By mid-October, the weather had turned exceptionally cold. When Qin Guan arrived at Prince Rui's residence as promised, dark clouds gathered on the horizon, heralding the first snowfall of early winter. As she approached the waterside pavilion, Yan Chi was writing a letter to the Northwest Frontier Army.
"Your Highness, the Lady Junzhu has arrived."
Yan Chi hastily set down his brush and stepped outside, spotting Qin Guan approaching gracefully not far away.
He went forward to meet her, taking her hands in his. "Did you come from the palace?"
Qin Guan nodded, then noticed ink stains on Yan Chi's fingers. She couldn't help but smile. "What were you writing?"
Yan Chi also noticed the ink on his fingers and sighed helplessly. "A letter to the Northwest Frontier Army."
Qin Guan immediately looked at him with concern. Knowing she was worried about the northwest situation, Yan Chi lowered his voice, "Progress there has been relatively smooth. Moreover, this winter's military provisions for the Northwest Frontier Army have all been dispatched. They won't need to worry about supplies until next May."
Qin Guan breathed a sigh of relief. "It's good that everything is going well. Have all the people you wanted to rescue been saved?"
Yan Chi nodded. "Master Qi and Yu Qi are making arrangements in the northwest. Basically, everyone has been rescued."
Thinking of Yue Ning, Qin Guan asked, "Heir Apparent Yue Jia is also in the northwest. What's his current stance?"
Yan Chi's expression turned serious. "He doesn't belong to Prince Rui's faction, nor is he the Emperor's man. Right now, he's merely an observer staying out of the conflict. This is actually good - since he's not involved, he hasn't been helping Lin Xugui and the others with many matters, managing to remain uninvolved."
Qin Guan understood Yan Chi's meaning. With the Northwest Frontier Army camp in chaos, Yue Jia's presence could be considered advantageous for them.
Yan Chi then turned to Qin Guan. "Did you learn anything during your palace visit today?"
Qin Guan nodded. Only after they entered the waterside pavilion did she briefly recount her conversation with Yan Sui. When Yan Sui heard that Consort Jin had been particularly fond of the Emperor's calligraphy and paintings during her lifetime, even admiring them alone in private, he found it strange. "Since ancient times, imperial calligraphy has always been eagerly collected by officials. But for Consort Jin, during those years when she enjoyed exceptional favor, reading and painting with the Emperor were ordinary occurrences. She saw the Emperor's calligraphy and paintings daily - there's no reason she would need to close her doors to appreciate them. She would have appreciated them thoroughly long ago."
Qin Guan agreed. Indeed, last year marked Consort Jin's sixth year in the palace. She had been favored by the Emperor since her entry into the palace, enjoying supreme favor for six years. After all that time, would Consort Jin still need to specially admire the Emperor's paintings?
"Could there have been something in the Emperor's paintings? Perhaps Consort Jin discovered some palace secret that led to her death."
Yan Chi shook his head. "Or should we also try to find the Emperor's paintings to examine? What secrets could the Emperor possibly paint? When he was with Consort Jin, it had nothing to do with court affairs. If Consort Jin suddenly discovered some secret... I can't imagine what kind of secret could be revealed through paintings."
This was precisely what puzzled Qin Guan. "Finding the paintings is possible, but I'm not skilled in calligraphy or painting, so I probably wouldn't notice anything significant. If we're looking... we should find those specific paintings that Consort Jin possessed. However, I've already inquired - all items from Consort Jin's palace were confiscated. Even the Longevity Lock she gave to the Ninth Prince, he doesn't dare wear it."Yan Chi seemed hesitant, so Qin Guan continued, "When Consort Jin gave birth to the Ninth Prince, her position became increasingly secure. Logically, she should have felt very at ease. Though Consort Jin wasn't skilled at socializing in the palace, with the Emperor's favor, she had no need to form factions or engage in hypocrisy. Yet the Ninth Prince clearly stated that shortly before Consort Jin's incident, she had appeared extremely fearful and even expressed hopes for him to leave the palace."
"Although the Ninth Prince had Prince Jin, Prince Cheng, and the then Prince Yong ahead of him in line, given the Emperor's age and his favor toward Consort Jin, the future Heir Apparent wasn't necessarily destined to be Prince Yong. Couldn't Consort Jin have harbored higher hopes? Even if she didn't have such ambitions, she could have wished for the Ninth Prince to become a wealthy and leisurely prince in the future. She must have been terrified at that time to consider sending the Ninth Prince out of the palace."
After Qin Guan finished speaking, Yan Chi suddenly said, "Prince Jin swapped the murder weapon used to kill Consort Jin, likely to conceal something. Consort Jin's extreme fear must have stemmed from discovering something... And whatever could make both of them so apprehensive would indeed be something capable of stirring monumental waves within the imperial family."
Qin Guan shared this view. "After much thought, I still believe this matter is inextricably linked to the Emperor. He is the one with the power to create such an impact."
