Zhu Nanxian frowned and said: “Go find Tenth Imperial Brother—he holds the Imperial Clan Court command.”

Seeing the Thirteenth Prince displeased, the palace attendant knelt on the ground and kowtowed: “The Tenth Prince has already gone over. He said that since this matter involves both the Third Prince and Fourth Miss Qi, he requests that you come over as well.”

How had Zhu Jiyou gotten mixed up in this again?

Zhu Nanxian felt a headache coming on: “What happened?”

The palace attendant found it somewhat difficult to speak: “I heard… I heard that the Third Prince took liberties with Fourth Miss Qi.”

Hearing this, Su Jin suddenly recalled that when examining the Denwen Drum case, Sun Yinde had mentioned that after Zhu Jiyou came to the capital, he had taken a fancy to Qiling and would make a move at the year-end banquet. He had asked her to give Zhu Nanxian a warning.

However, after the Denwen Drum case, Zhu Jiyou had already been confined. Today, having gone to such great efforts and finally pleased His Majesty, now when saving his own life was urgent enough, how could he make such a huge mistake at this critical juncture?

Even if he were blinded by lust, it shouldn’t be in this manner.

Su Jin felt this matter was not simple.

Seeing that Zhu Nanxian seemed to have concerns, she said to him: “Your Highness, this is no small matter. Your Highness should hurry over to take a look.”

Hearing her say this, Zhu Nanxian nodded: “Very well then. Once I’ve gotten to the bottom of this matter, I’ll return immediately.”

He strode swiftly toward the opposite bank. The palace attendant who had come to report was just about to rise and follow when unexpectedly Zhu Nanxian coldly tossed out: “Kneel there!”

All around, the festivities were in full swing with drinking games everywhere, yet the snowy night world outside was cold and desolate. Perhaps to protect the young lady’s reputation, the earlier incident hadn’t been publicized. The commotion on the opposite bank might have just been playful interactions among the female relatives, and people quickly dismissed it.

All the smile vanished from Shen Xi’s face. He said to the palace attendant: “Stand up and answer this official’s questions.”

The palace attendant raised his face, a trace of indescribable panic in his eyes.

Shen Xi asked: “How was it discovered that the Third Prince took liberties with Fourth Miss Qi?”

“In reply to Lord Shen, it was discovered when guards searched the cypress grove. The Third Prince seemed to be confused from drink and was attempting to unfasten Fourth Miss Qi’s cloak.”

Su Jin had visited Zhu Jiyou’s residence and knew well that he was someone who drank daily. Just now he had at most drunk a few cups—how could he be confused from drink?

She kept this doubt in her heart and looked up toward the dense cypress grove on the opposite bank, asking: “Why would they search the grove for no reason?”

Hearing her ask this, the palace attendant’s eyes froze for a moment, and that trace of indescribable panic grew even stronger: “In reply to Lord Su, there’s a ghost in the palace…”

“Do you two lords perhaps know that a few days ago, an old cat died in the palace?”

Both Su Jin and Shen Xi remained silent.

The palace attendant swallowed: “It was precisely the one Consort Shu had raised back then. It lived over twenty years, was quite intelligent, and had several cats following it around.

“Because there’s a rumor in the palace that when a cat dies unjustly, there must be unclean things causing trouble. Manager Hu from the Imperial Clan Court felt that this old cat dying right at the year’s end was truly inauspicious, so the day before yesterday he took us palace attendants to bury the old cat in the grove behind the Imperial Clan Court. We even built a stone tomb for it and offer incense daily. Who knew that just now…”

Speaking to this point, he seemed to think of something terrifying and couldn’t continue.

After steadying his nerves, he redirected his narrative: “This brings us back to Fourth Miss Qi. Just now, Fourth Miss Qi was originally together with the second young lady of the Zhao household.” He bowed toward Su Jin. “Precisely Zhao Wan, the second daughter of Censor Zhao Yan of the Imperial Censorate.”

