Nightwatcher

Huai Qing frowned slightly, following Xu Qi'an's movements, she looked at the dim yellow silk cloth, and her clear and cold voice was mixed with eagerness: "What did you find?"

Xu Qi'an shrugged: "I guess the mystery lies in this piece of cloth, but I don't know what kind of mechanism is hidden."

"?" flashed in Huaiqing's beautiful eyes, and he didn't understand why he just said so loudly.

Wei Yuan's eyes then fell on the yellow silk cloth, and said: "This is the material that concubines who are above the third rank in the palace can only use."

Concubines in the palace also have ranks, with the empress, imperial concubine, and imperial concubine at the top. Fufei, which has a fixed title, is a genuine first-class product.

Further down, Madam, Guiji, Zhaoyi, etc. are all within the third grade.

The grading of beauties in the harem has touched Xu Qi'an's knowledge blind spot, but it's not a big problem. He asked, "So, why do court ladies have such materials?"

The fourth prince replied: "Either it was rewarded by a nobleman, or it was stolen."

Xu Qi'an nodded.

Wei Yuan took over the dim yellow silk cloth that was a few years old, and examined it again: "Yuanjing thirty-one year spring"

"Did anything happen this year? The low position refers to the palace." Xu Qi'an had an idea, and asked directly if any major events had happened that year.

This is the inspiration he got from the last time the queen was deposed.

In the 13th year of Yuanjing, the queen was thrown into the cold palace.

The next year Wei Yuan went out to fight and defeated the northern barbarians triumphantly, and the queen came out from the cold palace. If Xu Qi'an hadn't learned about this, Xu Qi'an could only guess that Emperor Yuanjing pardoned the queen because of his old feelings.

Therefore, the material left by the court lady Huang Xiaorou is embroidered with the thirty-first year of Yuan Jing, and perhaps clues can be found from the chronicle of the year.

Wei Yuan and Huaiqing shook their heads at the same time.

"Think again?" Xu Qi'an was unwilling.

The two still shook their heads.

Well, the two college tyrants joined forces to veto it, so it was probably hopeless. How could a mere court lady be involved in a big event.

Xu Qi'an licked his tongue, a little excited.

Now that the Fufei case has been investigated, it has finally entered the difficult mode. The previous clues were deliberately thrown out by the black hands behind the scenes, and the case itself is not difficult.

In other words, even if he didn't take over the case, others could find out, the only difference is the length of time.

But now, after jumping out of the guidance of the mastermind behind the scenes, it was finally his turn for Xu Baipro to show his talents.

etc.

Xu Qi'an suddenly had a lightning strike in his mind, and thought of a detail that he had overlooked.

He straightened his back, with a serious face, and said: "Wei Gong, I have something to ask for my advice."

Seeing the seriousness of the little gong he admired, Wei Yuan put down his teacup and said softly, "Speak."

"Before Beizhi returned to Beijing, the case of Concubine Fu has been delayed, and the third division shirks the blame and is unwilling to investigate. If Beizhi is really dead, will this case be the crown prince's work?"

At first Xu Qi'an thought that the case was very involved and the third division was unwilling to take over, until he came back to life and happened to take over this hot potato.

When meeting the prince that day, Dali Temple Minister also insinuated that he was a pawn.

Wei Yuan picked up his teacup again, and took a sip of tea unhurriedly: "Your Majesty wants to abolish the Empress today, but the Third Division and the Lords disagree, and think that the Third Division should confirm it before discussing the abolition of the Empress. It should not be If His Majesty says it will be abolished, then it will be abolished.

"The thoughts of the princes are nothing more than three points: First, the matter after the abolition is very important, and the process must be followed, and it cannot be taken lightly. Second, the princes hate such sudden incidents, which will make them feel that they do not have enough control over the court. Three, they need time to figure out what will happen after the abolition."

Therefore, the king and his ministers have been playing chess since ancient times. Xu Qi'an understood, "So, the same is true for the prince?"

Wei Yuan nodded: "The crown prince's matter is about the country's foundation. Did His Majesty say that three days will be three days? It's not that the third division didn't investigate, but told His Majesty that they need time."

