The Department of Justice followed its usual procedures, summoning Su Qi, Xian Yun, Ran Yun, and all relevant palace personnel for detailed questioning once again. Their accounts remained consistent – the Princess Consort had gone to Yong Shun Hall, Prince Kui had come to visit, and Wang Ruo had stayed alone in the East Pavilion. The others had only left for a brief moment when she vanished without a trace from within.

At the time, neither Wang Ruo, Li Shubai, nor the thirty-plus people in the courtyard noticed when Wang Ruo entered or left the inner hall. Even the eunuchs in the Right Pavilion, separated only by the main hall, hadn’t detected anything unusual from the Left Pavilion.

The two guards watching the windows of the East Pavilion at the time faithfully performed their duties, confirming they had kept their eyes fixed on the windows, which were only opened once afterward by Huang Zixia.

“Official Wang specifically instructed us to watch the windows closely, so we never took our eyes off them!” the guards declared earnestly.

“Wang Yun’s foresight was indeed thorough—yet despite all precautions, something still happened to the Princess Consort.” Cui Chunzhan sighed. He looked helplessly at Huang Zixia, clearly at a loss. “Such a bizarre affair… Has the Public Servant made any discoveries?”

Huang Zixia shook his head, “Before Your Excellence arrived, Prince Kui and I had already searched multiple times, but it was all in vain—we found nothing.”

By the time all the questioning was complete, the evening was approaching. After extensive searching yielded no results, only one soldier who had searched the rear hall’s small kitchen presented a burnt piece of wood found in the stove.

Cui Chunzhan took it and shook his head in frustration: “Fool! What’s so significant about burning some wood scraps in the kitchen? Why bother showing this to me!”

Huang Zixia took it for careful examination. It was a piece of wood burned halfway through, blackened on the outside but still maintaining its basic shape and outline. It vaguely resembled a horseshoe, with a slanted face in front and a semicircular arc in the back.

While she was still examining it, Cui Chunzhan remarked beside her: “Palace kitchens occasionally use wood scraps from the carpentry department as firewood. I suspect this is just leftover from some wooden item, nothing unusual.”

Huang Zixia nodded, then handed it back to the Justice Department personnel, saying, “Still, let’s keep it just in case.”

“Yes, Public Servant Yang is right, we’ll preserve it,” Cui Chunzhan casually instructed, then ordered his people to organize the documents, saying they would conclude for the day.

As Huang Zixia bid him farewell, he called out with a smile: “Since we’ve had the pleasure of meeting today and will be working together for some time, I must treat you to a meal.”

As Huang Zixia was now assigned by the Prince’s mansion to participate in this case, she naturally had to accept. However, upon arriving at the Embroidered Brocade Tower in the West Market and seeing who was already seated in the private room, she felt somewhat resigned.

Jinnu, sitting to the side with her pipa, was a familiar face. There was also Zhou Ziqin, dressed in bright blue brocade with rouge-red trim and a goose-yellow belt, animatedly analyzing how to determine the time of death from meat texture and decomposition, completely disregarding others’ reactions to the chicken, duck, and fish dishes on the table.

The other person who rose with a smile to welcome Cui Chunzhan and Huang Zixia was elegant and refined, like a spring breeze—it was Wang Yun.

“Chonggu!” Upon seeing Huang Zixia, Zhou Ziqin excitedly forgot his previous topic and quickly waved her over. “I heard Prince Kui’s mansion had sent Public Servant Yang to help Brother Cui with the case, and I thought it must be you. I wasn’t wrong!”

Huang Zixia ignored the empty seat beside Wang Yun, preferring to sit next to Zhou Ziqin in his terrifying blue and red outfit. She said, “I didn’t expect you to be here too.”

Cui Chunzhan smiled, “Ziqin has keen insight into crime scenes, especially in examining corpses. The Justice Department often seeks his expertise. Unfortunately, Ziqin will soon follow Official Zhou to Shu, so opportunities to meet with our Beijing group will become rare. Let’s drink more today while we can.”

Zhou Ziqin looked at him with disdain: “Every time it’s just us drinking while you, hiding behind your fearsome wife at home, always stop after one or two cups. Who else could claim the title of Beijing’s Most Henpecked Husband!”

Cui Chunzhan laughed heartily, clearly unbothered, and casually asked about when his father Zhou Xiang would depart and when the farewell banquet would be held.

