Passing through the grand palace gates, Dingyi had only taken a few steps when she spotted a figure standing under the dim lantern light, arms crossed with an imposing aura. Her heart skipped a beat—wasn't that Seventh Lord? But it was still early—hadn’t he gone out for entertainment? How had he returned so quickly?
She hurried forward, bowing slightly as she asked, "Was it dull outside? Has my lord returned already?"
He replied, "No mood for it. What kind of place is this? The Courtesan was built like an ox—sitting on my lap, she could’ve crushed me to death. How do men live such miserable lives here..." As he spoke, his gaze shifted behind her, where Twelfth Master was just entering through the gates. Anger flared—clearly, his earlier warnings had gone in one ear and out the other. The moment he left, they were back together again. It felt like a newly wedded wife who refused to stay home, always sneaking out no matter how tightly he tried to rein her in. His voice sharpened as he scowled, "Where have you been? The moment your master leaves, you start running wild—since when is that the rule?"
Knowing his temper was about to erupt, Dingyi hunched her shoulders and raised the birdcage in her hands. "This servant begged Twelfth Master to take me bird shopping."
"Buying what birds?" Seventh Lord was baffled. "Are you so addicted to keeping birds that you’ve decided to get a couple for yourself?" He glanced down at the cage. "Not bad—these are fine birds, rare finds." Then he eyed Hongce. "What’s this? Are you two on such good terms now? These couldn’t have been cheap."
Hongce’s expression remained indifferent as he cut straight to the point. "These birds aren’t for her—they’re for you. Your previous two were poisoned. Xiaoshu feared you’d be upset, so she brought new ones to distract you."
Seventh Lord gaped. "What? My birds are dead?"
Tears welled in Dingyi’s eyes as she stammered, "After returning from your quarters this morning, I let them sunbathe in the garden for a while. Then they stopped eating and drinking... they were dead before nightfall." She knelt and kowtowed. "It was this servant’s negligence—I failed to care for them properly. Vent your anger on me, my lord. Since entering your service, I’ve accomplished nothing worthy. I’ve no face to meet you. Scold me, beat me—only then will my heart feel at ease."
"You’ll feel better, but what about me?" Hongtao was stunned. His birds had died just like that—it was unbelievable. "They were fine this morning—how could they die so suddenly... Get up, get up... You said they were poisoned—who did it?"
"It shouldn’t be hard to investigate. Not just anyone can come and go freely in the inner palace. The guards all reside in the Western Seven Compounds—to enter, they must pass through the gates. We’ve only just arrived, and none of the eunuchs or maids here would dare do such a thing. It must be someone with a prior grudge, sabotaging another’s livelihood for revenge." He turned to Sha Tong. "Did you question the guards on duty? Who came and went after the Hour of the Dragon today?"
Sha Tong replied, "Reporting to my lord, those from Prince Chun's Residence cannot enter the palace without summons. I checked the gate logs—only Liao Datou and Qian Chuan from Seventh Lord’s residence entered the inner palace today."
Dingyi gasped. "Brother Liao even struck up a conversation with me in the garden! At the time, he was alone—I didn’t see Qian Chuanzi. Could it have been a diversion? Luring me into talk while the other slipped poison to the birds?"The matter was clear as day—these were all reckless fools acting on impulse. They thought the blame would fall on the bird's caretakers if the bird died, but they were too shortsighted. The moment they bent over, their backsides were exposed.
"Today they poison a bird, tomorrow they’d dare poison a person," Hongce said. "The state has its laws, the household its rules. Committing murder within the palace walls—if word gets out, Seventh Lord won’t be able to justify himself when he returns to the capital. A servant disloyal to their master, knowingly poisoning a beloved pet out of spite—such a person must be made an example of, to serve as a warning."
Seventh Lord’s rage was like thunder in the dead of winter, carrying a sharp, panicked edge. He barked at Najin, "Damn it all, summon Shouheng, Liao Datou, and Qian Chuan here! If I don’t deal with them today, I’ll write the name Yuwen upside down!"
Seventh Lord stormed off like a whirlwind, leaving Dingyi uneasy as she glanced at Twelfth Master. He gave her a reassuring smile and said to Sha Tong, "Summon all the guards who caused trouble at Swallow River Post Station that day. A group divided against itself rots from the core. If they won’t confess, someone else will—or they’ll tear each other apart. Either way, it’s no loss."
Hearing this, Dingyi realized Twelfth Master wasn’t as simple as he appeared. Though gentle, he could act decisively when needed. Then again, she’d only known him for a little over two months—far too short a time to truly understand someone.
