Chapter 59: Unraveling

Chapter 59: Unraveling

Dead?

Two hours...

Yaohua Palace had called for a physician yesterday at the hour of Shen. When Emperor Xiaosheng received the news, Sheng An cleverly had Anjing surround the Imperial Kitchen. Considering the time taken for travel and personnel counting, it must have been around the time of Shen when the eunuch's body was discovered. Going back two hours, that would be around midday.

By then, most palaces would have finished their midday meals, and the Imperial Kitchen would have just passed its busiest time, with most staff taking their midday break. A young eunuch dying in a well right after leaving the Imperial Kitchen...

Given Qingfeng's solemn expression, it seems no one saw the eunuch leave.

But at that time, Jiang Hui hadn’t discovered the inula flower, nor had she called for a physician. This meant the eunuch was meant to die, not a hasty silencing by the mastermind upon realizing Anjing’s arrival.

Jiang Hui’s mind raced, "Has the eunuch’s background been investigated?"

Qingfeng replied, bowing his head, "According to the records of the Internal Affairs Department, the eunuch’s surname was Li, originally from the suburbs of the capital. His elderly mother is still alive, as well as a brother, sister-in-law, and a pair of nephews. I have already sent word to the Princess's residence for further investigation."

Jiang Hui nodded slightly, but at that moment, Okra hurried in.

"My lady, the Emperor went straight to Fengyi Palace after the court session. I heard he was furious, and there are many people kneeling outside Mingluan Hall."

Had the Emperor concluded that the Empress was behind this?

Indeed, behind Steward Zhang were the Empress Dowager and Zhao, the commoner. With the Empress Dowager at Wutai Mountain and only the Empress’s people visiting Changmen Palace, the Empress, who could access the medical records, remained the most likely to target Nian'er.

With so much evidence laid out before her, even Jiang Hui was nearly convinced to overturn her previous judgment and consider the Empress as the mastermind.

However, something still didn’t feel right to her.

The Empress had always been cautious, valuing her position as the Empress more than anything. Would she really take such a risk for a foster child whose gender was still unknown?

"Qingfeng, return to the Ministry of Punishments and inquire about the details of Steward Zhang’s three secret letters. Pay particular attention to any differences in handwriting or codes between the third letter and the previous two. Okra and Shan Zha, take Feng Shi with you and accompany me to Changmen Palace; Wan Song, go to Hongying and Pomegranate to ensure Nian'er is well taken care of."

After quickly issuing her instructions, Jiang Hui boarded her jade palanquin and headed straight to Changmen Palace.

The Changmen Palace of the Great Zhou dynasty was not the same as the royal palace of the Han dynasty.

In the Han dynasty, Changmen Palace was originally the garden of Princess Guantao, where Empress Chen was confined after her demotion.

When the Great Zhou dynasty was established, and the imperial city was being reconstructed, the name Changmen Palace was chosen for the most remote palace, turning it into the equivalent of the dynasty's "Cold Palace."

Changmen Palace, also surrounded by cypress trees and with its tightly closed gates under the gloomy weather, seemed even colder and more desolate.

The guards outside Changmen Palace halted Jiang Hui’s path. Okra, holding a tray covered with red cloth, stepped forward to negotiate softly. The leading guard glanced at Jiang Hui with some difficulty but eventually waved his hand, allowing the gates to be opened.

"Noble Consort, please understand our position. After seeing Zhao, the commoner, please leave as soon as possible."

Jiang Hui nodded slightly, "I understand."

Inside Changmen Palace, there was only one old nanny and two young palace maids. With more work than people, many places were covered in dust.

As Jiang Hui entered, a young palace maid, hardly more than twelve or thirteen, was sweeping the courtyard. The old nanny was embroidering a sachet under the porch. Seeing the door open, they hurriedly came forward to pay their respects.

"Where is Zhao, the commoner?" Okra inquired.

The old nanny fixed her gaze on the lotus pattern on Jiang Hui's skirt, guessing her identity from her ability to command the guards to open the gate, and respectfully asked, "May I know why the Noble Consort seeks Zhao, the commoner?"

Yet she didn’t immediately lead the way.

