"No Wedding Unless Enemies and Lovers" 《不是冤家不拜堂》Chapter 173

 Xiao Yi Chen nodded, he turned his gaze away from Ji Ling Xue's lonely eyes, "Yes it should be properly investigated."

Yi Yun smiled and bowed: "Then I will thank the prince on concubine Xue's behalf."

Yi Yun's understanding mannerism however made Ji Ling Xue feel unhappy, she really was a woman who can act, maybe Ji Yu Qing's death was related to her, she actually pretended to be a nice person in front of her.

She didn't feel right, Ji Ling Xue stared at Yi Yun's back coldly.

Xiao Yi Chen said: "Someone come, first put concubine Xue into the residence's prison, tomorrow we'll review the case." He left after speaking.

A trace of a bitter smile appeared on Ji Ling Xue's lips, this came as no surprise.

Yi Yun turned looking at Ji Ling Xue worryingly: "Concubine Xue don't worry, I will make sure the prince deals with this matter properly, no one will be wrongly accused."

Ji Ling Xue stared into Yi Yun's eyes: "Yi Yun...is Ji Yu Qing's death related to you, there's only a wall between your courtyards?"

Yi Yun looked at Ji Ling Xue in bafflement: "Concubine Xue, I plead for leniency for you, how can you suspect me like this? Truly ill reward a person's kindness." She left with a wronged expression after speaking.

Ji Ling Xue turned to follow Yi Yun's back with her eyes, she added: "Yi Yun, you're also within the circle of suspicion."

Yi Yun halted in her steps, she turned to look at Ji Ling Xue, her lips moved, but she didn't say anything and left.

Ji Ling Xue was taken into the prison by the guards of the residence, this was the first time she came here, a empty prison cell, an echo followed her footsteps.

Looking all around, some parts of the walls and floors were dark but it was clean and tidy, Ji Ling Xue turned her head to ask the guard at her side: "Has someone been held in this cell before?"

The guard said: "Yes, the person who was in here, didn't leave."

Ji Ling Xue: "..."

The guard took  her to the most inner cell, this was the cleanest one, bedding and comforter were all available in the cell, there was a window with an iron grating, the moon could be seen.

After the guard left, Ji Ling Xue crossed her arms and curled up in a corner inside the bedding, she thought over her entering and leaving Ji Yu Qing's room, filtering through their conversation, she really couldn't understand why the person had killed Ji Yu Qing, was it just to frame her?

It really was a big move, she had already been demoted to concubine, but she was still an obstacle to some people?

A cold wind blew, a howling sound came from the cell, it was really strange and horrifying.

"Mistress!" An Ge's voice came in the darkness, shame in his tone.

Ji Ling Xue's eyes brightened, "An Ge, you came at the right time, when I went to Ji Yu Qing's room,  you following me in secret."

An Ge was hidden in the darkness wearing all black, even his breathing was very quiet, "No, this subordinate was called by the prince for questioning, when I left the princess was still sleeping, I didn't think..." Didn't think you would lose your cool and go find Ji Yu Qing, that's when things became complicated.

Ji Ling Xue gave an oh, not blaming An Ge for suddenly leaving his post, the situation wasn't looking great for her, "Prince called you over, what did he ask you about?"

An Ge said: "Prince asked me some things about princess."

Ji Ling Xue lightly laughed: "I'm no longer princess, don't call me that in the future."

An Ge followed her way of thinking: "In this subordinate's heart only you can be the princess."

Ji Ling Xue forced a smile, raising her head to look at the window above her: "I'm the only princess who is so astoundingly locked up in prison."

An Ge lowered his eyes: "Princess don't worry, this subordinate will investigate properly, someone is clearly framing the princess."

Ji Ling Xue gave a slight smile, after An Ge left, the cell returned to silence, Ji Ling Xue leaned against the cold wall counting, at some point she fell asleep.

While Ji Ling Xue was sleeping, a tall shadow stood outside the iron doors looking at the sleeping Ji Ling Xue for a long time.

Knowing daybreak was approaching, the guard watching over the prison came over, "Prince!"

Xiao Yi Chen nodded, "Look after concubine Xue carefully, don't let her starve." He then walked away.

The guard scratched his head as he spoke to himself confused: "Why did prince stand outside the cell for a night?" As he spoke his gaze fell on Ji Ling Xue inside the cell, Ji Ling Xue was completely curled up in the bedding, her eyes were closed.

The guard shook his head, turning he returned to his post.

The news of Ji Yu Qing's death very soon arrived at Ji residence, madam Feng came knocking on prince Chen's residence early in the morning wearing white, "My daughter, she died so miserably, my daughter, her youth has been buried in the residence, the prime of her life has ended in such a way...boo hoo..."

The foreheads of the two guards watching over the gates of the prince's residence was covered in black lines, but they couldn't say anything, madam Feng had been married to Ji Bai Chuan for so many years but only had one daughter, who didn't know how much she spoiled her daughter, now the elderly came to mourn her daughter, it really was pitiful.

Madam Feng's ghostly wails and wolf howls startled the people walking by, quite a lot of people stopped and pointed their fingers.

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The old housekeeper stood in front of madam Feng with black lines over his forehead: "Mother-in-law, prince invites you in."

Madam Feng wiped her tears, then she sobbed sporadically as she followed the housekeeper into the hall.

In the hall, Xiao Yi Chen sat in the main seat wearing imperial prince robes, seeing madam Feng he nodded his head: "Yu Qing's death this prince is also very frustrated, condolence to mother-in-law."

