C28 Part1

....

Suddenly the atmosphere of heavy air in the study seemed to be freezing the two, so Ruyi sent another two cups of hot tea, waiting outside.

The sunlight coming in diagonally from the window still illuminated half of the study, which looked half cloudy and half sunny, half dull and half colorful.

The room side they were in was just dim, and they saw that the other half side was bright and shining, with dust and flowing light flying, and it was beautiful.

In the quiet, Murong Ci suddenly said,

"Maybe it's for the best to leave aside the case of Concubine Zhao for now.

The only clues that can be checked now are these two silver gray hairs."

Shen Zhiyan pondered for a while before saying,

"I'll go to the Spring Wuyuan Courtyard."

"This Prince will go with you."

"It's this subordinates' honor, Your Royal Highness."

The two hurriedly ate lunch before heading to Spring Wuyuan Courtyard.

....

Since the Crown Prince's first visit, Madam Li, the chief court-lady of the Spring Wuyuan, have been feeling worried that the Prince would come again, so she gritted her teeth and ordered the Palace people to clean the entire Spring Wuyuan Courtyard thoroughly.

'If the Prince comes again and sees everything as clean as new, he may be in a good mood and transfer her away from the Spring Wuyuan Courtyard',

she thought.

She had been in the Spring Wuyuan Courtyard for twenty years.

But she still had some pursuits in life.

Gradually, she became like those hopeless people, living like a walking-dead, waiting for death here.

When the Prince showed up again, she couldn't help but admire herself for her own intuition and for being so prescient.

The Spring Wuyuan now had a new look.

She had a better face, and laughed with a smile:

"What is the order of Your Royal Highness?

All the servants needed will be sent to serve Your Royal Highness."

"Have you cleaned the Spring Wuyuan Courtyard?"

Murong Ci felt that the air was much fresher, and the smell that would faint people dissipated.

"After Your Royal Highness left yesterday, this servant was deeply sorry for what had happened and ordered it to be cleaned by the Palace people inside and out.

How about this servant leads Your Royal Highness to look around today?"

Madam Li smiled flatteringly, and took His Highness around to prove that her work was not superficial.

"Alright."

Murong Ci winked at Shen Zhiyan.

"This Lord is..."

Madam Li raised her eyes and glanced at Shen Zhiyan.

"He's Master Shen Zhiyan, the Vice-Minister of the Dali Temple."

Murong Ci introduced.

"This servant pays respects to Master Shen."

Madam Li was a little flustered.

'The Dali Temple took charge of the murder case?

And the Vice-Minister of the Dali Temple came all the way to the Spring Wuyuan Courtyard especially for the death of former Concubine Bai and Concubine Mo...

Just for two commoners?'

She thought dumbfounded.

'Those two commoners died here, and they caused me so much trouble...

If I get involved into this matter, I will be stuck in here forever until my life ends!'

Thinking of this, Madam Li's back became sweaty.

It was fresh after the rain, and the sun was dazzling.

The dampness caused by the early morning rain had already dried up.

Now it was the time when the sun was the hottest, and the heat was sweltering.

Most people sat under the eaves of the Hall to enjoy the cool.

Some people scratched their bodies, some leaned against the wall to doze off, some talked in low voices, some looked at the two well-dressed strangers...

Shen Zhiyan and Murong Ci walked slowly, their eyes swept over their heads.

Although a few of them had silver-gray hair, they were way too old and rickety, and definitely not capable of committing crimes.

After looking around, they walked to the backyard.

Madam Li introduced enthusiastically,

"Outside the courtyard wall is the Palace road, and after that, the Palace wall."

There were three shops in the backyard.

They walked around and found no one with silver-gray hair.

"Madam Li, you may go now.

This Prince and Master Shen will walk on our own from here."

Murong Ci said coldly.

"Yes, if Your Royal Highness needs anything else, please tell this servant then.

This servant will now retire."

Madam Li retired respectfully.

Murong Ci and Shen Zhiyan looked at each other and walked through the shophouse to the backyard.

....

The backyard was small, with two pine trees, two laurel trees and a few ancient pine trees planted.

The ancient pine trees were luxuriant, with the green cover that was like an umbrella and the green shades were extremely beautiful.

Suddenly there was a rustle in the wind, and a chill was born, with a gloomy air that seemed to curl up.

There were people standing under the ancient pine trees.

A middle-aged woman was sitting in a wheelchair, and one person was pushing the wheelchair from behind.

It was Concubine An and her close servant, Liu Mei.

....

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END of CHAPTER 28 PART 1

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