“Of course this old servant knows her. Xiao Rou used to be from Crab Pavilion. Three years ago, Clear Breeze Palace released three palace maids as they were short-staffed. I saw she was pretty and dexterous, so I recommended her to go there…”
“When the body was retrieved, you didn’t come out to take a look?” Xu Qi An suddenly asked.
“How could I dare to look? This old servant is getting on in years and can’t bear to see dead people.”
“I see. Please continue about this Huang Xiao Rou.”
Nanny Rong, perhaps due to her advanced age, had quite volatile emotions. She suddenly became angry: “That dead girl was so ungrateful! If it weren’t for this old servant’s recommendation, how could she have become the head palace maid by Consort Fu’s side? In all these years, she never once came back to see this old servant.
“Even those good-for-nothing men know to show filial respect to their godparents. Huh, when women become so cold and unfeeling, it’s truly heartbreaking.”
“Nanny, don’t say that. You’re old now and can’t dodge a boxer’s tricky angle attacks,” Xu Qi An joked, then continued:
“When I examined the corpse, I found a fatal wound on Huang Xiao Rou’s left chest. Do you know anything about that?”
Nanny Rong thought for a long while, making a reminiscing expression: “An injury… There was indeed such an incident. It seems it was the year before Xiao Rou was transferred to Clear Breeze Palace. Somehow, she got up in the middle of the night and stabbed herself in the chest with scissors.
“Fortunately, the palace maid who shared her room discovered it early and called for the Imperial Physician, which saved her life.”
Xu Qi An and Huai Qing frowned simultaneously.
There was a hole in the old nanny’s story. That scar reached the heart – it was a fatal wound. The cost of treatment was certainly not something a palace maid could afford.
“As the saying goes, ‘great fortune follows a brush with death.’ Xiao Rou was lucky to survive, and the next year she went to Clear Breeze Palace. She no longer had to do menial work. She was very pretty and originally had a chance to receive His Majesty’s favor.”
Xu Qi An recalled Huang Xiao Rou’s swollen face after death and twitched his lips.
Regardless of who saved Huang Xiao Rou, one thing was certain: with severe blood loss, she didn’t have much time. How did that person behind the scenes manage to save a palace maid in the dead of night?
Unless they had been watching her all along.
If Nanny Rong wasn’t lying, then the problem lay in…
“What was that palace maid’s name?” Huai Qing asked before Xu Qi An could, adding, “The one who shared a room with Huang Xiao Rou.”
“In response to Your Highness,” Nanny Rong thought for a long time, speaking uncertainly, “I think her name was… He’er?”
Clearly, Xu Qi An saw Huai Qing’s pupils contract sharply.
She knew that palace maid called He’er… Xu Qi An made this judgment in his heart.
“I’ve finished my questions. Do Your Highnesses have anything to add?” Xu Qi An looked towards Huai Qing and Lin An.
Lin An cooperatively shook her head, while Huai Qing appeared lost in thought and didn’t respond.
Just as Xu Qi An was about to retreat and go investigate the Imperial Dispensary, Nanny Rong suddenly said, “Young sir, this old servant has something to tell you.”
Saying this, Nanny Rong got up and walked to the other side.
Xu Qi An followed. Nanny Rong watched Huai Qing and the others walk away, then turned her gaze back to Xu Qi An and said earnestly:
“Young sir, in the deep palace and secluded courtyards, there are far too many truths that cannot be hidden. Once you step in, you’ll keep sinking deeper.”
“Nanny Rong, I knew you weren’t simple. You’re like a firefly in the dark night. Your graying hair, the age spots on your face, and your big belly have all deeply impressed me,” Xu Qi An praised.
If you have any more secrets, just tell me everything.
“The young sir speaks so pleasantly. It’s only because you’re handsome that I’m telling you this,” the old nanny said slowly as she returned to her lounge chair, speaking no more.
Xu Qi An didn’t leave and asked in surprise, “That’s it?”
