Li Rong froze. After a moment, she said cautiously: “You mean… it’s not accurate?”
“Completely inaccurate.” Pei Wenxuan said directly. “I tested it. As long as it’s skeletal bone, any blood you drip will merge in.”
“You’re certain?”
“Do you remember in the previous life, there was a ghost ship case?” Pei Wenxuan began.
Li Rong thought for a moment and nodded: “I remember, I have that impression. They said a ship docked at the shore with nothing but skeletal corpses on it. They said ghosts were seeking their relatives, that they had returned on their own.”
“At that time I happened to be doing coastal inspections. When I heard about this case, I went to look. That ship had departed from the town before and later disappeared. Many years later it returned with all the people on board turned to bones. Relatives rushed over to identify them, and could only rely on blood verification methods. As a result, anyone on the scene who dripped blood, it would go in. I went to look and felt something was wrong, so I randomly dripped some too, and discovered I had also recognized a relative.”
Pei Wenxuan smiled: “So after that I stopped believing in this. Just now to put my mind at ease, I verified it again myself. Rest assured, when Qin Lin comes to drip blood, the blood will definitely merge in.”
Hearing this, Li Rong felt relieved. She thought for a moment, then suddenly remembered: “I’m saying, where did you learn all these strange and bizarre things? That egg from before…”
Hearing Li Rong’s words, Pei Wenxuan propped his head up and smiled: “Does Your Highness admire this subject even more now?”
“Forget it.” Li Rong immediately changed her tune. “Heretical crooked ways. You better not speak of it outside. I’m afraid someone might alarm His Majesty, invite a national master, and burn you in a fire as an evil spirit.”
As Li Rong spoke, she stood up to wash her hands. Before she had finished washing them, Jing Lan walked in, saying calmly: “Your Highness, people from the Ministry of Justice have arrived.”
Li Rong nodded, not finding it strange. Pei Wenxuan stood up, saying calmly: “Your Highness should rest. I’ll go.”
Li Rong acknowledged. Pei Wenxuan led people out.
After Pei Wenxuan left, Jing Lan stepped forward, somewhat worried: “Your Highness, the Eastern Palace still hasn’t replied. If they want to examine the corpse…”
“It’s fine, don’t worry.” Li Rong waved her hand, smiling: “It’s not a big matter.”
Jing Lan was stunned, but seeing Li Rong so composed, she said no more.
Pei Wenxuan led people outside. As soon as he stepped out the door, he saw the entrance brightly lit. Upon seeing who had come, Pei Wenxuan smiled, raising his hand: “Oh, Vice Minister Su, you’ve come again?”
“I’ve come under orders.”
Su Rongqing’s expression was stable: “I hope to see Her Highness.”
“Late at night—don’t disturb Her Highness. Whatever you need to say, just say it to me.”
“Does the Prince Consort know that Qin Zhenzhen has come back from the dead?” Su Rongqing stared at Pei Wenxuan. “This official has come under orders to inquire with Her Highness about Qin Zhenzhen’s burial matters.”
“Back from the dead?” Pei Wenxuan showed a surprised expression. “Such a strange occurrence actually exists?”
“Precisely because it’s too bizarre, this official came especially to inquire with Her Highness.”
“This matter is indeed very strange,” Pei Wenxuan nodded, then looked up, “but what does it have to do with our Highness?”
“But Qin Zhenzhen’s burial was handled entirely by Her Highness…” An attendant beside them couldn’t help but speak up. Upon hearing this, Pei Wenxuan laughed.
“So is she actually dead or alive?” Pei Wenxuan looked at Su Rongqing, asking with complete seriousness. “If she’s dead, Her Highness would avoid such matters before it’s too late. How could you come and offend Her Highness like this? If she’s still alive, then she committed the grave crime of deceiving Her Highness. Vice Minister Su, shouldn’t you hurry and arrest her to apologize to our Highness? What are you still doing here?”
The attendant was confused by Pei Wenxuan’s barrage of questions. Pei Wenxuan brushed his sleeve, chuckling lightly: “Vice Minister Su, this isn’t your first time at the Princess’s manor. Next time, please have your Ministry of Justice send someone else. You keep coming—I’m starting to think you have ulterior motives.”
“Lord Pei, even if it’s just to provide leads, please let us see Her Highness once?”
Seeing Pei Wenxuan’s arrogance, the attendant beside them held back a bellyful of anger. Pei Wenxuan shook his head, only saying: “No.”
