Chapter 112 (None)

The next day, Ding Shang still hadn't seen the wolfberry water lily, so he rushed over to report to Jiang Ling.

"Your Majesty, Chief Clerk Song said that after sending them off on their errands yesterday, she hasn't seen them return. She was worried about them, and when they didn't return to their quarters last night, she went to the Ministry of Personnel early this morning to inquire. They said the two left around 3 PM. When I went to the Palace Clerk's Office, Chief Clerk Song had already sent palace maids to search for them, asking around everywhere. They said it rained yesterday, and very few people went out; no one saw them."

Seeing Ding Shang's nervousness, Jiang Ling remained extremely calm, turning his head to look out the window.

After the rain stopped, the sun suddenly became scorching hot, so bright that it was hard to open one's eyes.

Jiang Ling said, "If they haven't left the palace, they should still be inside. If we can't find them right now, we'll definitely find them in two or three days."

Ding Shang was taken aback. Following Jiang Ling's gaze, he suddenly realized what was going on.

If the wolfberry and water lily die, their corpses will rot and stink when the weather gets hot, and they will be unable to hide.

Ding Shang said, "Your Majesty, I will check the various palace gates again to see if the two have been released."

Jiang Ling said, "Okay, let Wen Juan go and find Zhang Shan and arrange for him to go and search for people."

Zhang Shan led the guards to search everywhere, carefully checking all the wells, both dry and wet. Ding Shang also went to each palace gate to inquire, but the two had not left the palace.

They searched for five or six days, but Gouqi Shuilian was nowhere to be found, neither alive nor dead; she had vanished into thin air from the palace.

Jiang Ling refused to believe it and was determined to find the two people, even if it meant turning the entire palace upside down. After some thought, she decided to start with Yuan Changsheng.

The weather was fine as usual when Jiang Ling woke up that morning. After washing up in the washroom, Huang Liang and the eunuchs had already set out the meal.

"It's this food again." Emperor Yuanming started complaining as soon as he opened his eyes, expressing his disdain for the steamed egg custard and other dishes on the table.

Huang Liang stood bowing, not daring to make a sound. Jiang Ling glanced at him, then buried his head in peeling the eggshell.

After watching Jiang Ling peel the tender white egg, Emperor Yuanming immediately said, "Give it to me!"

Jiang Ling placed the peeled egg in an empty bowl and had Huang Liang take it to him, saying, "Give me the steamed egg instead."

Emperor Yuanming snorted and said, "I'm giving you a boiled egg, and you want me to give you steamed egg custard in return."

"Take it back to the Emperor," Jiang Ling said generously, unwilling to argue with the deranged Emperor Yuanming.

Just as Huang Liang picked up the bowl, Emperor Yuanming said angrily, "Here you go, do you think I need a bowl of egg custard from you?"

Jiang Ling gestured for Huang Liang to put down the bowl, then picked up a silver spoon and began eating the steamed egg custard. Emperor Yuanming, while biting into the boiled egg, looked at Jiang Ling with a probing expression.

After finishing his breakfast, Jiang Ling sat down to drink tea before asking, "Does Your Majesty have something to say?"

Emperor Yuanming snorted and said unhappily, "I have seen that you have been very busy these days, often summoning Ding Shang and the others to come to see you. As a concubine, it is simply improper for you to have such close contact with court officials."

Jiang Ling usually accompanied Emperor Yuanming in reviewing memorials, so she was quite familiar with the happenings in the court. Indeed, a censor impeached Jiang Ling, but the reason for the impeachment was that her long-term residence in Qionghua Pavilion was against regulations.

Jiang Ling had a tight grip on the Chuigong Hall, so news of her directing Ding Shang and Zheng Xiang should not have spread. The court officials were relatively distant, but Emperor Yuanming was closer, and she had to eliminate him first.

Otherwise, Emperor Yuanming should have been wary of her, as the empress and concubines were wielding power.

Jiang Ling hesitated for a moment, then said, "Some things have happened recently, and I was worried about His Majesty's health, so I didn't tell him."

Emperor Yuanming's face darkened, and he asked, "What has happened now? You never seem to have a moment's peace, causing me endless worry!"

Jiang Ling recounted the disappearance of the wolfberry and water lily, saying, "Your Majesty, this matter dates back to some time ago when Vice Minister Zhao and Madam Gao knelt before the Jiang residence. At that time, Your Majesty ordered Prime Minister Zheng and Imperial City Envoy Ding to investigate, starting with any leaks of imperial information. Imperial City Envoy Ding found the list of those who left the palace and questioned everyone else, but the person from the Palace Administration Office responsible for wolfberry and water lily was nowhere to be found."

