They left Yongchun Hall and mounted their horses, exiting the Great Ming Palace through a side gate. As they were about to reach the Prince of Kui’s mansion, Li Shubai suddenly asked, “So, we can now confirm that the corpse in Yongchun Hall was Jin Nu?”

Her voice was light: “Yes, we can confirm it.”

“What about this newly discovered corpse?”

“I have a pretty good idea about that too.” She spoke confidently, turning to look at him, saying, “All of this began three years ago when you saved those two young women in Xuzhou.”

Li Shubai halted Di’e, standing in the early summer weather, lost in thought for a long while without speaking.

After a long time, he finally raised an eyebrow slightly, turning to look at Huang Zixia with deep, distant eyes, asking softly, “Could it be… that person?”

Huang Zixia nodded, saying, “Besides them, no one else had the opportunity.”

Li Shubai frowned slightly, saying, “If that’s truly the case, this will cause another storm for the Tang court.”

“It’s nothing, hasn’t our dynasty always been tolerant?” Huang Zixia sighed deeply, speaking slowly.

Li Shubai pondered for a long while, saying, “If I were to persuade you to let this go, what would you think?”

Huang Zixia remained silent, biting her lower lip as she looked at him, saying, “This matter began because of you – if you want to abandon it, I have nothing to say.”

“But… can we just let it end like this?” He sat atop Di’e, gazing at the unreachable sky, letting out a long breath. His gaze was deep and distant, as if trying to reach the farthest point of the sky, to see its deepest scenery, “Burying such a secret – wouldn’t you feel regret?”

“This isn’t about secrets.” Huang Zixia followed his gaze, quietly looking at the sky, saying, “I just want to reveal the truth, to seek justice for Feng Yiniang and Jin Nu who died unjustly, and those beggars who died silently in Chongren Ward.”

Li Shubai remained silent, watching the light between the leaves change bit by bit as another day approached dusk.

He spoke slowly, saying, “Actually, if the mastermind is who we think it is, revealing the culprit might be your best opportunity.”

Huang Zixia widened her eyes in surprise. He turned to look at her, his expression gentle and distant: “I will help you accomplish this. You just need to truthfully reveal everything you know—no matter what, I’ll protect your life.”

She looked up at him slightly. It was sunset now, and Di’e and Feisha had returned to the familiar Prince of Kui’s mansion, happily nuzzling each other’s necks. And they, still mounted, gradually drew closer, almost able to feel each other’s breath.

Huang Zixia instinctively turned Feisha away, creating half a foot of distance between them, saying softly, “Thank you, Your Highness.”

In the sunset, their shadows stretched into two long lines, so close yet always maintaining a gap that couldn’t be bridged.

White funeral banners swayed gently in the rainy weather, paper money fluttered like snowflakes in the courtyard, Taoist priests chanted the Taiping Sutra softly, accompanied by the mourning cries of Xian Yun and others, enveloping the Wang family in an atmosphere of solemnity and sorrow.

When Li Shubai arrived with Huang Zixia, the Wang family’s mourning ceremonies had already begun.

Wang Ruo’s spirit tablet was placed in the center of the memorial hall, with incense, candles, and offerings arranged before it. Although Wang Ruo’s death was sudden, Wang Yun was an extremely capable person who handled matters methodically, and all the funeral rites were arranged orderly despite the rush.

After Li Shubai and Huang Zixia finished offering incense at the memorial, the Wang family members bowed in gratitude. After returning their bow, he said to Wang Yun, “This happened so suddenly, you must have been exhausted these past days.”

Wang Yun wore a plain silk inner garment today with a hemp mourning robe over it, but since the deceased was only a distant cousin he hadn’t been close to since childhood, though his face showed some concern, he didn’t appear particularly grief-stricken, only saying, “It’s my duty.”

In the memorial hall, maids wept, creating a suppressed atmosphere. Li Shubai walked outside with him, standing on the steps under the eaves, asking, “Have her parents and siblings not arrived yet?”

