Chapter 38

A Strike at the Heart, Framing and Entrapment

Shi Mei, leading her group to the front hall, saw Wang Hua, the head of the constables at the magistrate’s office, waiting there. He quickly approached and bowed, "Wang Hua greets the Princess."

"Constable Wang, there’s no need for such formalities," Shi Mei motioned for him to rise, asking, "I heard that the Commandant was murdered yesterday?"

"Indeed," Wang Hua said gravely. Shi Mei knew this was a difficult situation; Ming Jie was, after all, a royal relative. His death within Wang Hua’s jurisdiction meant he bore some responsibility. Being an official in the capital, especially a lower-ranking one like a constable, was tough. They couldn’t afford to neglect or offend anyone.

"Constable Wang, are you here to investigate the case?" Shi Mei inquired.

"Yes... I wonder, does the Princess have any clues to offer?" Wang Hua asked tactfully, "I heard from the fleeing servants that the murderer was a man in white with a silver blade, highly skilled in martial arts."

Shi Mei frowned slightly and countered, "Didn’t the family members get a good look at the assailant’s face?"

"No," the constable shook his head. "The attacker killed the Commandant without saying a word. It wasn't a robbery; it seemed more like a personal vendetta!" Wang Hua continued, then turning to Shi Mei, he asked, "By the way, Princess, why did Commandant Ming visit the fragrance powder shop at night?"

Shi Mei smiled helplessly, "To be honest, I'm also puzzled. Perhaps the Commandant was being courteous. He had never visited my shop since its opening, and it seems he just happened to pass by and stopped to offer his congratulations. He didn't say anything important, just exchanged a few pleasantries, and after I gifted him an incense burner, he left."

"Oh?" Wang Hua found this somewhat strange and inquired further, "Did Commandant Ming behave inappropriately yesterday?"

Shi Mei shook her head, "I didn’t find anything inappropriate. I’m somewhat acquainted with Commandant Ming. Although we hadn’t met in person, I've heard quite a bit about him. He's known for his humor, so I never take his words too seriously."

Wang Hua raised an eyebrow, glancing at the family servants from Ming's residence.

When these servants reported to the authorities, they mentioned that Ming Jie seemed to have offended the Princess during his visit, and someone from the Bai residence arrived shortly after. Ming Jie left and was assassinated on his way home. There were rumors about Bai She's close relationship with the Princess and his being a skilled swordsman in white, leading to suspicions that Bai She might be the perpetrator.

However, after speaking with Shi Mei, Wang Hua felt a sense of unease. The Princess was not simple; her responses were calculated, leaving no room for doubt or suspicion.

Normally, he might have pressed a commoner with stern questions, but this was the Princess. He wouldn’t dare to be too bold. He pondered that this case might be best handled by someone of higher authority.

As they pondered, the sound of carriages approached from outside, followed by a shrill voice announcing, "Prince Si and his wife have arrived…"

Hongye and Zanyue exchanged a glance, worrying about Qin Xianglian’s unexpected arrival.

Shi Mei, however, was not too surprised. She had anticipated Qin Xianglian's involvement in this matter, and Ming Fu was bound to be a part of it too.

Sure enough, a carriage stopped at the entrance, and Qin Xianglian alighted, followed by Ming Fu, dressed in mourning clothes and weeping.

Seeing this, Red Ye was immediately angered. Their newly opened shop was bustling, still decorated with festive fabrics, and here was Ming Fu in mourning attire. Who would dare to visit the shop now? Ming Jie’s death was unfortunate, but he might have offended many; was this an attempt to vent anger on the fragrance powder shop? The royal household was like a mix of frogs and toads – none of them decent!

Shi Mei, aware of Red Ye's discomfort, gently pulled her aside, signaling her to remain patient.

Red Ye stood aside, biting back her frustration to avoid causing trouble for Shi Mei.

Zan Yue and Shi Mei exchanged a knowing glance, preparing to handle the situation carefully.

Qin Xianglian entered, followed by Luan Jing'er supporting the tearful Ming Fu.

