After Becoming a Concubine, I Took Down the Princess - Chapter 20

The person who came was an elderly woman, her posture hunched. She opened a crack in the door and scrutinized the two people in front of her with murky eyes.

“May I ask if you are family of Jiang Lin?” Yue Heng said, cupping his hands.

Upon hearing the name, the elderly woman was immediately agitated and pulled the door open wide: “Is there any news of A-Lin coming back?”

Yue Ying considered his words: “A-Lin is—”

“Eunuch Lin asked us to pass on a message, to ask if the family has been well recently,” Yue Heng interrupted him.

The elderly woman stepped aside: “If the two young masters don’t mind, please come in and sit for a while, let me tell you slowly.”

Although the elderly woman’s clothes were old and faded from washing, she still kept herself very tidy. Although there were a few fallen leaves in the yard, they had been swept up and piled to one side. It seemed the old woman was very fond of cleanliness.

But everything indicated that A-Lin’s family was not wealthy.

“The family can’t afford tea, only plain water to quench the thirst of the two young masters,” the old woman said, trembling as she was about to pour the water. Yue Ying hurriedly stopped her.

“No need, Auntie, we will leave after sitting for a little while.”

The elderly woman did not insist, placing the kettle gently on the table.

The room was small, without even a proper main hall, so the three could only stay in the place where the old woman usually rested.

After giving them two stools to sit on, the old woman had no stool left, so she had to turn and sit on the kang (heated brick bed).

“In the years A-Lin has been away, Yancheng had an epidemic seven years ago. My eldest son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter all got sick and passed away. Now, A-Lin is the only thought I have left,” the old woman’s voice was aged and hoarse, causing the two men’s hearts to tremble.

“Eunuch Lin said he previously entrusted someone from his hometown to bring back money and goods. Did you not receive it, Auntie?” Yue Ying asked tentatively.

“Money and goods?” The old woman’s yellowish eyes slowly moved. “I have never received any.”

Could it be that the murderer falsely promised A-Lin that his family would be well taken care of, instead of giving him a generous reward?

Yue Heng’s face was solemn, and he heard the old woman ask again: “Are you two young masters from the palace? How is A-Lin doing now? I shouldn’t have let him go back then. He must resent me, his mother.”

Yue Heng nodded with difficulty: “Eunuch Lin is now the Chief Steward of a palace, and he lives a very comfortable life.”

Yue Ying was soft-hearted and took out a small packet of silver from his pocket: “Auntie, this was specifically entrusted to us by Eunuch Lin. He has saved a lot of money over the years.”

“When can he leave the palace to visit his family?” The old woman did not take the silver, but looked at Yue Ying with a hopeful gaze.

“The Eunuch is very busy with his duties, and he’s afraid he can’t get away. Please wait a little longer,” when he said this, Yue Ying looked pained and had to turn his head away.

The person is already gone, now merely a handful of earth, yet the poor aged mother is still at home, hoping for her son’s return day after day.

“What kind of work did Eunuch Lin’s elder brother do?” Yue Heng asked.

“He, ah, didn’t study. He relied on being a long-term laborer for the rich gentry in the city. He was about to be promoted to steward by the gentry, but then he unexpectedly caught the plague,” as she spoke, the old woman shed a few tears.

Yue Ying continued to ask: “Did he ever receive any outside favors?”

“Never,” the old woman shook her head.

They had seen A-Lin’s family situation clearly; there were obviously no valuables hidden, his family members were all deceased, and they had received no benefits while alive.

They wondered if A-Lin, if he knew under the Nine Springs, would still willingly die for the murderer.

Seeing that there was nothing more to say, the two stood up to leave. The old woman grabbed Yue Heng’s sleeve again: “Please trouble the two young masters to tell A-Lin that his mother is sorry, and she misses him. Could he please beg the officials in the palace to let him come home and visit?”

Yue Heng said: “Auntie, please rest assured, we will surely pass on the message.”

Taking advantage of the moment when the old woman was talking to Yue Heng, Yue Ying placed the packet of silver the old woman had not accepted on the table. The two bid farewell to the old woman and left.

The two sat on the first floor of the inn, and Yue Ying said with a heavy heart: “A-Lin’s family didn’t receive any benefits. We can’t trace the murderer’s source.”

Yue Heng pursed his lips: “First report to the Princess, then await further instructions.”

The two didn’t dare to delay. After a brief rest at the inn, they immediately rushed back to the Princess’s Manor.

According to the usual system, a princess could only establish her own manor when she was about to marry. However, due to Liang Shu’s doting, he spent a large amount of treasury silver to build this Princess’s Manor for Liang Xiao when she was fifteen.

Within the manor were trusted confidants whom Liang Xiao herself had raised. Although she usually resided in the palace, if an investigation arose, she would return to the manor to live.

Yue Hua had been waiting at the manor for the past few days, just waiting for the two to bring back a message.

“Your Highness, a message has arrived.” Yue Hua hurriedly returned to the palace. Liang Xiao happened to be sitting in the courtyard reading a book.

Hearing this, Liang Xiao immediately put down the book: “What news is there?”

Yue Hua told Liang Xiao everything the two had brought back. After listening, Liang Xiao’s brows were tightly furrowed.

“What was the verdict of the coroner on the Empress’s body back then?” Yan Heng asked, sitting on a small couch, holding a piece of chestnut pastry.

Earlier that morning, she had gone out for a stroll, and in the course of her wandering, she ended up at Liang Xiao’s Liu Yang Palace. Feeling a sudden craving, she walked in.

As she ate, she also inquired about the latest news. Seeing Liang Xiao frowning with worry, she asked this question.

“Why do you ask that?” Liang Xiao turned her head and glanced at her.

