Chapter 380 - Where Is The Real Shooter?
"Brother Wanxi, earlier I made a plan so that the real culprit would show his face to us. If Zhilao Mi is after this, then she will definitely make a mistake, which I want her to," Ying Lili stated.
"But, Sister Lili, we should check her background," Lei Wanxi again suggested to her.
"We will investigate about that, but in the late evening. I will sneak into her chamber," Ying Lili stated.
"Why would Sister Lili sneak into Sister Mi's when she can ask Brother Jian?" Lei Wanxi queried and put the paper down on the table.
"If she is behind all this then, she will never tell Brother Jian. I had suspicions about her, but I was not sure whether or not I was right about her. But now, I think that she is behind all this. The question that is bothering me is why did she plan this way?" Ying Lili muttered while drawing her brows together.
Court Lady Xu came inside and bowed. "Your highness, General Xiao and Commander Yang are here," she informed her. Ying Lili told her to send them inside.
Both of them bowed before the Crown Princess. "Your highness, we have found the culprit," Xiao Zhan informed Ying Lili. Lei Wanxi widened his eyes and glanced at Ying Lili, who was shocked.
"Who is the culprit?" Ying Lili demanded the answer.
"Princess Consort Xue Yu-Yan," Xiao Zhan replied and gestured to Commander Yang, who forwarded a few papers to Ying Lili. "This paper is the same as used for the message and also the real shooter is caught," Xiao Zhan asserted.
"The paper does not tell that Sister Xue has done this," Ying Lili defended Xue Yu-Yan.
"Crown Princess, the shooter took the name of the Princess Consort Xue," Commander Yang informed her. Deep frowns appeared on her forehead. "Is she arrested?"
"Yes, your highness," replied Commander Yang.
"Why would she keep a paper from the Northern Province?" Ying Lili stood up from the chair. "Take me where she has kept. But before that I want to meet the shooter," asserted Ying Lili. General Xiao and Commander Yang bowed their heads.
"Your highness, please this way," General Xiao led the way. Ying Lili told Lei Wanxi that she would converse with him later. She followed General Xiao and soon reached the prison. She met the shooter first as was decided. Seeing the Crown Princess, the shooter sat on his knees and lowered his head.
Jian Guozhi was also there as military charge temporarily with him until the Crown Prince returned. The shooter was beaten and tortured a little, tied into the shackles.
"On whose orders you did this, and why?" Ying Lili glanced at Jian Guozhi, who was in anger.
"I was told by the Princess Consort to do so," he replied and bowed down. His forehead touched the ground. "I did what I was told. Please do not kill me. I have a family of six to feed," he replied.
"But you seemed professional. The way you shot an arrow from such a large range was incredible. How can I believe a traitor just because he has a family to feed? How can I believe that Princess Consort Xue ordered you?" Ying Lili sternly inquired from him.
"Your highness, I met her in the night outside my house. She told me her name and even showed me the token which is used specifically by the Royals," the man narrated to Ying Lili. She pulled out the royal token which was hanging on her waist and went towards him.
"Was the seal like this?" The Crown Princess queried him. The man lifted his head and peered at the token.
"Yes, it was of the same color, your highness. However, there was another symbol as well," stated the man. Ying Lili glanced at Jian Guozhi and asked him if he could bring the Royal token from Xue Yu-Yan. Jian Guozhi nodded and walked out. After a few minutes, he came back and handed the token to Ying Lili, who showed it to the man.
"This was the Royal Token, your highness." Immediately, the man recognized it. Ying Lili hummed and asked him why he never applied for the military of Han when he had exceptional shooting skills.
"I failed the Civil Service examination and was later accused of cheating. Then, I was disqualified from the exam," the man answered.
"What kind of questions the Crown Princess is asking? From a woman I cannot expect any less," a voice was heard. They all turned to look and saw Minister Gu Zhenya and the other few ministers.
"What is a Minister doing here?" A stern expression appeared on her face.
"Crown Princess, since the Crown Prince is not here and such a big incident happened, we also need to inquire from this person. As the Chief State Affairs Minister, it is my duty towards the Empire. The Prime Minister and I have concluded that this person could have a direct association with the Wei Family," Gu Zhenya made a bold statement, directing it towards the First Prince, who clenched his fists.
"Such an insolence behavior towards the First Prince depicts something else. Please be within the limits, Minister Gu," Ying Lili warned him. "Since the Crown Prince leads the Military and has full control over it, I, as his wife in his absence, pass the order that no Minister will be allowed in the Prison until the investigation goes. Now, you shall leave. If you have something to say, then the Imperial Court is there," Ying Lili pronounced.
The Ministers acknowledged the order of the Crown Princess, but Gu Zhenya did not feel it was right. "Just because the Crown Princess is the wife of the Crown Prince, it does not mean that she can give the orders like this. Before a Crown Princess, you are a woman. Do not try to overtake the powers in the name of the Crown Prince. Crown Princess," Gu Zhenya remarked.
"Please be respectful towards the Crown Princess, Minister Gu," Xiao Zhan stepped forward. "In the presence of the Crown Prince, ministers were never allowed in prison. Please leave," Xiao Zhan affirmed.
Gu Zhenya had a grim expression on his face. He turned and walked out from there, following those few ministers.
"What's your name?" Ying Lili turned to the man.
"I am Gao Ting."
"Gao Ting, when did the person come to you? It seems you are famous for your archery," Ying Lili deduced.
"Your highness, she came to my house three days ago. Her face was covered with a veil, so I did not see her," asserted Gao Ting.
"At what hour she came?" Jian Guozhi questioned.
"It was late at night, your highness. Just before the curfew hours."
"Gao Ting, why did you not run away when you had the perfect time to run? Your mate has helped you. He surrendered himself so that you could get enough time to run away from the Palace yet you got caught," Ying Lili pronounced.
"I am telling the truth, your highness," Gao Ting asserted.
"You are not!" Ying Lili bent on her one knee and grabbed his hand. "Your highness," Gao Ting murmured when the Crown Princess grasped his hand. "Your hand has a scar. It means you once injured your hand, so you cannot shoot for a long-range. Where is the real shooter?" Ying Lili questioned him. Jian Guozhi, Xiao Zhan, and Commander Yang widened their eyes upon hearing the conclusion of Ying Lili.