Shi Mei knew that Ming Fu's tears were genuine, after all, he was her elder brother. However, she also understood that Ming Fu probably knew why Ming Jie had visited the fragrance powder shop – to stand up for her.

As Qin Xianglian entered the residence, Shi Mei, who usually greeted him with a formal bow, merely looked at him this time without performing any courtesy.

This, however, was not out of place, considering their similar status.

"Your Highness," Constable Wang promptly bowed upon seeing Qin Xianglian arrive, thinking to himself that it was good to have someone of higher status to deal with the Princess.

Qin Xianglian noticed Shi Mei's expressionless face and felt a sense of unfamiliarity despite not having seen her for just a few days. He realized that his previous memories of Chen Zhi Mei had faded, and this "noble branch and precious leaf" before him was, indeed, a stranger to him.

Shi Mei had already braced herself, expecting Qin Xianglian's visit to be ill-intentioned. Luan Jing'er was likely there to stoke the flames, and Ming Fu undoubtedly bore deep resentment towards her. The trio was bound to cause trouble, and within the fragrance powder shop, no one but Shi Mei herself had the privilege to confront these powerful figures. She knew she had to stand alone in this battle and resolve the matter swiftly.

With this in mind, Shi Mei took Xiao Fu Zi from Xiang Er and said, "You all go about your business; I’ll handle things here."

Everyone was taken aback. Red Ye frowned, but Zan Yue signaled her with a glance. Gritting her teeth, Red Ye followed Zan Yue as they excused themselves and led the other maidservants away.

Xiang Er, worried about Shi Mei, hesitated, but at Shi Mei's raised eyebrow, she reluctantly left.

Zhong Bo, being an elder and also someone from the Empress Dowager's court, stayed. His silent presence lent a sense of authority to the scene.

Once outside the hall, Red Ye started complaining, "What are those people up to, trying to ruin our hard-earned business like this!"

"Exactly, and we just left the Princess to deal with them alone?" the other maidservants also seemed reluctant to leave.

"Don't worry," Zan Yue reassured them, "Mei Zi has her ways! We shouldn't add to her troubles right now."

"Why don't we ask the Empress Dowager for help?!" Xiang Er suggested enthusiastically.

"Right, right!" many maidservants nodded in agreement.

"That won't do."

At that moment, someone leaped down from the roof – it was Aunt Huo.

"Aunt Huo?" Zan Yue and the others were somewhat surprised.

Aunt Huo waved her hand with a smile, "It's not wise to involve the Empress Dowager in this. Don't panic. Let's first see how little Mei Zi handles it."

The maidservants had no choice but to fall silent, hiding behind a screen to listen.

……

Seeing Shi Mei dismiss everyone, Qin Xianglian was somewhat surprised. This move, seemingly weakening her stance, was actually quite clever. With Shi Mei handling the situation alone, it would be inappropriate for him to intervene; otherwise, it would seem like the royal household was bullying her fragrance powder shop.

Shi Mei sat down, and a servant brought tea.

From the back, Zan Yue only had two cups of tea delivered – one for Constable Wang and one for Shi Mei.

Qin Xianglian felt a bit awkward as Shi Mei didn’t invite him to sit. She gently stroked Xiao Fu Zi’s head and asked nonchalantly, "Is Your Highness passing by?"

Qin Xianglian stroked his chin and took a seat on a guest chair, saying, "I’ve come to investigate Ming Jie’s death."

Shi Mei inquired, "Accompanied by both ladies in the investigation?"

Ming Fu glared hatefully at Shi Mei, "I must find my brother’s killer and tear him to pieces."

Shi Mei met her gaze without flinching, nodding, "Yes, nothing is more important than family. It's puzzling why Commandant Ming happened to visit my fragrance powder shop. I was wondering this morning, if he hadn’t come, if he hadn’t passed by that area, would he have escaped this misfortune? The killer is to blame, but so is fate. Why did fate lead the Commandant to my shop out of the blue?"

