The next day.
The Dali Temple morgue.
Zhong Li removed her gloves and covered the corpse lying on the wooden bed with a white cloth.
"How is it?" Hua Yao asked as she helped pack the tools back into the medicine chest.
Zhong Li replied, "The body shows no signs of poisoning. According to the stomach contents, the millet porridge he drank this morning has not been fully digested. He must have started causing trouble on the street after breakfast. No traces of hallucinogenic drugs were found in the contents."
"So, this so-called old Taoist was intentionally causing a disturbance at the Dali Temple entrance?" Hua Yao said.
Zhong Li nodded and replied, "Yes. As for him drinking and causing trouble, it was probably to bolster his courage for his subsequent suicide."
"Hmph!" Hua Yao snorted coldly and, with her hands on her hips, looked at the corpse lying before them. "Jincheng has been peaceful for a few days, and now another troublemaker appears. If this reaches the Emperor's ears, the Dali Temple will surely be held accountable."
Zhong Li pursed her lips without responding to Hua Yao, picked up the medicine chest, and quickly walked out of the morgue.
"Li'er, where are you going?" Hua Yao followed her, asking anxiously as she saw her heading towards the depths of the Dali Temple.
"To the archives," she replied.
"What are you going there for?" Hua Yao asked.
Zhong Li pushed open the door to the archives and said, "The old Taoist muttered 'Xuanqingzi' before he died. I remember seeing that name somewhere, so I'm going to look for it."
"Xuanqingzi..." Hua Yao repeated.
Zhong Li's fingertip paused on the bamboo slips as she turned and asked, "Do you know this Xuanqingzi?"
Hua Yao nodded, her small, palm-sized face creased.
"Ten years ago, there was a civilian riot in Jincheng," Hua Yao said, pulling Zhong Li to sit in a pavilion outside the building. "It's said that the riot was aimed at the Emperor, and the leader was someone named Xuanqingzi."
"What happened after that?" Zhong Li asked.
"Afterward, the Dali Temple stepped in and apprehended this Xuanqingzi."
"Ten years ago, the Minister of Dali Temple at that time was likely Lord Chen, right?" Zhong Li asked.
"Yes," Hua Yao nodded. "Now that Lord Chen has been demoted out of Jincheng, how things have changed."
"From what you said, Xuanqingzi sounds like a Taoist sobriquet. What's the connection between a Taoist and a riot?" Zhong Li asked again.
Hua Yao glanced around, ensuring no one was nearby, then beckoned Zhong Li closer. "This Xuanqingzi, though sounding like a Taoist sobriquet, was actually the leader of an evil cult. The cult seemed to be called the 'Goddess Society,' and they were specifically against the current Emperor's rule."
Hearing this, Zhong Li had a general understanding. It seemed this old Taoist was quite clever; he knew the consequences of spreading such things and being caught, so he ended his own life to avoid future torment.
"At that time, Lord Chen arrested many members of the Goddess Society. Ten years have passed, and the Goddess Society hasn't reappeared. Everyone thought everything was peaceful, but who knew it would resurface," Hua Yao shrugged.
Zhong Li took out the autopsy report of the old Taoist from the medicine chest and said, "Perhaps remnants."
Hua Yao shook her head, clearly disagreeing. "The Emperor attached great importance to this matter back then. Jincheng was thoroughly purged. Considering the old Taoist's age, I think he must have gone mad."
"Is that so?" Zhong Li frowned, a hint of worry in her expression.
Hua Yao pulled Zhong Li up from the stone stool and walked as she spoke, "It must be. Look at the old Taoist's tattered clothes; how could he be a remnant of an evil cult preparing to revive it? It's your day off, and I came to find you early this morning. You were still doing autopsies. This is unacceptable! You have to accompany me shopping now."
On Wenchang Street, people bustled to and fro. Perhaps it was the gradually warming weather, but many vendors selling bingfen were hawking their wares. Children chased each other in play. The common folk seemed unfazed by the incident at the Dali Temple entrance earlier that morning.
"Does this look good?" Hua Yao stood at a small stall selling accessories, picking up a hairpin and showing it to Zhong Li.
Zhong Li took a closer look and said, "This is a men's hairpin. Why would you buy this? Is it for your brother's birthday?"
"My brother Hu? I wouldn't give him anything!" Hua Yao pouted and snorted coldly. Then, her eyes curved as she nudged Zhong Li's body, saying, "It's for you to see."
"For me?" Zhong Li asked, confused.
"You and the Prince haven't seen each other in two months. The Dali Temple hasn't been that busy these past few days. Aren't you planning to take a few days off and go to Liaocheng to see him?" Hua Yao asked.
Zhong Li pondered for a moment, her eyebrows furrowing. Time really flew by; she hadn't realized so much time had passed.
"There are still unsolved cases on record at the Dali Temple. I want to..."
"How long will it take to investigate those cases? You might not finish them even when you're old and dead. I heard you receive letters from the Prince every day, and he misses you so much. This time, take half a month off to go see him, and by the way... give him a surprise!" Hua Yao said, pressing the hairpin into Zhong Li's hand.
Zhong Li looked at the antique gold hairpin in her hand. In the sunlight, the cloud patterns were clearly visible.
She tightened her grip on her fingertips, but ultimately placed the hairpin back on the stall.
"What's wrong?" Hua Yao asked, chasing after Zhong Li as she walked away from the stall. "If you don't like that style, you can choose another."
"It's not that," Zhong Li shook her head. "Mo Cang hasn't sent me any letters for over half a month."
"What? Half a month? You haven't been in contact for half a month?" Hua Yao exclaimed in disbelief.
"Mhm." Zhong Li walked on and bought two candied hawthorns, giving one to Hua Yao.
"Did you not write to him then?" Hua Yao asked again.
"I did, and even asked Lin Jinshao to deliver it."
"And the result?"
Zhong Li shook her head and continued walking forward.
"That shouldn't be the case," Hua Yao pouted, looking incredulous. "Before, in Jinzhou, you and the Prince went through life and death together. Your feelings must be solid. What's the situation with him suddenly not replying?"
Zhong Li remained silent, lingering around various small stalls.
"Could it be that there's some exceptionally beautiful woman in Liaocheng, and he's fallen for someone else?"
Zhong Li's footsteps paused at Hua Yao's words. She lowered her gaze, lost in thought.
"Pah, pah, pah, impossible. No matter how beautiful, she can't compare to our Li'er, right?" Hua Yao asked.
"He's not that kind of person," Zhong Li replied.
"Then what is it? Did something happen to your relationship in Liaocheng..."
...
"Ah! What is that, what is that?"
"Good heavens, there's a corpse on the city wall."
"No... that's not a corpse. Flowing robes, otherworldly beauty. Look closely at the golden lotus-shaped forehead ornament. Isn't that from ten years ago..."
"The Goddess!"
"It's the Goddess!"
Zhong Li and Hua Yao were walking, having just turned from the main street onto the southern market. Suddenly, the surroundings became chaotic. Several people were gathered at the foot of the city wall, pointing and murmuring.
An older man suddenly let out a low cry, and many people standing beside him all knelt on the ground, worshipping piously and chanting, "May the Goddess be at peace, may the Goddess be at peace."
Zhong Li frowned and followed the direction of the crowd's gaze towards the city wall. On the southern gate, a female corpse in white clothing was hanging. Her robes fluttered in the warm breeze, and at first glance, she even gave the impression of descending from the heavens.