Meanwhile, Seventh Lord was like a man possessed, raging like a storm in Wende Hall. A trained fighter with powerful kicks, he didn’t bother questioning the kneeling servants—just lashed out with brutal kicks to their chests. The men took the beating without protest, scrambling back to their knees. Snatching a snakeskin whip from the wall, he roared, "I’m already in a foul mood today, and now this! You think your master’s too idle, so you deliberately stir up trouble? Dogs are supposed to guard the house, but you lot turn on your own master! Speak! Who poisoned my bird? Don’t even think of covering for each other. Just because I’ve let you run wild doesn’t mean I’m blind. Confess now—either the ringleader gets crippled, or all three of you can report to the King of Hell. Don’t keep me waiting—out with it!"
Shouheng stammered, "My lord, I’ve been at the carriage and horse yard all day preparing supplies. The further north we go, the colder it gets—we must be ready in case we can’t reach a post station and need firewood. Though I wasn’t in the palace, this incident is my failure. I deserve your harshest punishment."
Seventh Lord spat. "Worthless scum! Since when does a squad leader handle such tasks? Are your men all dead? Lax discipline is your fault, but right now, I want the poisoner!" He turned, glaring at the other two. "Talk while I still have patience. Push me too far, and I’ll flatten you!"
His tone was terrifying, sending a shiver down Dingyi’s spine. She glanced up to see Qian Chuanzi putting on a foolish act. "My lord, you’re wise! Today, Liao Datou and I did enter the palace to report to you, but we left right after. Mu Xiaoshu’s the bird keeper—if the bird’s dead, he’s the one to answer for it. Besides, the palace is heavily guarded—who’d dare poison anything? Maybe he neglected the bird and it died of mistreatment?"Seventh Lord's lax household management and his habit of making loud threats with little follow-through had long been understood by those under him. Seeing Qian Chuanzi's smug expression infuriated Dingyi, who retorted sharply, "I met Liao Datou in the gardens—we even spoke, and the palace eunuchs can vouch for that. Now I'd like to ask you: where were you at that time? Could it be you're still holding a grudge from last time and seized this chance to target me? Harm me if you must, but leave my birds alone! Bullying creatures that can't speak for themselves—what kind of man does that make you?"
Hongce, who had been silently observing, finally spoke when Wei Kaitai arrived with the imperial physician. After the physician swept his sleeves and kowtowed to greet the two lords, Hongce said, "Qian Chuan makes a fair point. We should examine how these birds died to avoid wronging an innocent man."
A young eunuch presented a tray bearing both birds. Seventh Lord's heart ached at the sight, and he slumped in his chair with a heavy sigh. The physician plucked feathers from the birds' bellies and made an incision along the esophagus, carefully extracting the tiny crop. Given its minuscule size, he used silver acupuncture needles for examination. Concerned that prolonged digestion might obscure evidence, he also probed the intestinal area. The onlookers watched intently, holding their breath as if witnessing a coroner's autopsy. The results were crucial—if poison was found, foul play was certain; if not, Dingyi would likely be blamed.
Yet these were healthy birds that had survived summer heat and rainstorms unscathed. How could they suddenly die after settling into the palace? The suspicious circumstances suggested deliberate harm. After some time, the examination concluded. A dozen needles lay arranged on a white cloth, their tips blackened. The physician clasped his hands and reported, "My lords, these birds were poisoned. The toxin was potent but slow-acting, administered in small quantity. Though partially metabolized between morning and evening, traces remain detectable."
Dingyi felt the vindication of cleared injustice and glared triumphantly at Qian Chuanzi, who now remained silent, his eyes darting nervously—perhaps thinking even with poison confirmed, there was no direct evidence against him. But he'd forgotten Seventh Lord's temperament: a man who disdained complex reasoning and favored blunt solutions.
Hongtao sneered coldly, "How remarkable—my own servants conspiring against their masters. Since Shouheng wasn't present to supervise, his negligence isn't fatal. But Liao Datou and Qian Chuan are undeniably involved. If you're guilty, your deaths shall avenge these birds. If innocent... consider yourselves unlucky and tend the aviary hereafter!"
The kneeling men paled in horror. "Master, this... this..."
Hongce glanced outside where Seventh Lord's guards had assembled. "Living in shared quarters, someone must have witnessed something. This isn't about brotherly loyalty now—choose between naming culprits or sharing their fate."
Seventh Lord looked bewildered. Two punishments weren't enough—was this a complete purge? Twelfth Master's ruthlessness threatened to leave him a prince without retainers.
Hongce had his strategy. Without catching thieves red-handed, convictions based solely on inference might breed resentment. Faced with collective punishment, self-preservation would compel someone to talk. Even without seeing poison administered, witnessing tampered birdfeed would serve equally well.Liao Datou finally couldn't hold out any longer. He never expected that killing two birds would require paying with his life. His teeth chattered uncontrollably as he crawled forward on his knees, trembling violently. "Master... this slave truly did nothing! I merely exchanged a few words with Xiaoshu in the garden, I know nothing else..."
Seventh Lord spat right in his face. "I despise cowards like you the most—daring to act but not daring to take responsibility. What kind of worthless scum are you?" After a torrent of abuse, he turned and shouted, "What are you all staring at? Drag him out and behead him!"
