Unveil: Jadewind

The first light of dawn finally illuminated a vast expanse of broken tiles and ruins, with wisps of blue smoke rising from the charred debris.

In the originally grand courtyard of the Temple of Common Vocation, nearly all the buildings had collapsed or burned down, leaving only the highest main hall with a few beams and pillars barely maintaining its original shape. In this late winter to early spring season, the vegetation was dry, and the temple grounds were desolate inside and out. Once the fire broke out, it was nearly impossible to extinguish, and they had to let it burn itself out. Just before dawn, light snowflakes began to fall from the sky, as if heaven itself was lending a hand.

There had been stationed troops outside the temple. After news of the fire spread, the Northern Bureau Seven Camps also dispatched soldiers. Their first priority was to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading elsewhere, especially ensuring it didn’t reach the imperial palace. The second task was to rescue people, naturally prioritizing the noblewomen and princesses.

The raging fire burned throughout the night. As dawn broke in the east, the Garrison Guards tallied the rescued: Princess Zheng of Xi and her four daughters were all unharmed, and among the six daughters of the Prince of Hailing, four were also safe. However, Consort Yang, Princess of Hailing, and her two biological daughters were nowhere to be found. One princess consort, eight young girls, and a group of serving maids and attendants were temporarily settled in an open area outside the temple, where tents were set up for them to rest and recover.

Wei Shufen, Chai Yingluo, and Li Yuangui rode over early in the morning to check on them and went straight into the makeshift camp. Amid the still-falling snowflakes, many people lay haphazardly in the open—some with burns on their hair, hands, or faces, others with sprained ankles or scraped knees from fleeing, and some barely covered by tattered cloth or felt blankets. The air was thick with the stench of blood and filth, and the sounds of moaning and crying were incessant.

The nine noblewomen of the imperial family were resting temporarily in the tents. They appeared relatively unscathed, not as disheveled as the servants and guards outside. Most had neat hair and intact clothing, kneeling around an iron brazier on felt mats, whispering among themselves. A few young girls had fallen asleep leaning against their mothers or sisters.

"Auntie..."

Chai Yingluo went straight to Zheng Guanyin, who sat on the central mat. Holding her youngest daughter in her arms, Zheng Guanyin's eyes and expression remained as cold and detached as ever. Aside from a few stray strands of hair at her temples, there was no sign she had just survived a night of terror and escape.

"We are all fine here. The fire started in the backyard, and we managed to escape in time. Third Sister from the east courtyard sprained her ankle—High Truth Master, please take a look. As for Consort Yang of Hailing and her two daughters, along with their serving maids, they didn’t make it out."

Wei Shufen's heart sank. Last night, while they were discussing the rumors about Consort Yang, had she and her two daughters been burned alive in their own room?

Behind her, Li Yuangui suddenly spoke up:

"Eldest Sister-in-law, I don’t see Yi Niang’s HeBa wet nurse. Did she escape?"

Zheng Guanyin paused, as if just remembering the woman, and shook her head. "I don’t know. She was locked in the woodshed in the backyard. With the chaos last night, she likely didn’t survive."

Li Yuangui nodded without another word, turned on his heel, and strode out of the tent. Meanwhile, Chai Yingluo had gone to examine the sprained ankle of the third daughter of the Prince of Hailing, assuring her it was nothing serious and would heal in a couple of days. This Third Sister, about fifteen or sixteen—around Wei Shufen’s age—had dark, rough skin and was rather plain-looking, but she was sensible. Bearing the pain in silence, she cradled a younger sister in her arms, patting her to sleep.

The tent flap lifted as an older serving girl entered and reported to Zheng Guanyin and Chai Yingluo."We, the servants, led the on-duty Colonel to the eastern courtyard and thoroughly searched Lady Yang's main chamber, but found no charred corpses. The beams, pillars, screens, and cabinets were all moved aside—there should be no place left to hide anyone. When the fire broke out last night, Lady Yang and her party didn't seem to be in the room."