Shi Mei's words left Ming Fu pale-faced, and Luan Jing'er, who was inherently clever and had initially incited Ming Fu's anger, had not expected Shi Mei to take the initiative and suppress Ming Fu's fury so effectively. Now, with a demon of guilt in her heart, Ming Fu blamed herself for sending her brother to trouble Shi Mei, leading to this tragedy.

Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, Luan Jing'er hurriedly advised Ming Fu, "Don't think about anything else now, Ming Fu. The priority is to catch the murderer and avenge the Commandant!"

Ming Fu suddenly seemed to snap out of her daze, looking up assertively, "Right! Where's Bai She? He must have killed my brother. Make him come out!"

Shi Mei, holding Xiao Fu Zi, looked at Ming Fu with some confusion, "Bai She?"

Constable Wang, noticing the situation, leaned slightly towards Shi Mei in his approach. The scene - three from the royal household against a solitary young lady - could seem like bullying to the Emperor and Empress Dowager. He softly explained to Shi Mei, "The Commandant's servants said the killer was a man in white with a silver blade, highly skilled. So, we also suspect it might be Bai She."

Shi Mei smiled, "If Bai She is suspected, why not inquire at the Bai residence next door instead of coming to my fragrance powder shop?"

"We just came from there, and the doorman said Master Bai is not in."

"Bai She has been away on a long journey for the past half a month," Shi Mei nodded. "He won't be back for some time. You can verify his whereabouts last night. If he was out of town, then it couldn't have been him."

Wang Hua nodded, but Qin Xianglian interjected, "Bai She is highly skilled in martial arts. Even if he was out of town, he could easily make a quick trip."

Shi Mei inwardly chuckled and asked Qin Xianglian, "Your Highness, could he defeat all those skilled servants at the Commandant's residence?"

Qin Xianglian was momentarily taken aback.

Shi Mei then turned her question to the Commandant’s servants, “All of you together, could you defeat His Highness?”

The servants naturally shook their heads in unison, quickly asserting that His Highness’s martial skills were unparalleled. They said that not just them, but even many more added together wouldn’t stand a chance against him.

Shi Mei looked at Qin Xianglian.

Qin Xianglian, already understanding Shi Mei's implication, but given his temperament and status, couldn't possibly admit being inferior to a few servants. Thus, he simply nodded.

Shi Mei turned back to Wang Hua, “Constable Wang, have you ever seen Bai She’s martial arts skills?”

“Ah, haha, Master Bai is one of the top martial artists in the world. If I were to fight him, would I still be alive? I have never faced him, only heard of his prowess.”

Shi Mei nodded, then asked the servants again, “Did you see Bai She commit the murder?”

“The killer was wearing a hat that covered his face, so we couldn’t see clearly, but...”

Shi Mei didn’t let them finish and sighed, interrupting with a commanding tone as she stood up, “Constable Wang.”

“Yes, here,” Wang Hua thought to himself that this fragrance powder lady had quite a presence. He had once had the fortune to glimpse the Empress Dowager from afar, and her majestic demeanor was somewhat similar to Shi Mei’s. No wonder the Empress Dowager favored her.

Shi Mei stated firmly, “The murderer is not Bai She.”

Ming Fu, blinded by anger, retorted sharply, “Of course, you would defend him. I think you conspired with him to kill my brother.”

Shi Mei smiled slightly, “Ming Fu, do you realize what you’re saying? I might overlook your words today given your grief, but just by wearing mourning attire in my fragrance powder shop, I could hold you accountable.”

Ming Fu, flushed with embarrassment and anger, restrained herself slightly after a stern look from Qin Xianglian.

Seeing Ming Fu’s bluster diminish, Shi Mei continued, “You’ve seen Bai She’s skills and know him as a person, right?”

Ming Fu remained silent.

Shi Mei then turned to Wang Hua, “Firstly, Bai She’s skills are exceptional, far surpassing His Highness. If His Highness could eliminate all the servants, why would Bai She let any escape? Secondly, if someone covers their face, it indicates they want to hide their identity. But then, why would they wear white and carry a silver sword, making it obvious it’s Bai She? Constable Wang, do you think someone that foolish could be the master of the foremost clan in the world?”

