He looked at Prince Wuyang with desperate hope, as though waiting to hear him say, “No matter what happens, Father believes you,” or, “No matter what happens, Father will help you.”
He wanted to be shown favoritism.
But Prince Wuyang’s entire face suddenly turned frighteningly grim.
“Don’t talk nonsense!” Prince Wuyang barked. “If you didn’t do it, don’t admit to it.”
Foolish child, this was the Kaifeng Prefecture office, and Yan Tongshu was standing right beside them.
If he hadn’t done it, then he hadn’t done it. Prince Wuyang believed that this foolish child was incapable of committing such an inhuman act.
But right now, this foolish child was the prime suspect.
What good would it do to babble nonsense at a time like this, especially in front of two Kaifeng Prefecture officials? Wouldn’t that simply give people an excuse to accuse him?
Prince Wuyang was worried that Qin Yunduan might be wrongfully accused because of something he said. But Qin Yunduan did not receive the emotional response he had hoped for. Instead, he was harshly reprimanded, and an overwhelming sorrow spread from the depths of his heart.
As expected, Father might not say it aloud, but deep down, he truly disliked him.
Even now, Father was still afraid that he would disgrace the Prince Wuyang’s household.
Li Fulin could no longer bear to listen. Like Yan Tongshu, he let out a helpless sigh.
After being scolded, Qin Yunduan became even less willing to speak.
Prince Wuyang had no choice but to leave first.
When he stepped out of Qin Yunduan’s room, the constable closed the door.
Yan Tongshu looked at Prince Wuyang, hesitating to speak.
Prince Wuyang was already in his forties and nearing fifty. Besides, this was another family’s business, so strictly speaking, she had no place interfering.
But…
Yan Tongshu could not hold back any longer. “Prince Wuyang, what exactly did you hope to accomplish by coming to see the Qin heir?”
Prince Wuyang coldly countered, “Could it be that Lord Yan was hoping I would uncover some clue, so that Kaifeng Prefecture could close the case as soon as possible?”
Prince Wuyang had already been distressed over what had happened to Qin Yunduan. In the room just now, he had sensed his son’s resistance toward him, though he did not know why, and that had only made him feel more stifled.
Now that Yan Tongshu had spoken, his resentment toward Kaifeng Prefecture rose at once, and he immediately lashed back.
Yan Tongshu took a deep breath.
To have a father like this and still grow up bright and cheerful—Qin Yunduan really was a flower blooming in the mud. It was no easy feat.
Yan Tongshu patiently said, “Prince Wuyang, what I mean is, what exactly did you hope to achieve by seeing the Qin heir? Did you want him to feel cared for, or did you want him to feel reassured?”
Prince Wuyang frowned deeply, completely unable to understand what she meant.
Yan Tongshu continued, “If you’re worried about the Qin heir and want to comfort him, then be straightforward. Tell him. Once he feels it and knows that someone loves him and cares about him, that people are searching for evidence on his behalf outside, he will naturally feel reassured.”
Prince Wuyang replied confidently, “I came.”
He had come to support his son. Wasn’t that obvious?
If he had not been protecting that foolish boy all along, how could the boy have lived so comfortably in the capital?
Li Fulin could not listen any longer and advised him, “Prince Wuyang, what Lord Yan means is that care and love must be spoken aloud and expressed. Only then can other people feel them.”
Prince Wuyang’s expression remained solemn. “I already showed concern just now.”
This time, even Li Fulin felt his heart seize.
Yan Tongshu spoke again, not leaving him the slightest bit of dignity. “Prince Wuyang, no one can feel your love and concern. Not even the Qin heir. Neither Magistrate Li nor I can feel it either.”
Prince Wuyang dismissed her words with disdain. “Duan’er is my son. I understand him. He will understand my painstaking intentions.”
“I…”
Yan Tongshu clenched her fists. At that moment, she completely understood Qin Yunduan’s suffocation. She even wanted to throw a sack over Prince Wuyang’s head from behind and beat him up.
