"What do you people from the Dali Temple mean? You've searched the Princess Consort's chambers from front to back no less than three times. Now you've changed personnel. Are you unable to solve the case and just here to waste time at the Xian Prince's estate?"
Zichu stood at the doorway, looking at the woman seated by a table inside, sipping clear tea. Recalling the scolding she had just received, she couldn't help but retort sarcastically.
Zhong Li put down her cup and glanced sideways at Zichu. "Since you said that Lord Xu had already thoroughly searched this place when he came, I certainly won't be searching again. This visit to the Xian Prince's estate is to find places Lord Xu did not search."
"What do you mean, Official Zhong?" Zichu asked.
Zhong Li ignored her and looked towards the doorway. At that moment, Steward Sun entered, carrying a ledger.
"Official Zhong Si Cheng, here are the kitchen's purchasing records you requested," Steward Sun said, handing the item to Zhong Li.
Zhong Li took it and looked through it carefully for a while. "Steward Sun, there's a question I'd like to ask you."
"Please, Official Zhong, ask away. No need to be so formal," Steward Sun said, cupping his hands, awaiting Zhong Li's further words.
"Looking at the kitchen's ingredient purchases, the types of items bought over the past half-year are inconsistent. Has someone in the household changed their taste?"
Zhong Li knew that everyone, and every region, had different tastes. Northerners disliked sweetness, while Southerners preferred lighter, sweeter flavors. This was also true for the Xian Prince's estate.
Six months ago, the Xian Prince's estate's purchases consisted mostly of common fruits, vegetables, fish, and poultry. However, over the last few months, half of the estate's purchases have been oily and spicy, with some even specifically noting fatty and juicy meats.
"Replying to Official Zhong Si Cheng," Steward Sun said, "it's because half a year ago, my mother replaced one of the kitchen chefs."
"Oh?" Zhong Li raised an eyebrow.
Steward Sun glanced at Zichu, swallowed a few times, and then turned to Zhong Li. "Six months ago, the Princess Consort suddenly changed her preferences. She no longer liked the light dishes of the estate and specifically requested oily, sugary foods. The estate's cooks did not meet her taste, which is why they were replaced."
"Her tastes changed suddenly. Do you know why?" Zhong Li asked.
Steward Sun shook his head. "I don't know. These are matters for the masters. This old servant never inquired; I just followed the masters' instructions."
Zhong Li shifted her gaze to Zichu.
Zichu licked her lips and reluctantly said, "This servant has not been following the Xian Princess Consort for long, at most from last winter to this spring. This servant doesn't know what the Princess Consort liked to eat before, but ever since this servant began serving, the Xian Princess Consort has particularly enjoyed oily dishes or pastries."
"And her appetite? Has it increased?"
Zichu thought for a moment. "I suppose so. At any rate, the Xian Princess Consort eats more than when this servant first arrived."
Zhong Li nodded upon hearing this, her gaze sweeping around the room. She then asked, "If I recall correctly, the current Princess Consort lives in the former Princess Consort's residence, doesn't she?"
Steward Sun quickly nodded. "Yes, yes. Although this old servant arrived late, I have heard from the other servants."
"Good." Zhong Li nodded, stood up, gave Hua Yao a look, and led her out of the Xian Prince's estate.
Wenchang Street bustled with passersby.
Zhong Li casually bought a few fried spring rolls for herself and Hua Yao to eat, and then headed straight north along the street.
"Is Li'er going into the palace?" Hua Yao asked, following behind her.
"Yes, that's right. Counting the time, most ministers should have finished their court sessions by now. During the day, the inner palace has the fewest people, so there will be fewer curious individuals asking questions when we investigate the case," Zhong Li replied.
"Then what did you find out at the Xian Prince's estate? From what I heard of your conversation with Steward Sun and Zichu, you only asked routine questions. I thought you would continue to ask about the relationship between the Xian Princess Consort and the Prince, so why did you leave so soon?" Hua Yao asked, a hint of bewilderment in her voice as she toyed with the small braids hanging by her sides.
Zhong Li didn't answer Hua Yao's question but instead countered, "Why do you think I would ask about the relationship between the Xian Princess Consort and the Prince?"
Hua Yao thought for a moment. "Hmm... Lord Xu asked the same thing last time. Steward Sun even asked Lord Xu if he suspected the Prince of killing the Xian Princess Consort."
"Oh? What did Steward Sun say?" Zhong Li asked.
"Steward Sun flatly denied it," Hua Yao answered without hesitation. "Actually, I can understand why Lord Xu asked Steward Sun that question. Although the case of Chat Grass only involved the Xie family in Jinzhou, and the current Princess Consort in Jincheng was not implicated, just because it wasn't pursued doesn't mean people wouldn't be suspicious. Did the current Princess Consort give that substance to the Prince? If she did, the Prince must have known, and might have killed the Xian Princess Consort in a fit of rage."
"No," Zhong Li replied with a smile.
"How so?" Hua Yao asked.
Zhong Li looked up at the cloudless sky, squinting to block out half of the sun's rays. "In the case of Chat Grass, the Xie family is considered to have no heir. Even if Xie Yunxi had given the Xian Prince this substance before, the Xian Prince would have spared Xie Yunxi for the sake of the Xie family, especially since she looked so much like the deceased Xie Yunxia. He wouldn't have been able to bring himself to do it."
"That... makes sense."
"Furthermore, Consort Shu also had an incident in this case, so wasn't the Xian Prince's suspicion ruled out?" Zhong Li said.
"Ah, how did I not think of that?" Hua Yao said, tapping her head as if vexed.
"However," Zhong Li mused, reflecting on Hua Yao's question, as if a thought suddenly struck her, "your reminder makes me think I might have missed a crucial point. If things go smoothly in the palace later, and we leave early, I'll still need to visit the Xian Prince's estate."
"Why go to the Xian Prince's estate?" Hua Yao asked.
"To find the former Prince, of course."
As they spoke, they arrived at the palace gate. Zhong Li presented her warrant, and she and Hua Yao smoothly entered the imperial palace.
Consort Shu's sleeping quarters were to the left of the Emperor's palace, behind the sleeping quarters of Nangong Xiaodie.
By rights, a consort of Consort Shu's rank should not be living behind Nangong Xiaodie's residence. However, matters of the inner palace were the Emperor's private affairs. How they were arranged and who served the Emperor were entirely up to him; the rules of others were nothing more than empty words.
Zhong Li led Hua Yao through a winding path to Consort Shu's sleeping quarters.
Hua Yao had been here before and found everything to be as expected. Zhong Li, looking at the place which was only slightly larger than her residence at the Dali Temple, with the addition of a courtyard, showed a hint of surprise on her usually calm face.
"If Consort Shu is not mistaken, she is one of the Four Consorts. Why does her residence seem like a side courtyard of Consort Nangong's?"
"Hush!" As Zhong Li spoke, Hua Yao made a shushing gesture.
She glanced around to ensure no one was nearby and then whispered, "Li'er, you haven't been in office for even a year, so you wouldn't know about the old affairs of the inner palace. This Consort Shu, you see, was a woman the Emperor brought back from outside twenty years ago after the civil unrest in Jincheng."
"What do you mean?"