“It happened so suddenly, how could they respond in time? We could only send someone to report the death to her family, letting them come from Langya to receive her.”

Li Shubai asked again, “Have you found a burial site on such short notice?”

“A great-aunt in the clan had previously chosen and prepared a burial plot for herself, now she’s given it to her.”

Li Shubai remained silent, his gaze turning behind to look at the coffin placed at the back of the memorial hall. The visible corner of the black-lacquered coffin was already sealed, clearly not intended for viewing the deceased’s face—such a face indeed didn’t need to be seen.

Standing behind Li Shubai, Huang Zixia clearly sensed that they were both considering how to naturally bring up stopping this corpse from being transported out of the capital.

Just as the two were about to speak, the doorkeeper ran in, breathless, approaching Wang Yun and struggling to speak clearly: “Young… young master! The Emperor and Empress have come to pay their respects.”

Hearing this news, not only Huang Zixia but even Li Shubai was surprised. Though the Empress Wang coming to pay respects to her clan member was understandable, why would the Emperor come?

Only Wang Yun remained composed, clearly having been informed by the palace beforehand.

However, when Huang Zixia saw how the entire Wang household forgot their grief, each person tidying their clothes to welcome the imperial arrival at the gate, with some young clan members even showing joy on their faces, she immediately understood.

No wonder palace rumors said the Emperor was gentle and agreeable, and compared to him, Empress Wang had more authority—whatever the Empress requested, he would grant without opposition. For instance, last time when Empress Wang wanted both the palace guard and two hundred of the Prince of Kui’s guards to protect Wang Ruo in Yongchun Hall, it only took one word for the Emperor to approve. The capital joked that “Today’s Emperor reveres the high, while the Empress favors martial might”—their relationship dynamic was a replica of Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu.

So, even if Empress Wang asked the Emperor to accompany her to the Wang family to pay respects for the sake of the clan’s prestige, it wasn’t a difficult matter, probably just taking one word.

The imperial couple came in plain clothes this time, bringing only dozens of attendants. Both wore plain white silk casual clothes, the Emperor wearing a white gauze cap, and the Empress adorned with pink-white pearl flower ornaments. Her complete plainness only emphasized her ink-black hair, lacquer-dark eyes, and lightly rouge-tinged lips, making her appear like an ethereal immortal from a painting, too beautiful to discern all her features.

The imperial couple entered the memorial hall together. The Empress offered incense to Wang Ruo, while the Emperor briefly questioned Wang Lin, the Minister of Justice, about the case’s progress. Learning there were still no leads, he said displeased, “Such an incident in the Great Ming Palace is unprecedented. As Minister of Justice and a pillar of the Wang family, surely you will give this case extra attention, not letting it become a cold case?”

“Yes, this humble official has been in contact with Lord Cui of the Court of Judicial Review, but currently he is also at a loss,” Wang Lin was the deceased’s relative, and by law couldn’t preside over the case, which was why Cui Chunzhan was in charge.

The Emperor waved his hand dismissing him, then seeing Li Shubai, smiled and gestured for him to come outside.

Huang Zixia followed behind Li Shubai, accompanying the two men outside the memorial hall, feeling much more comfortable away from the smoky environment.

The Emperor said, “Fourth Brother, what are your thoughts on this Wang family matter?”

Li Shubai said, “Fate is unpredictable, timing often surprises us.”

The Emperor looked at him, saying, “In the palace, I’ve heard many rumors saying this relates to Pang Jun and such – what do you think?”

Li Shubai shook his head, “That seems unlikely.”

“Oh? Does Fourth Brother already have a grasp on this case?”

“I’ve been busy with daily matters and haven’t discovered much, but my eunuch Yang Chonggu has some ideas about this,” Li Shubai turned back gesturing, and Huang Zixia quickly bowed.