Yan Chi's expression turned grave as he remarked, "That Granny Qian has already left the capital, likely heading toward Luozhou."
Qin Guan couldn't help but recall Granny Qian's words from that night. This elderly momma, who had left the palace upon reaching the appropriate age, remained fearful and sleepless even after departing the imperial court. Where did her terror originate? The answer seemed self-evident...
"With no other leads at present, the Emperor's calligraphy and paintings might genuinely be one of the clues."
Yan Chi made a decision. "I'll have someone find a way to acquire a few of the Emperor's calligraphic works and paintings. It would be best if we could uncover something."
Qin Guan nodded. "I visited Eternal Peace Palace. That night, Consort Jin suddenly turned back midway. I suspect she remembered something she hadn't finished. As a result, she went alone to the Hall of Contained Light. Is it possible this was related to the Emperor's calligraphy and paintings?"
Yan Chi agreed. "Either that, or she had an appointment with someone. But if she had an arrangement, she wouldn't have suddenly remembered it halfway."
Qin Guan pondered further. "It's a shame we can't review the original Corpse Examination and Examination Report."
Qin Guan's expertise lay in Corpse Examination, but without the ability to examine Consort Jin's body, they could only rely on dry speculation. Yan Chi then said, "It's said that Consort Jin was found lying in a pool of blood, with a visible chest wound—a single fatal stab. There were few signs of struggle or combat at the scene. Initially, the imperial guards investigated, but the case was later transferred to the Court of Judicial Review. Although we can't see the most detailed Examination Report, many are aware of these basic facts."
"A single fatal stab..." Qin Guan narrowed her eyes. "The murderer was undoubtedly male. He killed Consort Jin with one strike, and when Prince Jin heard the scream in the Imperial Garden and went to investigate, the perpetrator had already fled. This suggests the killer was also very familiar with the palace layout. Was there a banquet for male courtiers in the outer court that evening?"
Yan Chi nodded. "Yes. At that time, the inner court banquet was just beginning, while the outer court banquet was concluding. That's why Prince Jin went to the Imperial Garden to sober up."
After thinking for a moment, Qin Guan asked, "Is it possible the culprit was one of the male courtiers from the outer court?"Yan Chi shook his head, firmly dismissing Qin Guan's notion. "That's impossible. Male court officials cannot move freely within the Inner Palace. Furthermore, the Hall of Contained Light is relatively remote—ordinary male officials wouldn't be very familiar with its layout."
"In that case, the scope narrows. It must be someone from the palace, or someone who frequently enters and exits the palace."
At this point, Qin Guan couldn't help but sigh again. While the idea that the Emperor might have killed Consort Jin felt strange, the alternative possibilities remained numerous.
Yan Chi gently brushed a stray strand from Qin Guan's temple. "Don't rush. We still have time, and we're already very close to the truth."
Knowing they were near the truth yet unable to grasp it was the most tormenting feeling. Qin Guan sighed. "If there were a way, I'd like to meet the Empress. She must know far more than we do."
Even so, Qin Guan knew meeting the Empress at this critical juncture was far from advisable.
Yan Zhen's wedding was set for the twentieth of October, just days away, yet the Emperor showed no intention of releasing the Empress. Beneath the surface calm, a tense standoff seemed to have persisted for a long time, though it was only now that Qin Guan felt it so acutely.
"By the way, has that child of the Fu Clan been identified?"
Qin Guan suddenly remembered this matter and quickly asked. Yan Chi nodded. "It's confirmed. Yan Li currently has two closest guards—one named Lu Yun, the other Fang Yu. The Fu Clan's child is likely one of them."
Qin Guan's brow furrowed again. Although it was the Empress Dowager who had protected Princess Consort Gong and her son back then, the Emperor had since taken no further action against them, even conferring the title of Prince Gong upon Yan Li. On the other hand, the relationship between the Emperor and Empress had grown distant. An inexplicable sense of unease lingered in Qin Guan's heart, refusing to dissipate.
……
……
With less than ten days until the twentieth of October, the most significant event in the entire capital was Yan Zhen's wedding.
Throughout the Inner Palace, everyone was busy with the preparations. As the Emperor's only daughter, Yan Zhen was undoubtedly a favored child of heaven. Now that she was to marry into Northern Wei on behalf of Great Zhou, the wedding was expected to be grand and magnificent by all accounts.
Qin Guan had initially planned to erect a cenotaph for her parents earlier, but after learning that Li Muyun had inquired about who purchased the Shen residence, she decided to postpone the matter. Additionally, discovering that last year's case might be connected to the Emperor made her even more cautious.
One day, when Qin Guan arrived at the Longevity and Health Palace, Yan Chi was already there. These days, the two of them rarely appeared together at the palace. Their coincidental meeting prompted even Mammy Chen to look at them with a teasing smile. Mammy Chen whispered to Qin Guan, "The Crown Prince came to the palace today to ask the Empress Dowager for a few items to add to the betrothal gifts. Actually, the Household Affairs Department had already prepared everything, and the Prince Rui's residence isn't without resources—they've made their own preparations too. But the Crown Prince felt the betrothal gifts were still too modest, so he insisted the Empress Dowager bestow additional ones. My lady, you should know—the Crown Prince has never asked the Empress Dowager for anything since he was a child."
