Miao Yin glanced at Shuangcheng and said, “Your words make sense. From what we’ve seen along the way, Miss, you have a sharp mind and speak eloquently.”

“I’ve heard that fox spirits are all clever, but His Majesty doesn’t particularly like those with fox-like cunning and scheming hearts,” Murong Xin looked at her, then at Shuangcheng, and gave a cold laugh. “Of course, speaking of brains, Miss Miao is no less capable.”

Miao Yin remained silent. Wu Yan seemed like someone who stayed out of worldly disputes. As for Shuangcheng, she viewed her as an enemy, and regarding Murong Xin, she disdained to argue with her. At this moment, Shuangcheng replied calmly, “The ancient saying goes, ‘A woman without talent is virtue itself’ – indeed quite true. I’ve heard His Majesty greatly favors Consort Xin.”

“Are you calling me talentless?” Murong Xin’s expression changed as she angrily questioned Shuangcheng.

Lian Yue pulled her back, laughing, “This palace only knows that Xin’er, you are beloved by His Majesty, Miss Miao is appreciated by His Majesty, and both are cherished by the Empress Dowager – you’re all family. Miss Gu is a guest, an outsider. Why are you getting worked up over a guest? Is this any way to treat a visitor?”

Only then did Murong Xin turn from anger to joy, looking at Shuangcheng provocatively. Shuangcheng smiled and said, “Princess Imperial, this servant often hears a saying – the imperial heart… is hard to fathom. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river.”

Upon hearing this, Lian Yue’s expression changed, and Murong Xin stared at Shuangcheng’s retreating figure, her eyes narrowing.

After that, there were no more words. According to the confession, Hu Wei had been held firmly in a chair that day and stabbed to death!

Everyone entered Er Niu’s bedroom to investigate. They saw small amounts of dark rust-colored stains on the floor in a splattered pattern. Examining the tables and chairs, they found several drops of this same coloration in the crevices along the edges, appearing and disappearing. Under the bed where the corpse had been hidden, they also found traces of rust-black.

Following the path back from the bedroom to the front door, they found several extremely small, long-dried bloodstains.

The accompanying coroner said that at the time, blood must have splattered everywhere. Er Niu and the others had cleaned it, but traces remained in minute places. The scene matched what was described in the confession.

Wu Yan frowned deeply. “The murderer was indeed meticulous, having arranged this place without any flaws to speak of.”

Lian Yue, however, said, “If Hu Wei was indeed killed elsewhere and then transported here, and this isn’t the primary murder scene, then there’s a strong possibility of bloodstains along the route. The murderer would certainly choose nighttime for framing someone – in broad daylight, with this place near the village entrance and people coming and going, openly transporting a corpse would be impossible. Waiting until deep night when all was quiet to frame someone would be perfect timing. But in the pitch darkness, any bloodstains dropped along the way might not have been noticed.”

Wu Yan neither agreed nor disagreed. Lian Yue paid her no mind, glanced sideways, and walked out first.

Shuangcheng spoke from behind, her tone still calm: “From when this case occurred until now, many days have passed. Not to mention rain washing things away, bloodstains might have been washed away long ago. This Er Niu was a butcher to begin with – in his daily life, he killed cattle and slaughtered sheep. What would be strange about bloodstains at the village entrance?”

Lian Yue said coldly, “Miss, your thoroughness rivals that of the murderer.”

“I dare not claim that,” Shuangcheng replied neither angrily nor calmly.

Lian Yu gave a cold laugh. Afterward, though none of them said anything outwardly, their attitudes grew stiff, and the case fell deeper into an impasse.

No leads, no flaws. Even the suspicion that Shuangcheng had raised earlier about “the bailiffs possibly knowing in advance that there was a corpse in the courtyard” only provided supporting evidence for the speculation that Huang Tianba and Philanthropist Liao might be involved in trickery. It was like a blind person being unable to see – but someone who can’t see isn’t necessarily blind; they might be in darkness or have their eyes closed.

Though Lian Xin was also curious about the case and found it intriguingly complex, her thoughts seemed more focused on other matters. While everyone searched in the courtyard, she squatted on the ground, picked up a stick to play with ants, and occasionally asked Lian Yue, “Sister, when do you think they’ll bring Wu Qing back? Sixth Brother said they won’t kill Wu Qing as long as I’m willing to trade myself.”

She seemed to be just an imperial young lady who had never known the people’s hardships from beginning to end, without a trace of compassion. No one liked her. Never had anyone been willing to die for her.

She was the same way herself.

Most imperial children were like this.

As the ants dodged, she poked randomly with the stick and suddenly cried out, “What’s this?”

Everyone was startled, but saw something resembling a bamboo branch sticking horizontally in the large pit. If not for Lian Xin’s random poking, this thing wouldn’t have been discovered.

Miao Yin immediately ordered the soldiers to bring it up. The object appeared to be a bamboo tube. It had some weight when held, not hollow, with wooden stoppers at both ends.

The women didn’t recognize this thing, but many of the soldiers and the coroner found it familiar. The coroner took it, pulled out one stopper, sniffed slightly, and said in surprise, “This smell… Drunken Immortal Peach, Sheep’s Hesitation, Hemp Leaves… Reporting to Your Ladyships and Misses, this contains a sleep-inducing incense!”

“But why would there be sleep-inducing incense here?”

The letter broke off here.

Like a story that abruptly ended – was there no time to write more, or had the investigation only reached this point?

Who exactly had written this to her?

The description was so detailed, as if personally present at the scene. But if it came from one of the women at the scene, it shouldn’t be possible. Except for Wu Yan, she had no close relationships with anyone, and Wu Yan had long since severed ties with her – how could it be possible? Lian Xin had been fine in the past, but now there were no longer any connections.