"So, I'm actually not needed at all. Even if I don't come back, someone will take over the case in a few days. Then, based on the clues given by the real murderer behind the scenes, follow the clues and find out the empress step by step."

What Xu Qi'an said made the fourth prince's eyes widen in surprise.

Wei Yuan was thoughtful.

"So, you were assassinated last night because the people behind the scenes didn't want you to investigate any further. He was scared." Princess Huaiqing hit the nail on the head, expressing Xu Qi'an's guess.

"Afraid?" The fourth prince was puzzled.

"Master Xu's resurrection was beyond the expectations of the people behind the scenes, and his reputation was so loud that the people behind the scenes didn't dare to let him continue the investigation. Therefore, when the clues pointed to the mother, the people behind the scenes immediately sent killers, intending to eradicate Master Xu. .”

Huaiqing explained to his brother.

"I see."

The fourth prince asked: "Then how do we investigate now?"

Wei Yuan and Huaiqing did not speak, but looked at Xu Qi'an.

They are all extremely smart people, but the investigation depends on professionals.

Just like Xu Qi'an often feels that his IQ is comparable to that of Einstein, but he has to admit that for such a trivial matter as building an atomic bomb, he is still 100 million points away, and he needs to rely on professional scientists.

Facing the gazes of the three, the famous detective Xu Ningyan said in a deep voice, "My officer, we need to open the coffin for an autopsy."

royal palace.

The Fourth Prince and Princess Huaiqing brought Xu Qi'an into the palace, the carriage drove into the palace gate, Xu Qi'an lifted the curtain and suggested:

"I still have to inform the little eunuch, after all, this is the rule set by His Majesty."

The fourth prince thought for a while, then nodded and said: "That's right, Mr. Xu is indeed a law-abiding person, and he is loyal to Dafeng and his father."

You think too much, I'm just thinking from the heart Xu Qi'an said movedly: "The fourth prince knows people with his eyes."

Huaiqing was in another carriage, and it was definitely not allowed for a princess who had not left the court to share a carriage with a young man.

If there was no big brother-in-law like the Fourth Prince who was an eyesore, Xu Qi'an might have the cheek to test it out and ask to share a ride with His Highness the Princess.

The fourth prince immediately sent someone to notify, and a quarter of an hour later, the little father-in-law wearing a light blue flying fish suit rushed over.

He looked at Xu Qi'an suspiciously, and said, "Master Xu, isn't the case already closed?"

Xu Qi'an replied: "If His Majesty does not take back the gold medal for a day, I will continue to investigate."

"Okay, okay"

The little eunuch actually didn't want to take on this job anymore, and wanted to live a few more years.

But Huaiqing and the fourth prince were at his side, he didn't dare to refuse, he followed Xu Qi'an helplessly, and followed him to the ice cellar.

When approaching the ice cellar, Xu Qi'an suddenly ordered: "Go and invite an old lady over here."

After sending away the little eunuch, Xu Qi'an, Princess Huaiqing and the fourth prince went into the ice cellar and saw the body of the maid Huang Xiaorou.

The anatomical marks on her neck and chest have been stitched up.

"Your Majesty has re-examined the autopsy." Xu Qi'an stared at the body of the maid Huang Xiaorou.

Seeing this swollen and pale corpse, the Fourth Prince frowned and looked away.

"What else do you want to test?" Huaiqing asked without changing his face.

"Do you still remember the "rules" mentioned by the humble officer and His Highness during the autopsy yesterday?" Xu Qi'an greeted the eunuch in charge of the ice cellar, and said, "Carry her to the yard, the light here is too dark."

Huaiqing was stunned for a moment, then understood what Xu Qi'an meant, a blush quietly appeared on his fair cheeks.

She knew what Xu Qi'an was going to do.

Two eunuchs came in from the outside, carried the crude planks out of the ice cellar, and placed the corpse in the yard to expose it to the sun.

Xu Qi'an let the corpse sit in the sun for a while, until the little father-in-law led an old woman over, Xu Qi'an saw it and became happy.

It was the old nanny who had better driving skills than him.

