Noble Consort Wen had specially chosen a dignified color, a dark purple Ruyi cloud-patterned overcoat, and the white jade hairpin on her head was also standard. She had specifically waited in a side chamber of Xingqing Hall after breakfast.
Empress Dowager Yan Ping, having fasted and prayed for seven days, had just returned from Qiandao Temple. Due to the stable condition of the illness of Nanzheng State's royal brother, his diet had also normalized in the past two days, and he had even gotten out of bed yesterday, which was a better condition than before.
"This matter, Your Majesty, I dare not decide on my own, so I can only come to seek your opinion." Noble Consort Wen took the teacup from the palace maid's hands and respectfully handed it over, slowly speaking out the situation but not daring to reveal everything. She only mentioned that a eunuch from her palace had suddenly disappeared and was found in Xingqing Hall.
Empress Dowager Yan Ping, Xiao Heyu from the Xiao Family of Lanling in Nanzheng, belongs to a family that was a key pillar in the state and one of the most prestigious clans in Nanzheng. However, the descendants dwindled, leaving only two brothers in the generation of the Empress Dowager's father—Xiao Yongwang and Xiao Yongping. Xiao Yongwang had a son and a daughter, Empress Dowager Xiao Heyu and her sibling brother Xiao Luo, who inherited the Xiao noble title and was known as Duke of Xiao. Xiao Yongping had only one daughter, Xiao Huayue, the current Empress of Nanzheng State.
Empress Dowager Yan Ping glanced at Noble Consort Wen. Although Noble Consort Wen was not particularly likable, the Empress Dowager didn't wish to interfere with the affairs of the harem, thus she needed a reliable person.
"Noble Consort Wen, from the looks of it, it seems you have found solid evidence?" Empress Dowager Yan Ping glanced at Noble Consort Wen, who suppressed her urgency, as this was not a matter to be rushed. The other party was the offspring of Prince Duan, although not favored, still a legitimate Commandery Princess. However, Noble Consort Wen knew that Princess Chao Ren was a thorn in the Empress Dowager's side.
As long as the Empress Dowager was involved with Princess Chao Ren, her aim would be half achieved.
Noble Consort Wen glanced at Kang Ning.
"Bring the person in."
Hong Chou was brought in by two nannies, her face pale and terrified, daring neither to struggle nor to flee, and she trembled as she knelt down.
"To report back to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and Noble Consort, on the day after the heavy snow, I went to the Imperial Garden to gather some flowers. Eunuch Yu told me that there were still intact flowers in the southeast corner, and I followed Eunuch Yu near the east gate of Xingqing Hall when I encountered several strange palace maids and eunuchs, along with their master who was dressed lavishly. I didn't recognize them and thought they were one of the noble consorts; just as I was about to speak, they suddenly attacked and killed Eunuch Yu…" Hong Chou stutteringly spoke, "Seeing that the situation was wrong, I quickly fled…"
Empress Dowager Yan Ping narrowed her eyes. It wasn't that she didn't believe it, but in her memory, the one from Qishun Building wouldn't dare to be so bold. The last time she had seen him, he was in a disheveled state from falling into the river, not necessarily cowardly, but never had he left Qishun Building, so how could such daring arise.
However, as Fu Xun said, she was just a girl; she always had to leave a way out for Prince Duan.
"Since you saw it, why are you only speaking up now?"
Hong Chou was immediately panicked, knowing that any wrong word could cost her life, and she immediately kowtowed.
"I am faint-hearted, I fell ill upon returning, but every word I have said is true."
"Empress, it was the other palace maids from Bushou Palace who heard this nonsense and reported it to us; only then did we learn about this matter," Noble Consort Wen followed with an explanation. "Moreover, we had a disciple of Chang Zhen personally visit the site. We have now found where the corpse is, but the place…" Noble Consort Wen was not in a hurry, as he had already had someone watch over the place, and nothing had been disturbed yet, just waiting for the Empress Dowager to personally visit.
"Then let's have a look," said Empress Dowager Yan Ping indifferently, well accustomed to the machinations within the palace and since they hadn't succeeded, what was there to hope for finding any more clues?
…
"Cousin, open the door, please." The knocking on the gate of Qishun Building had been continuing for a while.