How could there be such an obstinate, yet unbelievably self-assured, bastard in this world?
Yan Tongshu took one deep breath, then another, and extended her hand. “Prince Wuyang, please.”
Li Fulin also wore an expression as though he had swallowed something unpleasant as he escorted Prince Wuyang out.
After seeing Prince Wuyang off, Yan Tongshu returned to the office and took out the layout of Duting Post Station that she had asked Zhang Jiu to retrieve.
There was only one entrance outside Princess Xing’an’s bedchamber.
Beyond it was a courtyard, a large one that enclosed Princess Xing’an’s entire room in the middle.
Qin Yunduan’s temporary bedchamber was actually not far to the east of the princess’s.
However, although the two rooms were close, Chancellor Yelu had still taken certain precautions. Qin Yunduan’s temporary bedchamber faced away from Princess Xing’an’s. Anyone entering it had to walk around from the front.
In a way, this was also an attempt to protect Princess Xing’an’s reputation by “covering one’s ears while stealing a bell.”
A wall stood behind the bedchamber. There was a small door in the wall, beyond which were several rooms used for resting. They were specifically meant for Princess Xing’an’s personal maids and guards.
Zhang Jiu was a very meticulous person. He had marked the times on the small door.
Princess Xing’an usually retired and fell asleep before the third quarter of the hai hour. After that, she no longer needed anyone to attend to her, so the small door was locked by the third quarter of the hai hour at the latest, completely cutting off the maids and guards from entering the area around the princess’s bedchamber.
The maids served Princess Xing’an when she rose and washed at the chen hour. Therefore, the guards at the door would open the lock precisely two quarters before the chen hour.
The guards worked in pairs, with two men assigned to each shift, so they could supervise each other.
Those who worked the night shift slept during the day. That was what Penglai had been doing at the time—sleeping during the day until Xie Li woke him when it was time to change shifts.
Yan Tongshu shook her head. There were still too few clues. She could not find the slightest lead.
Wait.
Those extreme believers of the Celestial God Sect had all come from the north. The Liao kingdom’s Southern and Northern Courts held different attitudes toward peace negotiations.
And in the past, they had discovered a spy from the Northern Court—Feng Feng.
Yan Tongshu immediately had Pearl retrieve Feng Feng’s records from the archives.
There were two letters and two booklets: Spring Blossom Plume and Song of the Wind, both famous operas from the previous dynasty.
Yan Tongshu read through the two operas from beginning to end, but found nothing suspicious.
They were simply ordinary operas, weren’t they?
The booklets even appeared to have been purchased in Bianjing.
Did that mean Feng Feng enjoyed watching opera?
Yan Tongshu scratched her head.
After thinking for a long while without reaching any conclusion, she began to feel hungry.
Yan Tongshu rubbed her stomach and decided to eat first.
Pearl brought out the mutton soup and rice sent from the residence. Jinbao lit the charcoal, placed it in a small brazier, and set the mutton soup over it to warm.
The weather was cold, and the residence was too far away. By the time the food arrived, it had long since gone cold.
Yan Tongshu stared at the milky-white mutton soup, holding the glistening rice in her hands, and felt a dull ache in her heart.
The last time she had eaten mutton soup had been with Princess Xing’an. Even then, they had eaten Liao mutton.
Come to think of it, she had not considered things carefully at the time.
Princess Xing’an was a princess of the Liao kingdom. What she wanted was a local specialty of Bianjing, yet Yan Tongshu had taken her to eat mutton soup.
Fortunately, they had also eaten plenty of other local delicacies, which had made up for it a little.
At the time, she had even gossiped with Princess Xing’an about Empress Dowager Xiao. The empress dowager had once had a love affair with a Liao spy named Uncle Jiang. After Uncle Jiang’s identity was exposed, he had fled overnight. Empress Dowager Xiao gave birth to a boy, and later Uncle Jiang took that boy back to the Liao kingdom.
