Chapter 221 - 220: Go Investigate

Behind the earth-shattering turn of events, the most pleased was undoubtedly Honored Lady Xi.

After Dong Cha awoke, she dared not speak recklessly.

Seeing that she was obedient, Honored Lady Xi spared her life.

Trembling, Dong Cha served the Laba porridge.

With a look of disdain, Honored Lady Xi glanced at her.

"Are you so afraid that I’m going to eat you or what?"

Scared, Dong Cha quickly knelt down.

"Mis... Mistress, this servant dares not!"

With a snort, Honored Lady Xi said, "I’m in a good mood today! I won’t bother with you! Go and get ready for me. I’m going to visit the Punishment Department to see... my dearest... Consort Yun!"

Shivering, Dong Cha agreed and was just about to leave when Honored Lady Xi added, "Don’t forget to bring along my best... Eldest Sister Lan!"

"Yes!"

Cold sweat broke out on Dong Cha’s back. She fled the room as if escaping.

Once outside, the cold wind blew over her, and her entire body felt like it was soaked in ice water, chilling to the bone.

Wait, Honored Lady Lan... Does Honored Lady Lan know? If she doesn’t know, wouldn’t that be like... a lamb entering a wolf’s den?

Dong Cha was thinking about how to send a message secretly.

Suddenly, a sinister and chilling voice came from behind her. "If you dare to betray us... I will immediately make sure you... have no grave to be buried in!"

She spoke slowly, word by word. Her tone was like a bone-chilling ice blade, each strike lethal.

Dong Cha’s legs gave out, and she knelt down.

"This... this servant dares not!"

With a satisfied smile, Honored Lady Xi said, "That’s more like it. Get up..."

With that, she entered the house.

...

The Noble Consort had been unconscious for two days and had yet to wake up. The Imperial Physician managed to draw half a bowl of black blood from her fingertips every day.

Consort Yun had already been in the Punishment Department for two days. Even though she was a consort, it was, after all, a major case involving life and death. Ruirui had hanged herself, and although the investigation had found nothing, this lack of evidence only intensified the suspicion against Consort Yun.

"Eunuch Wei, I am innocent! I want to see the Emperor!" Consort Yun cried. "I was framed by someone!"

Wei Sheng, the Chief Steward of the Punishment Department, was known for his decisive judgments. He looked sternly at Consort Yun. "Her Highness says she was framed! According to what this servant knows, framing someone usually involves leaving clear evidence!"

He continued, "In other words, when Ruirui hanged herself, she would have had a packet of poison in her bosom. This poison would have matched the one used on Noble Concubine Shih. That would count as framing. With nothing... like that? Your Highness, that’s not called being framed!"

Consort Yun’s eyes became vacant in an instant, and she sat on the ground, pale as death.

Could it be... there truly is no hope? To plot the murder of concubines, by law... means execution! Execution!

No! She didn’t want to die! She hadn’t done anything, why should she die!

Consort Yun’s emotions completely collapsed, and she wept as she kowtowed to Wei Sheng. "Eunuch Wei, I know you are insightful. I didn’t poison the Noble Consort, please... I didn’t do anything, I really didn’t!"

Wei Sheng, always known for his impartiality, saw Consort Yun kowtowing. He simply ordered someone to help her up, without saying much.

"Eunuch Wei, Eunuch Li from the Emperor’s side has come!" a little eunuch came to announce.

Wei Sheng hurriedly had the person brought in.

Consort Yun saw this as a glimmer of hope and pleaded with Eunuch Li, "Eunuch Li, I didn’t do anything! I want to see the Emperor!"

Li Shengan also felt helpless. "Consort Yun, the Emperor is busy with state affairs. He cannot always delay matters because of this, can he?"

The hope that had just risen in Consort Yun’s heart shattered instantly. No matter how she pleaded or professed her innocence, it was to no avail.

