4 Times married to my enemy

Chapter 20 : I have evidence to bring down Qin Shuhuai

Qin Peng followed Wei Yan onto the carriage. As soon as Wei Yan entered, he lost his composure and hurriedly asked, "Sister-in-law, what about that assassin?"

"Which one are you referring to?"

"There's more than one?" Wei Yan was taken aback, clearly not expecting that. Qin Peng picked up the heater beside her, feeling a bit weary. "There's only one assassin. With Qin Shuhuai's skills, how could he be forced to this extent?"

Wei Yan fell silent, noticing how exhausted Qin Peng looked. He said, "Sister-in-law, you should rest first. We can discuss the rest later."

Qin Peng responded softly, and Wei Yan silently watched her.

This person was different from before; truly too different.

If back then she had hidden her brilliance so well, could a single person really conceal themselves so perfectly, without any flaws? And why did she want to hide?

Her skills were clearly based on technique, without any foundational training. If it were to hide herself, why would she not practice any basics knowing how to martial arts?

But if this person was not Qin Peng, why was her disguise so flawless, even that secret birthmark was known? Moreover, in daily conversations, her recollections of the past were spot on; it was hard to achieve such accuracy without personal experience.

Wei Yan pondered, occasionally glancing at Qin Peng. Until he could confirm things, he didn't dare to act further, after all, Qin Peng hadn't done anything to affect the Wei family.

When Qin Peng woke up, Wei Yan had already concealed all his emotions, smiling as he looked at her. "Sister-in-law, you're awake?"

"Yes." Qin Peng got up, rubbing her head. "I'll go freshen up first. Thank you for your trouble today, little uncle."

"It's nothing."

Wei Yan accompanied Qin Peng down. As they got off the carriage, Qin Peng noticed a person standing at the street corner, dressed in a plain long dress, seemingly asking someone for directions.

Qin Peng smiled.

Bai Zhi was indeed quite fast.

She stopped in front of the residence, and Chun Su, who came to pick her up, said, "Wait a moment, let's set up a table in the back courtyard. I want to play the piano there."

"Ah?" Chun Su was taken aback but quickly recalled that the current master disliked being asked why, so she hurriedly replied, "Yes."

Bai Zhi, who was asking for directions, heard this and nodded to the person she was speaking with, saying, "Thank you, sir."

After saying that, she turned and left.

Once Qin Peng entered the house, after freshening up, she went to the back courtyard pavilion. At this time, the curtains in the pavilion were drawn down, charcoal was lit, the piano was already set on the table, and the tea and snacks were prepared. After instructing everyone to retreat and guard the courtyard, Qin Peng began to play the piano.

After a while, a white figure flipped in. Qin Peng seemed unaware as the person walked over and stood for a moment behind the curtain, looking at Qin Peng through the white veil.

The figure was indistinct, but for some reason, it felt like the shadow inside, along with the sound of the piano, resembled the person in Bai Zhi's memory.

Bai Zhi felt a pang in her heart.

Back then, they had agreed that she would go to Qi Country, and after a few years when the situation stabilized, she would return to see her. Yet this woman had left and never returned.

Bai Zhi closed her eyes and sighed lightly, using her sword to lift the curtain and walked in.

The piano sound did not pause. Bai Zhi came to Qin Peng and knelt down, placing her sword aside.

"Is your injury healed?"

Qin Peng replied casually. Bai Zhi's expression remained unchanged, but she said, "You plan to eliminate Qin Shuhua, right?"

"Of course."

Qin Peng spoke calmly, "Now that my brother has ascended the throne and holds great power, barring any accidents, in a few years when his reputation rises, A Ming will likely have only one path—death."

Bai Zhi pondered in silence, seemingly deep in thought.

She had always been a rational person; persuading Bai Zhi based on motives was more effective than any other reason.

Qin Peng remained unhurried: "You came today because you have already figured it out, right?"

"Since the princess understands my intention, I won't say more." Bai Zhi raised her head, her expression firm: "I have evidence to bring down Qin Shuhuai."

"Oh?"

Qin Peng looked at Bai Zhi. Bai Zhi took out a pile of papers with fingerprints from her bosom and calmly stated, "This is the confession of those Qin Shuhuai instructed to kill Jiang Yi. Jiang Yi was murdered in the Huai'an Wangfu, and I stole Jiang Yi's body..."

Upon hearing this, Qin Peng's hand trembled slightly, producing a quivering sound.

Bai Zhi glanced at her in surprise. Qin Peng stopped playing the piano and lightly coughed, saying, "You can continue."

So her body was actually stolen by Bai Zhi...

Bai Zhi noted Qin Peng's strange reaction and continued, "The autopsy results of Jiang Yi are here. I hid her body, but it's been too long, and now only bones remain. However, the wounds on the bones correspond to my statement, and the sword wounds were indeed made by someone under Qin Shuhua named Chen Er. I also recorded the testimonies of those who were with Jiang Yi at the time, and the most crucial figure, Chen Er, is also in my hands."

