“You’re saying that woman was pregnant! Why do you say that?” After the shock, Xiao Zhixuan quickly pressed for details.

“Look here!” Yuanxi pulled out the accounts from the princess’s quarters and compared them one by one: “Salvia, poria with pine nuts, angelica – according to Imperial Physician Zuo, these medicines are used for middle-regulating decoctions, and these are for center-calming decoctions.” She couldn’t help but take a deep breath: “That woman was not only pregnant, but her pregnancy timing was very likely quite similar to the princess’s, which is why they were using the same prescription for stabilizing pregnancy.”

Xiao Zhixuan frowned: “Who is this woman? And what’s her relationship to Yunniang?” She suddenly widened her eyes, somewhat guiltily: “Sister-in-law, do you think she might have some relationship with father…”

Yuanxi shook her head, clutching those papers tightly in her hands, the doubts in her heart growing ever larger. For a moment, the room was extraordinarily quiet, with only the occasional “crackling” sound from the candle flame, scattering their thoughts in all directions.

Finally Yuanxi spoke again: “There are still many possibilities in this matter – we can’t jump to conclusions easily. I think the only way now is to first find the residence where your big brother was born. The truth might be hidden there. Do you remember? Granny Fang said it was a red house with many lanterns hanging. Xuan’er, does the marquis residence have an outer residence that’s painted entirely red?”

Xiao Zhixuan thought carefully, then shook her head in confusion: “How could there be such a strange residence? I’ve never heard of it or seen it.”

“Not painted entirely red. What could ‘red house’ mean?” Yuanxi sighed helplessly, knowing that with just these fragments of information, hope was truly slim, yet unwilling to let the clues break off like this. She stood up but accidentally bumped into the table leg. Xiao Zhixuan quickly steadied her: “It’s hard to see clearly outside at night – be careful.”

Yuanxi paused, suddenly remembering something, and turned back: “Granny Fang can’t see – how would she know the houses were all red?”

Xiao Zhixuan also realized this point and murmured: “Right! Maybe she heard it from someone else?”

Yuanxi thoughtfully directed her gaze toward the window. The night was like thick ink spilled out, and the swaying lanterns under the opposite eaves were like blood-red pupils, igniting wisps of red light in the darkness.

She suddenly turned around and said to Xiao Zhixuan: “What do you think a blind person would consider red in their mind?” Without waiting for Xiao Zhixuan’s reply, she continued: “It could be red fire, red flowers, red lanterns, and… blood.” Xiao Zhixuan’s eyes widened, and imagining that scene, she couldn’t help but shiver. Yuanxi continued: “Let’s think again. When the princess gave birth, she went to an outer residence with the old marquis, Granny Fang, Yunniang and the others. Since that residence could serve as a temporary dwelling for the old marquis and princess, it definitely wouldn’t be too small – at least three courtyards or more. This residence should have lights burning constantly, and Granny Fang might have accidentally touched them, creating memories of fire. Another possibility is that heated floor channels were burning – in very hot places, it would also remind her of red fire.”

“But since it was already April then, why would heated floor channels still be needed? And what kind of house needs lights burning constantly?” Xiao Zhixuan couldn’t help but interject.

“The constant lighting could be due to darkness or dampness,” Yuanxi said unhurriedly. “And the marquis residence’s outer estate should be in a spacious, open area. I suspect it’s because of dampness. This place was very likely near water or a lakeside, and because of the moisture and cold, heated floor channels had to be burned for warmth.” Her tone gradually became more certain: “So the place we’re looking for should be a large enough courtyard, with lights burning year-round, very likely built by water, possibly with red flowers planted both inside and outside, and red lanterns hanging outside. So in Granny Fang’s memory, she would think of it as a red house.” She suddenly paused and added: “Very likely she also smelled the scent of blood.”

Xiao Zhixuan suddenly looked up at her, finding both their eyes filled with similar horror and doubt. Yuanxi walked to her side and grasped her somewhat trembling hands, her gaze containing a calming power: “Whatever the case, let’s first find that residence. I think everything should have an answer.”

The two immediately began investigating based on these clues. Although the marquis residence had many properties, finding one in the capital that met these conditions wasn’t difficult. Soon, they found a residence that closely matched the clues. Qingxin Garden was a residence bestowed upon the old marquis by the late emperor, with a very unique location – built right in the center of Autumn Leaf Lake, completely surrounded by water on all four sides. Living there would indeed have the artistic conception of being close to water and wind. The courtyard also had many exotic flowers planted, reportedly visible from the windows. But strangely, for the past twenty-some years, Qingxin Garden had no expenditure records. Logically, such an outer residence would definitely have dedicated caretakers, yet it had left no personnel account records, as if it had never existed.

