Chapter – 01
Great Jing Dynasty, the eighteenth year of Taihe.
In the bitter cold of deep winter, the north wind howled, and the swirling snowflakes contrasted sharply with the vermilion palace walls.
Due to the Crown Prince’s unexpected sudden death, the atmosphere in the palace had been particularly somber in recent days.
Moreover, today happened to be the Crown Prince’s seventh-day memorial, so the eunuchs and maidservants in the palace were all exceptionally cautious, terrified of offending any noble at this critical juncture and losing their own lives in the process.
Because the Crown Prince’s passing had been so abrupt, his mourning hall had to be arranged in the main hall of the Eastern Palace, where he had lived in his youth.
At this moment, white mourning banners hung low within the hall, and as far as the eye could see, the scene was one of oppressive, pristine white.
The Crown Prince’s solemn and magnificent nanmu coffin rested in the very center of the mourning hall.
Earlier, the civil and military officials had already completed their obeisances and filed out of the Eastern Palace in order.
Now, only the imperial relatives remained in the mourning hall, offering their condolences according to ritual.
As the deceased’sāthat is, the Crown Prince’sāyounger sister, Yin Ning felt rather conflicted as she gazed at the imposing coffin.
Her once majestic elder brother, the Crown Prince, now lay quietly within, never to wake again.
Although she and the Crown Prince were full siblings, her relationship with this “convenient” elder brother had never actually been very close.
After all, there was a full eighteen years’ difference in age between them.
In the year her mother the Empress gave birth to her, the Crown Prince had already moved to his own residence outside the palace.
Moreover, because her father the Emperor was wary of consorts meddling in state affairs, this “convenient” elder brother of hers was terrified of displeasing the Emperor, so he rarely visited her and the Empress in the palace. He would merely show up for the mandatory monthly courtesy callāas if going through the motionsāand then, without even staying for a meal, would leave, citing pressing official business.
She had even once overheard her mother privately complain that this Crown Prince elder brother was practically her father’s echo.
Other princes, even after establishing their own households outside the palace, would send gifts into the palace to their mothers from time to time, but this “convenient” elder brother of hers had never done so even once. He placed her father’s wishes above everything else, terrified of doing even the slightest thing wrong and incurring the Emperor’s displeasure.
However, even though she was distant from the Crown Prince, Yin Ning had never imagined that he would pass away so suddenly one day.
Although the imperial physicians declared that the Crown Prince had died unexpectedly of illness, Yin Ning knew very well that he had actually been poisoned.
Moreover, the murderer was currently in this very mourning hall!
Yin Ning swept her gaze over the Second Prince and Third Prince standing behind her father the Emperor, her eyes filled with inquiry and scrutiny.
According to the intelligence from the agent she had planted in the Crown Prince’s residence, the true mastermind behind the Crown Prince’s sudden death was either the Second Prince or the Third Prince.
Yin Ning believed that given more time, she should be able to follow the lead she currently had, piece by piece, and uncover who the real culprit was.
However, just as Yin Ning was about to withdraw her gaze, she accidentally met the eyes of the Second Prince, Yin Rui, who was looking back at her.
Yin Ning had never been on good terms with her second brother Yin Rui, and at this moment, Yin Rui was also feeling quite aggrieved because, even though the Crown Prince was dead, not many court officials were willing to accept his private overtures.
So, after inadvertently locking eyes with Yin Ning, and thinking that Yin Ning no longer had the Crown Prince, her own brother, as a backer, Yin Rui let out a cold snort and questioned Yin Ning:
“Eighth Sister, here in the mourning hall, instead of properly paying your respects to our elder brother, what are you gawking about?”
Yin Ning was, of course, well aware of Yin Rui’s intention to make things difficult for her.
Noticing that even her “convenient” father the Emperor had furrowed his brows and looked over in her direction, Yin Ning’s expression remained unchanged as she said very calmly to Yin Rui:
“Second Brother, you misunderstand. I wasn’t gawking; I was trying to figure out who the real murderer of our elder brother is.”
Yin Rui had originally intended to pin a charge of impropriety on Yin Ning, but upon hearing her response, his face instantly paled and his body tensed up:
“Eighth Sister, what do you mean by that? Haven’t the imperial physicians already said that the Crown Prince died of illness from a cold?”
