"The Prince should have heard my analysis of the case that I discussed with His Majesty in the imperial study earlier," Zhong Li said.
Lu Wuxie nodded. As someone from the Judicial Inspection Office, he always got the first-hand clues of a case faster than others.
"Based on the current situation, Xie Yunxi and Consort Shu do not seem to have had a deep connection. However, their deaths share three common points. Firstly, both of them had experienced changes in their appetite recently and showed a tendency to gain weight.
Secondly, they both sustained external injuries before their deaths. Lastly, their servants have revealed that they had both been seeking to conceive recently," Zhong Li said as she walked to a stall where a vendor was skillfully molding clay figures into cute little dolls. She added,
"In fact, this can be explained. Some people believe that a slightly plump figure is best for a woman seeking to conceive or give birth. But why did they have wounds on their bodies? If we consider the wick effect, it seems to offer an explanation. Then... where did the fire source that caused the burns on their bodies originate?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Wuxie asked, "Have you searched the residences of Xie Yunxi and Consort Shu?"
Zhong Li nodded. "Yes, I have. Xu Qing was even more diligent than me, almost turning the Prince Xian's mansion upside down.
As for the imperial garden where Xie Yunxi was killed, I visited it again before leaving the palace, and the result was..."
Her expression grew grim, and she fell silent.
Lu Wuxie pondered for a moment and said, "I remember when I was a child, I used to play hide-and-seek with my mother. Every time it was my turn to find her, I could never locate her. Later, my mother secretly told me that Prince Xian's mansion was formerly the residence of Si Yanxiu, the Minister of Justice of the State of Lin.
This man solved countless cases, many of which were peculiar. In his and his wife's room, he specially built a secret chamber to store case files of strange occurrences and some unusual artifacts, and she used to hide in this secret chamber."
"What?" Zhong Li was stunned. "So, Xie Yunxi's room also has a secret chamber?"
Lu Wuxie nodded.
Zhong Li smiled. "Since Mo Cang could say that, does it mean I can go to Prince Xian's mansion tomorrow to look for this secret chamber?"
Lu Wuxie shook his head and clasped the slender fingers of the woman beside him. "Not tomorrow. We'll go tonight."
Dark clouds covered the entire Prince Xian's mansion. The fiery red lanterns cast a dim glow on the vast backyard as two figures silently moved through the corridors and across the bluestone slabs within the mansion.
Zhong Li glanced at the man in black beside her and said, "Mo Cang is returning to his own home, yet he's dressed like a thief in the night."
Lu Wuxie curved his lips into a smile. "Li'er, are you asking a question to which you already know the answer?"
"Could it be that you are avoiding Chu, the maidservant Xie Yunxi had?" Zhong Li asked.
Lu Wuxie nodded. "She is someone from the Empress's faction. It's better to avoid her."
As he spoke, he skillfully bypassed several patrolling guards and led Zhong Li directly into Xie Yunxi's room.
He surveyed the surroundings, walked past the screen, and headed toward the bedroom. As he slightly turned a vase placed on a shelf, a secret chamber appeared before them.
"Fortunately, my memory is still good. Let's go," Lu Wuxie said, taking Zhong Li's hand and walking into the secret chamber.
The secret chamber was not large, divided into two rooms. Zhong Li only took a brief glance at one of them and saw a stone bed. She couldn't help but ask, "This is a secret chamber, and someone lived here?"
Lu Wuxie paused and glanced in the direction she was looking. "Since Prince Xian renovated this place, no one has lived here. And looking at the abandoned state of that room, Xie Yunxi likely didn't use this place either."
"Then how could it be... Could it be that the Minister of Justice from the previous dynasty lived here?" Zhong Li asked.
Lu Wuxie thought for a moment and countered, "How much do you know about the history of the previous dynasty, Li'er?"
Zhong Li shook her head; she wasn't very interested in such things.
"Legend has it that this was the final resting place of Si Yanxiu and his wife," Lu Wuxie said.
Zhong Li was surprised to hear this. "They died here?"
"In a way. Historical records state that the State of Lin prospered for a time during the reign of Emperor Huo. After Emperor Huo, his second son, Su Xun, succeeded the throne. Although Su Xun was gentle and humble, the State of Lin was plagued by continuous famine, locust infestations, and floods, bringing the nation to the brink of popular rebellion. Furthermore, minority ethnic groups from the borders were encroaching. The country did not need a hesitant and indecisive emperor.
Thus, just a few years after Su Xun ascended the throne, the State of Lin was destroyed. As for the princes, ministers, and officials, some fled, while others surrendered.
At that time, Si Yanxiu held a position second only to the ruler in the State of Lin. He had caused many hardships for other countries when resisting foreign tribes. The leader of the invading Yi tribe even offered a golden reward for his head. However, as the Lu family rose to prominence in this war, this renowned Grand Marshal also disappeared from history.
Legend has it that when the Yi people pursued him to the Si mansion, Si Yanxiu, with his elderly wife, hid in their house and were never seen again," Lu Wuxie said.
After listening, Zhong Li turned and looked again at the cold stone bed in the secret chamber. "So, you suspect they died here?"
Lu Wuxie's thin lips tightened, and he pondered for a moment. "Why do you think it's my speculation, Li'er?"
Zhong Li withdrew her gaze and smiled, following him inside. "This mansion was granted to Prince Xian by the former emperor a dozen years after the founding of the Southern Yue Kingdom. Someone must have lived here before.
From my initial observations, although the stone bed is covered in dust, there are no traces of clutter. The items in the corners are neatly arranged. Based on what the Prince told me about playing hide-and-seek with the former Princess Consort, his mother, who doted on her child, would never have played in a room where someone had died with her son.
Before Prince Xian moved in, this place was either tidied up by someone or no one had ever lived here. Therefore, I infer that what the Prince mentioned is your own speculation."
Upon hearing this, Lu Wuxie let out a light laugh and shook his head. "Li'er, you are so intelligent. If we get married, I wouldn't dare to have any other thoughts."
"You still want to have other thoughts?" Zhong Li retorted with a playful smile.
"So, Li'er, have you accepted my proposal?" Lu Wuxie asked, holding her hand and tilting his head slightly towards her shoulder.
"Are you trying to trick me?" Zhong Li realized what was happening, blinking her bright eyes.
Lu Wuxie flicked her nose. "Li'er, have you noticed something?"
"What?" Zhong Li asked.
"Since we entered, you haven't seemed afraid as you usually are?" Lu Wuxie said.
Zhong Li's steps faltered. Yes, she had always disliked confined spaces like this, but she didn't feel anything unusual just now.
Thinking of this, she looked at the man who had already walked ahead and was opening the door to the inner secret chamber.
Could it be that he was telling her stories of the previous dynasty to distract her?
"Li'er, come in quickly!"
As soon as this thought crossed Zhong Li's mind, Lu Wuxie's anxious voice sounded from within the secret chamber.