My father ordered me to kill the emperor, but His Majesty bestowed a princess upon me instead.

As I stood in the courtyard wearing that palace dress, I suddenly felt like a chicken being placed on a chopping board.

It's the kind that's been thoroughly cleaned, plucking all the feathers, and even has scallions and ginger prepared beforehand.

Wei Zhi looked at me with a smile.

Zhou Xian looked at me, his face pale.

Qiu Tang looked at me expressionlessly.

Ah Liu saw it most sincerely.

The way he looked at me seemed to be thinking ahead about where to move those few chests in the mansion if I died.

I looked down at my cuffs.

The palace dress was moon white, with wide but not loose cuffs that hung down naturally and were not cumbersome when the arms were raised.

Very respectable.

It is also suitable for hiding knives.

It's much better than the Ministry of Rites's inner robe, which is so narrow it looks like it's for judging cases.

I gently lowered my hand, and the short blade was sheathed under my wrist without leaving a trace.

It was even more securely hidden than I usually concealed it under my official robes.

This is very dangerous.

The Ministry of Rites forbade me from concealing a knife in my outer robe.

The inner palace robes, of course, concealed a knife within me.

On my wedding day, I wore the Ministry of Rites' court robes on the outside and this palace dress on the inside.

If someone were to search the sleeves in public, the Ministry of Rites could not find anything on the outer robe, but by turning it inside out, they could find a knife.

At that time, the knife will be mine, the palace robes will be bestowed by the emperor, the sleeves will be made by the Imperial Wardrobe, and the case will be the one I am currently investigating.

All of these things together can be summarized in one sentence:

Shen An used the emperor's bestowed clothing to secretly conceal a sharp weapon and enter the palace.

The charge sounds very well-structured.

It was so neatly made that it could be sent directly to the Ministry of Justice.

I looked at Wei Zhi.

"Eunuch Wei, were the cuffs of this palace robe made by the Imperial Wardrobe according to old customs?"

Wei Zhi smiled and said, "The Imperial Wardrobe has its own established practices."

"Was it customary for the sleeves of a prince consort's undergarments to be this wide?"

Wei Zhi said, "This old servant doesn't know anything about needlework for Lord Shen's garment, so I'll have to ask the Imperial Wardrobe."

I nodded.

"Then write it down."

Wei Zhi looked at me.

"What should I remember?"

"Note that today the palace robe was delivered from the palace to Chengping Ward. The seal was intact, and the robe itself contained no old cloth, no poisoned needles, no knives, and no scraps of paper from the southwest. Also note that the robe's cuffs are wide enough to conceal items."

The courtyard fell silent.

Ah Liu's eyes slowly widened.

He probably wanted to say: Young master, why did you take the initiative to write down "things that can be hidden"?

But he's learned his lesson now and hasn't dared to say a word.

Zhou Xian's face turned even uglier.

Wei Zhi's smile deepened.

"Is Lord Shen afraid that someone will bring up old grievances on the wedding day?"

"It's not fear."

I paused for a moment.

"Someone will definitely translate it."

I raised my right hand, and my sleeve hung down naturally.

"Eunuch Wei, the palace robe was bestowed by His Majesty. If anyone later says that Shen An altered the cuffs without permission, it means that His Majesty made a mistake in bestowing the robe. If anyone says that Shen An hid a knife in the palace robe, then at least they must admit that the sleeves were designed to conceal a knife."

Wei Zhi's smile lines twitched slightly.

"Lord Shen is quite bold."

"I have always been very timid."

I looked at him.

"So small that all we can do is write down what we're afraid of in the case file first."

Wei Zhi did not answer immediately.

Qiu Tang suddenly spoke up: "The Princess's residence can serve as witness."

Zhou Xian had no choice but to grit his teeth and say, "The Ministry of Rites can also record this."

He can't not remember it now.