After eight hot dishes were served and everyone had shared a drink, Wang Yun finally spoke: “Has there been any progress in the case of Prince Kui’s missing consort?”

Cui Chunzhan shook his head, “It seems we’ll need more time.”

Wang Yun’s face showed slight concern, though he didn’t display it too prominently.

Zhou Ziqin, looking at the newly served fish, exclaimed in surprise, “Is Madam Li, who usually prepares live fish in the kitchen, not here today?”

The waiter asked in surprise, “How did Young Master Zhou know? Madam Li had some family matters today, so someone else prepared this fish.”

Zhou Ziqin’s face fell as he said, “It’s obvious this was done by a novice. My favorite fish belly is mutilated—look at these crooked cutting lines! The fat and skin layers of the belly have been destroyed, ruining that unique rich umami flavor! And look here, even the dark lines near the organs haven’t been cleaned properly. Where’s Madam Li’s skillful, effortless knife work?”

Those at the table exchanged wry smiles. Wang Yun changed the subject, asking, “Public Servant Yang and Ziqin knew each other before?”

Sitting beside Zhou Ziqin, Huang Zixia watched resignedly as he placed a large piece of deboned fish in her bowl, saying, “We’ve met once before.”

Cui Chunzhan smiled, “Ziqin becomes fast friends with everyone—we’re used to it.”

Zhou Ziqin seriously objected: “My relationship with Chonggu is a life-and-death bond, different from ordinary friendships!”

Just because we dug up a corpse together? When did that become a life-and-death bond? Huang Zixia’s face soured as she started eating the fish in her bowl. Zhou Ziqin continued telling her: “Not to brag, but I’m the best at deboning fish in Beijing, perhaps even the world. When my father confined me at home, forbidding me from going out with the coroners to gain experience, I could only study the kitchen’s chicken, duck, and fish preparations. Cattle have 108 bones, chickens have 164 bones, and fish vary greatly. Take this crucian carp for example—don’t let its many bones fool you. The distribution of fish bones follows a pattern. Let me teach you a technique, my exclusive secret: the meat on a crucian carp’s back can be peeled off in layers, though the technique is crucial…”

Everyone listened to his rambling while drinking and joking, the atmosphere growing increasingly lively. Before long, they had pushed aside discussion of the missing Princess Consort, turning it into a festive gathering. Huang Zixia noticed Wang Yun’s face showed some resignation, though he still managed to maintain a smile.

Someone suddenly brought up: “Speaking of which, have you all heard today’s rumors in the capital?”

“What rumors?” everyone eagerly asked.

“The ones about Princess Qile.”

Everyone naturally knew about Princess Qile, who had always considered herself the future Princess Consort of Prince Kui but ultimately failed to achieve her wish. Those present shared knowing smiles and collectively “Oh~ed.”

Jinnu smiled, “My, what a coincidence. Yesterday, when I went to play pipa for the Royal Consort, I happened to meet Princess Qile in the palace.”

“So Princess Qile was in the palace when the Princess Consort disappeared?” Cui Chunzhan asked.

“Indeed, she was there to copy sutras for the Royal Consort—I heard she had previously offered favors to the palace servants close to the Empress Dowager to obtain this task, all because Prince Kui visits the Royal Consort for greetings every ten days, giving her a chance to speak with him.”

Everyone sighed: “Such devoted affection indeed.”

“Moreover, I heard she had also hinted to the Royal Consort about her feelings for Prince Kui, and the Royal Consort was inclined to help. Unfortunately, fate had other plans, and she never became Prince Kui’s consort. After Prince Kui’s marriage to Lady Wang was arranged, she claimed illness and stayed away from the palace for a while. Who would have thought that on her first visit back yesterday, she’d encounter the Princess Consort’s disappearance? After it happened, I heard she even went to look outside Yong Shun Hall…” Jinnu said, covering her mouth with her pipa pick as she laughed, “I followed to look too, and speaking candidly, Princess Qile’s expression seemed to show relief as if her dream had come true.”

“Indeed, when rumors spread about Prince Kui’s consort disappearing before the wedding, she was probably the most delighted to hear it.” Except for Wang Yun, all the men laughed mischievously—even Wang Yun’s presence couldn’t suppress their amusement.

