Chapter Ninety-Two: Death in Body

The maidservant had been gone for quite some time. Half-Second looked around again and still saw no sign of her return, and unease began to stir in her heart. She was just about to have someone go and look for her when hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside. Then a man’s voice rang out beyond the courtyard wall: the commander of the imperial guard, Lu Ying, had come under the Emperor’s order to take someone into custody. Everyone was to remain where they were and not move about at will. Any disobedience would be treated as collusion with a fugitive and punished by immediate execution.

The courtyard instantly descended into confusion, voices overlapping in a noisy uproar. Half-Second exchanged a glance with Li Bamboo, and both of them forced themselves to calm.

Madam Marquis stood up. “Everyone, please keep quiet. I’ll go out and see what’s happening first. Rest assured, I am a first-rank noble title personally conferred by His Majesty. I would never allow anyone to bully us as they please. Please continue watching the play.”

With that, she led her people outside.

Lu Ying stood beyond the courtyard, looking at the vermilion gate before him, his face utterly impassive. The gate suddenly opened, and a crowd of servants escorted the Madam Marquis out.

“You insolent man! Do you not even look at what place this is? All the women here are wives and daughters of distinguished families in the capital. If you barge in with soldiers and offend anyone, can you bear the consequences, Lord Lu?”

“Please forgive me, Madam. I too am only carrying out orders. The Emperor’s command is here; anyone who refuses it is defying the imperial decree.”

“Lord Lu, what great authority you wield. You cry defiance of the Emperor at the slightest thing. Do you truly think my Marquis’s residence has no one to stand up for it? Today happens to be the annual Flower Festival. If you insist on going in and fail to find the person you seek, the Marquis will have no choice but to submit a memorial and have you disciplined for this so-called ‘offense’ of yours.”

“If Madam believes I have acted improperly in any way, you may enter the palace at once and request punishment. But before a new decree is issued, I must prioritize the present imperial command. Whether you let me in or not, I will enter today.”

“Lu Ying, you…”

“What is all this shouting for?” A horse neighed sharply behind them, and Wen Jiangyue arrived.

“Marquis, Lord Lu insists there is a fugitive hidden inside and wants to go in and seize the person…”

“If Lord Lu holds an imperial command, then as a subject he must naturally obey.”

“But, Marquis…”

“But this place is full of women, and it is indeed inappropriate for soldiers to go in. How about the four of us—Lord Lu, General Lin, Grand Tutor Gan, and myself—go in together? Seal off all four exits tightly, and I’m sure the criminal will have no way to escape.”

Lu Ying glanced at Gan Sui, who gave him a slight nod.

“Then we shall follow the Marquis’s suggestion. All officers obey: guard the perimeter tightly and let no one slip away.”

“Yes.”

“After you, gentlemen.” The Marquis made a gesture of invitation.

The group entered. On the stage, Judge Bao was in the middle of ruthlessly executing Chen Shimei, the performance burning with fervor. The men looked around; Gan Sui then walked toward Half-Second.

“Why are you here?”

“We’ll talk when we get back. Where is Nanny Lin?”

“She got her clothes stained, and the Marquis’s wife had someone take her away to change.”

“Madam, the nanny my wife brought is nowhere to be found.”

“She’s probably in the back courtyard. Lady Fang took her down there. You three come with me.”

Gan Sui reminded Half-Second, “Don’t wander off. Stay here. I’ll take you home in a moment.”

Half-Second obediently nodded. Li Bamboo took her hand. “It’s all right.”

“It’s all right.”

The Marquis’s wife led them to a room in the back courtyard. “Since she’s changing clothes, you go in first and take a look, Pinmei.”

A maid behind the Madam Marquis stepped forward and knocked on the door. The moment she raised her hand, the door creaked open. Peering inside, she let out a piercing scream. “Ah! Someone’s dead!”

The others rushed forward at once. Inside the room, two women hung rigidly from the beam, their eyes bulging outward in death, staring unblinking with lingering resentment.