Jiang Hui didn’t respond, and Okra said softly, “Old nanny, just tell us where Zhao, the commoner, resides.”

Most of this large palace was covered in dust, except for a path leading to the side hall on the right, which showed signs of being cleaned. Jiang Hui didn’t wait for the old nanny’s response and headed towards the right side hall.

Okra followed immediately, giving a signal to Shan Zha, who understood and stopped, approaching the kneeling, curious-looking young palace maid.

Jiang Hui quickly found the place.

Zhao Ruyun, dressed in plain clothes, was sitting at the entrance of the side hall, teaching a young palace maid how to recognize characters using a tree branch.

“First a left stroke, then a right stroke, that makes the character for ‘person’…”

Hearing footsteps, Zhao looked up and surprisingly smiled slightly at Jiang Hui, standing up and bowing respectfully.

“Commoner Zhao greets the Noble Consort. Wishing you eternal peace and prosperity.”

Her demeanor was as composed and graceful as when they first met by the Lockmoon Pavilion.

“Rise,” Jiang Hui said.

Jiang Hui, unsurprised by Zhao’s attitude, spoke indifferently, “The Empress Dowager has gone to Wutai Mountain, with no set return date.”

Zhao sat back down and nodded, “I know, Doctor Qiu told me.”

She sent the young palace maid away, her gaze briefly falling on the tray covered with red cloth in Okra’s hand before returning to Jiang Hui.

“Did Doctor Qiu also tell you that the day of the Changping Marquis family’s downfall is not far off?”

Feng Shi brought a chair from inside, wiped it with a handkerchief, and invited Jiang Hui to sit.

“What did you say?!” Zhao furrowed her brows, unable to resist interjecting.

She scrutinized Jiang Hui's impassive expression and regained her composure, “I am a dying person now. Why would the Noble Consort deceive me? After the last incident, since His Majesty chose to demote me to Changmen Palace under the pretense of ‘losing virtue’, he won’t publicize the matter, and the Changping Marquis family won’t be implicated.”

With such an elaborate explanation, it seemed Zhao still cared deeply about her family. After all, it was said that Zhao Quan, the promising second son of the Changping Marquis family, was about to participate in the imperial examinations in September, on the cusp of a bright future. How could he be ruined by his own sister’s scandal?

Upon hearing about her family being implicated, Zhao Ruyun’s first thought was of the witchcraft incident…

Jiang Hui raised an eyebrow slightly, speaking slowly, “For plotting against the prince, you must be prepared for your family to be implicated. I am here today to personally send you on your way. As for your family, they will join you soon… Okra—”

“Yes, my lady.” Okra lifted the red cloth on the tray, revealing a wine jug and a porcelain cup.

“You had the choice of white silk, poisoned wine, or a dagger, but considering the child in your womb, I only grant you this dignified poisoned wine… Will you drink it yourself, or shall I assist you?” Jiang Hui said indifferently.

Zhao Ruyun’s expression flickered with panic for a moment before regaining her composure, smiling, “What plot against the prince? I carry the imperial heir; His Majesty would never grant poisoned wine. Why must the Noble Consort do this?”

“Indeed,” Jiang Hui replied with a smile, her voice soft, “But since you harmed my child, Nian'er, what’s wrong with me wanting your life and that of your unborn child? Okra, Feng Shi, see Zhao, the commoner, off.”

“Yes!” The two responded in unison. Feng Shi stepped forward to restrain Zhao Ruyun, who tried to flee, while Okra filled a cup with clear wine and approached her, attempting to force her to drink it.

“I didn’t—” Zhao Ruyun struggled fiercely, her face revealing panic, shouting, “I didn’t harm your child! The Emperor won’t let you get away with this!”

Jiang Hui seemed convinced Zhao Ruyun had harmed Nian'er and ignored her, sitting aside, letting Okra force the poisoned wine upon her.

“I really didn’t—cough cough—” Zhao Ruyun, unable to dodge in time, had some wine poured into her mouth and immediately bent over, retching, “—cough cough—Zhao nanny only took care of me, she knew nothing and couldn’t leave Changmen Palace, she couldn’t have harmed your child!”