Chapter 643: Chapter 643: Relic

Ye Chutang’s eyes brightened. "In that case—"

As she spoke, she glanced back at Emperor Muwu.

Emperor Muwu waved his hand. "Since that item is so important to you, it’s best you go take a look."

Ye Chutang curtsied. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

...

Eunuch Li led Ye Chutang to Yaohua Palace once again.

In just a single day, the place had undergone an earth-shattering transformation.

The heavy guard had been withdrawn, leaving only two palace servants on watch. The palace seemed utterly cold and desolate.

Ye Chutang glanced toward the half-open main gate. Inside, it was completely empty.

"Second Miss Ye, the items are all here."

Eunuch Li had someone bring over a wooden chest, but he did not lead Ye Chutang inside.

He stepped forward and opened the chest, revealing a dazzling array of jewels and accessories.

Jiang Qingmei had been the reigning favorite of the imperial harem for many years, amassing countless rare treasures. After her downfall, she was thrown into the Cold Palace. While many items from Yaohua Palace were gradually stolen, a great deal still remained.

Seeing Ye Chutang look toward the inner rooms, Eunuch Li explained in a low voice, "As you know, that room is... inauspicious. Although it has been cleaned, it is ultimately... unclean. Please look here first. If what you’re looking for isn’t here, this servant will accompany you inside to search."

Ye Chutang looked away and nodded with a soft smile. "Thank you, Eunuch Li."

With that, she stepped forward and began to rummage through the wooden chest.

’Of course, I haven’t actually lost anything, but I need an excuse to come back here and investigate openly.’

’The last time I was here, I only performed an "autopsy" on Xiao Lansi and didn’t pay attention to anything else.’

’But now that I’ve discovered Xiao Lansi faked her death, I have to conduct a proper search.’

’Maybe I can find a useful clue.’

As Ye Chutang searched, she made idle small talk with Eunuch Li.

"It’s truly a shame. These items are all priceless treasures. It just shows how much His Majesty doted on Consort Ru back then."

Eunuch Li also grew sentimental as he recalled the past.

"Indeed."

Ye Chutang picked up a green jade hairpin. It looked somewhat familiar.

"This seems to be..."

Eunuch Li quickly explained, "The Third Princess also left some things behind. Because everything was handled in a hurry, it was all put together."

Ye Chutang nodded.

’The hairpin’s material and design are both quite ordinary, making it look out of place here.’

’It must be Xiao Lansi’s. It fits her usual persona.’

’Her principle was to always be low-key—never standing out, but also never making a mistake.’

Ye Chutang put the green jade hairpin down again.

Suddenly, her gaze froze.

"What’s this...?"

Eunuch Li followed her gaze and saw a turquoise bead about the size of a longan.

The bead was round and bluish-green, with fine, black veins running across its surface.

It looked rather old.

Ye Chutang picked it up and saw a tiny chip on the bead, only visible if one looked very closely.

She pondered for a moment. "Is this also Princess Yuhe’s?"

’The quality of this turquoise isn’t the best, and being just a single bead, it really doesn’t seem like something from the palace.’

Eunuch Li stared at it for a few moments before shaking his head, his expression conflicted.

"No. If this servant remembers correctly, this should be... Princess Consort Jing’s."

"Princess Consort Jing?" It took Ye Chutang a moment to realize who he was talking about. "Princess Yuhe’s birth mother?"

Eunuch Li nodded.

"Back then, when Princess Consort Jing first entered the palace, this servant saw her wear this Turquoise Bead. Nanhu is rich in turquoise, and legend has it that wearing it is a prayer for peace and safety."

Eunuch Li paused.

But Ye Chutang understood.

Princess Consort Jing... was one of the Southern Hu people.

’When she was first brought to the palace as a captive, she must have been terrified. This turquoise bead must have become her only solace, her only connection to a homeland she’d been forced to leave.’

’Unfortunately, her fate was a tragic one.’

’Just a few years after giving birth to Xiao Lansi, her life was cut short.’

’Only this bead was left...’

Suddenly, a realization struck Ye Chutang like a flash of lightning!

’No, that’s not right!’

’If this belonged to Princess Consort Jing, how did it end up in Yaohua Palace!?’

’Besides, Xiao Lansi was very young when her mother died. It would have been impossible for her to have kept this bead safe all this time.’

’Even if its quality isn’t the best, it could still have been sold for a decent sum outside the palace.’

As the pad of her finger traced over the tiny chip, she suddenly noticed a faint, dark red hue on it.

Her heart skipped a beat.

’Though it was just a glance, I’m certain that’s an old bloodstain!’

’This...’

"I heard that after Princess Consort Jing passed away, Princess Yuhe was taken in and raised by Consort Ru?" she asked casually.

Eunuch Li gave a bitter smile.

"That’s what everyone says, but in truth, Princess Yuhe lost her mother at age three, and her life in the palace was... not easy. It wasn’t until she was eleven that Consort Ru couldn’t bear to watch any longer and petitioned His Majesty to bring her to Yaohua Palace to be raised. But just a few years later, she went to Guanling to recuperate from an illness, until—"

She had only returned to the Capital City last year, on the occasion of Emperor Muwu’s birthday.

Just as she had finally come of age and presented a birthday gift that greatly pleased Emperor Muwu, her life finally looking up, who could have known that so much trouble would follow?

Having been in the palace for many years, Eunuch Li was no stranger to such matters. He merely sighed and shook his head.

"It’s all just fate."

Ye Chutang lowered her gaze.

’Judging from this bead, it’s highly likely that Consort Ru was involved in Princess Consort Jing’s death.’

’Xiao Lansi’s deep-seated hatred for Consort Ru and Xiao Chengxuan is probably related to this as well.’

’But in the end, it’s all in the past.’

"Everyone has their sorrows," Ye Chutang murmured, then turned her head to look at him.

"Eunuch Li, I would like to take this Turquoise Bead and place it before Princess Consort Jing’s tomb as a final comfort."

Eunuch Li was astonished. "You... You mean to—"

"Princess Yuhe was her only daughter, after all. And in a way, I was the one who saw Princess Yuhe in her final moments. Whatever happened in the past, debts die with the person. Princess Consort Jing never set foot on her homeland again before her death. If this bead can be with her, it might bring her some comfort in the afterlife."

Eunuch Li understood and sighed.

"Second Miss Ye, you truly have a kind heart. Since you are willing to let bygones be bygones, this servant will naturally comply. Princess Yuhe was indeed at fault, but Princess Consort Jing was a truly pitiful woman... Please, do as you wish. It’s just that she wasn’t buried in the Yellow Tomb, but at Chongshan, in the southern suburbs of the Capital City. I’m afraid it will be an inconvenience for you."

Emperor Muwu had been fond of Princess Consort Jing’s beauty but loathed her for her "Alien Clan" blood. Thus, when she died, her funeral arrangements were handled with great haste.

Only someone like Eunuch Li still remembered these old stories.

Ye Chutang tucked away the Turquoise Bead and gave a faint smile.

"Then I must thank you, Eunuch Li. This way, no matter how many grievances Princess Yuhe had in life, they should... all be dispelled now, shouldn’t they?"

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