With the Beginning of Winter season approaching, the weather became increasingly cold and harsh. Yuanxi emerged from Yunniang’s room and took a deep breath. The frigid air immediately penetrated her heart and lungs, making her unable to stop coughing several times.
She pulled her garments closer and walked slowly along the stone-paved path. The slate-gray sky pressed down heavily, and everywhere she looked were withered branches and dying flowers. This vast marquis mansion had somehow become so deathly silent and cold, as if hiding a man-eating well in the darkness, silently devouring all signs of life.
She suddenly felt a chill throughout her body – a coldness that arose from the depths of her heart, like winding vines wrapping around her bit by bit, almost making it impossible for her to breathe. At this moment, someone approached from behind and draped a cloak over her. A familiar scent entered her nostrils, and a pair of steady, dry hands firmly embraced her, instantly dispersing all the sorrow and fear.
Yuanxi turned around in delighted surprise. “You’re back.”
Xiao Du wore moon-white straight robes, his eyes holding tenderness sufficient to melt all ice. He rested his chin against her forehead and smiled. “Did you miss me?”
Yuanxi had never been accustomed to such intimacy in public, so she quickly dodged the warm breath falling on her face. “We only parted this morning – what’s there to miss?”
Xiao Du’s thin lips pressed together slightly, and he said mysteriously: “But I feel it’s been a very long time.”
Yuanxi’s face reddened, then she put on a serious expression. “Stop fooling around. Speaking of serious matters – did you discover anything at the mortuary today?”
Xiao Du’s eyes brightened somewhat, but instead of answering, he asked in return: “What about you? Was Yunniang willing to speak?”
Yuanxi sighed and recounted everything that had happened when she visited Yunniang today. Xiao Du’s arms around her tightened suddenly, and he said excitedly: “You’re saying she only entered the room after Concubine Cai died? But why is she determined to take all the blame? Why won’t she explain to me?”
Yuanxi shook her head. “If Concubine Cai’s death has nothing to do with her, then her going through such trouble to enter the room and take the calligraphy copybooks must have been at someone else’s instruction. But I still can’t understand – if Concubine Cai was already dead before Yunniang entered the room, then who killed her, and how was it done?”
Xiao Du’s face showed a thoughtful expression. “I examined Concubine Cai’s body again today and indeed discovered something unusual. Fortunately, I had the mortuary preserve her body with ice blocks and didn’t let them dispose of it casually.”
Seeing his expression, Yuanxi knew he must have found an important clue and quickly pressed: “What is it?”
Xiao Du said: “I discovered that her fingernails had been stained yellow, which they weren’t before. I suspect she may have gotten some kind of fluid on her hands while alive, and during this time, due to the low temperature caused by the ice blocks, the fluid changed color. So I wanted to come back and ask you – you’ve read many medical books and exploration records. In those books, is there a common household plant that is highly poisonous and can leave traces on human hands, only showing yellow color after being frozen?”
Yuanxi frowned in thought. Some vague notions stirred in her mind, but she couldn’t quite grasp them clearly, so she said: “There aren’t too many highly poisonous plants to begin with, and even fewer that can be commonly found in households. I’ll go back and research this – I should be able to find it quickly. But why are you certain it’s this kind of plant? Is this related to Concubine Cai’s death?”
Xiao Du nodded. “The coroner still hasn’t determined what poison killed Concubine Cai. Her poisoning symptoms don’t seem to be caused by common poisons like arsenic. Moreover, if someone in the mansion had purchased such poisons, traces could definitely be found. So I suspect the murderer may have used a type of poisonous herb that could be found right in our mansion. When I was campaigning in the field, I learned that many plants have highly poisonous roots and stems – perhaps our mansion happens to have such deadly substances available for the murderer’s use.”
Yuanxi also found this speculation reasonable and nodded. “Good! Give me one day, and I’ll definitely help you find it!” After speaking, she turned urgently to go back.
But Xiao Du grabbed her hand and said gently: “I’ll accompany you.”
So the two of them went into the room together, selected many books recording medicinal herbs, and searched through them one by one. They even had the servants bring dinner to their room. Finally, Yuanxi held up a book and pointed excitedly to one of the pages: “Look at this!”
