“After midnight, the darkness is at its deepest. If someone were to dress entirely in black at this time and wear a mask coated with phosphorus powder, the glowing face would appear as a ‘ghostly face’ emitting green light in the dark. This glowing ‘ghostly face’ would be so striking that anyone encountering it in their fear would likely overlook the person’s black clothing blending into the darkness. Additionally, by hiding their body behind bushes, it would be easy to make the ‘ghostly face’ seem like it was floating in mid-air.”
As Yuan Xi carefully speculated, she stroked the phosphorus powder in her hand. Xiao Du, listening attentively, found her explanation very plausible and sneered, “Since even the ghostly face was fabricated, it’s clear that the supposed vengeful ghost was part of an elaborate scheme. But what’s their ultimate goal?”
Yuan Xi couldn’t fathom why someone would go to such lengths to create a ghostly illusion. While she was deep in thought, Xiao Du took her hand and said, “Now that we’ve unraveled this mystery, let’s check inside the room. We might find more clues.”
They entered the room where the Princess had her frightful encounter. The furnishings and bedding from that night had been removed, leaving the open windows to reveal a blooming peony, contrasting sharply with the room’s desolate atmosphere.
Yuan Xi focused on the canopy bed, recalling the maids’ descriptions of the Princess’s harrowing experience: the maidservant, the nursery rhyme, the dripping blood, and the misplaced shoe. If the apparition wasn’t a ghost, how did it vanish?
Xiao Du suddenly spoke up, “You mentioned that the bloodstains on the Princess’s neck and collar came from Zui’er’s wrist. The perpetrator might have forgotten one thing: while a person can disappear, the traces they leave behind can betray them.”
Following his gaze, Yuan Xi noticed a faint red smear in the crevice of the wall, as if hastily brushed against it. Xiao Du approached the wall, feeling around the bricks as he spoke, “This wall is in a blind spot from the door’s view. When the Princess ran out, everyone’s attention would have been on her, allowing Zui’er to hide in a prearranged compartment. Yet, no matter how careful, in a rush, she was bound to leave traces like bloodstains on the wall.”
As he spoke, Xiao Du triggered a hidden mechanism, revealing a narrow compartment within the wall. Yuan Xi gasped, shocked that such a secret space existed in what seemed like a normal room. Xiao Du, staring at the compartment, said, “Now you understand why another ghostly face had to appear outside after Zui’er scared the Princess.”
Yuan Xi pondered, “To make the people inside leave quickly?”
“Exactly. Zui’er could hide in this compartment during the chaos. When the ghostly face appeared, everyone would think the courtyard was haunted and hastily evacuated with the Princess. Once they left, she could escape at her leisure and find another hiding place.”
Yuan Xi frowned, “Where do you think she might have gone?”
Xiao Du, with a grim expression, said, “What I want to know is who dared to orchestrate such a scheme in the Marquis’ Mansion!”
At noon, Aunt Cai entered the flower hall and noticed Xiao Du and Yuan Xi sitting at the head. Her smile faltered but quickly resumed a respectful expression, “Is there something the Marquis and Madam wish to discuss with me?”
Yuan Xi said, “I wasn’t feeling well recently, so you oversaw the renovations in the Qixia Courtyard. Did you notice anything unusual?”
Aunt Cai pondered, “I’m not sure. I’m not experienced in overseeing construction, just manage the funds and check progress occasionally. However, if something was unusual, it’s that the money was spent rather quickly, and the foreman left immediately after finishing the work without collecting his final payment.”
Yuan Xi quickly asked, “Do you know who this foreman was?”
Aunt Cai seemed hesitant. Xiao Du urged, “Speak freely.”
Aunt Cai then revealed, “The foreman was introduced by the Second Young Master.”
Yuan Xi and Xiao Du exchanged glances, both shocked. At this moment, Aunt Cai brushed her hair back as if making a decision and continued, “Since the Marquis and Madam asked, I’ll tell you everything. Madam might remember that the original foreman was mysteriously injured by a fallen flower rack. Afterward, the Second Young Master came to me, saying he knew a craftsman, and introduced him to take over as the foreman.
I’m not one to handle household affairs and didn’t dare go against the Second Young Master’s wishes, so I did as he said. Who knew that since this person came, the funds were spent faster and faster? When you were not around, I discussed it with Steward Zhou, and he said it was better to turn a blind eye and let the project be completed on time without causing more trouble. But then that incident happened.” Her speech quickened, clearly venting feelings long suppressed.
