C53 Part1

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Shen Zhiyan took the Brocade Box over, glanced at it and handed it to His Royal Highness,

"Is the Golden Hairpin in the Brocade Box broken?"

Chang Qingqing nodded and said:

"Yuan Qiu had just arrived at the Handyman's Hall, and she accidentally fell on the ground and broke it.

This servant girl is a Palace staff from the Liushang Bureau.

When Yuan Qiu learned that her family was in urgent need of silver, she planned to repair the Golden Hairpin and asked me to go out of the Palace and sell the Golden Hairpin in exchange for silver, and then send someone to take it home to help her parents."

Murong Ci looked at the Brocade Box.

The Brocade Box was made of red sandalwood with exquisite snails inlaid on it, but it looked old, and it should be an old thing.

She opened the Brocade Box, and on the maroon velvet base was a Golden Hairpin that was brilliant and beautifully shaped.

The Hairpin was in the shape of a Pine branch, with a few Bamboo leaves and a few Plum blossoms hanging down from the pine branch.

It was graceful and elegant, with bright colors.

This was a so-called "Golden Hairpin of Pine, Bamboo and Plum".

A Golden Hairpin such as this one was also worn by ladies of Foreign Countries, but this Golden Hairpin seemed like the exquisite craftsmanship of a master such as Liu Shang Ju.

She felt that she had seen this Golden Hairpin of Pine, Bamboo and Plum somewhere before, but she couldn't remember it for a while.

"This Golden Hairpin can only be worn by Concubines and high rank Madame court ladies.

How could a court lady like Yuan Qiu own such an expensive Golden Hairpin?"

"This maidservant asked Yuan Qiu, and she said that Concubine Zhao had rewarded this to her."

Chang Qing Qing replied.

"When was the last time you saw Yuan Qiu?"

Murong Ci recalled carefully.

She had met Concubine Zhao several times in the past, but had never seen Concubine Zhao wearing a Golden Hairpin of Pine, Bamboo and Plum.

"It was three days ago, when Yuan Qiu handed the Golden Hairpin and Brocade Box to me.

These three days, I have been really busy in the Liushang Palace, and I couldn't get out to see Yuan Qiu.

Only today I could come to see Yuan Qiu and let her see the Golden Hairpin repaired.

If she thinks that the Golden Hairpin is okay now, this servant will try to help her sell the Golden Hairpin."

Chang Qing Qing replied unhurriedly, clearly and without any fear.

According to the rules of the Palace, the residents couldn't privately sell Palace objects, but if it was a personal thing, it was not so strict.

If the Golden Hairpin was rewarded to Yuan Qiu by her Master, then Yuan Qiu could take it outside the Palace and sell it, and no one would pursue her for it.

Murong Ci knew this well enough.

She looked at Shen Zhiyan in the eyes, he glanced back, and they both understood each other.

Chang Qing Qing's explanation can be described as flawless, without any panic or fear.

However, she was also somewhat suspect...

'What if the motive of the murderer was this precious Golden Hairpin of Pine, Bamboo and Plum--?!

Chang Qing Qing could have secretly killed Yuan Qiu in order to steal it.'

'However, if she was the murderer, why would she come to see Yuan Qiu and bring the Golden Hairpin with her today?

Wouldn't that easily get her exposed...?

Isn't this contradictory?'

'She could have come here quietly when no one was around, or after Yuan Qiu had already been discovered, so that it would not be easy to get her exposed.'

These thoughts passed through her head like just a flash of lightning and flint.

Murong Ci stared at Chang Qing Qing again.

Her head was bowed down, her face was clear and sincere and had a childlike appearance.

"You know, ...Yuan Qiu is dead."

Murong Ci said, while Shen Zhiyan stared at Chang Qing Qing's eyes and observed her reaction.

"What? Yuan Qiu died?

When did that happen?"

Chang Qing Qing's complexion changed drastically.

Before she was calm and self-sufficient.

Now, she became sad and sorrowful. Her eyes flashed,

"How could this be? How could Yuan Qiu die......."

Murong Ci and Shen Zhiyan looked at each other again and asked:

"Three days ago, when you last saw Yuan Qiu, was there anything strange about her?"

Because of the grief, Chang Qing Qing fell to the ground, tears falling down her face.

After hearing the question, she thought for a while, and said in a dumb voice:

"She was worried about the illness of her parents...

When she learned that there was a change in her family's situation, she got very anxious.

She said she would be there to help them if she hadn't to work at the Palace...

Other than that, nothing was unusual.

Your Highness, Yuan Qiu...How did she die?

I'm sure she wouldn't commit suicide!

That's because she wanted to go home to see her parents!

She's must have been killed..."

Shen Zhiyan asked:

"We still don't know the reason and cause of her death.

This officer will investigate thoroughly.

You don't need to worry about it.

Do you know where her home is?"

She nodded,

"This maidservant knows it.

It's not far from my house."

He took out two silver ingots and handed them to her.

"You try to take this silver back to Yuan Qiu's parents.

This Brocade Box and Golden Hairpin will be kept by this official for investigation purposes."

Chang Qing Qing choked and said,

"This maidservant thanks the Lord and Your Highness for helping Yuan Qiu."

After that, she returned to Liushang Bureau.

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END of CHAPTER 53 PART 1

.....................to be continued