Chapter 81: This Coffin Must Be Opened
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Yu Zhi Yi held a torrent of unspoken complaints in her heart.
When she glanced up, she saw both the Emperor and Du Zi Heng wearing troubled expressions.
“What’s this?” she wondered. “Am I the only one missing the point here?”
Prince Shun, finally pulling himself away from his romantic despair, muttered, “Words alone are not enough. This prince cannot suspect his princess consort of treachery based merely on your casual claims.”
Yu Zhi Yi replied calmly, “Evidence does exist, but… the coffin must be opened.”
The Emperor, Prince Shun, and Du Zi Heng fell into a stunned silence.
This coffin—there was no avoiding it, was there?
Yu Zhi Yi elaborated, “In the second year after Princess Consort Shun’s death, Han Yonglie and his wife assumed the dust had settled and stole her body, creating a new burial site for her. Within that grave are not only the treasures bestowed upon her by the prince but also proof of her royal lineage from the fallen An Kingdom. Open the coffin, and the truth will be clear.”
Prince Shun erupted in rage. “Are you saying her grave was desecrated?”
“…Yes,” Yu Zhi Yi admitted, “though not in the usual sense. Most grave robbers seek wealth, but Han Yonglie and his wife sought the body itself.”
She called for Eunuch Hu, who brought her paper and ink. Starting from the Imperial Palace, Yu Zhi Yi sketched a map. “The real tomb of Princess Consort Shun is here.”
Opening Princess Consort Shun’s coffin was now the first step to verifying her claims.
Though Prince Shun was deeply reluctant, he had no choice. This matter concerned not only the truth of past events but also whether his late wife rested in peace.
Efficiency was paramount when the royal family acted.
The next day at noon, under the bright sun, the Emperor personally ordered Princess Consort Shun’s tomb to be opened.
Inside, the luxurious grave revealed an empty Nanmu coffin.
The burial treasures remained, but the body that should have been inside was gone!
Prince Shun had clung to hope, determined to prove Yu Zhi Yi wrong. But now, even without seeing the new grave, he began to believe her.
The imperial search team quickly located the second tomb as directed by Yu Zhi Yi’s map.
It was a simple and humble grave, utterly unlike the opulence of the royal tombs.
The crude wooden gravestone bore the inscription: Tomb of An Fu Xin.
Both the Emperor and Prince Shun were intimately familiar with the name Fu Xin, as it was the given name of the woman who had haunted their hearts. Yet the preceding “An” lent the name an unfamiliar strangeness.
In no time, the grave was unearthed, revealing a well-crafted coffin of Nanmu wood. When opened, the coffin contained the skeletal remains of a woman dressed in an elegant gown with a princess consort’s phoenix crown.
Over the years, the body had turned to bone. The once-fitting gown now hung loosely, and the phoenix crown lay awkwardly at the bottom of the coffin, having slipped off the decomposed skull.
Beside the skeletal remains was a small wooden box. Inside it lay a phoenix-pattern jade pendant.
Prince Shun instantly recognized it as a symbol exclusive to the royal family of the An Kingdom.
Such jade pendants had ceased production following the fall of the An Kingdom. The remaining twenty-eight pieces were held by surrendered royals who had pledged allegiance to the Great Sheng Empire.
Out of mercy, the reigning Emperor of that time had granted these royals secluded lands. However, all the pendants were confiscated and secured within the Imperial Treasury’s Treasure Pavilion.
The Emperor immediately ordered a tally of the pendants in the Treasure Pavilion. Soon, it was confirmed that all twenty-eight pieces were present.
The origin of this additional pendant was self-evident.
Prince Shun appeared to age decades in an instant, his vitality draining away.
Seeing his devastated expression, a mix of heartbreak and betrayal, Yu Zhi Yi remarked, “Rather than lament over a false love, perhaps Your Highness should focus on explaining yourself to His Majesty.”
“While I can see from their histories that you weren’t swayed by their rebellion nor suspected their identities, mere words won’t suffice. You’ll have to prove your innocence.”
“In matters involving treason, if clarity isn’t achieved, it won’t just be you who suffers but your entire clan.”
Prince Shun was shaken. “You’re… a devil!”
Instantly reinvigorated, he abandoned his despair.
Love was valuable, yes, but the survival of his clan outweighed everything else. He had been deceived and manipulated, used as a pawn for vengeance. If the Emperor doubted his innocence, any punishment he received would be deserved.
But he could not allow his family to pay the price for his foolishness.
“Your Majesty,” he declared earnestly, “this servant harbors no treasonous intent! I had no prior knowledge that An Fu Xin was the granddaughter of the An Kingdom’s crown prince.”
The Emperor remained silent, then sighed. “Words alone won’t suffice. Think of a way to prove it.”
With that, he turned and left.
Prince Shun looked at Yu Zhi Yi again, but she simply shrugged, her expression indifferent.
…
Inside the carriage on their way back, Du Zi Heng observed Yu Zhi Yi’s serene demeanor. For the first time, he began noticing details about her.
Her beauty, though distinct, was unconventional. Unlike You Bing Yue’s refined, symmetrical features, Yu Zhi Yi’s face defied traditional standards. Her eyes were not large or striking, her nose lacked sharpness, and her face wasn’t the delicate oval shape favored by current trends.
Yet her imperfect features combined to create an unforgettable, noble elegance.
Yu Zhi Yi, noticing his gaze, grew impatient. “See no evil. Surely, after all your years of study, you know what those words mean?”
Du Zi Heng smiled faintly. “My apologies. I was merely struck by how soft-hearted you truly are, despite your sharp tongue.”
She said nothing, unwilling to humor his insight.
He continued, “Your remarks to Prince Shun—those were deliberate, weren’t they? You saw his despair and spoke just enough to revive his will to defend himself. Your clarity about his innocence reassured His Majesty that he had no treasonous intent.”
Yu Zhi Yi’s irritation flared. “This is tedious. Weren’t you assigned a post? Why haven’t you reported for duty?”
For the past two days, Du Zi Heng had stuck to her like glue. If she objected, he’d invoke Madam Yao, leaving her exasperated.
“I explained my reasons to the Minister of Personnel, who permitted me to delay my reporting to accompany you to the palace.”
“Oh.” Yu Zhi Yi’s voice was flat, her gratitude nonexistent.
Her disdain was unmasked, her annoyance palpable.
Du Zi Heng, unfazed, followed her to Breeze Pavilion after disembarking from the carriage.
Finally, she snapped. “Du Zi Heng, your Radiant Harmony Courtyard is over there.”
“We are husband and wife—”
“I don’t want you setting foot in my space. If you insist that this pavilion, as part of the Chancellor’s Mansion, is also yours, then try forcing your way in.”
With that, Yu Zhi Yi stepped into the Breeze Pavilion, pausing at the entrance. She turned back with a mocking smile.
“If you dislike me so much, you’re welcome to act decisively and have me removed.”