Yuan Xi turned to see Xiao Du’s face turning grim, knowing they both harbored the same suspicion. Xiao Qing had harbored resentment against the Princess because of Aunt Wang, leading him to cause trouble at the banquet. The Princess was an old friend of the Princess and had come specifically to visit her. Frightening the Princess into leaving would undoubtedly hurt the Princess even more. With this reasoning, everything began to make sense.
Xiao Du clenched his fist, thought for a moment, and said softly to Yuan Xi, “You gather more information here. I’ll go and question my brother.”
When Xiao Du entered Xiao Qing’s room, he was met with a strong smell of medicine. Xiao Qing lay idly on the bed with his eyes half-closed while Wang Shiqin crouched by his side, feeding him medicine. A maid stood behind, fanning gently.
Upon seeing Xiao Du, both stood up to greet him. Xiao Qing glanced at him, then lazily closed his eyes again, “What wind blew you here today, brother?” He gave a self-mocking laugh, “I suppose it’s not to see my injuries.”
Xiao Du’s words stuck in his throat. He had spent his youth studying in the palace and followed their father to the frontier at sixteen, staying there for five years with only a few visits home. His bond with this half-brother wasn’t as strong as with the current emperor. Hearing about Xiao Qing’s severe beating and the doctor’s prognosis that he’d be bedridden for at least half a month, Xiao Du had never considered visiting him.
Feeling a sudden pang of guilt, he took the medicine bowl from Wang Shiqin, sat on the bed’s edge, and spooned some medicine towards Xiao Qing, saying, “There have been many matters in the household lately, leaving no time to visit. Don’t blame me, brother.” He rarely spoke to Xiao Qing in such a manner, and it felt awkward. He turned away, coughing lightly to hide his embarrassment.
Xiao Qing looked at him in disbelief, “You truly came to see my illness?”
Xiao Du paused, struggling internally before asking, “There is another matter. Did you recommend the foreman who worked on the Qixia Courtyard renovation?”
Xiao Qing’s eyes filled with disappointment and he sneered, “So that’s it. The Princess had an incident in the Qixia Courtyard, and you immediately suspect me?” He suddenly slapped the medicine bowl from Xiao Du’s hand, shattering it on the floor. Glaring at the spilled black liquid, he said with a tone of sarcasm, “Why pretend to care? It’s revolting.”
Wang Shiqin jumped in fright, ordering the maid to fetch a cloth to clean the spillage on Xiao Du’s robe. Xiao Du waved her away, his tone serious, “Chengyuan, this matter didn’t cause harm, so even if you did it, I wouldn’t pursue it further. But be cautious not to go too far. If something catastrophic happens, I might not be able to protect you.”
Xiao Qing laughed bitterly, “So noble and righteous of you, Marquis Xuan Yuan. Should I bow and thank you for sparing me?” His eyes grew cold, “I don’t need your pity. If you have evidence, take me to the Prince and the Princess for punishment. I’ve already been beaten and wouldn’t mind another session. If they kill me, you’ll all be rid of a nuisance.”
Wang Shiqin was now crying, rushing to Xiao Du’s side, “Marquis, please don’t listen to his nonsense. Chengyuan would never do such a thing. Don’t wrong him based on hearsay.”
Xiao Du felt a throbbing headache from the scene, and sighed, “Rest assured, sister-in-law, I will investigate this thoroughly. If he’s innocent, he won’t be wronged.” He looked at Xiao Qing, still lying indifferently on the bed, “Think carefully about what you should and shouldn’t do. Remember, you are a Xiao.” With that, he left with a stern expression.
Meanwhile, Yuan Xi, in her room, was examining statements from the servants about the ghostly sightings. She suddenly had an idea: could there be a pattern to the locations of these sightings?
She instructed An He to prepare ink and drew a map of Qixia Courtyard and the places where the ghostly face appeared, connecting the points. She noticed that the sightings surrounded Qixia Courtyard evenly, but there was a gap in the middle.
Her heart racing, she took An He and Li Momo to the empty spot on the map, finding an abandoned granary in a remote courtyard.
Staring at the tall granary, Yuan Xi felt a mix of excitement and dread. She called for a servant boy to open the granary door.
As the door opened, a strong stench of decay hit them, making everyone cover their noses, and fight the urge to vomit. The boy pointed inside, exclaiming, “Look!”
Inside the granary was a stiff corpse, which fell over as the door’s support was removed. The body was slightly swollen, some parts already maggot-infested, but it was unmistakably Zui’er, who had been missing for some time. She had been dead for a long while.