The Changchun Palace team travels back in time to Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace

The officials of the Ministry of Justice investigated day and night for several days. The people from the Department of Cautious Punishment and the eunuch Jinbao from the palace also came several times. Combining the information provided by Gui Duo, Physician Jiang, and Su Xin, as well as the few confessions and the results of the inspection of Lingxiao Garden, they roughly pieced together the course of the case.

Back then, the remaining members of the Ulanara clan were removed from the banner system. The fallen nobles from the Upper Three Banners were directly demoted to commoners. Only the mansions that had been used to train slaves were not confiscated, so these clansmen settled in these mansions. As for the orphans who were adopted and raised as trusted servants, most of them were sold elsewhere or ran away, while a small number who served them closely chose to stay and share the hardships with their former masters.

However, most of these confidants worked secretly for their masters, their expertise lying in the shady and despicable ways of the inner quarters—how to torture people, how to arrange the distribution of favors, how to induce miscarriage in pregnant women—but they were completely ignorant of other means of making a living. The men of the Ulanara clan, who had previously relied on women's connections, were almost all incompetent. Coupled with their past habits of extravagance and lavish spending, their lives quickly became unsustainable, and they were reduced to beggars. Given that the constables had unearthed several skeletons in a corner of the Lingxiao Garden's courtyard, the officials speculated that most of these people had likely died of illness or starvation, and some might have even committed acts of fratricide.

Later, perhaps shortly after Langjia was executed, the advisor who had served the Third Prince Hongshi was released and returned to Lingxiao Garden. Faced with this mess, he chose to have Langjia's remains made into a so-called deity statue, and he himself transformed into "the Lord." He used witchcraft to control these desperate people, and then amassed wealth by extorting those who had previously stayed at Lingxiao Garden and left incriminating evidence, as well as by begging. Later, when Consort Xian was reinstated, they probably saw an opportunity to restore their family's glory, so they contacted Consort Xian's head maid, Hailan, and took a gamble to clear Consort Xian's name.

But the way they kidnapped a former palace maid from Consort Xian's side and sent her to the palace to petition is absurd no matter how you look at it. First, how could they let someone bypass the palace restrictions and enter the palace so easily? Second, the palace maid, Su Xin, has been out of the palace for many years. How could they be so sure that she would say something that would benefit Consort Xian?

Agui vaguely sensed that these people's actions were less about clearing Consort Xian's name and more like a futile and desperate outburst. Su Xin, who left Consort Xian instead of staying with the Ulanara clan like these so-called loyal servants, was living a life of comfort and happiness. Gui Duo, the traitor in their eyes, though losing his health and promising future, at least lived a peaceful life. For these people, especially the servants who chose to stay and share the hardships with the Ulanara clan, these two were undoubtedly shattering their understanding of the world.

Perhaps venting their hatred on Su Xin and Gui Duo was more important to them than clearing Consort Xian's name.

But this is just speculation. After all, the judges have already used the most severe punishments stipulated in the law, and these people still haven't given in.

Jinbao said that Hailan also resisted stubbornly in the Shenxing Division, and after being tortured, she only confessed that it was her idea alone.

However, he didn't mention that Hailan had also said she wanted to see Consort Xian. The people from the Censorate also thought they could monitor them after they met to see if they would try to collude or if there would be any clues in their conversation. So they reported it, and the Emperor and Empress approved it.

Consort Xian recovered completely within a day after being struck by lightning. However, she still calmly stated, "Hailan is suspected of framing others, so it would be futile for me to go."

Since they could not obtain any clues from Hailan through Consort Xian, the Censorate continued to use torture.

The case remains unresolved and has already involved the palace. However, the people who were extorted are relatively innocent in this case. If it really involves a treasonous case, Agui does not want to involve these people anymore. Fortunately, after his suggestion was submitted, it was approved by the superiors at all levels, and there was also an imperial decree in the palace not to involve too many people or make too much of a fuss.

The housekeeper and others who had similar experiences were given lighter sentences and allowed to redeem themselves. After paying the ransom, Agui let them leave.