The old nanny shook her head: “This old servant doesn’t know much. About matters in the deep palace and secluded courtyards, it’s better not to know what shouldn’t be known.”
…Hey, this old woman, wasting my emotions! I thought she knew something…
According to Xu Qi An’s thinking, since the old nanny had kept him back to speak privately, there must be some “unspeakable secret” waiting for him afterward.
But it turned out to be just a word of caution!
After leaving the courtyard of Crab Pavilion, Biao Biao in her bright red dress was still waiting outside, but Huai Qing was nowhere to be seen.
“Where’s the Crown Princess?”
Hearing this, Biao Biao immediately became unhappy. She raised her eyebrows and said, “It’s always Huai Qing this, Huai Qing that. Have you forgotten whose person you are? This Princess has been waiting here, and you act as if you didn’t see me.”
In the sunlight, her round oval face had a soft complexion, her cheeks white with a hint of red, like a flawless beautiful jade without blemish.
Because of her raised eyebrows, her charming peach blossom eyes rippled with dissatisfaction.
Even when angry, she was mostly adorable.
“The Crown Princess has finally left, and no one is disturbing our private time,” Xu Qi An said joyfully.
Hearing this, Biao Biao’s cheeks flushed slightly. She nervously glanced at the guards not far away and said softly, “You dog slave, don’t talk to this Princess like that.”
As an unmarried princess, she couldn’t withstand the barrage of sweet talk. Hearing such cheesy lines made her both embarrassed and flustered.
“Your Highness is too modest. You’re like a beam of light in the darkness, so brilliant that even the sun can’t overshadow your radiance…” Xu Qi An changed the phrasing of his earlier compliment and used it again on Princess Lin An.
Biao Biao felt both delighted and embarrassed, and a bit helpless. She didn’t know when it had started, but she gradually found herself unable to control this minor official.
When she first snatched him from Huai Qing’s hands, he was still obedient and docile, swearing to cut all ties with Huai Qing and wholeheartedly serve her.
As time passed, she discovered that she couldn’t really control this man. On the surface, he was humble and respectful, but when they were alone, she always found herself at a disadvantage.
And oddly enough, she had never minded this dynamic. It was worth noting that even in front of Huai Qing, she was a remarkable woman who strived to be on top.
Thinking of this, Biao Biao raised her beautifully curved chin and questioned, “Why didn’t you say these things when Huai Qing was here?”
How could I say such things in front of both of you… If it were Huai Qing, I’d have to phrase it differently: Your Highness is like a pure white snow lotus in the wind and snow. Your devastatingly beautiful face, your long straight jade legs, your exaggerated 36D chest muscles… have deeply impressed me.
Xu Qi An changed the subject: “Where did the Crown Princess go?”
“How would this Princess know?”
Biao Biao seemed to want to roll her eyes, but mindful of etiquette and decorum, she forcibly restrained herself and said, “Let’s quickly go to the Imperial Dispensary. Investigating a case is like putting out a fire; we can’t delay.”
Xu Qi An looked at her and guessed, “Are you worried that Huai Qing might destroy evidence?”
Biao Biao pretended not to hear and walked ahead with light steps. As her skirt swayed, her peach-like bottom was faintly visible.
“When God sprinkled wisdom over the world, this princess, like Ling Yin, cleverly held up an umbrella… Dealing with her is indeed simpler and easier than dealing with Huai Qing… But she’s just too flirtatious, making it hard to guard against her,” Xu Qi An muttered in his heart as he accompanied the princess to the Imperial Dispensary.
…
At Lingbao Temple.
In the quiet room filled with the scent of sandalwood, two women of extraordinary status and position sat facing each other, drinking tea. Sunlight streamed through the latticed window, casting orderly square patches of light on the ground.
Dust motes floated in the beams of light.
Luo Yuhen sat on a meditation cushion with the character “Dao” on its back, one hand holding a whisk, the other cradling a teacup. She took a sip and squinted her beautiful eyes in enjoyment, highlighting her curled and thick eyelashes.