Xiao Du quickly took it to examine closely. The page recorded a plant called “Dripping Guanyin” that, when properly cultivated, would drip water from the leaf tips or edges. Because its shape resembled Guanyin, it was greatly favored by wealthy households. According to the book, this plant’s roots and stems contained deadly poison. If one accidentally ingested the sap, it would cause skin blackening and swollen lips and cheeks. After poisoning onset, death would occur in less than a quarter-hour. This sap would turn yellow in extremely cold environments.
Xiao Du’s face showed excitement. He slammed his fist on the book. “It must be this one! Concubine Cai’s appearance when she died closely resembled the poisoning symptoms described here. I’ll immediately ask the mansion’s gardener if we’ve grown this type of plant.”
Indeed, according to the mansion’s gardener, many of these “Dripping Guanyin” potted plants were cultivated in the mansion, with one located right outside Concubine Cai’s room. Xiao Du then had them bring the maid Gui He for questioning. Gui He had been imprisoned for several days and was already dizzy and disoriented. Upon seeing Xiao Du, she immediately burst into tears: “Marquis, I truly did nothing wrong – please release me!”
Xiao Du’s face was iron-blue. “Answer my questions properly. As for whether you’ve been wronged, I naturally know in my heart.”
Gui He lifted her sleeve to wipe away tears and said timidly: “What else does the Marquis want to ask? Whatever Gui He knows, I absolutely dare not hide.”
Xiao Du took out the book and pointed to the illustration of “Dripping Guanyin,” asking: “Look carefully – in your courtyard, were there any potted plants growing this type of plant?”
Gui He hurried forward to examine it carefully for a while, then suddenly exclaimed: “It’s this one! So it’s called Dripping Guanyin!”
Hearing something suspicious in her words, Xiao Du quickly asked: “You recognize it? Where did you see it?”
Gui He recalled: “On the day Concubine Cai died, she said she was in a bad mood and told us to move two potted plants from the courtyard into her room to add some freshness indoors. At that time, she specifically mentioned that there was a plant in our courtyard that would drip water from the leaf edges, which looked very interesting. She told me I must find it and move it into her room! It was this Dripping Guanyin.”
Xiao Du’s hand gripping the book page suddenly tightened, and he almost roared: “You’re saying she specifically had you move this Dripping Guanyin inside – was this after she disguised herself as you and went out and returned, or before?”
Gui He was startled by him and tremblingly replied: “It was after she returned, and then two hours later, she died…”
“During this period, did anyone else enter the room?”
“No!”
Xiao Du heavily fell back into his chair and thought through the entire incident from beginning to end. Finally, seeming very weary, he rubbed his temples and said: “I understand now. You may go.”
Gui He was escorted out by two guards. Xiao Du sat alone facing the flickering candlelight in the room for a long time, until a spark burst from the wick, as if awakening him. He slowly stood up, pushed open the door, and walked back to his room through the heavy night.
“What! You’re saying Concubine Cai really did commit suicide!” Yuanxi stood up in shock, accidentally knocking over a stack of books beside her, scattering them across the floor.
Xiao Du bent down to pick up the books one by one, his voice somewhat muffled: “That’s right. She had Gui He move in a pot of Dripping Guanyin, then extracted the sap from one of the roots and stems. Her fingernails were also accidentally stained with some of it, then she ingested this highly poisonous sap and quickly died from the poison. That pot of Dripping Guanyin was deliberately brought in by her. During this time, no one entered her room, and Yunniang never touched that sap, so it naturally has nothing to do with her.”
Yuanxi became even more confused, frowning: “But why would she do this? Why deliberately use this method to commit suicide, yet leave behind a suicide note saying it was Nanny Yu who harmed her?”
Xiao Du finally picked up all the books and turned to look at her, his eyes holding some self-mockery: “I think, apart from Concubine Cai herself and Yunniang, no one else would know.”
Concubine Cai was already dead, while Yunniang was still alive, though she now differed little from a dead person.
When she listened to Xiao Du recount the entire incident with empty eyes, she only lightly tugged at the corners of her mouth: “So what? How does the Marquis intend to deal with me now?”
Xiao Du silently looked at her for a long time, his voice tinged with sorrow: “Yunniang, even now, won’t you tell Du’er even one word of truth?”