Before leaving, Li Shengan pulled Wei Sheng aside to ask, "Have you found any important clues?"

Wei Sheng shook his head. "The palace maid named Ruirui delivered the incense, that’s true, but the Imperial Physician examined it and found no poison at all!"

"No poison?" Li Shengan was astonished. "If there’s no poison, then why would she hang herself! Could it really be a setup by someone?"

Wei Sheng shook his head. "Even if someone set her up, how was the poison administered? Everyone around Noble Concubine Shih has been checked; there’s nothing unusual! No one from the inside framed her, and nothing from the outside came in. So she was poisoned just like that? You tell me, isn’t that strange!"

Li Shengan shook his head and sighed. "You continue with the investigation here... I need to go and ask the Imperial Medical Bureau again!"

Wei Sheng bowed his head. "Yes!"

...

At the Imperial Medical Bureau, Judge Zhang was immersed in ancient medical texts. Seeing Li Shengan arrive, he hurriedly stood up.

Li Shengan quickly gestured for him to remain seated. "Imperial Doctor Zhang, please sit down."

Imperial Doctor Zhang asked, "Eunuch Li, you seldom come here. Has the Emperor issued a decree?"

Li Shengan gave a wry smile and shook his head. "The Emperor is swamped with state affairs; how could he have the time for this! I inevitably have to run around everywhere. Today, I absolutely must ask: what kind of poison has the Noble Consort been afflicted with?"

Judge Zhang closed the book and took out a small box from a nearby drawer. "If this old man is not mistaken, this is the poison!"

Li Shengan instinctively stepped back.

Zhang Baiji laughed. "Eunuch Li, there’s no need to be afraid; this substance is not poisonous!"

Li Shengan wiped the cold sweat from his brow. "You said it was highly toxic before, and now you say it’s not poisonous! This is..."

Judge Zhang frowned slightly and slowly opened the box. Inside were the spices sent by the palace maid Ruirui to Xifu Palace—just a few small, unremarkable pieces. He picked up a small piece and sniffed it; it was fragrant.

"These spices are made with unique ingredients," Judge Zhang explained. "All of them are high quality and, moreover, non-toxic!"

"Then?" Li Shengan was very confused.

Zhang Baiji went on, "But, for the Noble Consort, using it means facing deadly poison!"

"Ah?" Li Shengan exclaimed, his eyes nearly popping out in surprise. "So, you mean, it’s harmless for others to use, but for the Noble Consort, it’s deadly poison?"

Zhang Baiji nodded, his gaze stern. "If someone did this intentionally, then they must be an expert in using poison. If it’s... a coincidence, then we can only say that the Noble Consort’s constitution is different from others..."

Li Shengan: "..."

His mind was in a whirl. He had lived for so long and seen his fair share of sordid affairs in the harem, but this... what kind of matter was this! One moment non-toxic, the next moment deadly poison!

When he returned, Zhao Junyao listened to the results and asked with a frown, "Who made the incense?"

Li Shengan said, "It seems to have been made by Consort Yun and Honored Lady Xi together!"

Zhao Junyao narrowed his eyes.

Yes! Consort Yun and those two Honored Ladies were indeed quite close.

"Li Shengan, investigate!"

Li Shengan promptly acknowledged and disappeared as quickly as he could.

There was nothing left to investigate regarding Consort Yun, but perhaps there might be a clue with Honored Lady Xi.

「In Lijing Pavilion.」

Honored Lady Xi seemed to have anticipated someone’s arrival. Watching Li Shengan approach, a smug smile curved on her lips. As Li Shengan drew near, she immediately switched to a different demeanor, once again appearing as that naive, untainted, innocent little Honored Lady.

"Eunuch Li, what brings you here?"

Li Shengan dared not accept her greeting and quickly stepped to the side. "You flatter me, Honored Lady!"

He then explained his purpose.

Tears instantly glistened in Honored Lady Xi’s large eyes.