In the early morning, Xiao Man was still dreaming when Ying Xue burst in in a panic.
"Miss, something's happened!"
"Is there a fire?" Xiao Man turned over and continued to sleep.
"Miss, today is the twenty-ninth of the lunar month. Are there any New Year goods you need to buy?" Yin Zhu had woken up early and was compiling a list of New Year goods for someone to purchase.
"You decide," Xiao Man pulled the quilt over her head. It wasn't even light yet; did these maids never sleep?
"Miss!" Ying Xue quickly stepped forward and pulled away Xiao Man's quilt. "Miss, Jin Yu is dead!"
Xiao Man, who had been very sleepy, immediately sat up upon hearing this news. She bumped into Ying Xue and fell back down.
"Miss, are you alright?" Ying Xue covered her forehead and asked repeatedly.
Xiao Man rubbed her forehead. "How did Jin Yu die?"
"They say it was 'ma shang feng' (death from sexual excess), and he died at the Flying Flower Pavilion."
"'Ma shang feng'?" Xiao Man was both amused and exasperated. "If someone didn't know Jin Yu was the son of the Jin family head, no one would believe it!"
"Miss is joking again. How could Jin Yu not be the son of the Jin family head?"
"Dongfang Wei, where is the thing I asked for?"
"It's on the table."
Xiao Man threw off the quilt and got out of bed. She picked up the box on the table. Inside, a small porcelain bottle contained blood from Jin Yu and Consort De. Xiao Man asked someone to bring a bowl of clean water, then poured a drop of the medicine she had concocted into it. Afterward, she poured a drop of blood from each porcelain bottle into the bowl.
A moment later, the two drops of blood dissolved in the bowl, turning a very vivid color. Xiao Man's expression was almost one of despair! Jin Yu's and Consort De's blood had merged, which meant they had a blood relationship! But Consort De and the Jin family head were siblings, so this wouldn't prove anything!
"Dongfang Wei."
"What are you doing now?"
"Go and get me some of Prince Qin's blood!"
"Xiao Man, do I have any deep-seated enmity with you? Enmity of cosmic proportions?" Dongfang Wei gritted his teeth. Was Prince Qin's blood something that could be easily obtained?
Xiao Man thought for a moment. That was true; getting Prince Qin's blood would be life-threatening. "How about this? Go and deliver a message for me, asking Prince Qin to come over."
Dongfang Wei finally breathed a sigh of relief. "At last, you said something sensible!"
After Dongfang Wei left, Xiao Man gritted her teeth. "This brat, I've spoiled him too much!"
Yin Zhu covered her mouth and smiled. She looked at the compiled list and handed it to Xiao Man for review. "Miss, please take a look. Is there anything you need to add?"
Xiao Man glanced at it. "No, it's very complete. I trust you with your work."
"Then I'll send people to buy them."
"By the way, go and ask Third Sister if there's anything she needs and have them buy it together."
"Yes, Miss."
"Miss, Jin Yu dying at this time, isn't it too coincidental?"
"There are no coincidences in this world. If there are, they are deliberate arrangements," Xiao Man said slowly. "Go find Ling Xuan and have him investigate the real cause of Jin Yu's death. 'Ma shang feng' is unlikely."
The eldest son of the Jin family had died suddenly in a brothel, and during the New Year season at that. Madam Jin cried bitterly, while Master Jin merely sighed and ordered someone to retrieve Jin Yu's body.
"Master, the eldest young master's body has been taken by the Jingzhao Prefecture."
"Jingzhao Prefecture?" Master Jin was puzzled. "What do people from the Jingzhao Prefecture want with the eldest young master's body?"
"Because the eldest young master died suddenly in a brothel, the people from the Jingzhao Prefecture said they must examine the deceased's body to confirm he died of natural causes and not murder before the case can be closed. Therefore, the eldest young master's body needs to be autopsied by the Jingzhao Prefecture. After confirming there are no issues, the family can claim the body."
"Didn't the eldest young master die of 'ma shang feng'?"
"The constables from the Jingzhao Prefecture said that was just what the brothel girls claimed. The Jingzhao Prefecture needs to confirm that the cause of death is consistent with the facts before allowing the body to be claimed."
Madam Jin cried again upon hearing this. Master Jin merely sighed, "After the Jingzhao Prefecture conducts its investigation, claim the eldest young master's body and bury him properly."
"Yes, Master."
Madam Jin sobbed. Some of her close female friends came to console her. Madam Jin would tell the story and cry, and finally, using illness as an excuse, she was able to rest for a moment.
"Madam, have a cup of tea."
Madam Jin took it and took a sip. "That wretch, letting him die like this is letting him off too lightly."
The wet nurse did not dare to respond, but quietly reminded Madam Jin, "Madam, be careful of eavesdroppers."
Madam Jin sneered dismissively, "He's just a lowly wretch. Now that he's dead, who will care?"
"If the palace investigates..."
"The palace..." Madam Jin sneered. She wanted to see if the Empress Dowager would die of grief when she learned her own son was dead.
"Madam, caution is the mother of safety," the wet nurse said cautiously.
"I want her to taste the pain I have endured. These two adulterous pair, they have done so many evil deeds, how can I let them go!"
"Madam!" The wet nurse was a little anxious. "By the way, I heard that the young master has been eating very little these past two days. His appetite seems to be poor. Perhaps I can have someone prepare some light and delicious small dishes and send them to the young master?"
"Rong'er hasn't been eating much? With something this significant, why are you only telling me now?" Madam Jin reprimanded angrily. "You really don't put Rong'er in your heart."
"This servant knows her mistake."
"I'll go to the kitchen myself and make him something to eat." Madam Jin immediately headed for the kitchen. Ever since she learned that Jin Rong was her own son, she had tried her best to treat him well. However, Jin Rong was always indifferent to her, which frustrated Madam Jin and made her hate Master Jin and the Empress Dowager even more.
Jin Rong was busy arranging for the preparation of New Year gifts. In order to swallow up the Cen family, Jin Rong had been extremely busy lately, and he also had to win over the hearts of his subordinates. Many matters weighed upon him, yet he handled them all with order and efficiency.
"Young master, the items you ordered have been delivered by the shopkeeper."
Jin Rong quickly put down what he was doing and took the box. He opened it, and inside lay a pair of pearl earrings. The pearls were pink, lustrous, and perfectly round, emitting an alluring sheen. Jin Rong took them out and examined them closely under the light. She would look very beautiful wearing them.
"Rong'er." Madam Jin entered with food. "Mother heard that you haven't been eating properly lately, so I personally cooked your favorite dishes. Please eat a little."
Jin Rong quickly put away the earrings and placed them in a cabinet. He took the list on the side and handed it to a servant. "According to this list, deliver New Year gifts to each household. Do not miss anyone."
"Yes, young master."
Madam Jin entered with the food. Seeing Jin Rong engrossed in his work, she immediately took the brush from his hand. "You can do this later. Eat first. If you don't eat, your body can't take it."
Jin Rong frowned. "Madam, please accept my condolences."
Madam Jin had a lot she wanted to say to Jin Rong, but due to his single word of condolence, she couldn't utter a single sentence. Her own son was before her, yet they could not acknowledge each other as mother and son.