“You’re looking for Qin Zhenzhen. Please look for her properly. If you’re looking for a living person, go to the main streets. If you’re looking for a dead person, go to the cemetery. If you think Qin Zhenzhen is in the Princess’s manor, go to the Court of Judicial Review to apply for a search warrant. Without a search warrant, why are you making a scene at the Princess’s manor?”
“Get lost!”
Pei Wenxuan shouted loudly, turned around and walked back, saying to the door: “Close the gate.”
After speaking, Pei Wenxuan went straight back to the room.
Li Rong was eating an early meal. When Pei Wenxuan entered, Li Rong was somewhat surprised, looking up: “That was fast?”
“Mm,” Pei Wenxuan maintained his smile, “they were all insignificant minor characters. I said a few words and they left. Has Your Highness finished eating? Prepare to attend court in a bit. Have you written the memorial?”
Upon hearing about writing memorials, Li Rong felt her head ache a bit. She looked at Pei Wenxuan cautiously: “Um, Pei Wenxuan.”
Pei Wenxuan drank his tea without speaking, pretending not to hear.
Li Rong extended two fingers, tugging at Pei Wenxuan’s sleeve, gently shaking it: “Brother Pei?”
Hearing this address of “brother,” Pei Wenxuan found it exceptionally pleasing. He raised his head, smiling: “What are Your Highness’s orders?”
“I’ve always heard that your literary talent flows freely, that you can dash off memorials with a stroke of your brush. Now it’s getting late, and Qin Zhenzhen’s matter needs an explanation. Look…”
“I understand Your Highness’s meaning.” Pei Wenxuan nodded, looking up at Li Rong. “But if I help Your Highness write the memorial, what benefit do I get?”
“What benefit do you want?”
Pei Wenxuan smiled, leaning his face forward and lightly tapping his cheek with his hand.
“Your Highness?”
Pei Wenxuan smiled: “If you lean forward one more inch, within a quarter hour, this subject will give you the memorial.”
Hearing this, Li Rong also smiled.
“The night is still too short. The Prince Consort hasn’t finished dreaming,” saying this, Li Rong raised her hand and lightly patted Pei Wenxuan’s face, one small slap after another, saying, “Sleep more, hmm?”
After Li Rong finished speaking, she snorted coldly and got up to go to the writing desk herself.
She’d write it herself—what did she have to fear?
Li Rong struggled at the writing desk for a while. Pei Wenxuan just drank tea and ate his early meal, took a book, reading and writing.
By the time Pei Wenxuan finished his meal, it was time to attend court. Li Rong’s memorial still wasn’t finished. She could only steel herself and move to the carriage to continue writing.
Writing memorials required careful word choice and phrasing. Li Rong deliberated over each character. By the time they reached the palace, she still hadn’t finished.
Li Rong gave up, embracing her mostly-written memorial with a hastily-written conclusion in self-abandonment, thinking she’d explain privately to Li Ming in the imperial study. After all, no one else would see it anyway. This would have to do.
Li Rong held the memorial. Pei Wenxuan leisurely followed beside her, occasionally smiling and glancing at her.
Li Rong kept a cold face and ignored him, cursing him in her heart the entire way.
When they reached their positions, Pei Wenxuan accompanied her forward. Li Rong said coldly: “Prince Consort, go where you’re supposed to go. I don’t want to stay with you.”
Pei Wenxuan laughed aloud: “Your Highness has quite a temper.”
Li Rong looked straight ahead, ignoring him. Pei Wenxuan smiled for a moment, then pulled a memorial from his sleeve and stuffed it to Li Rong.
Li Rong raised her hand to knock it away, saying coldly: “Don’t randomly stuff things at me.”
“You don’t want it?”
Pei Wenxuan raised his hand, waving the memorial: “You’re sure you don’t want it?”
Li Rong looked at Pei Wenxuan’s appearance, raised her hand and snatched the memorial away, saying quietly: “Hurry up and leave.”
“Taking my memorial means you owe me.”
Pei Wenxuan turned with a light laugh: “Your Highness, I’m keeping a record.”
Saying this, without giving Li Rong a chance to respond, Pei Wenxuan held his tablet and returned to his own position.
He had a good temperament in court. All the way back, he smiled and greeted people.
Today in court, everyone’s expressions varied. After all, the matter of vengeful spirits killing people was too eerie.
Some didn’t believe it, but more people believed it.
As soon as Pei Wenxuan returned to his position, everyone swarmed up to ask about this matter. Li Rong stood alone to the side—no one dared approach her to inquire about it.
