When they returned to Prince Kui’s mansion, it was already deep into the night, but Huang Zixia still went to see Li Shubai first, relating everything that had happened at the Court of Justice that day.

After listening, Li Shubai couldn’t help but laugh: “Tomorrow I’ll ask Cui Chunzhan—if this criminal was so meticulous and cunning, why would he proudly show off the golden toad when questioned by officials after stealing it from the Princess’s mansion?”

“But the Emperor is extremely concerned about this matter. If the case can be solved quickly now, all the offices can breathe easier. From this perspective, quickly producing a scapegoat, especially one who seems to have suspicious points converging from all directions, is not an uncommon choice in official circles,” Huang Zixia said, frowning.

Li Shubai remained silent in contemplation for a long while before saying: “Moreover, if the case is concluded early, you can also set out on the road back to Shu with me sooner, which would be a better choice for you—after all, some evidence will disappear with time, so the sooner you can clear your name, the better.”

“Does Your Highness also believe that making Qian Guansuo the scapegoat is the best outcome for now?”

“Of course not.” Li Shubai lightly tapped the glass bowl containing the little red fish and said, “In my view, the best outcome would be to find an evil person with no parents and no children—there are many such people in the world, but unfortunately, the Emperor wouldn’t believe that would he?”

Huang Zixia said softly: “Qian Guansuo… though greedy and cowardly, isn’t a bad person.”

“But what difference does that make? You still need to find someone to answer to the Emperor. In this case, you and I both know well that the three people who died successively—Wei Ximin, Sun Laizi, and Princess Tongchang—include both men and women of different statuses, but all are connected to Lü Di Cui’s humiliation. So among the suspects that can be identified in this case, the three most suspicious currently are Lü Di Cui, Zhang Xingying, and Lü Zhiyuan.” Li Shubai said mercilessly, “Whether you’re deceiving yourself or have emotional prejudices, you must admit that the most suspicious person is Zhang Xingying.”

Struck by his direct mention of what had been weighing on her heart all along, Huang Zixia couldn’t respond for a moment. After a long while, she nodded silently and said: “Yes, I know.”

Li Shubai shifted his gaze from the little fish to her face, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly: “If he is the murderer, I rather admire him. After all, anyone in his position couldn’t remain unmoved. It’s just that some people dare to think but not to act, while others can act but can’t do it this well. If these three cases were done by Zhang Xingying, I must say I’m impressed.”

Seeing his undisguised admiration, Huang Zixia asked in a low voice: “Then, if he is the culprit, can Your Highness protect his life?”

Li Shubai frowned slightly and said: “Before Princess Tongchang’s death, yes. But in the current situation, it’s hard to say.”

Huang Zixia nodded silently and said: “Yes, a life for a life, it has always been so.”

Li Shubai continued: “If this case was indeed set up according to that painting, now that all three victims match, first organize all the threads of this case for me to see.”

Huang Zixia nodded, sat cross-legged behind the small table, thought for a moment, then unrolled the paper and began writing slowly. Her calligraphy was in the style of Lady Wei, each stroke like an ornamental hairpin on a graceful lady, elegant and beautiful. She wrote quickly and soon had copied it out and handed it to him.

First, Wei Ximin’s death: How did the lightning strike the candle so precisely, and how did it happen to burn to death a short eunuch in the crowd? If it was indeed man-made, how did the murderer control the lightning? Where did the wire and mercury in the fish pond come from, and are they related to this case?

Second, the Prince Consort’s fall at the polo grounds: Was it deliberate? If so, was it specifically targeting the Prince Consort? How could they ensure the Prince Consort would choose that horse, and how did they tamper with it?

Third, Sun Laizi’s death: How to solve the locked room mystery? Why did the scent of Ling Ling’s fragrance linger in such a humble room? How did the murderer enter and escape?

Fourth, the Princess’s death: How was the Nine-Phoenix Hairpin stolen under such strict surveillance? After the Princess was dragged from the crowd, she must have known she wasn’t far from the busy street—why didn’t she call loudly for her attendants?

Note: The death of Dou Kou in the Princess’s mansion and the paintings from the Zhang household and Prince E’s mansion must be closely related to this case.

Li Shubai finished reading and nodded: “You wrote hastily, wrote ‘jie’ instead of ‘jie’ in ‘break.'”

Huang Zixia was greatly embarrassed and quickly searched for that character on the paper.

Without looking, he said: “Seventh character in the eleventh line.”

Huang Zixia couldn’t help but feel deep respect: “Your Highness has such a good memory, I suppose you remember everything forever after just a glance.”

“It’s alright,” he said casually. “Or you could say, you wrote a total of two hundred and sixty-six characters, and that ‘jie’ was the hundred and forty-third character.”

She couldn’t believe it, grabbed half a handful of counting rods from the tube on the desk, threw them on the table, and asked: “How many does Your Highness think are there?”

He glanced at them and said without hesitation: “Forty-seven.”

Huang Zixia counted them one by one—forty-seven.

