The Emperor's heart is won, she sits on the Phoenix Throne! The Divine Physician's Eldest

"Youfeng, investigate thoroughly and nip any factors that could endanger the safety of the court in the bud!" Emperor Changlong ordered.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After finishing her discussion with Emperor Changlong, Song Siyao left the palace and went straight back to the Zhenbei Marquis's residence.

Everything is well at the manor.

"Cang Yue, I haven't even returned to the capital yet, but news of my affairs in Yan has already reached you. What's going on?" Song Siyao asked Cang Yue.

“Princess, I have investigated this matter, but found nothing. I informed you of this before you returned, didn’t you receive the message?” Cang Yue asked, somewhat puzzled.

"No, His Majesty did not receive the message I sent back from Yan." Song Siyao's expression was solemn. It seemed that someone had intercepted the message, intending to prevent her from sending or receiving any messages, as if she were isolated from the world.

What is the person behind this plotting?

"What happened in the capital while I was away?" Just now in the palace, Emperor Changlong also told Song Siyao about some of the things that happened in the capital, but Song Siyao trusted Cang Yue more.

Emperor Changlong was in the deep palace, and much of the information he received was passed on to him by others; the veracity of these messages is worth considering.

"A new lady has entered the palace. She was a dancer at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. She was as beautiful as a fairy and her dance amazed the audience. The Emperor immediately bestowed upon her the title of Consort Yue and sent her to the Moon Palace. Now Consort Yue is the most favored lady in the palace. In the past, Consort Jia was the most favored. Since Consort Yue entered the palace, the Emperor has never set foot in Consort Jia's palace."

Upon hearing this, Song Siyao raised an eyebrow and asked incredulously, "The Emperor would like a dancer?"

Emperor Changlong's taking concubines was a private matter, and he naturally wouldn't mention it to Song Siyao.

“Princess, Consort Yue is no ordinary dancer. She and Miss Jiang had a poetry contest on the spot, and Miss Jiang lost,” Cang Yue said.

Song Siyao asked, "Have you checked her identity?"

"We checked, she was an orphan who was later adopted by Prime Minister Jiang."

“The Emperor’s behavior is somewhat unusual,” Song Siyao said.

Princess Qingyan was so beautiful back then, and she even took the initiative to throw herself into Emperor Changlong's arms, but Emperor Changlong remained unmoved.

“Princess, Consort Yue and Consort Rou look about 70% alike,” Cang Yue explained.

"I see." Song Siyao sneered, "Prime Minister Jiang has a good plan. His biological daughter marries a prince, and his adopted daughter marries the emperor. Double insurance, his future is as solid as a mountain!"

“The princess is absolutely right. Prime Minister Jiang is currently very influential in the court and is frequently summoned by the emperor. The emperor will ask for his opinion when reviewing memorials.”

These honors were previously reserved for Song Siyao.

Cang Yue continued, "Besides Consort Yue, Prime Minister Jiang has gained another ally: the newly appointed top scholar..."

"Princess, Magistrate Chen of the Capital has arrived," Hongshao interrupted Cangyue as she entered.

"Please." Song Siyao glanced at Cang Yue, who then stepped back.

Chen Jiang entered and first bowed to Song Siyao, saying, "This humble official greets the princess."

"Lord Chen, there's no need for such formalities. Please have a seat." Song Siyao asked, "What has happened, Lord Chen?"

"Yes, nothing can be kept from the princess. She has just returned and I have already come to trouble you." Chen Jiang looked at Song Siyao and noticed that she was much thinner than before. His heart clenched slightly, but he kept it to himself.

He told Song Siyao about the trouble he was facing, "There have been murders in the capital recently. Five people have died in just one month, and they were all young women. I have no clue what happened and can't even find out the cause of death."

Chen Jiang is a brilliant detective; if he can't solve a case, it must be very difficult.

"Tell me in detail." Song Siyao listened attentively.

Chen Jiang recounted the whole story in detail.

"On the fifth day after you left the capital, a female corpse was found in the mountains outside the city. I took the coroner there, but after examining the body, the coroner couldn't even find the cause of death."

"The day after the first female corpse was discovered, another female corpse was found on the other side of the same mountain forest. Similarly, the five coroners could not determine the cause of death."

"Later, three more female corpses were found at different times and in three different places. The only thing they had in common was that the coroner could not determine the cause of death."

"The case has made no progress, the murderer has not been brought to justice, the whole capital is in a state of panic, the people have grievances against the government, and the imperial court is pressing for action. Not to mention at night, even during the day, young women dare not go out alone."

……

Upon hearing Chen Jiang's words, Song Siyao did not hesitate for a moment, "Lord Chen, take me to see those five female corpses."

“Yes, Princess,” Chen Jiang replied.

"Princess, why don't you eat something to fill your stomach first? You ate the same thing this morning." Hongshao said with a look of concern.

After arriving in the capital, Song Siyao went directly to the palace. After discussing matters with Emperor Changlong, she returned home.

Chen Jiang arrived before I even had a chance to eat when I got home.

"I'm not hungry, let's go to the government office first." Song Siyao was very anxious.

Based on Chen Jiang's description, this sounds like a serial murder case.

The killer couldn't have only killed five people; she must find the killer as soon as possible to prevent him from killing again.

After leaving the gate of the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion, Song Siyao boarded the carriage. Chen Jiang whispered a few instructions to the yamen runners, and then left with Song Siyao in the carriage.

Upon arriving at the yamen, Chen Jiang led Song Siyao to the morgue.

“Princess, these five bodies were already like this when they were discovered. After bringing them back, I did my best to protect their bodies, just in case improper preservation would affect the judgment.”

While listening to Chen Jiang's explanation, Song Siyao began the autopsy.

By the time Chen Jiang finished speaking, she had already completed the preliminary examination.

"Princess, what have you discovered?" Chen Jiang asked.

“All five victims were frozen to death. They were all fifteen years old, five feet tall, and weighed 110 pounds,” Song Siyao said.

"Princess, you're saying they froze to death?" Chen Jiang asked incredulously.

"Yes, you're wondering why the coroner couldn't even detect death by freezing, right?"

"Yes, Princess, why is that?"

"Because they were not frozen to death by ordinary low temperatures, but by a special liquid."

Song Siyao explained, "When people are in this liquid, their body temperature drops, and their breathing and heart rate slow down. To outsiders, they look like they are not breathing, but in fact, they are still alive."