As soon as court concluded, the Empress was waiting in the Hall of Extended Harmony.
Amidst the curling incense smoke, she slowly fanned herself while occasionally toying with the jade bracelet on her wrist, her brows furrowed in thought.
"Your Majesty," seeing the Emperor approach, the Empress's eyes brightened. "The Crown Prince has come of age. I believe a marriage alliance with General Cao's daughter would be most fitting."
Her voice was gentle, but her eyes gleamed with anticipation: "General Cao commands military power - this union would strengthen the foundations of state."
The Emperor's smile faded, a flash of wariness crossing his brow. Though reclined against his dragon throne with his gaze on the Empress, his thoughts were clearly elsewhere.
"Cao's daughter?" He shook his head, turning to look out the window. "The Crown Prince's marriage can wait. There are thousands of beauties - why rush?"
"Your Majesty," the Empress spoke softly, "the Crown Prince is getting older. Settling his marriage soon would help quell rumors. The Cao girl is virtuous and well-matched in status..."
"State affairs are for me to decide," the Emperor's tone was mild but showed clear impatience.
The hall doors suddenly opened.
A figure in flame-red robes swept in, her skirts swirling, jade ornaments tinkling. Consort Rou approached with delicate steps.
She smiled coquettishly and curtsied: "Your Majesty, I personally prepared a dessert for you today. Please try it."
Her voice was sweet but had an odd cadence, floating unstably through the hall, almost disrupting its solemn atmosphere.
The Emperor's brows furrowed slightly as he said flatly: "Mm, set it down."
Consort Rou, long accustomed to his coldness, continued softly: "Your Majesty, I've been unwell lately. The imperial physicians have treated me multiple times without success..."
She kept her head lowered, fingers playing with the jade pendant on her chest. Beneath the pendant, a faint scar was barely visible on her neck.
"I wish to consult a physician from outside the palace."
The Emperor paid little attention, merely going through the motions of listening.
Just then, Chief Eunuch Guo entered carrying hot tea. His manner was respectful, his gaze lowered, though a barely perceptible smile played at his lips.
"Your Majesty, your tea is ready."
The Emperor's eyes suddenly sparked with interest, instantly breaking free from the tedious conversation. He cast a casual glance at Chief Eunuch Guo, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
Just then, Chief Eunuch Guo walked softly into the hall. With respectful demeanor and lowered eyes, he brought forward a cup of hot tea: "Your Majesty, your tea is ready."
The Emperor's eyes brightened, instantly disengaging from the tedious conversation before. He cast a casual glance at Chief Eunuch Guo, a barely perceptible smile playing at his lips.
"We are weary," the Emperor said dismissively with a wave of his hand. "Empress, that will be all for today. Everyone may withdraw."
The Empress hesitated briefly before resuming her gentle smile: "This consort takes her leave." She glanced at Chief Eunuch Guo, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, then turned to leave.
"This old servant will escort Your Highness," Guo bowed his head.
"Unnecessary," the Emperor's tone brooked no argument.
After the Empress left, the atmosphere in the imperial chambers suddenly relaxed. Chief Eunuch Guo kept his head lowered, his face calm, though the corners of his mouth curved in an almost imperceptible smile.
He gently supported the Emperor as they walked deeper into the private chambers. The space was dim and quiet, seemingly cut off from the world. Behind the screens, the table was covered with feminine accessories - armor, hairpins and ornaments - like an elegant lady's boudoir.
The Emperor's gaze swept over these delicate trinkets, his lips curving upward. He picked up a silver hairpin and gently inserted it into his hair, his tone playful: "These things are quite interesting."
Chief Eunuch Guo's eyes burned bright as he took up the armor to place it on the Emperor, his movements gentle, as if adorning an incomparable beauty.
The Emperor remained silent, allowing Chief Eunuch Guo to dress him in the armor. As the fingernail guards clicked into place, his smile deepened, his fingers twisting slightly to feel the cool sensation. He raised his hand to admire it in the candlelight, his reflection in the mirror appearing hazy and bewitching.
Chief Eunuch Guo stood behind him, his gaze fixed on that patch of snow-white skin at the Emperor's nape. Holding a jade hairpin, his movements were slow, his shadow leaning slightly forward in the candlelight.
"Only you know how to serve me properly," the Emperor's voice carried a hint of languor as he tilted his head slightly, the corners of his eyes bearing an almost imperceptible flush.
Chief Eunuch Guo chuckled softly, the jade hairpin in his hand brushing past the Emperor's ear before sliding securely into his hair. His fingertips lingered briefly at the Emperor's neck, his eyes dark.
