be futile. Marquis Ji had spent half his life on the battlefield, and naturally had many disciples. Once this news spread, it would surely cause turmoil in the court.

Emperor Yu hated the person who had secretly poisoned him and vowed to bring them to justice.

After vomiting blood again, Bei Hengyuan was helped back to Yuehua Palace. Because of the suspicion against him, Emperor Yu, in order to appease the Ji family, confined the Third Prince to his quarters. No one may leave the Yuehua Palace until the mastermind is identified.