Facing each other
"Search again carefully." Qi Heng took out a silver needle from the short hairpin inserted horizontally on the hair crown and handed it to Zhu Xiao. Without saying anything, just a glance at each other, Chu Xiao understood what he meant.
The two searched the house but found no suspicious traces. According to Qi Heng's memory, it seemed that poisoning the tea was indeed the best time and choice.
It was not until even he could not find any evidence to prove that Luo Hui was guilty that Qi Heng suddenly realized the truth.
"Let's go, leave the palace."
Chu Xiao was surprised and asked, "You're not going to investigate anymore? No, are you willing to go back like this?"
"The less clues I can find, the more obvious the truth becomes, which is actually a good thing. Let's go, it's time to go back." Before leaving, Qi Heng looked back at her bedroom and said his final goodbye to her.
He hesitated, like a gambler risking his entire fortune on a single, crucial bet. Finally, after making his decision, he resolutely left.
As soon as he stepped out of the Emperor and Empress' Palace, Eunuch Cao was already waiting outside the palace with Wangyue and Axun.
"Master Qi, your things have been packed. Time is short and you are not here. I don't know what I need and what I don't need, so I put everything away. If Master Qi has completed the investigation today, I will escort you out of the palace."
"Well, thank you, Eunuch Cao."
"Master Qi, please."
While being taken away on the road, Qi Heng often observed the other two people intentionally or unintentionally. Their eyes were slightly red and swollen, but Wangyue obviously did not show much emotion.
Ah Xun was different. He lacked energy, his steps were heavy, and from time to time, a tear as big as a soybean would fall from his eye socket, which he would quickly wipe away. It seemed as if he was truly sad for her, or perhaps for his own lost power and wealth. Whatever the reason for Ah Xun's sadness, it was fortunate that he was weeping for her passing.
While Qi Heng was observing them, he was also noticed by A Xun from the corner of his eye, and he tried his best to act sad.
Until they reached the palace gate and said goodbye to each other.
A little further down the street, two carriages from the Qi Mansion were waiting, accompanied by five or six attendants. A few dozen meters behind the blessing carriages was a flowery sedan chair, accompanied by several members of an opera troupe—a privilege reserved for the most famous actors in the troupes.
These sedan chairs were often wrapped in a soft cloth embroidered with miniature excerpts from each actor's best repertoire. These repertoires weren't embroidered simply by how well they sang; they were ranked highly, with only the best performing artists being eligible. The more intricate the embroidery on the sedan chair, the higher the actor's status and the better their singing, serving as a status symbol.
Unlike the Qi residence's deliberate attempt to remain inconspicuous, the opera troupe that came to fetch Wangyue went all out with a grand display. After all, for aristocratic families like the Qi and Chu families, such a matter was embarrassing, as they disdained to seek wealth and glory by acting as concubines. They preferred to keep a low profile. For the opera troupe, however, being able to enter the palace to sing exclusively for the royal family and enjoying the favor of the Imperial Concubine meant that Wangyue's status had risen by more than a level or two, and the troupe she belonged to would also benefit from this.
Both families came, but no one came to greet Axun.
Wangyue asked, "Brother Axun, what are your plans for the future?"
"This happened suddenly, and I haven't thought about it yet. Let's find an inn to stay in first and think about making a living slowly."
"There are so many people coming and going in the inn, so we have to be on guard and not relax. I have a small courtyard in the imperial capital, it's quiet, and usually no one comes to bother me. If Brother Axun doesn't mind, you can stay with me first. It's not too late to leave when you think about your livelihood."
"In that case, thank you Brother Wangyue for taking me in."
"Brother Axun, you are so polite. Then, Master Qi, we will take our leave first."
Qi Heng didn't exchange any polite words with them. He just nodded slightly in response and left with Chu Xiaoxiangyou, but his ears and eyes followed them closely.
Wangyue's courtyard was located at the end of the quiet Yanting Road fork, far from the bustling center of the imperial capital, nestled in a bamboo forest. The courtyard wasn't large, but it was tended by three or five people. Although they were a bit elderly, they kept it immaculately clean. As soon as Wangyue returned home, they came up to greet him like family, asking about his well-being. When they noticed him, they immediately behaved themselves.
Entering the main room, Wangyue personally poured tea for him and explained, "They weren't bought by traffickers, so perhaps their service isn't as good as that of the wealthy families. If there's anything wrong, I hope Brother Xun will bear with me."
Cha Suxun smiled faintly and shook his head, saying, "Looking at the way you interacted with them just now, I don't think you just treat them as servants."
"They are all miserable people. They were often abused and beaten by their husbands' families. They spent a lot of effort to escape from this hell. But they have no family to rely on, so they ended up in the opera troupe. As they got older, the troupe didn't want to keep them. I saw that they were kind and loyal people, so I let them work in my small courtyard. At least they have a place to stay."
"Brother Wangyue has a kind heart, and he will be blessed in this life."
Wangyue laughed happily, "Haha, I appreciate your kind words. I don't ask for any blessings, I just hope that my merits and demerits will offset each other after my death, so that I can suffer less."