The housekeeper did not leave immediately, but said something to Agui.

"My current master told me that if you tell Siya that the person she likes has someone else in his heart, you might be able to get something from Siya."

Shocked, Agui immediately became alert: "Who is your current master?"

The housekeeper said, "The Hidden Fragrance Abode is home to the young and talented Shui Niang."

Agui had never heard of this place before, assuming it was some newly opened teahouse, restaurant, or brothel. He'd been holed up at the yamen handling cases for the past few days, barely returning home, let alone going out, so he had no idea where it was. He tried the interrogation method on a whim, and surprisingly, he actually got some information out of it.

Siya's testimony confirmed the official's suspicions, so the Ministry of Justice reported the case.

In the Shenxing Division, no matter how Hailan was tortured, she could only keep cursing the Empress and Consort Ling before she was gagged and thrown back into her cell. Ling Yunche admitted to following Jiang Yubin and monitoring Gui Duo, but insisted that he only wanted to seek justice for Consort Xian. However, he lost consciousness while drinking with Zhao Jiuxiao and woke up to find himself tied up at home by Zhao Jiuxiao, so he believed that Zhao Jiuxiao had deliberately obstructed him.

Zhao Jiuxiao initially claimed that Ling Yunche had slipped and fallen in the snow while drunk, but the official of the Shenxing Division did find signs of binding on Ling Yunche's body. Faced with the evidence, Zhao Jiuxiao was speechless and admitted that he had knocked Ling Yunche unconscious and tied him up at home, but he refused to explain why he did so.

The Qing Dynasty legal code stipulated that "if a case must be investigated and the evidence of the principal offender's stolen goods is clear, and if the person involved is the only one who committed the crime and assists in concealing the truth, and the person refuses to confess, a formal case shall be established, and the person shall be tortured according to law. If the person is killed by torture, no further action shall be taken."

When Cherdenzab entered the Shenxing Division, the people there were already torturing Zhao Jiuxiao.

Cherdenzabu said he was acting on the Emperor's orders to ask Ling Yunche and Zhao Jiuxiao a few questions. He ordered the torture to stop, Zhao Jiuxiao to be taken off the rack, and then everyone left.

Zhao Jiuxiao was put down and collapsed weakly to the ground.

Cherdenzab sighed, squatted down, and whispered, "Tell them that Ling Yunche is eager to make a name for himself. Seeing that the Emperor has released Consort Xian from the Cold Palace, he thinks that Consort Xian will regain the Emperor's favor. So he wants to use the matter of clearing Consort Xian's name to gain the Emperor's favor."

Zhao Jiuxiao groaned, "Guard Cherdenzab... Yun Che really didn't have such intentions..."

Cherdenzab said, "The deed is done, and there's no denying it. It's better to have done something foolish out of eagerness to make a name for yourself than to do something foolish like the rumors in the palace say, because you had an affair with Consort Xian. If you still want to save Ling Yunche and your own life, do as I say."

Zhao Jiuxiao was startled. After a long while, he closed his eyes and nodded as if resigned to his fate.

After obtaining Zhao Jiuxiao's confession, the judge interrogated Ling Yunche again. Ling Yunche still insisted that he was trying to clear Consort Xian's name.

Cherdenzab immediately ordered someone to prepare a statement from Ling Yunche based on Zhao Jiuxiao's instructions, and then went into the torture chamber.

After a scream, all was silent.

Cherdenzab stepped forward and threw a bloodied severed finger onto the table: "Sign it."

Zhangjia Hutuktu consulted various classics and books and found that the wax figure had a protruding tongue and a neck encircling the skull, which seemed to resemble the "Great Black Goddess" in the Indian faith south of the Southern Regions.

This great black goddess is also known as the Mother of Time, the goddess of time, symbolizing new life. The character “嫼” originally means “anger due to jealousy”, but when broken down, it is indeed composed of the characters “black” and “woman”.