“The tea grown by Nan Zhi is indeed different from ordinary varieties. If I could drink a pot of this every day, I wouldn’t even want to be an immortal,” Luo Yuhen sighed.
Sitting opposite Daoist Master Luo was a woman wearing an intricate dark blue long dress, adorned with luxurious headgear, and a light veil over her face.
Her face was hidden behind the veil, only vaguely showing the contours of her cheeks, revealing just a pair of clear autumn-water eyes and two meticulously groomed eyebrows.
“This tea only produces three jin in three years. Most of it is tribute to the palace, and I don’t have much left,” the veiled woman said in a charming voice, full of mature female magnetism.
She lifted her veil and took a sip, then asked, “Have there been any interesting happenings in the capital recently?”
Luo Yuhen said helplessly, “You’re not interested in court struggles, but isn’t that the most thrilling and memorable thing? As for cases, from the tax silver case to the Sangbo case, you’ve heard them back and forth several times… This is the capital, how many more cases could there be to tell you about?”
“Isn’t Consort Fu’s case still unresolved?” The veiled woman’s eyes curved slightly, as if smiling.
“That copper badge is still in charge of investigating this case. I’m not clear on the specifics,” Luo Yuhen drained her cup of tea with a “glug glug glug” and poured herself another:
“After all, it’s the Emperor’s family matter. If you’re interested, you can ask Princess Huai Qing.”
“Forget it, I don’t feel like dealing with the royal family,” the woman shook her head and continued, “I’ve seen that copper badge twice. He’s somewhat annoying.”
“You’ve seen him?” Luo Yuhen was startled.
The veiled woman made an “mm” sound. Her jade-like fingers, moistened with tea, drew a pig’s head on the tea table. She curved her eyebrows and eyes, and snorted:
“He took my sachet and won’t give it back.”
Luo Yuhen nodded and followed the topic, “That man is extraordinary, highly valued by Wei Yuan who’s cultivating him with all his efforts. Given time, Da Feng will have another high-ranking martial artist with limitless prospects.”
Under the light veil, she pursed her lips and said indifferently, “How high can he get? With the Northern Pacification King around, the martial artists of Da Feng can’t even raise their heads. He’s just a copper badge after all.”
Luo Yuhen smiled. That copper badge had good talent and was appreciated by Wei Yuan, and he was also chosen by the Earth Faction as the holder of the Earth Book. But there were countless heroes in the world, and he was just one of the more outstanding ones.
“I quite admire his case-solving ability. So many major cases, full of twists and turns, the process is interesting,” the veiled woman said.
Luo Yuhen was about to speak when her cheeks suddenly flushed with an intoxicating redness. She frowned, put down her teacup, and said softly, “Nan Zhi, you should go back first…”
The veiled woman glanced at her, nodded slightly, stood up and walked to the door. Suddenly, she turned back and said helplessly, “If you really can’t bear it, just give in to Emperor Yuan Jing, or find a man. I’m really afraid you’ll turn into a slut with this evil fire burning you every month.”
Luo Yuhen ignored her, frowning even more.
The veiled woman opened the door of the quiet room, walked out under the eaves, and left the backyard along the small path paved with blue flagstones.
“Huff…”
Luo Yuhen exhaled a scorching breath, supporting herself on the tea table as she stood up. When she brushed against her full bosom, she let out an incredibly seductive moan, her legs weakening, almost collapsing to the ground.
She staggered out of the quiet room, her beautiful face flushed, her eyes watery and charming as silk.
Splash…
Luo Yuhen leapt into the small pool in the backyard.
The cold pool water engulfed the beautiful Daoist nun’s mature and voluptuous body. Shortly after, the surface of the pool made cracking sounds, forming a thick layer of solid ice.
The cold current spread to the surrounding rockery and pavilion, covering their surfaces with a thin, transparent layer of ice crystals.
