Chapter 45

The next day, Shen Qing received a jade token delivered by a servant of the Liu residence. The servant said, “Madam is already at the Dali Court. She requests that you wait at the side gate.”
Shen Qing did not linger over the jade token. She immediately donned a robe, disguised as a young gentleman, and went alone to the Dali Court.
Madam Liu had already sent someone to wait, a small, slightly older child. Having waited long, he squatted at the side gate, knees hugged, head nodding drowsily.
The side gate rarely saw traffic. The mossy steps and blackened corners creaked. The child swayed on the sparse moss, nearly collapsing when a hand landed on his shoulder with a clap, and a voice near his ear startled him fully awake.
Fortunately, the ground and moss were dry, preventing him from slipping.
“Are you from the Liu residence?”
Rubbing his sleepy eyes, the child looked up to see a neatly dressed, refined young gentleman standing a short distance away, offering a jade token.
The child took it eagerly. A large “Liu” was clearly carved on it. “Yes! Yes! Please follow me, Young Master Shen!”
Shen Qing followed the child through the side gate, taking the least crowded path. Approaching a guard station nearest to Zhaoyu Prison, they suddenly ran into someone.
The child immediately bowed. “Greetings, Junior Master Qinglan.”
The newcomer wore a crimson round-collared robe, with a leather belt crossing underneath. He hurried along in black boots, eyebrows furrowed, lips pressed tight. He glanced at the child bowing and intended to pass, but something caught his eye, and Shi Qinglan abruptly stopped.
Shi Qinglan asked, “Who is this person beside you? Why do they look so unfamiliar?”
Upon seeing Shi Qinglan, Shen Qing tensed, lowering her head, wishing she could disappear. A cold sweat ran down her back as Shi Qinglan inquired about her.
They had met a few times on the boat. If he recognized her today, it would be disastrous.
Fortunately, the child was prepared. Calmly, he said, “Junior Master, this person is related to a case. Liu Siqing specially ordered me to bring them here for personal questioning.”
Hearing it was Liu Siqing’s request, Shi Qinglan said nothing, only noticing her lowered head and feeling curious.
He frowned. “Why the bowed head? Did I frighten you?”
Shen Qing feigned flustered ignorance, shaking her head, silent.
The more Shi Qinglan looked at her smooth forehead, the more familiar she seemed, though he couldn’t place where the feeling came from. Frowning, he said, “Why are you silent? Lift your head.”
Shen Qing dared not move.
She could disguise her appearance, but her voice was impossible to fake. Moreover, this was someone from the Dali Court, the officials here were far more perceptive of subtle details than ordinary people. She could only keep her mouth tightly shut.
Shi Qinglan’s patience was nearly exhausted. He was already overwhelmed with the case of the minister Zhang’s daughter drowning. The Crown Prince had demanded it be closed within a month. Yet after interrogating her in the detention cells, the girl had proven stubborn, showing no fear of punishment.
He wasn’t concerned that she was tough; after a round of Dali Court interrogations, even an iron man would talk. The problem was the one-month deadline from the Crown Prince.
Moreover, getting her to speak would take time.
After questioning, the case needed verdicts, reviews, and further confirmation by the Ministry of Justice. With all this, finishing within a month seemed impossible.
Failing to meet the Crown Prince’s demand would cost him his position. Returning home humiliated, he’d be scolded by his father, and, on top of that, compared unfavorably to that irritating Gu Ze!
The thought made him increasingly irritable. Coldly, he said again, “Lift your head.”
For just a suspect to show such attitude, truly infuriating.
Shen Qing still did not move.
Shi Qinglan had completely lost patience. He was about to lift her head himself when the little boy suddenly ran up and blocked him. “Junior Master, calm your anger! This person… this person is mute and timid, that’s why she’s like this…”
“Mute?” Shi Qinglan scrutinized her hairline. Indeed, she looked like a timid mute. No wonder she huddled like a quail. He felt slightly bored, yet the inexplicable sense of familiarity persisted, so he did not stop moving his hand.
“J-, ”
“Junior Master! Junior Master!” A prison guard came rushing up, interrupting the boy. “Junior Master, an important guest has arrived. Liu Siqing wishes for you to personally receive them.” He whispered into Shi Qinglan’s ear.
Hearing this, Shi Qinglan glanced at Shen Qing once before leaving with the guard.
Both the little boy and Shen Qing exhaled in relief.
At Liu Siqing’s office, the boy knocked respectfully. “Master, Young Master Shen has arrived.”
The door opened, and it was Madam Liu herself.
