Chapter 20: The Scapegoat

Chapter 20: The Scapegoat

Sun Manyun followed Chunyan, walking to the small hall of Chu Xiu Palace. The hall's exterior was lined with neatly arranged attendants, moving so quietly that they were almost silent.

As she entered the hall, Sun Manyun quickly glanced around and saw a woman in a bright red peony dress sitting on an armchair. She immediately kneeled and said, “Miss Sun Manyun pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress, wishing Her Majesty peace and prosperity.”

“Rise,” came the Empress’s soft voice.

Sun Manyun respectfully stood up, noticing two other showgirls standing beside her. One was Miss Qian from the Huang Merchant family, who had visited the Purple Bamboo Forest the previous night and now looked panic-stricken; the other, disheveled with wrinkled clothes, was Feng Pingping.

Perhaps because of her official family background, or because she didn’t seem like someone who would harm Miss Qi, the Empress allowed her to sit on a cushion and answer questions.

“Miss Sun, where were you last night?”

The question came from a big, beardless eunuch in dark blue clothing, standing next to the Empress, presumably Eunuch Quan Ping from the Punishments Bureau mentioned earlier by Matron Qin.

"Sun Manyun's heart skipped a beat, and she lowered her head, 'I went to bed early in my room last night and only left this morning.'"

"Quan Ping showed no reaction and continued, 'Did you know Miss Qi left her room last night?'"

"Sun Manyun first shook her head, then hesitated before adding, 'I didn't know, but I heard Miss Qian coming to look for Miss Qi in the middle of the night. They seemed to argue briefly, but I fell asleep again before hearing the whole conversation. Whether Miss Qi left after that, I don't know.'"

"'What were they arguing about?'"

"'I didn't hear clearly, but it seemed to be something about a 'bamboo forest,' 'deception,' and 'intentional.''" Sun Manyun recalled.

"Miss Qian standing beside them trembled, her face pale as if she was about to faint."

"Quan Ping suddenly asked, 'Was it you, Miss Sun, who told Miss Qi that His Majesty would visit the Purple Bamboo Forest last night?'"

"Sun Manyun's face turned pale, and she stammered, '...Yes, but I only told Miss Qi and Sister Yun. Sister Yun told me not to believe it or go out, so I didn't.'"

"'Where did Miss Sun hear this news?'"

"'I... I heard it unintentionally after finishing my palace etiquette lessons yesterday. I was walking around and overheard the gatekeeper eunuch talking...'" Sun Manyun bit her lip, not daring to look up.

"Quan Ping looked aside to see the head eunuch of Chuxiu Palace, Eunuch Liu, shaking his head slightly. He continued, 'Do you remember what that eunuch looked like?'"

"'He was... round-faced, with small eyes...'" Sun Manyun twisted her handkerchief, her voice growing fainter, "'...I don't remember clearly.'"

"At this moment, a matron in a somber gray dress standing behind the Empress spoke sternly, 'Spying on the Emperor's whereabouts! She should be dismissed immediately and dealt with according to palace rules!'"

"Sun Manyun, terrified, slid off the cushion onto the floor, her voice trembling, 'I didn't mean to, Your Highness, I just heard it unintentionally...'"

"'Enough.' The Wangshi, who had been leisurely drinking tea at the head of the room, set down her teacup, waved off the matron, and said gently, 'Miss Sun merely heard it unintentionally. Those who should be punished are the loose-lipped servants.'"

"The matron stepped back and resumed her position behind the Empress, staying silent."

"'Thank you, Your Highness, thank you so much!' Sun Manyun expressed her gratitude."

"After a moment of silence in the hall, Quan Ping bowed to the Empress and then turned to Miss Qian:"

"'Miss Qian, why did you go to Miss Qi's room last night to argue with her? Did you lure her out of her room and murder her?'"

Miss Qian's legs trembled violently, and she nearly fainted before collapsing to her knees, trembling as she said:

"I, I was just angry at her for inciting us to go to the Purple Bamboo Forest and deceiving us that it would be safe... I was just angry, I didn't mean to harm her... Being dismissed after the reselection, I'd have no good marriage prospects at home... I didn't intend to harm her!"

"Did you lure her out of the room?" Quan Ping, unswayed, repeated.

