Speaking of Anyang Marquis, the Empress Dowager said, "Your father is leading the garrison troops in Jinzhou and should have no major matters before the New Year, but I wonder how the Emperor has arranged things. Have your father and brother written to you today?"
Yue Ning replied, "Father and brother usually send letters once every month or two, so it's been fine."
The Empress Dowager sighed, "Your father is one thing, but how is your brother faring in the Northwest Frontier now?"
Yue Ning also showed some concern, instinctively glancing at Qin Guan, "The situation within the Northwest Frontier Army is quite complex right now, though my brother hasn't gone into details about other matters."
Though Yue Ning spoke very briefly, the Empress Dowager clearly understood well and nodded, "This is also a trial for your brother. With him there, I believe it will be good for the Northwest Frontier Army. Didn't the Emperor recently allocate new military provisions to the Northwest Frontier Army? I hope they won't face further troubles this winter."
Winters were harsh, especially since the Rong people were born fierce and courageous, mostly unafraid of the cold. Whenever winter came and Northwest Frontier soldiers suffered the most injuries and illnesses, it was the time when the Rong people would seize their opportunity.
Yue Ning sighed, "Don't worry, it shouldn't happen."
Yan Ze suddenly said, "I wonder how the investigation into Prince Rui's matter is progressing?"
It was well known that Prince Rui was assassinated by Rong assassins. Yan Ze's words touched on the Empress Dowager's deepest concern. Her expression shifted slightly, "There's no news yet, I believe. Who was sent to the Northwest Frontier?"
Mammy Chen, standing nearby, quickly responded, "It's Vice Minister Lin Xugui and another named Yuwen Xian, also a Vice Minister of Revenue."
The Empress Dowager had only a vague impression of these two and even paused for a moment before recalling who they were. She nodded, "Let's wait. There will surely be definite news." She then turned to Qin Guan, "What has Yan Chi been doing these past few days?"
Qin Guan hurriedly replied, "He goes to the office every day and hasn't done much else. With the year-end approaching, the Ministry of Justice has many summary tasks to handle, and he's overseeing them."
The Empress Dowager nodded, "It's commendable that he remains composed. Right after the incident, he wanted to go to the Northwest Frontier to avenge Yan Lin. Ah, truth be told, I never approved of Yan Lin guarding the Northwest Frontier in the first place. Warfare is ultimately too dangerous. My cousin lost his left arm on the battlefield, and two nephews died in combat. Years ago, I wanted Yan Lin to return, but after bearing such responsibilities for so long, how easy would it be for him to leave? I should have issued an imperial decree directly."
If Yan Lin had returned early, naturally, none of this would have happened. But there are no words like "if only" in this world.
Yan Ze then said, "Please don't dwell on it too much. This matter will surely be clarified."
The Empress Dowager nodded, her thoughts returning to the chessboard. Qin Guan, sitting nearby, felt a chill in her heart.
The incident with Prince Rui pointed directly to the current Emperor, and last year's case involving Prince Jin also implicated the Emperor. If all of this were true, what a terrifying person the Emperor must be. Yet, neither she nor Yan Chi could speak these words aloud.
For now, they had no way to confirm the truth. But what if they did?
That person was the Emperor of Great Zhou—how could she and Yan Chi possibly oppose him?
Qin Guan felt deeply uneasy. She sat through two games of chess before hearing voices outside. Soon after, Yan Sui toddled in on his short little legs.Yan Sui returned from his studies, having walked rather hurriedly, his little face flushed red. The Empress Dowager smiled and beckoned him closer, holding him as she spoke a few words. Noticing Yan Sui gazing eagerly at Qin Guan, the Empress Dowager chuckled, "What did I tell you? He's been thinking of you. Alright, take him out to play."
Qin Guan nodded and led Yan Sui out by the hand.
Her heart racing with urgency, Qin Guan walked swiftly outward. However, the Longevity and Health Palace was filled with numerous attendants, and she couldn't possibly ask her questions in front of others. Even if her voice went unheard, people would still observe Yan Sui's reactions. After a moment's thought, Qin Guan brought Yan Sui to the covered corridor in the side courtyard. The sky had cleared, and the warm sunlight was just right. Qin Guan took out the small toy she had bought for Yan Sui, and he was overjoyed. Qin Guan didn't rush, and when Momma Su and the others saw Yan Sui happily playing with her, they discreetly stepped further away.