So, Consort Yang and her daughters, along with their maids, were not burned to death but had gone missing?

The women in the tent were astonished upon hearing this and began murmuring among themselves. Chai Yingluo asked Zheng Guanyin, "Aunt, before the fire last night, did you see Fourth Aunt?"

Zheng Guanyin shook her head. "The last time I saw her was when we passed each other in the prayer hall after answering your questions. After that, we each returned to our own courtyards and didn't meet again."

That had been one or two days ago. Frowning, Chai Yingluo then questioned Li Yuan-ji's four daughters in the tent. They replied that Consort Yang had dined with them yesterday morning, admonishing them to "behave and not cause trouble," but no one had seen her or her biological daughters, the Fourth and Sixth Princesses, since then.

"Lady Yang lived in the main house of the eastern courtyard with the Fourth and Sixth Princesses, separated from our side courtyard by a Moon Cave Wall, unlike Aunt in the western courtyard, who shares the same compound with us," explained Li Yuan-ji's eldest daughter by a concubine. "Usually, unless summoned, we wouldn't disturb her in her quarters."

Thus, it remained unclear whether the mother and daughters had left before the fire, escaped during the chaos, or been reduced to ashes without a trace.

Zheng Guanyin resumed her usual indifferent demeanor. Chai Yingluo asked her a few more questions, but she answered absentmindedly, even dismissing the cause of the fire with, "I don't know—you investigate it yourselves." The female Taoist was somewhat frustrated and shook her head as she stepped out of the tent.

Wei Shufen followed her out and saw Chai Yingluo questioning a Garrison Guard: "Who was the officer in charge of the Temple of Common Vocation's guard duty yesterday? I need to speak with him." Before the guard could answer, a commotion arose in the distance as someone rushed over breathlessly to report:

"Her—Her Majesty the Empress's Phoenix Carriage... has arrived!"

Empress Zhangsun arrived in her usual Canopy Curtain Window Palace Vehicle, without the usual ceremonial procession, likely having rushed over upon hearing of the fire at the Temple of Common Vocation without time for preparations. She proceeded directly into the relief camp, alighted from the carriage, and entered the tent to check on Zheng Guanyin and the eight other noblewomen of the imperial family. Chai Yingluo and Wei Shufen followed her inside. After the customary bows and reassurances, a few words were exchanged, and the Empress's attention quickly turned to the whereabouts of Consort Yang, Princess of Hailing, and her daughters.

By then, Zhang Shigui, the Right Garrison Guard Grand General responsible for the forbidden garden's security, had arrived. Standing outside the tent, he bowed and apologized through the curtain, admitting his "negligence in guarding the palace deserved ten thousand deaths." The Empress interrupted him, saying, "The military's duties and accountability will be handled according to imperial law—I will not interfere. But as for Consort Yang and her daughters..."

The Empress's complexion was already poor, her cheeks pale and bloodless, and her furrowed brow made her appear even more gaunt and weary. Chai Yingluo stepped forward to support her aunt's elbow and whispered in her ear:

"The Temple of Common Vocation has corner towers and guard posts—all comings and goings would have been observed. The guards on duty yesterday should know the whereabouts of the Princess of Hailing and her daughters."Wei Shufen recalled that two days ago in the Hall of Established Governance, her father Wei Zheng had inquired about the guard arrangements at the Temple of Common Vocation from Chai Shao, the imperial son-in-law, and guardsman Yang Xinzhi, among others. It turned out to be true. The Empress had also heard this at the time and, prompted by Chai Yingluo, asked Zhang Shigui outside the tent. Zhang Shigui then questioned his subordinates, causing a commotion outside before finally locating a rotating guard from the previous day to report.

"Yesterday, this humble servant was... was stationed at the northeast corner... corner tower. In the afternoon, I saw... saw..."