Huang Zixia looked helplessly at these men, silently reviewing Princess Qile in her mind, and making a mental note. Looking up amidst the clamor, she noticed Wang Yun staring at her intently. In the lamplight, his skin was like jade, his black hair like ink, his proper features and dignified bearing standing out among these unruly men, emanating the noble air of an elite Jin Dynasty family, with an extraordinary, aloof quality.

She felt her eyelashes flutter as if someone had pricked them with a needle. She quickly avoided his gaze, turning to pretend interest in discussing fish bone structure with Zhou Ziqin beside her.

As the meal and drinks concluded, it was approaching the hour of You. A waiter came to add lamp oil and candles, and Jinnu once again took up her pipa to tune it for a final piece.

“Oh my, this annoying weather,” she said with some frustration after trying a few notes. “It’s been raining all day, the pipa strings have loosened and gotten damp, making the sound even worse.”

Huang Zixia turned to ask: “Is there any solution?”

“Just need to rub some rosin on it.” She took out an exquisite box from her garments, picked up some rosin powder with three fingers, and carefully applied it to the pipa’s tuning pegs, adding, “This rosin powder was bestowed by the palace, see how beautiful even the box is? I kept it right in my bosom when I received it.”

Unable to understand her need to show off, Huang Zixia could only look at the pipa and say, “This ‘Autumn Frost on Dew’ is truly beautiful.”

“Yes, my master gave it to me. I’ll only play it in this life—I’m not used to other pipas anymore because only this one perfectly fits my hand positions and movements.” She smiled, continued rubbing the rosin powder for a while, slightly furrowed her brow, but quickly smiled again. Holding the pipa against her chest, she stroked the strings with her jade pick, and immediately bright, lively music flowed forth.

After the piece ended, Cui Chunzhan raised his cup for a concluding speech: “By imperial grace, we bear this heavy responsibility. Everyone present, we must concentrate all our efforts on solving this mysterious case, living up to the expectations of His Majesty, Her Majesty, and Prince Kui. I hope everyone will actively contribute ideas and strategies to close this case early, repaying heaven’s grace!”

This official dinner thus concluded.

The Justice Department personnel went to settle the bill, seeing off the two distinguished gentlemen Cui Chunzhan and Wang Yun, leaving only Zhou Ziqin, Huang Zixia, and Jinnu, who was packing up her pipa, at the table.

Zhou Ziqin looked at several barely touched dishes on the table and called the waiter over: “Do you have lotus leaves? Please wrap up this roasted chicken, the grilled fish, and these pork trotters for me.”

Jinnu giggled beside him, saying, “So the capital’s rumors are true—Young Master Zhou doesn’t waste food.”

“Even meat and fish have their dignity—who would willingly become mere kitchen waste?” Zhou Ziqin said without embarrassment, smiling, “That dish in front of you, yes, those cherries, help me wrap those too.”

“Do cherries have dignity too?” Jinnu looked at her snow-white fingers, reluctantly poured the cherries onto a lotus leaf, wrapped them up, and handed them to him, then frowned saying, “Oh my, these awful cherry stems are so hard, they’re making my hands itch.”

“I know your hands are delicate, who knew you’d find even cherry stems irritating? Thanks anyway.” Zhou Ziqin said casually, roughly tied everything together with string, and carried it out with them.

Huang Zixia deliberately fell behind, asking Jinnu, who was still rubbing her hands: “Miss Jinnu, when would be convenient for me to pay you a visit?”

“Oh, Public Servant Yang, are you interested in the pipa too?” Though knowing she was a eunuch, Jinnu still habitually gave her a flirtatious glance, light and soft.

Huang Zixia said, “I just have some matters to inquire about.”

“About my master?” she asked.

Huang Zixia had no interest in her master at all, just smiled and said, “Naturally, it’s about… your former sisters who admired Prince Kui.”

“That’s fine, but why not have Prince Kui come to ask himself? I’ll point out which sisters admired him.” Jinnu blew on her hands, then smiled, “Well, I must go now.”

“Miss Jinnu.” Huang Zixia had to stop her, asking in a low voice, “That day in Penglai Hall, you said something that greatly intrigued me…”

“What?” Jinnu looked at her with an innocent and pure expression.

“You said the Princess Consort shouldn’t be… her.” Huang Zixia whispered in her ear, her voice extremely low but each word distinct and clear.