At three quarters past the hour of the morning, the dull clapperboard sound, like a hammer, echoed dully through the leaden morning mist, casting a solemn veil over the capital's Qipan Street. The vermilion lacquered gate of the Wang family compound seemed especially solemn in the silence, its brass nails gleaming with a cold light, as if evoking the Wang family's former glory. However, this seemingly indestructible gate was instantly slammed open by a powerful force, emitting a resounding, dull thud.
Immediately afterwards, thirty-six Jinwu Guards surged into the Wang family compound like a surging tide. Their postures were erect, their steps in unison, their swords at their waists gleaming coldly in the morning mist, like messengers of justice, coming to judge the evil hidden in the darkness. Su Jinli sat quietly in the carriage, slightly lifting the corner of the curtain, watching all this unfold. Just then, she saw the steward, frantically clutching the account book, attempting to escape through the corner gate. But his plan was thwarted. A swift-eyed soldier launched a precise kick, striking the steward in the face. The steward screamed and fell forward, the account book instantly flying out of his grasp. The yellowed pages, like frightened white birds, scattered in the morning mist, scattering across the lotus pond in front of the carved screen. The originally peaceful lotus pond was now disturbed by the paper, and ripples appeared on the surface, as if it was also shocked by this sudden change.
"Sister, do you think that's the jade headpiece of the old lady of the Wang family?" Young Marquis Su leaned against the car window, his eyes wide open, his face full of excitement and curiosity. The gilded axe in his hand swayed in the morning mist, reflecting tiny rays of light, like stars. He pointed to the red lacquered wooden box carried out by the officers and soldiers. The lotus pattern embroidered on the corner of the box had half of its gold thread knocked off in the panic, revealing the mottled wood underneath. Su Jinli looked in the direction of his finger, and her thoughts couldn't help but go back to yesterday. Yesterday, the box was still placed steadily in the main hall of the Wang family. The old lady of the Wang family sat in the hall, wearing the jade phoenix crown in the box, accepting everyone's birthday congratulations. The phoenix feathers on the phoenix crown were smart, and the oriental pearls inlaid on the feathers were dazzling, the light was dazzling, and it showed the luxury and majesty of the Wang family. But now, everything has changed.
Jiang Yan sat quietly beside Su Jinli, considerately tucking her fox fur cloak. The moisture from the morning mist caused a light white mist to condense on his lenses, blurring the cold light in his eyes like a sharp blade. He turned his head slightly and whispered to Su Jinli, "People from the Dali Temple found a secret letter from Doctor Zhou in the secret compartment of the accounting office." He paused, as if thinking about something, and then slowly took out half a mutton-fat jade pendant from his sleeve. The jade pendant had a warm texture and emitted a soft luster in the weak light, but the dried blood stains embedded in the lotus pattern made it particularly glaring. "This was found in the interlayer of Miss Wang's makeup box. Together with the half piece from Madam, it can form a complete mandarin duck."
Su Jinli took the jade pendant. It felt cold to the touch, like a block of ice, instantly draining the warmth from her fingertips. Her fingertips gently traced the lotus petals, the delicate touch like a sharp knife, slicing through long-forgotten memories. Suddenly, she recalled her mother's final moments. She was only five years old that year, her mother lying frail in bed, her breath barely audible. With trembling hands, her mother smashed the jade pendant in two, blood dripping down her fingers and onto the back of Su Jinli's hand. Her mother's voice was weak but firm: "Li'er, seeing jade is like seeing a person..." Before she could finish her words, she violently coughed up blood. The crimson blood stained the twin lotus screen before the bed and deeply stung Su Jinli's heart. The jade pendant felt like a thousand pounds, piercing her palm with a sharp pain. She realized she had clenched her fingers until their knuckles turned white, as if sinking the jade pendant into her palm would ease the grief.
At that moment, two soldiers, handcuffing his arms behind his back, dragged him awkwardly out of the Chuihua Gate. His purple robe and jade sash, once a symbol of nobility, were now ripped askew, losing their former majesty. His graying beard, beaded with dew, clung to his face, making him look particularly disheveled. When his cloudy eyes caught sight of Su Jinli, a glint of light suddenly flashed. His parched lips trembled as he spoke with difficulty, "Miss Prime Minister... I'm sorry for your mother..." Before he could finish his words, a soldier mercilessly gagged him with a walnut and then pinned the crown askew on his head, revealing the coin-sized cinnabar mole on the back of his neck. Su Jinli recognized it instantly; it was the ancestral Zhou family mark her mother had mentioned so long ago.
"Sir Zhou, you'd better save your energy for a trial at the Dali Temple!" Captain Li strode forward, swinging nine iron chains in his hands. The chains clashed with each other, making a crisp sound of shackles, sending ripples through the morning mist, as if sentencing Imperial Physician Zhou to his guilt. Su Jinli watched Imperial Physician Zhou's stumbling back, her thoughts surging like a tide. Suddenly, she remembered seeing a rare "Intoxicating Heart Flower" among the medicine residue during Liu's pregnancy in her previous life. At that time, Imperial Physician Zhou, twirling his beard, calmly explained that the medicine was for "replenishing Qi and blood." Now, thinking back, that medicine, cleverly combined with other herbs, was the very agent that was slowly poisoning her mother. At this thought, Su Jinli's anger burned like a raging fire.
"Madam, watch the corner gate." Jiang Yan's voice was low and steady, ringing in Su Jinli's ears like a huge bell, interrupting her memories. Su Jinli subconsciously turned her head and saw a woman in gray clothes with her hands tied behind her back, being roughly dragged out by officers and soldiers. She looked closely and saw that it was Aunt Zhang who was beside Liu. Aunt Zhang's hair was disheveled, with a few strands of hair hanging on her face. There were clear slap marks on her face, making her look particularly miserable. She seemed to be crazy. She suddenly broke free from the restraints of the officers and soldiers, threw herself in front of the carriage, and banged her forehead against the bluestone slab with a dull and loud sound, which made people feel unbearable. "Miss, spare me! This old slave is possessed by a ghost... The Wang family gave this old slave a hundred taels of silver and asked her to mix medicine into the tonic..." Aunt Zhang's voice was crying, full of regret and fear.
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