“You finally came out?”

Li Zhaoting walked forward, sizing her up. She looked completely exhausted, covered in dust from travel.

Unexpectedly, she said: “No, I left the palace and just rushed back. I just didn’t want the news to leak, but the enemy is formidable – more of the palace maids from back then have died…”

“What?” Li Zhaoting was somewhat surprised by her directness. After his initial shock, he quickly asked: “What do you mean?”

Suzhen briefly told him what she had seen outside the palace and the secrets Lian Jie and the others had revealed to her, but omitted the fact that Lian Yu had accompanied them. She didn’t want to say much about Lian Yu.

Li Zhaoting’s brow furrowed suddenly. Before he could voice his doubts, she asked: “Zhaoting, do you know besides Fu Jingshu, which other court officials my father was friendly with when he served as an official?”

Li Zhaoting sighed softly. “I only learned your father had once been an official when I met Quan Feitong during my travels, which is why I was quite wary of him.”

“Quan Feitong knew early on that my father was in Huai County?” Suzhen asked.

“Many people knew your father was in Huai County. After all, he was quite a figure back then. They just didn’t expect he was connected to Prince Jin’s faction.”

Suzhen made no comment, only saying: “Find Xiao Zhou and the others and have them wait for me in my room. You can tell them what I told you first, let them form some ideas. I’ll make a trip to Ming Yanchu to ask him about some things, then find you all later.”

“Take this back for me.” He nodded, and she also nodded, stuffing the travel bag in her hands into his arms before leaving.

The two had previously had some friction in the morgue, but now she acted as if nothing had happened, never mentioning it. She was indeed quite naturally familiar… His gaze fell on the somewhat dirty small bag, and he frowned slightly.

Suzhen found Ming Yanchu at the Imperial Household Department.

She said: “Minister Ming, that night His Majesty had people notify the local county magistrate to preserve Chen Jin’s family’s bodies. Also, people were sent to neighboring counties to rendezvous with other guards. How are things on both sides?”

“Have the bodies been transported here? How is the situation at the other palace maids’ family homes? Are there casualties, are there any… survivors?” She had maintained a calm expression throughout, but when asking about survivors, her brow furrowed tightly, finally showing some emotion.

Ming Yanchu was busy arranging something with his subordinates. Seeing her, he quickly set aside his work and came over.

“The bodies are on the road and should all arrive in a couple of days. Besides Chen Jin, there are also the corpses of three other palace maids and their family members…”

Suzhen closed her eyes and said softly: “So many people died. Of those who shared quarters with Consort Yu back then, there were seven in total. Excluding the three dead in the cellar, Chen Jin’s family, plus the other three families – all the people from that time are finally completely dead.”

Ming Yanchu also sighed. “When Magistrate Li suggested the cellar remains might be palace maids, though the bones alone couldn’t identify them, we retrieved the addresses the seven palace maids had reported when entering the palace from the Imperial Household Department. Magistrate Li and His Majesty went to the nearest family, and fortunately, this family’s palace maid Chen Jin was obviously not one of the cellar victims.”

“Simultaneously, we sent six teams of guards to the other six people’s hometowns and finally determined the identities of the cellar victims.”

“We can almost certainly confirm the three people in the cellar were palace maids from that time, because among the remaining six families, three palace maids were missing.”

“But what difference does it make? In the end, they’re all dead.”

Suzhen suddenly thought of something. “What about the families of those who died in the cellar? Are they safe?”

Ming Yanchu shook his head. “It’s said that after these three palace maids left the palace, they mysteriously disappeared. Though reported to authorities, since they weren’t from wealthy families, when searches proved fruitless, the matter was dropped without drawing attention. The killer probably feared that completely eliminating their families would cause too much commotion and attract court attention.”

“But the killer was ruthless. This time, years later, when the court reopened the case, the families of these three deceased were also silenced.”

“Thirty-four people died in total this time.”

Suzhen gritted her teeth. This person was truly vicious!

But she always felt something was wrong, as she often did – yet she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was off.

This case was massive, the killer still at large, making everyone more anxious than any previous case.

But the more urgent things became, the less she could think clearly.

She took a deep breath. “Eunuch Ming, when the bodies arrive, please have them all transported to the morgue. Also, borrow five experienced coroners from other offices for me.”