When the wax figure was discovered, it was facing upwards with its back to the worshippers, seemingly embracing someone in the void. The officials said there were bones beneath its feet. In Indian legend, the goddess Mahakala bravely fought against the Asuras for the safety of the heavens, to the point that she could not recover from her wrathful form. Her husband, Shiva, to prevent her from shaking the three realms in her wrathful state, willingly endured her trampling. However, the actions of the devotees of this wax figure completely lacked the courage and bravery of the legendary goddess; they seemed more like petty, opportunistic individuals.

If this wax figure is truly embracing something, it is merely an illusion. If it is stepping on something, it is certainly not a symbol of subduing distracting thoughts, nor is it Shiva's compassionate heart of enduring trampling for the sake of all beings. It is simply stepping on the bones of others.

A monk entered the study and whispered, "Khutuktu, regarding the birthmarks and scars on that wax statue, the palace staff have already questioned Consort Xian. Consort Xian says she doesn't remember any of her mother's features. This Consort Xian does have a younger sister, who is currently a palace maid in Changchun Palace, but..." He hesitated for a long time, seemingly reluctant to speak, before continuing, "She's not even fourteen yet..."

Zhangjia Hutuktu said, "That's enough. This wax figure is just a shell, an evil object that distorts legends and doctrines. Its identity in life is not important."

On the nineteenth day of the first lunar month, the case was finally settled.

Palace maid Hailan colluded with people outside the palace, intending to frame other concubines and court officials. However, considering that she had served Consort Xian well, the emperor ordered her to be slapped forty times and beaten with two hundred strokes of the cane. On the day of the execution, all the concubines of the palace went to witness the execution.

Ling Yunche was punished for framing loyal officials in an attempt to gain merit. He was given one hundred strokes of the cane, dismissed from his position as a royal bodyguard, and exiled to the Mulan Hunting Grounds to perform hard labor.

Zhao Jiuxiao knew about it but did not report it, so he dismissed him from his post as a guard in Kunning Palace and expelled him from the palace.

The so-called followers of the Hemu sect were found to be remnants of the Ulanara clan. They disregarded the emperor's grace and engaged in witchcraft and religious activities. They were also found guilty of harassing ordinary people, injuring people, and extorting money. All of them were to be executed immediately, without waiting until the autumn.

Consort Xian was not strictly disciplined, but the Emperor, remembering their past friendship and feeling pity for her, demoted her to the rank of Consort Chang, suspended her salary for two years, and confined her to her quarters for one year, during which time she was to be slapped ten times a day.

Consort Shen and Consort Ling were found to be innocent and were implicated without cause. Each of them was rewarded with thirty bolts of brocade and ten pieces of jade. Consort Shen's mother was also allowed to enter the palace to visit her as compensation.

The Empress was also innocently implicated, and the matter was handled appropriately, with her rewarded with fifty bolts of brocade, one bushel of pearls, and twenty pieces of jade.

With the decree granting visitation permission, Mr. and Mrs. Gui were finally certain that their daughter was safe and sound.

Gui Duo had been prepared to personally enter the palace to defend himself, but after several days of worry, his illness suddenly worsened as soon as he was relieved.

After taking your pulse, Physician Bao said coolly, "You've been overthinking and your emotions have been fluctuating, causing your relapse to recur. Your body is weak and unable to resist the pathogens, so the poison and illness have returned. Your body is like a bowstring that's been stretched for too long; if you relax it, it will lose its resilience. It seems you won't be able to go to enjoy the flowers on the Flower Festival, but I think you probably didn't have the time for that anyway."

Knowing he was in the wrong, Gui Duo could only say, "Thank you for your help, Physician Bao." He then asked, "How are Physician Jiang and the others?"

Physician Bao sighed and replied, "Fortunately, my sister-in-law only suffered minor injuries and no serious bone damage. She has been able to walk around for the past few days. However, Physician Jiang was extremely worried about her during her postpartum period, as she was in such a fright. Fortunately, Her Majesty the Empress is kind and has allowed Physician Jiang to stay home and take care of her for the next few days."

