A Mistaken Marriage Match: Mysteries in the Imperial Harem

Chapter 68: Rather Die Than Live

Youshi (modern timing: 5 – 7pm) should be timing when the Emperor was most free but when Lou Xi Yan arrived at the Imperial Study, he found that the doors were tightly closed and Gao Jing and Xiao you were standing outside the doors with serious expression and some feeling of loss of what to do.

Seeing Lou Xi Yan approaching the hall, Gao Jing immediately went forward to welcome, "Prime Minister Lou."

Seeing the tightly closed doors, Lou Xi Yan asked in a whisper, "Is the Emperor in?"

"Yes. But..." Gao Jing face was filled with worry as he hesitantly replied. He had followed by the Emperor's side for so many years and had never seen the Emperor like this. He did not let the Imperial Physician bandage the wound on his hands and just let the blood flow like that. When he entered the Imperial Study, he only said, "Get out." Gao Jing felt his entire body gone cold. He guessed that at this moment the Emperor did not want to see anyone.

It was fortunate that Prime Minister Lou did not forcefully insist and replied indifferently, "It's nothing. I will go first." He then left Zheng Yang Palace. But the Prime Minister Lou's face which was usually smiling warmly, was infected by the moodiness.

Zhuo Qing accompanied Qing Feng in Qing Feng Hall but when it was almost time for the Palace gates to close, Qing Feng had yet to wake thus Zhuo Qing had no choice but to leave. The winter nights came especially early thus when Zhuo Qing walked out of the Palace gates, the skies were dark and the red lanterns by the Palace gates lit the road in a sea of red. In the middle of the red light, there was a familiar horse carriage stopped not too far away and a tall figure stood on the road beside the carriage and there was the usual warm smile on the face.

Seeing Lou Xi Yan, Zhuo Qing quickened her pace, "Why did you come?"

Lou Xi Yan looked at her and that cool voiced was filled with warmth, "To fetch you home."

It was rare that Zhuo Qing held his hands and spoke gloomily, "Xi Yan, can we walk?" Even though she has seen so much death, what happened today was like a rock weighting down on her heart and made her terribly depressed.

Placing her hand in his palm, Lou Xi Yan softly replied, "Alright."

As it was almost about to enter the twelfth lunar month, the wind at night cut the faces, making it painful. There were gradually lesser people on the streets as two of them silently walked.

"The child... Is gone." Zhuo Qing only said those few words after a long time. Lou Xi Yan tightened the hand holding her as he calmly responded, "I know."

The night wind whistled as it scratched pass their ears and it made both of their clothes fluttered. Zhuo Qing suddenly stopped and as Lou Xi Yan knew that she had something to say, he also stopped. Zhuo Qing thought for a while before saying, "I felt that the child's cause of death is suspicious."

A flash crossed that long and narrow eyes, "What have you discovered?"

"When I rushed over, the body was already cold. From the stage of the livor mortis, the child was dead for at least 1 shichen (1 shichen = 2 hours). His face was dark red, lips was dark purple and it seems that it looks seventh tenth that it was a respiratory failure caused by the fever. But I have discovered that the colour of the livor mortis was actually greyish beige in colour."

She emphasised on the colour of the livor mortis... Lou Xi Yan's voice was forcefully lowered, "Are you saying that the Prince was poisoned to death?"

Zhuo Qing reluctantly shook her head, "This was not entirely confirmed. The child is too young and it is possible that there are other complication that caused the death. Now that there are doubts existed, can we request to provide an autopsy for the child?" Like that, she would be able to determine the cause of death!