That boy was Xie Li.
Princess Xing’an had said that she had secretly asked Uncle Jiang about him, so she knew Uncle Jiang.
Princess Xing’an was also secretly in love with Xie Li.
Yan Tongshu picked up a piece of mutton.
A-Lian and A-Fu had said that Xie Li did not know Princess Xing’an liked him.
Did he really not know?
Once someone becomes aware of love, it cannot be hidden.
It will reveal itself involuntarily—in words and in actions.
Just like Qin Yi—even though he thought he had hidden it well, she could actually sense it.
Could Xie Li really not sense it?
If he had known all along, yet still concealed the truth from Princess Xing’an and sent her to Bianjing…
The thought was terrifying.
After lunch, Yan Tongshu handed the case files she had organized to Jinbao and told him to deliver them to the Duting Post Station for Chancellor Yelu.
“I know, Young Master.” Jinbao reached out to take the files.
Yan Tongshu held on to them instead. After thinking for a moment, she said, “Never mind. We’ll go together. I want to take another look around the Duting Post Station and see if we can find any new clues.”
Jinbao nodded.
Accompanied by Pearl and Jinbao, Yan Tongshu took a carriage and arrived at the Duting Post Station for the third time that day.
Princess Xing’an’s courtyard had been sealed off by the Kaifeng Prefecture constables and the Divine Guards. Xie Li could not enter and could only sit outside. He looked haggard, almost like a statue.
A bowl of rice sat beside him, untouched.
Yan Tongshu went into Princess Xing’an’s room once more to inspect it. The situation was essentially the same as in the morning, with no noticeable changes.
When she came out with Pearl and Jinbao, Penglai approached Xie Li’s side. He glanced at the bowl of rice, which had frozen cold without a trace of warmth left, then placed a hand on Xie Li’s shoulder.
“I know you’re grieving over the princess’s death. But food is essential, and you have to eat something.”
Xie Li’s eyes were red.
Penglai continued, “Xie Li, you have to pull yourself together. Only then can you find the murderer and avenge the princess.”
Xie Li remained silent, but his eyes shifted slightly, as though Penglai’s words had reached him.
Penglai picked up the bowl. “I’ll have the kitchen heat this up for you. Xie Li, you’re a man, and the princess’s master. You have to shoulder your responsibilities. You can only allow yourself to fall apart today. Starting tomorrow, you can’t go on like this.”
With that, Penglai left.
Yan Tongshu passed by Xie Li. She looked at him, her lips moving slightly, but said nothing.
Words of comfort were all much the same. Penglai had already said everything that needed to be said, so there was no need for her to add more.
Yan Tongshu left the front courtyard, turned left, and circled around to the rear of Princess Xing’an’s courtyard.
The rear was where the guards and maids rested.
A door separated the maids’ quarters from the guards’ quarters. Like the small door in the wall between Princess Xing’an’s chambers and the guards’ room, it was locked at set times.
A-Lian and A-Fu shared a room.
At the moment, however, A-Lian was alone. She was packing her belongings, her eyes red as well. She must have cried again.
When A-Lian saw Yan Tongshu, she rose and bowed, then brought over the blanket she had been folding.
“Lord Yan, the princess’s chambers have been sealed off, so I can’t go in to put things in order. This blanket was embroidered by me for Granny. It’s called the Hundred Blessings Blanket. Please take it to the princess. The princess… Even if she has passed away, I hope she won’t be cold.”
Yan Tongshu nodded, accepted the blanket, and handed it to Pearl to keep safe.
After leaving A-Lian’s room, Yan Tongshu went to the guards’ quarters.
There were two rooms in total, with two people to each room.
Xie Li and Penglai shared one, while Amang and Shiyi shared the other.
Farther ahead was the small door. Beyond it lay the rear courtyard of the princess’s sleeping quarters.
An old matron was responsible for locking and unlocking the door, though she did not live here.