She looked up at him: “Your Highness, I’d like to ask you something.”

He didn’t speak, just raised his eyes to look at her.

“That day at Jianfu Temple, how many people were there in total?”

“Didn’t count,” he gave her a look that said, “How boring.”

“But, you were there at the time, and with your eye, you should have an impression of everyone who appeared before you, right?”

“Mm.”

“But after Wei Ximin’s death, you said you hadn’t seen him in the crowd before.”

Li Shubai thought for a moment, then nodded: “Perhaps because he was short, he was completely blocked by the people around him.”

“And Zhang Xingying and Lü Di Cui, these two witnesses who were present, also said they hadn’t seen Wei Ximin before the fire.” Huang Zixia said thoughtfully, her eyes gradually brightening, “Logically, Wei Ximin was their enemy, and he was wearing such conspicuous red eunuch’s clothing and was so close by—they should have spotted him in the crowd at a glance.”

Seeing her eyes become so bright, Li Shubai asked in return: “So, you’ve discovered something?”

“Yes, I think I’ve found the biggest key point in the Jianfu Temple fire case.” She smiled, then pointed her finger at the second incident, the Prince Consort’s fall, “And from this, I seem to have a vague sense of the reason for this case as well.”

Li Shubai looked at her fingertip and asked: “Do you also know when the murderer acted?”

“I think this is a case where once you have the motive, you no longer need the method of execution.” She looked at him, her expression serious. “Your Highness, do you remember what I mentioned to you before, about ‘the budding plum blossoms at the beginning of the second month’?”

Li Shubai naturally knew what she was referring to, and after pondering for a moment, frowned slightly and said: “The royal family has not treated him poorly. He’s barely over twenty, yet he’s already a Chancellor—no one else in court has such honor and favor.”

“However, even standing in a high position, one still can’t let go of past grievances, can they?” she asked softly.

Li Shubai thought for a moment, then stood up.

“Tomorrow I’ll accompany you to the Princess’s mansion…”

“Tomorrow please take me to the Princess’s mansion…”

They spoke simultaneously, saying the same thing.

Huang Zixia was startled, and couldn’t help but smile slightly. Li Shubai’s gaze lingered on her smiling face for an instant, then moved away silently without a word.

Early the next morning when they arrived, the Princess’s mansion was already in solemn mourning.

The servants were taking down the layers of gauze curtains and hanging white drapes; Wei Baoheng had also removed his embroidered finery and changed it into white hemp clothing. In the pavilion where the Princess lay, large and small blocks of ice were placed everywhere to preserve her appearance, but as it was summer now, she probably couldn’t be kept there long.

Wei Baoheng came personally to the main gate to welcome Prince Kui and said to Li Shubai with tears: “The Lady of Qin said she had prepared a golden-thread nanmu wood coffin in her early years and is willing to let the Princess be laid in it first. People from the mansion have gone to fetch it now, otherwise, in this weather…”

Huang Zixia’s gaze fell on Princess Tongchang lying there quietly. She had been changed into a deep purple brocade dress woven with paradise flycatchers, the repaired Nine-Phoenix Hairpin pressed evenly in her hair. Her makeup was neat, with rouge on her cheeks and moistened crimson lips, making her originally sharp, thin features appear more vivid and beautiful than usual.

Huang Zixia asked softly: “Has anyone examined the body?”

“No, the Emperor is so heartbroken, who would dare mention such a thing?” As Wei Baoheng spoke, looking at Princess Tongchang’s body, tears finally fell.

Huang Zixia asked: “May this servant examine it?”

“You are personally appointed by the Emperor to investigate the case, you must certainly look,” Wei Baoheng nodded.

Huang Zixia apologized to him, then walked to Princess Tongchang’s side while Li Shubai and Wei Baoheng went outside. She opened the Princess’s collar and carefully examined the wound on her chest.

The wound, which had been carefully cleaned, showed the muscle slightly contracted, making it appear even narrower. It was a very clean and neat hole, where the attacker had struck precisely, directly wounding the heart, causing the Princess to die in a very short time.

When they had arrived, it must have been just after the Princess was stabbed and the murderer had fled. However, before that, the Princess had been held captive for the time it took to burn half an incense stick. With so many people around, why didn’t she cry out loudly? What were she and the murderer doing at that time?

She also carefully examined other parts of the Princess’s body, confirming there were no other wounds, before properly redressing her and stepping out of the room.

Wei Baoheng asked: “How is it?”

“No other abnormalities, death was indeed from being stabbed in the heart. The wound is a small hole, consistent with the Nine-Phoenix Hairpin,” she said, then turned to look at Li Shubai.

Li Shubai understood and said to Wei Baoheng: “A Wei, I have something else I’d like to ask you.”

Wei Baoheng nodded and led them toward the Garden of Sheltering Beauty.

Just as they were passing the Garden of Known Brocade, Huang Zixia stopped and asked: “May I ask the Prince Consort, can we go in and take a look?”