HomeAfter I Bloom Hundred Flowers DieChapter 118: Investigating to the End

Chapter 118: Investigating to the End

She remained weak, her usually bright eyes unable to open fully. Her drooping eyelids appeared listless, yet in that instant, a flash of murderous intent passed through her pitch-black pupils, sharp and piercing.

Upon closer inspection, one might dismiss it as merely a trick of the eye.

“Princess, please give me some time. Once I reformulate the prescription and complement it with medicinal soup, perhaps we can restore you to full health,” Xie Yunhuai said.

Now the premium Snow Lotus from Tianshan was necessary, as Shen Xihe’s body could no longer endure the internal struggle between heat and cold.

“Thank you for your trouble,” Shen Xihe said softly.

Her energy was depleted, and Xie Yunhuai and others showed visible fatigue in their eyes. Neither side exchanged further pleasantries. Xie Yunhuai didn’t leave the Princess’s residence, worried that Shen Xihe might experience complications in the coming days.

Everyone slept deeply to recover their strength. Shen Xihe remained bedridden while Mo Yuan knelt in the outer chamber, head bowed in shame behind the screen: “It was this subordinate’s carelessness that nearly cost the Princess her life.”

“Elder Brother,” Shen Xihe managed, her weakness forcing her to use only the most essential words.

Having served for so long, Mo Yuan could guess that Shen Xihe was concerned about Shen Yun’an: “This subordinate sent people to pursue the Young Master. Word came back this morning that the Young Master did encounter a group of mountain bandits, but there were no casualties.”

“How was it explained?”

Unable to comprehend this question, Mo Yuan stood silent. Bi Yu, standing nearby, quickly explained: “This servant had someone bring a pair of boots that the Princess made for the Prince, saying they were left behind and needed to be delivered. The Young Master will never know about the Princess’s dangerous situation.”

Only then did Mo Yuan understand that Shen Xihe was asking how the messengers who caught up with Shen Yun’an explained their presence.

With this matter settled, Shen Xihe felt somewhat relieved. If Shen Yun’an discovered and returned to find her in this state, he would likely be consumed by murderous rage—and this was the capital.

These evil spirits weren’t enemy soldiers pillaging and burning villages along the border; Shen Yun’an couldn’t go on a killing spree here.

Her elder brother was perfect in every way, except he couldn’t tolerate anyone causing her the slightest harm. She had settled the matter with Rong Erniang, but as soon as Shen Yun’an left, Rong Erniang’s younger brother had his limbs broken.

You hurt my sister, I broke your brother.

A sister is my heart’s treasure, but a brother is your support in the Rong family.

After another day of rest, Shen Xihe finally felt some strength return. She insisted on leaving her bed, moving to a chaise lounge in the courtyard to bask in the sunlight. Feeling her spirits lift somewhat, she asked, “How is the investigation?”

“Doctor Qi traced it to Jiannanchun wine. This subordinate obtained this year’s distribution records for Jiannanchun and found that all wine deliveries were accounted for,” Mo Yuan respectfully reported. “Doctor Qi said the wine wasn’t consumed on that day, but rather the day before, approximately half a jin’s worth.”

“Go to the palace and tell His Majesty I wish to request a flask of Jiannanchun,” Shen Xihe instructed Hong Yu.

“Wouldn’t it be better to ask His Highness the Crown Prince? That way we could avoid drawing attention,” Hong Yu suggested.

“No need. I want him to know that we’ve discovered the Jiannanchun connection.” Since they had no leads, they might as well startle the snake from the grass and let him reveal himself.

“Understood.” Hong Yu immediately took the token and entered the palace.

Shen Xihe had imperial permission to freely enter and exit the palace. Given her status, if she wanted something as a reward, Emperor Youning wouldn’t hesitate to grant it. Thus, Hong Yu easily obtained several flasks of Jiannanchun.

Concerned that it might not be enough for Shen Xihe, Emperor Youning provided several additional flasks in exquisite celadon vessels with phoenix heads and dragon handles.

Shen Xihe’s hand gently caressed the phoenix-headed lid, feeling the raised patterns: “This flask would hold about half a jin.”

It seemed the palace’s Jiannanchun was all sealed in such wine vessels, and whenever Emperor Youning bestowed rewards, it was done one flask at a time. So the person who had impersonated a Northwestern Guard and deliberately caused trouble that day likely had such a flask.

“Has their identity been discovered?” Shen Xihe asked.

Mo Yuan bowed his head even lower: “This subordinate has investigated every possible lead but failed to discover this person’s identity. Based on the corpse’s characteristics, Doctor Qi determined they were from the South. We’ve investigated all merchants in the city and sought Young Master Bu’s help to check all long-term Southern residents. The authorities have no missing person reports.”

“There won’t be any reports,” Shen Xihe shook her head slightly. “They bought a life to harm me.”

The payment was likely just a flask of Jiannanchun, a taste of luxury before death.

“Not a traveling merchant, not a long-term Southern resident, willing to die, and wanted imperial wine rather than silver as payment—this indicates someone with no attachments to this world.”

Shen Xihe analyzed: “To specifically seek such a person from the South would be complicated and introduce too many uncontrollable factors. They must have been living here for some time, and the person who sent them was confident I wouldn’t think to look for them, making searching for their identity like finding a needle in the sea!”

Her gaze fixed, Shen Xihe instructed Mo Yu: “Mo Yu, go find Young Master Bu and have him find a way to invite Cui Shaoqin here, but be careful not to alert anyone.”

“Yes,” Mo Yu immediately set off to handle the task.

“Mo Yuan, bring in the little beggar who begs outside the mansion every day through the back door,” Shen Xihe further instructed. “Bi Yu, bring me my portrait album.”

Everyone was puzzled but quickly carried out their orders.

Bi Yu brought the portrait album first, then Mo Yuan led in the little beggar. The dirty child appeared so thin he looked only three or four years old, though he was actually seven. His eyes were bright, showing a natural cleverness.

“Greetings to the Princess,” the little beggar performed a proper formal bow.

Shen Xihe gestured for Zi Yu to help him up, speaking gently: “Try to piece this together.”

Bi Yu handed the album to the little beggar. This album contained drawings that Shen Xihe had created with Shen Yun’an during their idle time in the Northwest.

Unable to travel far, Shen Xihe hadn’t met many people, but Shen Yun’an traveled extensively and would bring artists to draw various people from different regions. In her spare time, Shen Xihe would dissect these faces.

Later, she specifically ordered a book collecting different variations of eyes, mouths, ears, and noses. When Shen Yun’an had free time, he would make up stories for her, creating protagonists by combining features from the portrait collection.

The little beggar before her was someone Shen Xihe had arranged for Bi Yu and others to find before she even arrived in the capital, chosen for his exceptional memory.

Worried about dirtying the snow-white album pages with his hands, he pleaded with Bi Yu: “Please turn the pages, sister.”

Bi Yu turned the pages one by one. The little beggar pointed out three sets each of eyes, ears, mouths, and noses, but when it came to faces, he selected only one. After reviewing once more, he addressed Shen Xihe: “Princess, A-Dai saw these three people outside the residence more than ten times, but the other two didn’t have faces like this.”

Shen Xihe had arranged for him to beg across from the Princess’s residence each day, providing for his grandfather’s medical care and food in exchange for keeping watch outside the mansion.

This person had used such a method, surely knowing that Xie Yunhuai regularly visited the Princess’s residence. Aware that Xie Yunhuai was a doctor, they understood his purpose for visiting and thus knew that someone with her condition absolutely could not be disturbed during treatment. Only then would they devise such a vicious scheme.

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