Chapter 767: Murder

Nanny Yu saw the grim look on her mistress’s face and said as they walked, “Your Highness, please try not to worry. They’ve rescued her. The fortunate are protected by heaven; she will be all right.”

Yun Zhao hadn’t encountered a situation like this in many years.

She was genuinely a bit unsettled by such an abrupt development.

‘An Shutong is the Empress Dowager’s own niece. The Empress Dowager will certainly use this as a pretext to cause trouble. There will be no peace tonight.’

As soon as Xiangxue left, Shizhu hurried to catch up. It wouldn’t do for her mistress to be accompanied only by Nanny Yu.

When Yun Zhao saw her catch up, she immediately ordered, “Take this Token, gather some men, and go on ahead to Baihua Pavilion. Join Zhang Maoquan and secure the entire place for me.”

“Yes, I will go at once.” Shizhu quickened her pace and disappeared into the night.

Song Yunzhao’s expression was foul. ‘It would be best if An Shutong falling into the water was an accident. If not, then things are about to get very messy.’

It was the first time Nanny Yu had seen the Imperial Consort with such a grim expression. A storm was brewing. She stayed close by her side, not daring to utter another word.

The distance from Hua E Building to Baihua Pavilion was not short. Yun Zhao began walking, but halfway there, a sedan chair caught up to her. Yun Zhao boarded it, and four little eunuchs carried her away at a swift pace.

After passing through the Golden Gate, they were not far from the Empress Dowager’s residence, Yixin Palace. Yun Zhao had them bypass it and head directly for Baihua Pavilion.

They skirted Yixin Palace and rounded a bend. In the distance, eunuchs could be seen guarding the entrance to Baihua Pavilion. The sedan chair stopped at the gate, and Yun Zhao disembarked.

“Greetings to the Imperial Consort.”

Leaning on Nanny Yu’s arm, Yun Zhao strode inside. She entered a courtyard divided by a waist-high flower wall. Zhao Ling’e and her attendants were standing on the western side. Upon seeing Yun Zhao, she came forward to pay her respects.

Yun Zhao ignored her, walking past and heading for the eastern side.

Zhang Maoquan hurried out to meet her. “Your Highness, An Pin hasn’t woken up yet. The Imperial Physician said she inhaled a great deal of water. Fortunately, the patrolling eunuchs discovered her quickly. She’s coughed up the water, but her condition is still very poor. If she doesn’t regain consciousness tonight, I’m afraid the prognosis is grim.”

Song Yunzhao’s steps faltered for a brief moment before she ascended the stairs and entered the building.

The Empress Dowager’s attendant, Nanny Yao, was busy in the outer room. Upon seeing the Imperial Concubine, she immediately came forward to pay her respects. “Greetings to the Imperial Consort.”

Yun Zhao gave a slight nod. “Nanny Yao, you are here as well. We appreciate your hard work.”

Nanny Yao felt a hint of sarcasm in the Imperial Concubine’s words, but looking up at her stern face, she decided she was probably overthinking it. “The Empress Dowager is in the bedchamber with An Pin.”

Yun Zhao nodded slightly, and Nanny Yao stepped forward to personally lift the curtain for her.

Yun Zhao stepped inside, walking around a two-panel folding screen with a mahogany base painted with flowers and birds. The Empress Dowager was sitting on the edge of the bed, and an Imperial Physician knelt on the floor. A thick, medicinal scent immediately hit her.

“This concubine greets the Empress Dowager,” Yun Zhao said, stepping forward to offer her respects.

The Empress Dowager looked up at the Imperial Concubine, her face dark with fury. “Imperial Concubine,” she snarled, “do you admit your guilt!”

Yun Zhao gave a cold, dismissive laugh. “And what crime would that be?”

“As head of the Six Palaces, how can you claim to be blameless when such a thing occurs?” the Empress Dowager demanded, her eyes cold and hard.

Yun Zhao met the Empress Dowager’s gaze directly. “What a ridiculous accusation, Empress Dowager. Was it I who told An Pin to go for a midnight stroll by the lake instead of sleeping? You are not investigating the truth behind An Pin’s fall, but are instead using this as an opportunity to slander me. I have to wonder, what are your true intentions? Or could it be that this incident is somehow related to Your Highness?”

