Shortly after, Pan Hai returned with an extremely troubled expression.
Emperor Jingming suddenly had an ominous feeling.
Pan Hai knelt with a bitter face: “Your Majesty, that dancer has died suddenly.”
“Died suddenly?” Emperor Jingming felt a tightness in his chest and asked heavily, “Was the interrogation too harsh?”
Pan Hai remained kneeling, breaking out in cold sweat despite the June heat. He lowered his head and said: “My subordinates know the appropriate methods and limits of interrogation for different people, but the dancer died just as the questioning began. Please allow the Imperial Physicians to examine her…”
Emperor Jingming, troubled and distracted, waved his hand. Several Imperial Physicians followed Pan Hai out without daring to make a sound.
The atmosphere in the hall grew heavy.
Prince Yan had finally uncovered the dancer who administered the poison, yet she died before Pan Hai could question her!
Would Princess Fifteen’s death become an unsolved case?
Emperor Jingming, being of a mild temperament, held back his anger despite Pan Hai’s failure. Gently massaging his temples, he asked Yu Jin: “Seventh Son, what are your thoughts?”
Yu Jin sighed: “Now that the poisoner is dead if someone was behind her actions, we can only investigate from two angles.”
“Which two?”
Yu Jin raised his fingers, his thoughts unperturbed by the dancer’s sudden death: “First, we must investigate the dancer’s circumstances – her relationships and interactions since entering the palace, any unusual words or actions, or difficulties she encountered. The more detailed the information, the better chance we have of finding clues in her past.”
“And the second point?” Emperor Jingming inquired.
By this time, no one else dared to interject carelessly.
The identified culprit was dead, and though the Emperor appeared calm, his anger was unknown. Speaking thoughtlessly now would be suicide.
“The second point concerns the poison’s source,” Yu Jin analyzed calmly. “Son believes that such deadly poisons must be strictly controlled within the palace. They couldn’t be easily obtained, could they?”
Emperor Jingming nodded slowly.
It was no joke – if such poisons were easily accessible, he would never have a peaceful day.
Emperor Jingming looked toward the waiting Imperial Medical Academy Director: “Director Zhang?”
Director Zhang immediately responded: “Your Majesty, the Breaking Bowel Grass is extremely toxic – even a tiny amount causes rapid death. Though it has uses in treating rheumatic pain, the Imperial Dispensary does not stock it, to my knowledge.”
The Imperial Dispensary was located behind the Imperial Medical Academy but was managed by the Supervising Eunuch rather than the Academy Director.
Emperor Jingming had questioned Director Zhang before the Supervising Eunuch to verify both accounts.
Hearing Director Zhang’s response, Emperor Jingming immediately glanced at the Supervising Eunuch in charge of the Imperial Dispensary.
The Supervising Eunuch promptly replied: “Your Majesty, all medications entering and leaving the Imperial Dispensary require official seals and documentation for regular inventory and archiving. A mere dancer could never privately obtain any medicine, let alone poison. As Director Zhang stated, we do not stock Breaking Bowel Grass.”
He presented a document – the complete inventory of the Imperial Dispensary.
With a princess poisoned to death, the Emperor’s rage could cost even uninvolved parties their heads, let alone those directly connected. The Supervising Eunuch had prepared these documents while Prince Yan was investigating, ready for the Emperor’s questioning.
Emperor Jingming’s anger subsided slightly as he viewed the inventory.
“This suggests the dancer obtained the Breaking Bowel Grass through unofficial channels,” Yu Jin said.
The others silently shook their heads.
If not through official channels, and with the perpetrator dead, the investigation would be even more difficult.
Outside official channels meant smuggling from outside the palace. But how to investigate that? Who knew when this deadly substance was brought in?
It could have been days ago, months ago, or even years ago.
There was no way to trace it.
At this moment, Pan Hai returned with the Imperial Physicians who had examined the dancer’s body.
Emperor Jingming immediately asked: “Well?”
An Imperial Physician reported: “The dancer died from a sudden heart condition.”
Emperor Jingming’s expression darkened, his heart heavy.
The others’ expressions grew complex.
It was truly one misfortune after another. Princess Fifteen’s death was already mysterious enough, and now the identified dancer had died from a sudden heart condition before questioning.
This meant Prince Yan’s voluntary investigation would likely come to nothing.
However, this hardly mattered – Prince Yan’s performance had been impressive enough to win the Emperor’s favor and clear his wife of suspicion. He could honorably withdraw now.
Emperor Jingming’s thoughts aligned with the others.
At this point, the investigation would continue, but it couldn’t be resolved with just his Seventh Son’s questioning. It required deeper investigation.
Smuggling deadly poison into the palace warranted thorough investigation regardless of when it occurred, but this wouldn’t be resolved quickly.
Emperor Jingming sighed and spoke gravely: “Seventh Son, you’ve done well today.”
Yu Jin bowed: “Father flatters me.”
Beyond any brotherly feeling for Princess Fifteen, which barely existed, he had taken on this task to keep A Si from trouble.
Though the mastermind remained unknown, someone who could command a palace dancer had nothing to do with A Si. His goal was achieved.
At this point, thoroughly investigating the Imperial Entertainment Bureau and Inner Palace would not be quick work.
This distinguished him from Zhen Shicheng.
Old Zhen was a perfectionist obsessed with solving cases, probably unable to sleep until everything was clear. He didn’t have such drive.
Just as Emperor Jingming prepared to end this painful and unpleasant palace banquet, a gentle female voice spoke: “Father, your daughter-in-law boldly requests to ask a question.”
Emperor Jingming looked at the speaker with surprise.
It was Jiang Si.
The surprise wasn’t limited to Emperor Jingming but was shared by most present.
What did Prince Yan’s wife want at this moment?
Ah, Prince Yan had just performed admirably – perhaps his wife wanted to seek rewards for him?
If so, that would be foolish.
Though the Emperor was a wise and gentle ruler who fairly dispensed rewards and punishments (the Crown Prince would disagree), having just lost a daughter, he wouldn’t be in the mood for rewards before finding the true culprit, no matter how pleased he was with Prince Yan’s performance.
“Seventh Son’s wife, what do you wish to ask?”
Under countless watching eyes, Jiang Si showed no fear, curtseying to Emperor Jingming: “Daughter-in-law just had a thought and wished to ask, though it may not be useful. I hope Father won’t mind my interruption.”
“Speak.”
Jiang Si straightened up, her voice slightly raised: “May I ask where in the palace the Mandarin Duck Vine grows?”