After Luo Qinghan left Qingge Hall, he immediately called Zhao Xian.
According to Xiao Xixi's hint, they found a well about a hundred feet to the southwest.
There is a female corpse hidden in the well, and it should be the missing palace maid Epiphyllum.
This well is located in a very remote location. It has been abandoned for many years. Usually no one will come to this place. Moreover, the wellhead is still pressed by a heavy stone slab.
If it wasn't for Xiao Xixi's help, they would never have imagined that Epiphyllum would be here.
The corpse was soaked in the well water, and it was so swollen that the whole face was completely unrecognizable.
The Yulin guards inspected the body from head to toe, and found a silk handkerchief from her body. The name of Epiphyllum was embroidered on the lower right corner of the handkerchief, which was enough to indicate that this person was Epiphyllum.
In addition to Sipa, they also found a round jade pendant on the neck of the corpse.
Zhao Xian wrapped the jade pendant in a silk handkerchief and held it in front of the prince.
"Your Highness, this jade pendant looks like something from the palace."
Luo Qinghan glanced at the jade pendant: "Go to Shaofu to find out which palace this jade pendant belongs to."
"Here."
The Shaofu is the place in charge of the royal wealth and supplies of the palaces. As long as it is in the palace, the Shaofu will keep records.
Zhao Xian took the jade pendant to the Shaofu, dug the Shaofu supervisor out of the bed, and asked the origin of the jade pendant.
The Shaofu Supervisor wiped off his eyes, looked at the jade pendant carefully, and looked at it for a long time before saying.
"This seems to be something from Changle Palace."
Zhao Xian narrowed his eyes: "Are you sure?"
The Shaofu Supervisor hurriedly said, "This is indeed something from Changle Palace, but it was rewarded to Concubine Ning by the Empress Dowager last year."
After he finished speaking, he deliberately called up the relevant dossier and pointed to one of the records.
"Look, it's clearly written here that the Empress Dowager rewarded Concubine Ning with a pair of red jade bracelets, a pair of agate beads, a pair of pearl earrings, and a round jade pendant..."
Zhao Xian snatched the dossier directly, returned to the East Palace, and reported the matter to the prince.
Luo Qinghan couldn't see any change in expression on his face, and said lightly: "It's enough to check here, you have worked hard all night, go back to sleep."
"It's all my subordinate's responsibility. I don't dare to say that it's hard work. My subordinates are leaving. Your Highness, please rest early."
After Zhao Xian left, Luo Qinghan stared at the round jade pendant for a while before falling asleep.
The next day, just before dawn, Luo Qinghan went to Jiaofang Hall.
Empress Qin got up earlier than him.
By this time she had finished her breakfast and was walking in the garden.
Luo Qinghan bowed his hands and saluted: "My son, please pay my respects to the mother."
Queen Qin asked, "I heard that you were running around the palace with the Yulin Army in the middle of the night last night, but did you find anything?"
"My mother is wise, and my son has found the person who poisoned her, a palace maid named Epiphyllum. Last night, Yu Linwei found Epiphyllum's body in the well. After inspection, she found that she was knocked unconscious and thrown into the well to drown. Yulin Wei found a round jade pendant from her."
Luo Qinghan opened the silk handkerchief, revealing the round jade pendant inside.
Empress Qin just glanced at it and didn't intend to touch it.
She asked lightly, "Whose is this thing?"
"It's Concubine Ning's."
Empress Qin raised her eyebrows: "It turned out to be Concubine Ning."
Concubine Ning is the biological mother of the fourth prince Luo Xinran.
I heard that when Concubine Ning first entered the palace, she was very favored because of her moving dance.
Soon she was lucky enough to be pregnant and could not sleep. The emperor's attention turned to other women. Later, many newcomers entered the palace, and Concubine Ning's favor gradually faded.
But even without the favor of the emperor, she still has four princes, and she is definitely not comparable to those ordinary palace concubines.