Emperor Yuanming was immediately enraged, "Where is Consort Song? Bring her to see me!"

Jiang Ling hurriedly said, "I told you I dared not tell His Majesty. Look, His Majesty is really angry again. It's hot, be careful not to get upset. Your Majesty should take good care of your health. It's just a few questions, I'll go and ask for His Majesty."

Emperor Yuanming had been lying in bed so much that he was about to develop bedsores. When Jiang Ling told him to take care of his health, although he maintained his imperial dignity, his expression softened.

"Hmph, go ahead and ask Song Gongzheng what happened. How could two living people just disappear like that?"

Jiang Ling said, "Your Majesty, let Huang Liang and the others help you walk around a bit, don't lie down for too long." After showing concern for Emperor Yuanming, she said to Huang Liang, "Later, when the sun is higher, Your Majesty should take a good bath, change all the bedding, and take it out to air it properly."

Huang Liang hurriedly agreed to everything. Emperor Yuanming was pleased to see that Jiang Ling had given him detailed instructions. He glanced at him and said reproachfully, "You always have so many tricks up your sleeve. I take baths all the time, and my skin is almost peeling off."

Having been bedridden for so long, the room always had a lingering sour smell. If it weren't for her own comfort, Jiang Ling wouldn't have bothered with Emperor Yuanming.

After leaving her bedroom, Jiang Ling did not send anyone to summon Song Gongzheng. Instead, she paced back and forth under the eaves, pondered for a moment, and then went to Yuan Changsheng's residence.

According to her estimation, Yuan Changsheng's injuries should have healed by about 70-80%. He never showed his face, Zhang Shan performed his duties smoothly, and his subordinates were all obedient and compliant.

The same was true for Consort Liu. Xiao Jiatang was moved to Xiefang Pavilion, and she remained silent about it, as if she had never cared for him.

Gouqi Shuilian has disappeared, and the trail ends here. They are Gong Zhengsi's people; if anything goes wrong, they can pin the blame on Song Gongzheng.

Jiang Ling intuitively believed that Song Gongzheng would not confess.

The gate to the courtyard was ajar. Wenjuan stepped forward and pushed it open, revealing the small courtyard in its entirety.

The flowers and plants, neatly arranged, grew lush and green. A few poppies planted in the corner were growing particularly well, their deep green color resembling jade.

Yuan Changsheng, dressed in a worn blue cloth robe, gently wiped the leaves of the poppy with a cloth. He was slightly hunched over, and from behind, one could almost see his bony frame.

Hearing the door open, Yuan Changsheng turned around, his face thin and pale, his eyes deep and cold like a pool, his gaze sharp as a knife. However, when he saw that it was Jiang Ling, he was surprised for a moment, and quickly bowed and greeted her: "I did not know that Your Majesty was coming, and I have not been able to welcome you from afar. Please forgive me."

Jiang Ling nodded slightly and walked over. Yuan Changsheng looked troubled and said, "The room is simple, and I am afraid that I may offend Your Highness, so I dare not invite Your Highness into the room."

The quarters for palace maids and eunuchs were small, with open doors. Inside, they were spotless, furnished with a few old tables and chairs.

"It's alright, it's bright outside. I'll just talk to you here."

Jiang Ling told Wen Juan and the others to wait aside while she walked over alone, pointed to the flowers and plants in the yard, and asked curiously, "Did you grow all these flowers?"

Yuan Changsheng said respectfully, "When I have free time, I like to tend to flowers and plants. All the flowers and plants in the courtyard are grown by me. They are just wildflowers and weeds. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."

Jiang Ling looked around and said, "It's growing quite well; it seems you've put in a lot of effort. Growing flowers and plants requires patience and meticulousness. When you were patrolling the palace, you hardly ever rested. You probably haven't had a few hours of rest a day. What are you working so hard for?"

A hint of suspicion crossed Yuan Changsheng's face. He cautiously replied, "This servant is destined to toil and cannot rest. If I rest, I cannot have peace of mind, fearing that I will have nothing to eat or wear. Your Majesty, what brings you to this humble place?"

Jiang Ling said, "Gong Zhengsi's wolfberry and water lily have suddenly disappeared. They're probably dead by now. Do you know where they are?"