Madam Feng didn't dare to act up in front of Xiao Yi Chen, plucking up the courage she said: "Dare I ask prince, my...my daughter...how did she die?"

Xiao Yi Chen raised his hand, the housekeeper immediately handed the coroner's report to madam Feng, madam Feng picked up the report in a daze, she didn't recognise a single word on it, but she didn't want to set her pride aside to ask, she pretended to look at it carefully, then began to cry again: "My daughter, my poor daughter, how did you die so miserably, who killed you, tell your mother through a dream, mother will seek revenge for you..."

Xiao Yi Chen raised his hand to rub his forehead: "Mother-in-law my condolences, Yu Qing's death, this prince will find the truth to give you and the Ji residence an explanation."

Madam Feng slapped the report onto  the table with a bang: "Is it Ji Ling Xue...did she kill my daughter?"

Xiao Yi Chen said strictly: "It's not, they are sisters, they were kind and loved each other, how can she kill her?"

Being berated Madam Feng was shocked into stopping crying, she looked at Xiao Yi Chen with a pair of innocent and tearful eyes, Ji Ling Xue and Ji Yu Qing were incompatible as fire and water, how did they have love and kindness for each other, Xiao Yi Chen must be protecting Ji Ling Xue, what could she say.

Madam Feng looked around: "Prince is correct, although Ling Xue that girl had small scuffles with Yu Qing, they were harmonious, speaking of which I haven't seen Ling Xue in a while, can this prince allow me to see that girl Ling Xue?"

Xiao Yi Chen seriously said: "Concubine Xue has been unwell lately, it's not convenient for her to have visitors."

Concubine Xue? She had heard Xiao Yi Chen had demoted her from wife to concubine, at first she didn't believe it, she didn't think it was actually true.

But now hearing Ji Ling Xue had been demoted, she didn't feel that happy, no matter what she did she couldn't get Ji Yu Qing back.

Madam Feng nodded, "I want to see Yu Qing."

Xiao Yi Chen nodded, instructing the housekeeper to show her the way, when madam Feng left a guard hurried towards the hall, Xiao Yi Chen stood when he saw him, he recognised this guard watched over the  prison.

Xiao Yi Chen asked: "What happened?"

The guard panted: "Prince it's not good, princess...oh, that's not right, something happened to concubine Xue."

Xiao Yi Chen frowned, he was worried someone would act against Ji Ling Xue, that's why he heartlessly locked her up in the prison, sending guards to protect her safety.

The guard said: "Concubine Xue seems to be ill, she hasn't taken a sip of water since last night, she's been motionless on the bed..." The guard hadn't finished speaking when he felt a breeze past him by, Xiao Yi Chen's figure had left.

The guard blinked, prince was very quick!

In the prison, there was the occasional sound of water dripping, Ji Ling Xue quietly laid on the bed not moving and pale, Xiao Yi Chen stood in front of her, his finger trembling, his feet also grew roots and he wasn't able to move forward, he was very scared, scared that he would touch an ice-cold corpse.

He was already used to the warmth in his hands when he held Ji Ling Xue, used to the content smile on her face when he gathered her in his arms, he wasn't used to her pale and lying there, even with his profound martial arts he couldn't hear her breathing or heartbeat.

A long time seemed to have passed, so long that Xiao Yi Chen felt his breathing turn cold, almost turning into ice.

Time also seemed to have gone quickly, in a blink, in a breath, his heart slowed down two beats.

Xiao Yi Chen stiffly walked forward, it was clearly only three or four steps but it felt as long as ten steps, his courage and strength finally returned, his hand trembled as he reached Ji Ling Xue's nose.

There was no breathing, why was there no breathing? 

How can it be so, he guarded her the entire night, he didn't let anyone near her?

A light flashed in his eyes, he suddenly thought of holding Ji Ling Xue in his arms and doing his best to shake her awake: "Ji Ling Xue, wake up, tell me, did you take poison?" His voice was hoarse and powerless, it was obvious how terrified and shocked he was.

How did he forget Ji Ling Xue was an expert in poison.

"Are you using this method to show that you didn't kill Ji Yu Qing? This prince doens't need your life to prove this, this prince said he treated you coldly for other reasons, very soon things will get better, why didn't you believe me?"

He used his all to shake the powerless and limp Ji Ling Xue, attempting to wake her up, but damn it, why wasn't there any reaction?

"Ji Ling Xue, how can you die first without this prince's permission?" When he spoke, Xiao Yi Chen's eyes were red.

Xiao Yi Chen picked Ji Ling Xue up and walked out of the prison as he told a guard to get Bai Mo to come.

Prince's residence was strangely quiet, the guards and maids were careful not to make any sound, afraid to disturb Bai Mo who was taking Ji Ling Xue's pulse in the main courtyard.

Xiao Yi Chen frowned as he watched Bai Mo sitting silently beside the bed taking Ji Ling Xue's pulse, from his cold and solemn expression, he seemed to already know the answer.

"Bai Mo..."

Bai Mo looked up at Xiao Yi Chen, shaking his head: "This poison is rather strong, the person who takes the poison doesn't breath or have a heartbeat, just like they're sleeping, what kind of poison is it?"

Xiao Yi Chen: "This prince told you to save her, you're asking this prince, how should this prince know?"

Bai Mo scratched his head, "This is hard, from my many years of medical experience, I have never seen such a poison, considering the time she had taken it, it must be over twelve hours..." He turned and patted Xiao Yi Chen's shoulder, "Prince ought to prepare for a funeral..."