After another quarter of an hour, the pool water gradually melted, wisps of steam rising, followed by bubbles rolling to the surface, bursting with a “pop”.
“Gurgle gurgle…”
More and more bubbles surged up, the steam becoming denser, the entire pool of water boiling.
This process lasted for half an hour, the water level dropping by more than ten centimeters. Finally, the boiling pool water calmed down, but the humid air lingered above the backyard, not dissipating for a long time.
Luo Yuhen emerged from the water, her hairpin fallen off, her black hair clinging to her fair cheeks. Her eyes were watery and charming, her cheeks flushed as if drunk, as if she had just experienced a bout of lovemaking, beautiful beyond compare.
“Meow~~”
A soft cat’s meow came. An orange cat jumped over the outer wall, nimbly leaped onto the rockery behind Luo Yuhen, and obediently crouched there.
“The evil fire burning your body will melt your Daoist foundation. Luo Yuhen, you can hold on for at most three more years,” the orange cat spoke in human language, its voice gentle and weathered.
“Why has Senior Brother come?” Luo Yuhen soaked in the water, her starry eyes half-open, half-closed.
“To point out a clear path for you,” the orange cat said. “The Rebirth Pills from the Imperial Observatory can alleviate your symptoms. Now it’s lust, next will be greed, anger, delusion, hatred… You’re in for a tough time.
“Sigh, among the Three Factions of Daoism, only the Heaven Faction is not burdened by the rolling mortal world. Perhaps the Heaven Faction’s philosophy is the right one.”
Luo Yuhen opened her eyes and sneered, “The Heaven Faction cuts off all emotions and righteousness, assimilating with heaven and earth, having no joy or sorrow, no love or hate. Even if they ascend to immortality, they will lose themselves. This is an evil path.”
After a pause, she frowned and said, “How could I not know that the Rebirth Pills can alleviate the symptoms? But the Chief of the Imperial Observatory has never liked our Human Faction and would never give me the pills.”
The orange cat spoke unhurriedly, “Xu Qi An has taken the Rebirth Pills, and the medicinal effects haven’t dissipated yet. Take a bowl of his essence blood as a medicine catalyst. The pills refined from this, though not as good as the Rebirth Pills, can still solve your urgent need.
“He would give this poor Daoist some face.”
Luo Yuhen was silent for a moment: “You should worry about yourself. That strand of demonic nature you’ve separated has occupied most of your power. With just your current remnant soul, wanting to extinguish the demon is probably a pipe dream.”
The orange cat chuckled and said, “When the time comes, I’ll still need Junior Sister’s help. Of course, by the time I’m confident in subduing the demon, the holders of the Earth Book fragments will have mostly grown up. Junior Sister will only need to stand by to provide support.”
Luo Yuhen frowned slightly: “Senior Brother should know that unless I step into the first-rank, with my current state, if I’m entangled by karma, I’ll most likely only have the path of perishing.”
“So, next I will help Junior Sister step into the first-rank.”
Luo Yuhen suddenly turned her head back, her beautiful eyes blazing as she stared at the orange cat without speaking.
“Why doesn’t Junior Sister cultivate together with Emperor Yuan Jing?” The orange cat raised its paw, seemingly wanting to lick it, but reason overcame instinct.
“His fate isn’t enough,” Luo Yuhen said.
This was the first time she explained why she wouldn’t cultivate with Emperor Yuan Jing.
The orange cat nodded slowly, “So you’re just using his fate to suppress the karmic fire, but not going further. Then what? Junior Sister must have a follow-up plan, right?”
Luo Yuhen nodded: “Wait for the new emperor to ascend the throne.”
Wait for the new emperor… The orange cat suddenly understood, then frowned: “With Da Feng’s gradually weakening national power, each generation will only be worse than the last. Among Emperor Yuan Jing’s offspring, there’s no one capable of reviving the nation. You know this better than I do.”