Whether from excessive nervousness or a natural stutter, the guard knelt outside the tent stammering for a long time before roughly explaining: After lunch, he saw two carriages stop outside the Temple of Common Vocation, with several men and women carrying bundles boarding them. However, the temple gate was guarded, and those leaving had to present their official verification talismans. From his distant post on the corner tower, he couldn't make out more specific details.

As for the guards stationed at the temple gate yesterday noon—Zhang Shigui reported that upon investigation, he discovered the superior military head on duty yesterday, Cao Qin, had led several off-duty guards into the courtyard to rescue people when the fire broke out that night. Unfortunately, he was overcome by smoke and remained in critical condition. Among those he took with him were the two guards who had been on gate duty at noon—one dead, the other injured and unconscious.

Thus, it could be roughly confirmed that Consort Yang and her two daughters had left the Temple of Common Vocation at noon yesterday. But how they left and where they went remained unclear.

First, Princess Linfen Li Wanxi had died suddenly at the wedding, then Consort Yang, Princess of Hailing, and her daughters quietly departed. That night, a fire destroyed buildings—who knew what other strange secrets were buried in the Temple of Common Vocation... Not that it mattered now, since little remained after the blaze.

When the Empress asked about the fire's cause, Zhang Shigui replied from outside the tent: It could only be confirmed that it started from the overgrown grass in the rear courtyard. That night, guards on the northwest corner tower saw faint flickering lights outside the courtyard wall. When they shouted a challenge, the fire suddenly erupted into a fireball, as if oil had been poured on the grass beforehand. The tower guards couldn't identify the arsonists, only firing crossbow bolts in their direction before turning to fight the flames and rescue people. A thorough investigation would have to wait.

After standing so long separated by curtains while speaking with men outside, the Empress showed signs of fatigue. Chai Yingluo supported her, advising: "The situation here is initially stabilized. Let your subordinates handle the rest gradually. The Empress's health is paramount—please return to the palace to rest now."

"My heart remains uneasy," the Empress shook her head. "I feel this fire is connected to Yi Niang's murder, to the disappearance of Fourth Brother's wife, even to your rescue of Seventeenth Sister last night. Ah, while His Majesty focuses entirely on the northwest campaign, I cannot even maintain peace in the inner palace. How incompetent and ashamed I am..."

"Empress..." Chai Yingluo began to comfort her when a sudden call came from outside the tent: "Yingniang!"

It was Li Yuangui's voice. Having disappeared for some time, he returned first seeking Chai Yingluo, but after one shout fell silent, as if Zhang Shigui had spoken to him. His excited tone shifted to solemn caution:

"Your subject Yuangui pays respects to the Empress. In the fire ruins, I found the body of Yi Niang's HeBa nursemaid. The jade ring she swallowed... has also been recovered."

So that was what he had been doing.Thinking about the process by which Li Yuangui "found" the jade ring in HeBa's corpse, Wei Shufen felt a wave of nausea. Empress Zhangsun also frowned slightly before speaking, "Prince Wu, come in and speak."

Li Yuangui lifted the tent flap and entered, kneeling properly to pay his respects. A light dusting of snow covered his turban and shoulders. Chai Yingluo, who had been standing close to the Empress, loosened her grip slightly and took a small step aside to avoid directly receiving the bow from her royal uncle. The Empress glanced at her niece with an approving smile before addressing Li Yuangui:

"Fourteenth Brother, no need for such formalities. Rise quickly. You mentioned that jade ring—was it the male keepsake found in Yi Niang’s dressing case?"

"Yes," Li Yuangui replied, retrieving a small object wrapped in a handkerchief from his robe. He hesitated, wiping it once more with the cloth before presenting it to the Empress with both hands.

This was the same ancient-style jade ring Wei Shufen had seen in Li Wanxi’s room two mornings prior—large and thick, with one side sloping steeply and carved with a notch, while the other side had a hole for threading a silk cord. The entire piece was a pale bluish-green, though the streak of blood-red encircling it seemed to have spread and darkened slightly. After retrieving it from HeBa’s remains, Li Yuangui had evidently cleaned it, leaving the surface spotless, its luster still pure and smooth.