“Later, Fourth Miss Qi said she had some private matter and went into the cypress grove. Miss Zhao waited for quite a while but didn’t see her return. Somewhat worried, she went with Miss Shu to search, and who knew… they discovered that old cat…”

Shen Xi frowned: “Didn’t that cat die already?”

The palace attendant said: “I should say it’s the old cat’s corpse. The cat originally drowned, but now this corpse has been skinned, with the stinking flesh and hide placed together.”

He swallowed again: “Do Lord Shen and Lord Su perhaps know that long ago, the Seventh Prince raised a small white cat, and one day when the little white cat fell ill, the Seventh Prince was worried about it and didn’t go to the Hanlin Academy to study? That very day, Consort Cen skinned and killed this little white cat?

“Recently, Beauty Li hanged herself at the Palace Front Hall, and everyone in the palace says… it’s because Consort Cen died unjustly and her spirit is restless. Now this cat has died, which is already inauspicious enough, yet who knew someone would also… also skin it.”

The palace attendant looked at Shen Xi and Su Jin. “When such a thing happened, the Crown Princess ordered a search of the grounds. Only then did they find the Third Prince in the cypress grove, about to take liberties with Fourth Miss Qi.” He seemed to seek some reassurance and couldn’t help but ask again: “Both lords are learned scholars. In the lords’ view, was this cat truly…” He couldn’t continue but added: “Actually, the cat corpse wasn’t in any secluded spot. People had walked by just now and there was nothing there at all. It was only in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea that it appeared.”

Shen Xi didn’t answer this but instead asked: “If that’s the case, the cat corpse isn’t important. As for the Third Prince’s side, just clarify the matter. Why call the Thirteenth Prince over?”

The palace attendant said: “Because… just now Fourth Miss Qi mentioned that when she went to the grove, it was originally to meet the Thirteenth Prince.”

Su Jin was startled and wanted to ask something but couldn’t get the words out.

Shen Xi said: “That’s not right. Since returning to the capital, Thirteenth has never had contact with the Qi family. Think carefully—is there anything else you’ve left out?”

As the palace attendant was thinking, another commotion suddenly came from across the river.

This disturbance seemed even greater than the last time. Even several half-drunk people playing drinking games couldn’t help but turn to look for a moment.

The commotion lasted only an instant before quieting down again, yet Shen Xi’s heart grew even more uneasy. Unfortunately, as an official, even with his inseparable relationship with the Eastern Palace, he couldn’t easily go to where the female relatives were.

He said to the palace attendant: “Go to the opposite bank and look. Find out what happened and report back to this official immediately.”

The palace attendant acknowledged and hurried off. Su Jin and Shen Xi hadn’t waited even half a moment when they saw the palace attendant run back in a panic, kneeling before them and gasping: “In reply… in reply to both lords, it’s the Crown Princess—the Crown Princess was scratched by a cat!”

A layer of frost and snow suddenly covered Shen Xi’s features.

The palace attendant’s current expression seemed strangely familiar to him.

He remembered—it was when he was seven years old, when his eldest sister had helped him pick mulberries. That day there were thunderstorms and torrential rain. He slept until afternoon before waking, suddenly panicking, feeling that something terrible would happen. Three days later, his sister’s body was found by someone at the edge of the Huai River. The young servant who came to report had exactly this kind of expression.

Su Jin glanced at Shen Xi and said to the palace attendant: “Speak slowly. What happened to the Crown Princess?”

The palace attendant said: “Because quite a few female relatives were frightened, the Crown Princess wanted to investigate the cause and had Miss Zhao lead her to look at the cat corpse. Several mad cats came out of nowhere and scratched the Crown Princess.”

Shen Xi said angrily: “Aren’t the Tenth Prince and Thirteenth on the opposite bank? Where are they?!”