Ming Yanchu was startled. “You want to examine so many corpses and bones…”

“No matter how troublesome, they must be examined and investigated. I didn’t see the other families’ corpses, but Chen Jin’s family… her whole family died. I roughly examined the bodies that day. From their ages, besides her, there were her parents-in-law, husband, daughter, her husband’s younger brother, his wife, and their infant child. Her daughter was just a girl of over ten years old, and that child was newly born. It was too brutal!”

“Besides, having used so much manpower to transport the bodies here, how could we waste it? It’s fine, having people help will do.”

“Good!”

Ming Yanchu agreed readily from behind.

After walking a few steps, Suzhen heard him seem to remember something and say: “Oh right, Magistrate Li, there was actually great fortune amid the misfortune this time. One palace maid named Song Tingyun had a younger sister who went to a neighboring village on business and hadn’t returned, thus escaping disaster.”

Suzhen was delighted and turned to ask: “Really?”

Ming Yanchu nodded. “Please be reassured, Magistrate Li. The guards have already taken her away from the original location under protection.”

“Good.” Suzhen was relieved, then immediately thought of something and asked: “Have you questioned her? About Consort Yu’s matter – did her sister Song Tingyun ever mention anything to her?”

“I mentioned this to make Magistrate Li happy,” Ming Yanchu looked somewhat downcast. “Seeing this, the guards already questioned her. Not only did she know nothing about Consort Yu’s matter, Song Tingyun rarely spoke about palace affairs either. She knows absolutely nothing.”

“But regardless, the killer is ruthless, so this person still needs protection.”

Suzhen was somewhat disappointed but nodded.

She was very meticulous in handling cases. Though she knew the secret guards Lian Yu sent out were certainly thorough, and if there was anything to ask, they would have already asked, after brief consideration, she still said: “Eunuch Ming, please send someone to bring Miss Song into the palace. I still want to question her myself.”

“Understood. Magistrate Li has worked hard.” Ming Yanchu’s attitude was very respectful.

After walking some distance, Suzhen thought that Lian Jie and the others probably hadn’t yet told Ming Yanchu and others, including… Lian Yu, the news that she had learned about the events of that year.

If they knew, would they still have this attitude?

She smiled and walked away.

Returning to her room, everyone from the Criminal Investigation Bureau had already gathered. Seeing her, they all began reproaching her, asking why she hadn’t told them before leaving the palace.

It seemed Li Zhaoting had already briefed everyone on some of the situation.

She spread her hands. “If I had told you the truth, could you have pretended not to know as convincingly as before?”

Xiao Zhou threw cold water on her: “Pretend my ass! The killer still got there first anyway.”

Suzhen said fine, I admit defeat. Xiao Zhou, afraid of discouraging her, quickly stopped talking. Zhui Ming beside them showed off, saying they had come up with a new theory about the killer these past few days.

Consort Yu might have been incited by the Empress Dowager’s faction to commit suicide for her son’s future, allowing the Empress Dowager to smoothly adopt the child.

Before he could finish, Li Zhaoting, who had been silently watching everyone’s discussion, slowly revealed what Suzhen had told him about Feng Shaoqing. Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent for a long while.

After a long pause, Zhui Ming fearlessly spoke up hesitantly: “Huaisu, do you also think your father was the killer, and now his remaining associates are committing evil?”

Suzhen lowered her head slightly and said nothing. Everyone exchanged glances, all feeling uneasy.

“Li Huaisu, Prince Consort, open the door.”

At this moment, the knocking at the door seemed like a savior rescuing them from the current awkwardness. Even Xiao Zhou, who disliked Lian Xin, quickly went to open the door.

Lian Xin entered and immediately declared loudly: “Huaisu, I heard you stopped throwing tantrums and came out. It’s fine, I’ll unite with you against Gu Xiluo. You don’t need to be angry with her.”

She continued with some curiosity: “How is the case progressing?”

“Or rather, with such difficulty, do you actually have any progress?”

She paused, asking fearlessly like Zhui Ming.

Then noticing everyone’s grim expressions, she asked suspiciously: “Did I ask something I shouldn’t have?”