Xing Yu hesitated, having knocked for a good while, but since the Crown Prince had already been here, she couldn't let the Fourth Prince in.
"My Lady, the Fourth Prince is still refusing to leave," Nian Xia thought about it and still came in to convey the message, continuing to knock wasn't a solution.
Zheng Nianru sketched the pattern in her hand; Xue Liu's embroidery was the best, planning to have her learn clothing making. It wouldn't do if, after leaving the Crown Prince, she had to make do without proper clothing.
"Commandery Princess, the Fourth Prince seems to have something urgent," Nanny Yun also came in. That lad at the door was blurting out something incoherently, yet a few words reached Nanny Yun's ears, which she quietly repeated in front of Zheng Nianru.
Zheng Nianru looked up after listening.
"A mage from Qiandao Temple?" she said; she always felt that her fate clashed with Qiandao Temple, as she could never seem to escape these people.
"The Fourth Prince said that Master Chang Zhen's search had led him here."
Zheng Nianru stood up and walked outside.
"Cousin, you finally opened the door. Hurry and check if there's anything in the dry well outside your courtyard," Zheng Haoyuan quickly pointed towards the northwest of Qishun Building. He had coerced the truth out of two eunuchs.
"There are dead bodies," Zheng Nianru truthfully stated. She hadn't inquired how Xing Yu and the others had handled the bodies, but they didn't keep it from her either; besides, Qishun Building was secluded as expected, and Xing Yu, as usual, had thrown the bodies into the dry well.
"There really are dead bodies?" Zheng Haoyuan was shocked. Did his cousin kill those servants? They must have deserved it.
"Cousin, I'm not joking with you. My mother consort has already informed the Empress Dowager." By now, the Empress Dowager must have known.
Zheng Nianru didn't move; Nanny Yun and Fu Dong, Nian Xia, and the others were getting anxious. Xue Liu and Xing Yu immediately left the room.
"Fourth Prince, please visit some other day. We are very busy today," Nanny Yun hastily shooed him away.
"Since you're here," said Zheng Nianru indifferently. The Empress Dowager was extremely reluctant to see her. Kill her? The Empress Dowager wouldn't dare. Give her the cold shoulder? She had been cold for many years anyway; Zheng Nianru remembered the years of starvation and cold in her two lifetimes. Could it get any worse than that?
"Fu Gong." Just as Zheng Haoyuan was about to leave, Zheng Nianru called out to stop him.
"Cousin, do you need help?"
"Yes, come here," Zheng Nianru beckoned. This situation hadn't arisen in her previous life, and in this life, she had intended to avoid any connection with the Crown Prince. It was time to make some preparations.
"Fu Dong, Nian Xia, work faster," urged Nanny Yun as she looked outside, growing anxious.
Xue Liu and Xing Yu hurried back.
"What happened? Is it taken care of?" Nanny Yun looked at them, confused. That was too fast; the trip there and back didn't allow for such speed.
"Nanny, the area is surrounded; we couldn't get in," Xue Liu said, looking pale.
"Forget it for now, let's go that way," Nanny Yun hurriedly led Zheng Nianru away from Qishun Building, passing a sparsely populated garden. From the front, Qishun Building appeared dilapidated, with broken windows, doors, and staircases. The furniture inside was also damaged.
The Empress Dowager naturally disdained entering such a place. The nannies had only ever seen the decrepit front of Qishun Building and had never once stepped inside.
By now, Nanny Yun had dressed Zheng Nianru in an exceedingly plain outfit, inferior even to that of an ordinary palace maid.
"Commandery Princess." Just then, a few nannies from the Empress Dowager's chambers entered through the main gate of Qishun Building. They glanced at the scene inside the courtyard before their gaze settled on Zheng Nianru.
They still remembered her somewhat.
"Commandery Princess, peace be upon you. The Empress Dowager requests your presence," said Nanny Lin coldly.
Nanny Yun anxiously glanced at her own princess. Zheng Nianru looked back at Nanny Yun. What's there to panic about? Just because there are bodies here doesn't mean they killed them, does it?
Those dead can't speak. Just because they died in that well doesn't mean they did it, does it?