Just as the names of the dead were found inside the outer robe of the Ministry of Rites, the cover of a book of human clothing was found at the bottom of the palace clothing box.

If he still says now that there's no need to remember, he'll probably be the first one thrown out to be stabbed in the back later.

Ah Liu quickly moved over a small table, laid out paper, and ground ink.

As he worked on it, he muttered to himself, "The wedding isn't even happening yet, but I've already written a whole bunch of paperwork."

I heard it.

But that's true.

The wedding invitations for my wedding were less thick than the case files.

Zhou Xian took the pen and first wrote down the time the palace clothes were delivered, the person who delivered them, and the details of how the box was sealed.

Qiu Tang added from the side: "It must be written that the person's clothes were taken out of the bottom compartment of the box and the cover of the main volume."

Wei Zhi said, "Write it."

Zhou Xian's hand trembled, but he still wrote it down.

As I watched those words appear on the paper, I felt a little more at ease.

The worst thing about evidence is when it's held by only one person.

If one person holds it, they are likely to die.

If all three parties write it down, even if we die, we can drag a few more people down with us.

Zhou Xian stopped writing when he got to the cuff.

"Lord Shen, how should this sentence be written?"

I said, "Truly."

"Truly?"

"The palace robe has wide, flat cuffs that hang down to cover the wrists, allowing a short blade to be concealed on the forearm without being visible on the outside."

Ah Liu almost dropped the ink stick into the inkstone.

"Young master, this is too honest."

I look at him.

"Would you like to write it in a more elegant way?"

Ah Liu thought for a moment, then whispered, "Could there be a dangerous lurking inside?"

I paused for a moment.

"Shut up."

Zhou Xian's forehead was sweating.

He looked at Wei Zhi.

Wei Zhi nodded with a smile.

"Write as Lord Shen instructed."

Zhou Xian had no choice but to write.

With that stroke, the atmosphere in the courtyard became even stranger.

In front of the inner court, the Ministry of Rites, and the princess's residence, I admitted that the palace robes bestowed upon me by the emperor could conceal a knife.

This sounds like suicide.

But sometimes, the things you're most afraid to write are the things you should write first.

They want me to hide.

I'll let everyone see that this garment itself can conceal things.

If something goes wrong with the knife, it won't just be me who can't explain it.

After finishing writing, Wei Zhi took the document and read it through, then laughed and said, "Lord Shen's habit of investigating cases is so meticulous that he doesn't even spare clothes."

"If the clothes will not spare me, then I will naturally not spare the clothes either."

Wei Zhi burst out laughing.

Ah Liu wanted to laugh too, but he held it in.

Qiu Tang, however, did not smile.

She looked at my palace robes and suddenly said, "Lord Shen, raise your hand."

I raised my hand.

She circled around me, then looked at the female official.

The lady-in-waiting stepped forward to inspect the sleeve seams and whispered, "There is a layer of lining inside the sleeve."

A thought struck me.

"Dark background?"

The lady-in-waiting said, "It's not a lining; it seems like an extra thin lining was added to make the sleeves hang more steadily."

I asked, "Can it be disassembled?"

Before Wei Zhi could speak, the female official said, "You can't just take it apart. If you do, the sleeves of your palace robe will be ruined."

Ah Liu whispered, "Isn't this the same as not being able to investigate at all?"

The female official glanced at him.

Ah Liu immediately lowered his head.

I reached into my sleeve and touched it.

It does have a very thin lining, and it feels soft to the touch, unlike Tibetan paper or a Tibetan knife.

But it allows the cuffs to hang more steadily.

It also makes items hidden in the sleeves less noticeable.

This garment is not simply wide.

It's very good at hiding its size.

I looked at Wei Zhi.

"Is this also a precedent?"

Wei Zhi said, "This old servant has said that I do not know anything about needlework."

"Does Lady Qin understand?"

Wei Zhi finally glanced at me.

"Does Lord Shen know about Consort Qin?"

