Something Big Happened!
Lu Qian frowned slightly when he heard the commotion. "Why is there so much noise in the mansion? First, there were assassins, and now people are running back and forth putting out fires. Has the old prince remained in his quarters all this time?"
"Yes," Ye Wuchen nodded. "Grandfather loves all kinds of fragrances. Every night before bed, he always lights a calming incense. This particular scent has a remarkable effect on sleep—so much so that even thunder and rain outside wouldn't disturb him."
"Ah, that's good. As long as the old prince is safe, I can breathe a sigh of relief." Governor Yu wiped the sweat off his forehead and laughed dryly.
Lu Qian glanced at Ye Wuchen and slowly shook his head. "Something doesn't feel right. It makes sense that the incense helps with sleep, but thunderstorms aren't deafening. Now, with assassins in the mansion, fire being put out, and people running everywhere, how could the old prince still sleep so soundly?"
Mu Zhao lowered his gaze and smiled at Ye Wuchen. "Little Prince, may we check on the old prince ourselves? If he is truly fine, we can leave with peace of mind."
Ye Wuchen returned the smile. "Of course. I appreciate your concern for my grandfather."
"Yes, yes, very good." Governor Yu nodded hastily, scanning his surroundings before turning to Wu Yong. "Where is the third girl?"
The Third Girl Was Unhappy
The third girl was not pleased.
After saving Huo and taking down the assassin, she had hoped to return to her chambers and get some sleep. Who would have thought the governor would summon her again?
As she stepped out of the carriage, she looked up at the night sky filled with stars and let out a deep sigh.
Chen Buyu, Wei Ling, and the others stole glances at her. The moment her eyes swept over them, they quickly looked away, feigning composure.
Though her face remained calm, an impatient glint flashed in her eyes.
Meanwhile, Governor Yu hurried after Ye Wuchen, Prince Mu, and the others, practically trotting to keep up.
A Silent Courtyard
When they arrived at Prince Liang's residence, the courtyard was eerily dark and silent.
Several servants from the side quarters rushed out, bowing hastily to greet them.
"Wait here," Ye Wuchen instructed before having his servant push his wheelchair forward. He personally knocked on the door of the old prince's room.
He knocked for a long time, calling out, "Grandfather!" several times. Yet, there was only silence. No response came from within.
Ye Wuchen frowned, a shadow crossing his face.
"Is the old prince inside?" he asked.
"Yes," a servant replied, sweat forming on his brow. "As usual, the old prince ordered incense to be lit and retired for the night."
"Is the calming incense really that powerful? Strong enough to drown out all this noise?" Ye Wuchen muttered, growing suspicious.
"It shouldn't be," the servant said anxiously, stepping forward to push the door. After a moment, he turned back, visibly sweating. "Little Prince, the door is locked from the inside."
"Then open it!" Ye Wuchen's expression darkened.
"I'll do it!" Wei Ling stepped forward and kicked the door. With a loud crash, it collapsed to the ground.
Ye Wuchen ordered his attendants to push his wheelchair inside. As everyone stepped over the fallen door, a thick, sweet fragrance filled the air.
The third girl was the first to cough. She pulled a silk handkerchief from her sleeve and covered her face, her expression one of clear disgust.
The others exchanged silent glances before quickly looking away.
"Grandfather! Grandfather!" Ye Wuchen called out urgently. When no answer came, he had his servant push him toward the bedroom.
Mu Zhao, Lu Qian, and the others finally realized something was wrong and followed him inside.
A servant let out a sharp scream and yanked the little prince's wheelchair back.
"Grandfather!" Ye Wuchen bent forward, gripping the armrests tightly, his cry filled with anguish.
"Take the little prince out!" Prince Mu ordered urgently, his face grim.
The scene was a mess. The state of the old prince's body was horrifying.
Governor Yu's legs gave out, and he nearly collapsed. Wu Yong quickly reached out to support him, calling out, "Sir! Sir!"
"It's over… it's over," Governor Yu murmured in despair.
Prince Liang had been sent to Weizhou for retirement, yet now he had died under Governor Yu's jurisdiction. This was a disaster.
The governor's face turned pale, his body weak and trembling.
Yu Linlang glanced at him, her gaze filled with thinly veiled contempt.
The ground was in utter disarray—there was barely a place to step.
Wei Ling ordered everyone to withdraw to the main hall. He lit some Atractylodes incense and prepared for the autopsy.
As the others left, he turned to Yu Linlang. "Miss Third, please assist me."
A Gruesome Discovery
Yu Linlang's expression was blank, numb.
Without a word, she took the booklet offered by a servant and turned her attention to the body of Prince Liang.
Unlike the previous corpses they had encountered—some of which had been whipped or tattooed after death—Prince Liang's body was different.
His head was severed. His limbs dismembered. The state of his corpse resembled the work of a skilled executioner. The upper body was completely hollowed out, and the lower body was scattered beyond recognition.
As Wei Ling examined the remains, Yu Linlang carefully recorded every detail.
Noticing she was writing with her left hand at a remarkable speed, Wei Ling couldn't help but glance at her curiously.
"In your opinion, do you think this is the work of the same murderer?" Wei Ling asked.
"It's hard to say," Yu Linlang replied honestly. "But judging by the body, this was done by an expert in dismemberment."
She pointed to the clean, precise cuts on the old prince's limbs. "See how neat the incisions are? This isn't the work of an amateur." She picked up a severed arm and examined it closely. "These cuts are too smooth… almost artistic. It's as if they were sliced by a blade infused with sword energy. The culprit must possess more than a decade of internal martial arts training."
When she turned back, she found Wei Ling staring at her, stunned. She silently put the severed arm down.
"Miss Third, be honest with me. Have you worked in the yamen before?" Wei Ling asked incredulously.
Ignoring his question, Yu Linlang stood up and walked out. "I've recorded everything. Prince Liang's status is too high for them to allow his body to be taken to a public mortuary for further examination."
As they stepped outside, they saw Governor Yu pacing anxiously.
Ye Wuchen slumped in his wheelchair, looking exhausted. His face was still damp, as if he had been crying.
"I've sent for Zhao Ji," he said, his voice heavy. "She was the one who bathed my grandfather, prepared his incense, and helped him sleep tonight. If anyone knows what happened, it's her."
"This Zhao Ji… she was the old prince's favored concubine, correct?"
"Yes," Ye Wuchen sighed, rubbing his forehead. "My grandfather was always in good health. He kept a large harem—more than ten concubines, most of them gifts from His Majesty or offerings from noble families. Recently, Zhao Ji was his favorite. She has been the one lighting his incense and attending to him every night for half a month."
As he finished speaking, a gust of fragrant wind swept through the room. Before anyone could see her, a soft, tearful voice echoed, "My old prince..."
Zhao Ji had arrived.