Yan Heng said: “Your Highness, think about it. We initially suspected A-Lin was also killed by the Thousand Poisons Box, but the recorded cause of death does not match the Thousand Poisons Box. So, is it possible that the Empress was also not killed by the Thousand Poisons Box?”

She continued: “If A-Lin was killed by the murderer on a sudden impulse, then the most convenient method would be to kill him along with the Empress using the same poison.”

Liang Xiao was puzzled: “Then what was the Thousand Poisons Box bought for?”

Yan Heng said earnestly: “Perhaps the murderer had long anticipated that Your Highness could trace the Thousand Poisons Box, and thus set up this diversion to cover up the actual method he used to commit the act.”

“In other words, the murderer might have used a different method, using a type of poison to kill both my Imperial Mother and A-Lin?”

“Exactly!”

Liang Xiao rose abruptly: “I will personally go to the Archives Department to check the file on my Imperial Mother’s cause of death.”

“Do you want me to go with you?” Yan Heng tilted her head and asked.

“No need, I’ll go by myself,” saying that, Liang Xiao quickly walked out the door and headed towards the Archives Department.

It was the same young eunuch who had helped Yue Hua check the files the other day. He was originally dozing on the desk, but when he saw Princess Yong’an arrive, he snapped awake and immediately got up to greet her obsequiously.

The young eunuch poured Liang Xiao a cup of hot tea and offered it with both hands: “Why has Your Royal Highness come? If there are any files you need to check, you only need to instruct Consort Yue Hua.”

Liang Xiao looked around, walked to a nearby chair, and sat down, gently scraping the tea foam with the teacup lid: “I want the archive file on my Imperial Mother’s cause of death from back then. Can you find it?”

“This…” The young eunuch looked troubled, “His Majesty specifically said that no one else is allowed to…”

Slam! Liang Xiao heavily smashed the teacup onto the floor. The scorching hot tea splashed everywhere, and the young eunuch immediately knelt down.

“Your Highness, this is His Majesty’s intention after all. This servant, this servant dares not disobey.”

“Given my status, would my Imperial Father really quibble over this?” She glanced sideways at the little eunuch trembling on the floor, then said, enunciating each word: “I told you to go, so go. If you delay any longer, I will personally handle it.”

“Yes, yes, yes, please wait a moment, Your Highness.” The little eunuch scurried away in terror.

When he came out with the file, his hand was still shaking. He silently prayed: This servant was forced; may the Emperor please not blame me.

“Go wait on the side. I will call you when needed.” As she spoke, Liang Xiao began to flip through the file in her hand.

Her eyes quickly scanned the pages, then settled on the coroner’s report. After clearly seeing the words written there, her pupils abruptly contracted.

“Put it back.” Liang Xiao pretended to casually place the file on the table, but a turbulent storm had already erupted in her heart.

“Ulcerated red spots appeared all over the body, some as small as a copper coin, others as large as a round plate, and the eyes could not be closed.”

“This, this is completely inconsistent with the cause of death from the Thousand Poisons Box…” Yan Heng murmured from the chair.

“Could it be that the Thousand Poisons Box was enhanced with some sorcery that can conceal the needle marks?” Yue Hua suggested.

“We can’t rule out that possibility,” Liang Xiao said, then turned to look at Yan Heng, “Can you go to the Demon Market again and ask what kind of symptoms the poison from the Thousand Poisons Box produces?”

Yan Heng nodded: “Of course, I can. When will Your Highness depart?”

“Tonight.”

The two went to the Demon Market again. It was the same waiter, who smiled and came to greet them upon seeing them enter the door.

“The two ladies have returned. Are you here to buy things or inquire about matters today?”

Liang Xiao went straight to the point: “If a person is poisoned by the Thousand Poisons Box, what symptoms will they exhibit?”

The waiter answered promptly: “The poisoned needle entering the body leaves a needle mark, and the whole body turns blue. Other than that, there are no other symptoms.”

Yan Heng followed up: “Then do you know what poison causes ulcerated red spots to appear all over a person’s body, and the eyes cannot be closed after death?”

The waiter shook his head: “I am not a poison maker, so I don’t understand the mystery behind it.”

The two exchanged a look of disappointment, turned around, and returned to the palace.

Yan Heng was sprawled on the table, while Liang Xiao looked exhausted. The investigation into her Imperial Mother’s affairs these past few days had consumed most of her energy.

“Your Highness?” Yan Heng called out softly.

“What is it?” Liang Xiao lazily lifted her eyes to look at her.

“Why not rest for a few days before continuing the investigation? This matter cannot be rushed, and what if you ruin your health?” Yan Heng’s tone was quite worried.

Liang Xiao shook her head: “I am not that delicate.”

“You are just stubborn,” Yan Heng grabbed the mirror beside her and held it up to Liang Xiao, “Take a look at your own complexion?”

Liang Xiao wanted to say something more, but Yan Heng cut her off: “Isn’t the Mid-Autumn Festival in a few days? Your Highness should go out of the palace for a stroll.”

Liang Xiao was slightly stunned; she hadn’t realized it was already the Mid-Autumn Festival.

It had been nearly three months since Yan Heng entered the palace.

“Do you want to go out and wander around outside the palace?” Liang Xiao composed her thoughts and turned to ask her.

“Of course, I do!” Yan Heng said excitedly, “Is Your Highness going to take me out?”

Liang Xiao’s fingers gently tapped the table: “After the palace banquet on the Mid-Autumn Festival, I will take you out for a walk. There will be a market in the streets that night.”

“Thank you, Your Highness!” Yan Heng’s face was full of joy.

She was consistently unwilling to hide her emotions; everything was written on her face, making her mood clear to anyone who looked.

This was something Liang Xiao could not do. She lived oppressively deep in the palace, desperately hoping someone could pull her out.

Would that person be Yan Heng?

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