Only after Yan Sui had fiddled with the small mechanical bird for quite some time did Qin Guan finally speak in a low voice, "Your Highness—"
Her tone was cautious. Yan Sui looked up at her sensitively, and Qin Guan continued, "Your Highness, I need to ask you some things now. No matter what I ask, don't be afraid or cry out. We mustn't let others know, alright?"
From a distance, it appeared as though Qin Guan was merely bending down to speak softly with Yan Sui, looking very intimate and kind.
After Qin Guan finished speaking, Yan Sui was momentarily stunned before nodding.
While fiddling with the mechanical bird together, Qin Guan whispered, "Does Your Highness still remember the day Consort Jin passed away? I know you were the first to arrive at the scene. Think back now—when you saw Prince Jin and Consort Jin, was Prince Jin holding a dagger in his hand? Where were Prince Jin's guards at that time?"
Yan Sui's hand paused, and he immediately looked up at Qin Guan. But realizing what she had asked, he quickly lowered his head again, pretending to be calm.
Qin Guan nodded with relief. Though Yan Sui wasn't as lively as ordinary children, he was certainly clever.
A trace of fear flickered across Yan Sui's small face. Recalling the scene of that day was no easy task for him. After thinking for a long while, he said, "When I arrived that night, I saw Mother lying on the ground, covered in blood... I... Prince Jin was standing beside Mother, and he was indeed holding a dagger... it was... a silver one."
Qin Guan frowned, "It was nighttime—how could Your Highness be sure it was silver?"
Yan Sui furrowed his brow, "Because... because only one lamp was lit in the Hall of Contained Light not far away. I was terrified when I saw Mother lying on the ground, but I remember the dagger's gleam was very dazzling... it was silver..."
Yan Sui's brow tightened further, "I went to call out to Mother then, and Prince Jin... Prince Jin even helped steady me. I didn't understand what was happening at the time. It wasn't until the Empress and the others arrived that someone said Prince Jin had killed Mother..."
Qin Guan pressed, "Did Prince Jin leave at any point during that time?"
Yan Sui shook his head, "No. Not long after I arrived, the imperial guards noticed the commotion. Soon after, the Empress and the others came. Prince Jin never left—he stood there the whole time, holding that dagger..."
"Was there blood on the dagger at that time? Was there blood on Prince Jin's person?"Yan Sui froze, as if his young mind couldn't recall so many details clearly. Yet soon, he fixed his gaze on Qin Guan and said, "I've forgotten about the dagger, but Prince Jin's robe was clean—no blood at all."
Qin Guan was somewhat surprised. "Are you certain?"
Yan Sui glanced around and pointed at a maid not far away. "Prince Jin was wearing a color like her skirt, but even lighter."
Qin Guan turned to look and saw the maid dressed in the light green, lotus-embroidered long skirt worn by all servants of the Longevity and Health Palace. If Yan Sui said Prince Jin's robe was paler than that, it must have been a light-colored garment, like moon-white or jade. On such clothing, bloodstains would be glaringly obvious. Yet Prince Jin's robe was spotless, and after the incident, he hadn't left immediately—instead, he was seen by many. This was highly unusual!
"What were Prince Jin's guards doing at the time?"
At Qin Guan's question, Yan Sui strained to remember harder. After a long moment, he suddenly said, "Prince Jin's guard was standing near the Hall of Contained Light. He was terrified, his whole body..." Yan Sui's smiling face scrunched up, as if struggling to describe Song Xiwen's expression. Finally, he added, "He was trembling."
Qin Guan began to understand. Even if serving his master, encountering such a situation suddenly would naturally frighten anyone—especially since the deceased was the emperor's favored consort. Qin Guan sighed inwardly. According to Yan Sui, Prince Jin had been holding a dagger from the start, and people arrived later, so he wouldn't have had time to dispose of it. That meant if Prince Jin wanted to get rid of the dagger, it must have been before then. But what trouble could that dagger have caused?
This point baffled Qin Guan no matter how she thought about it. She suddenly said, "Would you take me to the Hall of Contained Light to see—"
Before she could finish the second "see," Yan Sui abruptly straightened up and looked behind Qin Guan. Startled, she followed his gaze and saw Yan Ze standing about ten paces away. His eyes were still covered with medicated gauze, and he stood there quietly, as if completely unaware of Qin Guan and Yan Sui's presence. When Yan Sui moved, the mechanism bird in his hand made a "clack" sound. Only then did Yan Ze frown and ask, "Who's there?"
Qin Guan breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "Your Highness, it's me and the Ninth Prince."