"I just found out last night."

"Did Commander Gu say that?"

I didn't answer.

Wei Zhi didn't press further, only saying, "Qin Shangyi has been in the Imperial Wardrobe for twenty years, and her clothing making is very reliable."

"So steady that he can hide a knife so well?"

That's very offensive.

But Wei Zhi wasn't angry.

His smile simply faded.

"Lord Shen, the clothes in the palace are not just for people to wear."

I looked at him.

"Then who should wear it?"

"To wear an identity."

Wei Zhi slowly said, "The emperor has his clothes, the princess has her clothes, and the prince consort has his clothes. What you wear determines your position. Only when you're in the right position can others see what they're supposed to see."

I understand.

The emperor wanted me to wear this dress into the palace, not just to use me as bait.

It was also what placed me in the position of "imperial son-in-law".

The difference in status is between an imperial censor tasked with investigating a case and a prince consort about to marry a princess and enter the palace in imperial robes to express his gratitude.

The former was killed because of a power struggle among court officials.

The latter's killing was a matter of royal dignity.

The emperor bound me even tighter.

Each lock is more precious than the last.

Wei Zhi put away the documents related to the palace attire and said to me, "Lord Shen, His Majesty also said that since the palace attire has been tried on, there is no need to go to the palace to express gratitude today."

I looked at him.

"When did I say I would enter the palace today?"

"This old servant is merely relaying a message."

"Then what else did His Majesty say?"

Wei Zhi laughed and said, "His Majesty said that if Lord Shen wants to investigate the Imperial Wardrobe, he should first investigate the Ministry of Revenue case in a proper manner."

I almost laughed.

The emperor really knows how to make arrangements.

I had barely made my way into the palace when he pushed me back to the Ministry of Revenue.

The meaning is very clear.

The secrets within the palace are not something I can easily investigate.

I need to uncover concrete evidence of the network of external ministries such as the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Rites, and the Qinghe Charitable Granary before I can continue to reach into the inner court.

After Wei Zhi left, the palace robes were left in Chengping Ward.

Yes.

Such a dangerous garment is still in my residence.

Wei Zhi said, "Once His Majesty has bestowed the clothes, there is no reason to take them back."

Looking at that ebony trunk, I felt it was even more ominous than the charred corpse from last night.

Ah Liu circled the box halfway around.

"Young master, where should we put this?"

"study."

Ah Liu's face turned pale.

"Put it with the tent?"

"right."

What if it crawls out by itself in the middle of the night?

I look at him.

"Then you shall call me Yan Xiaoyi."

Yan Xiaoyi was sitting on the wall again, and said lazily, "Don't shout, I'm going to sleep."

Ah Liu was startled.

"Master Yan, are you really born like a cat?"

Yan Xiaoyi looked at him.

"Say that again, and I'll show you how a cat catches a mouse."

Ah Liu immediately shut up.

Zhou Xian also took his leave.

When he left, he looked three years older.

Before leaving, he whispered to me, "Lord Shen, the Ministry of Rites will probably prioritize protecting Feng Ke."

I'm not surprised.

"Is Lord Zhou trying to remind me?"

"no."

He paused for a moment.

"What I'm trying to say is that if Feng Ke is protected, Du Heng's case will be pinned on the dead. Wei San might not even live long enough to speak."

I looked at him.

"so?"

Zhou Xian gritted his teeth.

"I can testify that Du Heng was transferred to the Ceremonial Affairs Office on the recommendation of Feng Ke."

"Has Lord Zhou thought it through?"

He gave a wry smile.

"If I don't think this through, the debt for the wedding robes will eventually be attributed to me."

well.

Zhou Xian was afraid of death.

People who are afraid of death are sometimes more useful than honest officials.

An honest official values ​​integrity.

Those who are afraid of death will present evidence.

I nodded.

"Lord Zhou, protect yourself first."

He bowed and left.

The courtyard finally quieted down.