The palace attendant said timidly: “They’re in the hall beside Qionghua Garden questioning the Third Prince about the matter. I heard the Third Prince is crying injustice, saying someone framed him. That situation has also become chaotic. It’s the Crown Princess who wouldn’t let anyone go disturb them…”

He paused, then couldn’t help but add softly: “Lord Shen, perhaps you should go take a look. There’s a whole group of female relatives there. The Crown Princess is injured and they have no one to anchor them. Moreover, there’s a rumor in the palace that those scratched by this cup of cats, within seven days…”

Su Jin rebuked: “There are so many cats in the palace, and people are scratched from time to time. Your rumor is groundless. If you continue spouting nonsense, this official will hold you accountable.”

Shen Xi was silent for a moment, then said to Su Jin: “I’ll go take a look, but I’m worried about here…” He didn’t finish his words, raising his eyes toward the officials still toasting and making merry all around.

All eyes on splendor, feigned merriment.

Su Jin said: “I’m here.”

Shen Xi nodded: “My thanks.” Without further hesitation, he strode quickly toward the opposite riverbank.

Su Jin said to the palace attendant: “If anyone later questions why Lord Shen is on the opposite bank, just say you invited him over on the Thirteenth Prince’s orders. Understand?”

The palace attendant hurriedly agreed.

Su Jin said coldly: “Why aren’t you following him?”

That cypress grove was behind the banquet area. The lamplight shining on the snowy landscape created a dim, gloomy atmosphere. The cat corpse was discovered at the edge of the grove. A crowd of female relatives stood together, whispering about who knows what.

A physician had already come to examine Shen Jing’s injury. She was separated by several guards and was resting in a corner of the banquet area.

Shen Xi strode over and pushed aside the guards to look. Sure enough, there were several bloody scratch marks on the back of Shen Jing’s hand.

His brow furrowed, and he made a decisive decision: “I’ll go request Brother-in-law.”

Only then did Shen Jing realize Shen Xi had come. Knowing he was worried, she didn’t reproach him but said gently: “His Majesty has already returned. If you bring the Crown Prince here now, won’t it make this banquet indigestible for everyone? I’ve only suffered some superficial wounds. Someone has gone to request Seventh Brother, but I don’t know why he hasn’t arrived yet. You needn’t worry.”

Though she said this, Shen Xi still couldn’t feel at ease. He immediately disregarded the separation between men and women, walked to where the female relatives were, pushed through the crowd, and asked directly: “Where are those cats that scratched people?”

Young Master Shen was always full of smiles, but now he was cold as frost. All his former carefree and romantic air had completely vanished, leaving only a clear coldness between his picturesque brows and eyes.

Yet his eyes still contained infinite moonlight. Standing among the snowy cypresses, he seemed like an immortal banished to earth.

When the group of female relatives saw him, they were momentarily speechless.

Shen Xi saw the wild cats tied together by palace attendants and trapped in a cage—listless and weak. He asked again: “What’s going on? These are the cats that scratched people?”

A woman with level brows and phoenix eyes in palace attire said: “Qingyue Brother, I know what happened.” Between her brows was an air of supreme arrogance. This was precisely Princess Zhu Hele, whom Qian San’er had mentioned—the one who had liked Young Master Shen for many years with quite persistent determination.

“Because someone did it deliberately.” She raised her hand to point at a woman wearing a water-green cloak: “It’s Zhao Wan. She led Sister Shen Jing here, which caused Sister to be injured. She also found that cat. In this princess’s view, she did it on purpose!”

Shen Xi followed Zhu Hele’s gesture with his eyes.

This was the second daughter of Zhao Yan’s family. She was the one who found the cat—he had heard the palace attendant mention it earlier.

Who knew that when Zhao Wan met Shen Xi’s gaze, she was startled and lowered her eyes without speaking in her own defense.

Instead, the woman beside her said: “Can’t tell what the Princess is trying to say. According to the Princess’s meaning, the cat was killed by A’Wan, and those mad cats were also directed by A’Wan?”

Shen Xi recognized this person—this was Shu Wenlan’s younger sister, Shu Rongxin.