Yan Ze's brow smoothed, and the corners of his lips lifted. "What are you two doing? The sunlight is lovely now—we're accompanying the Empress Dowager for a stroll in the Imperial Garden. Would you like to join us?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Yue Ning hurried over and said, "Third Brother, why did you wander off alone!" She reached Yan Ze's side and only then noticed Qin Guan and Yan Sui nearby. Yue Ning smiled. "So you're here! We're accompanying the Empress Dowager for a walk. Would you like to come along?"
Qin Guan nodded. "Of course..."
As she said this, she quickly put away the mechanism bird she had bought for Yan Sui and handed it to Momma Su. Soon, the Empress Dowager emerged, supported by Mammy Chen.
Meanwhile, Yue Ning was still scolding Yan Ze. "Third Brother, don't wander off alone! You didn't bring your cane—what if you trip or bump into something?"
Yan Ze smiled gently. "I won't. I roughly remember the paths in the Longevity and Health Palace."Yue Ning sighed and stepped forward to support Yan Ze, while Qin Guan steadied the Empress Dowager.
The group left the Longevity and Health Palace heading toward the Imperial Garden. The Empress Dowager smiled wryly, "My energy isn't what it used to be. Just playing a few rounds of chess this morning exhausted me. These past few days I've been getting tired especially quickly - I don't know what's wrong with me."
Qin Guan's hand shifted naturally to check the Empress Dowager's pulse. Noticing this, the Empress Dowager said with a bitter smile, "I've been taking all the pills you prescribed. Please don't prescribe any new formulas for now - at my age, I can't bear the bitterness of medicine anymore."
Without waiting for permission, Qin Guan felt her pulse briefly. Though it wasn't a proper examination, she could tell the Empress Dowager's pulse wasn't good. While not critically dangerous, even mild qi deficiency could be particularly difficult for the elderly.
"Understood. Then you should take more walks these days, but don't go out too early in the morning."
The Empress Dowager nodded with a smile as the group continued north through the Imperial Garden. She chatted intermittently with everyone until they neared Consort Jin's palace, where she seemed to deliberately change direction as if avoiding something. Qin Guan couldn't possibly visit the Hall of Contained Light with so many people around, and felt a pang of disappointment.
After circling around outside until the Empress Dowager grew tired, the group returned to the Longevity and Health Palace. After sitting for a while longer, Qin Guan finally found an opportunity to leave with Yan Sui. Without bringing any servants, they headed directly toward the Hall of Contained Light. Qin Guan asked quietly, "Your Highness, do you remember who investigated Consort Jin's case back then?"
Yan Sui paused mid-step, "Someone named Lin..."
"Lin Zhang?" Qin Guan blurted out. Yan Sui nodded.
"What about others? Do you remember anyone else?"
Yan Sui frowned in thought before saying, "I think I saw another person... an official..."
"The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review?" Qin Guan pressed.
Yan Sui hesitated, "I... I'm not sure. By then I had already moved to the Longevity and Health Palace because my mother's palace was completely sealed off. Once when I sneaked back to the Hall of Contained Light, I saw a man with many guards, saying they were there to investigate my mother's case."
Qin Guan's heart stirred - she could almost certainly confirm that person was her father.
Back then, Prince Jin had been transferred to the Celestial Prison under the Ministry of Justice, and her father had taken over as chief investigator. Who else would bring guards to re-examine the crime scene? A sudden, almost absurd thought occurred to Qin Guan - what if her father had been searching for something?
And what if that something was precisely the dagger?!
With this realization, Qin Guan quickened her pace before remembering Yan Sui's shorter strides and slowing down again.
After a few steps, Yan Sui suddenly asked, "What have you discovered?"
Qin Guan's heart jumped. Meeting Yan Sui's earnest gaze, she felt a pang of guilt. "Nothing yet, I'm still looking for evidence."
As they walked, Yan Sui kept watching her, his dark eyes seeming to see right through her. Unnerved, Qin Guan took his hand and avoided looking at him. But after a few more steps, Yan Sui suddenly stopped, tugging her hand. "You've guessed who killed my mother, haven't you?"Qin Guan crouched down, looking at him very seriously. "Not yet. I've only deduced who might be connected to your mother's case. As for the murderer, it's impossible to determine for now. We mustn't jump to conclusions—it would be terrible to wrongfully accuse someone, don't you agree?"
Yan Sui silently watched Qin Guan, his eyes flickering with an indecipherable light. After a moment, he suddenly asked, "Does it involve my father?"
OpenNovel