She threw open the door, excitedly welcoming Shen Qing inside. “Today I should have received Madam Shen with my husband, but an unexpected distinguished guest arrived at the Dali Court. My husband had no choice but to accompany Junior Master Shi to receive them.”
She poured tea into a cup. “Here, Lady Shen has come a long way. You must be thirsty, drink!”
Shen Qing accepted the cup with a faint smile, placing it on the table without a word. She diverted the conversation. “I am only here to gather the residual energy needed for Lasy Liu’s soul-anchoring. Since my senior brother is occupied with Xuanji Pavilion affairs, I must handle it myself. I hope this does not trouble you.”
Being a young woman in the male-dominated Dali Court was inconvenient. Madam Liu, using her husband’s dislike for official cuisine as an excuse, personally brought food to the office to wait for Shen Qing.
Madam Liu said, “No trouble at all, no trouble.”
Shen Qing replied, “The detention cells are heavy with energy. It’s too concentrated for Lady Liu to endure, so I need to gather some that’s diluted and weak.”
She frankly explained she needed to investigate every corner of the Dali Court. Madam Liu pondered, then resolutely said, “Lady, don’t worry. I will take care of everything.” She produced a copper token from her waist. “This is my pass. If anyone asks, say you are a clerk from my household sent by me to handle official matters.”
Shen Qing accepted the token with a smile. “Thank you, Madam.”
With Madam Liu’s overprotective love, even if Shen Qing caused chaos in the detention cells, her mother would shoulder the consequences.
Madam Liu paced anxiously while Shen Qing, armed with the pass, proceeded unhindered to the archive.
As she approached, Shen Qing hesitated. Entering directly with the token would alert someone. She decided to avoid raising suspicion, folding a paper doll to distract the clerks guarding the door.
The doll animated, spiraling into a black mist, causing a small commotion. The two clerks ran to investigate the noise.
Seizing the opportunity, Shen Qing slipped into the archive.
Inside, it was empty, just as she hoped. Rows of shelves were packed with files accumulated over the years.
She searched by date.
Considering the underground palace’s construction timeline, she began looking at cases from five years ago.
Bai Shuisha, born of a drowning victim, retained the appearance of his death age, around twenty. Judging by the tomb’s ranking, a third-rank official, she now had a clear direction for her search.
Time was limited. She quickly scanned the shelves, focusing on cases of a similar nature.
After what felt like an eternity, sweat had formed on her forehead from the stifling air. Finally, her eyes lit up as she found a relevant case.
It was a case from four years ago.
She steadied herself, trembling, and opened the page. The record read: “Year of Kuimao, sixteenth year of Yongzhen, Minister of the Board of Personnel…”
Suddenly, noise erupted outside the archive.
Shen Qing panicked, glancing around. The shelves offered no cover; anyone could spot her.
The sounds drew nearer. Just in time, she noticed a half-height desk in the corner, likely placed there for convenience by an official.
She quickly ran and crouched behind it.
“Your Highness, this is the archive. Please, come in,” someone respectfully guided a visitor inside.
The visitor, indifferent, said, “Understood.”
“Ah, excellent! This is Junior Master Shi Qinglan, very familiar with the archive, so let him, ”
The visitor wore a bright red robe and a black headpiece. His delicate face was calm, though his lips were faintly pink, as if chilled.
To avoid offending the guest, Shi Qinglan had changed into a muted green robe.
“No need. Wait outside,” the young visitor said lightly.
“Yes!” The attendant wiped sweat and escorted the guest in.
Once inside, they relaxed, gathering to discuss excitedly.
“Why isn’t he at Dongshan Temple? Why come to the Dali Court? Could there be an unusual case, and he wishes to examine old files?”
“Perhaps he got bored at Dongshan Temple and whimsically wants to meddle in court affairs!” One voice trailed off suddenly.
Shi Qinglan’s expression darkened. “Outrageous! Who taught you to speak recklessly? Do you dare openly discuss the prince behind his back? Have you swallowed all rules and discipline?”
“Junior Master Shi, I acknowledge my mistake! I was momentarily careless…”
Li Daoxuan ignored the commotion outside, focusing entirely on the ancient records.
Shen Qing felt him drawing closer, covering her mouth and nose, holding her breath. Her heart raced.
After searching long without success, Li Daoxuan grew frustrated. Though suffering from a cold, he forced himself to inspect carefully, aware of the threat Bai Shuisha posed in Chang’an.
Through meticulous searching, he found two or three cases of drowning involving third-rank officials or their families. Glancing at the desk, he picked up several volumes and walked over.