Zhong Li and Hua Yao followed the trail of blood, and in a secluded alley outside the palace wall, they discovered a cart laden with night soil. The cart was leaning against the wall, its foul contents spilled haphazardly onto the ground. Amidst the filth, a corpse clad in eunuch attire lay still.
"Ugh!" Hua Yao, upon seeing this, could no longer contain herself. She covered her mouth and rushed out of the alley, gagging.
Zhong Li frowned, took a ginger pill from her懷中 and popped it into her mouth. She carefully navigated around the refuse and approached the person on the ground.
The young eunuch was long dead, a dagger plunged into his chest. Blood and filth mingled together, emitting a sickeningly pungent odor.
Zhong Li donned gloves and felt around the eunuch's wound. She then carefully cleaned his fingertips and examined them closely.
"How is it?" Hua Yao, having finished vomiting, returned with trembling steps. Forcing down her revulsion, she assisted Zhong Li and inquired.
"The killer's strike was swift, precise, and lethal. The dagger went an inch into the heart. The victim died on the spot," Zhong Li replied.
"Is he the one we're looking for?" Hua Yao asked.
Zhong Li nodded. "He should be. We just need further confirmation."
Saying this, she prepared to pry open the young eunuch's mouth for examination.
"How did Li'er initially determine he was the one we sought? And how did you rule out the other mute eunuchs from the sanitation rooms?" Hua Yao inquired.
"The hands," Zhong Li stated. "Do you recall what Xi Yun told us? For several months, the mute boy had been feeding the corpse-eating flower with pieces of meat."
Hua Yao nodded.
"The mute eunuchs we saw earlier only had calluses on their palms, from constantly carrying night buckets and pushing carts. This eunuch on the ground, however, not only has calluses on his palms but also on his index finger, the webbing between his thumb and index finger, and his thumb, with varying degrees of new calluses. This is one thing. Furthermore, I found some human skin tissue lodged between his fingernails. Therefore, I can reasonably conclude that this deceased eunuch is the one we're looking for!" Zhong Li explained.
"Then why does Li'er say further confirmation is needed? Confirmation of what?" Hua Yao asked.
"Naturally, to confirm if he was mute," Zhong Li replied. As she spoke, she applied pressure with her fingertips to open the young eunuch's mouth. "As expected, this person was poisoned into silence."
"Hey, Li'er, what is that?" Hua Yao, following Zhong Li's gaze towards the mute boy's mouth, noticed something silvery and shiny in his throat and quickly called out a warning.
Seeing this, Zhong Li hastily opened her medicine chest, took out a leather pouch wrapped in oilcloth, and retrieved tweezers. She then reached into the eunuch's mouth.
As the tweezers slowly retracted, a pearl-encrusted earring appeared before her and Hua Yao.
"This..." Hua Yao took the clean water they had brought and rinsed it. She then examined it in the sunlight.
"What? Do you recognize this?" Zhong Li asked.
Hua Yao pursed her lips and thought for a moment. "Yes, it's a common earring bought from the Jin Cheng shop. But how did it end up in the palace? And..."
"It looks familiar, doesn't it?" Zhong Li said.
"Does Li'er also have an impression of this earring?" Hua Yao asked.
Zhong Li smiled faintly, flipped the pearl earring with her fingertip, and observed the two characters engraved on it: 'Man'er'. "Do you remember I once said that for investigators, observation is paramount? Details are very important. The owner of this item should be at..."
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Chang Ting Palace.
Consort Rong looked at the woman standing opposite her, holding an earring, and said, "Your early arrival, Zhong Si Cheng, and presenting an item that does not belong to me, demanding an explanation in such a manner, is it not going a bit too far?"
Zhong Li's lips curved upwards. She bowed to Consort Rong and said, "Consort Rong, how would this humble official dare to be disrespectful to you? I merely wish to ask if Your Highness recognizes this item?"
"I do not," Consort Rong replied with a roll of her eyes, picking up a piece of bird's nest before her and scoffing.
"However, I recall that this earring once appeared in Your Highness's presence," Zhong Li added.
Consort Rong, already possessing a peculiar temper, her expression darkened at Zhong Li's persistent questioning. "I said I don't recognize it, and I don't. Perhaps..."
"Doesn't Your Highness have a maid named Nan Man by your side?" Zhong Li interrupted.
Consort Rong's hand paused mid-bite.
Zhong Li pushed the earring closer to Consort Rong again. "This earring may seem ordinary, Your Highness, but it is unique in this world. This is because of the two characters engraved on the back."
As she spoke, she slowly flipped the earring over.
Consort Rong looked at the characters on the earring and sneered, "Hmph, there are many in this world named Man'er. How can Zhong Si Cheng be so certain it belongs to a servant by Your Highness's side?"
"Yes! Your Highness's words are certainly reasonable, but if I recall correctly, at the Spring Banquet, the palace maid Nan Man wore this pair of earrings by your side, did she not?" Zhong Li inquired again.
"Zhong Li!" Consort Rong's face became extremely displeased. She raised her hand and slammed it forcefully on the table, saying, "Do not think that just because the Emperor granted you this authority, you can act with impunity in the harem. It is but a small earring, and you dare to come here and question me? I think you have grown tired of your duties in the Dali Temple, don't you want them anymore?"
"Your Highness, if you insist on being so unreasonable, then I must order a search..."
"Your Highness!" Before Zhong Li could finish speaking, a voice called out from within the bedroom.
Zhong Li followed the sound and saw a woman dressed in exotic palace attire walking out quickly. After glancing at Zhong Li, she swiftly knelt on the ground. "Zhong Si Cheng need not order a search, nor trouble my Consort. It is true, the earring belongs to this servant."
Nan Man said this, spreading her hands, and another earring appeared in her palm.
"So the earring in Zhong Si Cheng's hand is yours?" Hua Yao asked, taking the earring from Nan Man's hand.
"Yes," Nan Man replied without hesitation.
"Do you know where we found this earring?" Hua Yao asked again.
Nan Man nodded. "In the sanitation rooms, on the mute eunuch, correct?"
"So you admit you killed the mute boy?" Hua Yao pressed.
Nan Man responded, "Yes, this servant admits to everything. Since Zhong Si Cheng and Miss Hua have found their way here, you must have already mastered many aspects of the case. The Princess of Xian was killed by this servant, as was Consort Shu. Zhong Si Cheng can take this servant away now."
As she spoke, she extended her hand, waiting for the Dali Temple constables behind Zhong Li to handcuff her.
Seeing this, Hua Yao said, "Someone, take Nan Man away."
As the words fell, several constables expertly escorted Nan Man out of the palace.
Hua Yao collected the evidence for Nan Man's arrest and was preparing to leave with the others when she noticed Zhong Li still standing in place, gazing intently at Consort Rong.
She quickly walked over to her and whispered, "Li'er, what are you standing around for? Let's go!"
Zhong Li withdrew her gaze from Consort Rong and left Chang Ting Palace with Hua Yao.