At first glance, none of them seemed possible, but upon careful thought, any of them could be. This person had delivered the case details to her, seemingly wanting her to become involved, but what was the motive? A final showdown?

After they returned, Lian Yu had gathered everyone to discuss the case. She hadn’t forgotten that the inn was brightly lit that night, and only she hadn’t been summoned. So everyone who had heard about the case at that time knew the investigation’s progress.

Besides narrating the case details, the letter also spent ink describing everyone’s thoughts, sometimes hidden, sometimes visible, sometimes present, sometimes absent.

Was this intentional or unintentional?

The subtle delicacy within, seeming to complain and sigh, seemed to come from a woman’s hand. But every man in this inn was extraordinary – probably not one couldn’t see through the contradictions between the several women. Adding imaginative descriptions made it even more impossible to guess who the letter writer was.

Well, she smiled bitterly. This mysterious person – she couldn’t guess who it was, just like this case, mysterious and confusing, without flaws, without any leads.

She pinched the bridge of her nose and couldn’t help remembering the prison scene – the four households’ men and women, old women, old men… pitiable with no one to appeal to, elderly with no one to depend on. Then she thought of the Feng family case, and finally, only the scene remained of that night in the courtyard when Lian Yu had firmly grasped Shuangcheng’s hands.

Various matters entangled, dense and intricate. Her heart felt uncomfortable. After all, Lian Yu had a full harem. She was just a lonely daughter awaiting case reversal. She didn’t have Murong Xin and Wu Yan’s tolerance, or even the composure of Shuangcheng, whom she disliked.

And Lian Yu couldn’t possibly love only her. Even if possible now, what about the future?

It wouldn’t happen.

Zhaoting’s love was no different.

Finally, her hand wiped across her eyes, leaving only wetness and cold on her palm.

At this moment, a series of vigorous, orderly footsteps suddenly came from outside the door, followed by a harsh, cold command: “Guard this place well. Don’t let the person inside come and go freely. If there are visitors, you must also inform this prince…”

Her heart filled with surprise and suspicion. After brief thought, she folded the letter and placed it under her pillow. Opening the door to look, she was startled.

In the courtyard were two rows totaling twenty or thirty soldiers, glaring fiercely in her direction. Among them was only one man in different attire – Lian Jie. Had he given the earlier order?

His expression looked quite… unfriendly. Su Zhen stood in the doorway, staring intently at him. “May I ask, Seventh Prince, what is the meaning of this?”

Lian Jie gave a cold laugh. Before he could answer, someone walked in from the front archway, laughing delicately: “What meaning? Naturally the meaning of imprisonment. We gave you face but you didn’t want it – you had to force us to spell it out. How utterly boring.”

Who else could speak with such sharp sarcasm but Murong Xin?

Having found no useful evidence in their earlier search outside, everyone had unanimously decided today to interrogate the prisoners once more, so they hadn’t gone out. She had come with Lian Jie and instructed her nearby maid: “In a while, bring Minister Li a chamber pot. She’ll handle everything inside from now on.”

Su Zhen actually laughed. “Is this Your Ladyship’s and Seventh Prince’s intention? Have you asked His Majesty?”

Murong Xin laughed coldly. Lian Jie answered: “Lian Jie requested the imperial decree. Sixth Brother didn’t object. Minister Li, does this count as having asked His Majesty’s intention?”

Lian Yu had tacitly agreed… As if someone had punched her hard in the chest, Su Zhen trembled, then gradually realized something and slowly asked him: “Did Seventh Prince tell him about yesterday’s events?”

Murong Xin’s heart tensed as she asked: “Seventh Prince, what happened?”

Lian Jie waved her off. “This matter concerns Sixth Brother. Lian Jie finds it inconvenient to say more. Please forgive me, Imperial Sister-in-law.”

He looked back coldly at Su Zhen. “Doesn’t Imperial Brother have the right to know about this? Don’t forget he’s still the mighty Son of Heaven!”

“I’m just… his minister. Who I meet with doesn’t interfere with anything. This order makes me unconvinced!”

“Just a minister? You’ve been in Imperial Brother’s bed. Besides, among ministers there are also those with ulterior motives. What’s inappropriate about this order?”

“I want to see His Majesty.”

Lian Jie’s eyes showed mockery. “That depends on whether His Majesty is willing to see you. He has no time and absolutely doesn’t want to see you. Of course, you’re free to see whoever you want – just through these courtyard walls.”

Having said this, he departed with a flick of his sleeves. Murong Xin’s eyes showed fierce light as she stared at her for a long time, then suddenly said in a low voice: “You’ve been intimate with His Majesty? I understand now – it’s because you resemble that A Luo!”

“Little fox spirit, if you dare seduce His Majesty again, if you dare enter the palace, I’ll definitely kill you, little wretch!” She gave a cold laugh and also led her people away.

Resembled – what did Murong Xin say she resembled…

Su Zhen couldn’t quite hear clearly and hadn’t had time to ponder it when she moved forward to ask. The two leading soldiers snorted coldly, twisted her shoulder, and shoved her forcefully inside! Su Zhen gritted her teeth, got up from the ground, and remembered Murong Xin saying that Lian Yu had made a promise. She remembered Lian Yu saying that what was between her and him didn’t compare to his friendship with Wu Yan. She also remembered last night when Shuangcheng evaded and Lian Yu used force to stop her. Her breathing hitched. With a movement, she had already drawn the sword from a nearby soldier’s scabbard, the blade scraping against the ground to prevent herself from falling again.

Now was not the time to be in a sorry state. It wasn’t time yet.