Miss Qian timidly raised her eyes, saw all the eyes in the room fixed on her, and immediately lowered her head again, taking a long while before saying, "...Yes, she said she was afraid of waking Miss Sun... I really didn't mean to harm her!"

Quan Ping lifted his eyelids slightly and said lightly, "You argued with Miss Qi near the artificial hill behind Liuyun Pavilion, got agitated, and accidentally pushed her. Seeing her fall motionless to the ground, you immediately fled, didn't you?"

Miss Qian, now in tears, was unable to speak.

Turning to the Empress, Quan Ping reported, "Your Highness, Miss Qi died from a head injury at the back of her skull, likely caused by being pushed onto the artificial hill by Miss Qian. However, according to the coroner's report, she didn't die immediately—"

Miss Qian's eyes brightened, looking at Quan Ping, hoping he would declare her innocence.

"—She regained consciousness briefly, vomited due to internal bleeding in her brain, and then suffered a second impact, possibly from falling or being struck again, leading to her death without treatment."

The Empress nodded slightly, and Xia Chan, standing behind her, stepped forward to ask on her behalf, "If that's the case, why was Miss Qi found in Miss Zhao's room, on Miss Feng's bed?"

Feng Pingping trembled, her face full of shock and confusion, about to speak, but a quick-thinking palace maid beside her pulled her back.

Quan Ping continued, "With internal bleeding, she could initially walk. Miss Qi's room was next to Miss Zhao's, so she might have entered the wrong room. Another possibility is—"

He turned to face Feng Pingping, who was standing beside him, bowed slightly, and asked, "Miss Feng, where were you last night? According to other maidens, you were also supposed to go to the Purple Bamboo Forest, but why didn't you follow them in the end?"

"Feng Pingping was found by a junior eunuch at the entrance of Chuxiu Palace, and upon her return, she was brought to the flower hall."

"She thought her sneaking out of Chuxiu Palace had been discovered. Standing here and listening for a while, she grew increasingly frightened, never imagining she would be implicated in a murder case!"

"Hearing Quan Ping's question, she argued, 'I didn't push her; I didn't even see Miss Qi last night!'"

"'Miss Feng, I'm asking where you went last night?' Quan Ping's voice remained steady, his gaze fixed on Feng Pingping."

"Feng Pingping stepped back, her eyes flickering before she said, 'Because Sister Yun told me not to go, I hesitated and finally left late. But I was alone. After leaving Chuxiu Palace, I got lost in the Purple Bamboo Forest and couldn't find anyone else, so I just kept walking, hoping to find someone to ask…'"

"Seeing the matron behind the Empress becoming more stern, Feng Pingping unconsciously pursed her lips, and sweat beaded on her delicate nose:"

"'...Then I don't know where I ended up, but I finally met a gentleman who allowed me to rest in a place full of books... When I woke up this morning, a junior eunuch escorted me back to Chuxiu Palace.'"

"'What was the gentleman wearing? And where is that junior eunuch now?' Quan Ping pressed."

"'He was dressed very nicely. The junior eunuch left me at the path to Chuxiu Palace and then left... Oh! I forgot to ask his name!' Feng Pingping exclaimed in realization."

"Quan Ping frowned and turned to the Empress, 'Your Highness, if Miss Feng's words are true, she might have rested in the Langhuan Pavilion near Chuxiu Palace. We should send someone to investigate.'"

"The Empress spoke slowly, 'Chunyan, take people with you.'"

"'Yes.' Chunyan bowed and went on her way."

"However, the matron interjected, 'Your Highness, even if Miss Feng's story is true, she broke the rule of leaving Chuxiu Palace without permission and should be dismissed immediately.'"

"The Empress was still pondering when Feng Pingping became desperate, kneeling on the ground and pleading earnestly, 'Your Highness, please forgive me this once, I must be selected, my family—'"

"How dare you!" Matron Qing scolded, "When speaking to the Empress, mind your language and decorum. Where are the palace manners you were taught?"

The Empress raised her hand, stopping Matron Qing again, and spoke calmly, "Miss Feng, regardless of your difficulties, rules cannot be broken. Wait for Chunyan's return, and if your story is verified, prepare to return home."

Feng Pingping wanted to say more, but a junior eunuch entered, announcing, "Your Highness, Steward Sheng has arrived."