Immediately, wails erupted. Facing actual death, everyone clung desperately to life, crying and begging for their master's mercy. Although poisoning in the palace was a capital offense, the victims were merely birds—taking two human lives seemed excessive. Hongce called for them to stop. "Let's handle this differently. Give them fifty Military Rods and send them to the Bondservant department. No need to take their lives."
Seventh Lord's face darkened with rage as he slumped into an armchair without speaking. Without his nod of approval, no one dared act, leaving everyone standing awkwardly. He glanced around irritably. "What are you waiting for? Carry it out!" Waving his hands dismissively, he snapped, "Dismissed, dismissed... everyone get out, go!"
Seventh Lord was in a foul mood, and no one wanted to stay and bear the brunt of his temper. The crowd murmured assent and began backing away when he suddenly called out, "Mu Xiaoshu, you stay behind."
Dingyi froze momentarily before ducking her head and returning to the hall. Hongce paused briefly but ultimately left.
With everyone gone, it was unclear whether Seventh Lord intended to scold her or devour her alive. She timidly looked up and tentatively extended the birdcage toward him. "Master, please don't grieve. What's dead can't return, but luckily I was quick-witted and got you two new ones. These birds are no worse than Fenger and Yingying—the same breed, larks that can sing thirteen melodies. Would you like to see..." His long face was so dark it was unbearable to look at, leaving Dingyi's arm frozen mid-air, uncertain whether to advance or retreat.
Seventh Lord snorted. "Good birds? Thirteen melodies? How much silver did you spend?"
Her mouth opened and closed wordlessly before she hesitantly replied, "Birds and cage—five hundred taels total."
"Five hundred taels. Whose money was it?"
As if he needed to ask—her entire body wasn't worth five hundred taels even if dismantled bone by bone. Hanging her head, she admitted, "I have no money. Twelfth Master provided the silver."
"And you have the nerve? Spending someone else's money—does your conscience not trouble you?" Seventh Lord sprang up and began pacing furiously, clutching his chest as if in agony. "You'll be the death of me! Haven't I told you before—if there's trouble, don't go to Twelfth Master! I'm your proper master, come to me! How do you keep forgetting? Is that head of yours just for show, huh? Can't remember a thing—is it filled with bean curd? How many times must I say it? Give me a straight answer!"
The Prince was utterly exasperated. Dingyi's eyes welled up under his tirade. "I was just worried after the birds died—afraid you'd be angry. I hurried to replace them so you'd feel better."
"Oh, so this was for my sake? You dare say that! Dead birds are dead birds—what are two birds worth? Why go running to someone else? What were you thinking? Are you that afraid of me? Such a good master as I am, so considerate—you'd be hard-pressed to find my equal under heaven! What exactly are you afraid of? Explain yourself properly—would I force you to your death? Now you've really done it—buried in debt. How do you plan to repay it?"He was like an overturned cart of walnuts, rattling off a string of words that left her speechless. A good master? Was he referring to himself? She had never thought him easy to talk to before, but this time, with the birds dead and gone, he didn’t seem to care at all—utterly baffling.
Dingyi forgot even to cry, staring at him dumbfounded. "What do you suggest we do?"
Seventh Lord glared at him, looking as if he wished he could slice him into a thousand pieces. Pointing a finger at the cage, he snapped, "Release them all! The sight of them pisses me off!"
That wouldn’t do. She hid the birdcage behind her back. "Five hundred taels of silver—we can’t just waste money like that."
Five hundred taels? Even five thousand wouldn’t make Seventh Lord bat an eye. "I said release them, so release them."
She took a big step back. "Master, Yingying and Fenger are both dead. Without birds, what’s the point of me staying here as your bird keeper? You’d have me idle away my time, paying me for nothing?"
The salary was secondary—idleness was the real problem. When people had nothing to do, they tended to overthink. He frowned and scratched his temple. "It’s not like we’re short on money. Owing others is out of the question—I won’t stand for it! If I want birds, I’ll buy them myself. No need for him to send any. And that Shaanxi hound from last time—either return it or pay the cash equivalent. He can name the price. One way or another, we’ll settle the accounts clean, so we owe him nothing in the future. Then we can meet with a clear conscience."
"We" this, "we" that—Seventh Lord felt this phrasing best captured his current state of mind. He’d visited the brothel today, where the women had fawned over him with all sorts of sweet nothings, but their heavy makeup had turned his stomach. He’d slunk out in defeat and headed straight for the male brothel, where the boys, all in their teens with smooth faces and good looks, awaited. Yet even there, he found himself hesitating at the door, unable to take another step. Nothing felt right. A sudden chill ran through him—what was wrong? Was he... losing his touch?
His gaze fixed on the figure under the lamplight. Xiaoshu’s face was the only one that felt right. Lost in thought, he propped his chin on his hand and murmured, "Ah, Xiaoshu, if only you were a woman. I wouldn’t make you a guard anymore—I’d make you my Concubine."
OpenNovel