by Qinghan CeCe
“Yes, you mentioned your doubts before.”
“But this time, I’m sure. The body belongs to Jin Nu—you probably realized it too—the pipa player close to Li Rui.”
“You’re sure?”
“Basically sure. The calluses on her hand were probably caused by years of friction on that spot from using a pipa pick.”
“That makes sense, but there are a lot of pipa players in the world. How can you be sure it’s Jin Nu?”
“Jin Nu disappeared when that body appeared in Yongchun Hall.”
Li Shubai nodded slightly. “Do you have anything more concrete than that?”
“Yes.” Huang Zixia drew an arrow on the paper with her hairpin. Then wrote Chongren Square. “The night Jin Nu disappeared, Zhou Ziqin took leftovers from Jinlou and poisoned the beggars.”
Li Shubai nodded again. “I remember you said Jin Nu was there too.”
“Yes. The food Zhou Ziqin sent them was what we had all been eating, but no one was affected. We gave it directly to the beggars and watched them eat it. So there are only two possibilities. First, there was something wrong with the lotus leaves we used. But Zhou Ziqin said that antiaris poison is extremely toxic, and the leaves would have quickly turned black. However, the leaves we used were freshly washed, pliant and green, so they couldn’t have been laced with poison.”
Li Shubai nodded. “The other possibility is that there was poison on your hands.”
“Right. There were three of us. I didn’t have any issues, Zhou Ziqin was safe and sound, so the only possibility was that there was poison on Jin Nu’s hands,” Huang Zixia said with a sigh. “She complained that the cherry stem pricked her. Actually, the poison would have already been penetrating her skin and causing her hands to feel irritated. No one’s hands are that delicate.”
“Would antiaris poison have such an effect through surface contact?”
“It shouldn’t, so there’s still something I’m unclear about: when Jin Nu was poisoned. There was no wound on her hand, and it didn’t enter orally. And she was always with us that night, but when we were about to leave, the poison . . . Given antiaris’s toxicity, no one could have done it in front of us. So how and when she was poisoned, I really can’t say.”
“But at least the body’s build, markings, and manner and time of death are consistent. Should be conclusive.” Li Shubai nodded. “What about your second point?”
Huang Zixia used the hairpin to draw a second arrow and the word Xuzhou. “As you suspected, the girls you saved in Xuzhou are important.”
“Oh?” Li Shubai actually looked a little surprised.
“Chen Nian is expecting someone to arrive in the capital. When she comes, we should be able to solve the case.”
“Who?”
“Cheng Xuese, one of the girls you rescued in Xuzhou. She’s bringing a painting. I think it will be the most compelling evidence in the case.” Her expression was dignified, her tone confident.
Li Shubai, sitting in Jingyu Hall, looked up slightly at Huang Zixia. Sunlight flashed through the curtains, making her seem transparent and bright, enough to banish all the darkness in the world. He took a deep breath. “Very good. I hope your bet pays off.”
“I won’t let you down.” Huang Zixia felt loyal to him. He was the only one that could overturn her false conviction and avenge her family.
Unfortunately, Li Shubai was unmoved. “So what are you going to do next?”
“Going to pursue the Jin Nu angle. Before too much time passes, I’ll look at her room at the music academy and see if there are any clues.” Huang Zixia thought a moment, then added, “I’ll say my Prince sent Jin Nu an important gift, and I’m here to look for it.”
“Don’t use the Prince of Kui’s token,” he said coldly.
Huang Zixia stood and bowed. “Rest assured. If I say a Prince sent me, everyone will assume it’s Li Rui.”
“Mm,” he said. “You don’t need dinner?”
“No need. If I wait any longer, curfew will pass,” she said. “Oh, and in order to avoid using the token, I requested funding of ten silvers and twenty coppers.”
Li Shubai was surprised. “What’s the twenty for?”
“To hire a carriage for the ride back.”
Li Shubai looked at her. “How are you that broke?”
“Because Junior Eunuch Yang Chonggu has been penniless ever since she started working for you,” she said with no shame.