Yin Rui certainly knew that the Crown Prince’s illness was suspiciousāor rather, which court official didn’t find the Crown Prince’s death fishy?
But no one dared to bring the matter into the open the way Yin Ning just had.
Yin Ning ignored Yin Rui’s feigned ignorance. She turned to look at the Jingming Emperor and said:
“Father, I still feel that something is off about Elder Brother’s death. I implore you to conduct a thorough investigation and seek justice for him!”
After all, they were siblings, and if there was an opportunity, Yin Ning still hoped to bring her elder brother’s killer to justice.
Therefore, she had already planned to find an opportunity soon to bring this matter to light.
Yin Rui’s earlier remark had conveniently given her just such an opening.
The Jingming Emperor’s expression was calm and unreadable at this moment. He looked at Yin Ning with deep, unfathomable eyes:
“Then according to you, how should we go about this investigation?”
Hearing that the Jingming Emperor had actually engaged Yin Ning in conversation, all the princes, princesses, and imperial consorts in the mourning hall immediately fixed their gazes on Yin Ning.
Under the heat of so many stares, Yin Ning remained unruffled. She spoke with composure:
“Your daughter believes that, in order of seniority, Father can begin by sending someone to investigate Second Brother!”
Upon hearing this, Yin Rui’s face twisted with rage for an instant.
If it weren’t for the Jingming Emperor’s presence, Yin Rui would have been furious enough to curse her out on the spot, demanding to know if she had learned nothing from her books!
Was *that* how you use “order of seniority”?!
And after saying that, as if she thought Yin Rui wasn’t aggrieved enough, Yin Ning turned to look at him again and said calmly:
“Second Brother, an upright man fears no slander. You should want to clear your name of suspicion as soon as possible, shouldn’t you?”
Yin Ning’s words had effectively backed Yin Rui into a corner.
If Yin Rui rejected Yin Ning’s proposal, it would make him look guilty, and others would immediately assume he was inextricably linked to the Crown Prince’s death.
But if he agreed to Yin Ning’s proposal, Yin Rui knew all too well that there were too many things about him that couldn’t withstand scrutiny.
In an instant, cold sweat covered Yin Rui’s back.
Even the other princes couldn’t help but hold their breath, terrified of drawing Yin Ning’s attention at this moment and being dragged into the storm by this “madwoman.”
“Yin Ning, stop this nonsense. Let your elder brother rest in peace.”
The Jingming Emperor’s low voice broke the silence in the mourning hall.
He looked at Yin Ning and said, “I understand that your brother’s death has grieved you deeply, but this is no excuse for your current behavior. Go and take care of your mother the Empress first.”
Hearing this reply from the Jingming Emperor, Yin Ning understood his stance on the Crown Prince’s cause of death.
“Yes, Your Daughter knows she was wrong.”
Yin Ning spoke the words of admitting fault, but her expression remained resoluteāclearly her words did not match her heart.
However, no one present dared to find fault with her at this moment.
On one hand, everyone was afraid that Yin Ning might unleash her “mighty prowess” again; on the other hand, they all knew that the Jingming Emperor usually doted on Yin Ning, this daughter of his.
If they were to harshly attack Yin Ning at this time, the one who would likely be reprimanded might not be Yin Ning, but rather themselves.
Moreover, thinking of the Crown Prince’s death, many present couldn’t help but feel another surge of secret delight.
After all, aside from Yin Ning, the Empress had only the Crown Prince as her legitimate eldest son.
Before the Crown Prince’s death, his status as the legitimate eldest son gave him considerable influence at court, while Yin Ning was exceptionally favored by the Jingming Emperor in the harem.
But now that the Crown Prince had died unexpectedly, even if Yin Ning remained favored by the Jingming Emperor, she was still just a woman. They no longer needed to be wary of her.
In the struggle for the throne, the Empress’s faction had suffered a complete defeat. The future awaiting the Empress and Yin Ning would only be the despair of being “fish on the chopping block.”
As the mother of two children, Empress Xu was clearly aware of the impact of the Crown Prince’s death. Ever since receiving the news, her tears had not ceased.
Even when Yin Ning came to her side and tried to comfort her repeatedly, she still wept uncontrollably.