When court began and Li Ming opened by asking about today’s matters, without Li Rong stepping forward, many officials immediately began impeaching Qin Zhenzhen for the murders.
Hearing this, Li Ming frowned tightly: “Such mysterious matters… what do all my beloved ministers think should be done?”
Saying this, Li Ming hesitated: “How about having masters from the Huguo Temple recite sutras before Qin Zhenzhen for three months to dispel the resentment? What do you think?”
At these words, everyone exchanged glances. Having monks come recite sutras to push this case aside—clearly Li Ming wanted to cover up this case.
Xie Lanqing stepped forward, saying respectfully: “Your Majesty, a gentleman does not speak of strange powers and chaotic spirits. The matter of Qin Zhenzhen coming back from the dead still needs detailed investigation. When Miss Qin was put in the coffin, it was entirely handled by Princess Pingle. Whether the person is dead or alive, only Her Highness knows. This old subject believes this matter should be strictly investigated.”
Hearing this, Li Ming paused for a moment, then turned to look at Li Rong: “Pingle, what do you think?”
“Vice Minister Xie puts it this way—if we don’t investigate, wouldn’t this subject be adding a basin of dirty water to myself for nothing? To know whether Qin Zhenzhen is alive or dead is simple. Just open the coffin and examine the corpse, wouldn’t that work?”
“Since Your Highness agrees, that couldn’t be better.”
Xie Lanqing said calmly: “How about we set out right now? The Ministry of Justice has already prepared coroners. Under the supervision of all the ministers, let’s see who exactly is in that coffin.”
“Wait…” Li Chuan urgently spoke up. Before Li Chuan could finish, Li Rong raised her voice: “Excellent, Father Emperor,” Li Rong looked at Li Ming, “what do you think?”
Seeing Li Rong so confident, Li Ming hesitated for a moment, then nodded: “You all go. I’ll wait here for the results.”
Li Rong bowed, then walked down toward Vice Minister Xie, raising her hand: “Vice Minister Xie, please.”
“Your Highness, please.”
After Xie Lanqing finished speaking, he led the ministers together toward the exit. Pei Wenxuan waited for Li Rong. Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan, just the two of them alone, walked out. Li Chuan led people forward, walking beside Li Rong, somewhat anxiously: “Sister, the Ministry of Justice has locked down all the coroners. I couldn’t find anyone. This is terrible.”
Li Rong patted Li Chuan’s hand, saying calmly: “It’s fine. I know what I’m doing.”
“Don’t do anything reckless.” Li Chuan said urgently. “So many people are watching.”
“Crown Prince, rest assured.” Pei Wenxuan smiled. “The Princess has a plan.”
Hearing even Pei Wenxuan say this, Li Chuan looked at the two suspiciously, finally feeling somewhat reassured.
Li Rong’s face showed no fear. Together with Pei Wenxuan, she boarded the carriage. The ministers proceeded in a grand procession toward the outskirts.
Everyone rushed to the outskirts, arriving at Qin Zhenzhen’s cemetery. Xie Lanqing ordered people forward, saying directly: “Dig.”
When the grave diggers put their shovels down, they felt the earth was somewhat soft. They immediately said: “Vice Minister Xie, someone has disturbed this grave.”
Xie Lanqing’s expression didn’t change. He only said: “Continue.”
Li Rong smiled, spinning her fan. Li Chuan’s heart was racing. After a short while, the grave was dug open. The crowd opened the coffin before all the ministers. A corpse’s foul smell emanated. Most people stepped back. Pei Wenxuan gently covered Li Rong’s nose with a handkerchief scented with incense. Li Rong took the handkerchief, glancing at him: “How do you have everything?”
“Knowing we would come, I prepared early.”
Pei Wenxuan spoke quietly. Li Rong nodded.
Xie Lanqing had the coroner step forward. The coroner circled the body once, then put on specially-made gloves and examined the corpse’s bones one by one before everyone.
After the examination, the coroner said respectfully: “Vice Minister Xie, this skeleton’s characteristics basically match Miss Qin’s. It should be Miss Qin.”
“Characteristics can be faked,” Xie Lanqing said calmly. “Verify again.”
The coroner hesitated for a moment, looking toward Qin Lin standing in the crowd beside them: “To verify again, we may need Miss Qin’s blood relative to cooperate.”
Saying this, the coroner bowed to Qin Lin: “I wonder if Lord Qin could step forward and lend a drop of blood?”