"These women are truly tedious," the Emperor examined his increasingly alluring reflection in the mirror, his eyes flashing with a manic pleasure.
"They don't know how to serve Your Majesty," Chief Eunuch Guo's lips curled as he adjusted the phoenix hairpin. "Only Your Majesty knows true pleasure." As he spoke, he raised his delicate fingers in an elegant, seductive arc.
The Emperor stroked the hairpin, nodding slightly. He suddenly turned his head, staring at Chief Eunuch Guo with possessive intent, his graceful fingers reaching toward him: "Hmm~ You do understand Our desires~" His voice was deep and lilting, like an opera singer's.
In the dim chamber, the lamplight flickered, the air heavy with unspoken tension. The Emperor resumed playing with the ornaments on the table, his lips curved in an unsettling smile.
"It seems~ Our tastes~ you understand best of all~" The coquettish laughter echoed throughout the chamber.
After the morning court session, Jiang Yichuan walked out of the Great Hall of Prosperity, where Qi Feng and Hu Qi were already waiting in the corridor.
"My lord, the carriage is ready. Shall we return to the manor?" Qi Feng stepped forward and asked softly.
"Go to Taohua House."
"Yes!" Qi Feng moved closer to Jiang Yichuan's ear, "My lord, we've confirmed it - it was indeed the Tianying Bureau."
"Tianying Bureau..." Jiang Yichuan repeated in a low voice, a cold light flashing in his eyes. He narrowed his eyes, his voice like ice: "These hunting dogs have been doing dirty work since the previous emperor's reign. Their agents are everywhere in court and society, even in brothels and government offices."
"The Tianying Bureau uses brothels and taverns as cover to gather intelligence. Many court officials haven't even heard of them," Qi Feng frowned.
"Even my father couldn't escape their clutches!" Jiang Yichuan practically spat these words through gritted teeth. "When my father died, all my investigations pointed to the Tianying Bureau!"
"No wonder you've been so cautious these years, my lord, watching your every step." Qi Feng bowed, then after a moment's thought asked: "Now that the trail has gone cold, should we continue investigating?"
"No need," Jiang Yichuan's voice was frigid. "I've discovered something more worth looking into."
"Oh? My lord means..."
"Su Xingyao."
"Miss Su?" Qi Feng was startled, lowering his voice, "Does she... have connections to the Tianying Bureau?"
"The pattern on her handkerchief - I've seen it on the guards of a Tianying Bureau chief," Jiang Yichuan's gaze was sharp as a blade.
Qi Feng frowned deeply: "This Miss Su was once Minister Zhao's wife, and now she frequents brothels - it is indeed suspicious. Could her marriage to Minister Zhao have been meant to monitor him?"
"A courtesan's identity does make for excellent cover," Jiang Yichuan's eyes glinted coldly. "If someone had suspicions about Zhao Hengde, placing a woman close to him would be a clever move indeed."
"How does my lord plan to handle this?"
"Keep watching her, see what weaknesses she reveals. If she's from the Tianying Bureau, we might be able to follow the trail and uncover more leads."
"And if she isn't?"
"If she isn't..." Jiang Yichuan's lips curved into an intrigued smile, "That would be even more interesting."
In the streets, crowds of people bustled about. At tea stalls and taverns, idlers were discussing last night's murder in hushed tones.
"I heard Du Qingshuang died horribly last night. I bet she encountered evil spirits - this wasn't an ordinary murder!"
"Yeah, among all the girls at Taohua House, why her? I heard it was a wrongful death - they should get a spiritual master to divine the cause through rice divination!"
"Rice divination is indeed a common practice in our villages. When souls are restless, they need answers."
Jiang Yichuan frowned and turned to ask Hu Qi: "What is this 'rice divination'?"
"My lord," Hu Qi explained in a low voice as they walked, "Folk tradition speaks of 'questioning wrongful deaths through rice.' If someone suspects an unnatural death, they invite a spiritual master to place rice grains near the deceased's head or nose, chant scriptures, and observe the rice's changes to determine the cause of death. If the rice shows unusual signs, it indicates a wrongful death."
"Absurd!" Jiang Yichuan scoffed coldly. "I've never believed in spirits and deities. This was clearly human doing, nothing else."
As they spoke, they arrived at Taohua House. The entrance was quiet due to yesterday's murder, with occasional passersby hurrying past, unwilling to linger.
They saw a servant at the door holding several packages of medicinal herbs, hesitating to enter, apparently stopped by Jiang Yichuan's men.