Chapter 930: Chapter 925: Confession

Nanny Zhou’s account was quite similar to Su Jin’s suspicions.

The Empress was eager to bear a prince, but Princess Qi hinted that she might be carrying a princess. How could the Empress not be furious?

Thinking about this, Su Jin looked at Nanny Zhou again, “So, are you saying it was indeed the Empress who used the Second Prince to poison Princess Qi?”

Nanny Zhou was flustered, “No, it’s not…”.

Su Jin stared into her eyes, and Nanny Zhou, in panic, avoided her gaze, not daring to meet Su Jin’s eyes.

Princess Qi had a parasite in her body, which required poison for suppression, and on the day she died suddenly in prison, the Second Prince happened to have visited her.

Princess Qi always cherished the Second Prince, and he wouldn’t have the heart to harm her, but the same cannot be said for the Empress.

Princess Qi is the Second Prince’s biological mother, while the Empress is his foster mother. When the Second Prince eventually ascends the throne, if conflict arises between the Empress and Princess Qi, whom should he heed?

The Empress’s only child, Princess Shouning, had died, leaving her solely with the Second Prince, fearing Princess Qi might reclaim him.

Undoubtedly, Princess Qi would be unwilling for her son to ascend the throne only to have an Empress Dowager suppressing him.

The Empress and Princess Qi were destined to clash, but Princess Qi never imagined the Empress would strike preemptively before the Second Prince even ascended the throne to eliminate future troubles.

Previously caught lying by Su Jin, Nanny Zhou still felt unsteady.

Being at the mercy of others, especially of such longstanding authority as the Princess Consort Zhenbei, she felt vulnerable.

Four eyes focused on her—Su Jin’s and Xingxing’s; Nanny Zhou dared not lie anymore.

But to betray the Empress was too difficult; she could only remain silent.

However, she didn’t stay silent for long, after all the cold weather made it difficult despite being pulled from the pool in time.

Coughing repeatedly, Nanny Zhou lay down, claiming severe dizziness, unwilling to speak further.

Xingxing, infuriated, glared at her.

Everyone knows one must bow when under another’s roof, yet she dared to play tricks under her lady’s roof?

Xingxing, with hands on her hips, glared, “Don’t think you can fool my lady; my lady probably knows more than you!”

Nanny Zhou dared not retort this.

If Su Jin didn’t know much, how was it coincidental that assassins sent by the Empress Dowager found her, yet Su Jin rescued her, gave her antidote pills, and saved her life last night?

If the Princess Consort Zhenbei knew everything, why insist on holding her, a mere nanny? Nanny Zhou couldn’t understand.

Moreover, thinking too much caused her head to ache.

The fever subsided slightly, only to relapse a bit.

Su Jin could only patiently treat her illness first.

Once Nanny Zhou improved somewhat, Su Jin instructed Xingxing to bring paper and ink, having her write down her previous statements as a confession, signing and stamping her seal.

Nanny Wei’s sudden murder struck too heavy a blow on Su Jin.

She couldn’t afford to make such a mistake again, not even if Nanny Zhou never left the courtyard. Su Jin couldn’t gamble this time.

Though Su Jin learned her lesson, Nanny Zhou wouldn’t cooperate.

She confessed without denial, knowing that whether she spoke or not, Su Jin knew everything clearly.

Yet, as the Empress’s close nanny, her handwritten confession to the Emperor could doom the Empress.

Even if she barely escaped death, she’d still spend her days in the Cold Palace surviving on leftovers.

She couldn’t sacrifice the Empress’s life for her survival.

Moreover, her crime warranted death; she doubted Su Jin would truly release her.

Nanny Zhou was smart.

She knew Su Jin understood many matters but insisted on her confession, raising suspicions.

Nanny Zhou didn’t trust Su Jin’s probing words.

She slightly tested Su Jin, firmly believing Su Jin, though knowing the truth, had no evidence. Otherwise, she would’ve already delivered it to the Emperor, dealing with the Empress and Empress Dowager.

This was why the Princess Consort Zhenbei went to great lengths to rescue her, take her out of the palace, and force her to sign and stamp.

Realizing this, Nanny Zhou gained some confidence.

As long as she didn’t confess, she lived another day.

Living on offered a chance to escape.

Nanny Zhou’s loyalty to the Empress earned Su Jin’s admiration.

But Su Jin was determined to obtain Nanny Zhou’s confession.

Even without evidence, the Emperor would believe her.

The confession was for the civil and military officials, for all the world to see.

Without it, the Emperor couldn’t apply national law to deal with the Empress, returning justice to her mother.

