“Girl Mo Zi, enough. Lest you think I’m being unreasonable and arbitrarily finding fault with you. You may leave your residence, but absolutely cannot exit the city gates again. Otherwise, I’ll have your head. Understand?” Calling her “girl” meant the Emperor was softening.
Mo Zi had many opinions in her heart, but didn’t voice a single one. She kowtowed in gratitude instead.
“After you two leave the palace gates, my Crown Prince died boldly and courageously, caring for his soldiers. Understood?” No matter how useless his son was, he was still this Emperor’s offspring—appearances absolutely had to be maintained.
Mo Zi and Xiao Wei said yes in unison. Just as they were about to take their leave, they heard Eunuch Liu Ning’s urgent voice outside the Imperial Study.
“Empress, Your Majesty, His Majesty is currently speaking with Young General Xiao and the others. He ordered that he not be disturbed.”
But footsteps rushed forward, the door was already pushed open. Two palace maids hastily retreated as the Empress burst in frantically. The pearl pendants on her phoenix hairpin swayed violently, the golden phoenix wings trembled precariously askew, her face deathly pale. Only her rouged lips were vivid, which made her distraught fury even more apparent.
“Your Majesty, I heard an absurd rumor. Please immediately find and severely punish whoever is spreading lies—how dare they fabricate falsehoods about Xu’er’s death? What are their intentions?”
Wu Linxu was the Crown Prince’s name. His birth mother was a lowly palace maid. Because the Empress had no children, she had always raised him at her side as her own son. The reason he was established as Crown Prince was also because of the Empress.
It was said this Empress Wang was gentle and virtuous. Though she was actually two years older than the Emperor, and her beauty had faded, her good temperament and great bearing, her intelligence and learning meant the Emperor still regarded her as an excellent companion and sometimes consulted her on major court matters. What was admirable was that Empress Wang didn’t use this to interfere in court politics, point fingers, or ever seek private benefits for the Wang family. She was very mindful of propriety.
After meeting her twice, Mo Zi found the Empress displayed more the appearance of a mother—toward the princesses, toward the Crown Prince—caring deeply for them. It was hard to imagine she would participate in state affairs.
“Empress.” The Emperor wanted to say it was true, but didn’t know how to begin.
Just then, the Empress glanced sideways and saw the body lying in the inner chamber. She couldn’t help but tremble as she walked toward it with difficulty.
“Empress, don’t look.” The Emperor stepped forward to hold her back, saying painfully, “The Crown Prince has indeed died.”
The Empress wouldn’t listen. She stubbornly shook off his hand and walked to the Crown Prince’s corpse. Unexpectedly, not only did she not scream—she couldn’t speak at all.
Mo Zi was the first to notice something wrong. Not caring about propriety anymore, she rushed behind her. “Empress!”
The Empress fell backward stiffly. Mo Zi caught her perfectly—she had indeed fainted dead away.
The Emperor was greatly alarmed and hastily called for Liu Ning to summon the imperial physicians.
“You two may withdraw. I’m afraid after the Empress awakens and learns you were present, she’ll question endlessly. And though her temperament is good, when it comes to her children she often loses her composure. Alas—a doting mother often ruins her children. I should have disciplined the Crown Prince more.” The Emperor dismissed Mo Zi and Xiao Wei.
“Does the Empress dote on the Crown Prince very much?” Mo Zi asked.
“The Empress treats the Crown Prince as her own flesh and blood. From the time the Crown Prince was small, she personally raised him, selected teachers and study companions for him, arranged everything thoughtfully. His Majesty also established the Crown Prince in consideration of everything the Empress devoted to this. I heard the First and Second Princesses once complained to His Majesty that the Empress was partial, only loving the Crown Prince and not them.
When I was young and accompanied the Crown Prince in martial training, the Empress came almost daily to inquire after his well-being. Therefore, the Crown Prince was also very good to the Empress, just like true mother and son.” Speaking to this point, Xiao Wei frowned.
“What is it?” Mo Zi happened to see this.