“Yang Chonggu, isn’t this the young eunuch who solved the Four Directions case in the capital? Being able to clearly and accurately understand such a mysterious case from just a few words – this is truly a talented person!” The Emperor clearly remembered her well, “What discoveries has he made this time?”

“In her view, this matter has extensive connections, spanning from sixteen years ago until now, from Chang’an to Yangzhou, far too complex to summarize in a few words.”

The Emperor’s expression showed slight surprise: “Earlier hearing about Pang Jun’s old subordinates seeking revenge was already quite shocking, but now it seems the implications are even deeper and broader?”

“Yes. Moreover, the mastermind behind this might even affect the court and royal family, involving centuries-old noble families.”

The Emperor gazed at the memorial hall behind him, pondering, slowly saying, “Just the death of one woman, yet behind it lies such enormous implications? We must be careful not to misjudge.”

“Your brother wouldn’t dare,” Li Shubai said.

The Emperor turned back to look at Huang Zixia, his gaze meaningful.

In the memorial hall, smoke curled through the air amid the mourning.

The twenty-four Taoist priests had finished their one hundred and eight recitations of the Taiping Sutra. The chief priest, holding a peach wood sword in his right hand and gently shaking a golden bell in his left, gave a long command: “In the darkness of earth and sky, by decree of the Five Emperors, commanding rain and thunder, spirits, and ghosts obey. Begin the journey now, traverse the homeland roads, all grievances resolved, bloodshed dispersed, blue lotus wisdom fixed, soul eternally at peace. Let it be so by command.”

Eight strong servants waiting nearby responded in unison, approaching with hemp ropes to bind the coffin and carry it out the main gate.

“Wait.”

A voice rang out in the hall, not loud but everyone recognized its source. In the silence, all eyes gathered on Li Shubai. Out of reverence for him, the sparse voices immediately ceased.

He walked into the memorial hall, lightly stroking the coffin twice, then took out a white jade bracelet inlaid with gold from his sleeve, saying, “This was meant to be part of the Princess Consort’s wedding jewelry, who could have known Wang Ruo would fall victim to jealousy, perishing amid heavy guards. This matter is extremely strange, and clearly beyond human capability. I deeply know Wang Ruo suffered because of me, harmed by Pang Jun’s ghost. Therefore, this bracelet should accompany her to the underworld, letting everyone know that although Wang Ruo never became my wife in life, I still wish to give her this promise in death!”

Everyone present was stunned, never expecting this Prince of Kui Li Shubai, rumored to be cold and unfeeling in the capital, would show such deep sentiment for his deceased bride-to-be.

Wang Lin quickly said, “Thank you for your profound love, Prince of Kui, the Wang clan of Langya is deeply grateful! We’ll open the coffin now…”

“The Prince’s sentiment is truly moving,” another voice slowly interrupted Wang Lin’s words, that voice gentle and rich, making people feel as if bathed in spring breeze just like its owner. It was Wang Yun who had emerged from the crowd, bowing to Li Shubai, saying, “However, A’Ruo’s body is now in no state to wear Your Highness’s gold and jade bracelet.”

Li Shubai said coolly, “That’s why I chose this piece from the set of jewelry, the gold clasp can be undone, it should be possible to put it on.”

He separated the bracelet into three sections, handing it to Huang Zixia: “I remember Wang Ruo as a beauty like peach and plum blossoms, I don’t wish to see her current appearance.”

Huang Zixia’s lips twitched slightly – it seemed the heavy task of touching the female corpse’s hand had ultimately fallen to her.

But seeing the hall completely quiet, and Wang Yun no longer stubbornly opposed, several servants lifted the coffin lid, moving it to create a foot-long gap for Huang Zixia to reach in.

Huang Zixia held the gold-inlaid jade bracelet, holding her breath as she reached inside, then grasped the woman’s badly decomposed hand.

In early summer, the corpse had begun to rot slightly, feeling like mud to the touch. She gritted her teeth, grabbed the half-rotted, sticky wrist, and turned to Li Shubai saying, “Your Highness, your servant has something to say.”