Luo Yuhen smiled, “Revival doesn’t necessarily depend on the monarch. With Wei Yuan, the empire’s mender, as long as he can survive the purge after Emperor Yuan Jing’s death and control the new emperor, the empire will eventually sweep away its chronic illness and prosper.”
“So you plan to wait for the national power to recover, then cultivate with the new emperor…” The orange cat first nodded, then shook its head: “This is not urgent. The reason for Da Feng’s weakening national power is not simple. The implications behind it are so vast, it’s somewhat terrifying to think about.”
Luo Yuhen frowned slightly: “In terms of far-reaching planning, Senior Brother is not inferior to Wei Yuan.”
“This poor Daoist is also just guessing. Things are not yet clear,” the orange cat said, then added, “By the way, Li Miao Zhen is coming to the capital.”
“Just call Number Four back. As a disciple of the Human Faction, dealing with the Holy Maiden of the Heaven Faction is his responsibility.”
“This… They are both members of the Heaven and Earth Society. It’s not good to let them kill each other.”
Luo Yuhen tossed him a tsundere back of her head.
Well… I’ll push Xu Qi An out to mediate when the time comes… The orange cat thought secretly.
…
At the Imperial Dispensary.
The old eunuch in charge took out a ledger from the bookcase and handed it to Xu Qi An, who had come to investigate the case. His voice was shrill:
“The income and expenditure records of the Imperial Dispensary are cleared every five years. If you had come a few years later, sir, you wouldn’t be able to check them.”
In the side hall, Biao Biao held a bowl of tea, her lively eyes moving, staring at the ledger.
Xu Qi An thought she wanted to look and said, “Does the Princess want to check?”
“This Princess is too lazy to look at these things. Just looking at them gives me a headache,” she said crisply.
Xu Qi An didn’t understand how that stupid girl Chu Cai Wei could become best friends with Huai Qing. Shouldn’t birds of a feather flock together?
Chu Cai Wei obviously belonged with Lin An, where the orange situation would be much better.
“Your Highness is exceptionally intelligent, it’s just that your talents lie elsewhere,” Xu Qi An said as he opened the ledger. “I have a sister at home who is also as clever as Your Highness, it’s just that her talent isn’t in studying.”
“Where is it then?”
“In memorizing recipes.”
“…”
This ledger recorded all the pill income and expenditure of the Imperial Dispensary in the 32nd year of Yuan Jing’s reign.
Given Huang Xiao Rou’s injuries, the pills that could save her were few and far between, so it was easy to find. He just needed to ask which pills in the Imperial Dispensary could “bring back the dead”, then look for those names, and it would be easy to find.
But after searching for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Xu Qi An found that he hadn’t discovered any clues.
“In the 32nd year of Yuan Jing’s reign, the Imperial Observatory and Lingbao Temple sent a total of 364 types of pills, totaling seven to eight hundred bottles. Among them, there were only three top-grade pills, which were bestowed by His Majesty to external ministers in the 32nd, 33rd, and 36th years of Yuan Jing’s reign.”
Xu Qi An closed the ledger, looked at Lin An, and said, “I didn’t find the pill that saved Huang Xiao Rou.”
Hearing this, the clever Lin An thought for a long time, “The pill didn’t come from the Imperial Dispensary?”
Xu Qi An shook his head: “In all of Da Feng, only Lingbao Temple and the Imperial Observatory can refine pills, so the pill must have come from these two places.
“Huang Xiao Rou was just a palace maid. If no one had saved her, she would have died for sure. But in the inner palace, who could bypass the Imperial Dispensary and ask for pills directly from the Imperial Observatory and Lingbao Temple?”
There was only one answer: Emperor Yuan Jing!
It can’t be him. The Imperial Dispensary belongs to Emperor Yuan Jing, the entire palace is his. The Imperial Dispensary is his institution for withdrawing pills. He has no reason to bypass the Imperial Study. It’s like my salary card is used to deposit my salary, I have no need to open another bank card to secretly hide pocket money… Xu Qi An thought of a possibility.