"As long as you do more good deeds while you are alive, repay your parents' kindness, teach your children well, and avoid burning, killing, plundering, stealing, adultery, or being jealous, you will not suffer too much."
Seeing Ah Xun's calm expression and the seriousness of his words, Wang Yue felt as if she were listening to a lecture from an elder. She nodded and replied, "Brother Ah Xun is right. I will follow his lead."
"Yes. Let's get back to the point. You and I have only worked together for two days and don't know each other very well, yet you are willing to take me into your academy and shelter me. You have been extremely polite to me since I left the palace. What exactly do you want, Brother Wangyue?"
"This is to repay Axun's kindness when we first met. Brother Axun and I hit it off right away. Please don't be polite with me. Just treat me like you're at home. Try the ten-year-old peach blossom wine I've been hiding." Wangyue lowered her voice cautiously and said, "Careful, even the most discerning ears can always hear. The Queen made a deal with me. She asked me to give you a place to stay until someone comes looking for you, or until you take your own leave. During this period, whether you're here or not, I will do my best to create the illusion that you're here."
After saying that, Wangyue took a sip of tea, cleared his throat, and said in Ah Xun's voice, tone, and manner: "Thank you, the wine is good."
Wangyue's ability really made Cha Suxun look at him differently. It was rare for a mere mortal actor to be able to practice singing to such a level.
After staying in the house for a while, until Wangyue finished a drunken drama with all his heart, Wangyue estimated that the time was almost up, and then he said, "It's almost time, I won't disturb Brother Xun to rest. I will be in the troupe most of the time these days. If you have anything, you can ask them to come to the troupe to find me."
"Don't bother them. If I need anything, I can come find you myself." After saying that, Cha Suxun added, "Is it convenient?"
"Of course it's convenient for me, but the opera troupe is far from here, so the journey back and forth is a bit tiring."
Cha Suxun nodded slightly and asked with interest, "Did she ask you to do this too?"
"Well. I'm stupid by nature and don't know why I did this, but since the Queen has asked me to, I'll do it. Brother Axun, do you have anything else you want to ask?"
Seeing Cha Suxun shake his head, Wangyue said goodbye and left. Ah Xun didn't believe his claim of being naturally stupid, nor did he believe the clear sense of stupidity he showed. But for now, he was still a kind and trustworthy person.
According to the Western Xinjiang etiquette and Xiao Yan'an's request for a grand burial, A'li's coffin will be sent to the concubine's tomb in three days. Her body can only be replaced with another by means that mortals can use, and that can be done before the coffin is finally closed.
The next evening, before leaving for the palace, Wangyue prepared a table of delicious food and wine and set it in the courtyard for Ah Xun, who was still taking a nap. It was not until she had summoned someone to ask several times, and even after she had drunk a few cups alone in the courtyard, that Ah Xun was still asleep, that Wangyue went to call him herself.
When I opened the door, the room was a little dark, with only a little moonlight coming in from the window, allowing me to vaguely see the back of A Xun lying on the couch.
Wangyue sat beside him on the couch, leaning over slightly to wake him up. Looking at his drowsy appearance, she jokingly said, "Brother Axun, did you hibernate early? It's so hard to sleep like this. Get up quickly. I've brought back the thirty-year-old wine you promised me last night, and I've even specially ordered some snacks from Hefenglou."
As Ah Xun sat up and rubbed his temples to wake himself up, Wang Yue caught a glimpse of a figure emerging from the darkness in the moonlight. Wang Yue whispered, "Is everything done? What took you so long?"
"Yes. The details of the face you were trying to imitate exceeded our expectations. It was too... delicate and refined. The human face I prepared beforehand couldn't withstand close scrutiny compared to the real thing. To be on the safe side, I made some revisions, which wasted time."
"Yes. I will do everything I promised you, but the follow-up matters must be carried out according to the plan."
"Don't worry, this transaction is a life-and-death agreement. We will take this action more important than our lives." As he said that, Axun stood up from the couch and tried his best to play the role of Axun as Wangyue described. The two of them raised their glasses to drink to the moon and talked happily.
Under such beautiful moonlight, the carriage carrying Zhang Feng from the Imperial Hospital was speeding towards the palace.
In the Emperor's palace, Xiao Yan'an, having just woken from a sudden coma, lay weakly in the late Emperor's empress's chambers. Imperial Physician Zhao diagnosed Xiao Yan'an with a heart attack caused by excessive grief and irritability. Zhang Feng had dedicated his life to the study of this particular condition, so he rushed to fetch him.
Zhang Feng felt the pulse and didn't elaborate on the symptoms. He simply said, "Your Majesty, please only take the decoctions I prescribe regularly. However, these decoctions can only nourish your damaged body. Heart disease requires heart medicine. Your Majesty must quickly overcome the grief of the Empress' passing before a complete recovery can be achieved."
Xiao Yan'an didn't say anything else, just sighed.
Eunuch Cao said, "Your Majesty's health is of paramount importance. You should return home early tonight to rest. If your health is damaged, the Empress will surely be unable to rest in peace."
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