“Chapter 19: Murder”

"Chapter 19: Murder"

"Early in the morning, the faint light of dawn filtered through the carved lattice windows, casting a soft glow in the room accompanied by a faint sweet scent."

"Zhao Ruyun rose from her bed, and at the door, a young maid had already brought a copper basin for washing."

"She glanced at the other bed across the room. The autumn fragrance-colored bed curtains were still drawn, obscuring the view inside. The floor under the bed was empty, save for a low cabinet, and there were no embroidered shoes in sight."

"'Ling'er, there was a lot of noise last night. What happened?' Zhao Ruyun asked the young maid."

"The maid placed the basin on the lotus-headed washstand, bowed, and crisply replied, 'To answer Miss Zhao, last night several maidens left Chuxiu Palace without permission and bumped into Noble Consort Xu Xiuyuan. Matron Qin said all of them would be dismissed and sent home without exception.'"

"Zhao Ruyun murmured 'Xu Xiuyuan' under her breath, then asked, 'Do you know which maidens were involved?'"

"'Miss Yuan, Miss Lv, Miss Zhang, Miss Kong, Miss Qian…' Ling'er counted on her fingers and then shook her head, 'I only remember these names. But these maidens were punished by kneeling by Noble Consort Xu Xiuyuan yesterday, so you can tell by those who walk uncomfortably today.'"

"After the young maid Ling'er left, Zhao Ruyun softly called towards Feng Pingping's bed, 'Miss Feng, are you there?'"

"No response."

"Zhao Ruyun took a few steps forward, approaching the bed, 'May I draw the curtains?'"

"Still no reply."

"She reached out and drew back the curtains, hanging them on the silver hooks, and peered inside. She saw an indigo blue silk quilt wrapped into a bundle, with some strands of black hair peeking out. This made her feel puzzled."

"'Miss Feng?'"

"Detecting a faint scent of blood, Zhao Ruyun frowned, 'Miss Feng, are you hurt? Did you bump your knee last night?'"

She gently pulled back the blanket—

A pair of round, bloodshot eyes set in a pale, swollen face stared back at her!

“Ah——!”

“Dead... there’s a dead person... a dead person! There’s a dead person!”

Zhao Ruyun stumbled out of the room, her voice filled with fear, tremblingly saying, “A dead person, there’s a dead person... Miss Qi is dead…”

It was the time for the showgirls to rise in the morning, and most of them heard Zhao Ruyun’s shrill voice. Soon, Matron Qin hurried over, followed by a procession of maids and eunuchs.

A circle of showgirls gathered outside the room, with Zhao Ruyun supported by Sun Manyun, her face pale and her expression panicked.

Matron Qin approached her, softening her expression and gently asked, “Miss Zhao, Miss Zhao? Are you alright?”

Zhao Ruyun's eyes trembled, and as she shifted her gaze, she saw Matron Qin's lips moving but couldn't make out the words. She tried to speak but fainted into Sun Manyun's arms without uttering a sound.

“Sister Ruyun!”

“Miss Zhao!”

The crowd grew noisy again.

Matron Qin sternly commanded, then ordered Zhao Ruyun to be carried to Sun Manyun's nearby room to rest, and turned to a maid named Xi’er, instructing, “Go to the Imperial Medical Bureau quickly and summon a physician.”

“Yes.” Xi’er’s young face turned serious as she hurried away.

Matron Qin then instructed another maid, “Go to the Punishments Bureau and ask for Eunuch Quan Ping to come. Say there’s been an incident in Chu Xiu Palace, someone has ‘fallen’.”

In the palace, the word "death" was taboo, often replaced with euphemisms like "gone" or "fallen."

"After issuing these instructions, she turned to a person in deep blue eunuch attire and said, 'Please, Eunuch Liu, personally report to the Empress in the Fengyi Palace. I'll go inside to take a look.'"

"Eunuch Liu, with a solemn expression, nodded, 'I've already ordered a junior eunuch to guard the main gate of Chuxiu Palace. The Empress might arrive at any moment. Matron Qin, please take care of the maidens in the meantime.'"

"With that, he hurried away."

"Initially unclear about what had happened, the maidens, upon hearing the conversation between Matron Qin and the palace staff, realized something serious had occurred and moved aside, no longer crowding around."

"'Xiao Anzi, you and the others keep an eye on the maidens. Don’t let anyone wander off.'"

"After speaking, Matron Qin approached the wide-open room of Zhao Ruyun and Feng Pingping."

"Upon entering, the first thing in view was a floral and bird patterned folding screen. Turning past the screen, there was a square huanghuali table with several chairs in the center, a washstand with a face towel in the corner, and a dressing table with a copper mirror beside it. Not far behind the table, two luohan beds stood side by side."

"Both beds had autumn fragrance-colored curtains, now hung up with silver hooks. On the right bed, half of the indigo blue quilt was uncovered, revealing the dead woman’s face."

"—It was Miss Qi, who shared the room with Sun Manyun."

"Matron Qin’s expression remained unchanged as she approached, detecting a faint smell of blood. She completely uncovered the quilt, noting the slight vomit stains on Miss Qi’s front and the deep, dark red bloodstain soaked into the mattress behind her head. To the two palace maids who followed her in, she said:"

"'Search the room thoroughly, report anything suspicious immediately.'"

*

"The maidens gathered in Sun Manyun's room, and those who couldn’t find a seat waited in nearby rooms for news."

"The imperial physician hadn’t arrived yet, and Zhao Ruyun was still unconscious on Sun Manyun’s bed. People sat around the round table and even on the stools, but no one dared to sit on the empty bed that belonged to Miss Qi."

"After a while, someone tentatively asked, 'Who do you think had a grudge against Miss Qi?'"

"The maidens exchanged glances. A maiden in a light yellow silk dress sitting on a stool said, 'Didn’t you know about yesterday’s incident? They said everyone who went to the Purple Bamboo Forest was instigated by Miss Qi. She had conflicts with over a dozen maidens.'"

"'What are you saying?!' Another maiden in a green dress stood up, her voice tinged with anger, 'Are you implying that just because we left Chuxiu Palace, all of us could be suspects?'"

“I’m not blaming you,” the girl in a tender yellow robe said, “I’m just stating the facts. Otherwise, who would know who bore a grudge against Miss Qi?”

“Even so, it doesn’t justify murder! Matron Qin said we were all to pack up and go home today. Who would stir up trouble in the palace now?” the girl in the green dress argued.

The two showgirls, each adamant, raised their voices.

“Shut up!” Sun Manyun turned and scolded fiercely. Though she looked sweet and delicate, her fire revealed the dignity of a daughter from a third-rank official's family.

“Sister Ruyun is still unconscious. If you want to argue, take it outside!”

The group fell silent momentarily before someone couldn’t resist whispering, “Sun sister, since you shared a room with Miss Qi, do you know what happened last night?”

This time Sun Manyun didn’t snap back, pondering for a while before uncertainly saying, “I was sleeping deeply last night. In a daze, I think I heard Miss Qian come in and argue with Miss Qi, then I don’t know what happened next. When I woke up, I heard Sister Ruyun’s voice…”

As the showgirls prepared to ask more, a new face entered the room, a maid in lotus-colored attire with piled silk flowers in her hair. She scanned the room and asked, “Is Sun Manyun, Miss Sun, here?”

Sun Manyun stood up from the bedside and approached, asking with a hint of confusion, “I am Sun Manyun. May I know who you are, sister?”

The palace maid gave a slight curtsy and said, “I am Chunyan. Her Majesty the Empress has heard that Miss Sun and Miss Qi were roommates and has summoned you for questioning.”