Proud Feather

Chapter 153 Smell the fragrance
Chu Ling had followed Gao Mian in investigating the case for so long, and she found the ashes immediately after the incident, so the emperor couldn't help but trust her more.

"What can you do?"

Chu Ling countered, "Doesn't Father Emperor find it strange that Consort Shu has been resting during her pregnancy, and Yongchun Palace has been on high alert, perhaps not being careful enough? How come the two palace maids on duty tonight left so casually, and a strange servant woman replaced them?"

The emperor slowly nodded, his sharp gaze falling on the two palace servants: "Who exactly is instructing you?"

The two palace maids were so frightened that their legs went weak, and they knelt down with a thud, crying out, "We weren't ordered to do this! We were just playing around. We were wrong. We rarely have time to relax all year round, and we neglected our duties..."

The other said, "It was because I took a chance and thought that the security was tight tonight and the people serving me must be reliable, that I... I deserve to die, but I was absolutely not instructed by anyone!"

After they finished speaking, Chu Ling said with a half-smile, "Are you really not afraid of the Imperial City Guard's methods? Should we call Lord Xue out so you can see for yourselves?"

"No, no..." The two palace maids were sweating profusely. "We didn't, Your Highness, please spare our lives!"

Seeing their expressions, Caizhi also became suspicious: "When I left, I told you to guard her every step of the way and never let her out of your sight. Why didn't you take it seriously? Have you betrayed your master?!"

"No! Aunt Caizhi, we really just overlooked it..."

One side said no, the other didn't believe it, and there was a commotion in the hall.

“Father,” Chu He said, “this arguing can’t go on. These two palace servants are definitely in the wrong. Have Lord Xue take them away for questioning!”

Send Xue Wang? I don't know if the emperor will allow it, but Chu Ling certainly won't. If someone enters the Imperial City Guard, who knows if they'll end up as two corpses?

So she interrupted the emperor, saying, "Second brother, don't rush. This is just the first point of doubt. We can make a decision after you've finished speaking."

"Are there any other suspicious points?" Chu He looked at her, his eyes filled with surprise and doubt.

"Of course," Chu Ling smiled slightly. "The most obvious point is that the talisman has a strong smell that doesn't dissipate quickly. Whoever burned it probably still has the smell on their hands."

This is the most important clue!
The emperor turned to Sun Shouquan and asked, "Sun Shouquan, what do you think we should do?"

Sun Shouquan reported, "Your Majesty, if you wish to smell the aroma, you can borrow a trained dog from the Imperial City Guard. However, the palace is filled with empresses, and it might disturb the ladies."

That was obviously unacceptable, the emperor thought about it and immediately rejected it. In the inner palace, bringing a dog to sniff the air—wouldn't the concubines be terrified? It was simply inappropriate.

Sun Shouquan continued, "In that case, we can only settle for second best and find a few palace servants with a keen sense of smell to sniff around. Although it is not as reliable as dogs, it is still a solution."

“What Sun Duzhi said is true,” Chu Ling immediately replied. “The Imperial Pharmacy has incense makers, right? Those who make incense have high requirements for their sense of smell.”

“The princess is quite right,” Sun Shouquan replied. “Your Majesty, shall I summon the incense maker immediately?”

The emperor nodded: "Go!"

Sun Shouquan went out on business. It's the New Year, and the incense makers aren't in the palace. It will probably take a while to find them.

While waiting, Chu Ling personally poured tea and presented it to the emperor, saying, "Father, please calm down. The imperial physicians are doing their best to treat her, and Consort Shu will surely be alright."

How could the emperor possibly forgive himself? But her thoughtfulness soothed him considerably, and he sighed, "Although I never hoped for this prince, he's gone just like that... it's all over now..."

Chu He quickly comforted him, "Father, you still have me, you still have A-Ling, and you still have Xiao Wu and the others!"

The emperor forced a smile, his gaze falling on Lü Chan, who was kneeling.

"Crown Princess, please sit down! There's no need to be alarmed. I won't wrong you if you didn't do it." Hearing this, Lü Chan finally breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you, Father Emperor."

She was afraid that things would get muddled and she wouldn't be able to defend herself, leaving her to take the blame. Now that Chu Ling had opened a crack, although she hadn't completely cleared herself of suspicion, she was no longer the target of suspicion.

Chu Ling met her gaze and smiled slightly.

She was glad she reacted quickly. As soon as Consort Shu got into trouble, she felt there was something fishy going on.

In her previous life, there was no news of Consort Shu's pregnancy, indicating that the child could not be saved. However, in this life, Consort Shu announced her pregnancy early on, and the imperial physicians practically stayed at Yongchun Palace. She was even able to go out and move around, greatly reducing the possibility of miscarriage due to her own condition.

Why couldn't it be saved? She immediately suspected someone had tampered with it. Upon hearing what Lü Chan said, she immediately launched a search before anyone else could react, and sure enough, she found the ashes.

With this clue, the truth will surely come to light if she investigates thoroughly. But the problem now is that the investigation might not be able to proceed, so she has to uncover the truth before the other party can react!

She had just mentioned the reactions of the two palace maids to probe their positions. Caizhi was not an accomplice, the Virtuous Consort was uninvolved, the Emperor genuinely wanted to find the murderer, and only her good second brother acted suspiciously.

Knowing who the suspect is makes things much easier.

"Ah Ling, why are you looking at me like that?" Chu He felt uneasy under her gaze.

Chu Ling sighed, "I'm worried about my second brother! Consort Shu will surely be blessed with good fortune, so don't be sad."

She spoke so sincerely that Chu He could only accept her kindness: "I know, thank you."

Chu Ling then looked at Pang Yu, who hadn't spoken, and asked with concern, "Second Sister-in-law, are you alright? If you feel unwell, please let me know immediately!"

The emperor was reminded: "Second son's wife, you are pregnant, be careful in everything you do."

"Thank you, Father Emperor." Pang Yu's expression wasn't too good. He glanced at Chu He and tentatively asked, "Then... shall I go and rest?"

“Alright!” Chu Ling said first. “Second sister-in-law, just go ahead and leave the people around you behind. It’s definitely not you who burned the talisman paper, but to clear your name, it would be best to let the incense burner smell it as well.”

She left, but the maid stayed behind. Pang Yu's heart tightened, but she smiled and said, "Alright, it's only for a little while, I'll wait a bit longer! I'm not feeling unwell."

Chu Ling smiled slightly: "It's good that Second Sister-in-law is alright."

After waiting a while, Sun Shouquan returned, bringing with him five or six incense craftsmen.

There were many concubines in the palace, so they couldn't be brought back directly and were arranged to stay in a side hall.

"Alright, Sun Shouquan, make the arrangements and let's begin!" the emperor declared.

Sun Shouquan agreed and brought over two female craftswomen to take charge of the concubines' area. All the palace servants and eunuchs were then moved to a side hall to let other incense craftsmen smell the fragrance.

Chu Ling glanced at Zheng Qiu as she watched this scene.

Zheng Qiu understood and left with the green tea.

"How about starting with my eldest sister-in-law?" she asked, turning to him. "What does Father think?"

(End of this chapter)