Two days later, huge chaos descended upon the palace as if a tank of gasoline had been poured and lit with a match. There were uproars among not only the palace staff but also amongst the nobles and aristocrats.
A dead concubine's body was found in a well.
After the investigators pulled the body out, it was found that the corpse's entire body had been shrivelled and blue with her eyes and mouth uncannily hanging wide open. The inner court's investigation department had soon identified the body belonging to Concubine Jiang.
What was even more suspicious was that, earlier in the morning in front of all the court, His Majesty announced that Concubine Jiang was guilty of an attempt to kill an imperial heir, Fifth Prince Tian Junli. That very afternoon, a maid who was about to fetch water from the well found a body drowned inside.
It was unknown how long Concubine Jiang had been submerged underwater but although the cause of death was candidly by hypoxemia, it was not through drowning. It was by strangulation. The coroners in charge had identified an inconspicuous dark red line running along the folds of her neck during the body's examination and the remnant of a rope stood out from the paleness of her skin.
*********************
In Penglai Pavilion, Concubine Zhou was embroidering a lotus flower into a handkerchief while little Junli played with his rattle drum. Every now and then, the room would be filled with rattling sounds and mirthful laughter.
A folded piece of paper and a silk envelope with an unaddressed recipient sat on the tableside. The brush was still wet and left to dry on its' rack.
Feng Mian made her way inside the room.
"Niangniang, Noble Consort Wei is here," she announced.
The half-finished handkerchief was swiftly stored into a vermillion box and Concubine Zhou called for the Noble Consort to be invited in. She wondered what could have warranted the surprise visit, apart from that time when she went into labour, the two have seldom crossed paths. Zhou Yunqi stood up from her chair and made a proper bow.
"Greetings, Noble Consort Wei."
"You can stay seated Zhou meimei." Noble Consort Wei excused the formality with a wave.
A servant brought out a chair for Noble Consort Wei and she sat with no reservations. Hot tea was served shortly after.
"Bengong has heard about the incident with Concubine Jiang. It is said that she tried to poison the Fifth Prince and committed suicide, but there was evidence suggesting homicide."
Concubine Zhou raised an eyebrow. 'So she came for this matter?'
"Yes, meimei has heard."
"But bengong also knows that the one who gave the poison was a former servant in bengong's palace. Bengong is not stupid and knows that we are also a prime suspect. Zhou meimei must also have her doubts?" Consort Wei laid all her cards on the table.
Concubine Zhou was mildly surprised by her candidness. "Meimei knows that meimei is indebted to Noble Consort Zhou for a life-saving grace. If Wei jiejie wanted to harm meimei's son, jiejie wouldn't have helped meimei the other day."
It wasn't known whether Concubine Zhou was truly speaking from her heart, but Noble Consort Zhou decided to take it at face value. In the harem, no one is truly innocent, but she didn't want to make an enemy out of somebody if she didn't have to.
"It's good that meimei thinks that way. But bengong has something else to say."
"Jiejie, please speak your mind."
"Concubine Jiang is frankly, well… arrogant and loathsome. She's also prone to jealousy. But bengong has known her for a long time and if anything, she is also a coward."
"Jiejie… what are you suggesting?"
"It wasn't her. Well, not all of it was her idea anyway. This Concubine Jiang is extremely susceptible to outside influence. She's merely a scapegoat. With a prince of her own, it's also easy to pin an alibi on her."
Concubine Zhou considered her words carefully. Noble Consort Wei continued on, "And it wasn't just that one maid, there was also an imperial physician involved. Concubine Jiang's hands can't reach that far, no matter how hard she may try."
"The only one person who's opinions that can have enough weight to move Concubine Jiang to act… I'm sure meimei knows best, right?"
"Jiejie, this----"
"You don't have to tell this concubine anything. Bengong knows that the most useless thing in the harem is affection. It's good enough that others don't invite trouble for bengong. If the emperor hadn't implicated bengong, bengong also wouldn't have bothered investigating this matter and explain to meimei." There was a hidden sharpness in Noble Consort Wei's eyes that did not escape their eyes.
Feng Mian: 'So straightforward. She likes this Noble Consort's style!'
"Anyways, in the future don't find bengong to settle old matters with. Bengong has said all there is to say. Bengong has something to handle now, you don't have to see bengong out."
Noble Consort Wei dusted her fur rabbit cloak and walked out. She stopped in front Feng Mian and glanced sideways so that their eyes would meet.
"You're quite a clever one aren't you?"
Feng Mian smiled goofily, and in order to not drop her favourability index, complimented unabashedly. "Today, Noble Consort Wei is like the moon goddess Chang'e. Niangniang's outside radiance is truly a reflection of the inside."
President Feng had once told her that no matter how angry someone is, they cannot hit a smiling person. Sure enough, Noble Consort Wei huffed in feigned anger but did not pursue the matter. Wei and her entourage made a straight beeline towards the Yonghe Palace.
System 555: "You sure know how to compliment people."
Feng Mian: "This Noble Consort Wei is the same species as that Hao Junlin. Why do you think he agreed to share the same living space ba?"
System 555: "It wasn't because you blackmailed him, right?"
Feng Mian: "Of course not. I just told him he was good looking, the best looking male specimen in the whole of China. Having lived with him for some time, this sister can already spot a narcissist at a glimpse."
It was only a few minutes after the Noble Consort left, but the Penglai Pavilion had another distinguished visitor.
Eunuch Zheng announced loudly, "The emperor has arrived!"
A new tea had to be brewed for the emperor as he sat on the guest's seat. Feng Mian really didn't want to look at the face of this cheap father who can murder his own wife without batting an eye.
"Zhen has heard of what happened. How is beloved doing these days?"
Concubine Zhou was an old horse who didn't lose to the emperor in terms of acting. "This concubine feels a bit uneasy. To think that someone was trying to kill this concubine's son, this concubine cannot rest or sleep easy."
Emperor Tai Ke's voice softened. "Don't be disheartened beloved, the perpetrator is already captured. Rest easy, zhen won't let this happen again."
Feng Mian: 'Tsk, a murderer AND a liar.'
"En. This concubine will trust Your Majesty on this matter." A man liked the feeling of being relied on the most, and Emperor Tai Ke, whose sweetheart had finally spoken more than three sentences to him, cannot help but feel elated.
He grinned enthusiastically. "Good! Speak of the Fifth Prince, where is he? Zhen hasn't had the chance to see him in a long time."
Concubine Zhou glanced at the sun that indicated the time for lunch and informed, "The little prince is eating right now Your Majesty."
"It'll be fine. Zhen only wants to see him for a little while. Bring him here," Emperor Tai Ke ordered.
Concubine Zhou could only consent. "Wan Mei, bring the little Junli here."
Feng Mian was stubborn about not wanting this cheap father near little Junli and didn't trust that the emperor would not do anything to the baby given his poor record. So she lied through her teeth.
"Niangniang, the little prince is asleep right now."
The emperor showed a perplexed look. "Didn't you say he was eating?"
"He's eating while sleeping."
"........"
Did his son have that kind of talent?
In the end, the time was late and there were memorials he had to look over so Emperor Tai Ke left without having seen the Fifth prince. But before he and Eunuch Zheng departed for the study hall, the emperor had left a gift atop the vermillion table. A golden cage that confined a beautiful Horned Sungem bird.