Yuanxi closed the ledger, wondering in her heart: What kind of residence could this be? But she didn’t have to wait long – the next day she and Xiao Zhixuan found this Qingxin Garden together.

Clear waves rippled gently, and fresh breezes brushed their faces, but the grand residence standing in the center had long lost its former glory. The courtyard was filled with withered flowers and overgrown weeds. The lanterns hanging under the eaves had long since fallen into disrepair, their red shells rotted away, leaving only the empty lantern frames swaying coldly in the wind.

Yuanxi’s gaze moved down from those bare lantern frames, feeling very uncomfortable standing in this courtyard. She didn’t know where this strange feeling came from, but unconsciously hugged herself tighter, feeling somewhat cold.

Xiao Zhixuan grasped her hand and said timidly: “Can we confirm this is the place? Now that it’s like this, can we still find anything?”

Yuanxi looked around and felt somewhat uncertain: “I don’t know either. How about we first search through each room?”

The two thus went together pushing open many doors. Apart from seeing that no one had lived here for a long time, they discovered nothing else unusual. After searching like this for a long while, both felt somewhat tired, and their inner hopes grew weaker and weaker. Just as they somewhat defeatedly pushed open another door, they both simultaneously widened their eyes, startled by the bizarre scene within.

Bells and drums, small clothes, shoes, and swaddling cloths filled the entire room. It looked like this was a room prepared for a child. But what should have been a warm interior now emanated a stale, musty odor. The small cradle was hung with thick curtains that were now full of holes and covered with layers of spider webs.

Yuanxi frowned, not knowing why she felt somewhat sick to her stomach. Turning her head, she found Xiao Zhixuan’s face had turned pale, so she gently squeezed her hand in comfort, then walked over and took a deep breath before lifting the curtains.

Dust rose high from the curtains, making both of them cough violently. Yuanxi quickly took out a handkerchief to cover her nose and mouth, squinting as she looked into the cradle, but couldn’t help crying out in shock at what she saw.

In the pink cradle lay a dark, cold memorial tablet. But this tablet bore no writing – it was simply placed properly in the bed, as if it were the master of this room, while they were rash visitors who had disturbed this long-standing tranquility.

Xiao Zhixuan stepped forward and, seeing this tablet, was so frightened she covered her mouth with both hands, unable to speak for a long moment. At this point Yuanxi seemed to finally come to her senses. Though her complexion was very poor, she said in a low voice: “Search carefully! The owner of this tablet is probably still in this courtyard!”

Xiao Zhixuan was only fifteen years old after all. Everything before her eyes had exceeded her capacity to bear. She didn’t dare imagine what else they might discover, only covering her mouth and shaking her head while continuously backing away. Seeing her mind already in confusion, Yuanxi quickly gripped her tightly: “We’ve come this far – are we going to give up now? Don’t you want to find out the truth about your mother’s death?”

Xiao Zhixuan stared at her blankly, bit her lips hard and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, finally nodding heavily.

The two walked into the courtyard and each broke off a tree branch to search through the weeds. Finally Yuanxi stopped at one spot, crouched down and observed for a long time: “Here… it seems like there are traces of burning paper money. Look, is that right?”

Xiao Zhixuan looked with her and indeed saw grayish-yellow traces in the soil, different from the earth elsewhere. She nodded and asked: “What should we do now?”

Yuanxi’s gaze showed a resolute expression. She went to the woodshed to find an iron spade: “You watch from the side – I’ll dig.”

Xiao Zhixuan had long since lost her composure, only biting her nails and standing restlessly to the side, watching Yuanxi shakily bring down the first spadeful. It was easier said than done – Yuanxi had never done this kind of work since childhood. After digging a few spadefuls, her hands developed blood blisters. Xiao Zhixuan shed tears of distress and pulled at her: “Let’s forget it. Let’s go back to the residence and find people to help.”

But Yuanxi stubbornly shook her head: “Before this matter is clarified, absolutely no one else can know!”

She rested briefly, then continued digging down with effort. The cold wind lifted her temple hair, and in this spacious yet desolate residence, her figure appeared both frail and full of strength.

Finally the iron spade struck something. Yuanxi joyfully turned to look at Xiao Zhixuan, then threw aside the spade. The two continued scraping down with tree branches. The yellow color of the earth gradually faded, and white and red colors mixed together, leaving both momentarily stunned. Yuanxi frowned and gently lifted the object with a branch. When she saw clearly the white bones and rotting flesh within, her stomach immediately churned into a knot. She quickly dropped the object, bent over and began vomiting violently.

A thick stench of rotting flesh immediately spread out. Buried in the earth was an unformed infant.