He remarried after his mother's death, seized power over the world, and slept on the emperor�

Ji Chengyun quickly left Jinse Courtyard, leaving behind only a lonely figure.

The murderous aura that had filled the back of that figure was gone, replaced by a sense of sorrow.

Jiang Bingning stood quietly in place, watching him leave.

She recalled her younger sister Jiang Yuerong's evaluation of this prince of the Xin Prince's Mansion in her previous life.

Arrogant and domineering, looking down on everyone.

But seeing it today, it seems that this is not the case.

He was indeed arrogant; the anger he displayed when he kicked open the courtyard gate almost set the entire Jinse Courtyard ablaze.

But he was also a person who knew proper etiquette and knew when to advance and retreat.

When he saw the desolate scene in the courtyard and his own shabby clothes, he immediately understood.

The rumors about him using "seductive tricks" to deceive the Dowager Consort are completely unfounded.

How could someone who had truly gained power in the Prince's mansion have fallen to such a state?

Instead of continuing his attack, he chose to remain silent, even offering a clumsy explanation for his reckless intrusion.

Especially when he talked about his deceased mother, there was an undisguised affection and sorrow in his eyes.

This is enough to show that he is a person of utmost sincerity and filial piety.

Jiang Bingning's gaze slowly fell on the row of bookshelves.

She understands now.

Why didn't Ji Chengyun take this copy of the Book of Poetry with him?

Because in his heart, every blade of grass and every tree in Jinse Courtyard belonged to his mother.

These things carry all his longing for his deceased mother.

He neither wanted to nor could he touch anything here.

That's why he was so furious when he, an outsider, moved in.

After a moment's hesitation, Jiang Bingning gently pulled out the Book of Poetry.

She carefully turned it over.

Sure enough, just as Ji Chengyun had said, there were many papers of different sizes inside.

That was the princess's manuscript.

The first few pages are written in beautiful handwriting with vigorous strokes.

Most of them are copied poems or descriptions of the scenery in the mansion.

But the further you look, the more the handwriting appears weak and scattered.

It was as if the writer was about to run out of strength to even hold the pen.

In the end, the content became very fragmented, almost turning into a diary or memo.

Jiang Bingning didn't pay much attention to the words expressing her sorrow; her gaze was drawn to several very similar records.

On the seventh day of the third month, I had a nightmare. My sister Lin came to visit me with newly made "Fragrance Cakes," saying that they were made with plum blossoms and could calm the mind.

Jiang Bingning's heart sank.

Lin Daiyu?

In the Prince Xin's mansion, besides Consort Lin, who else was a "Lin Daiyu"?

She suppressed her doubts and continued scrolling down.

On March 12th, I felt palpitations and shortness of breath. My sister Lin sent me "Fragrance Cake" again and told me to relax.

"On March 16th, my headache worsened."

"March 20th..."

This record appears every three to five days.

Each time, it was accompanied by another deterioration in the princess's health.

Jiang Bingning's heart pounded faster and faster as a terrifying suspicion began to take shape in her mind.

She quickly flipped to the last page.

It was a piece of paper with no writing on it.

The painting uses only extremely delicate brushstrokes to repeatedly depict a simple sketch.

The painting depicts a plum blossom.

But right below those gnarled plum blossom branches, several extremely conspicuous ink stains dripped down.

Jiang Bingning glanced at it and immediately realized that the ink stain was definitely not an accidental drop!

Its placement is too deliberate, as if it is referring to something.

A sudden "boom" echoed in Jiang Bingning's mind as a phrase Jiang Yuerong had unintentionally uttered in her past life flashed through her memory.

That was not long after she entered the Prince Xin's residence.

"Sister, you have no idea, that Consort Lin is truly a remarkable woman!"

"She has an exceptional skill in making pastries, especially a plum blossom cake she makes herself called 'Hidden Fragrance and Sparse Shadows,' which has a unique flavor, is crisp but not greasy, and even the nobles in the palace praise it highly!"

"Everyone says that the reason the pastries are so delicious is because there is a century-old plum tree in her yard that was transplanted from Jiangnan."

"That was planted by her own hands when she married into the royal family; she cherished it more than her own life!"

A subtle fragrance and sparse shadows... Plum blossom cake...

The old plum tree in the yard...

The princess's manuscript of "Lin Daiyu"... the plum blossoms in the painting... the ink marks under the branches...

All the clues exploded like a thunderbolt at this moment!

The Lin family!

In the days leading up to the princess's death, he was extremely attentive to her!

Is it...

The princess did not die of grief, but rather... was she poisoned with a slow-acting poison?!

And the murderer is none other than Consort Lin, who now enjoys immense prestige in the Prince Xin's mansion?!

-----------------

at the same time.

At the post station on the official road, two hundred miles from the capital.

After enduring hardships along the way, the delegation from the Great Zhou Dynasty finally arrived here.

The night was already deep.

Jiang Chengxuan stood in the simple courtyard of the post station, looking in the direction of the capital, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

In the past few days, the attitude of the Northern Di people has softened somewhat.

The food prepared at the post station is much better than before.

At least, the humiliating days of having only bran pancakes to eat every meal never came again.

He calculated the journey; even if the Northern Di people deliberately delayed, they should be able to reach the capital in three to five days at most.

Once they reached the capital and met Emperor Beidi, everything would take a turn for the better.

He exhaled a long breath, and the pent-up frustration in his chest seemed to dissipate somewhat.

But before he could finish exhaling, the situation changed again as soon as he turned around.

The Northern Barbarian captain in charge of reception at the post station was pointing contemptuously at a thatched hut in the corner of the courtyard.

The captain didn't even bother to say another word, he just nodded with his chin.

"You people of the Great Zhou live in that house."

Before Jiang Chengxuan could react, Jiang Yuerong behind him let out a piercing scream.

"ah--!"

"Where is this place?"

The so-called "house" was low, dilapidated, and drafty.

Even more terrifying, a strong, pungent stench was continuously emanating from the thatched hut.

It was a nauseating smell, a mixture of animal dung, rotting hay, and urine.

Because right next to that thatched hut was the post station's livestock shed!

Inside, a dozen or so warhorses and several donkeys were tethered, and the ground was covered with filthy hay and fresh dung.

"You want us to stay here?"

Jiang Yuerong's face turned deathly pale instantly. She covered her mouth and nose, her stomach churning violently.

"How could you do this! We are envoys from the Great Zhou!"

She practically screamed it out, her voice trembling with sobs and terror.

She is the second young lady of the General's Mansion!

I have never suffered such a humiliation since I was a child!

Should we let her live next to the pigsty?

This is worse than killing her!

Upon seeing this, the Northern Di Captain sneered. He narrowed his eyes, revealing a lewd gaze, and looked Jiang Yuerong, whose face had turned pale, up and down.

"If the young lady does not wish to stay here, then this captain will have no choice but to reluctantly agree to let her share a room with me."