“Why not find Jing Yi and have him get the bookkeeper to give you an advance?”
“Once it’s approved, it’ll probably take a month. By that time, I’ll have received my salary, and it won’t be of much use.”
Li Shubai raised his eyebrows slightly. His ever-fearless face finally showed some compassion. He opened the drawer, took out a purse, and tossed it to her.
“Thank you, my Prince!” Huang Zixia caught it, turned, and left.
The Changan of the Tang Dynasty had two academies. The pipa, guqin, and arts academy was on Guangzhou Square, not far from Kui Palace.
Huang Zixia hurried over. She found an old woman sitting in the entrance, nibbling on seeds, who raised her hand to stop her.
Huang Zixia quickly bowed. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I’m here for Jin Nu.”
“Huh, what a coincidence. Everyone’s looking for Jin Nu.” She brushed some seed debris off herself as she stood. “Are you also coming to find something you gave her ’cause you heard she ran off with someone?”
Huang Zixia gasped. “Someone else already came?”
“Sure. Such a woman I’ve never seen before,” she said. “That face, that figure, prettier than a lady in a painting.”
“Did you get her name?” Huang Zixia asked.
“No. Quite different from this eunuch coming with nothing but words. She had a letter Jin Nu had written her. But I can’t read!”
Seeing the old woman’s resistance, Huang Zixia smiled and took some money from the purse. “Ma’am, look. I was ordered here. When my Prince heard the girl ran off, he was very angry. If I don’t get his gift back, how will I return home?”
“Oh, no, I can’t stand to see people suffer.” She took the little silver and grinned. “Come, come. I’ll show you Jin Nu’s room. It’s at the east end of the second corridor, room three. Hurry, we’re closing up in less than an hour.”
Huang Zixia thanked her and went. When she got there, Jin Nu’s door was open, for some reason. Two girls were in the doorway talking.
“Excuse me,” Huang Zixia said, “the beautiful lady?”
The two girls sized her up, undoubtedly noting her eunuch uniform. “Whoa, where are you from? The academy, or a Prince’s palace?”
“My Prince left something with Jin Nu. Since she’s gone now, he asked me to come find it. Though it’s not valuable, it’s precious to the Prince,” Huang Zixia said. “I heard a beautiful woman was just here?”
“Of course. Jin Nu was pretty good-looking, but who knew there was someone like that?” the girl on the left said, looking inside. “Didn’t she say she was coming back? Where is she?”
“Yes, I’m eager to see her picture,” the other girl said, frowning.
Huang Zixia was shocked. “What picture?”
“One of those famous six women, amazing performers from Yangzhou.”
“The Six Women of Yunshao?” Huang Zixia said, dumbfounded.
“You’re just a eunuch. You don’t study music; why would you want to see the picture?”
Huang Zixia was speechless, confused about where she got that from. She thought the beautiful woman with the picture must be Cheng Xuese. Why hadn’t Chen Nian brought her to her first?
The two girls waited awhile. Seeing she wasn’t coming back, they stomped off. “Can I go in Jin Nu’s room?” Huang Zixia asked.
“Sure. When she left, she took her money and important things. People here divided up what was left. They said they were helping Jin Nu get rid of it, but of course they just wanted it for themselves. Look for yourself. There’s bas
ically nothing there.”
“Even so, it’s worth a try,” Huang Zixia said. She said goodbye and went into the room and looked around.
Jin Nu’s room was quite stylish. The patterned window frame had purple chiffon curtains, and there was a beaded curtain dividing the room.
There were a couple of chairs by the window with some things on them—a white porcelain pot with two withered tea plants.
There was no one inside. The woman who came must have gotten what she wanted and left.
She sat in a small chair, thinking about the case, and waited for Cheng Xuese to come back.
The sky grew dimmer, making the lamplight outside seem brighter. Cheng Xuese never came back. Huang Zixia couldn’t wait any longer and decided to take a look. She stood up and went to the wardrobe and looked inside with the help of the light coming in through the window.
Sure enough, everything of value had been taken away. There were only a few pieces of wrinkled clothing and the furniture. Nothing useful.