Gan Sui reached out and felt their bodies. “The corpses are still warm. They haven’t been dead long.”

Lu Ying swept the room with his eyes and found nothing at all. Again, he had come too late. This was the most infuriating kind of case—knowing full well the culprit was right there, yet having no way to prove it. It made one grind one’s teeth.

“So this is the one Lord Lu intended to arrest? It seems she knew her guilt and hanged herself to escape punishment. But for Lord Lu to make such a grand show of coming to arrest someone, what crime was she said to have committed?”

“She privately stole an item belonging to the late Empress. As the Marquis well knows, the Emperor is deeply devoted; even a handkerchief or pair of stockings left by the Empress is cherished beyond measure.” Lin Tianyu had never liked Wen Jiangyue, and whenever he had the chance, he was eager to give him a hard time.

“General Lin speaks rightly. The dead should indeed be treated with deference. But no matter how much one remembers the departed, the dead are still only dust in the end. So truly, all things are best when alive, would you not agree?”

“You…” Lin Tianyu could not bear such words and was about to step forward when Gan Sui hurriedly stopped him. “Do not make a scene here.”

Then he turned to Wen Jiangyue. “Since someone has now died, this is no longer within our authority. I ask the Marquis to secure the scene while we go into the palace to report to His Majesty. At that time, we can also ask the Ministry of Justice to investigate.”

“What a disappointment. Such a fine festival, ruined by these blind fools.” Wen Jiangyue said this and strode out.

“Are we not going to investigate further?”

“Look at him. He clearly had everything arranged long ago. Even if there are traces left behind, they are not something we can easily see. He’s hoping you’ll clash with him—that way he can truly file a charge against you. We’re going back to the palace now and immediately have the Ministry of Justice send people over. Lord Lu, have your men remain here a little longer. Someone must stay to watch this place.”

“You may rest assured.”

Gan Sui came out and took the chance to fetch Half-Second as well. Outside the inner courtyard, the Marquis stood there. As Gan Sui passed by, he suddenly said, “Grand Tutor Gan, may I have a word in private?”

Lin Tianyu was just about to refuse, but Gan Sui stopped him. “You escort Lady Li back first, then go straight to the palace city to report. Have Minister Li sent over.”

Lin Tianyu shot Wen Jiangyue a warning look, then quickly left with Li Bamboo.

“I didn’t realize it, but Grand Tutor Gan, you truly are skilled. To think you can command even Lord Lu and General Lin. It seems I was underestimating you.”

“The Marquis flatters me. It is the Marquis who is truly wise beyond measure and deeply concealed.”

“Grand Tutor Gan, you are an amusing man indeed. Do you know how to play chess? I wonder whether there may be an opportunity for us to face one another across the board.”

“If the Marquis invites me, I will of course accompany you.”

“That is well. But Grand Tutor Gan, have you never heard that life is like a game of chess? Since you have come to the capital, you had best choose your path carefully. One wrong move, and the whole board can fall into ruin.”

“Thank you for the Marquis’s guidance. But before the very end, who can know which path is right? If one’s skill at chess is sufficient, a reversal at the end is not impossible.”

“That one there is Grand Tutor Gan’s wife, is she not? What a beautiful couple you make. I hear there are even a pair of infant children at home—a son and a daughter. Such good fortune. Grand Tutor Gan studied under the dean of Cloud-Secluded Academy, so you must have heard of his junior brother’s affair. Pity his infant child, strangled to death with ruthless cruelty at such a tender age. What a tragedy.”

“Such a thing could never happen to me. It is one thing if someone targets me, but if anyone dares set their mind on my wife or children, I will tear them to pieces and ensure they never again harbor such venomous thoughts, in this life or the next.”

At last the Marquis looked directly at the young man, and Gan Sui met his gaze squarely as well. Their eyes clashed like blades, neither willing to yield.

“Marquis…” Madam Wen suddenly called.