Princess Xing’an’s courtyard could be considered a small, self-contained unit, with guards and maids all carrying out their duties in an orderly fashion.
Outside it was another, larger unit.
Every day, the matron came to unlock the door and lock it again when her task was done. She then returned to her own rest area along the path in front of the maids’ quarters.
If Qin Yunduan had been telling the truth, he had remained with the princess until before the double hour of Hai.
The small door was locked at the double hour of Hai.
There was only one exit.
People patrolled outside the courtyard.
There were guards stationed in front of Princess Xing’an’s rooms. The only possible way in or out was through the windows.
How had those extremists entered the courtyard and, right under the guards’ noses, gotten into the princess’s room through the window?
The windows in Princess Xing’an’s room opened vertically. This type of window had a tighter seal and narrower gaps. Not even a sheet of paper could be slipped through the crack, much less a knife.
There were grooves on both sides of the window and catches on the frame. A horizontal wooden bar was wedged into the grooves, then secured in place with the catches on the frame, preventing the window from being opened from outside. Even if someone managed to insert a knife, they could not move it.
When she had entered, all four windows in the princess’s room had been locked tight.
Even if the windows had not been secured, and had been opened all the way, they were so small that an adult could not have climbed through them.
Yan Tongshu’s face went blank.
Could those extremists use magic?
Yan Tongshu punched herself in the head.
Had she gone mad?
This was a materialist society. There was no such thing as sorcery.
Yan Tongshu returned from the maids’ quarters and followed the path. She happened to run into the envoy guards patrolling outside the courtyard, so she called them over and questioned them. They merely said that everything had been normal the previous night.
Yan Tongshu continued along the covered corridor. At the end of it stood Chancellor Yelu’s room.
The chancellor’s room served as both a study and a bedroom.
The accompanying officials of the envoy delegation lived around him. All the officials shared one large courtyard.
When she arrived, a meeting was taking place inside Chancellor Yelu’s courtyard, so it would have been inconvenient to disturb them. Yan Tongshu therefore handed the preliminary case files to the guard at the entrance.
The files had been placed in a box, with a seal pasted across the outside. It indicated that only Chancellor Yelu was permitted to read them.
After handing over the files, Yan Tongshu left Chancellor Yelu’s courtyard. After walking for roughly the time it took to burn an incense stick, she arrived at the stables.
Baatar and Long Eagle had no idea what had happened and were still leisurely munching on fodder.
When Baatar spotted Yan Tongshu from a distance, it snorted. It seemed to still be holding a grudge over the time Yan Tongshu had eaten some of its fodder.
Yan Tongshu was furious. She marched up to Baatar and planted both hands on her hips.
“Why are you so vindictive? I was only curious about the taste! I ate just the tiniest little bit of fodder, and now you treat me as if I’m dirt. No one likes a bad-tempered horse like you.”
Baatar blew a spray of saliva into Yan Tongshu’s face, then tossed its head high, looking unbearably proud.
Pearl and Jinbao snickered before quickly taking out a handkerchief to wipe Yan Tongshu’s face.
After wiping herself clean, Yan Tongshu snorted at Baatar twice.
“Hmph! Long Eagle is still the best. Long Eagle is gentle and polite. Baatar, you’re just a rude, ill-tempered horse.”
With that, Yan Tongshu hurriedly backed away two steps to avoid another blast from Baatar.
Hearing the commotion, Mangtai came over. He grabbed a handful of fodder and fed it to Baatar.
“All right, all right. Why are you so hot-tempered? Lord Yan wasn’t trying to steal your food. Don’t hold a grudge, little one.”
Baatar chewed its fodder while glaring at Yan Tongshu, as though afraid she might come over and steal it again.
Yan Tongshu grew even angrier. She rushed over, snatched a handful of Baatar’s fodder, and gave it to Long Eagle. As she stroked Long Eagle and let it eat slowly, she provocatively stared at Baatar.
