Chapter 356
CHAPTER 356 (1): FLUSTERED
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Su Xi-er didn’t make any further comments . “Since Tan Ge has something to attend to, let me take over her work . ” She took the broom from Chao Mu .
Yet, before she could even start to sweep, an apprentice pharmacist entered the Imperial Library . “Who is Su Xi-er?”
Chao Mu glanced at him . “Why are you looking for Su Xi-er?”
“Imperial Physician Zhao instructed me to invite her to the Imperial Physician Institute . ”
Su Xi-er understood that it had to do with Old Maidservant Liu’s case and immediately nodded . “I’ll go with you . ”
“Follow me . ” The apprentice pharmacist signalled for Su Xi-er to follow him before leaving without another word .
Chao Mu remained rooted to the spot, her brows furrowed in concern . Both Su Xi-er and Tan Ge aren’t simple . They have many secrets weighing on their hearts that they can’t reveal . As she was thinking, she felt a sudden pat on her shoulder .
Jumping in shock, Chao Mu turned around and saw the culprit . “Shu Xian, are you courting death?! Why did you come and scare people in broad daylight?!”
Shu Xian playfully smiled . “Do you have a guilty conscience? In the past, you would detect me if I even got close to you . What are you thinking about so early in the day?”
“That’s none of your business . ” Chao Mu ignored him and continued sweeping .
“Where did Tan Ge go? Why are you the only one sweeping?”
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Chao Mu passed the other broom in her hand to him . “Help me sweep; she has left the Imperial Library to attend to other matters . ”
“Why do I have to help her sweep? You’ll have to give me a satisfactory explanation . ” Shu Xian folded his arms in front of his chest, displaying an unconcerned attitude .
Chao Mu glared at him . “Are you going to sweep? If you’re not, I’ll cut off your family jewels . ” She was probably the only one who dared to say such vulgar words .
Disregarding the Imperial Army Guards, only the scholar boy assistants, as well as the apprentice pharmacists, could keep their nether regions in the imperial palace .
Shu Xian had been personally selected by Grand Tutor Kong, and would have to go to the Imperial Academy after he turned 18 . Although Chao Mu was older than Shu Xian by a year, she was not as mature as him . Throughout the years they had been together, they would always quarrel when they met . Xiao Yuanzi would often describe their relationship as fire and water and the result of their sins from a previous life .
“How can a girl keep talking about family jewels? Even if you don’t find it embarrassing, I do . ” Unsure of what to do with her, Shu Xian took the broom and started sweeping .
Chao Mu harrumphed . “Trying to fight me? Look at how old you are first . Either way, why does it matter to you whether I embarrass myself or not?! It’s not like I’m yours . ” She walked elsewhere with her broom .
Seeing her proud look, Shu Xian helplessly smiled and continued sweeping .
In the Imperial Physician Institute
Upon arriving, Su Xi-er noticed Imperial Physician Zhao, along with a few other physicians, engaged in deep discussion . When he saw that Su Xi-er had arrived, Imperial Physician Zhao suggested, “This woman doesn’t understand medicine, but her observation skills are quite acute . Let’s have her take a look . ” It was a moment later that he set a handkerchief on the table .
“This was retrieved from Old Maidservant Liu’s hand . ”
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Lying in the middle of the handkerchief was something similar to a tassel .
After carefully inspecting it, Su Xi-er made her hypothesis . “This kind of thing is typically used as a decoration . They can be hung from anything from a door or used as a sword hilt tassel . Since it was found in Old Maidservant Liu’s hand, it should have been something the murderer carried around with them . ”
Imperial Physician Zhao nodded . “It could have been either a man or a woman . ”
The other imperial physicians began discussing . “Old Maidservant Liu was a senior old maidservant in the palace . A normal woman wouldn’t have been able to kill her . It was probably a man, and this object must have been a sword hilt tassel . ”
Su Xi-er picked up the handkerchief and scrutinised the cyan tassel, even lowering her head to sniff it . A faint scent of herbs wafted into her nostrils
CHAPTER 356 (2): FLUSTERED
This implies that the culprit understood medicine . Putting it even closer to her nose, she was surprised to discover the fragrance of flowers .