Empress Zhangsun slowly raised her hand, plucking the jade ring from Li Yuangui’s palm and bringing it close to examine it carefully. Her slender fingers were steady, her face expressionless, though the slight bite of her lower lip and the faint trembling of her lashes betrayed her exhaustion. Chai Yingluo supported her again, whispering, "Aunt, even if you won’t return to the palace, at least rest in the carriage. You’ve been standing too long in this stifling place."

The Empress remained dazed for a moment before nodding and allowing her niece to guide her out. Li Yuangui hurried ahead to lift the tent flap, instructing the men outside to step back and bring the imperial carriage forward. The female Taoist and several palace maids helped the Empress into the carriage and settled her inside.

"Fourteenth Brother," the Empress called through the carriage curtain, summoning Li Yuangui again. "Yi Niang’s nurse claimed she never once left the temple gates in nine years. Is that true? Aside from HeBa, has anyone else corroborated this?"

"Your Majesty, we questioned the other maids and servants, as well as Lady Zheng, the consort of the late Prince Xi. None mentioned Yi Niang ever leaving the temple. Most described her as quiet, chaste, and withdrawn from outsiders."

"Then before the wedding, no men entered the Temple of Common Vocation either?"

"Well..." Li Yuangui thought for a moment. "Aside from the craftsmen and laborers who repaired the buildings, the only men who likely entered the temple were... us."

He had been forced to officiate Yi Niang’s wedding, which naturally required numerous preparations beforehand, making his visits to the temple unavoidable. The Empress continued from inside the carriage, "You understand my meaning—I’m not referring to that. The forbidden garden is heavily guarded, and I had no reason for suspicion. But you know, Fourteenth Brother, from the fourth year of Zhenguan until last year, the Son of Heaven spent several months each year traveling, taking most of the imperial guards with him..."

Li Yuangui nodded silently. Wei Shufen, listening nearby, also grasped the Empress’s implication. Over the past two or three years, whenever the imperial couple left to escape the summer heat, they took a large portion of the guards, leaving even the Supreme Palace and the Crown Prince's Palace undermanned. Within the forbidden garden, aside from the Supreme Emperor’s residence at the Great Peace Palace, which was never neglected, the security at other sites—temples and gardens—was lax at best. If an outsider had taken advantage of that time to sneak into the Temple of Common Vocation and meet Yi Niang... it was impossible to say such a thing never happened.

But on the other hand, would anyone truly have engaged in an illicit affair with Yi Niang?Li Wanxi clearly did not possess the peerless beauty of her fourth aunt. As the orphaned daughter of the former palace, though granted the title of County Princess and a considerable dowry, even if married through proper channels, hoping to gain much advantage from her in terms of power or wealth was but a dream. More likely, one would suffer greater setbacks due to her status.

If it were an illicit affair, the man would gain nothing from her title or dowry, and the risks for both would be terrifyingly high. What benefit could Yi Niang possibly offer to make a man so devotedly love her, even to the point of committing murder when she was about to marry?

After much thought, the only thing that set Li Wanxi apart from others was likely her unique identity. The daughter of the deposed and executed Crown Prince Li Jian-cheng, a pitiful fallen princess—many men in the world harbored fantasies about such women, imagining themselves as heroic saviors of ill-fated beauties...

Wei Shufen recalled the love poems she and Chai Yingluo had found in Yi Niang’s former residence. The handwriting closely resembled that of Yi Niang’s suicide note. If those amorous verses had been copied by Yi Niang herself, then this unfortunate girl had indeed once been stirred by youthful passion. It was even possible that the original volumes of those suggestive poems had been secretly brought to her by her lover...

"This case... I think we should stop here. No further investigation."