Yunniang’s once-plump cheeks had long since withered. Her eyes resembled deep pools filled with stagnant water, unable to stir up any ripples. She rubbed her legs, which had grown stiff from sitting: “I’ve pretended to be mad for these years, and the Marquis has cared for me for these years. Our master-servant relationship should come to an end. If the Marquis believes I’m guilty, send me to the authorities and let me fend for myself. If you feel my crimes don’t warrant death, Yunniang wishes to shamelessly request to go to Water Moon Convent outside the city. From now on, I’m willing to eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist prayers daily, keeping company with oil lamps, to atone for my lifetime of sins. I also wish to pray for the Marquis and Madam’s future peace, prosperity, and longevity.”
Xiao Du heavily closed his eyes, then suddenly stood up and picked up a wooden comb nearby: “When I was small, Yunniang combed my hair and dressed me daily. Du’er has no way to repay this, so today let me comb Yunniang’s hair one last time.”
Without regard for Yunniang’s astonished gaze, he undid her already loose hair bun and gathered her withered, disheveled hair in his hands, then clumsily began combing it for her. The black and white strands slipped through the comb teeth, and he seemed to see many years of shared time slipping away through his palm.
He couldn’t help but smile bitterly, his throat choking with emotion: “When I was small, I often wondered – perhaps you were my real mother, otherwise why would you treat me so well? When I was ten, I secretly heard Father’s retainer say he wanted to redeem your freedom and swore he would marry you as his proper wife and treat you well. But you said you had no feelings for him and would rather stay to care for the young master. But I knew that after he left, you secretly cried in your room all night. At that time, I swore that when I grew up, I would honor you like a birth mother.” He sighed heavily, his hand holding the comb trembling: “No matter what happens, Yunniang will always be my Yunniang. I’m just sorry that Du’er can no longer care for you in the future. Take care.”
At this moment, Yunniang’s shoulders shook like autumn leaves in the wind. Xiao Du helped her arrange a crooked hair bun, put down the wooden comb, and strode out the door without looking back. Yunniang pressed her hands tightly over her mouth, making low sobbing sounds. In the distance, Xiao Du’s authoritative voice carried over: “Send her to Water Moon Convent. Take good care of the abbess there – don’t let them make things difficult for her.”
The wooden comb had somehow fallen to the ground, tangled with prematurely gray hair, like those years that could never return.
The evening glow slowly stained the horizon. Nanny Yu finished arranging today’s dinner and was walking alone toward her room. Suddenly, a figure rushed out from a side path and lunged at her.
Nanny Yu was startled and hadn’t had time to dodge when the person viciously slapped her across the face. Nanny Yu was struck so hard she saw stars. When she finally made out who it was, she stammered: “Third… Third Miss, what happened?”
Xiao Zhixuan’s eyes were bloodshot as she glared fiercely at her: “It was you, wasn’t it! I know it was you! You’re the one who killed my mother!”
Nanny Yu frantically covered her face: “What is Third Miss saying? This servant doesn’t understand at all.”
Xiao Zhixuan’s body trembled constantly with rage. She leaned against a tree trunk: “Some time ago, you went to see Mother. I happened to be sleeping in her room at the time. I only felt that voice sounded somewhat familiar but didn’t think deeply about it. Yesterday, when Sister-in-law mentioned the suicide note Mother left, I finally remembered – that person must have been you, right!”
Nanny Yu lowered the hand covering her face. A flash of viciousness crossed her eyes, but she quickly regained composure: “Without evidence or proof, Third Miss cannot speak carelessly. The Marquis himself said that Concubine Cai clearly committed suicide – how can this be blamed on others? If Third Miss wants to vent her anger and beat or scold this old servant, I’ll accept it all, but you cannot falsely assign guilt.”
“You!” Xiao Zhixuan trembled with rage but also understood that she indeed had no evidence, and with the Princess standing behind Nanny Yu, she could do nothing to harm this person. Just then, she heard Nanny Yu say in a low voice: “This old servant also advises Third Miss – don’t be too willful in the future. The reason Concubine Cai committed suicide was entirely for your sake…”
Xiao Zhixuan suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with disbelief, while Nanny Yu had already straightened the hair bun that had been disheveled by the slap and slowly walked away.