Baatar went berserk and let out a long, furious neigh.
Mangtai was both exasperated and amused. “Lord Yan, why are you arguing with a horse?”
Yan Tongshu gave a huff.
She was going to argue with it.
After the fodder had been fed, Yan Tongshu brushed the crumbs from her hands and looked Mangtai up and down.
This man had infiltrated the imperial harem and harmed her, yet he had remained so composed both times they met. His nerves were truly extraordinary.
Yan Tongshu’s gaze moved downward and landed on the little wooden horse hanging from Mangtai’s waist.
“Mangtai.”
Mangtai, still soothing Baatar, answered absentmindedly.
Yan Tongshu asked as if merely making conversation, “That little horse around your waist looks quite old, but you’ve kept it in excellent condition. Was it given to you by someone important?”
Mangtai grabbed another handful of fodder and fed it to Baatar. “A girl.”
“Your beloved?” Yan Tongshu teased.
Mangtai burst out laughing. “What else could she have been?”
Looking as though she were deeply interested in gossip, Yan Tongshu eagerly asked, “Where is she now? Did the two of you end up together? Where is she living now?”
The smile slowly faded from Mangtai’s face, and sorrow filled his eyes.
“She’s dead.”
Yan Tongshu was stunned.
Mangtai stared at the fodder in his hand. “She died a long time ago—more than twenty years ago. The body and soul coexist. When the body dies, the soul returns to the place it came from and enters the cycle of reincarnation. When the soul dies, the □□ will eventually perish as well.”
His words were deeply mysterious.
It meant that the other woman might be dead—or she might still be alive, only no longer the person she had once been when they were in love.
He had followed the orders of Prince Ming and Empress Dowager Xiao to frame her.
He had also been asking about the midwife. Then there was this unforgettable girl and a precious wooden horse.
Yan Tongshu turned to look at Long Eagle.
Could Mangtai be Uncle Jiang?
Because he had been nearby, Princess Xing’an might have seen him?
If so, then Xie Li was Mangtai’s son?
Why was he asking about the midwife?
“Let’s not talk about sad things anymore.” Yan Tongshu casually asked, “Does Long Eagle’s name mean an eagle soaring through the sky? And what about Baatar? What does that mean?”
Mangtai smiled. “In our language, Baatar means a hero or warrior. Long Eagle means the same thing. In Northern Liao, the most sacred divine bird is the sea-dongqing falcon. It is fierce and powerful, and is often used to describe warriors. It represents the highest honor, but only members of the imperial family are permitted to raise sea-dongqing falcons or use them as a totem. Those outside the imperial family therefore use the eagle as a substitute. You could say that the eagle is the second-highest sacred bird. So Baatar and Long Eagle both mean the finest and most valiant warriors among horses.”
At those words, the corner of Yan Tongshu’s eye twitched, though her voice remained calm and steady.
“I see. Long Eagle certainly lives up to its name. As for Baatar…”
Yan Tongshu propped her chin on one hand and tilted her head toward Baatar, as though suggesting that the horse was unworthy of the title.
Baatar snorted in protest. It was a warrior—a great and mighty warrior!
Yan Tongshu cast Baatar a disdainful look, then cheerfully left with Pearl and Jinbao.
Hmph. Baatar had sprayed saliva at her, so she was deliberately making it unhappy.
Once she had left the stables, Yan Tongshu narrowed her eyes.
Long Eagle and Baatar both meant “warrior.”
Before Princess Xing’an died, her left hand had been clutching her belt. The belt had shifted position, and the spot she had grabbed—originally on its left side—had been moved to the front, where she had held on to it tightly.
Embroidered on that spot was a sea-dongqing falcon.
Sea-dongqing, Long Eagle, and Baatar all meant “warrior.”
This was the clue Princess Xing’an had left behind.
It was very likely pointing toward the murderer.
The murderer was connected to warriors, or perhaps…
Yan Tongshu glanced once more in Mangtai’s direction.