As she spoke, Bai Zhi looked at Qin Peng earnestly: "Currently, the Wei family's army is still in the capital, which can force Qin Shuhua to withdraw his troops. Once both sides withdraw, the leader of the palace's imperial guard, Wang Qiushi, is a man of Zhang Ying, and the leader of the Southern City army, Liu Shuyan, is a stickler for following the emperor's orders. As long as the princess can ensure that the Ministry of Justice does not tamper with the evidence, we can convict Qin Shuhuai."

"And then what?" Qin Peng sipped her tea.

Bai Zhi was always full of clever ideas. Qin Peng had always trusted Bai Zhi's planning ability; asking this was merely to continue the conversation.

After hearing Qin Peng's words, Bai Zhi poured herself some tea, smiling as she said, "Once convicted, as long as he enters the dungeon, no matter how many crimes Qin Shuhua has, it's just a matter of a word from the princess and Zhang Ying."

Qin Peng chuckled lightly.

She understood Bai Zhi's words; once in the dungeon, the evidence was just a preparation, and confessions could be coerced under torture. As long as Qin Shuhuai admitted guilt, he would be convicted.

"You may not quite understand the Huai'an Wang..." Qin Peng took a sip of tea and said slowly, "Anyone can be coerced into confession, but Qin Shuhua? Even if you beat him to death, he might not say what you want to hear."

She had experienced Qin Shuhuai's stubbornness too many times.

If torture were effective, he would have already confessed back when he was in the palace. That would have meant there would be no Zhao Peng later, and no Qin Shuhuai now.

The tortures of the Northern Yan court were far more innovative than those of Qi Country.

Qin Peng's words made Bai Zhi think. After a moment, she slowly said, "Indeed... Qin Shuhuai is not that kind of person."

"However, these matters need not trouble you, young lady," Qin Peng put down her teacup, her eyes cold: "I will handle these things."

Bai Zhi seemed quite pleased with Qin Peng's intention, smiling as she raised her cup: "Then I shall await good news from the princess."

Qin Peng nodded, looking at Bai Zhi but asking a seemingly unrelated question: "I have a question I'm curious about."

"Mm?"

"You are a favored one beside Princess Yuyang. As Princess Yuyang is the first wife of Huai'an Wang, why do you not help him, but instead wish to kill him?"

Bai Zhi remained silent; she seemed unwilling to answer this question. Qin Peng then said, "Please forgive me, it was presumptuous of me..."

"He killed her."

Bai Zhi suddenly spoke, and Qin Peng froze in her actions.

She knew she had gaps in her memory; she only remembered the last moments before her death, but the events prior were unclear.

Sometimes she would wonder if it was a misunderstanding, but the feeling of desperate struggle at the last moment was etched in her mind. Even after three lifetimes, it remained fresh in her memory.

Qin Peng lowered her gaze to hide her expression: "Are you saying that Qin Shuhuai killed Princess Yuyang?"

"Yes."

"Princess Yuyang was his first wife. How could he do such a thing?" Qin Peng seemed somewhat incredulous: "And he still remembers her..."

"Crocodile tears!" Bai Zhi scoffed coldly: "He killed her, I saw it with my own eyes. How could it be fake?! Back then, when His Majesty was in danger, he saw the princess was no longer useful, wanting to establish himself in Qi Country, so he poisoned my master after making an agreement with the Jiang family of Qi Country. I witnessed the princess's death; am I blind?!"

Bai Zhi seemed to lose control of her emotions, her voice filled with indignation. The hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, struggling to contain herself, yet all her anger erupted in her words, excitedly saying, "He remembers the princess, clinging to her memory, that's only natural. They grew up together as husband and wife, how could he not remember the one he killed? But so what? No amount of nostalgia can cover up the filthy deeds he did! I will never forgive him... I absolutely..."

Before she could finish, Bai Zhi felt a warmth on the back of her hand.

A pair of white hands covered her hand, unlike those of a martial artist, smooth and soft, radiating warmth and comfort.

Bai Zhi stared blankly at Qin Peng, who was looking at her with eyes full of reassurance and compassion.

That expression resembled someone from her memories too closely. Bai Zhi did not know what was happening; she clearly was not such a sentimental person, yet at the moment their eyes met, tears suddenly fell.

"Don't think about it." Qin Peng softened her voice, looking at this girl she had always seen as a sister, and slowly said, "Perhaps... she is still alive?"

These words jolted Bai Zhi awake. She calmed down, her expression gradually becoming serene.

"She is dead; I saw it. Dead is dead; she cannot come back to life."

Bai Zhi lowered her eyes, touching a particularly ugly embroidered sachet at her waist, hoarsely saying, "I don't believe in ghosts or gods; that's just a trick others use to deceive. One must move forward; I am not so weak."

"Since I am alive," Bai Zhi raised her head, her eyes filled with determination: "I will not let her die in vain."

"I understand." Qin Peng sighed: "Rest assured, our goals align; I will do my utmost to cooperate with you." Saying this, Qin Peng raised her cup, her expression serious: "Let's work together on this great undertaking."