“Nothing. It’s just that His Majesty said the Empress was a doting mother who ruined her child—I feel that’s going too far. Though the Empress spoiled the Crown Prince, she hired the best teachers for him. If there were any flattering sycophants around him, she would definitely have them replaced. That the Crown Prince became what he was today was not Empress’s fault.” Xiao Wei exhaled deeply.
“How the Crown Prince was yesterday or today—I don’t care. However, General Xiao, today you’ve truly opened my eyes. You even dare speak ill of His Majesty.” Ice three feet thick doesn’t form in a single day. Xiao Wei had dealt with her too long—the power of this breakthrough was immense.
Xiao Wei couldn’t help feeling awkward. “I wouldn’t call it speaking ill—just discussing the facts objectively.”
“What fine ‘discussing the facts objectively.'” That was the budding of self-awareness under imperial authority. Of course, she wouldn’t say this aloud.
At this moment, Ding Gou and Zan Jin appeared at the other end. Mo Zi had them watch the Eastern Palace, especially Eunuch Zhong’s movements.
That Mingmei was Consort Xiang’s person—knowing this much was enough. Keeping her alive wouldn’t yield any information, so better to use her as bait. Therefore, when Mo Zi said it was enough, she was giving Xiao Wei a hint. By now, Mo Zi would no longer be lenient toward Consort Xiang’s retaliation and schemes.
“Looks like there’s news.” For this surprise attack on the Eastern Palace using a ruse, Xiao Wei hadn’t brought his own people. He was having Shi Lei filter through the roster of those trusted subordinate soldiers to see if any spies had infiltrated, so at this stage he preferred to trust Mo Zi and her people.
Seeing Xiao Wei was still there, Ding Gou’s mouth twisted slightly, but he could distinguish what mattered. “Brother Mo, bad news.”
Zan Jin continued, “Eunuch Zhong is dead.”
“How did he die?” Xiao Wei asked urgently.
But Ding Gou looked at Mo Zi.
Mo Zi said, “That’s not really bad news. I had you watch him. Now that he’s dead, you have a chance to see the killer or other clues.”
Ding Gou seemed to have been waiting for her to say this so he could contradict her. “We two neither saw the killer nor noticed any clues. The old eunuch committed suicide.”
“Could it be that seeing Mingmei dead, he feared he was also exposed, so he took his own life?” Ding Gou’s cold face no longer affected Xiao Wei. He’d discovered that gaining everyone’s high regard was very difficult—might as well be more casual, more indifferent.
“Zan Jin, you tell it. This fellow just loves to oppose me and waste my mental energy, which I can’t afford to waste right now.” Mo Zi gave Ding Gou a look.
“Following Brother Mo’s instructions, we watched outside the Eastern Palace for about an hour when Eunuch Zhong emerged alone and walked westward. He deliberately chose secluded paths and was very cautious, constantly checking if anyone was following him. We two thought Brother Mo had guessed right—he was indeed going to tip someone off. But then, as he walked, he suddenly stopped.”
“I thought he’d discovered we were tailing him, even thought he was a martial artist, thinking I’d misjudged him.” Ding Gou inserted a comment. Zan Jin glanced at him, and he immediately shut his mouth.
“But he didn’t look back. He stood in place for quite a while, then crouched down, lowered his neck, pushed his arm upward, and collapsed without rising again. Ding Gou and I feared he was feigning, so we didn’t approach until we saw blood flowing from his head area—only then did we know he’d committed suicide. Going forward to confirm, a dagger was lodged in his throat. He had already expired.” Zan Jin finished.
“How strange! On the road, did Eunuch Zhong encounter anyone, or was there anything that seemed unusual?” After his surprise, Xiao Wei asked for more details.
With Mo Zi’s tacit approval, Zan Jin replied, “I don’t know why, but he went more and more off the beaten path and encountered no one. Before he stopped walking, there was nothing unusual either.”
“More talk is useless. Let’s go look.” Mo Zi looked at Xiao Wei. “Didn’t you receive His Majesty’s orders to investigate?”
