Shen Zhili lowered his head and eyebrows, and remained silent.
She could see that in the depths of Concubine Xiao's careless and beautiful eyes, there was a deep coldness.
According to a woman's intuition, she felt that Xiao Guifei seemed to be hostile to her.
Raising her eyebrows slightly, she saw a palace maid standing beside her, whose face seemed to be a bit impressive.
By the way, not long ago, when she and Princess Duanrou were wandering in the Qingluan Palace, she met the maid
In an instant, she was dripping with cold sweat, and her hands and feet were cold.
Could it be that she inadvertently offended Concubine Xiao in her words, but she thought and thought, and it seemed that she didn't talk about Concubine Xiao.
Concubine Xiao Guixiu said slowly: "Ms. Shen has inherited court training since she was young and has a long history of family education. She should know a word: If you want others to not know, you must do nothing yourself."
Today is her birthday, her dress is grand and gorgeous, she is wearing a scarlet seven-fold gauze dress embroidered with clouds and phoenix feathers in gold thread, the bright and fiery colors are like a bright flame wrapped around her body, as if to Burn her whole body, gorgeous, noble, and glamorous. Her cloudy palace bun is black and smooth, and she wears nine phoenix gold hairpins, golden tassels blowing without wind, and the golden light is shining, which is extremely dazzling.
Shen Zhili suddenly thought of a word: extreme things must be reversed, prosperity must decline.
At this time, Concubine Xiao is like a proud and noble phoenix soaring nine heavens, nirvana in flames; she is also like a delicate peony blooming in the morning, magnificent and beautiful.
"The courtier is dull, please let the imperial concubine express it clearly." Shen Zhi said politely and elegantly.
"This is the Qingluan Hall of my palace, not the Grand Tutor's Mansion. What should be said, what should not be said, and you should not even think about it. Don't worry about it." Concubine Xiao Gui came down and stood still in front of her, wearing The jade hand with the golden armor raised her delicate chin, "Otherwise it will only increase troubles, and even cause trouble."
"The courtiers have always been cautious and stick to their duties, and they will never think wildly." Shen Zhili said softly, and a strange thought came to his mind: Could it be because of Yu Wang
However, why did Concubine Xiao Gui warn her not to miss Yu Wang
Concubine Xiao blinked her beautiful eyes, and a trace of hostility flew down, "It's better to be like this, otherwise the disaster will befall you at some point."
Shen Zhili looked directly at her, and said softly: "Thank you, Concubine, for your reminder, I will definitely remember it in my heart."
"Today, I will play, eat and drink to my heart's content at this palace's birthday banquet. There is no need to be formal. Step back."
"My daughter-in-law retires."
Shen Zhili backed away slowly, then turned around and left the hall.
The palace maid Tao Zhi came over, her eyes were cold, "Imperial Concubine, Miss Shen seems to have recognized the servant."
Concubine Xiao lightly touched the exquisite and gorgeous golden armor, her eyes were cold, "It's best to recognize it. With her exquisite heart, how could she not know what Ben Gong warned her about?"
Taozhi said contemptuously: "She is a humble minister's daughter, but she dares to think that Yu Wang is shameless."
"At the age of seventeen, with the beginning of spring, Yu Wang is the dragon and phoenix among the royal family. She is the most outstanding figure in the royal family. It is only natural for her to have a crush on Yu Wang."
"What the imperial concubine said is true. The imperial concubine's warning, if she has any unreasonable thoughts about Yu Wang again"
"Then it's no wonder I'm so cruel."
Concubine Xiao Gui smiled slightly, feeling extremely cold, "By the way, there will be no problem with the birthday banquet later."
Taozhi replied: "My maidservant has already ordered me to go down, there is no problem. The palace people will set up a banquet table outside later, and the meals for the birthday banquet are being prepared right now, why don't you maidservant go to the imperial dining room to have a look."
Concubine Xiao nodded, "Go."
Seeing Shen Zhili coming out, Murong Shi ran over excitedly, and was about to call her, but saw her in a trance, not quite right.
Murong Shi asked with concern: "Sister Shen, what's wrong with you, did Concubine Xiao reprimand you?"
Shen Zhili suddenly came back to his senses, and quickly said: "No."
"Then why do you seem unhappy about what Concubine Xiao Gui told you?"
"Nothing, just gossip."
Shen Zhili's eyebrows were clear, and he concluded in his heart that Concubine Xiao Gui had an ulterior relationship with Yu Wang, maybe it was Concubine Xiao who had cheated on her and liked Yu Wang.
Murong Shi couldn't wait to say: "It's still early, let's go to the East Palace, shall we?"
Shen Zhili put his hand on his forehead, "Maybe it's too hot, I just walked for a while, I'm a little tired, I want to rest for a while."
Murong Shi puffed up her cheeks depressedly, "Okay, let's go to the side hall to rest for a while."
For Concubine Xiao's birthday banquet, Murong Ci would naturally go to join in, because his father would also be there.
She wanted to know if Murong Yu would go to the birthday banquet, after all he was having an affair with Concubine Xiao.
Thinking of their relationship, and remembering that he even came to tease and tease her, she became so angry that she didn't even want to go to the birthday banquet.
Just when she was sulking, Shen Zhiyan asked to see her.
She said angrily, "You are here to attend the birthday banquet, right?"
His second monk Zhang was puzzled. He just came here, so it seems that he didn't offend His Highness, "My sister went to the palace for a banquet, and I should accompany her. She is in her hometown.
After resting for two years, he just returned to Beijing, and he is a lot unfamiliar with the personnel and affairs in the capital. "
"I also want to have an older brother to take care of me." Murong Ci said in a waned way.
