Chapter 15
Yun Niang almost jumped up but relaxed when she saw who had come.
“Rong’er, why aren’t you sleeping? Did I wake you?”
It turned out to be a little girl.
Yun Niang was already a rare beauty among ordinary people, and this little girl, around ten years old, had a fair, delicate face that was captivating. She clearly had the makings of a beauty. Her features bore a slight resemblance to Yun Niang’s, only even more refined.
At this moment, the little girl gently held Yun Niang’s hand. Her clear autumn-like eyes showed worry, and her brows furrowed slightly.
Yun Niang gently ruffled her hair, trying to relax her tone.
“Don’t worry, I’m fine. I was just a little shaken by what happened earlier today. But you saw for yourself, right? The brothers and sisters who came today all seem like good people, and they really helped us. The guards outside are here to protect us. So Rong’er, don’t worry about me. Just get a good night’s sleep, okay?”
The little girl still looked uneasy but obediently left as Yun Niang suggested.
That night, Yun Niang didn’t sleep at all.
The next morning, after Jiuyue had enjoyed the palace’s luxurious breakfast, he realized only Chunyu Shuang was dining with him. Wei Yuan’s absence was understandable—after all, he was a palace guard and an adopted son of the Grand Supervisor of Jiufu, perhaps visiting his adoptive father. But Xie Mingchen?
“Doctor Xie went to the icehouse to examine Yu Lang’s body,” Chunyu Shuang replied calmly, wiping his hands, while Jiuyue listened.
Oh?
Jiuyue paused. Could it be that Xie Mingchen had found a new clue?
Indeed. Rushing back in a hurry, Xie Mingchen brought news that shocked Jiuyue and Chunyu Shuang.
“The poison in Yu Lang’s body is rather complex, and it’s difficult to identify. The only thing certain is that it’s poisonous. Besides the food he ate at the banquet, I found a small fragment of a medicinal pill in his stomach.”
“A medicinal pill?”
Jiuyue pondered.
“Could it be that Yu Lang liked taking pills? But I’ve heard that almost all pills are toxic, especially those containing mercury or cinnabar, which are extremely harmful. He couldn’t have been poisoned by one of these, could he?”
Everyone was a bit shocked.
At this time, people still greatly respected alchemical pills. These pills were made from the essence of heaven, earth, sun, and moon, and most unskilled Daoists would fail in making them. Successfully producing a batch was no small feat.
Yet according to Jiuyue, these pills were dangerous to consume?
Whether they believed it or not, no one directly objected. Xie Mingchen, however, was quite excited.
“So even County Lord Ying thinks this way. I once reported the dangers of these pills, but unfortunately…”
Judging from Xie Mingchen’s disappointed expression, it was clear no one had believed him.
It was simply the flaw of the times. Imagine today if someone asked you to take a mysterious pill!
“So, the pill is poisonous?”
Xie Mingchen shook his head regretfully.
“There was too little of the pill left to verify if it was toxic. But it seems Yu Lang only ingested it after going to the side hall, because during the first pulse diagnosis by the courtyard physician, he showed no signs of poisoning.”
“So the pill really is poisonous. Doctor Xie, is there any leftover pill on Yu Lang?”
“No, only this,” Xie Mingchen replied.
Jiuyue expected something significant but saw a yellow paper talisman folded into a small package, unlike ordinary talismans. Judging by its size, it was just enough to hold a single pill.
Even pills have scarcity marketing these days?
“This is a clue,” Jiuyue said. He told Xie Mingchen to keep it safely. It was a noteworthy clue, and Jiuyue decided to let him handle it.
After tidying themselves, they left the palace. At the gate, a shadow suddenly appeared.
Seeing it was Wei Yuan, Jiuyue finally understood what “elusive” truly meant.
Unlike his silent nature, Wei Yuan had already gathered a lot of first-hand information and generously shared it with Jiuyue’s group.
“Yu Lang had nine concubines, scattered across different streets. They’ve all been secured and can be questioned anytime.”
Receiving such news at the start of their investigation was a relief. At least they weren’t leaving empty-handed. But Jiuyue’s focus was on something unusual.
“No, something feels off. Yu Lang was just a scholar with no family or relatives to support him. Even though he was a top scholar, he was newly appointed and hadn’t taken office yet. Where did he get enough money to maintain nine concubines? Isn’t that exhausting?”
She recalled that Yun Niang and Jin Hua’s courtyard, though small, was delicately arranged and had exquisite utensils, costing at least a hundred taels. Supporting one concubine was fine, but nine?
Where did Yu Lang get so much money?
During the journey, they continued discussing this. Even if he had business outside, Wei Yuan’s men had checked Yu Lang’s property records and found no estates or shops. The small courtyards were all rented. That didn’t add up.
Unable to make sense of it, Jiuyue put the question aside and went to the courtyards holding the concubines. Perhaps because the case had the Emperor’s attention, the officials handling it didn’t slack off. Inside, the nine women, each with distinct looks, still had seats. But as Jiuyue entered, she felt an unusual tension in the air.
She had already learned that the nine women had remained silent since their confinement, not even speaking to each other. They clearly didn’t know one another. Naturally, anyone suddenly taken away by imposing officials would feel nervous.
“Clap, clap, clap!”
Jiuyue clapped her hands to draw attention, smiling at Yun Niang and Jin Hua.
“You two sisters met yesterday. Let’s get to know the others. I am Ying Jiuyue. By the Emperor’s order, I’m handling the matter of top scholar Yu Lang’s sudden death at the birthday banquet. Unfortunately, you nine are Yu Lang’s concubines. Since he hasn’t married yet, you are the closest people to him. Can you clarify his actions over the past two days? Don’t worry; once things are clear, you’ll be able to return home quickly, and Yu Lang can rest in peace.”
In the silence, Jiuyue smiled.
“Who will speak first?”
After a brief pause, a frail-looking woman with a slightly sickly appearance stepped forward.
“Cough, cough. I am Fulou, living in Lotus Alley. The evening before last, Yu Lang came to my place, planning to stay overnight. But he received a letter delivered by a street child and hurriedly left.”
