Quick Transmigration: The Day I Blew Up My Housemate

1.13 Servant of the Cold Palace (13)

Two days later, huge chaos descended upon the palace as if a tank of gasoline had been poured and lit with a match. There were uproars among not only the palace staff but also amongst the nobles and aristocrats.

A dead concubine's body was found in a well.

After the investigators pulled the body out, it was found that the corpse's entire body had been shrivelled and blue with her eyes and mouth uncannily hanging wide open. The inner court's investigation department had soon identified the body belonging to Concubine Jiang.

What was even more suspicious was that, earlier in the morning in front of all the court, His Majesty announced that Concubine Jiang was guilty of an attempt to kill an imperial heir, Fifth Prince Tian Junli. That very afternoon, a maid who was about to fetch water from the well found a body drowned inside.

It was unknown how long Concubine Jiang had been submerged underwater but although the cause of death was candidly by hypoxemia, it was not through drowning. It was by strangulation. The coroners in charge had identified an inconspicuous dark red line running along the folds of her neck during the body's examination and the remnant of a rope stood out from the paleness of her skin.

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In Penglai Pavilion, Concubine Zhou was embroidering a lotus flower into a handkerchief while little Junli played with his rattle drum. Every now and then, the room would be filled with rattling sounds and mirthful laughter.

A folded piece of paper and a silk envelope with an unaddressed recipient sat on the tableside. The brush was still wet and left to dry on its' rack.

Feng Mian made her way inside the room.

"Niangniang, Noble Consort Wei is here," she announced.

The half-finished handkerchief was swiftly stored into a vermillion box and Concubine Zhou called for the Noble Consort to be invited in. She wondered what could have warranted the surprise visit, apart from that time when she went into labour, the two have seldom crossed paths. Zhou Yunqi stood up from her chair and made a proper bow.

"Greetings, Noble Consort Wei."

"You can stay seated Zhou meimei." Noble Consort Wei excused the formality with a wave.

A servant brought out a chair for Noble Consort Wei and she sat with no reservations. Hot tea was served shortly after.

"Bengong has heard about the incident with Concubine Jiang. It is said that she tried to poison the Fifth Prince and committed suicide, but there was evidence suggesting homicide."

Concubine Zhou raised an eyebrow. 'So she came for this matter?'

"Yes, meimei has heard."

"But bengong also knows that the one who gave the poison was a former servant in bengong's palace. Bengong is not stupid and knows that we are also a prime suspect. Zhou meimei must also have her doubts?" Consort Wei laid all her cards on the table.

Concubine Zhou was mildly surprised by her candidness. "Meimei knows that meimei is indebted to Noble Consort Zhou for a life-saving grace. If Wei jiejie wanted to harm meimei's son, jiejie wouldn't have helped meimei the other day."

It wasn't known whether Concubine Zhou was truly speaking from her heart, but Noble Consort Zhou decided to take it at face value. In the harem, no one is truly innocent, but she didn't want to make an enemy out of somebody if she didn't have to.

"It's good that meimei thinks that way. But bengong has something else to say."

"Jiejie, please speak your mind."