She languidly blinked once and looked at Zhu Hele: “Just now when the Princess was frightened, didn’t she keep saying there were unclean things causing trouble? How is it that as soon as Lord Shen arrives, she’s changed her tune? Is this seeking credit or currying favor?”

She spoke slowly and moved slowly too. Her tone was somewhat like her sickly brother’s, yet she dared to say anything.

This immediately enraged Zhu Hele, who spoke without thinking: “You’re spouting nonsense! In this princess’s view, you two have ill intentions in this matter. You definitely wanted to use this to summon Thirteenth Cousin and Qingyue Brother!” As she spoke, she glanced at several female relatives beside her. “Tell me, wasn’t it true that just now we all didn’t dare go look at the cat, but the two of them took the Crown Princess to see it!”

Shen Xi was so harassed by this group of female relatives that he couldn’t get a single question out.

Taking calm in the midst of chaos, he thought carefully, then looked toward Zhao Wan again.

Her complexion wasn’t good, and one hand supported her arm in a gesture as if covering a wound.

Shen Xi walked directly over, grabbed her arm and lifted it to look: “You’re injured?”

Zhao Wan’s ears immediately turned red. She shook her head: “It’s nothing serious.”

Actually, the situation had been chaotic earlier, and she had been accidentally scratched. She felt guilty toward Shen Jing in her heart, believing it was because she had led the Crown Princess to see the cat that she was injured, so she didn’t dare mention her own injury.

Winter clothes were thick—for an ordinary cat scratch, how could it be this fierce? Shen Xi’s heart grew increasingly uneasy. He suddenly looked up with a smile full of frivolity and said gently: “You’re a young lady. It wouldn’t be good if you’re left with scars. Let me take a look for you.”

As he spoke, he raised his hand, wanting to push up Zhao Wan’s sleeve to see more clearly the injuries on the back of her hand and wrist. Unfortunately, there was blood everywhere, and for a moment he couldn’t see clearly.

Shen Xi’s brow furrowed slightly.

Zhao Wan suddenly withdrew her wrist from his palm and said softly: “Lord Shen loves cleanliness. I… I’ll wipe it clean before letting you look at the wound.”

Only then did Shen Xi look at her again: “Your name is Zhao Wan? You’re the second young lady of Lord Zhao’s household?”

Zhao Wan had been hanging her head. Hearing him say this, she was slightly startled, looking at him with some surprise and bewilderment. After a moment, she said in a low voice: “Yes, my name is Zhao Wan.”

Shen Xi looked back—the physician had just finished examining Shen Jing’s injury. He walked over and said: “Physician Jiang, the second young lady of the Zhao household is injured. Please trouble yourself to go have a look.”

Physician Jiang acknowledged, packed up his medicine box, and went over.

Shen Xi then dismissed a group of guards and palace maids before saying to Shen Jing’s personal maid Shuxiang: “Find some reliable people to go to the Imperial Medical Academy to request the director, and go to the Capital Magistrate’s Office to request a coroner. Tell them that no matter what method they use, this official wants them to investigate clearly what’s going on with these cats.”

A storm was about to rage in his eyes. Shen Jing looked at him and asked: “What’s wrong? Is something not right?”

Shen Xi said coldly: “The second daughter of the Zhao household was also injured. Just now, under the pretext of examining her injury, I pulled back her sleeve and looked carefully at the wound. It doesn’t look like it was scratched by an ordinary cat. It should have been mad cats that were drugged. I’m afraid that if we wait another moment, those cats will die and we’ll miss the clues for nothing.”

Hearing him say this, Shen Jing couldn’t help but be startled and smiled: “Why are you like this? That’s A’Wan from the Zhao household. When she was little, she stayed at the Shen residence for half a month. At that time, Third Sister quarreled with you daily, and after quarreling when you were upset, you’d go tease her for amusement. Don’t you remember?”

Shen Xi frowned and thought, but couldn’t remember: “Such trivial matters—how can I remember so many?” He called a palace maid to support Shen Jing. “Go see Thirteenth. His situation is probably troublesome.”