Constable Wang chuckled awkwardly, “Well, that is…”

“How many people in this world wear white and carry silver blades?” Shi Mei argued confidently, “My fragrance powder shop is right across from the Bai residence, and I am friends with Bai She. He is a hero and would not engage in such cowardly acts. It's clear this is a case of framing. Constable Wang, without evidence, don't make baseless accusations. It's one thing to accuse me here, but the Bai residence is filled with renowned figures from the martial arts world, not people you can offend lightly. Be careful, or they might seek redress from you.”

Behind the screen, the maidservants all felt vindicated upon hearing this.

Aunt Huo nodded in agreement.

At the same time, many skilled fighters from the Bai residence were listening from the rooftops, exchanging knowing looks and raising their eyebrows – thinking that Shi Mei would be perfect as the lady of their clan!

Meanwhile, in the hall, the situation was rapidly evolving. Everyone present was astute, and upon hearing that the assassin was disguised, they suspected foul play.

“You naturally speak in his favor. So, my brother died in vain?” Ming Fu still wanted to argue.

Shi Mei shook her head, “Ming Fu, I understand your grief over losing your brother, but you are an educated and sensible person. Do you want to randomly accuse someone you hate to avenge your brother, or do you want to find the real culprit? The murder of the Commandant might have been personal, or it could be targeting you and your sister’s backers. Have you thought about that?”

Ming Fu was shaken by her words.

Shi Mei continued, “Why did Ming Jie visit my fragrance powder shop, and who knew about it? To murder him would require an ambush on the road… It all seems premeditated. Instead of looking for clues here, you should consider who might be suspicious and ask His Highness to investigate thoroughly. Why are you throwing a tantrum when you should be acting demurely, and acting demure when you should be assertive?”

“Heh...”

This sound came from Constable Wang’s throat. He knew it was inappropriate, but he couldn’t help wanting to laugh.

Behind the screen, Hongye and Zanyue were covering their mouths.

Shi Mei glanced at Luan Jingyi and said, “As the future princess consort, you’re smart and perceptive. Shouldn’t you be advising your sister better, instead of using her as a pawn?”

Luan Jingyi’s face reddened as she looked at Shi Mei, “What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what I said,” Shi Mei replied bluntly. “Anyone can understand it.”

“You…” Luan Jingyi turned to Qin Xianglian, “Your Highness!”

Qin Xianglian found the scene amusing, thinking that it was the first time he found a girls’ quarrel so interesting.

Shi Mei also glanced at Qin Xianglian, noting the various emotions that had flickered in his eyes since he entered – malice, calculation, amusement, curiosity – but noticeably absent was any sympathy for Ming Fu’s loss of her brother.

Shi Mei sighed inwardly; such a man, to whom affection comes too easily, simply doesn’t know how to cherish or respect it.

"The princess makes a good point," Constable Wang, quick-witted as he was, had already discerned the situation. Ming Fu and Shi Mei, both formerly of the royal residence, likely harbored some personal grudge. This time, Ming Fu probably incited Ming Jie to trouble Shi Mei. With Shi Mei's formidable temperament, she wouldn’t have let herself be wronged. Ming Jie, having failed in his mission, was ambushed on his way back. The assassin, disguised as Bai She and masked, set him up... But who the target really was – whether it was Bai She, the princess, His Highness, Ming Fu, or even the peaceful consort or the emperor himself – was hard to say.

"Meow~" Just then, Xiao Fuzi in Shi Mei's arms made a noise.

Shi Mei gently rubbed its neck and asked softly, "Hungry?"

"Meow," Xiao Fuzi nuzzled against Shi Mei, biting her sleeve as if wanting to play.

Shi Mei patted its chubby cheeks but remained unsmiling. After all, Ming Fu had just lost her elder brother and was in deep sorrow there. She couldn't bring herself to smile, not being heartless.