Xiao Wei nodded. “Come with me.”
Mo Zi was completely unceremonious. “You don’t need to tell me—I was going anyway. Since Zan Jin and Ding Gou witnessed the incident, they must serve as corroborating witnesses. In that case, I, the one who ordered them to follow Eunuch Zhong, must go to the crime scene.”
Xiao Wei smiled, making the upright angles of his face soften. “I just wanted to ask for your help, yet you make it sound like you’re trying to clear yourself of suspicion.”
Hearing Xiao Wei ask for help, Ding Gou’s jaw nearly dropped. As Xiao Wei and Mo Zi walked ahead, he pushed Zan Jin. “That kid’s done for, completely done for.”
Arriving at the place where Eunuch Zhong died, the flower beds on both sides had no flowers, the trees were small with crooked branches and sparse leaves. One side had a corridor wall, the other an enclosing wall. Inside the wall protruded a corner of a low flying eave, its dragon-spitting-pearl carved pattern already dilapidated and broken. The sun struggled to hang on the screen wall ahead but was still helplessly sinking, only able to lengthen every shadow, leaving a final memorial. The drafting wind whooshed straight through, competing to see which gust was strongest, able to blow people’s hair into a frenzy, then wailing wildly.
Mo Zi couldn’t help rubbing her arms. “This place really is remote. It’s clearly spring and summer, yet it makes one feel like winter—so chilly.”
“This is the Cold Palace.” After Xiao Wei spoke, he stepped forward to examine Eunuch Zhong’s corpse.
The person was kneeling and prostrate on the brick path, face turned to one side. Blood had been absorbed firmly into the ground, forming eerie dark traces. At the back of his neck protruded something silver and sharp—when this blade went in, there was resentment and unwillingness, but absolutely no hesitation.
In Mo Zi’s mind, the Cold Palace had the label of a must-see palace attraction. Now truly standing here, because of Eunuch Zhong’s death, it added even more desolate and tragic color—this trip was absolutely worthwhile.
“Could it be related to some fallen consort in the Cold Palace?” It seemed natural to connect Eunuch Zhong with the people inside the wall.
“The Cold Palace is empty.” Xiao Wei said.
“How can the Cold Palace have no one?” Her expectations were dashed. The scenery was still that scenery—it just lacked human presence and had become mere decoration.
Xiao Wei raised his sword-like eyebrows. “You seem quite disappointed there’s no one inside. After the Late Emperor passed, the Grand Empress Dowager was benevolent and allowed several dowager consorts who had borne sons to go with the princes to their fiefdoms. The remaining ones were granted separate residences to live near her. Since His Majesty ascended the throne, the harem hasn’t been abundant either, and with the wise and virtuous Empress Wang managing it, there haven’t been any consorts who committed grave errors requiring imprisonment in the Cold Palace. So the Cold Palace has stood empty for many years.”
“Great Zhou really did have times of peace and prosperity.” Mo Zi sighed.
Xiao Wei wanted to refute this. He opened his mouth but ultimately had nothing to say. Today, the Crown Prince was shot dead by Daqiu people, assassins reached the Emperor himself—even if he argued with Mo Zi, it would just be self-deception and asking for humiliation. Dark clouds covered the land—verbal bravado couldn’t deny that.
At this moment, he saw Mo Zi crouching before Eunuch Zhong’s corpse, even getting quite close. “You’re no longer afraid of dead people?” She used to very much resist others’ deaths.
“I can already kill people—have you forgotten?” Mo Zi propped up her chin, frowning as she examined Eunuch Zhong’s posture.
“Zan Jin, Ding Gou, are you certain no one had any contact with Eunuch Zhong, even distant eye contact?” After looking for quite a while, she stood up.
“Certain.” Both said simultaneously.
“Then what about animals? Like birds or dogs or something?” Mo Zi exercised her “logical deduction” ability.
The two looked at each other, then shook their heads again.
Ding Gou wanted to laugh but didn’t dare.