The duty quarters were separated from the storeroom by a narrow alleyway, housing palace maids from the Bureau of Candles and other departments of the Shangqin Bureau. As a female official, Fang Sideng lived alone in a small room on the western side.
Most of the maids from the Bureau of Candles were on duty, while those from other departments who worked night shifts were resting in the duty quarters. Hearing the commotion, they all came out to see what had happened.
Song Gongzheng frowned and scolded, “No unauthorized movement or prying!”
The maids, intimidated by the Gong Zheng Si, hurried back to their rooms. Huang Liang hesitated, then said to Jiang Ling, who stood pale-faced at the doorway, “This place is unclean, Lady Jiang. Please do not approach. Allow this servant and Song Gongzheng to investigate first.”
Jiang Ling uttered an “oh” and took two steps back, but her eyes remained fixed on the room.
The quarters were cramped, with a bed directly facing the door, its curtains haphazardly hooked to the bedposts.
Fang Sideng was dressed in the blue-gray robes of a female official, her hair neatly arranged. She lay on her side facing the door, curled into a fetal position.
Having known her for only a short time, Jiang Ling felt somewhat dazed.
They had met just yesterday morning, her delicate face always adorned with a gentle smile. Yet in the span of a single day, like the weather, she had lost all warmth, becoming a cold corpse.
Song Gongzheng and Huang Liang entered the room with several maids and eunuchs, crowding together and blocking Jiang Ling’s view.
A Ruo, recalling Jiang Ling’s earlier reprimand, found her resentment and defiance had completely vanished. The duty quarters were damp and chilly, and she shivered so intensely she felt numb, hunching her shoulders and not daring to approach.
Inside, Huang Liang and Song Gongzheng were discussing the cause of Fang Sideng’s death, while Wen Juan listened, occasionally glancing at Jiang Ling. Worried, she called out to the stunned Jiang Ling, “Mei Ren.”
Jiang Ling seemed not to hear. Wen Juan called again, and she snapped out of her trance, asking blankly, “What is it?”
Unable to hide her concern, Wen Juan whispered, “Eunuch Huang and Song Gongzheng are saying that Fang Sideng has no other injuries. It appears she swallowed gold to end her life.”
The duty quarters were occupied day and night, with rooms adjacent to one another. If Fang Sideng had been murdered, there would have been commotion, and other maids would have noticed.
Regarding the beeswax incident, given the current situation, it seemed likely Fang Sideng was involved.
To rise to a sixth-rank female official in the palace required more than just endurance; one had to be clever and astute. Fang Sideng was young, and achieving such a position was no easy feat. For her to sacrifice her life, there must have been something even more important to her than her life and future.
The rain had stopped, but the sky remained overcast. The blue rooftops, layer upon layer, merged with the horizon.
Jiang Ling remained silent. Fang Sideng’s calm, composed face and her pained, contorted expression flashed repeatedly before her eyes. Her chest felt tangled, breath stuck, making her nauseous.
This was her first time confronting a corpse, making her acutely and undeniably aware that she was in the harem of a palace intrigue story.
Huang Liang and Song Gongzheng emerged and went to question the maids in the duty quarters. Some maids stayed behind to gather Fang Sideng’s personal belongings, casually wrapping her in a quilt.
Rough-handed eunuchs entered, carrying out the quilt-shrouded body. The embroidered shoes dangling from the quilt briefly flashed past the doorway before disappearing from sight.
The questioning concluded swiftly. Song Gongzheng reported, “Mei Ren, Fang Sideng never left her quarters after returning yesterday. The palace maids in adjacent rooms noticed nothing unusual, nor did they hear any cries for help or signs of struggle. Her belongings remained untouched, and her clothing was orderly. Eunuch Huang and I both believe she took her own life.”
Huang Liang added, “Regarding the beeswax incident, His Majesty has ordered a thorough investigation. She likely knew she couldn’t escape punishment and chose death to preserve her body intact.”
“Why?” Jiang Ling asked.
Before Huang Liang could respond, Jiang Ling pressed, “Why? Why would Fang Sideng do this? Why would she meddle with the beeswax? Surely she knew that if the candles in the main hall went out during His Majesty’s birthday celebration, it would mean beheading and family confiscation.”
Song Gongzheng frowned in silence, while Huang Liang offered an apologetic smile. “Lady Jiang, as to why Fang Sideng would risk such a grave punishment, this humble servant cannot yet fathom.”
Jiang Ling then realized that with Chen Shang Gong absent and both the Bureau of Bedchamber and herself under suspicion, she ought to recuse herself.
“Eunuch Huang, I am innocent and therefore unafraid. I hope you will investigate thoroughly until the truth emerges. Fang Sideng wouldn’t have tampered with the beeswax without reason—whether she was threatened or bribed, there must be a cause.”
With a bitter laugh, Jiang Ling seized the chance to hastily relinquish her duties: “Given the circumstances, I should recuse myself from the Bureau of Candles affairs and no longer oversee them. If you need me, I’ll be at Fanying Pavilion.” Having said this, she descended the steps and walked away without looking back.
Exchanging a glance, Huang Liang and Song Gongzheng quickly conferred. “I shall return to report to His Majesty,” Huang Liang said. “You continue investigating carefully—leave no stone unturned.”
Song Gongzheng nodded in agreement, and the two parted to attend to their tasks.
Rushing back to Fanying Pavilion, Jiang Ling entered her room and collapsed onto the bed. Wen Juan, thinking she was frightened, promptly directed A Ruo and Qing Wen: “Her Ladyship’s clothes and shoes are soaked. Fetch hot water quickly to assist her in changing. The noon meal must have gone cold—rewarm it with hot water at once.”
Jiang Ling lay motionless on the bed. Growing anxious, Wen Juan gently advised, “When I served before His Majesty, I never dared shirk my duties. Eunuch Huang is meticulous, and Song Gongzheng is strict—they tolerate no negligence. If they discover any laxity, punishment is inevitable. But rest assured, Mei Ren, you had little contact with Fang Sideng and no personal ties. Eunuch Huang and Song Gongzheng won’t trace this back to you.”
“Mm,” Jiang Ling mumbled nasally, pushing herself up slowly. She closed her eyes and exhaled deeply.
If her speculation held true—that Fang Sideng had succumbed to bribery—the price paid was devastatingly steep. Whatever drove her to such a resolute death must have been an unbearable burden.
Palace maids hailed from impoverished backgrounds; if coerced, they had no means to resist, their actions compelled by circumstance.
As a condemned criminal, no one would pity her—pity was forbidden. Wrapped in old bedding, she’d be discarded like refuse in the mass graves.
Jiang Ling smirked cynically. “The rear palace is littered with wronged souls. Innocence matters little. What truly counts is whom they ultimately identify as the mastermind, how they handle it, to what extent, and who bears the consequences.”
Wen Juan stood frozen, but Jiang Ling said no more. The lunch hour had passed; chilled and hungry, she rose to bathe and change.
After lunch, Jiang Ling felt somewhat better. With her duties at the Bureau of Candles temporarily suspended and now being a suspect, she had a legitimate reason not to go out, so she prepared to take an afternoon nap.
She had just sat on the edge of the bed and kicked off her shoes when Huang Liang arrived.
Jiang Ling froze, her heart instantly leaping into her throat.
Could it be that someone had framed her? Had Huang Liang and the others found evidence and come to deal with her?