A day later, Deqibu brought Hailancha to visit him in the hospital.

Gui Duo noticed the three scars on Deqibu's face and asked with concern, "What happened to your face?"

Deqibu seemed somewhat annoyed: "Don't even mention it, I ran into a shrew."

Hailancha said, "Didn't Aunt Mingyu say that she was a relative of a concubine in the palace and that you shouldn't call her a shrew?"

Gui Duo reacted almost immediately: "Is it the person that Eunuch Jinbao asked you to deal with?"

Deqibu scratched his head: "Yes. I didn't expect that shrew... I mean, that lady was so confused. Jinbao and I were just trying to help her son quit gambling, but she still came to our door. But it's all over now, and she doesn't dare to mess with me now."

Hailancha mimicked Jinbao's tone: "What did Eunuch Jinbao say? 'Her Majesty the Empress summoned the mother and son to the palace to help us settle things.'"

Deqibu, unable to bear it any longer, smacked him and dragged him out of the room.

Gui Duo was ill, and Deqibu did not want to disturb him, so he sat for a short while and then left. Before leaving, he solemnly said, "From now on, you can really put your mind at ease and take good care of yourself. No one from the Ulanara clan will harm your daughter anymore."

He took Hailancha back to the Fucha family, entrusted Hailancha to Mingyu's care, and then went to a place with Fuheng.

It is a remote and desolate place on the outskirts of the city, where some criminals who cannot be executed in public are secretly executed.

The criminals have been brought here and are kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs.

They waited with the executioner in the cold wind for a while, and then a carriage stopped. An old aunt and a eunuch helped a woman out of the carriage, half-carrying and half-dragging her.

The woman wore a yellow-green satin robe embroidered with butterflies, her hair was disheveled and haphazardly adorned with bright red and yellow pearl flowers, and even with a scarf around her neck, one could still vaguely see a pink forked scar.

Fu Heng whispered, "That woman in gorgeous clothes is Consort Xian, oh no, I should call her Consort Xian now."

Jinzhong remained respectful to Ruyi: "Consort Xian, His Majesty, mindful of past affections, could not bear to see you and your former family and loyal servants one last time, so he specially sent you to see them off. Despite their grave sins, His Majesty still bestows such grace upon you; this truly shows His Majesty's sincerity towards you."

Ruyi merely glanced at Jinzhong sideways, remaining silent.

It was already night, and if the executions were carried out any later, these people might become vengeful ghosts.

After verifying his identity, just as the executioner was about to carry out the execution, Fu Heng suddenly said, "Wait." He then stepped forward and handed the silver he had prepared to the executioner and Jin Zhong, and took the executioner's sword from the executioner.

He turned to Ruyi with the knife in hand and smiled, "Consort Xian, we met once a few years ago. I think you should still remember me, the younger brother of Her Majesty the Empress."

Ruyi remained expressionless.

Fu Heng said, "Because I only investigated half of the case back then, you have always suspected that the Empress instructed me to frame you. Today, I have no choice but to explain myself and the Empress clearly."

But he didn't explain anything. Instead, he turned around and walked straight towards one of the prisoners, raising his knife to strike.

Although Fuheng had practiced martial arts, he had never actually killed anyone. He was standing too close when the prisoner's head fell to the ground, splattering half of Fuheng's body with blood.

Fu Heng's face was covered in blood, but his eyes were filled with a cold, sharp light as he slashed at them one by one.

From the moment the first person was beheaded, Ruyi's calm demeanor vanished, replaced by a startled tremor. By the time several prisoners' heads had fallen to the ground, Ruyi's legs had gone weak. Had Jinzhong not been there to support her, she would have collapsed to the ground.

Fu Heng returned the ghost-head dagger and stepped forward, kneeling respectfully on one knee: "Consort Xian, your suspicions should be completely dispelled now."

Ruyi murmured in her sleep, "Back then, there were some things I misjudged, including the Empress, A... Consort Shen, and Consort Ling."

Fu Heng stood up and smiled, "Very well, since it's all a misunderstanding, let's clear it up."