Case One: Twin Corpses in the Flowerbed 2
Wei Fu died of illness in the water prison a month ago. Since her family had no remaining relatives and no one claimed her body, Lu Wuxie took it in the name of the Judicial Inspection Office.
Zhong Li remembered that the last time she saw Wei Fu, the woman who had once had a rosy complexion like peach blossoms and cheeks like snow had been so tortured that she was no longer human. Her entire body was ghastly pale from the leeches. When Zhong Li dissected her corpse, her internal organs had already turned black, and her stomach was filled with foul water, indicating the extent of suffering Wei Fu had endured before her death.
No wonder Lu Wuxie had told her during the Jia family case that Ma Su would really like the water prison.
"As I expected, Wei Fu had given birth before," Zhong Li stated the conclusion she had reached after examining Wei Fu's body.
Lu Wuxie showed no reaction to this result. He took a few sips of his red tea and said, "Then someone must have held Wei Fu's child hostage, controlling Wei Fu?"
Zhong Li nodded. She hadn't expected a woman as ruthless and unfeeling as Wei Fu would give her life for her child. Perhaps she didn't want the person she brought into the world to suffer the same fate as her childhood.
"Now that Wei Fu is dead, and the child's whereabouts are unknown, the father of the child might also be a mystery," Zhong Li lowered her eyes, recalling that when she first transmigrated, without Gai Chen's protection, she likely would have found it difficult to survive in ancient times, even with her adult intellect hidden behind the skin of a child.
Lu Wuxie cast a casual glance at Zhong Li and changed the subject, "Xing'er, who was by Xie Yunxi's side, is dead. She was poisoned."
Zhong Li, still lost in thought, heard this and her face showed concern. "It couldn't be..."
"Don't worry. I sent Yin Shuang away from Xie Yunxi a step ahead of time. As for the one who died, she was a death row inmate I brought out from the water prison," Lu Wuxie explained.
Zhong Li breathed a sigh of relief, feeling much comforted.
Although death was inevitable, the agonizing torment experienced in the water prison, as exemplified by Wei Fu, was something to be avoided. If the death row inmate who died in place of Xing'er could do so swiftly, it might be considered a form of release.
"Has the Princess Consort of Prince Ji sensed something?" Zhong Li asked.
Lu Wuxie pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "Although Xie Yunxi shares the same father as my mother, her disposition is diametrically opposed to my mother's. I don't doubt Yin Shuang's abilities. The only explanation for Xie Yunxi's actions is that she is taking out her anger on others due to her failed plan."
Listening to Lu Wuxie, Zhong Li recalled her confrontation with Xie Yunxi at the entrance of the Dali Temple.
The Princess Consort Ji was competitive and stubborn. It was expected by everyone that she would kill Xing'er after the Joyful Tower case.
"My Lord, if that's the case, there's something I don't quite understand," Zhong Li had initially not intended to ask. For her, these were other people's private matters. However, if Xie Yunxi's ambition was already so obvious, then this question was a puzzle she couldn't solve.
Lu Wuxie glanced at her, remaining silent, clearly indicating that she should continue.
"I previously checked the genealogy of Prince Xian's manor. Princess Consort Ji should be a few years younger than the late Princess Consort. She has been married to Prince Xian for just over thirty years. Why hasn't she had her own children?" Zhong Li knew these words would be difficult for Lu Wuxie to hear, but it was a fact and a point of suspicion.
Lu Wuxie appeared calm. He chuckled softly and said, "No matter what, Xie Yunxi is a concubine's daughter. When my mother had her accident, the Xie family sent her over. The meaning of this is obvious to anyone who looks. Although my father cherishes my mother, he is not foolish. He has an agreement with her, and even with the Xie family."
"What is it?" Zhong Li had a vague guess.
Lu Wuxie said, "She can marry into the Xie family as a concubine's daughter, but Xie Yunxi cannot have any children."
Indeed, Zhong Li's face showed understanding upon hearing this.
It was known that although Prince Xian had paid little attention to Xie Yunxia when she was alive, Prince Xian's manor had never taken a secondary consort for so many years, indicating the Princess Consort Ji's position in the Prince's heart.
It was only after the death of the Princess Consort Ji that Prince Xian belatedly recognized Xie Yunxi as a replacement for Xie Yunxia. Even if Prince Xian disliked Lu Wuxie, he was Xie Yunxia's only flesh and blood, and Prince Xian had always defended his position in the manor.
Now, ten years had passed, and Xie Yunxi's position in Prince Xian's manor had become increasingly stable. If she wanted more, the only way was to ascend through her offspring. Given the agreement between the Xie family and Prince Xian, the only thing she could do was to kill Lu Wuxie, forcing Prince Xian to break the agreement himself.
This move was truly ruthless.
Zhong Li couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat upon realizing this.
Lu Wuxie looked at Zhong Li's furrowed brow opposite him. He knew that as intelligent as she was, she had already figured everything out.
"Then, regarding the family letter from Jinzhou this time, has my Lord investigated it clearly?" Zhong Li remembered what Lu Wuxie had said earlier and asked.
"Is Li'er concerned about me?" Lu Wuxie's lips curved unconsciously upon hearing this, unable to resist teasing.
Zhong Li sneered, "Is my Lord thinking too much? I'm afraid that this trip to Jinzhou will only require me to examine two bodies, and I'll return with an extra one. The Dali Temple won't pay me extra salary.
Furthermore, if my Lord were to truly have an accident, our agreement, and the matter of my adoptive father, would have no prospect of resolution."
Upon hearing this, Lu Wuxie almost choked on the tea he had just drunk. He gazed deeply at the woman opposite him who was packing her medical kit, her face as icy as ever. She was truly heartless.
"Don't worry!" He scoffed impatiently, "No matter what, I will not break my agreement with you."
With that, he turned his head as if in a huff to gaze at the snowy landscape outside.
"That's for the best." Zhong Li slowed her movements, looking up at the man's upright back, a faint smile appearing on her lips.