Bone Painting CoronerBone Painting Coroner
Of course, this came as no surprise to Jing Rong.
He folded the counterfeit edict and looked at Qin Shiyu, who was sitting beside him. "Lord Qin, what's actually going on?"
Qin Shiyu lifted the curtain and glanced towards the rear of the fleet. Finally at ease, Qin Shiyu explained, "This official knew at once when Your Highness arrived at the capital. I expected that Prince Yi wouldn't easily allow Your Highness to return to the capital, so I staged this play, hoping to prevent Prince Yi from ordering your death. Unfortunately, I was still a step too late and almost put Your Highness at risk."
Oh! Jing Rong replied, "You weren't late. Instead, you arrived right on time."
"How so?"
"If Lord Qin didn't arrive slightly later, this prince wouldn't have known that War Secretary Ji is really working with Jing Yi and that they are determined to kill this prince. Hereafter, this prince knows to keep my guard up against him, and avoid future disadvantages."
How optimistic!
Qin Shiyu sighed. "Everyone in the imperial court knows War Secretary Ji as a cautious person who never explicitly involves himself in any faction. However, Prince Yi married the daughter of Ji Family and made her his Princess Consort. Therefore, it's understandable that he chose Prince Yi’s faction."
"It's definitely not as simple as that." Jing Rong continued, "Even if you're right, War Secretary Ji is not a person who would allow himself to be manipulated by Prince Yi at will... There must be some other secrets that we don’t know about."
Qin Shiyu shook his head. "I have no idea."
A few moments later…
Jing Rong asked with a concerned tone, "If this edict Lord Qin just delivered is a counterfeit, then what about Imperial Father’s decision?"
"Don't worry, Your Highness. This humble official is certain that the Emperor will issue an oral decree to approve Your Highness' return to the capital. However, I anticipated that it might arrive only after Prince Yi's order to kill Your Highness did. Therefore, this humble one made a bold decision to deliver a counterfeit edict to save Your Highness from such a knotty situation. If His Majesty wants to punish this humble official for the counterfeit edict, this humble one will bear the consequences alone."
"This prince doesn't know how to repay Lord Qin's great kindness."
"It's worth it as long as Your Highness can return to the capital safely. Moreover, the ‘Case of Lin Capital' has been left hanging since Your Highness left the capital a few months ago. Your Highness therefore has to return to the capital and solve the case with Teacher Ji's help as soon as possible."
Jing Rong nodded. They had certainly postponed the case for too long!
All of a sudden, the carriage came to a halt.
One of the city guards stood in front of the fleet, blocking their way.
Jing Rong and Qin Shiyu exchanged looks but remained inside the carriage. The guard proclaimed, "His Majesty has decreed that Prince Rong is to depart for the imperial palace immediately, bringing along the Late Emperor's edict. There shall be no delay."
Finally, the official edict has arrived!
The corners of Jing Rong’s lips turned up into a thin smile.
After many months away, he was finally back in the capital!
The fleet of carriages continued forward. The wheels rumbled along the state road, accompanied by the rattling of pebbles, and the clip-clop of the horses. Thus, they smoothly entered through the main gate of the capital.
The capital was as bright and bustling as it had been when he left. Pedestrians strolled back and forth on the wide road, stores and business on both sides of the road were thriving. Alongside those, were hawkers displaying their wares and selling their goods, interspersed with customers, goods caravans, and children playing gleefully…
It was very lively.
Jing Rong's fleet travelled down the main road, then split into three groups. One group headed to the imperial palace; one group to Prince Rong's estate; and the last group to Yuhua Pavilion.
…
Imperial Palace, Zhangzhi Hall.
Lately, Concubine Xiao had been suffering from recurring headaches. The imperial physicians had prescribed many medications and she had taken a variety of supplements but none of them worked.
The imperial physician was there again to check her pulse. Concubine Xiao lay on her side in the chaise lounge, extended her hand, and laid it on the cushion. A thin hanky was placed on her smooth wrist, allowing the physician to take her pulse veiled by the hanky.
