"What is all this nonsense!"
Zhong Li and Hua Yao emerged from Concubine Shu's chambers after questioning Xi Yun. Hua Yao, who had always been straightforward, couldn't help but complain, "What Xi Yun said has nothing to do with the case. 'Dian Jiang Chun' and the like are just personal preferences, not anything strange."
Zhong Li walked beside Hua Yao, gazing at the vibrant garden. Butterflies, mosquitoes, and flies flitted about, chasing each other. Occasionally, a dragonfly would skim the surface of the courtyard lake, landing momentarily on the pleats of Hua Yao's brightly colored skirt.
"Yao'er," Zhong Li said, gently fanning away the dragonfly. "When something is abnormal, there's always a reason. What seems insignificant to you might be the key to solving the case. Details are crucial in our work and investigations."
"Then where do we go now?" Hua Yao inquired.
Zhong Li replied, "To the Grand Secretariat, to check the records of the inner palace's daily life."
"Esteemed Judge Zhong, here are the records of the inner palace for the past twenty years. Please examine them, and feel free to ask me anything if you have questions," Administrator Chen of the Grand Secretariat stated, placing a stack of ledgers before Zhong Li before returning to his own tasks.
Zhong Li casually picked up the top ledger. Twenty years ago, Lu Jing'an, the Emperor, was only around thirty, in his prime. The daily records were more detailed.
As Xi Yun had said, ever since Concubine Shu entered the palace, the Emperor had barely visited her chambers. His frequent visits were a recent occurrence.
"Administrator Chen," Zhong Li said, looking at Concubine Shu's ledger. She noticed peculiar markings—circles and crosses—following the dates of her service. "What are these? I've looked at the ledgers of other consorts, and their entries are clean after attending to the Emperor. Why are Concubine Shu's different?"
Administrator Chen took the ledger Zhong Li handed him and glanced at it. "Esteemed Judge Zhong is new to officialdom and naturally unfamiliar with the inner palace's customs. Not all consorts have the right to conceive imperial offspring. Unless the Emperor permits it, the child cannot be carried to term. If he does not permit it..."
Zhong Li suddenly understood. "You mean that after Concubine Shu was favored by the Emperor, she was given a contraceptive potion?"
Administrator Chen nodded, then stroked his beard. "Judge Zhong, the records you see were indeed made by me, and the contraceptive potion was definitely administered to Concubine Shu. However, I heard from Eunuch Hua that Concubine Shu apparently didn't know about the Emperor's decision."
"What does that mean?" Zhong Li pressed.
Administrator Chen glanced at Hua Yao, who was engrossed in the ledgers of other consorts, her attention elsewhere. He then lowered his voice. "The Emperor has always disdained Concubine Shu's background. That's why Concubine Shu has held only a nominal title for so many years. For some reason, lately, the Emperor has suddenly begun to favor her. Initially, I thought Concubine Shu's time had finally come. Who knew, Eunuch Hua brought her Red Lotus Broth."
"Red Lotus Broth?" Zhong Li asked, confused.
Administrator Chen lowered his voice further. "Among us record keepers, that substance is considered a default abortifacient, due to the inclusion of carp powder."
"Carp powder?" Zhong Li quickly asked, "Then Concubine Shu..."
"Concubine Shu was merely a maidservant from a farming village. Coupled with the Emperor's neglect, she had little presence among the other consorts. Without the intrigues and machinations, she naturally wouldn't know these palace dealings," Administrator Chen said.
Zhong Li lowered her gaze, falling silent. She now understood why Concubine Shu was so desperate for an heir, to the point of madness. She believed the Emperor's offering of broth was a sign of his concern for her health and was determined to seize this opportunity to secure her future. Little did she know, the broth contained carp powder, an abortifacient, and the Emperor had never intended for Concubine Shu to bear him any children.
"Thank you, Administrator Chen," Zhong Li said, returning the ledger to him and leading Hua Yao out of the Grand Secretariat.
On the way, Zhong Li leaned against the edge of the carriage window, aimlessly watching the pedestrians on Wenchang Street. The Southern Yue Kingdom had an open culture; courtship between men and women was not as restrictive as in other dynasties. Except for officials or situations involving interests where betrothal was arranged, most elders accepted love matches. Hua Yao's persistent pursuit of Lan Heng was an example.
She couldn't understand why Concubine Shu's family was so stubborn, pinning all their hopes on the Emperor. If they had presented other wishes to the Emperor at the time, perhaps Concubine Shu wouldn't have died without even a trace of her remains.
"What are you thinking about?" Hua Yao approached Zhong Li, seeing her lost in thought.
Zhong Li turned and smiled at Hua Yao. "Nothing."
"Really?" Hua Yao asked.
Zhong Li nodded affirmatively.
"Then I have something!" Hua Yao nudged Zhong Li and peered out the window, resting her head on the frame to look at the street scene.
"You have something?" Zhong Li asked, amused by Hua Yao's cute action, and instinctively moved aside to give her more space.
"Mm," Hua Yao nodded, her apricot-shaped eyes darting around. "It's not really something... it's more of a question... no, not a question, more like admiration."
Zhong Li, listening to Hua Yao's string of words, furrowed her brow. Just as she was about to ask what it was that caused such a hesitant answer, Hua Yao continued, "The Crown Prince is two years younger than the Prince Shi, right?"
Zhong Li nodded. It seemed so, not quite two years, but close.
"Then that's right. I think the Empress is very formidable," Hua Yao said. "You know, back then, when she married the Emperor, he was in danger. She, heavily pregnant, followed him through hardships and gave birth to an imperial son. As a woman, it truly isn't easy."
"Why do you suddenly have this feeling?" Zhong Li frowned.
"Well, while you were looking at Concubine Shu's daily records, I casually picked up a few and happened to see the Empress's records, and that's what inspired me!" Hua Yao pouted.
Zhong Li shook her head and smiled faintly. She felt that Hua Yao's perspective on things was somewhat different from others.
"By the way, we've been busy all day. Who do you think is the murderer in this strange case, Li'er?" Hua Yao asked curiously.
Zhong Li shook her head. She had only been on the case for two or three days, and she generally didn't offer opinions on uncertain matters.
"What about you, Yao'er?" she asked, looking at Hua Yao and suddenly wanting to know her thoughts.
Hua Yao smiled mysteriously. "Li'er, you don't know much about the inner palace. I, however, have some thoughts."
"Oh?" Zhong Li raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.
"Concubine Nangong, how much do you know about her, Li'er?" Hua Yao asked.
"You suspect Concubine Nangong?" Zhong Li countered without answering, "I'd like to know why."
"Because this case is so strange," Hua Yao answered without hesitation. "Li'er, you might not know this, but Concubine Nangong has been in the palace for eight years, enjoying the Emperor's exclusive favor. But do you know her background?"
Zhong Li shook her head.
"A farmer's daughter," Hua Yao said.