All the imperial physicians saw Su Xi-er’s solemn expression, and their breathing hitched .
After a long while, Su Xi-er looked at everyone and slowly stated, “All of you should smell this properly . There’s the scent of herbs and Purple Fragance Flowers . ” She passed the item to Imperial Physician Zhao .
He took the handkerchief and sniffed it, coming to the same conclusion as Su Xi-er . If it hadn’t been for Su Xi-er, I may not have even thought about this .
“There are indeed two different scents . Smell it . ” Imperial Physician Zhao passed the handkerchief to the imperial physician beside him .
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After the handkerchief was passed around, all the imperial physicians agreed that there were two different scents that could be detected . “If that’s the case, it could have also been the work of a woman . ”
Su Xi-er voiced out . “The Imperial Physician Institute wouldn’t have a forbidden medicine, so it could have only come from someone who knew how to make it . Does anyone in the palace know how to manufacture medicine?”
Coincidentally, an apprentice pharmacist walked in at this time . “Imperial Physician Zhao, Eunuch Zhang from the Imperial Household Department has come and requested to see you . ”
Imperial Physician Zhao nodded . “Quickly invite Eunuch Zhang in . ”
The apprentice pharmacist acknowledged the order and soon led Eunuch Zhang in .
Eunuch Zhang was holding a registry in his hands . “This is the book that records the names of all the palace servants, as well as their background before they entered the palace . ”
This book had been delivered in time, and Imperial Physician Zhao thanked him .
Watching the imperial physicians flip through the registry, Su Xi-er began to wonder . If we’re looking for someone in the palace capable of making medicine, the most likely culprit is . . . Lian Qiao .
It was no sooner than she thought of Lian Qiao that the imperial physicians began to speak of her .
“Born of a Traditional Chinese Medicine family . Isn’t she working in the Compassionate Peace Palace now? The Empress Dowager had also instructed people to remove all the Purple Fragrance Flowers . Lian Qiao is the most probable suspect . ”
All the imperial physicians nodded in agreement .
Su Xi-er proposed, “Let’s ask Commander Yuchi to capture Lian Qiao and properly interrogate her . ”
The others concurred, and Imperial Physician Zhao passed the registry back to Eunuch Zhang . “We can all agree that Lian Qiao is the most suspicious if we’re looking for someone in the palace; it’s just that she serves the Empress Dowager . This makes the matter tricky, and we may need to ask Prince Hao to intervene . ”
Eunuch Zhang took back the registry and agreed . “We indeed need to ask Prince Hao for help . Lian Qiao had entered the Compassionate Peace Palace through Commandery Prince Xie . ”
Imperial Physician Zhao’s brows were furrowed . There are many mysteries surrounding Old Maidservant Liu’s death, and there are too many people involved for this to be a coincidence .
“Old Maidservant Liu is His Majesty’s wet nurse, so we must deliver an acceptable explanation . Imperial Physician Zhao, Eunuch Zhang, you should go and ask Commander Yuchi together . ” Su Xi-er slowly recommended .
Both of them nodded and left the Imperial Physician Institute . However, right after they began walking on the palace path, they saw Yuchi Mo leading a group of Imperial Army guards to the Compassionate Peace Palace .
“Commander Yuchi, where are you going?” Eunuch Zhang went forward to ask .
Yuchi Mo didn’t have much time due to the urgency of his mission . He simply waved his hand at Eunuch Zhang and replied, “Prince Hao issued an order to swiftly go to the Compassionate Peace Palace, and arrest Lian Qiao and bring her to justice . ” He then hastily left .
Eunuch Zhang and Imperial Physician Zhao were stunned . All of us were thinking about this for such a long time, yet Prince Hao has already come to the same conclusion . Such meticulous thoughts, as well as decisive action; as expected of Prince Hao!
The two were about to head back when Imperial Physician Zhao saw Su Xi-er standing behind, calmly gazing at the direction Yuchi Mo had left in .
I thought that he had returned to the Prince Hao Residence or the army barracks . I didn’t expect him to still be in the palace .