"Why does Your Highness feel so deeply?" Shen Zhiyan asked with a smile, his eyebrows were shining, the snow-white light robe with the elegance and elegance of bamboo, like a clear spring in this hot summer, refreshing.
"Just whining."
"By the way, Your Highness, today I re-examined Xia Xiaolu's body and found something new."
"Oh what did you find?" Murong Ci regained his energy, stood up and waited for him to continue, blinking his bright eyes mischievously.
Shen Zhiyan pointed to his cheek, "Xia Xiaolu has fingerprints on her cheeks, which were made during her lifetime, and only appeared two or three days after her death."
She mused, "In other words, Xia Xiaolu was smothered to death by the murderer."
He called Qin Ruo, pointed to Qin Ruo's left cheek, "There are four finger prints here."
Then, he took Qin Ruo as an example for the victim, stood behind the victim, covered her mouth and nose, and said: "The murderer stood behind the deceased and covered her mouth and nose, letting the deceased suffocate to death. Therefore, the deceased's cheek Minor scratches."
She stared at the position where his hand was covering Qin Ruo's face, "Are you sure it's this position?"
Shen Zhiyan nodded solemnly, "The fingerprints are quite clear, and the murderer was very strong."
Murong Ci raised an objection: "It is also possible that the murderer covered the mouth and nose of the deceased by riding on the deceased to prevent the deceased from shouting."
She asked Ruyi to come over, let Ruyi lie on the ground, she sat on Ruyi, tried it with her left hand first, then with her right hand, "If the murderer is face to face with the deceased, it can also be done by covering the deceased's mouth and nose with his left hand."
He explained: "The fingerprints on the left side of the deceased Xia Xiaolu's face are the faintest, and they were caused by the little finger. If His Highness said so, the murderer covered the deceased's mouth and nose with his left hand, and the index finger was at the bottom, so the fingerprints cannot be the faintest." .If you use your right hand, the little finger print is at the bottom, but it will be more awkward if you use your right hand."
She tried again with her right hand, and it was indeed more awkward. It was easier to cover the dead man's mouth and nose with her left hand.
"However, it does not rule out that the murderer hastily used this method to cover the mouth and nose of the deceased with his right hand."
"Therefore, this can only be our inference." Shen Zhiyan concluded, "First, the murderer covered the mouth and nose of the deceased with his right hand from behind; second, the murderer was face to face with the deceased, covering the mouth and nose of the deceased with his right hand."
"In the first case, the murderer suffocates the dead before committing violence."
"This possibility cannot be ruled out."
"Your Highness, what are you talking about?" Ruyi was stunned.
"Ruyi, don't disturb His Highness and Mr. Shen analyzing the case." Qin Ruo hurriedly stopped her.
"What's interesting is that I found that the suspect Ma Dong's right hand was broken by someone, and he couldn't use it in the past few years without timely medical treatment. It is equivalent to useless." Shen Zhiyan sneered, "If Ma Dong Covering the mouth and nose of the deceased with the left hand, causing the deceased to suffocate to death, that means the index finger is down, which does not match the fingerprints on the deceased's face."
Murong Ci was horrified, "You mean, Ma Dong may have been wronged. He didn't rape and kill Xia Xiaolu."
He nodded, "If the murderer is someone else, then this person is quite terrifying, and he arranged a perfect situation to frame Ma Dong."
She went on to say: "Ma Dong has been complaining all the time, and he doesn't remember what happened after he was drunk. In this way, it makes sense. Then, the real culprit wants Ma Dong to act as a scapegoat."
She suddenly remembered the red wishful knot, and ordered Ruyi to go to the bedroom to get it, "Now we can't rule out the possibility of another real murderer. Then the red wishful knot may be left by the real murderer."
"Ordinary women would wear this kind of red wishful knot next to their body, but the murderer who raped and murdered Xia Xiaolu's master and servant should be a stronger man." Shen Zhiyan walked slowly in the hall, and analyzed, "I was thinking, would It is not the other beggars who stayed overnight in that small temple who committed crimes and blamed Ma Dong."
"It's also possible." Qin Ruo said.
"Have you sent someone to check around that small temple?" Murong Ci asked.
"Early this morning, I ordered a few yamen servants to wear plain clothes to investigate the area outside the West City Gate, hoping to make progress." He replied, "This murder case caught the murderer on the spot. I thought it was too smooth before."
"The real murderer set up a perfect bureau, he is a smart person." Her bright eyes were condensed.
The birthday banquet started at You hour, and there was still more than half an hour left. They reorganized the case, but found nothing new.
At this time, a servant hurriedly came to report: "Your Highness, there is news from Qingluan Hall that Concubine Xiao Gui has disappeared."
Murong Ci said disdainfully: "Concubine Xiao is so big, how could she disappear?"
The servant replied: "Your Highness, Concubine Xiao Gui is really missing. The guards and palace staff searched the entire Qingluan Palace, but Concubine Xiao Gui was not found."
Shen Zhiyan said incredulously: "This is miraculous. How could a living person not be found? Besides, Concubine Xiao is surrounded by palace servants, so she won't disappear in her Qingluan Palace."
Murong Ci walked out and said coldly: "Go to Qingluan Hall to have a look."
At this time, the Qingluan Palace was in chaos, and the women's family members of Beijing officials above the fourth rank and the sons of famous families could not walk freely in the inner garden of the harem, so they could only stay in the side hall. Taozhi is the palace maid in charge of Qingluan Palace. Although she is very anxious, she still commands the guards and palace servants into several small teams to search for Concubine Xiao in and around Qingluan Palace.