Qin Guan listened with a bashful expression, though in her heart she knew that Yan Chi's true intention was to request the Emperor's calligraphy.In the inner chamber, the Empress Dowager smiled and said, "It's good that you have such intentions. Whatever you want, just have the Household Affairs Department open my treasury. I've collected many calligraphy works, paintings, and jade artifacts there—all tribute items, quite a few are considered treasures. Go pick them out yourself..."
Yan Chi then asked, "I wonder if there is Wang Yannian's 'Hundred Herb Scroll'?"
Upon hearing this question, the Empress Dowager immediately laughed. Wang Yannian was a painting immortal from over three hundred years ago, rumored to have been a medical practitioner himself. His "Hundred Herb Scroll" was painted after he emulated Shennong in tasting hundreds of herbs. Not only was it worth a fortune, but it was also a medical treasure coveted by physicians worldwide. Qin Guan excelled in medicine, so Yan Chi's choice of this painting was clearly tailored to her preferences. The Empress Dowager chuckled, "I do remember having it, but I'm not sure where it's stored. I'll have someone take you to check later. Most of these calligraphy and paintings are kept in the Xuanji Pavilion of the Household Affairs Department. Actually, I'll have Yuan Qing take you to find it."
Yan Chi waved his hand, "Eunuch Yuan serves in front of The Emperor. If he finds out, The Emperor will know too. What if The Emperor refuses to part with this ink treasure?"
The Empress Dowager could only shake her head helplessly, "You clever imp, you know this painting isn't like any other." After a moment's thought, she added half-seriously, "If the emperor finds out, he might not give it to you so easily. At the very least, he'd make you promise to work diligently in the Ministry of Justice from now on."
Slapping the arm of her chair, the Empress Dowager said, "Wait a moment, I'll have Mammy Chen take you there. But the Xuanji Pavilion is quite large—it might take you some time to find it."
Yan Chi hurriedly expressed his thanks. After the two finished speaking, Qin Guan entered the inner chamber. The Empress Dowager naturally didn't mention what Yan Chi had come for, wanting to keep his intentions as a surprise for Qin Guan later. She engaged Qin Guan in conversation while Yan Chi soon took his leave. Mammy Chen was a reliable person; upon hearing Yan Chi's request, she accompanied him toward the Xuanji Pavilion. However, just as they stepped out, they encountered Yan Li approaching from the opposite direction.
Yan Li had been struggling in the Ministry of Personnel these days. The moment he saw Yan Chi, his eyes lit up brightly, "Seventh Brother!"
Yan Chi smiled. As Yan Li approached and noticed Mammy Chen present, he asked with slight surprise, "What's going on? Where is Momma taking Seventh Brother?"Mammy Chen replied with a smile, 'His Highness feels the betrothal gifts for the princess are too modest and has asked Her Majesty the Empress Dowager for treasures.'" I'm taking His Highness to the Xuanji Pavilion now."
Upon hearing this, Yan Li's interest was immediately piqued, "Xuanji Pavilion?! I'm familiar with the Xuanji Pavilion! I've taken some good items from there before too..."
Mammy Chen chuckled helplessly while Yan Li threw an arm around Yan Chi's shoulders, "Let's go, let's go! I'm coming too! It's rare for Grandmother to be so generous—I'll pick a couple of things too. They'll be my wedding gifts for Seventh Brother and Qin Guan later..."
Yan Chi hesitated for a moment but ultimately said nothing more. Mammy Chen, well aware of Yan Li's temperament, naturally acquiesced.As soon as Yan Li saw Yan Chi, he couldn't resist complaining about the torment of working in the Ministry of Personnel. Yet compared to last time, Yan Li now moved through it as effortlessly as a fish through water, even posing several quite serious questions with proper decorum. The two conversed all the way to the Mysterious Pavilion. Upon arrival, Mammy Chen stated their purpose, and the palace attendants, not daring to be careless, opened all twelve library sections. Hearing that Yan Chi wanted Wang Yannian's "Hundred Herb Illustrations," the attendants immediately flipped through catalogs searching for records. However, with the sheer volume of materials stored there, they couldn't locate it immediately. Yan Chi then assigned tasks to Yan Li: "For Wang Yannian's 'Hundred Herb Illustrations,' you search from the eastern side, I'll search from the western side..."
Yan Li had originally come intending to pocket something casually, never expecting to be hunting for paintings in this Sea of Mist of a library. His heart immediately sank with bitterness, yet for the sake of ensuring Yan Chi's betrothal gifts would carry sufficient weight, he could only resign himself to the drudgery and plunge headfirst into the mountainous stacks of calligraphy, paintings, and writings.
OpenNovel