Chapter 346

The weather in early spring was still very cold. Zhuo Qing sat on a stone bench by the lake in Lanyue Lou, thinking about how to treat Qingfeng's psychological trauma.

"What exactly is going on?" A cold female voice suddenly sounded behind her. Zhuo Qing was startled. Looking back, Gu Yun stood behind her with a cold expression. Yun's complexion was very poor, and she looked exhausted. This journey must have been very hard. Patting the stone bench beside her, she signaled her to sit down. Zhuo Qing let out a sigh of relief. She had finally returned.

Zhuo Qing told Gu Yun in detail about the situation these days and the results of the autopsy. The two discussed for a while, but there was no conclusion for the time being. Gu Yun decided to enter the palace to see Qingfeng first.

Zhuo Qing had Yan Hongtian's token in her hand, and the two entered the Imperial Palace smoothly. Walking into Qingfeng Palace, they saw a small baby cradle placed under a big tree in the courtyard. Beside the cradle, Qingfeng, in plain clothes, was half-kneeling by the cradle with her hair uncombed, her eyes staring straight at the small cradle. Only Fuling was accompanying her.

Seeing them come, Fuling bowed slightly, as if afraid of startling her, and said in an extremely light voice: "Mistress, Lady Lou and Miss Qing have come to see you."

Gu Yun's brows furrowed tightly. Qingfeng was a different person from the full moon banquet—a thin chin, dull eyes, pale complexion, and a thin body made her look as if she would faint at any time. A heartache surged into her heart, and Gu Yun called out softly: "Sister."

After a long time, Qingfeng slowly turned her head, her eyes lingering on Gu Yun's face for a long time as if she had finally recognized who she was, "You're back, sit." The hoarse voice was very weak, almost blown away by the wind, as if she were going to let herself fall into endless sorrow, ignoring everyone and everything around her. Gu Yun persuaded softly, "The dead cannot be brought back to life, please restrain your grief and don't ruin your own body."

Qingfeng seemed not to hear it, still staring at the child's small cradle, eyes not blinking, and from time to time, a smile would appear on the corner of her mouth, but that smile was full of bitterness.

A fire suddenly rose in Gu Yun's heart. Who was so vicious that they would not even let go of an infant?! Torturing a mother into this state! If it was really murder, she wanted to seek justice for that child.

"You come over here."

Fuling did not understand why Gu Yun wanted to call her, but Qingfeng did not stop her, so she had to follow Gu Yun to the other side of the courtyard. Just as they stood still, Gu Yun asked in a deep voice: "Who was the first to discover the child's death?"

Fuling was startled and replied in a low voice: "It was this servant."

"Tell me everything you know about the day of the incident again. Think clearly before you speak, and don't omit any details."

Fuling hesitated for a while, turned slightly, and looked at Qingfeng not far away. Gu Yun blocked her line of sight and said in a low voice: "Tell the truth."

Gu Yun's voice was not high, but it had an aura that made people dare not disobey. After thinking for a long time, Fuling replied in a low voice: "After the full moon banquet, the prince caught a cold and kept running a fever. The Imperial Physician would enter the palace every Si hour to treat the prince. That morning, before the Si hour had arrived, Imperial Physician Hu and Imperial Physician Wang came..."

"Don't say any more, withdraw." Fuling had only said one sentence when she was fiercely scolded by Qingfeng. Fuling's face changed slightly, and she hurriedly retreated.

Qingfeng's face was iron-blue, and her expression was finally no longer numb, seemingly suppressing some kind of emotion. Gu Yun walked in front of her and asked: "Why didn't you let her speak?"

Turning her head to the other side, Qingfeng did not dare to meet Gu Yun's eyes and replied in a low voice: "The prince has already passed away, I don't want to mention these things again."

Her obviously perfunctory and evasive words made Gu Yun feel even more suspicious, and Zhuo Qing was also puzzled. She remembered that when Qingfeng questioned her about how the child died last time, it was definitely not like this. Gu Yun tested and asked: "Knowing that he didn't die of illness, you don't intend to pursue it?"

Raising her head abruptly, Qingfeng stared at Gu Yun, with deep pain in her eyes. The hoarse voice sounded actually heartbreakingly miserable, "How do you want me to pursue it? All the Imperial Physicians said the prince died of illness, who do I pursue it with? Even if he didn't die of illness, the affairs of the harem are not for the Ministry of Justice to manage, and in the end, it will still fall to Lou Suxin and Xin Yuening to investigate! People are already dead, what's the use of investigating clearly!"

Being too excited was more than her weak body could bear, and she coughed. She covered her chest, turned her back, and said in a strong tone: "The child has already been buried, you all don't manage this matter anymore. I am very tired, you all go."

Zhuo Qing and Gu Yun looked at each other and did not stimulate her anymore, and went out of Qingfeng Palace together.

Gu Yun said with a solemn expression: "Qingfeng should know that this matter is suspicious, and must already have a clue, but doesn't want us to participate." And she also just saw the cold ferocity that Qingfeng was trying hard to suppress on her face when she spoke, which was definitely not something a person who did not intend to pursue it would have.