Seeing Huaiqing and the fourth prince, the old mother hurriedly saluted.

Then, he complained to Xu Qi'an in a low voice: "My lord, why did you ask this old slave to do the autopsy again? This old slave is not a coworker. He comes and goes for the autopsy all day long, so he can't even eat."

When I got closer, I saw a swollen and ugly female corpse. The old mother said "ah" and covered her eyes: "I can't test it, I beg you, please don't embarrass the old slave."

The fourth prince frowned, and began to reprimand, Xu Qi'an waved his hand, then took out a piece of broken silver, about five coins, put it in the palm of his hand, spread it out, and said with a smile: "Mama, can you inspect it?"

"The old slave is still very happy to serve the Lord." The old mother said kindly: "What does the Lord want to try?"

Xu Qi'an pointed to the female corpse, "Check whether she is perfectly fit."

The old mother wrapped her hands in coarse cloth and separated the legs of the female corpse

The fourth prince and Huaiqing turned around at the same time, not looking at the next operation.

About ten seconds later, the two heard the old mother "Hey": "This female corpse is not a virgin."

It's not that the virgin Huaiqing and the fourth prince looked at each other in astonishment and shock.

The so-called 3,000 beauties in the harem actually include palace ladies.

Throughout the dynasties, there have been many examples of emperors being blessed with court ladies. Dafeng founded the country five hundred years ago, and there are not a few concubines who were born as court ladies in history.

Although Huang Xiaorou was an inconspicuous court lady, she was essentially the Emperor's woman and the private property of Emperor Yuan Jing.

All the women in the harem belong to the emperor. It's one thing to be unlucky, but that's the way the system is.

Xu Qi'an's eyes lit up, as if some of his guesses had been confirmed, he took a step forward and said, "Nurse, take another look to see if she was pregnant."

"This..." the old nanny glanced at the swollen female corpse, her old face wrinkled into a ball: "The old slave can't tell."

What is the use of asking you to return the money to me? Xu Qi'an complained in his heart, hesitated for a moment, and sighed: "Forget it, Ni Zukai, I will do it myself."

So she took over from the old mother and separated the legs of the female corpse.

A quarter of an hour later, in the yard, Xu Qi'an put his hands in the bucket, rubbing them non-stop. A square piece of soap locust was getting smaller and smaller by him.

Wearing a white palace attire, the tall and slender princess Huai Qing stood aside, the cool wind tugged at the hem of her skirt and brushed her hair, which was pure and beautiful.

"How long are you going to wash?"

There was helplessness in Huaiqing's voice.

"Wash until you change your skin." Xu Qi'an said unhappily.

Although his middle finger and ring finger have also trekked back and forth on the muddy road, they should never be wronged like that just now.

"It's all the fault of that old nanny. She doesn't have much ability, and she even coveted me for five renminbi. Your Highness, you have to reimburse me."

Huaiqing automatically ignored his complaints, and asked, "You said she was pregnant, what basis do you have?"

"This is more. After a woman is pregnant, there will be spark-like fine lines on the lower abdomen and the roots of the thighs. These things are called stretch marks."

"If that's the case, just now, why didn't the old mother see it?"

"With proper care, the stretch marks will disappear. The stretch marks on Huang Xiaorou's body are very light, and the body is soaked and swollen, so the stretch marks become even more difficult to distinguish. Even the humble ones dare not confirm it, and the old lady must be the same." Xu Qi'an rubbed his hands and explained:

"One more thing, during the autopsy yesterday, I showed His Highness the scars under Huang Xiaorou's breasts, remember my actions?"

Xu Qi'an made a forceful upward movement.

Huaiqing was a little ashamed, this guy always made some rude moves in front of her.

No matter how informal she is, she is still a princess who has not left the court.

"Of course, women with extraordinary talents can also reach that scale, so this is just a reference." Xu Qi'an added in his heart:

Your Highness, you are such a gifted woman.

"Then why did you do the autopsy yourself just now?" Huai Qing asked, if it was just these two, then Xu Qi'an didn't need to do it himself.

Xu Qi'an was silent.