Jing Xuan sat quietly at the side. She rushed over immediately after she got the news about her Imperial Mother's illness.
She was very worried.
When the physician was done checking the pulse, Jing Xuan asked anxiously, "Physician, how's my Imperial Mother doing?"
"The weather has not been good lately. Your Ladyship has caught a chill, making her feel unwell, and aggravating her headaches."
"You’ve prescribed her so many different medicines time and time again, so why do they all not seem to have an effect?"
"This is a chronic illness. Her Ladyship needs time to recuperate and can't recover overnight. This happened because Her Ladyship has been working ceaselessly day and night. As long as she continues to take the medication, she will feel better as time passes."
Working tirelessly? My foot!
All she did all day long was stroll around the palace and trim the flowering bushes. She clearly was unbearably idle. She was now the most powerful among the imperial harem so there was no need for her to fight with the other concubines either.
The only thing that could make her expend any real effort was her son.
Jing Xuan waved her hand. "That's enough. You repeat the same words every time you are here. You should get going now."
The physician dared not stay for another second and he quickly answered, "Yes. This humble official will leave now." He picked up his stuff and left the place.
A pale Concubine Xiao lay on the chaise lounge with a listless expression. She reached out to tug at Jing Xuan. "You child, what’s the point of getting mad at the physician?"
"Imperial Mother, look at yourself. The physician has prescribed so many medications but you're not getting any better even after taking them. Xuan'er is worried."
"It's my body and I know it best. The weather hasn't been good lately. One day it's hot and sunny, and the next, it's cold and rainy. That's why I’m in this state. You don't have to worry about me."
"As long as Imperial Mother is well."
Jing Xuan ordered the servant to bring over a thick blanket and she covered Concubine Xiao with it. "Imperial mother, have a rest."
"Sure." Concubine Xiao slowly closed her eyes.
At that moment, Jing Xuan stood up and ordered someone to fetch the incense she had previously brought. She personally lit it then tossed it into the incense burner. The fragrance spread across the entire hall, giving out a very pleasant and refreshing scent.
She placed the burner beside the chaise lounge and sneaked a glance at the resting Concubine Xiao.
In that moment, her hand tightened its hold around the incense burner. That pair of innocent, unaffected, and guileless eyes also darkened as she secretly clenched her teeth.
At that moment, a young eunuch rushed over. "This humble one greets Your Ladyship and Your Highness."
Jing Xuan immediately dismissed the shadows in her eyes and let go of the incense burner.
Upon hearing the commotion, Concubine Xiao opened her eyes and saw the eunuch. "Xuan'er, why don’t you return to your room? I don't need you to take care of me here."
"Yes. Xuan'er will leave now." She bowed in farewell and left the hall obediently.
However, she didn’t actually leave.
Instead, she hid outside to eavesdrop on the conversation.
The eunuch went forward and spoke, "Your Ladyship, Prince Yi's men failed to stop Prince Rong from entering the capital."
Concubine Xiao suddenly became alert. She sat up from her chaise lounge with concern written all over her face. Her long and thin eyebrows knitted together as she asked, “Where is Prince Rong now?”
"He has arrived at the palace and is on his way to the Empire Affairs Chamber."
Just as he spoke…
Thud! Concubine Xiao waved her hand and knocked the incense burner Jing Xuan placed by her side off to the ground.
The burner hit the ground, spilling the barely-burnt incense and extinguishing it.
The eunuch knelt on the ground, body prone, too terrified to make a single squeak.
At that moment, the sickly and unfailingly yielding Concubine Xiao looked malevolent and terrifying.
…
Jing Xuan, who was eavesdropping outside the room, left silently.
When she returned to her own compound, she called for Duan'er and ordered, "Prepare a big red kite for me."
"Why does Princess need a kite?"
"Just do as you’re told. Don’t ask so much."
Duan'er mumbled a yes and left the room.
Jing Xuan stared in the direction of the distant Empire Affairs Chamber, concern plastered over her face. But, she also seemed relieved.
"Imperial Brother, you're finally back in the capital."