Chapter 3: Phoenix Sign
Ling Tianshui had not participated in the original selection ceremony, and asked with a questioning look: "Phoenix Lottery?"
"Yes, I was a Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Rites at the time. I personally selected this pattern. The Internal Affairs Bureau hurriedly prepared it a few days before the selection of the County Lady and distributed it to the ten young men who were ultimately chosen as the County Lady's husbands. One was for congratulations, and the other was for credentials to enter the Changhua Palace."
As he spoke, he didn't mind that it was something from the corpse. He took it and examined it carefully, confirming, "It is undoubtedly the Phoenix Lucky Sign from that time."
Qian Deng naturally recognized it and asked, "How many were made in total?"
"Just ten, not one more. When all the gentlemen brought them into the palace that day, I personally examined them one by one during the assessment. Without exception."
It seems that this person's identity is easier to confirm.
"First, check all the young men's silver slips to see who lost them. Then, investigate any young students with a left-legged disability who had contact with a candidate in the palace three or five days ago. We'll know immediately."
They all had no objection to Qiandeng's judgment.
Ling Tianshui packed up the autopsy tools and surveyed the scene again to determine the exact time of death of the deceased.
Cui Fufeng questioned the captain and sailors in detail and got a consistent confession:
They had received news five days ago that the prince might come to inspect, and they knew that their boat would be parked in the first row of docks, so they carefully scrubbed the boat clean of algae, water chestnuts, snails and clams that had been cleaned off four days ago.
"It was absolutely clean. If there were any bloodstains on the hull, we would have scrubbed them away!"
The helmsman on another nearby ship said that their ship arrived in the early morning three days ago. At that time, in the daylight, he seemed to have caught a glimpse of some marks on the hull, but because it was too dark and they, the sailors, could not read, so they just took a quick glance and moved closer, thus blocking the hull, and the bloody words on the hull have never been seen by anyone.
It was not until the prince came to inspect that the boats that were originally crowded on the water were rearranged, and the words were revealed again.
"So, if the bloody words appeared on the night of three days ago, then the person who left the bloody letter also died on that night."
"Three days ago... April 25th." Qian Deng seemed to be lost in thought. "That was also my grandfather's birthday."
Cui Fufeng nodded. "Yes, that day, the Crown Prince personally descended upon the Changhua Palace to offer sacrifices. Aside from Ling Tianshui, who was away on military duty, all the other officials in the palace had taken leave and were waiting at the palace. We were all there."
On the way back, Qiandeng asked Cui Fufeng and Ling Tianshui to go back to the mansion first to collect the Phoenix-Attracting Signs from other gentlemen, while she herself went to Shang's house to visit Shang Luo.
The small courtyard was shaded by dense green trees, and the plums were growing to the size of quail eggs. Shangluo no longer needed the servants' support, and he limped to the tree, reaching up to touch the plums on the branches.
Unfortunately, he couldn't use any strength on his feet. He couldn't stand on tiptoe or jump, and was always two or three inches away from the plum.
Just as he cried out in frustration, the plum branch was suddenly lowered by someone, and the green plum just landed at his fingertips, allowing him to grab it.
He turned around in surprise and saw Qiandeng smiling at him.
The late spring and early summer sunlight filtered through the gaps in the green shade, and the light blue halo swayed on her cheek, rising and falling as disorderly as the blood surging in his heart.
"County Princess!" He couldn't help but blurt out, and his unstable body fell towards her involuntarily because of joy and excitement.
Qiandeng quickly supported him, and the servants of the merchant beside him also hurried over to help.
When Shang's mother heard the announcement, she hurried out from the inner hall to check her son's feet.
Qiandeng asked about Shangluo's current recovery. Shang's mother said that the situation was quite good, especially after Cui Shaoqing helped to invite famous doctors from all over the country to see Shangluo, the effect was quite good. Now he does not need the support of servants or the help of crutches, and can walk slowly. However, his steps are not very steady yet, and he needs to recover slowly.
Qian Deng was relieved to hear this and said, "At the beginning of the month, Doctor Liao gave Xiao Luo a follow-up consultation and told me that Xiao Luo's condition is much better than she had previously estimated. As long as he recovers slowly and patiently, he should be able to walk like a normal person within three to five years without any major injuries."
Shang's mother nodded happily, tears welling up in her eyes, and she kept chanting Amitabha Buddha.
Shangluo sat on the couch, happily grabbed Qiandeng's sleeve, and asked, "Then, County Master, can I return to the palace after I recover?"
Shang's mother's face changed and she quickly looked at Qiandeng with a pleading look on her face.
In fact, even without her signal, Qian Deng would not let Shang Luo return to his murderous backyard: "No, you are too anxious to go back. If you delay treatment, won't you regret it? It's better to wait until you recover before going back."
Shangluo pouted aggrievedly: "Okay, then Sister County Master, wait for me a moment."
Qian Deng drank a cup of tea with them and explained his purpose. "Besides, something happened to me these past two days. It must have spread all over the streets by now. I'm checking it out. By the way, do you have the Phoenix Drawing Lottery that you held when you took the election last year?"
"Yes, I wouldn't lose something this important!" Shangluo leaned on the couch, pointed to the cabinet beside the bed, and said, "It's inside."
Shang's mother stood up, opened the cabinet door, found an agarwood box inside, held it in front of Qiandeng, and pushed open the lid.
The seven-petal lotus pattern Phoenix-attracting sign was placed neatly on the red velvet cloth, without any abnormality.
Qiandeng picked it up and gently stroked the pattern of a flute attracting a phoenix engraved with gold thread with his fingertips.
This exquisite and beautiful pattern gives every man and woman a possible future, but it also stirs up a bloody storm and a raging tide. Regardless of whether they are good or evil, intentional or innocent, they are all swept up in it, and no one can escape.
This also includes her closest relatives, the most important people in her life.
"Shangluo's Phoenix Sign has not been lost and is still with me."
Qiandeng returned to the palace, met with the two of them, conveyed the message, and also told them the good news that he had recovered well.
The two of them moved even faster in the backyard of the palace and had already taken everyone's silver slips.
"There are seven people in the palace's backyard now. Mingjiu and I came later and don't have this item. This is the Phoenix Attracting Stick held by Ji Linyou, Xue Xiyang, Meng Lanxi, and Jin Tang. They are all with them."
After Qiandeng confirmed the four Phoenix-Attracting Sticks, he breathed a sigh of relief: "In that case, the suspicions of the seven young masters in the backyard can basically be ruled out."
Because April 25th, the day the accident happened, was the birthday of Prince Changhua, the prince went to the prince's palace in person to offer condolences and pay tributes on behalf of the court.
The usually deserted Changhua Palace held a night banquet after a long absence.
Although Qiandeng was still in mourning, the Crown Prince's presence demanded that the ceremony be performed in person. Twelve cold dishes, twenty-four pastries, thirty-six delicacies, seventy-two vegetarian dishes, and the aroma of fruits, utensils, and string instruments—every ritual was in place, without neglect.
Everyone in the mansion was busy as hell. Even Aunt Xuanji, who had witnessed countless grand scenes in the palace, was exhausted from hosting this banquet and has not recovered yet.
Therefore, except for Ling Tianshui who was out on business that day, the other six young men were all in the mansion. They met with the prince in the afternoon and attended the evening banquet with Qiandeng. No one left the mansion.
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