But this quiet didn't last long.

Gu Xingzhi came again before dusk.

This time he went through the door.

Ah Liu was almost moved to tears when he saw him come in through the main entrance.

"Commander Gu, you finally realize that doors are for walking through."

Gu Xingzhi glanced at him.

Ah Liu immediately pretended that he hadn't said anything.

Gu Xingzhi handed me a small piece of paper.

"Last night, after adjusting the old list, Qin Shangyi left the Shangyi Bureau for half an hour."

I took it.

"Where did you go?"

"The western alleyway of the inner court."

"Whom are you going to see?"

"Not found".

"Return in half an hour, and the palace robes will be sealed in the box?"

"right."

I frowned.

"Has the palace maid left the Imperial Wardrobe's office in the past half hour?"

"I left."

"Who took it away?"

"Qin Shangyi carried it away herself."

"reason?"

"Lavender clothes".

I looked up.

What kind of incense should we use?

Gu Xingzhi said: "Acacia benzoin."

This is the first time I've heard this name.

But Qiu Tang, who had been silent all along, suddenly looked up.

"Acacia benzoin?"

I looked at her.

"You know?"

Qiu Tang's expression was somewhat strange.

"This incense was occasionally used in the sleeping quarters of the imperial concubines and to soothe the nerves of the sick."

"That calming incense from the southern soup kitchens?"

"No," Qiu Tang shook her head. "The one from the South Soup Hall smells like crudely made sedative medicine, with a cloyingly sweet scent. The acacia benzoin is lighter, more expensive, and more...like the imperial court."

The inner court.

Illness.

The imperial concubines' sleeping quarters.

I suddenly remembered the late Empress.

Xiao Lingyi investigated her mother's old case.

In the eleventh year of Chengxi, the clothes of the deceased from the former Laundry Bureau were registered, and Aunt Lan faked her death.

Nowadays, benzoin from the inner court is used in palace robes.

This line of events may not only involve the Ministry of Revenue's disaster relief case.

They're still blaming it on the death of the late empress.

I lowered my head and smelled the palace robe.

I previously thought it smelled like soapberry.

If you smell it carefully now, you can indeed detect a very faint fragrance beneath the soapberry.

Not too sweet.

It's very light.

Like the ashes after a flower has burned out.

If Qiutang hadn't reminded me, I wouldn't have cared at all.

Gu Xingzhi said, "Consort Qin is already being watched by the Imperial Guards."

"May I ask?"

"Not at the moment."

Why?

"She went to the Empress Dowager's old palace today to tidy up her clothes."

The Empress Dowager's former palace?

This has led us back into the inner court of the royal family.

I asked, "Is the Empress Dowager still alive?"

Gu Xingzhi glanced at me.

"The late emperor and empress dowager passed away early, and the old palace has been sealed off."

"What clothes is she packing?"

"Old practice."

I chuckled.

It's the same old story.

These old customs in the capital are more numerous than assassins.

Gu Xingzhi was about to leave after he finished speaking.

I called out to him.

"Commander Gu."

He turned around.

"Does His Majesty want me to investigate, or does he want me to not investigate, by having you tell me all this?"

Gu Xingzhi calmly said, "His Majesty wants you to know."

"And then what?"

"Live on your own."

After saying that, he left.

Ah Liu watched his retreating figure for a long while before saying, "Young Master, Commander Gu is truly tactful."

"save trouble."

"It also saves you time."

I placed the small piece of paper next to my palace robe.

Qin Shangyi.

Albizia julibrissin.

The former palace of the Empress Dowager.

Cover of the booklet featuring people and clothing.

The palace robes had wide sleeves.

The more I look at this dress, the less it seems like something I'd wear for my wedding.

It's more like someone sewed together old cases from the palace, disaster relief from the Ministry of Revenue, old clothes from the Ministry of Rites, and my knife.

I'll wear it into the palace on my wedding day.