“Lian Xiaoxin, we’re discussing the case – confidentiality matters. You should go back.” Suzhen finally spoke, but kindly.

Lian Xin’s face fell. Though she was willful, she listened to Suzhen very much. Though unhappy, she still left reluctantly.

But she didn’t immediately return to her own quarters, instead going to Empress Dowager Xiao’an’s palace.

“Mother Empress, I tried to find out for you, but Huaisu won’t say anything.” She said helplessly, then wondered: “You want to know about the case progress – why not ask her directly?”

“Perhaps in the Criminal Investigation Bureau’s hearts, in your Prince Consort’s heart, your Mother Empress is the killer?” Xiao’an said calmly.

“Ah?!” Lian Xin was greatly alarmed. “How could that be? You love Sixth Brother so much! I’ll go explain to her.”

“You may not!” Xiao’an stopped her daughter. “If you do that, people will only become more suspicious.”

After Lian Xin left, Xiao’an picked up her tea, took a sip, and slowly said: “Ah Hong, prepare.”

That night, after the Criminal Investigation Bureau members dispersed, they could only wait for the bodies to arrive tomorrow for examination before further discussion. Everyone felt the road ahead was unclear – this was truly the most difficult case the Criminal Investigation Bureau had ever handled, with an unknown killer who was certainly a person of importance.

Though Suzhen appeared completely calm on the surface, she was very agitated inside. Unable to sleep, she simply dressed and went out to pace in the courtyard.

The silver moon hung high, the treetops cool and quiet – quite a scene. She leaped up and sat on the thick branch of a tree. Soon, she saw someone walking below. From her elevated position, she vaguely saw this person’s deeply furrowed brow, apparently also pondering some difficult matter.

It was that person whose residence wasn’t far from hers, no wonder he had wandered over here.

Apart from case matters, she was too lazy to interact with him and remained silent. But unexpectedly, he was very alert and suddenly said in a low voice: “Who’s there?”

Suzhen had no choice but to reluctantly make a sound: “Me.”

The other person looked around, so she had to speak again: “Above your head.”

Li Zhaoting looked up, frowning slightly.

Suzhen said nothing more, thinking he would wander off and leave, but he suddenly spoke: “Come down. Let’s discuss the case further. In this situation, no one can sleep anyway.”

Suzhen looked at him seriously. “Why? I can’t sleep for a reason, but what about you? Whether this case is solved or not makes absolutely no difference to you. No, it would be even better if it weren’t solved – otherwise, after dealing with the Shuangcheng case, if I go crazy and provoke people I shouldn’t, Lian Yu using you as a scapegoat wouldn’t be fun.”

Hearing this, Li Zhaoting showed no anxiety or anger, just looked up at her calmly and said: “Are you finished?”

Indeed, she continued: “Or do you want to help Dowager Consort Ai with something?”

But after saying this, she laughed first. “Young Master Li, I never noticed you were so humorous before.”

Li Zhaoting’s lips curved slightly, and he also smiled.

Suzhen was somewhat amused. In all their previous interactions, they had never seemed to have such a peaceful moment.

“You’re really formidable. Not answering, and I have no way to force you to speak. Fine, fine. Each serves their master – no, I have no master.” She sighed and said nothing more, waiting for him to leave for the third time.

Li Zhaoting perhaps was in a good mood today, and she heard him say: “So what if I’m helping Dowager Consort Ai? If it’s not the Empress Dowager’s doing, no amount of guidance from me would be useful.”

“Come down?”

His gaze was like a gentle breeze – not particularly warm, but very comfortable to look at, though it always carried a trace of distance.

Though Suzhen was no longer attracted as before, she couldn’t bring herself to drive him away. She patted the spot beside her: “Alright, let’s chat, but I don’t want to come down. You come up.”

Li Zhaoting looked at her, his brow habitually furrowing.

Suzhen thought the meaning in his eyes was probably: In the past, she would have scurried down immediately, but now she dares negotiate with him?

“I don’t know martial arts,” he finally said calmly.

Before he finished speaking, leaves rustled and the tree swayed. A blue figure carrying the scent of recent bathing rushed into his nostrils as she jumped down, wrapped her arm around his waist, leaped up, and brought him back to the tree.