She paced throughout the room, eyes sweeping over every inch. Finally, a glint of reflected light through the window made her stop. She lay down on the ground and reached toward the corner of the flower rack. Taking the shiny thing in her hand, her eyes suddenly widened with surprise.
A silver half ingot.
It was about the same size as the one they found in Yongchun Hall. The engraving and quality seemed the same. It was probably the other half. She held it in her arms as she carefully searched the room once more to make sure she hadn’t missed anything. Then she left.
She hurried to leave the school before the gates were locked. She stood alone in Guangzhai Square. The curfew was starting soon, and Changan was silent. She couldn’t find a carriage to hire.
She sighed reluctantly and began walking toward Kui Palace. The drums signaling curfew pounded in the distance, so she walked faster. Guangzhai Square was in the north, near Daming Palace and Taiji Palace, but no one was out. She seemed to hear her footsteps echoing loudly through the streets.
A voice called from behind her. “Who’s that? What are you doing out this late?”
Huang Zixia turned and faced two mounted patrolmen. “I’m a eunuch from Kui Palace. I was delayed on an errand and am hurrying back.”
They softened noticeably. “Do you have an errand letter or something?”
“No need. I know him. He’s Yang Chonggu,” the other one said.
Huang Zixia recognized the voice and felt relieved. She bowed. “Commander Wang.”
The commander of the right guard was on patrol that night.
Wang Yun looked down at her from his horse, but he didn’t seem arrogant, rather gentle and modest. “Mr. Yang, I saw you passing the time by watching the clouds this afternoon. What could you be so occupied with now?”
“I misjudged the time, thought I could get back before curfew.”
Wang Yun nodded, indicating for the other man to continue on the route. Then he patted the back of his horse. “Come on. I’ll send you back to the palace.”
“Oh, no need. The commander is busy. I’m just a servant.” She smiled stiffly and started to walk.
The clap of Wang Yun’s horse followed behind.
She turned and looked at him. “It hasn’t been very safe lately. I’ll go with you,” he said gently.
“Thank you so much, Commander Wang.” It was hard for her to get these words out. She wouldn’t speak again.
The long street was silent. The lamps in the corners of the squares shone peacefully. There was an occasional breeze that made their flames undulate light and dark like waves washing over Changan.
They went like that to Kui Palace: Huang Zixia on foot and Wang Yun on horseback. His horse was well trained and gentle, keeping a steady gait the same speed as Huang Zixia’s.
They trod on the watery light through Changan’s straight, wide streets. It was the world’s most prosperous city, with thousands of buildings lit as bright as stars.
Many aristocrats lived in Yongjia Square. The music was carried along the wind to their ears—bits of strings and voices.
The parasol shadow outside the pearl curtain is the first to know the autumn frost.
Huang Zixia, walking in a daze, heard Wang Yun chuckle. “It’s not even summer yet. How could there be autumn frost?”
It took a second for Huang Zixia to realize he was talking about the song lyrics. “It’s about the feeling, not the actual things.”
He tilted his head. “Yes, I’m too focused on actual things.”
“Wang Ruo’s coffin will soon return to Langya. The commander must be very busy. How did he find time to go on patrol tonight?”
“There are so many people at home. As long as they know what to do, it’ll get done. No need to always keep an eye on it.” He looked out into the night. “And I like the look of the city at this time. It’s quieter and deeper than during the day. The silhouettes of the buildings are magnificent. There seems to be something hidden inside them; it’s spellbinding.”
“If you could see everything, of course, the spell would be broken.”
He smiled. “Mr. Yang is correct. Things are always clearer to a bystander.”
The lights near and far created a kind of haze, making her unsure if there was another layer of meaning to his smile.
Huang Zixia cringed. Wang Yun acting like this with a eunuch was completely improper.
Did he already figure out who she really was, or just have suspicions? How could she start protecting herself? She lowered her gaze to avoid his. “Almost there. Commander Wang can go back now.”
“Sure. Try not to lose track of time and stay out so late again.”