Yuan Changsheng paused for a moment, then answered flawlessly, "Since they are palace maids of the Palace Administration Department, this servant does not know. Besides, this servant was punished by the Emperor some time ago and has long since stopped performing duties in the palace. This servant does not know their whereabouts, please forgive me, Your Highness."

Jiang Ling responded with an "oh," and said unhurriedly, "I already know where they are."

Yuan Changsheng gripped the cloth tightly for a moment, then released it again, saying, "Now that Your Majesty knows, this servant is truly relieved. We've finally found them."

Jiang Ling raised an eyebrow, deliberately slowed his speech, and said, word by word, "Before I send someone to look for him, I'd like to ask you first."

Yuan Changsheng's expression changed slightly. "This servant is foolish and does not understand what Your Majesty means."

Jiang Ling said, “My meaning is very simple. Once I find the person, I will have Ding Huangcheng interrogate Song Gongzheng directly. You have served in the palace for many years and you know very well what kind of nonsense physical evidence and witness testimony are. They can be there or they can not. A few beatings and Willow Lane will be the best ending for you.”

She pointed at Yuan Changsheng and said with a smile, "Of course, those like you who were given twenty strokes of the cane and only suffered some superficial injuries are not included."

Yuan Changsheng's heart pounded, and a chill ran down his spine. His eyes darkened, and he took a barely perceptible half-step back. "Your Majesty, I am a lowly servant. I have been beaten and scolded since I was a child. My skin is thick and tough. Even when my skin is torn and bleeding, I just grit my teeth and endure it. As long as I survive, it will pass."

Jiang Ling said, "Twenty strokes of the cane would surely damage your internal organs, and whether you live or die would be up to fate. When I heard you were recuperating, I knew you hadn't injured any organs, so the person who wielded the cane must have been lenient. Of course, I didn't intend to beat you half to death; after all, I'm kind-hearted and have never advocated such punishment."

Yuan Changsheng was an extremely intelligent man. He immediately raised his hand respectfully and said, "Your Majesty has discerning eyes and saw through the ins and outs of your servants. Your Majesty is merciful and did not point out that I was beaten. It was only because someone treated me lightly that I was spared my lowly life. I thank Your Majesty for sparing my life."

Jiang Ling chuckled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes, and said, "It's not that I don't want to kill."

Yuan Changsheng froze, and slowly said, "If Your Majesty wants to kill me, I would never dare to resist."

“I kill because the man deserves to die. I don’t kill because his sins do not warrant death.”

Jiang Ling said, then looked at Yuan Changsheng, "I've heard some things about your childhood. You came from a brothel, and your background was indeed tragic. Some people, because they weren't loved, grow up to be cold-blooded, heartless monsters, neither human nor ghost. Others, however, if they receive a little kindness, will repay that kindness even if it means sacrificing their lives..."

As soon as she stopped speaking, Yuan Changsheng pursed his thin lips, stared intently at her, and his face drained of color.

Jiang Ling met his cold gaze calmly and slowly said, "Or feelings."

At this moment, Yuan Changsheng could no longer control his emotions, and his face changed drastically. His tense body trembled violently.

Jiang Ling asked casually, as if chatting about everyday matters, "When you were young, did you ever encounter a benefactor, someone who would even give up their life for you?"

After a long while, Yuan Changsheng managed to squeeze out a few words. He seemed to be trying his best to control himself, and his voice became hoarse: "Your Majesty, this servant has not been blessed by Heaven and has never encountered such a thing."

Jiang Ling remained expressionless and continued to ask, "What kind of person have you grown into? A monster, or someone who reciprocates my kindness with kindness?"

Yuan Changsheng's breathing became more and more rapid, and his expression turned ferocious. "This servant has never been to school and does not understand these profound principles. This servant only knows how to work to support himself and has no other thoughts."

Jiang Ling remained unmoved and said, "As the saying goes, 'Put yourself in someone else's shoes.' It's a simple statement, but many people can't do it. Alas, there are too few people in this world, and too many who are neither human nor ghost. Many people always give excuses for their actions, believing that what they are doing is the right path, or that they have many reasons not to. Murder is murder, and malice is malice. Don't deceive yourself, and don't try to fool others with it."

The wind rose, blowing Yuan Changsheng's robes, and he swayed precariously with the wind.

Jiang Ling didn't mention Consort Liu's name once from beginning to end. Her expression suddenly darkened, and she said coldly, "If Consort Song dies, it's because of someone else. Yuan Dafu, this debt can't be repaid even with your life!"