"Thank you for investigating, Constable Wang," Shi Mei said to him. "Ming Jie was an official appointed by the court and a relative of the royal family. If there's anything I can assist with, just send someone to notify me."

"Of course, of course!" Constable Wang quickly returned the gesture, thanked Shi Mei, and prepared to leave. Before departing, he turned to Ming Fu, "Um, Your Highness, would you like to identify the body and his belongings?"

Ming Fu, tears in her eyes, nodded after wiping them away and stood up to follow. Luan Jingyi moved to support her, but Ming Fu instinctively avoided her, her mind clearly awakened by Shi Mei’s remark about being used as a pawn... Indeed, what was she struggling for? Even if she succeeded in bringing down Shi Mei, who would be the future princess? Luan Jingyi, not her!

As everyone followed out, Qin Xianglian clapped softly, "Impressive, Princess."

Shi Mei really wanted to tell him that he was the true instigator. If a man doesn't take pride in women fighting over him, and if he were fair and just in his daily conduct, such chaos would never arise. But then she thought, what's the use of arguing with him? He lacks the heart. So, she simply told Zhong Bo, "See the guests out," and turned to leave.

Qin Xianglian, with a smile, asked, "What exactly is so good about Bai She? Granted, he's handsome and wealthy, but I have those qualities too, plus a prestigious position. Why choose him over me? I've always wondered."

Shi Mei glanced at him, "Why would Your Highness slander the innocent?"

Taken aback, Qin Xianglian heard Shi Mei chuckle, "It was Your Highness who let go of Trumei. A good horse doesn't return to eat the grass behind."

"But there's also a saying that a rabbit doesn't eat the grass around its burrow," he replied with a smile, gesturing towards the house opposite.

Shi Mei smiled, "That's why Bai She isn't a rabbit, and neither am I." With that, she walked away without looking back. Zhong Bo, smiling, came forward to escort the guests out. Shi Mei had smartly struck where it hurt Ming Fu the most, winning the battle decisively.

……

Inside the imperial palace's royal garden, a guard reported the events at the Fragrance House to the Empress Dowager in detail. After listening, the Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction and turned to Ming Jing, "What do you think, Consort Jing?"

Consort Jing was much smarter than Ming Fu. She didn't bring the matter to the Emperor, knowing his fear of displeasing the Empress Dowager. This issue could put him in a tough spot. So, she went directly to the Empress Dowager. Now, it was clear that someone had intentionally tried to harm her brother, implicating others with impure motives. This was no small matter.

"Empress Dowager, could it be that someone is trying to harm me, and my brother got caught in the middle?"

The Empress Dowager gently patted her arm, pale as white jade, and said, "Since this matter is unrelated to the Fragrance House, why cry here? Go and weep before the Emperor instead."

Consort Jing was taken aback.

The Empress Dowager patted her shoulder, "You handled this well, sparing me and the Emperor any difficulty. I'll remember this, and the Emperor, recognizing your wisdom, will surely help you investigate thoroughly. Go now, take good care of yourself. I'm still waiting for you to present me with a royal grandchild."

Initially worried about the Empress Dowager siding against her due to her discord with Ming Fu and Shi Mei, Consort Jing now saw this as an opportunity. She stood up, paid her respects to the Empress Dowager, and left.

Watching her leave, the Empress Dowager sipped her tea and smiled contentedly.

On the official road outside the capital, Bai She and Qin Dai hurried back.

As they approached the city gate, a servant from the Bai residence dashed out on horseback and exclaimed upon seeing them, "Master, you've returned."

Bai She frowned, "What's happened?"

The servant relayed the details he had just learned from Lady Huo to Bai She.

Qin Dai burst into laughter upon hearing this, patting Bai She's shoulder, "Ah, you should hurry and thank them."

Bai She fell silent for a moment, as if pondering over something deeply. After a while, he abruptly turned and walked away.

"Hey, where are you going?" Qin Dai called out from behind.

However, Bai She didn't respond and quickly rode off on his horse, seemingly remembering something urgent.