If merely wishing to kill the Empress, Su Jin could have done so dozens of times a day.

Nanny Zhou was resolute; Su Jin’s methods even more so.

With poison administered, Nanny Zhou writhed on the ground in agony.

And so, Nanny Zhou endured for three days.

Steadily wearing out Su Jin’s patience.

That day, in the morning.

After breakfast, Su Jin entered the bamboo house.

One corner of the bamboo house had been transformed into a prison by the Hidden Guard, where Nanny Zhou was confined.

The wind from last night, unexpectedly, blew the window open.

Nanny Zhou, stubborn, had no blanket. The window faced the cage, leaving her to withstand the cold wind all night, her body frozen.

Seeing Su Jin approaching, Nanny Zhou shivered, “Why doesn’t the Princess Consort give me a swift death?!”

Su Jin laughed, “It seems we had the same thought.”

“Xingxing, give her the arsenic.”

Xingxing paused, “Do you really want to use arsenic?”

“She’d rather die than confess, should we let her stay and occupy space?” Su Jin replied.

Xingxing turned around to fetch the arsenic.

Su Jin took the medicine bottle and threw it directly onto Nanny Zhou, “I imagine Nanny Zhou, after being in the palace for so long, hasn’t refrained from using arsenic to poison people to death, right?”

“If you don’t have the strength to take the poison, I’ll have Xingxing help you.”

Nanny Zhou picked up the medicine bottle and pulled off the lid.

She sniffed it.

It really was arsenic.

She held the medicine bottle in her hand, hesitating to move.

Though she spoke of wanting to die, who truly wants to die?

Su Jin was losing patience to continue with her games.

“Xingxing, feed her the arsenic.”

“Really feed it?” Xingxing asked uncertainly.

“Really.”

Only then did Xingxing open the cell, grabbing the medicine bottle to pour it into Nanny Zhou’s mouth.

Xingxing had long wanted to do this.

Xingxing was very strong, and Nanny Zhou, frozen from a night in the cold, was no match.

As the bottle approached her mouth, Nanny Zhou turned her head, causing half the bottle of arsenic to spill onto her neck.

That feeling…

Nanny Zhou felt as though she had narrowly escaped death.

Princess Consort Zhenbei was truly after her life.

“Wasting my mistress’s poison!” Xingxing was furious.

She gripped Nanny Zhou’s jaw, trying to pour the arsenic in.

Nanny Zhou was terrified to the point of losing her soul.

“I’ll write, I’ll write!”

Xingxing released her hand, leaving finger marks on the old tree-bark-like face of Nanny Zhou.

With Xingxing’s release, Nanny Zhou felt her jaw was almost crushed.

She was dragged out by Xingxing, collapsing on the ground like a pile of rotten mud.

Xingxing brought a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone, “You try any tricks, and I’ll dig a hole and bury you alive!”

Xingxing’s face was ferocious.

Nanny Zhou was furious but helpless.

Not only could she not match Xingxing, but also there were Hidden Guards watching her from the shadows, and people from Agarwood Pavilion and beyond!

Nanny Zhou had thought for days but couldn’t find a way to escape.

Perhaps Princess Nanzhang could help her, but Princess Nanzhang herself was struggling, reflecting in the Buddhist Hall.

Previously, Nanny Zhou feigned illness to avoid writing a statement, but this time, she truly couldn’t hold a pen.

Frozen for a night, her entire body was stiff, not just her hands.

Xingxing brought over a brazier.

To give Nanny Zhou strength to write the statement, she also brought her two meat buns.

Nanny Zhou stayed by the brazier, writing down everything she had previously told Su Jin, truthfully.

Signature.

Fingerprint.

After writing, she looked at Su Jin and said, “I’ve written the testimony Princess Consort wanted, when will Princess Consort fulfill the promise to let me go?”

Su Jin laughed.

“You’ve stalled me for so many days, and now you remember the promise I made to you?” Su Jin said coldly.

“I won’t break my word, but I won’t let you go so easily either.”

“Xingxing, lock her up.”

Su Jin turned and left with the testimony.

Xingxing grabbed Nanny Zhou and locked her in the cage.

Nanny Zhou grasped at the door, refusing to go in at all costs.

Xingxing’s short temper.

Couldn’t hold back.

Lifting her foot, mimicking her family’s Marquis’s style of kicking, she kicked her.

With the strength Xingxing used, it’s easy to imagine how powerful the kick was.

Nanny Zhou stumbled forward, swaying for several steps, unable to stand.

Finally—

Her head hit the bamboo house.

She fainted on the spot.

Xingxing, “…”

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