Zhuo Qing clearly saw it too and sighed in a low voice: "This matter is very different from the cases you investigated before. It is not just a murder case, but also involves many power struggles. Yan Hongtian is not a fool either. He has already had two sons pass away, why has he not asked about it until now? The power balance and interest entanglements are more complicated than we imagine. In short, you must not act rashly."

Gu Yun naturally understood Zhuo Qing's implication and could not help but curse, "Really troublesome!"

Zhuo Qing patted Gu Yun's hand and lowered her voice: "I know you are a person who distinguishes right from wrong, and everything in your heart should be either black or white, but the harem is a gray place, where nothing can be too clear, nor too confused. When I first met Qingfeng, she was very fierce and stubborn, but now she has gradually learned how to live in the palace. We cannot ignore this matter, but we cannot manage it with great fanfare either. Since she doesn't want us to intervene, then we will investigate secretly and find an opportunity to help her. With her temperament, she will not let it go."

Gu Yun was silent for a long time and finally nodded, "Alright. Let's do as you say." She believed in law and justice, but would never understand politics.

After Zhuo Qing and Gu Yun left, Qingfeng stood up from the cradle, sat on the stone bench, and the sorrow on her face faded a bit. After a while, she said to Fuling beside her: "If they ask you anything privately in the future, just tell them the truth."

"Yes." Ever since these days, Fuling's brows had not relaxed. Her mistress was becoming more and more strange and more and more difficult to fathom. Sometimes she was extremely sorrowful, and sometimes her expression was cold. If this continued, what would happen?

Fuling had a worried look on her face. Qingfeng sighed in her heart, gently held Fuling's hand, and whispered: "Fuling, I'm a bit hungry."

"Ah?" How long had it been since her mistress took the initiative to say she was hungry? Fuling was so happy that she nodded hurriedly, "Alright, this servant will go and serve the meal."

Just as Fuling went out, Ruyi walked in from outside the door and stood beside Qingfeng, "Mistress."

"How is it?" Qingfeng's voice was cold, long gone was the warmth she had toward Fuling just now.

Ruyi looked toward the door, bent down slightly, and said a few words extremely lightly beside Qingfeng.

Because of these few short words, Qingfeng's complexion changed drastically. Staring at Ruyi, she shouted: "Really?!"

Ruyi immediately knelt down and said anxiously: "This servant dares not deceive the mistress." Hearing the creaking sound of the mistress's bones as she clenched her fists, Ruyi lowered her head and dared not move.

After a while, Ruyi heard Qingfeng say calmly: "You withdraw." Ruyi dared not stay long and hurriedly withdrew.

The constantly heaving chest and the tightly clenched fists showed that Qingfeng's heart was definitely not as calm as her voice expressed.

Yan Hongtian!

Yan Hongtian, you are good!

Gu Yun and Zhuo Qing went to see Qingfeng every three days. She was still the same as usual, staring at the cradle for a whole day, sometimes saying a word or two to them. Gu Yun did not stimulate her anymore, but privately questioned the eunuchs and old nannies who were still in Qingfeng Palace. The Imperial Palace was indeed a terrible place. It made people become cautious and careful. No matter what Gu Yun asked, the answers she got were almost that the servants knew nothing.

This day was another day for Gu Yun and Zhuo Qing to enter the palace to see Qingfeng. Today, Qingfeng looked in good spirits. Seeing them enter, she was about to talk to them, but saw a man following behind them. The man was in his thirties, of medium build, and looked extremely ordinary, but his whole body was filled with an arrogance that was hard to ignore.

Qingfeng asked guardedly: "Who is he?"

Zhuo Qing was closer to Qingfeng, so Gu Yun signaled her to speak. Zhuo Qing walked to Qingfeng's side and replied cautiously: "He is a doctor."

Qingfeng's complexion changed immediately, and she replied coldly: "I'm fine, I don't need any doctor, let him go."

Zhuo Qing looked at Gu Yun with a headache. Just as the two were thinking about how to persuade Qingfeng, Yue Sheng scoffed: "Everyone has a stubborn temper. It's easy to make me leave, but if I leave, that pretty face of yours will be hopeless."

What does that mean? Qingfeng looked at Zhuo Qing and the others questioningly. Zhuo Qing explained softly: "We brought him here to help you heal your face. Although it doesn't matter if there are scars on your face, but..."

They thought Qingfeng would definitely flare up, but who knew she swept away her anger just now and asked seriously: "Can he really heal my face?"

Zhuo Qing nodded immediately, "Mm."

"Alright, then heal it."

Qingfeng's straightforwardness made Zhuo Qing and Gu Yun a bit dazed, and the ferocity that flashed across Qingfeng's eyes for an instant did not escape Yue Sheng's eyes. Interesting! Yue Sheng smiled: "Your face is more seriously injured than theirs. To heal it, you have to suffer some bitterness." This woman was actually more ruthless than her sisters. Two deep scars had wiped out seven or eight parts of her stunning appearance. Now wanting to heal it, it was absolutely impossible just because she wanted a stunning face back.

Qingfeng replied expressionlessly: "As long as it can be healed, I can suffer any bitterness."

"Alright!" He liked this kind of woman who could use any means to achieve her goal. Not only would he heal her face, but he would also make her even more beautiful than before!

(End of chapter)