“How dare you! An Pin is my own flesh and blood, my niece!” The Empress Dowager trembled with rage.

“Is that so? And yet, from what I understand, Your Highness has been exceptionally fond of Lady Zhao for the past six months. An Pin has been ill for just as long, but I don’t recall seeing you show much worry or concern for her.”

‘Two can play at this passive-aggressive game.’

The Empress Dowager was so enraged by Song Yunzhao that she was left nearly breathless, her pointing finger trembling uncontrollably.

Yun Zhao turned to the physician. “Doctor Jiang, what is An Pin’s condition?”

Doctor Jiang kept his head bowed as he replied, “Your Highness, An Pin has a scratch on the back of her hand, which appears to be from a cat. The wound is not serious; I have already prepared an ointment and had a palace maid apply it. Beyond that, however, her face is swollen and discolored, her eyes are slightly bulging, and her breathing is faint. This indicates she was underwater for a prolonged period. I have administered medicine, but if she does not regain consciousness tonight, I fear she will not survive.”

Yun Zhao’s heart sank. “And the palace maid who fell in the water with An Pin?”

“The palace maid suffered a blow to the back of her head, likely from a blunt object. She was unable to rescue herself after falling into the water and has already drowned.”

Upon hearing this, the color drained from Yun Zhao’s face.

“Zhang Maoquan!”

“I am here,” Zhang Maoquan replied, immediately entering and kneeling.

“Have you found any clues?”

“Your Highness, the injury on Mistress An Pin’s hand was from a cat. It appears a cat attacked her, causing her to be startled and fall into the water. Mu Qing was then struck on the back of the head, rendered unconscious, and fell in, where she drowned. These are our preliminary findings. I have already sent men to investigate further. The palace attendants on duty by the lake tonight have been taken for questioning, but we do not yet have the results.”

Yun Zhao’s hand, which was clutching a handkerchief, tightened. ‘This was a premeditated murder!’

‘Who did An Shutong get in the way of? Who wants her dead?’

“Imperial Concubine, I do not trust you,” the Empress Dowager said, looking at Song Yunzhao. “If your people are the ones conducting the investigation, who knows what they will ‘discover’.”

Song Yunzhao knew the Empress Dowager would not miss a chance to target her. She suddenly smiled. “Since Your Highness is so unwilling, then this concubine won’t waste her efforts. In any case, it is not my niece who is on the verge of death, nor my family member who has been targeted. If the Empress Dowager herself is not in a hurry, why should I be?”

“Zhang Maoquan, withdraw your men.” Song Yunzhao met the Empress Dowager’s shocked and uncertain gaze, her own smile becoming even more serene. “As Your Highness wishes. I only hope that you are able to catch the true culprit and deliver justice for An Pin.”

The Empress Dowager had only wanted to jab at Song Yunzhao’s arrogance; she never expected her to actually wash her hands of the entire affair.

This completely backed the Empress Dowager into a corner.

However, the Empress Dowager would never show weakness by asking the Imperial Concubine to take charge of the matter again.

And so, the atmosphere in the room instantly froze.

Just then, the three concubines arrived.

The three of them had already learned of the incident on their way, and all wore grim expressions.

At the arrival of the three concubines, the Empress Dowager inwardly breathed a sigh of relief and immediately tasked Consort Shu with the investigation.

Consort Shu: “…”

‘She hadn’t even found her footing or caught her breath, and this enormous problem was already being dumped on her head!’

Seeing An Pin lying on the bed, looking as if she were hanging on by a single breath, Princess Consort Wan’s mood soured.

She stood quietly to one side, her gaze vacant and unfocused, her thoughts a mystery.

Princess Consort Zhuang glanced at the Imperial Concubine, and Yun Zhao gave her a subtle signal with her eyes.

Princess Consort Zhuang nodded slightly, then looked at the Empress Dowager and said, “Your Highness, this incident is exceptionally malicious. To target An Pin right before the palace banquet… I fear the perpetrator has ulterior motives.”

The Empress Dowager listened to Princess Consort Zhuang’s words and stared at her. “What are you implying? That this is somehow aimed at tomorrow’s palace banquet?”