Perhaps the murderer was connected to the person who raised “warriors.”
She would ask the emperor to confirm it.
To avoid drawing attention, Yan Tongshu continued strolling around Duting Post Station with Pearl and Jinbao.
After they had seen most of the place, Yan Tongshu headed toward the entrance.
To reach the main gate of Duting Post Station, one had to pass Chancellor Yelu’s bedroom.
By then, Chancellor Yelu’s meeting had ended.
When he saw Yan Tongshu, he sent someone to invite her over.
Chancellor Yelu ordered his servants to serve hot tea.
Yan Tongshu asked, “Chancellor Yelu, do you have questions about the case file?”
Chancellor Yelu shook his head. “Lord Yan’s case file is exceptionally thorough. It lists every clue and every point of suspicion. If I have any doubts at all, they are merely questions concerning the case itself.”
“Then why did you summon me?” Yan Tongshu asked hesitantly.
Chancellor Yelu set the teacup in his hand on the table.
“Today’s incident happened suddenly, and there were many unexpected developments. Everyone was under considerable strain, so many matters were not explained clearly.”
Yan Tongshu quietly watched Chancellor Yelu, waiting for him to continue.
After a pause, Chancellor Yelu went on. “Your emperor’s decisiveness and magnanimity have earned my admiration. His handling of Princess Xing’an has once again convinced me that peace is the foundation for the long-term development of both our nations. However, Princess Xing’an was the most honored princess of Liao. The diplomatic mission is not governed by my will alone, and I cannot ignore the opinions of its other members.”
Yan Tongshu frowned. “The other members of the mission are unwilling to let Kaifeng Prefecture investigate the case?”
“Not exactly.” The wrinkles on Chancellor Yelu’s face reflected the composure of a seasoned statesman. “In truth, it is not merely the opinion of the other members. It is also a matter of circumstance.”
Yan Tongshu felt exhausted.
People involved in politics and intrigue always spoke like this—going around in circles and piling on disclaimers. After listening for half a day, one still could not grasp the point.
Chancellor Yelu continued, “Our mission has already been delayed in Bianjing for quite some time. We were originally scheduled to leave for home tomorrow. Then Princess Xing’an met with this sudden misfortune. Her death must be investigated. I am her biological uncle and watched her grow up with my own eyes. I will never allow the murderer to escape justice.
“But the mission cannot remain in Bianjing indefinitely. Therefore, I hope Lord Yan will give me a definite time frame and promise that the truth will be uncovered within it.”
Yan Tongshu fell silent.
She could understand Chancellor Yelu’s position, but when it came to investigating a case, how could she say exactly when it would be solved?
She was no Judge Dee, capable of uncovering every truth.
Chancellor Yelu said, “What do you think of seven days, Lord Yan? That is the longest period I can secure. In seven days, I will lead the mission back to our country. If your nation cannot hand over the murderer, then I believe that my king and Empress Dowager Xiao will find such an outcome impossible to accept. At that point, the peace negotiations will certainly collapse, and this brief ceasefire between our two nations will come to an end.”
Yan Tongshu pressed her lips together without answering.
On the surface, Chancellor Yelu’s words were polite, and he had even asked whether seven days would be sufficient. In reality, however, he had given her no choice at all.
The diplomatic mission could not remain in Bianjing forever, and no one could prevent the Liao envoys from returning to their own country.
If the murderer was not found and an explanation could not be given before they left, then not only the Liao king and Empress Dowager Xiao, but also the people of Northern Liao, would be unable to accept the result. They would inevitably believe that Wuchao was deliberately provoking them.
Seven days was, in reality, a final ultimatum.
Yan Tongshu slowly replied, “Chancellor Yelu, all I can say is that I will do everything in my power.”
“Since Lord Yan has agreed, I trust that the case will be solved within the allotted time.” Chancellor Yelu’s gaze sharpened. “From this moment onward, Liao will entrust this entire case to you, Lord Yan.”