In addition to stretch marks, whether you have given birth to a child can also be judged according to the shape of the cervix.

It's hard to answer this question, it's too academic, just like when he taught Xu Lingyin the difference between a boy and a girl when he grows up, he used an easy-to-understand method suitable for all ages.

"Before a woman gave birth, she was like a chick waiting to be fed, with her mouth open. After she gave birth, she was satisfied, so her mouth was closed." Xu Qi'an spoke carefully.

"???" Huaiqing looked at him blankly.

Xu Qi'an scratched his head: "Princess, have you read medical books?"

Huaiqing looked at him, and said coldly: "During the autopsy yesterday, you suddenly suffered from a splitting headache. I told you when I took your pulse, that you have some medical skills."

"Oh, that's easy." Xu Qi'an clapped his hands and laughed: "For a woman who has not given birth, the shape of the cervix is ​​an "O" shape, but after giving birth, it becomes a "one" shape."

The intelligent Princess Huaiqing could understand this explanation in seconds, but thinking of his snarky words just now, Huaiqing didn't want to talk to him anymore.

The fourth prince, who had no medical skills, seemed to understand but half understood, and said with emotion: "Mr. Xu is very knowledgeable and talented."

This point of knowledge comes from a love murder that Xu Qi'an encountered in his previous life. The deceased was a woman who was on two boats and followed in Brother Cheng's footsteps.

When the old forensic doctor dissected the corpse, he said: Don't think she is not married, but someone died in the house.

Xu Qi'an, who was acting as an assistant at the time, said: The old driver will take me.

So this knowledge point was brought out.

"I had someone check Huang Xiaorou, she entered the palace in the twenty-eighth year of Yuan Jing." Xu Qi'an glanced at the two Highnesses.

The subtext is that someone pried into Emperor Yuan Jing's wall.

In the twenty-eighth year of Yuanjing, the old emperor had already practiced abstinence. He didn't even touch the empress, the magnificent concubine Chen Gui. How could he touch a little maid?

"Who could it be?" The fourth prince fell into deep thought.

Xu Qi'an looked at him silently.

"What do you think I am doing?" The Fourth Prince felt offended.

Xu Qi'an looked back and analyzed: "This person is actually easy to find, he must meet two conditions: First, he can enter and leave the harem relatively freely, and the clan meets this requirement.

"Second, you are very courageous and confident, otherwise you would not dare to attack the maid."

At this time, Huaiqing suddenly said: "Brother Huang, I have something to say to Mr. Xu."

The fourth prince frowned, glanced at his sister, and nodded slowly: "I'm leaving first."

Watching the fourth prince leave, Huaiqing coldly squinted at Emperor Yuan Jing's eyes and ears - the little eunuch.

"Get out."

The little eunuch lowered his head and left without saying a word.

Dismissing everyone, Huaiqing stared at Xu Qi'an with a solemn expression: "Master Xu, Huang Xiaorou's suicide, and the mother's confession are probably related to this man."

Xu Qi'an fiddled with the water in the bucket, his pupils were dilated and out of focus, "Princess is too subjective, you must be calm when investigating the case, and make a hypothesis based on the clues. Now that we found out that Huang Xiaorou was pregnant, let's assume that the man is not His Majesty, but someone else.

"Assuming that Huang Xiaorou committed suicide, the Empress saved her and pleaded guilty because of that man. Then, he needs to meet one more condition:

"This man has a close relationship with the Empress, but has little relationship with His Majesty, so he can go in and out of the harem, but if he does something that disrupts the harem, His Majesty will kill him without hesitation.

"The fourth prince is His Majesty's direct son. Even if His Majesty bullies the maid, no matter how angry His Majesty is, he will not kill him. Naturally, the Empress has no reason to "confess" because it is unnecessary."

Having said that, he raised his head and looked at Huaiqing's bright eyes: "Is there anyone in your Highness' mind?"

Huaiqing's face was sullen, and his tone was cold: "I think of someone."

PS: When I was writing this chapter, I revisited the case, confirmed that no details were missed, and kept thinking about it, so the update is finished, and it can be updated sooner, and I want to update it sooner.

It's still ten thousand words today.