Chương 43: For my Benefits

"I did not kill them, Royal Father," Lóng Wei stated and looked at Xiaoming, whose gaze had fixed on him.

"Prince Lóng Wei threatened the servants that he would also kill them for witnessing the wrong they did to Li Hua," Qiu Zedong said.

"Does His Majesty have proof regarding their mass murder?" Lóng Wei asked.

Senior Court Lady Chu walked in and bowed before the King. She gave testimony against Lóng Wei. "His Highness did say those words, Your Majesty." Li Hua wondered if Lóng Wei killed Ju Lin, as well and wondered why Sister Jia didn't inform her in the morning.

"There lies a difference between action and words," Lóng Wei answered. "I didn't kill anyone except that maidservant, who hit Li Hua," he accepted.

"Brother Lóng Wei killed so many innocent servants just for Li Hua. The Royal Father shall rethink his decision to marry them," Xiaoming finally said. "I believe that Brother Lóng Wei should be considerate of others' lives as well. If the servant did wrong, then he must have informed either father or me. He must not take law in his hands," Xiaoming pronounced.

Li Hua gulped because the entire matter once again revolved around her.

"How many servants are found dead?" Zhang Xi asked curiously.

"Thirty servants," Xiaoming answered and looked towards Li Hua. "The biggest proof is Li Hua herself. She can verify if the Sixth Brother was in his chamber last night or not," he suggested.

Everyone looked at Li Hua, who did not know what to answer.

"Come forward," Qiu Zedong told her.

Li Hua acted upon the King's command. "Where was the Sixth Prince last night?" Qiu Zedong asked her.

Li Hua had fallen asleep the previous night, so she had no idea whether Lóng Wei had walked out in the middle of the night or not. She was in a dilemma about how to answer it.

"Li Hua, speak the truth only. A servant had seen Prince Lóng Wei leaving his manor in the mid-night," Xiaoming said in his humble tone. Li Hua was shocked to hear him. Lóng Wei left in the night to kill them. But in the morning… Wait! He was feeling sleepy in the morning.

"Li Hua's silence clearly shows that the Sixth Prince had gone outside in the mid-night," Zhu Liling said and glanced at the King. "His Majesty has already inquired from the servants in this matter. Prince Lóng Wei was seen outside his manor, thatat the same time, the servants got murdered," she asserted.

Li Hua had nothing more to say.

"It seems the Sixth Prince has turned crazier after the Royal Father agreed to his marriage with Li Hua. First, he fought with me, then he harmed Sister Jingfei, and lately, he killed these servants. I used to defend my youngest brother in every possible situation. However, today I cannot defend him. The Royal Father must send the Sixth Brother to the Cold Palace for at least a year," Xiaoming demanded the punishment for Lóng Wei.

Qiu Mu was astonished to hear Xiaoming. A smile appeared on his lips and he glanced at Tianjie and Zhang Xi.

"Royal Father, I am also scared of the Sixth Brother. He already once tried to kill me. What if he kills me just because I tried to reprimand the acts of a palace maid," Jingfei requested Qiu Zedong and looked at Li Hua, who was at the center of the hall.

Lóng Wei chuckled. Like all the time, he was alone. Everyone wanted him to be away. But it didn't upset him. He had pledged to himself that he would never leave the imperial palace.

"Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince didn't kill any of the servants except Senior Sister Nuo," Li Hua pronounced, astonishing everyone in the hall, including Lóng Wei. He thought he did not believe him that was she kept quiet.

"A servant will definitely praise his master. Moreover, they both are supposed to marry, so she will be benefited the most. If the Sixth Brother goes to the Cold Palace, then this marriage will no longer happen," Qiu Mu affirmed and looked toward Qiu Zedong. "Father shall not believe the words of a palace maid."

"Your Majesty, I am not defending the Sixth Prince for my benefits. Everyone knows the Sixth Prince's nature. I will be considered a fool to accept this marriage. However, I will tell the truth, only. I didn't see His Highness leaving the chamber," Li Hua pronounced.

The King was amazed to see that again Li Hua stood for his son. He knew that if his son would have killed so many servants, then he had admitted his crimes.

Lóng Wei rose to his feet and came to the center of the hall.

"Royal Father, I left the chamber in the middle of the night," Lóng Wei said.

Li Hua promptly turned her head. She gaped at him in bewilderment and then downcasted her eyes. Why?

Xiaoming smiled a little when Lóng Wei accepted the truth.

"I happened to leave the chamber at exactly the same time when those thirty servants were killed in the servants' quarters." Li Hua's head spun upon hearing his confession. But for some reason, she wasn't ready to believe that he lied to her.

"However, I didn't kill them," Lóng Wei stated and tilted his head to look at Li Hua, "because I told Li Hua that I would spare those servants' lives if she would let me kill the one, who insulted her."

He looked back at the King and said, "Fortunately, I have solid evidence that I didn't kill those servants. If His Majesty allows, then I would like to present my evidence," Lóng Wei said, with a confident tone.

Xiaoming wondered what the evidence could be!

"The Sixth Prince is allowed to do so," the King allowed him to present the evidence.

Lóng Wei bowed and walked out of the hall. After a while, he came with two unknown people inside. One of them was dressed in black robes, and the other person was Monk Yuze.