On the first day of the new year, Chen Yi and Little Yin finished their breakfast and left the palace. As for Dong Gong Ruoshu and Lin Wanxiao, they were required to stay in the palace during this period.

To say they were staying in the palace was more akin to being controlled. The Empress reviewed the notes kept by the palace maids monitoring and eavesdropping on them, scrutinizing every detail.

The closer the royal wedding approached, the less room there was for error.

The imperial edict granting the marriage had long been drafted and sent out, bearing the Empress Dowager's Seal instead of the Emperor's Seal. This circumvented the court ministers and avoided opposition from the Cabinet, with the Chief of Staff sending it directly from internal administration.

In Jingren Palace, after finishing the review of the notes, the Empress summoned a spy from Xique Pavilion to report on Chen Yi's activities.

An elderly nanny stood beside the Empress and gestured to the spy to speak freely.

"Today, he hung couplets and set off firecrackers. The couplets read: 'Welcoming the new year with lingering blessings, celebrating the festive season with eternal spring.' Upon investigation, it was found that these verses originate from the 'Song History,' written by scholars under orders of the Later Shu ruler Meng Chang. The Later Shu ruler was wise at first but muddled later; it's uncertain whether these verses are meant to allude to court politics or hint at the Empress Dowager."

The spy reported truthfully.

The Empress slightly furrowed her brows and said coolly, "Do not make excessive interpretations. Continue your report."

"Yes. After setting off firecrackers, he did a major cleaning around his home. There are traces of burned fireworks, suggesting someone set off fireworks in the courtyard last night. After cleaning, he went to dispose of household refuse. Ordinary waste was discarded at the southern ash pit, while feces and urine were sent to the north canal's wastewater channel…"

The ash pit was the garbage dump, and the wastewater channel was where waste was processed. The spy reported everything without hesitation, fearing omitting any detail that might lead to missing a critical clue.

"After disposing of the refuse, he took a bath, then escorted the daughter of Prince Jing back to the Prince Mansion. When he returned, Min Ming had already prepared the lunch, which he ate alone, and has remained at home ever since…"

The spy's report was thorough in every detail, and the Empress listened with great interest, showing no sign of impatience.

Previously, although Xique Pavilion spies were stationed outside Donghua Gate, their numbers were few, and their focus was not solely on Chen Yi's household. Later, tensions arose between Chen Yi and the palace, and the Empress refrained from emphasizing his monitoring. But now, with the wedding approaching, the Empress could not afford any oversight.

The Empress thought for a while before asking, "Has he spoken to anyone today? Did you overhear anything?"

"We were cautious not to be discovered, so we stayed far from his courtyard. Thus, we could only see the courtyard itself but couldn't observe inside the residence, nor hear sounds. Empress, should we move closer?"

"No. If we provoke his displeasure, it will only complicate matters." The Empress paused and instructed, "Investigate the surrounding courtyards in secret. Check the soil to see if there are traces of tunnels. If he has communicated with anyone, monitor closely."

"Understood."

With no further reports, the Empress dismissed the spy and returned to reviewing the palace maids' notes.

The elderly nanny silently observed everything before speaking hesitantly:

"Empress, you've been overly concerned about him lately."

"I wouldn't say that. It's just that at critical times, one must be exceptionally cautious."

The Empress recalled the moment when he donned the pendant, the emotions in his gaze impossible to hide. She murmured softly:

"He's a decent child, sensible and understanding. He will ultimately obey my orders."

The elderly nanny fell silent. Years of companionship had taught her that once the Empress made up her mind, she wouldn't easily change it.

The Empress was about to continue reading the notes when suddenly, outside Jingren Palace, Lady Su Xin hurriedly ran in.

"Empress, Empress…"

Su Xin entered the palace, too rushed to observe formal courtesy:

"Today, for the family banquet, no one from Prince Jing's Mansion came to collect the sacrificial meat."

Since the Dowager Empress took over governing, on the first day of the new year, the Emperor would host a so-called family banquet for the royal clan. It was a mere ceremony, where relatives of royal blood would send someone to the palace to receive a plate of lamb stew and a serving of six-grain rice as offerings placed atop ancestral altars, symbolizing blessings from the Heavenly Family. Figures like Prince Jing would send representatives to fetch the food.

The Empress' phoenix-like eyes sharpened slightly. Chen Yi's proposal to marry Prince Jing's daughter clashed with the imperial decree, and she was well aware of it. Her voice turned cold as she said:

"This Prince Jing—is he trying to make a show of defiance to the palace?"

Unexpectedly, Lady Su Xin hurriedly shook her head and exclaimed:

"No, no, it's not like that. I sent some palace maids and eunuchs to inquire, and they found—Prince Jing's Mansion is in mourning, wearing white streamers. It seems… Prince Jing has passed away!"

The Empress' pupils contracted.

At this critical juncture, Prince Jing… dead?!

............…

The matter began on the eve of New Year's Eve.

"Prince, grave news!"

In Prince Jing's Mansion, the Prince Jing had just stepped into the main hall of the outer courtyard when a housekeeper hurriedly approached.

"What's the matter, rushing around like this?"

Prince Jing reprimanded him, calmly adjusting his sleeves before settling into the main seat.

He picked up his tea bowl and, after a long moment, leisurely said:

"Speak."

The housekeeper promptly bowed and said:

"Prince, aren't you worried?"

"If it truly were grave news, you wouldn't wait until I sat down before speaking."

Prince Jing sighed lightly,

"I suppose it's just trivial matters. Compose yourself and explain slowly."

The housekeeper nodded repeatedly and, following Prince Jing's advice, calmed himself down. With deliberate movements, he retrieved a piece of paper from his sleeve.

"After Chen Qianhu proposed publicly, we servants took it upon ourselves to investigate some rumors from the streets…"

"You're speaking too fast. Explain slower." Prince Jing sat with poise, gently instructing, "As the housekeeper of the Prince Mansion, you represent its dignity. There's no need to be so hasty. Learn from me—remain calm, even if a mountain collapses before you."

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