Ever since crossing paths with the Grand Preceptor of the Yue Kingdom, Moxun had been plagued by sleepless nights, her rest deeply troubled. Yet, after encountering this silk tree, her insomnia inexplicably vanished.
Shen Wei didn’t press further—the world was full of eccentric people, each with their own peculiar habits.
Shen Wei took Moxun along and discreetly made their way to the Ye Ting, the place where palace servants who had erred were sent to labor.
Inside a secluded storage room, Cai Ping unrolled two straw mats, revealing two horrifically mutilated corpses.
Moxun covered her face with a handkerchief soaked in white vinegar, donned gloves made from sheep intestines, and picked up a small knife. As she examined the bodies, she muttered, "I’m a royal physician, not a coroner. My interest in dissecting corpses isn’t particularly strong. Next time there’s such an opportunity, Consort Chen should summon an actual coroner."
Shen Wei, ever the smooth talker, stood outside the room and said, "In this palace, I trust only you."
Moxun’s lips curled slightly, and her examination became even more meticulous.
A short while later, Moxun emerged from the storage room. She removed the bloodied, foul-smelling gloves and reported to Shen Wei, "Both victims were brutally tortured before death—whipped, stabbed. One died from a slit throat, the other from a pierced heart."
"The killer is likely young, not particularly strong, but vicious and ruthless. The wounds are chaotic, inflicted at random, suggesting some form of derangement."
Shen Wei fell silent.
The culprit was almost certainly the Second Prince, Li Chengzhen. Though young, he was known for his cruel and erratic nature. Yet, as the Empress’s only son, dealing with him would be no simple matter.
If word spread that a prince had sadistically tortured and murdered multiple servants, his reputation would be ruined. But Li Chengzhen wouldn’t face execution—his royal status alone would spare his life.
In this era, hierarchy dictated everything. A prince’s life mattered; a servant’s did not.
Shen Wei sighed deeply and instructed Cai Ping to escort Moxun back to the Imperial Hospital. After much deliberation, Shen Wei decided to report Li Chengzhen’s actions to the Empress Dowager and let her decide the course of action.
...
...
Cining Palace.
The jade scepter in the Empress Dowager’s hand clattered to the floor, the fine mutton-fat jade shattering into pieces. Her face was a mask of shock. "Is this true?"
Shen Wei nodded. "It is. I considered informing His Majesty, but feared he might think I was slandering the prince. Mother, I seek your guidance."
The Empress Dowager remained silent.
She had to admit—she had never been particularly affectionate toward Li Chengzhen. Even among ten fingers, some were longer than others. A grandparent’s love was never evenly distributed.
Elders naturally favored grandchildren who were obedient, clever, and well-behaved. Li Chengzhen, raised primarily by the Empress, had grown up weak-willed, twisted, jealous, and paranoid. The Empress Dowager disliked the Empress, and her indifference toward Li Chengzhen had only deepened over time.
But she had never imagined he could be so depraved.
Closing her eyes, the Empress Dowager spoke slowly. "I will handle this. It is, after all, a royal scandal..."
Shen Wei bowed and withdrew, choosing not to involve herself further. She spent some time in the rear courtyard with Leyou and the others before leaving Cining Palace.
The Empress Dowager believed Shen Wei. She dispatched spies to discreetly monitor Li Chengzhen’s palace.
A few nights later, under the cover of darkness, the watchers reported screams coming from the Second Prince’s chambers.
Night enveloped the Da Qing palace. After ensuring her other grandchildren were asleep, the Empress Dowager donned a black cloak and, accompanied by two elderly maids and two eunuchs, quietly left Cining Palace.
The summer night was windy and stiflingly hot. The Empress Dowager moved swiftly, her cloak flapping behind her. When they encountered patrolling guards, Nanny Qian presented her token, claiming urgent business on behalf of the Empress Dowager. The guards noted it and let them pass.
They arrived at Li Chengzhen’s residence.
The palace gates were shut tight.
Nanny Qian knocked. A guard opened the door impatiently. "What is it?"
The moment he saw the Empress Dowager’s bronze-gold token, his face paled. Mistaking the visitors for her attendants, he stammered, "What brings you here so late, honored nannies?"
Nanny Qian stepped aside, revealing the Empress Dowager in her black cloak.
The guard froze, then dropped to his knees, kowtowing frantically.
Another guard tried to slip away to warn Li Chengzhen. The Empress Dowager snapped, "Halt. Kneel there and stay silent."
Both guards prostrated themselves, trembling.
The Empress Dowager stepped into the courtyard. As the eldest prince, Li Chengzhen no longer lived with the Empress. Li Yuanjing had granted him his own lavish residence. The night was dark, the sky choked with clouds. Nanny Qian carried a lantern, carefully lighting the Empress Dowager’s path.
The pale glow illuminated the shadowed walkway. The main hall was dark, the study unlit—only Li Chengzhen’s bedchamber blazed with light.
An elderly maid stood guard outside. Hearing footsteps, she snapped, "Fools! I said no one was to come tonight! Get lost! Tell Old Li to prepare straw mats for morning."
The lantern light fell on the Empress Dowager’s icy expression.
The maid shrieked, "E-Empress Dowager! This humble servant greets Your Majesty!"
Though she appeared to be paying respects, her words were a warning to Li Chengzhen inside.
The Empress Dowager said nothing. Nanny Qian shoved the maid aside and flung open the chamber doors.
The stench of blood flooded out. The Empress Dowager stepped inside, and the ghastly scene unfolded before her.
A half-dead young eunuch lay on the floor. Another, bound with ropes, was sprawled on the bed. Li Chengzhen sat atop him, naked, a bloodied dagger in hand—
At the sight of the Empress Dowager, Li Chengzhen froze. The knife slipped from his fingers. His lips parted, his gaze clearing. "Grand... Grandmother..."
Half an hour later.
The injured eunuchs were taken for treatment. Li Chengzhen, trembling, dressed himself and knelt in the hall. His darkest self exposed, shame and a whirlwind of emotions consumed him.
In the main chamber, candlelight flickered. The Empress Dowager studied this grandson who was both familiar and a stranger. Once, Li Chengzhen had been shy and gentle, always trailing quietly behind his elder brother, Li Chengke.
But after Li Chengke’s sudden death, Li Chengzhen had changed—becoming jealous, cruel, and cunning.
Tears streamed down Li Chengzhen’s face. He looked up, choking on his words. "Grandmother... will you have me killed? I... I don’t know why I’m like this. My heart aches... only when I hurt them does it ease..."
"I’m so alone... Mother ignores me, Father scolds me, Sister Yao avoids me, and Brother never visits my dreams... No one loves me... They all want to take what’s mine..."
Sometimes, Li Chengzhen felt like a rat in the sewers, unfit for sunlight.
He suffered, drowning in the mire, his breath stolen bit by bit.
The Empress Dowager rose and gently patted his head, her voice calm. "Rest these next few days. Skip your studies at the imperial academy and your archery lessons at Anguo Temple... I’ll have the physicians prepare soothing tonics for you."