“Marquis, I still have to go into the palace to report. I shall not keep you further. Another day, on the chessboard, I will seek your instruction once more.”

“See yourself out.”

As soon as Gan Sui came out, Half-Second kept watching him. Then she walked toward him. “Are we going back?”

“I’ll take you home first.”

“Where is Nanny Lin?”

“She’s dead.”

Dead. Half-Second did not even know how to react before Gan Sui took her hand and led her outside to the carriage.

“What exactly happened?”

“Nanny Lin was an informant planted by the Wen family in Phoenix Dance Hall. She was also involved in the death of the Empress.”

“What?” Half-Second had not expected that at all. “Then what’s the situation now? Did you find something? How did she die? Was she discovered during the arrest?”

“I don’t know. By the time we got there, she was already dead.”

“As expected. I knew something was wrong. How could a maid from the Marquis’s residence, trained to such exacting standards, fail to carry even a cup of tea properly and spill it on someone? Looking back, it must have been a setup from the very beginning.”

“What maid are you talking about?”

“Did the Marquis’s wife not tell you? Today it was a maid who accidentally spilled tea on the nanny, which was why she went to the back courtyard.”

“You go home first. I’ll go take another look.”

Gan Sui leaped down from the carriage, mounted his horse, and rode back at once. He had barely reached the gate when he ran into Lu Ying.

“You came back? Another body turned up—a young maid, named Yun’er…”

“We’re too late again!”

“What do you mean?”

“Just now Half-Second reminded me that that young maid might have been the last person Nanny Lin saw before she died. I came back to protect the scene, but I never imagined…”

“Come on, then. Let’s go back in and take a look.”

Gan Sui and Lu Ying went inside. Not long after, Li Jing arrived as well. Compared with the others, he was far more professional. Gan Sui trailed behind them and did not return home until evening.

Half-Second was still waiting for him. When she saw him come back, she hurried up to him. “How was it? Did you find that maid?”

“She’s dead. But Li Jing is good at this—he uncovered some things.”

“Back in Jiangnan, didn’t Li Jing discover things too? In the end, nothing really came of it.”

“My dear wife, you are underestimating Li Jing. Evidence is only useful if it can punish minor wrongdoing. Against a true villain, one must strike at once and smash him straight down to the Eighteenth Layer of Hell, leaving him no chance to rise again. Otherwise, you end up suffering for it yourself.”

“So you mean you’re preparing to make a big move?”

“Of course.”

“Then can Lord Gan tell me roughly when this big move will be?”

“The Buddha says: it cannot be spoken of.”

“Tell me, tell me!”

“Soon.” After all, the Emperor could not hold on much longer.

Phoenix Dance Hall.

Every object in the palace had been carried out and replaced. Watching one item after another being moved away, Qi Nansing felt the unmistakable sense that nothing was ever truly his to keep. He had been unable to keep Yun’er back then; now even the last thing he had left to cling to could not remain. As emperor, perhaps he was truly alone in this world.

How he wished he could go away with these things and reunite with Yun’er.

Behind him, Anzi took his hand. “Father, don’t be sad. I’m still here.”

Qi Nansing turned to look at him. There was only filial devotion on the boy’s face.

Yes. He still could not die now. For Anzi’s sake, he would have to hold on a little longer.

“Father, you once said that there must be honesty between father and son. Then tell me truthfully: has the poison in your body really been cured by the physicians?”

“Of course. You trust the physicians more than you trust me. Look at me now—do I seem ill in the slightest? Rest assured, Father still wants to see you marry and have children.” Too bad I won’t be able to see that after all.

“Father… I’m still young.”

“Didn’t you say just yesterday that you had grown up? Your mother and I were married at fourteen, and three years later, we had you. Our Anzi must also choose someone he likes in the future and treat her well. You must not be like Father… cough, cough…”

“Father, are you all right?”

“I’m fine. I just spoke too quickly and caught my throat. Don’t worry—Father will surely give you a prosperous age to choose from.”