He stopped his horse in the street and watched her leave.
Huang Zixia walked quickly to the northwestern gate of Kui Palace and knocked. She went inside and looked back at Wang Yun as it closed.
He was still watching her, his dimly lit face looking as soft as a spring breeze.
Soon, another rider came up beside him. “When will you return, son? There are many things to attend to at home.”
“Straightaway,” Wang Yun said, turning his horse and starting off. “Father, why did you come out alone?”
Wang Lin sighed. “The Empress called. How could I not?”
Wang Yun nodded, and the two rode slowly off.
“Did you take care of the thing I asked?”
“Yes,” he said calmly. “Used some herbs to get rid of some of the blood, so no one can tell.”
“You acted alone?”
“Of course. Got a scapegoat too.”
“Reliable?” Wang Lin said coldly. “You know only the dead can be relied on.”
“Yes. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for an opportunity.”
Neither spoke as the Wangs’ palace came in sight. They went inside, and the porter helped them take the horse. Father and son walked through the corridor to the inner courtyard.
A lantern painted with the word Wang on the ground gave the deserted mansion some warmth.
Wang Lin suddenly stopped in the darkness and faced Wang Yun.
Wang Yun waited.
Wang Lin looked pleased at his boy, who was half a head taller than him. “Son, I really didn’t want there to be blood on your hands.”
Wang Yun pursed his lips. “I’m a Wang. I’ll do anything for the family, even sacrifice my life.”
Wang Lin patted his shoulder hard. “Good kid,” he said. “Shame this generation just has you.”
“Though sister’s a woman, she’s resolute and courageous. Now she’s Empress. I’m sure she’s sacrificed a lot for our family.”
Wang Lin’s expression slowly changed to a frown. He nodded. “Yes. She’s a Wang too.”
“And if nothing had happened to Ruo, she’d certainly be the Princess of Kui.”
“Right. The other Wang girls of this generation are weak. No one else would have tempted him so,” Wang Lin said with a sigh. “Back when the Emperor was the Prince of Yun, he cam
e to one of our banquets and took a liking to your sister as well. Clearly attractive people are always striking.”
Wang Yun listened to his father complain, looking at the red lanterns hanging under the eaves, and thought of Huang Zixia. Three years ago, when she was fourteen, he secretly followed her slim, red figure, fresh and charming.
He went on to remember Huang Zixia slowly turning around and then—her face melded with that of Yang Chonggu, and they became the same person.
Huang Zixia and Yang Chonggu, a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girl; a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old eunuch; one delicate, one fine; one light-skinned and confident in the old court, one weak and thin, serving cautiously by the Prince of Kui’s side.
He was clearly a little palace eunuch; why did he keep associating him with Huang Zixia? There was something strange when they first met, though. Is it because they’re both good at solving cases, and he looks like the picture on the wanted poster?
He’d even quietly looked into Yang Chonggu’s identity and found a clear trail from Jiucheng Palace to Kui Palace. Even the pledge he’d signed when he joined Jiucheng was still there—but Yang Chonggu was illiterate and just signed with a circle.
Then there was Li Shubai himself.
Doubting Yang Chonggu was the same as doubting him. He thought of how Huang Zixia humiliated him.
“Son, the Wang family has fallen in the world. I’m afraid the ancestors must be ashamed now all our hope is with you. I hope you can bring us back to our old glory, or at least resist the forces bringing us down!”
Wang Yun nodded solemnly. “Our family has the Empress, and you as minister. We’re not weak.”
“You’re wrong. The most influential person we have in the empire isn’t the Empress or me.” Wang Lin smiled slightly, with a touch of pride. “You forgot there’s someone else who can bring about a new order. It’s just that no one pays attention to that Wang.”
Wang Yun lowered his head and was silent for a time. “Yes.”
“After Wang Ruo’s coffin is sent off, go visit him,” Wang Lin said. He thought a moment, then added, “He likes fish. Remember to bring him a few—red would be best.”
“I don’t know if they already served dinner.” Huang Zixia’s stomach was aching.